FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[DPU3619]

(By the by, someone from DPU was whining some months ago about how the conference re-alignment would damage recruiting, what with the lack of plane trips and all. While I have my doubts regarding that argument's validity, I will say that the perceived "product" of Wabash football after these renovations will almost assuredly be above that of Depauw. That's a problem for the tigers, I think. We'll see how it plays out.)

For the record, I think the argument that the NCAC hurts recruiting is a bunch of baloney.  If you start taking recruits away from Wittenberg, you're getting better as a football team.  Also for the record, if DePauw keeps beating Wabash half the time, I don't think the perceived product matters very much.

Can't believe that DPU won't take some of that money that they aren't spending to fly all over the country for league games and spend it on some facilities upgrades.  Oberlin, Hiram, and (in 2012) DPU will be the only schools in the conference not playing on new-style artificial turf.  My guess is that Blackstock has a new surface by 2014. 

They will, I believe.  Probably sooner than 2014.  I understand it's trying to get pushed through as we speak.  DePauw's endowment has a taken a little harder than most, percentage wise, which I think has slowed the spending dramatically.  My guess is it gets done sooner than later.  Whenever it gets done, it can't come soon enough, if you ask me.

[BashDad]

Also for the record, if DePauw keeps beating Wabash half the time, I don't think the perceived product matters very much.

Agreed. Sort of.

In 2001, Wabash unveiled Knowling Field House. Since then, the program has won a handful of championships (including four in a row with the first cycle of seniors post-upgrade) and won the bell 7 times. You may argue that it's just history finding its center, but from this 2001 recruit, I'll tell you that there was a dramatic difference in how both places felt and it seems I wasn't alone. There's a gap in the level of facilities (and how ambitiously they're utilized; 12,000 with brick behind you is lot more impressive to a visiting recruit than 8,000 in open air) and with the current renovations, it's growing wider.

Also: we have Chase Belton. So there.

[Backer25]

Also for the record, if DePauw keeps beating Wabash half the time, I don't think the perceived product matters very much.

Also: we have Chase Belton. So there.

AND BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE!!!!

[wabco]

Guys

We have a good group of Frosh coming in who will contribute and a great group of upper classmen who knoiw the system and have been working hard off season to get better faster stronger.  We have Belton and we also have Miracle and other QBs ... we have a pretty wide open RB situation with a couple with a step or two on the others (or so we think).  Wabash respects seniority in the program over "always use the younger guys".  Witness the new starting (but with plenty of playing experience behind them) O line to be determined. 

I, for one, root for Belton and for Miracle and all of them and wish they could all start ... and if not ... then all play as much as possible.  I just have to go back to a first team (coach what were you thinking of) hands team play or the injury in the Wash U game to reinforce: ... we have Belton AND we have Miracle and we have a whole bunch of qualified others and a stable of RBs who will supprise this year I believe.  And watch for the emerging next generation receivers ... the Brady Youngs of tomorrow or even later today.  I haven't even gotten to D yet.

Ready for the little rubber pellets to start jumping up in and out of the turf.   

   

[OC_SID]

Olivet's turf is six years old this fall. The red in it is still the same bright red it was when it was put down. There are no signs of the turf being sun-bleached. Our turf was put down by a Michigan company, General SportsTurf.

[BashBacker#16]

Apparently the crew that is doing the turf at Hollett Little Giant Stadium arrived from Ann Arbor - as in the Big House (pretty cool).  Making progress - http://www.wabash.edu/photo_album/home.cfm?photo_id=17640&photo_album_id=2473

Switching topics, how awful is this:  http://www.post-trib.com/sports/2545554,mlazerus-0729.article
That's really a shame.  Thoughts and prayers go out to Mike and his family, hoping for a fast recovery.

D Newcomer of the year in the NCAC...BB16 prediction:  Wabash LB Nate Scola

[ADL70]

D Newcomer of the year in the NCAC...BB16 prediction:  Wabash LB Nate Scola

Not so likely, he has apparently changed his mind about Wabash and is staying in Arizona.  At least according to this report:

http://www.ajnews.com/vol14/080910/pdfs/0809_com_AJNW_B1.pdf

[DPU3619]

In 2001, Wabash unveiled Knowling Field House. Since then, the program has won a handful of championships (including four in a row with the first cycle of seniors post-upgrade) and won the bell 7 times. You may argue that it's just history finding its center, but from this 2001 recruit, I'll tell you that there was a dramatic difference in how both places felt and it seems I wasn't alone. There's a gap in the level of facilities (and how ambitiously they're utilized; 12,000 with brick behind you is lot more impressive to a visiting recruit than 8,000 in open air) and with the current renovations, it's growing wider.

Also: we have Chase Belton. So there.

No, you've won 6 of 9.  To get to your 7th, you have to go to 1995.  I can play that game about why DePauw has won 2 of 3, split the last 6, won 8 of 14, or is 12-10-1 in the last 23 with a million different examples.  I won't, because it doesn't matter when it comes to these 2 teams.  Being the better team doesn't matter.  Recruiting the pants off the other doesn't matter.  Playing a tougher schedule doesn't matter.  Time has proven that regardless of where these two programs are, regardless who won the last 1, 2, 4, or 7, the series will even itself (or get close to even) eventually.

On your other point, you do indeed have Chase Belton. That's going to get you a long way.  I'm already on the record on that issue.  But, what does that mean for the Bell game? One of my favorite parts of this game is when you get QBs who haven't yet played in the last game of the fall.  That's always a factor.  It'll be a factor on both sidelines this year.  I'm looking forward to that aspect, in particular.

[D3_DPUFan]

I look forward to checking out the improvements in Crawfordsville later this year..I'm sure they will be nice.  DePauw is overdue for some improvements...but one thing I hope they don't do is install turf. They guy they got a few years back has done a really nice job with the field. What was a pretty crappy track a few years ago is now, I think, in pretty good shape. No doubt the artificial stuff has improved dramatically over the years but is never going to be better than a good natural turf field, IMHO...except of course in bad weather.     

[BashBacker#16]

ADL70,


NEWS ALERT FROM WABCOL:

Nate Scola is on campus!!!!!!!!!

[bashbrother]

Sounds like he got some cold feet (play around home) and then made the right decision and made the trip to Crawfordsville.

Bravo!

WAF!

[smedindy]

Ask BashDad about '04 Allegheny.   I don't think that game was much fun.

Hey, there's mud and then there's Allegheny mud. Wasn't talking about that!

I guess I watched a lot of NFL Football Follies at an impressionable age.

[wally_wabash]

Little Giants report today!  Here we go...

[DPU3619]

Little Giants report today!  Here we go...

Us too. 89 days.

[wally_wabash]

Little Giants report today!  Here we go...

Us too. 89 days.

Get back to me in 83 days...got something else to take care of before I get too riled up about Monon Bell.