FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Wally,

good insight...  Good luck this fall.

And to your men in blue is as well...btw, the throwback uni day that CWRU is doing this year is awesome.  I'm a little bit jealous.   

I too may put my money on Woo this year as well (with Short). Things are looking very good for the boys and 8-2 is not an option. I see your reasoning in matchups and returning starters but there is something special brewing in Wooster and its gonna make for a great year. The D will be the backbone of this years squad.... 8)

The Scots will be tough.  I think this is easily their best team since 2004 and they'll be a strong contender for the NCAC.  Wabash's trip up to the Papp is going to be one heck of an intense game this season. 

[Black n Gold]

Wally,

If it wern't for the 4 hour drive.........this would be a good matchup under the new Lighting System installed.

[wally_wabash]

Oh c'mon BnG!  It's between 5-6 hours for me and I'll be there.  I love traveling out to games at Wooster.  The Papp is one of my favorite non-Hollett stadiums.  And just one week after Wabash/Witt...that's going to be a tremendous seven days.   

[Black n Gold]

Sorry Wally

I put the pedal to the metal when headed your way. Lucky us this year, we get to go out to Wash. U.......I believe I'll be taking a plane the week of the Oct. 17th game

[wabco]

A couple of random prewseason thoughts:
1) DePauw will be a good team this year (Darn ... that was hard to say)
2) Case will be a good team as well this year. (Not so hard to say and a fun team to play against.  Not because we won the last couple but because they are good student athletes, well coached, and good motivated sportsmen .... the same can be said for the Dannies ... .)
3) Witt will be a good team as well this year. (Same aside comments except a little short on the sportsmanship.)
4) Woo will be a good team as well.  (Not so hard to say and a fun team to play against.  They are good student athletes, well coached, and good motivated sportsmen .... .)
5) Wash U  will also be there ... same aside comments.
6) Gheny will suprise some.  Same aside comments.
7) Wisc Whitewater ... you go

Lastly, it is a mystery to me how Wabash stumbled against the Dannies and against Wheaton at the end of the season.  Not that we might lose but getting our nose broiken in the process.  I do know that our center (who was - at least in my view - the heart and soul leader of the O) was playing so hurt that he simply could not go on ... some serious operations after season end, the Genises of which he largely kept to himself. But there isa no excuse.  We coughed it up.  I believe our D line will be fine thank you very much and play in concert with the LBers to put up good D performances. O will be there.  Memory of DePauw and Wheaton will be there.  It should be a great year for all thye teams I aluded to above.  It is all their year to shine.  Which will it be ... which will it be.  I pick the Little Giants, I believe they have the returners, the heart and experience, and the memory of never again.

[fantastic50]

The Wooster-CWRU game should be particularly interesting due to being the first-ever night game at Wooster.  I won't be shocked if it's a standing-room-only crowd at Papp Stadium.  With that in mind, I think that the game is a toss-up.

[short]

I have already done this for the Offensive side of the ball and after a little research here are the Top Defensive units of Wooster, Wabash, and Witt.  Wooster returns 8 starter including 3 1st Team All-NCAC players.  Losing only DT's Byrne, Brown, and CB Ross off of a Unit that continued to get better all year long and Shutout Witt in the last game of the year (Witt's TD was in INT return).  Plus they return the Front runner for the Defensive player of the year award in DeGrand.  Wittenburg returns 7 starts on Defense including 3 1st Team All-NCAC players.  Wabash returns 6 starts if you count Fredrick and I do because he started most of the season and was 2nd Team all-ncac.  Plus Wabash gets  2007 All-NCAC player Matt Kraft back in the LB core. Here how I see the Position matching up.

[short]

Defensive Line

All three took major hits and I don't see a big difference in the 3 groups yet.

1)   Wabash might have the least returning starts but Whyde is a STUD! I think he is Wabash's best chance to NCAC Defensive Player of the year.  Plus, guys like McClintic, Cloggins, and Brock provide to be more than quality backups a year ago with plenty of time under their belts.
2)   Wooster, with Wade, Drake, Moore, and Kurt Brown all back this group barley edges out Wittenburg's group.  Wooster will not be lacking size up front.
3)   Wittenburg returns Vallery off a nice sophomore season and I look for Sherer to take over where he a Davis left off.  The big question for Wittenburg will be SIZE Depth on the DL.  Little guys tend to get hurt easier than big guys and Witt is little up front.

[short]

Linebackers

All 3 return good groups but Wooster's is SPECIAL

1)   Wooster returns TWO 1st team all-ncac players in DeGrand and Custenborder.  Both player are Very athletic and can run.  DeGrand is not only great in coverage he is Great in the Run game.  His game reminds me his the way Pynenberg played. Add in Eric Keyes and you got a GREAT Group.  Plus this group has Depth with guys like Calijo, Stein, and Carlson.
2)   Wittenburg also returns TWO 1st team all-ncac players in McKinley and Lorhman.  McKinley is a worrier in the run game but a major liability in the passing game.  Witt also returns Hurtt and Maxwell who split time in 2008.
3)   Wabash returns what could be a great group.  For my money Watson is the most complete Middle backer in the NCAC. Add in a player like Kraft and this group will be just fine.

[short]

Defensive Backs

All 3 teams return 3 starts.

1)    Wittenburg returns the most talent with players like Rodriquez and Brown.  Brunic was also a solid in his starts the second half of the season.  
2)   Wooster has Bryan Albani back after being name 1st team all-ncac.  He is the only proven lockdown CB in the league.  They return both starting safeties and Trout looked good in the spring.
3)   Wabash, it's hard to believe I have them at 3rd of 3 with what they have coming back.  Fredrick is a stud and will be 1st all-ncac with 10 games started in 2009.  Both CB have great size and Athleticism.

[wally_wabash]

Plus they return the Front runner for the Defensive player of the year award in DeGrand.

Respectfully disagree here, short.  I think DPOY is McKinley's to lose. 

[short]

Plus they return the Front runner for the Defensive player of the year award in DeGrand.

Respectfully disagree here, short.  I think DPOY is McKinley's to lose.  

DeGrand was better than McKinley in almost ever stat!  Tackles, INTs, Sole Tackles, so on. Plus its well known the DeGrand finished 2nd in the voting last season.

[wally_wabash]

Plus they return the Front runner for the Defensive player of the year award in DeGrand.

Respectfully disagree here, short.  I think DPOY is McKinley's to lose.  

DeGrand was better than McKinley in almost ever stat!  Tackles, INTs, Sole Tackles, so on. Plus its well known the DeGrand finished 2nd in the voting last season.

You've got to take the total tackles number with a grain of salt.  I can't believe that everybody is tracking that stat uniformly, particularly assisted tackles. 

Again, DeGrand is good but I'm using the eye test here.  Matt DeGrand stood in the middle of a defense that Wabash quite literally ran over in 2008.  Brad McKinley stood in the middle of a defense that shut down and frustrated Wabash for 55 minutes and he was a HUGE part of that (12 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 breakups....the kid was absolutely everywhere).  In the two games that I've seen McKinley play against Wabash, he's left a pretty big impression. 

[wally_wabash]

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

If anybody was curious what's going to be discussed on the July 13 edition of CFB Live which will feature football in Indiana, here are the poll questions ESPN is looking for fan opinion on:

1) Which Notre Dame team was best?
2) Who is the best player to play football at Notre Dame?
3) Which is the best Notre Dame coach?
4) Which is the best team from a school other than Notre Dame?
5) Which is the best player to play college football at a school other than Notre Dame?

Get ready for a 30 minute Notre Dame infomercial on July 13. 

[D3_DPUFan]

If anybody was curious what's going to be discussed on the July 13 edition of CFB Live which will feature football in Indiana, here are the poll questions ESPN is looking for fan opinion on:

1) Which Notre Dame team was best?
2) Who is the best player to play football at Notre Dame?
3) Which is the best Notre Dame coach?
4) Which is the best team from a school other than Notre Dame?
5) Which is the best player to play college football at a school other than Notre Dame?

Get ready for a 30 minute Notre Dame infomercial on July 13. 

I saw the same thing and threw up in my mouth. While of course they are going to focus on ND and the DI programs I was holding out some hope that Bell rivalry would merit more than a passing mention...certainly they should mention a player like Metzelaars. I think they usually mention best in state rivalry...but I didn't see that on the poll page. We'll see...Guess we have to keep in mind that the folks in Bristol think Yankees-Red Sox are the ONLY MLB rivalary....and ND is still the gold standard for CFB programs...