FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

This is the coolest: http://blogs.wabash.edu/fyi/2010/08/25/football-field-gets-finishing-touches/

What a huge, beautiful project this was and is. It's just awesome.

QFT. 

It's been fun to watch this project progress over the course of the summer.  The media crew on hand at Wabash this summer has done a tremendous job of keeping us all satiated with blog updates, photo albums, and of course the spectacular time-lapse video that is available now. 

I knew this was going to be a great project, but I think I may have underestimated just how much this project was going to add to the look and feel of Hollett.  I think it all looks incredible and I think it's going to make the "stage" feel even a little bigger than maybe it has before.  How great is this going to look on November 13, with the stadium "bowled" in, on HDNet???

Can't wait to see the team come out of the tunnel and onto the field for the first time on Sept. 11.  It's going to be a cool moment for sure. 

[Raider 68]

Wooster scrimmages John Carroll this afternoon at Wooster. If anyone happens to make it and can provide an update, it would be appreciated.

The general impression of how the scrimmage went "may" tell us if JCU is ready for CWRU in their opener and likewise how will Wooster do against B-W, we'll see!

[wally_wabash]

Wooster scrimmages John Carroll this afternoon at Wooster. If anyone happens to make it and can provide an update, it would be appreciated.

The general impression of how the scrimmage went "may" tell us if JCU is ready for CWRU in their opener and likewise how will Wooster do against B-W, we'll see!

Can I take from this that you'd think JCU is a dog to CWRU?  I almost put this game in the pick 'ems...I would have had JCU giving a few points. 

[The_Bishop]

Nothing beats a game in the rain/snow and mud.

Unless you're in Meadville.

[smedindy]

Nothing beats a game in the rain/snow and mud.

Unless you're in Meadville.

That place was the exception to the rule!

[DarkSide-D]

Mudville was a mess!!

I remember playing in Mudville back in '02.  It was as if the powers that be left the sprinklers on all night, which would not surprise me.  The bus pulled up to the stadium, on the gravel path, no problems.  But the field was so saturated that when we walked on the field we sank into the turf.  Needless to say that after the game it looked as though the field had been plowed.  Yes it was a mess, but it remains one of my favorite memories.

[bashbrother]

Nothing beats a game in the rain/snow and mud.

Unless you're in Meadville.

That place was the exception to the rule!

Nothing beats a game that you win.   Losing no matter what the condition still sucks.   Getting blown out at UWW in a driving snow a few years back probably wasn't too much fun for the Wabash players.  Although, as a spectator, it was a blast.  (Well the drive home sucked)  

[FightinScot]

Wooster scrimmages John Carroll this afternoon at Wooster. If anyone happens to make it and can provide an update, it would be appreciated.

Last I heard it was 7-6 JCU at the end of the half. They only played one "game-style" half, then did situations. I guess JCU blocked the PAT attempt on a drill that was not live, but thats still no excuse IMO. I'll get specifics on the situational periods, although I hear Woo looked good. Nobody's expecting too much from them this year, myself included - maybe they'll surprise somebody early 

[wally_wabash]

Red/White scrimmage is happening tomorrow afternoon.  I'll be tweeting updates as it happens.  Follow me...follow me to freedom!! 

[bashbrother]

The Red/White being held on the new field I hope?

They sure didn't leave too much time to spare on finishing the project. 

[BashDad]

Nice, Wally. Thanks for that.

As an aside, for those interested/frustrated/elated by the development of I-69, my brother helped with a new book written about the project-- and by a Depauw grad, no less.

http://www.depauw.edu/news/?id=25674

[HScoach]

Please consider this post an "open invitation" to participate in the OAC Pick-Em's contest.    Over the years there have been quite a few NCAC guys that cross-over into the OAC page, some of which have matched wits in the pick-ems.

We had 63 participants in our 2009 contest with about half of them from outside of the OAC page.  If anyone is interested, the spreads for Week 1 have been posted.

Please note however the season actually opens on Thursday, September 2nd so I'll need your picks by kick-off on Thursday.

THANKS

HScoach

[wooalum05]

DD, That Meadville game my cleat was sucked off my foot in the huddle but it was good ol'fashion OL football Power Left Power Right and Counter. 

Going to miss seeing the three W's play 3 yards and a splash of mud in the rain, clouds of pellets are just not the same.

[DarkSide-D]

Going to miss seeing the three W's play 3 yards and a splash of mud in the rain, clouds of pellets are just not the same.

It's always better to wipe mud off your cleats once than to pick rubber pellets out of your pads for the rest of the season.  Of course, it all beats turf burn.

[wally_wabash]

Some quick observations from the Red/White scrimmage at Wabash today...

- The scrimmage started with special teams.  Kickoff teams started and Wabash's return team looked pretty solid.  One return went for a TD, the other returns were leaving Wabash with good field position.  They were blowing the returns dead once contact was happening, so it's tough to gauge what may have happened after contact.  

- Punting was a tad inconsistent.  Two punts were blocked, a few kicks were shanked, the rest were pretty consistently going 30-35 yards.  Room for improvement there for sure.  

- FG unit performed well.  There were two missed attempts (both from about 35 yards) out of about a dozen total attempts.  Both of the kicks over 40 yards were good. 

The rest of the scrimmage was 100 plays of offense vs. defense...this is going to be pretty vague because nobody was wearing their official roster numbers, so it was tough to know who was doing what exactly.  

- Belton started with the 1's...first two passes hit his receivers hands but were dropped.  After that the offense was pretty smooth and quick with Belton under center.  A lot of quick, timing stuff today from this group.  Belton had one TD pass that came when Chamblee busted a screen for about 50 yards.  

- Vince Kenney also got some snaps with the top WR group out there and this kid looked pretty sharp as well.  He's clearly got a very strong arm.  Certainly not as mobile as Chase is, but this kid has some game for sure.  Kenney had a nice connection with TE Devin Kelley today as they hooked up a few times.  His TD pass was about 20 yards or so to Lemond who was standing all by himself in the corner of the end zone.  That was about as easy a TD pass as you'll see.  

- The running game was so-so.  I thought Kyle Stevens ran the best today, but the snaps were split pretty evenly between Mambourg, Yoder, Stevens, and Rowe.  Later in the scrimmage Charles Smothers and Isaac Baker had some nice runs but I'd guess that they are pretty buried on the depth chart for now.  But who knows...nobody is really standing out, so I think there are snaps at RB to be had for anybody who shows some spark over the next two weeks.  

- Thought the defense was decent today.  They gave up 5 TDs to the offense in 100 plays, which I don't think is too bad considering drives never really stopped.  It was a tough assignment for the secondary as the scrimmage was very pass heavy today.  The starting DL did a good job of stuffing the run.  They also tipped a Belton pass which Pat Clegg caught for an INT.  

So there you have it...in non-play related news, the field and scoreboard look amazing.  Once the masonry around the scoreboard is finished, it's going to be awesome.  Two weeks to gameday...can't wait!