FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[raiderguy]

Joe Wally,

The only thing I know is he won't be "signing" anything on Saturday unless he has a hearing problem.

[Duster72]

My high school had a 12 point scale.  An 11.6 is basically an A/A- average.  Very respectable.

Also, I just found out that my cousin selected Wabash in a last minute decision over DePauw.  He's a huge kid who should be a great asset to the offensive line.  I am very excited about it!

[wabco]

Hey Duster ... your cousin has good judgement.  Where did he go to HS, position played, and stats?

[zed07]

Duster:  Congrats.  He has at least 4 returning senior starters to learn from this year (Morris, Tokar, Isaacs, Morrison). 

[Duster72]

He went to Roncalli and played OT.  Not sure on his current size, but he's big.

I was just happy one of my referrals finally chose Wabash.  It was very difficult remaining unbiased and polite while he was struggling between DPU and WC.  My main concern was that he picked the school that was right for him where he was going to have the best experience.  I think he'll love Wabash - he's the prototypical Wabash student.  I am sure ER is happy - he recruited him really hard.

[DPU3619]

Story coming out of Indy is that former LG great Pete Metzelaars got himself a promotion with the Colts.  He'll be the new O-Line coach with Howard Mudd retiring.

[bashbrother]

Congrats to Metzelaars!

First post of 2009.... almost forgot how.

Word from the wire is that ER and Staff are putting together a very strong recruiting class.  The ones that I have researched are top rate.   A couple of them, from what was reported to me, picked Wabash over some elite teams in DIII, which is a great sign.

Here's looking towards a great season!

[zed07]

Nice story about one of those recruits coming to Wabash.  Sounds like a fine young man:

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=96&ArticleID=23382

[aueagle]

The recruiting process at Bash must be top-notch...This new kid at TE might be a good one.....to come back from the "knee" shows his content as a player & person......

"... Every time I went down there, I got that strong tradition feeling like you would see at Notre Dame. ... I'm looking forward to possibly playing for a national championship. That's one of their goals. They want to take the next step to win a national championship."

[raiderguy]

Ya, but Notre Dame doesn't win National Championships anymore! Skip that tradition!

[raiderguy]

Still looking forward to a MUC/Wabash playoff game. Maybe LK could pick up Wabash as their first game for the next two years. They are certainly closer than some in the past.
And for all the other reasons.

[wally_wabash]

Maybe LK could pick up Wabash as their first game for the next two years. They are certainly closer than some in the past.
And for all the other reasons.

Didn't we cover this?  Wait...yes.  Yes we did. 

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? 

I am with you on a playoff game though...I don't know if the LGs are quite there yet, but I think they are certainly closer to the Mount than they were in 2002. 

[Ryan Tipps]

I don't know if the LGs are quite there yet, but I think they are certainly closer to the Mount than they were in 2002. 

You do? I know that we've touched on this a little bit in PMs, but I'd like to hear your take.

[DPU3619]

I don't know if the LGs are quite there yet, but I think they are certainly closer to the Mount than they were in 2002. 

Maybe if ER gets some of his type of players in there, but I don't believe that they're close at all to Mount as that roster is currently constructed.  You're not going to beat Mount with a bunch of Indiana kids.  Just ain't happening.  I love Indiana HS football as much as anybody, but we're talking about a different talent level with what Mount is getting.

By all accounts, ER's done a LOT more recruiting on his old Coe stomping grounds than inside the state lines anyway, which is what they need.  If he gets the same type of players that he got at Coe, he can get the LG's there.  Still at least 2 or 3 years away for my taste from being that legitimate power on the UWW or UMHB level who can threaten the Raiders, however.

[wabco]

Wes

Glad to read the two or three year timetable.  I think Wabash is a little closer than that, but I will also take 2 or 3 years.

My info is that ER (along with the able assists from other coaches and admissions and alumni) has recruited a pretty good talent pool of recruits ... especially taking into account the terrible economic conditions under which schools such as are in the NCAC must recruit students this year.  Lets hope the uncertain conditions improve so that students choices are not colored by all the economic uncertainties faced by their parents/providers.

On another subject, Tony Neimeyer just had sugery for the injury which reared its head against Case in the playoffs.  Hope everything came out great, Tony.  Next year, Neimeyer goes from being a great O center to coaching them as a graduate assistant at Wabash.  So look for that same type energy and dominance from the center position again this year.