FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[seinfeld]

Wittenberg's recruiting class.

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/springfield-oh-sports/wittenberg-university-tigers/nine-locals-highlight-wittenberg-football-recruiting-class-155772.html

I know this is a topic for another day, but why do some Div. III coaches think they need close to 60 players each year. I understand the need for depth, injuries, transfers, quitting, etc. but this seems to be pretty ridiculous when Div. I brings in under 30 each year.

[Pat Coleman]

Division III schools need the enrollment, and doesn't Division I have a cap?

[wally_wabash]

I should add that the attendance, or lack thereof, isn't just a DePauw issue - it's a conference-wide issue.  I know that's not earth-shattering, but an important point nonetheless.  Nobody travels particularly well in any sport.  When even Trinity or Millsaps comes to Blackstock for football, they might bring a fan base of somewhere between 25-75. 

I don't doubt that Wabash fills the home side of their football stadium better than DePauw, but I am certain that they do a considerably better job of filling the visitor's side, too.  You're hosting Witt who comes with a few hundred, we're hosting BSC who comes with 40.

It's actually Wooster who travels better than any other non-Wabash school in the NCAC that I've seen.  Scots fans have The Passion™. 

If they have a "The Passion" and they love to travel, what the heck is wrong with 45 miles and Alliance, Ohio? They apparently have dodged the bullet for two more years on a trip to The Raiders. A natural and an ole' OAC opponent too.

I think your going to get your wish this year only it might be in week 11, 12 or 13! The Scot are loaded and HUNGRY!

This seems like a good time to mention that I think the top three in the NCAC for 2009 are collectively going to be as good as the top three in our league have been for a long time...perhaps as long as a decade (going back to probably 2001 when Witt, OWU, and Wabash all were solid teams that had good seasons).  Wabash obviously is going to be pretty good with what they have returning and it will be interesting to see if and how much better/smoother they will be now that they've had a full season to learn and adjust to Raeburn's systems.  Wooster returns most of a team that almost earned a playoff spot last year and has their key game against Wabash at home.  Wittenberg was very, very young last season and were oh so close to beating Wabash last year.  They have all of that coming back and probably more importantly will have Huffman back as well (can't ever ever ever discount the importance of senior quarterbacks).  These three teams, I think, are all going to be very, very good teams and the games between them should all be fantastic games to watch. 

[rocketraider]

Wally you made a great point about what a team has to gain playing Mount in a non-conference game. From my point of view the only thing they can gain is the experience of playing Mount period. Film doesn't do the Raiders justice sometimes and the experience of playing them can be useful to see, firsthand their speed, execution and tenacity. Wheaton had faced them prior to their playoff meeting last year when Wheaton hung right with them and put some points on the board. I can't help but think that their prior experience helped them last year and the most recent playoff experience will help Wheaton players down the line.

Anyway, you made a great point and I'm sure that the same logic from potential opponents makes it tough for Mount to schedule those non-conference games.

[bashbrother]

Wally and others -

I am anxious to see how Hudson has matured and improved during the off-season.  NCAC OPOY is a strong award, but I think and hope he will come out and be even better.   

I am sure he has grown and is ready for Witt & Woo's talented defenses and could be scary good this year.

I think the running back spot will again be a little blurry for the Little Giants heading into camp.

ALSO:  Look for CC and his Drake Bulldogs to improve in their second year under his system.   

[wally_wabash]

I'm speculating on RB here, but I would have to guess that Sobecki is the #1 back and would be getting the majority of carries provided he can stay healthy which has been an unfortunate problem for him throughout his first three years.  The only way that I can see that a new guy supplants Sobecki at the top of the RB depth chart is if Raeburn has recruited a kid with Lafitte type talent which is not something that I've heard. 

[Pat Coleman]

Traditionally a loss to Mount hasn't hurt OAC teams looking for a Pool C bid, and the league has gotten 8-2 teams into the playoffs. I would suggest that a team that goes 8-2 with a conference loss and a Mount Union loss would still be in good shape for the postseason, ahead of every other 8-2 team and ahead of many 9-1 teams.

[wally_wabash]

Traditionally a loss to Mount hasn't hurt OAC teams looking for a Pool C bid, and the league has gotten 8-2 teams into the playoffs. I would suggest that a team that goes 8-2 with a conference loss and a Mount Union loss would still be in good shape for the postseason, ahead of every other 8-2 team and ahead of many 9-1 teams.

8-2 OAC teams can get in...8-2 CCIW teams can get in when the rest of the D-III wets the bed in week 11.  But can 8-2 NCAC teams get in?  I'd be less optimistic.  It certainly isn't impossible, but is it worth the risk?  Without precedent, I'd be wary. 

[frank uible]

It seems that if the playoffs were eliminated, we would have more interesting regular season games.

[Pat Coleman]

Traditionally a loss to Mount hasn't hurt OAC teams looking for a Pool C bid, and the league has gotten 8-2 teams into the playoffs. I would suggest that a team that goes 8-2 with a conference loss and a Mount Union loss would still be in good shape for the postseason, ahead of every other 8-2 team and ahead of many 9-1 teams.

8-2 OAC teams can get in...8-2 CCIW teams can get in when the rest of the D-III wets the bed in week 11.  But can 8-2 NCAC teams get in?  I'd be less optimistic.  It certainly isn't impossible, but is it worth the risk?  Without precedent, I'd be wary. 

If one of your losses is to Mount Union it changes things, whether you're in the OAC, WIAC, UAA or USAC.

[seinfeld]

Sad news. Dennis Collins, commissioner of the NCAC, passed away yesterday from a heart attack:

http://www.northcoast.org/news/collins.html

[D3_DPUFan]

ESPN's College Football Live will highlight Indiana July 13 as part of its 50 States in 50 Days Tour. Will be interesting to see if they give the Monon Bell Classic more than a mention...

Here's a link to the complete list:


http://sports.espn.go.com/sportsnation/news/story?page=50StatesTour

[frank uible]

What other intra-Indiana game would be more interesting? ND-Purdue? Naw. Purdue-Indiana? Naw. Valpo-Butler? You've got to be kidding.

[Li'l Giant]

the last time ESPN did this 50 states thing the Bell ended up getting more votes than the IU/Purdue hoops rivalry as the "best rivalry" in Indiana. Keep in mind I'm from LBJ's Texas so I'm more interested in voting results than how we get there. 

The votes this time appear to be centered on the "best" teams, players and coaches. Despite what I think about D3 and the level of competition of our game, I doubt that D3 teams are going to get much love.

Although, in Ohio's vote LK is in the "best coach" selection.

On a separate note I love how Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota get combined.

[OC_SID]

For the first day of the 50 States in 50 segment, Michigan was highlighted.

The editor sent an email about a month before the air date to all of the SIDs in Michigan, who sponsor football, asking for story ideas ... I responded with a short statement about Olivet vs Albion being one of the oldest rivalries for Division III schools and 2004 game where Olivet snapped a 28-year losing streak ... That editor wrote back on the day of the show (and 2 hours before it started) and requested pictures or video from the '04 game ... I sent them and they were used.