FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

Who gives a flip. Wabash next season has to wait 8 friggin' weeks before we know where that team is at. That sucks.

This is exactly the point.     

[UChicago Maroon]

No slight to Wash U being 3-5 vs NCAC because they have played both Bash + Witt and the Bears did defeat Witt in 2008.  They play both for the next two seasons as well, also adding Oberlin + Wooster.

I believe the NCAC/UAA schedule began as a power-rated cross-over schedule like the traditional NCAC approach( in 2005/2006) when the original agreement was OK'ed.  Case was no yet on their roll when these games were originally scheduled, so the Spartans were scheduled vs lesser opponents.  CMU was the UAA champion in 2006 and UChicago won in 2005, while Wash U was coming off solid 7-3 and 6-4 seasons.

Location I am sure played a big part in scheduling as well.  Wabash is closer To St. Louis + Chicago than any other NCAC school, so they got paired with UChicago + Wash U each year through 2011.  Some NCAC schools do not like to travel overnight, so that also could be a factor. 

Who will DePauw play from the UAA?  They played UChicago for many years prior to adding teams to the SCAC and then the game won't fit any longer.

[DPU3619]

And just for the record, Wabash and DPU have not always played "the last game every fall." The last time it happened was in 1945 when it was played on 9/23/45, the 3rd of a 6 game schedule.

Would it be difficult to adjust to playing the game in the middle of the season...you bet.  Would the conference legislate one of the best small college rivalries out of existence once every four or five years?  You have got to be kidding me!!!  The college presidents are in control of the conference, yes, but I do give them credit for at least a little common sense about some of their decisions concerning athletics.

All good points, certainly, but my personal feeling is that this is a rivalry based almost entirely on nostalgia.  Yes, most are to some degree like OSU/Mich, Yanks/Sox, Celtics/Lakers, but this one is so much more so.  We've stolen the Bell.  We've buried the bell.  All those videos from the 60's have huge W's painted on the field at Blackstock.  Somebody shows up in my town and paints that same damned big red W on the bridge just north of the city every single time somebody paints over it. 

To me, despite it not being the last game every fall for all 114 years that we've played it, it is the last game every fall now.  As a staunch believer that everything else related to both programs is a distant second to that fooball game, I could not stand for that game being moved out of Week 11.  I'd just as soon have stayed in the SCAC if that were going to be the case.  I think that would be a travesty.  "The last game every fall" has become one of the greatest parts of this tradition, in my opinion. 

[D3_DPUFan]

All good points, certainly, but my personal feeling is that this is a rivalry based almost entirely on nostalgia.  Yes, most are to some degree like OSU/Mich, Yanks/Sox, Celtics/Lakers, but this one is so much more so.  We've stolen the Bell.  We've buried the bell.  All those videos from the 60's have huge W's painted on the field at Blackstock.  Somebody shows up in my town and paints that same damned big red W on the bridge just north of the city every single time somebody paints over it. 

To me, despite it not being the last game every fall for all 114 years that we've played it, it is the last game every fall now.  As a staunch believer that everything else related to both programs is a distant second to that fooball game, I could not stand for that game being moved out of Week 11.  I'd just as soon have stayed in the SCAC if that were going to be the case.  I think that would be a travesty.  "The last game every fall" has become one of the greatest parts of this tradition, in my opinion. 

Well said.

[Ralph Turner]

...
And just for the record, Wabash and DPU have not always played "the last game every fall." The last time it happened was in 1945 when it was played on 9/23/45, the 3rd of a 6 game schedule.

On 9/23/45, DPU and Wabash were just happy to be playing football without a world war going on.

[smedindy]

I'm pretty sure he's in a position to know of what he speaks.

At least in 2012 Wabash will have one game to schedule outside the agreement.

I'm not sure that CWRU has any choice in which NCAC teams it plays.  I think the problem with the NCAC schedule process is that its power ratings are outdated by the time they are used to schedule.

Playing in the big UAA cities gives an opportunity for an alumni event

Yes. 

Who gives a flip. Wabash next season has to wait 8 friggin' weeks before we know where that team is at. That sucks. What benefit--for a football program--is there in aligning yourself with academically reputable, though athletically mediocre schools? If Kenyon, Hiram, and all the rest of the schools in our conference want to schedule those programs, I say terrific. If it's mandated, I cry foul. It's a waste of time and a detriment to the programs that want to push through to the top ten in the country. Ugh.

I wouldn't call the UAA "athletically mediocre". Perhaps not up to elite football level, but I wouldn't call them poor. In other sports (especially hoops) the UAA could run roughshod over most of the NCAC.

[Li'l Giant]

To me, despite it not being the last game every fall for all 114 years that we've played it, it is the last game every fall now.  As a staunch believer that everything else related to both programs is a distant second to that fooball game, I could not stand for that game being moved out of Week 11.  I'd just as soon have stayed in the SCAC if that were going to be the case.  I think that would be a travesty.  "The last game every fall" has become one of the greatest parts of this tradition, in my opinion.

I agree 100%. As great as it will be to have DPU in the conference I'd rather it not have happened if it means that the Bell Game is moved around the schedule.

[BayernFan]

So the NCAC may want some more schools in expansion?  Are they going after Texas and OK State, too?  Maybe they should go get Pitt so as to give Gheny a natural rival.  vbg

Good to see DePauw where it belongs.  Now we can beat them for the Bell AND for the conference championship.

[nike]

The only thing that will increase attendance at Selby will be victories.  Will be at that game and hope there won't be too much drinking.  Selby is huge and with lights and artificial turf, I can't imagine how cool a game would be with that place full.

[cave2bens]

So the NCAC may want some more schools in expansion?  Are they going after Texas and OK State, too?  Maybe they should go get Pitt so as to give Gheny a natural rival.  vbg

While cynicism is at a peak, why not just out-hustle Delaney and the Big Ten (twelve, whatever...) for the services of the Domers?  Built-in TV revenue without awaiting the NCAC channel on ESPN 214.5?  

[Mr. Ypsi]

So the NCAC may want some more schools in expansion?  Are they going after Texas and OK State, too?  Maybe they should go get Pitt so as to give Gheny a natural rival.  vbg

While cynicism is at a peak, why not just out-hustle Delaney and the Big Ten (twelve, whatever...) for the services of the Domers?  Built-in TV revenue without awaiting the NCAC channel on ESPN 214.5?  

I suspect that the first ND/Oberlin game would pretty-much kill the TV contract!

Though there might be interest in Battling Bishops vs. Fighting Irish - at least on the boxing channel!   (And apparently many Irish would like to battle some Catholic bishops about now. )

A Fighting Irish vs. "Wabash Always Fights" game might also be of interest!  Bring on the cages!

[Li'l Giant]

Since the Big12/Pac10 debacle has been brought up it's certainly interesting sitting here just an hour's drive south of the epicenter.

I must say that despite being a lifelong fan of the Texas Longhorns with many family, friends and colleagues who are alumni, I've still been turned off by what has happened this past week. Everyone chasing after, circling around, and hitching their wagons to the Big Orange Machine and its trail of dollars has made me really glad my alma mater is a D3 team.

[Raider 68]

Since the Big12/Pac10 debacle has been brought up it's certainly interesting sitting here just an hour's drive south of the epicenter.

I must say that despite being a lifelong fan of the Texas Longhorns with many family, friends and colleagues who are alumni, I've still been turned off by what has happened this past week. Everyone chasing after, circling around, and hitching their wagons to the Big Orange Machine and its trail of dollars has made me really glad my alma mater is a D3 team.

Well said, I am glad D3 football exists! +k for you

[DadofBashWarrior..]

I am looking forward to a great season for Wabash again...There is always room to improve...One area that seems like it could use some change is in the area of penalties

Last year we had key penalties that cost us dearly...

Here is where we ranked in the conference last year...

PENALTIES                G   No  Yds Avg/G
------------------------------------------
1. Wittenberg.......... 13   62  594  45.7
2. Denison............. 10   51  481  48.1
3. Oberlin............. 10   55  493  49.3
4. Kenyon.............. 10   54  510  51.0
5. Earlham............. 10   55  544  54.4
6. Ohio Wesleyan....... 10   62  563  56.3
7. Allegheny........... 10   66  589  58.9
8. Wooster............. 10   64  603  60.3
9. Hiram............... 10   68  641  64.1
10.Wabash.............. 11   77  710  64.5

[bashbrother]

Looking at that chart, I must give credit where credit is due.   Wittenberg has really cleaned this area up recently and concentrated on playing great football.   Props to them.

Crow doesn't taste that great.