FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[raiderguy]

I would think a Wabash/MUC kick-off would be a natural. I realize most people would accuse Mount of picking another patsie  to start the season but we might as well get a good ol' family rucuss going in Sept.
And they are relatively close compared to what Mount has had to do in the past. WW, Wash U, Averett, and SJF. That is some pretty hefty travel. Wabash is in their backyard by those standards.

Just a thought. How about it Eric? Come on down.

[wally_wabash]

I would think a Wabash/MUC kick-off would be a natural. I realize most people would accuse Mount of picking another patsie  to start the season but we might as well get a good ol' family rucuss going in Sept.
And they are relatively close compared to what Mount has had to do in the past. WW, Wash U, Averett, and SJF. That is some pretty hefty travel. Wabash is in their backyard by those standards.

Just a thought. How about it Eric? Come on down.

Even if ER wanted to do this, there's no way it can happen for a number of reasons. 

- I can assume that MUC would want to play this hypothetical game during the first week of the season and for whatever reason Wabash never starts their season until week 2 (this is something that I've wanted to see changed for some time as playing during week 1 opens up a boatload of fruitful non-conference opportunties...but that point is moot now as you'll see below). 

- Wabash gets three non-conference games per year.  One of those games is and forever will be the regular season finale vs. DePauw.  So there are only two elective games left.  Starting last year, the NCAC and UAA have agreed to schedule one another (except for Earlham who is apparently exempt from this agreement for reasons beyond my current understanding).  The conference as a group agreed to this, and so Wabash now has non-conference games scheduled vs. Chicago and Washington University for the foreseeable future.  The Little Giant schedule is full. 

- Even if the first two points were not in play, I don't like the idea of Wabash playing Mount Union in September.  What do you win for beating Mount Union in September?  You probably get a big boost in the poll.  You certainly get the lead on D3football.com's front page.  You might even get a mention on ESPN somewhere for busting up whatever ridiculous win streak Mount Union is on currently.  But nothing real important.  If Wabash is going to catch lightning in a bottle and beat Mount Union, I'd much rather see that happen when it really means something in December.  Why waste that once-in-maybe-a-decade win against Mount Union on a non-conference game in September? 

[Mr. Ypsi]

I would think a Wabash/MUC kick-off would be a natural. I realize most people would accuse Mount of picking another patsie  to start the season but we might as well get a good ol' family rucuss going in Sept.
And they are relatively close compared to what Mount has had to do in the past. WW, Wash U, Averett, and SJF. That is some pretty hefty travel. Wabash is in their backyard by those standards.

Just a thought. How about it Eric? Come on down.

Even if ER wanted to do this, there's no way it can happen for a number of reasons. 

- I can assume that MUC would want to play this hypothetical game during the first week of the season and for whatever reason Wabash never starts their season until week 2 (this is something that I've wanted to see changed for some time as playing during week 1 opens up a boatload of fruitful non-conference opportunties...but that point is moot now as you'll see below). 

- Wabash gets three non-conference games per year.  One of those games is and forever will be the regular season finale vs. DePauw.  So there are only two elective games left.  Starting last year, the NCAC and UAA have agreed to schedule one another (except for Earlham who is apparently exempt from this agreement for reasons beyond my current understanding).  The conference as a group agreed to this, and so Wabash now has non-conference games scheduled vs. Chicago and Washington University for the foreseeable future.  The Little Giant schedule is full. 

- Even if the first two points were not in play, I don't like the idea of Wabash playing Mount Union in September.  What do you win for beating Mount Union in September?  You probably get a big boost in the poll.  You certainly get the lead on D3football.com's front page.  You might even get a mention on ESPN somewhere for busting up whatever ridiculous win streak Mount Union is on currently.  But nothing real important.  If Wabash is going to catch lightning in a bottle and beat Mount Union, I'd much rather see that happen when it really means something in December.  Why waste that once-in-maybe-a-decade win against Mount Union on a non-conference game in September? 

A moot point now, anyway.  This economy is the pits - Mount Union announced today that (reluctantly; but for financial reasons) they are dropping football, effective immediately.

[zed07]

Now that's funny!

[wab64]

     What a challenge! Raider guy fits himself into the scheduling thread we've been talking about with a great deal of sense from Wes and Wally. Gentlemen, you have earned my kudos for an enlightening and sensible colloquy on DePauw's scheduling problem. Well done!! You have taken my posts to a better level of understanding. Wes, I'm sorry but I can't seem to avoid sarcasm when I post about DePauw. Has something to do with never having seen a Monon Bell win in the 4 years plus one that I was in school. (1960 to 1964).
   Both schools are limited in their non-conference choices: The Bell isn't going to stop ringing, DePauw is into a 8 game conference schedule (or was), and Wabash is locked into the UAA for 2 games a year. The UAA-NCAC agreement makes a lot of sense, particularly for the Ohio schools, who can build on rivalries with Case and CMU. Its unfortunate that the structure locks Wabash into Chicago and WashU, at least until 2012. Based upon the last 2 playoffs, Wabash-Case would be a great match of programs that are high class and respect each other, athletically and academically.I hope they will continue, and shift the matchups. That will, at least get the Raider guys off our backs. I don't think Depauw should schedule MUC either. Let the Raiders play Ohio State! The WIAC is a good miss for both of us-the difference in enrollment, tuition and academic challenge is significant. Wes, get DePauw into the NCAC- then you can play the same patsies we do. After all, Hiram beat Gallaudet last year

[D3_DPUFan]

After all, Hiram beat Gallaudet last year

...in overtime...

[D3_DPUFan]

Any of you Wabash guys have news out of spring practice/recruiting, etc. you can share? DePauw started their spring workouts this week...

[wab64]

      I am hereby resolving to never write another post about DePauw. Every time I do, I end up losing 2 units of Karma-(Wes and DP fan, presumably) I didn't think I was THAT sarcastic.

[D3_DPUFan]

wab64...this is tough to say...but you just became my friend...i used to think the same thing...and then i said f**k it regarding karma....which i have nothing to do with. be open...be honest...

[seinfeld]

Anyone closer to the Wooster program know the status of a few players who could use a fifth-year of school to play this year? I know Josh Clark, who was the starting center last year, is coming back for one more year. But what about Orlando Jones, Luke McCann and Tyler Arnold? Jones wasn't in school last fall, but I believe is back. McCann missed last season with a torn ACL, and Arnold, who was at Wooster a while back before transferring, is back and has a year left.

While not quite as good as Sheppard, Jones is a pretty solid running back and would at least split carries. McCann would likely fill the role left vacant by Jordan Ferns at WR, and Arnold could compete for a starting corner spot or nickelback.

[FightinScot]

Anyone closer to the Wooster program know the status of a few players who could use a fifth-year of school to play this year? I know Josh Clark, who was the starting center last year, is coming back for one more year. But what about Orlando Jones, Luke McCann and Tyler Arnold?

Clark and McCann will be returning and are practicing with the team, but I don't believe Jones or Arnold will be.

[BashBacker#16]

Regarding 5th years...Wabash has 2 that will be impact guys on both sides of the ball.

Matt Kraft - LB

...recent news...Jeremy "J-Mo" Morris - OT

[zed07]

Excellent news!  OL looks good for '09.  Any idea who's gonna wind up snapping the ball?

[Schwami]

As a consequence of the meltdown of the economy, Wabash announced today that it will be suspending for at least one year, maybe longer, the planned renovations to Hollett Stadium, including the installation of field turf and a new scoreboard. 

[wally_wabash]

As a consequence of the meltdown of the economy, Wabash announced today that it will be suspending for at least one year, maybe longer, the planned renovations to Hollett Stadium, including the installation of field turf and a new scoreboard. 

While the artificial surface coming sooner rather than later would have been nice, I don't think that the artificial surface is quite necessary at this point at Hollett...not as necessary as renovations and upgrades to portions of Baxter Hall.  It will be before long for sure that we'll need the artificial stuff, but not quite yet...if we've got squeeze a few more seasons out of the grass, then that's fine.  The most disappointing part of today's announcement is that the planned baseball facility goes on hold as well.  Wabash has absolutely needed that upgrade for years and years and years.  Hopefully things will stabilize and giving will get back to pre-2009 crisis levels and we can get back to building cool new stuff.