FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Ryder16]

I am an NCAC guy, so dont mistake me for an OAC lover,  however, i think the fall of the Bishops program seems to be correlated directly to the rise in several OAC programs. With Otterbein and Capital recruiting the same metropolitan area, teams like Ohio Northern pushing them for the country boys from the north and and an improving Wittenberg from the west, their "home grown" talent Pool is diminishing.  and notice how all of these teams have been improving lately ? not to mention, some of these schools can get players admitted that OWU cannot on academic grounds.

Just my 2 cents

[Li'l Giant]

Let's GO SCOTS!!!!

She's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. I knew it was only a matter of time. Welcome back, ScotLass.

It's obvious based on results the last few years things are bad in Delaware. But the Bishop-on-Bishop violence on this board indicates this is kind of a crossroads. Either Hollway can get the truck out of the bar ditch or not. Seems like this decision needs to be made sooner rather than later.

[Dr. Acula]

I am an NCAC guy, so dont mistake me for an OAC lover,  however, i think the fall of the Bishops program seems to be correlated directly to the rise in several OAC programs. With Otterbein and Capital recruiting the same metropolitan area, teams like Ohio Northern pushing them for the country boys from the north and and an improving Wittenberg from the west, their "home grown" talent Pool is diminishing.  and notice how all of these teams have been improving lately ? not to mention, some of these schools can get players admitted that OWU cannot on academic grounds.

Just my 2 cents

I would throw Heidelberg in there now too.  ONU has been good and therefore taking kids from the north for a while, but Berg is improving big time (as evidenced by them going toe to toe w/ Ott yesterday).  That adds another school for them to compete with for the country boys, as you said.  

It's hard for OWU to compete w/ Cap and Ott in recruiting for a couple reasons.  As you mentioned, the admissions requirements.  Not a huge deal, but it's a factor.  Second, those 2 OAC programs are just in much better shape already so it's much easier to maintain that momentum than try to build up a program.  So OWU is trying to out-recruit 2 schools that have better programs and are actually located in Columbus for all intents and purposes.  That's tough.    

[bashbrother]

The shear volume of collegiate institutions in and around the area definitely create a very competitive recruiting environment.   

I was under the impression by some of the comments on the board that they were getting quality recruits and that the problem was keeping their recruiting classes with the program for 4 years. 

Wabash's defense played a great game yesterday.   The offense also showed a nice improvement.  Plenty of work left to do.   Burke's TD pass was a very nice ball.

[nike]

With the number of quality players in Ohio, being out recruited is not a valid excuse.  It is coaching, plain and simple.  And I can recall a number of players that I saw only one year there that would have been all-league by their junior or senior year.  I even checked out old programs the last few years from the Wooster-OWU games.  Either the kids do not like it there or they don't keep up their grades.  But NCAC schools normally will not admit many kids that cannot succeed academically.
Selby is an awesome facility.  Last night there was a great turnout.  Probably more people than I have ever seen at a d3 game.  And that includes playoff games at Wooster when Sutton and Co. were going strong.  The place holds an awful lot of people.  And OWU played well from an effort standpoint, a lot better than I thought they would.  The game certainly had more drama than OSU and EMU.  Wooster did not bring their "A" game last night.
But the OWU players being shuffled in and out, even at quarterback it seemed and the overall lack of discipline cost the Bishops a game that they could have won.  I just do not understand their offensive schemes.  Never have.
It was not a big game in my eyes, but I will concede it had a big game atmosphere, which I had never experienced at Selby before.
A bright young energetic coach would have a ball there with that stadium and campus.  If there are not some wins soon, well..........  And a loss to Hiram would bring a new coach for sure in my humble opinion.
How bad is Chase Belton hurt?     

[smedindy]

But the Bishop-on-Bishop violence on this board indicates this is kind of a crossroads.

I thought that ended when the Avignon popes ended their schism and the papacy returned to Rome?

[wally_wabash]

Some Wabash/Chicago thoughts...

- The defense took a big step forward on Saturday.  Chicago has some good playmakers but the secondary did a great job of keeping Brizzolara and Wolff well covered all day.  Chicago couldn't get much of a run game going either.  4 sacks for the defense as well and zero penalties.  Overall a very clean game for this unit.  If they can build on this game, the defense is going to be very tough down the stretch. 

- The offense is getting there, but it was a little sputter-y on Saturday.  Belton's running was efficient, but it's going to be imperative for a running back to get going as the season goes on.  Through the air, Wabash is getting some big plays.  Two TDs on long pass plays yesterday and they were both pretty.  Kraus burned his guy right off the line on his big play and Horn carried a safety 10 yards into the endzone on  his big play (he did the same thing to a Wooster DB two weeks ago...Horn is tough to get down). 

- Special teams.  Wow.  Wabash's punt block has certainly got something figured out.  Whitehead looks solid in the kicking game (42 yard FG) and I'm pretty impressed with the freshman punter Sobleski. 

So overall it was a much better game, especially the first half.  The second half seemed a little flat, but Chicago could never really get anything going.  The four fumbles is a head scratcher....certainly a point of emphasis for future games, but Wabash hasn't really had a fumbling problem.  I think it was just one of those things (Burke's fumble in the fourth quarter was particularly fluky...not worried about seeing that happen again). 

So I guess we will wait and see what Belton's status will be going forward.  He took two shots to the left shoulder.  In the first half he came off with his shoulder hanging...looked typical of a "stinger" type of a situation and he returned on the next series.  His arm was being held differently the second time he came out and looked like a more serious situation.  If Belton can't go, I think Burke will step in and do well. 

Wabash has two non-league games on the road coming up....next weekend in Gambier and then 10/9 at Washington. 

[aueagle]

Fresh from Monday mornings Delaware Gazette.......

"Right now we are going the wrong way. We need something to happen that will get us over the hump and give us some much-needed confidence," OWU head coach Mike Hollway said. "We're still getting maximum effort from our players ... right now we need a break to help turn us around."

"Turnovers continue to be a problem," Hollway said in reference to the game-clinching interception. "We get the ball back trailing by two, but we turn around and give it right back ... we keep getting in each others way."

Wooster, which defeated OWU 37-20 last season at Selby, evened the all-time series between the two rivals at 27-27.

The upcoming schedule doesn't favor Ohio Wesleyan. Saturday, the Battling Bishops travel to Chicago for a 12 noon (CDT) game with the Maroons . Hollway's troops return home the following Saturday to entertain Carnegie Mellon at 1 p.m. at Selby.

[BashDad]

Wabash Highlights:

http://wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=8334

[nike]

Why do players dive into the end zone now when they score when no tacklers are around them?  Not all but some.  I saw that Belton did that.  Some have even gotten hurt doing that.  It is like an extra unnecessary hit that the ball carrier takes. Oh, well.
Belton has a nice throwing motion and a strong arm.
Wabash will be ready for Witt and I am already suggesting to my wife that the game would be a good date.  We have not been to Witt's field in a while and the stadium and campus are absolutely beautiful.  My wife even says it is beautiful and she went to school in the south on a breathtakingly gorgeous campus.
Again, Saturday night at Selby was great.  A very good game and a lot of people.  A great team there would fill that place. 

Fresh from Monday mornings Delaware Gazette.......
"Right now we are going the wrong way. We need something to happen that will get us over the hump and give us some much-needed confidence," OWU head coach Mike Hollway said. "We're still getting maximum effort from our players ... right now we need a break to help turn us around."

OWU people, what do you think that "something" is that Hollway is referring to?

[seventiesraider]

Allegheny Grad: Jason Bendekovic
'Berg Football Loses a Member of its Family

[WABCOL86]

That is tough, really, really tough news for Heidelberg.  Hope they deal with it well and wish them all the thoughts and prayers...

[ADL70]

Anyone else amazed that Allegheny got not a single vote in the Top25 Poll?

Especially since Wittenberg only dropped one place.

[aueagle]

Prayers to the Bendekovic family, all Student Princes players, students, staff & fans...as well as to our OAC brothers.

[seventiesraider]

Anyone else amazed that Allegheny got not a single vote in the Top25 Poll?

Especially since Wittenberg only dropped one place.

Or that Wittenberg is ranked ahead of Ohio Northern. Look at the teams the two played and the scores and tell me that's right.