FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Wally,

What schools in the NCAC will be the leaders in freshman football recruits for this fall? How have the Lil Giants normally done for incoming freshman?

Wittenberg and Wabash.  If you look at the league right now, there's a Grand Canyon sized talent gap between these two teams and everybody else in the NCAC. 

Speaking of Wabash specifically, I think it's pretty apparent that the LGs have recruited very well over the last 10 years.  Wabash has been quite good from Class of '03 (seniors that led Wabash to the regional final in 2002) through the present.  That's all recruiting...that's getting players on campus that want to be a part of something that is already very good and make it even better.  The young players that Wabash has brought in do quite well on the Red Squad (that's the JV team...I believe the Red Squad was 5-0 last season and have posted similiar records for a number of  years now).  The players are there for Wabash to continue to be at the top of the NCAC...getting into the next level nationally, as BashDad has said, is going to require a premeire running back.  That's the piece that the very best teams have that Wabash has been missing. 

[SaintsFAN]

The thing that may help Wabash early in developing a new O-line is that pass blocking is much easier to pick up then complicated run schemes.  Wabash, is a pass first offense (no matter what anyone says...it is.)  Under CC he recruited and coached it.  Now, under ER, the kids he may recruit may transition that over time.  Last years O-line was the last of the CC era I believe.

Another plus for early in the season, is that we will have a very mobile QB.  While still young, I think by August he will have seen enough to be more then ready.

Lastly, Wabash has recruited very well at o-line over the past 4 years and has, i believe, plenty of capable talent that has been waiting to be called on.

Maybe Wabash will rely on the inside and outside zone for their running plays?  Makes it much simpler for the offensive line to block.   At any rate, they are talented enough to get it done --- even against Wooster.

[Raider 68]

Wally,

What schools in the NCAC will be the leaders in freshman football recruits for this fall? How have the Lil Giants normally done for incoming freshman?

Wittenberg and Wabash.  If you look at the league right now, there's a Grand Canyon sized talent gap between these two teams and everybody else in the NCAC. 

Speaking of Wabash specifically, I think it's pretty apparent that the LGs have recruited very well over the last 10 years.  Wabash has been quite good from Class of '03 (seniors that led Wabash to the regional final in 2002) through the present.  That's all recruiting...that's getting players on campus that want to be a part of something that is already very good and make it even better.  The young players that Wabash has brought in do quite well on the Red Squad (that's the JV team...I believe the Red Squad was 5-0 last season and have posted similiar records for a number of  years now).  The players are there for Wabash to continue to be at the top of the NCAC...getting into the next level nationally, as BashDad has said, is going to require a premeire running back.  That's the piece that the very best teams have that Wabash has been missing. 

Not surprized by your response for Witt and Wabash, but Wooster appears
to be dropping down more each year.

[bashbrother]

I don't think it is as much that Wooster is dropping lately.  I think it is more that they have settled into their spot within the league.   Their teams the last couple years had some tremendous players, they just didn't have enough of them.   Wabash and Witt have benefited from very talented underclassman all contributing big time to their teams winning.

Guess is all comes down to recruiting.

[Raider 68]

I don't think it is as much that Wooster is dropping lately.  I think it is more that they have settled into their spot within the league.   Their teams the last couple years had some tremendous players, they just didn't have enough of them.   Wabash and Witt have benefited from very talented underclassman all contributing big time to their teams winning.

Guess is all comes down to recruiting.

It looks as though Witt and Wabash have beeter recruiting programs than Wooster, at least for the past few years!

[smedindy]

Wooster and Gheny are still respectable programs that can attract good kids, though I think Wooster did fail to take full advantage of the Sutton era.

The sleeping giant is OWU - I think they have the chance to be a player if they change some things...

[FightinScot]

I think Wooster did fail to take full advantage of the Sutton era.

Its hard to take advantage of "the Sutton era" when the offensive scheme  makes a 180. Guys were recruited to play in the grind-it-out run offense of the sutton years, only to be square pegs in round holes when the offense went to the spread option the last few years. I'm not to naive to think that the recruiting had nothing to do with the programs recent failure to take the next step, but there are several other things going on here.

[smedindy]

I think Wooster did fail to take full advantage of the Sutton era.

Its hard to take advantage of "the Sutton era" when the offensive scheme  makes a 180. Guys were recruited to play in the grind-it-out run offense of the sutton years, only to be square pegs in round holes when the offense went to the spread option the last few years. I'm not to naive to think that the recruiting had nothing to do with the programs recent failure to take the next step, but there are several other things going on here.

Well, doing a 180 on offense when the talent wasn't geared for it is really not taking advantage of the Sutton era...

[Raider 68]

Wooster and Gheny are still respectable programs that can attract good kids, though I think Wooster did fail to take full advantage of the Sutton era.

The sleeping giant is OWU - I think they have the chance to be a player if they change some things...

I have a fraternity brother, a Mount Alum who now works in a key area for OWU. Our last conversation, he mentioned the OWU (a great school academically) is really trying to improve many things there including facilities etc. Maybe you touched on something as well. I guess we just have to wait and see if and what happens!

[wally_wabash]

Facilities aren't what is holding OWU football back.  Philosphy and culture are. 

[wittdad]

Everybody wants to play for a winner. Most of the NCAC schools have quality recruiting staffs and all have outstanding academic offerings. Frequently family history plays a big part in where Junior tromps off to school. Finances, now more than ever in recent times, play a huge roll. What each school has to offer in grants, scholarships, etc. is such a big part. Tigers and LGs will have their down times. Look what happened to Witt in the 08-09 season. 40% of the scheduled starters are out by 2nd game; most for season. Many folks not near to the program are under the impression that Huffman was the only loss. Far from the truth. It may be hard to imagine a couple of schools ever again being at or near the top in football but look at all sports offered including woman's. Think it was the 07 season that Kenyon was in the top 10 nationally in D-3 sports overall nationally?

[Raider 68]

Everybody wants to play for a winner. Most of the NCAC schools have quality recruiting staffs and all have outstanding academic offerings. Frequently family history plays a big part in where Junior tromps off to school. Finances, now more than ever in recent times, play a huge roll. What each school has to offer in grants, scholarships, etc. is such a big part. Tigers and LGs will have their down times. Look what happened to Witt in the 08-09 season. 40% of the scheduled starters are out by 2nd game; most for season. Many folks not near to the program are under the impression that Huffman was the only loss. Far from the truth. It may be hard to imagine a couple of schools ever again being at or near the top in football but look at all sports offered including woman's. Think it was the 07 season that Kenyon was in the top 10 nationally in D-3 sports overall nationally?

Great programs sustain themselves by a great system. While recruiting is at the top of the list, the JV programs serve to instill the program's success. If a program recruits only players for one type of offense, yet the talents are geared to another (i.e. Wooster- Sutton) example, then the coaches have not defined their system.  A team does not always have that big QB with a strong arm, so a team has to adapt and the teams that can will be more successful over the long period IMHO.

[Joe Wally]

More recruiting news. 

The Gary Post Tribune reports that Crown Point High School's Chris Shimley will attend Wabash this fall.  Shimley played on the offensive and defensive lines for the bulldogs, and was a team captain.  On the down side, he is only 5'8 according to a bio I have found for him. 

Even at the D3 level, that's a short lineman.

[wittdad]

Look at the accolades received by  Wittenberg's Dillon Hollin. Not real big but good technique. Fell into his roll via injuries in training and adapted to O-line positions he was not used to playing.

[Raider 68]

More recruiting news. 

The Gary Post Tribune reports that Crown Point High School's Chris Shimley will attend Wabash this fall.  Shimley played on the offensive and defensive lines for the bulldogs, and was a team captain.  On the down side, he is only 5'8 according to a bio I have found for him. 

Even at the D3 level, that's a short lineman.

Would be great if he had a wrestling background for strength!