FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[oldtiger]

Wow! A "discussion" re: a potential replacement for a conference team still on the schedule  leads to how travel concerns may factor in the decision of whom replaces the "dead team passing."

A "guy" signs up for the site, proposes the conference not only doesn't want the arch rival of the reigning champion; hell, they don't even want the champ. Why not make the conference race wide open and eliminate all schools beginning with "W?" That should really minimize the carbon footprint that has been kicking some conference members around.

Now ... the audacity of some newbie to propose deposing the beloved champ leads a loyal follower to take his ball and head to the house. He'll just draft his own conference which, while limited in size and slighly "Title IX challenged", will be comprised solely of bitter rivals. The Central IN Division of the Monon Conference sponsered by Testosterone and railroad spikes is scheduled to debut for the '10 season.

The purported  original replacee catches wind of no more "W" teams in the mix and decides they've now got a shot at some serious hardware, even if their Pres. limits practice to every other odd Thursday, and go nowhere.

[LGHistorian]

Wes-

  I would not anticipate that Wabash would regret its outlier status in the NCAC.  Had the administration been given accurate information on being welcomed with open arms to the CCIW the Little Giants would have been the eastern-most full member of that conference.

oldtiger-
   
Just think though, if the NCAC gave us the boot, there would be no more kool aid drinking posters claiming their next freshman class will be greater than sliced bread, the chants of "Ohio *****" would be a faint memory and you wouldn't have to scroll down through the endless sniping between WC and DPU alums which starts several weeks before the game (or does it ever end?) on the NCAC board.  Peace would once again come to the valley!

[D3 Guy]

I've seen a lot of good points made on the subject of who could replace Earlham (if they are leaving) and I know this is a football forum (my favorite sport) but to listen to many of the posts one would assume Wabash and the schools that start with a W dominate the league! As many of you know these schools have had and I think will continue to be forces in football, but a league such as the NCAC is more than just one sport, lets look at the NCAC all sport trophy as the true reading of school strength and low and behold I came accross this........




The final 2008-09 All-Sports standings are as follows: 1. Denison (159.5); 1. Ohio Wesleyan; 3. Wittenberg (147.0); 4. Allegheny (141.0); 5. Wooster (139.5); 6. Kenyon (137.5); 7. Oberlin (108.5); 8. Wabash (66.0); 9. Hiram (57.5); 10. Earlham (51.0).

The NCAC All-Sports Championship is awarded annually to the school that performs best across the NCAC's 22 sponsored sports. Ten points are awarded for a first-place finish, nine for a second, eight for a third, and so on.  Men's and women's performances are combined, exemplifying the North Coast's commitment to equity and balance among programs. Denison leads all NCAC institutions with 11 All-Sports Awards.  Ohio Wesleyan is second with nine trophy's followed by Wooster (five) and Wittenberg (one).


I can't help but notice if you double  the Wabash point total to account for the all male school status that would still put Wabash 7th in the most recent all sports race.

Hey, I'm new around here and just trying to show a different point of view, as for who to add to the league maybe an  Indiana school is not such a bad idea.

[oldtiger]

Wes-

And there would be no "Wabash Week" which would truely be a shame. The highly competetive, emotionally charged contests are responsible for the greatest challenges and most vivid memories.

I certainly was not proposing, or supporting, the NCAC w/o Wabash. It seems rather ludicrous to me.

It was mentioned in a post and seemed, to me, to grow legs.

[wally_wabash]

As a matter of fact it's possible the league may revisit the travel to Wabash and the fact that as the only all male school in a league founded in large part to provide equal rights to both male and female athletes...

Men's and women's performances are combined, exemplifying the North Coast's commitment to equity and balance among programs.

I can't help but notice if you double  the Wabash point total to account for the all male school status that would still put Wabash 7th in the most recent all sports race.

I was going to let this go, but this is twice now that you've brought this up...

You seem to be pretty hung up on the composition of Wabash's student body.  In fact, you seem to be insinuating that Wabash is actively discriminatory, and quite frankly, you couldn't be further off base.  All-male doesn't equate to anti-female.  Not even close.  If I'm reading you wrong, please clarify. 

The composition of Wabash's student body is not different today than it was a decade ago when Wabash was accepted as a member of the NCAC.  If a single sex institution was ok in 1999, why would it be a problem today?  The NCAC's championing of equal opportunity for both sexes is as strong today as it was then for sure. 

[fantastic50]

Wabash travels better than any other school in the conference.

I think that Wooster could make an argument on this one, although Wabash would probably take far more fans on the road than any other NCAC school if they were centrally located within the league.

Someone who would know told me that Earlham is leaving, although it's not yet official.  However, I don't see Wabash being forced out of the conference, for many of the reasons previously stated, nor have I heard any rumors of that except on this board.  I think that the NCAC will eventually want to get back to an even number of teams, but not that way.

[D3 Guy]

I have no problem with Wabash in the league as an all male school, as noted Wabash was invited into the league and has been a good member. I do though wonder if as the only Indiana school, if Earlham is leaving, how good a fit the school will continue to be in the future. Having said that I do not think the NCAC should or even could ask Wabash to leave. To balance the league Depauw would be a good fit, but if the league picks up a Pa. school you might want to get a map out and look at the future with one school being a bit away fromeverybody else, it might not be best for everyone involved. Just my thoughts though, and I do think the league will move to seek out a new member.

[short]

Maybe Wabash could start a new League,

Wabash
Depauw
Wittenburg
Wooster
W&J
JCU
Centre
CWRU

EC stays in the NCAC and it looks like this
EC
OWU
Denison
Hiram
Oberlin
Kenyon
Allegheny
and they pick up CMU

[DPU3619]

I don't want this to come off the wrong way, but I really don't understand all this Centre talk.  They're one of the three charter members of the SCAC still left in the conference (Rhodes & Sewanee).  They like being in the SCAC.  They'll probably continue to be in the SCAC no matter what.  They've been there for almost 50 years.

I don't think that should be a feasible option for anybody to consider.  Even if you sweeten the deal for them with no more flights and a bunch of short bus rides, I still don't think they bite.

[bashbrother]

NCAC West

Wabash
Witt
Depauw
Denison
OWU
Franklin

NCAC East

Wash & Jeff
Wooster
Gheny
Hiram
Kenyon
Oberlin

Championship Game held at the Horseshoe in Columbus every year.   

Would open up a few nice slots for non-conference games.

[wally_wabash]

I have no problem with Wabash in the league as an all male school, as noted Wabash was invited into the league and has been a good member. I do though wonder if as the only Indiana school, if Earlham is leaving, how good a fit the school will continue to be in the future. Having said that I do not think the NCAC should or even could ask Wabash to leave. To balance the league Depauw would be a good fit, but if the league picks up a Pa. school you might want to get a map out and look at the future with one school being a bit away fromeverybody else, it might not be best for everyone involved. Just my thoughts though, and I do think the league will move to seek out a new member.

Thanks for the clarification, D3Guy. 

Earlham is about a 3 wood away from being in Ohio, so I'm not sure I can latch on to the idea that Wabash is palatable because Earlham is also in the same state.  Wabash, as LG mentioned in a previous post, was always by far the westernmost team in the league. 

CWRU, CMU, Centre, and W&J are all already in leagues that they like.  The UAA is all kinds of spread out, but CWRU and CMU seem to be ok with that.  Ditto Centre and the SCAC.  Why would W&J leave the PAC?  It's a good geographical fit.  The situation right now is that the NCAC is by most accounts about to lose a member.  The league's options are to get a replacement team or stick with nine (I don't think that ask Wabash to leave is really an option...it just doesn't make sense).  There's one school out there that fits the the NCAC profile and could very much benefit by moving to a new league: DePauw.  It's win-win as far as I can tell. 

[Li'l Giant]

From the NCAC webpage:



Yes, we are by far the westernmost school. Earlham is closer to Wittenberg than it is to Wabash.

I agree with Wally, if the Quakers are indeed gone, and the NCAC decides to add a team, I would like that team to be DePauw. It makes the map look a lot nicer.

[formerd3db]

Wally and Lil'Giant:

I agree with you re: DePauw being a great and logical fit for Wabash and the NCAC.  However, as we all know, will the DePauw people ever feel that way and/or agree to it??  Of course, regardless of what transpires in that regard, it won't have an effect on the Monon Bell (it shouldn't!).  It will be interesting to see what the end result of all this turns out to be.

[short]

John Carroll Wants in the NCAC Badly that is common knowledge among High School Coaches in the Cleveland area.  I still believe W&J would gladly make the move to the NCAC if asked and Washington Pa 45 minutes closer to Ohio (right on I-70) than Pittsburgh so again look at the map. I would love to see us add both WJ and Depauw and drop Hiram the school that adds the least to the NCAC.  However, W&J is a better fit for everyone involved but Wabash and maybe Wittenburg.  The last thing the NCAC needs is two divisions that befits NO-ONE! Just make two leagues.
When it comes to Centre I would not be surprised if the SCAC folds up in the next few years.  I have heard rumor of a new Southern Leagues in the works

Rhodes (Tn)
Sewannee (Tn)
Maryville (Tn)
LaGrange (Ga)
Birmingham Southern (Al)
Huntington (Al)
Millsapes (Ms)
Mississippi College (Ms)

Making the Longest trip Jackson Ms to Maryville Tn 7h 38mm only 10mm longer than the 7h 28mm drive from Meadville Pa to Greencastle In.  Meanwhile Washington Pa to Greencastle in is only 6h 14mm (Crawfordsville 6h 13mm).

[wally_wabash]

However, W&J is a better fit for everyone involved but Wabash and maybe Wittenburg.  

Shorter travel distance doesn't necessarily equal best fit.  We're not talking about traveling cross country here...it's a couple of extra hours on a bus.  This isn't crushing anybody.  If an extra 150 miles a few times a year is the straw that breaks the budget's back, then our athletic departments have far bigger issues to deal with. 

I've beaten my case for an invitation to DePauw into the ground.  Maybe the better question to ask here is why not DePauw?  Seriously, other than saving a few bucks on gas (which I don't think is a dealbreaker...most of the conference has recently spent millions and millions and millions of dollars on upgrades to the athletics programs...gas money is NOT the issue), why not DePauw?  Who brings the academic and athletic profile to the conference that DePauw does?