FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

I believe DPU has had a 7-0 team way back in the day and maybe another team that was 7-0-1 or some such thing...but never 8-0 which is actually pretty shocking.  I would have thought that somewhere along the way in the last 120 years, they would have lucked their way into an 8-0 season once or twice.   

[Schwami]

Witt Week!!!

Wittenberg has been a model of efficiency this season.  Just 6 turnovers through 8 games, and a +12 turnover margin.  Wabash, on the other hand, has 18 turnovers and is -2, with 5 of the turnovers coming in the red zone.

Otherwise there are not any glaring statistical differences between these two teams (OK, maybe red zone defense, where Witt is #1 in the conference and Wabash is #9 --- but each team's opponents have reached the red zone only 18 times; Wabash has given up just one more red zone TD, but Witt's opponents are 0-4 on FG attempts while Wabash's opponents are 4 for 5).

[DPU3619]

Wabash has certainly had that level of success in the North Coast era, and went on to lose two Bell games at 9-0.  Maybe that means nothing, but I think it means something.  It's awfully deceiving when these teams don't share any common opponents, which is my point.  There were a few shared opponents in that 80-82 stretch, which is why I mentioned it.

This season may be a perfect example.  DePauw hasn't played a great football team this year.  They may not have even played a good football team.  Wabash hasn't either, but they've certainly got one on Saturday.  DePauw will probably be 9-0 after Saturday.  Wabash will be 8-1 or 7-2.  Is DePauw far and away the better football team?  I can't say that for sure.  30 years from now you'd say so just by looking at scores, but that's not the whole picture.  DePauw's best win will be 7-3 Millsaps, and that's only if Millsaps can get by a BSC team that blew Austin's doors off 3 weeks ago and played DePauw to 7.

[Ryan Tipps]

I believe DPU has had a 7-0 team way back in the day and maybe another team that was 7-0-1 or some such thing...but never 8-0 which is actually pretty shocking.  I would have thought that somewhere along the way in the last 120 years, they would have lucked their way into an 8-0 season once or twice.   

Well, when you cap an eight-game season with Wabash, it's understandably hard for a team to get over that hump  

DPU '34: started 7-0, finished 7-1
DPU '51: started 7-0, finished 7-1

[formerd3db]

I believe DPU has had a 7-0 team way back in the day and maybe another team that was 7-0-1 or some such thing...but never 8-0 which is actually pretty shocking.  I would have thought that somewhere along the way in the last 120 years, they would have lucked their way into an 8-0 season once or twice.  

Well, when you cap an eight-game season with Wabash, it's understandably hard for a team to get over that hump  

DPU '34: started 7-0, finished 7-1
DPU '51: started 7-0, finished 7-1

Okay, so I was off by two years and one game.  In 1933, DePauw went 7-0 and defeated Wabash in the last game (that was the photo I was referring to).  They also beat Ball State that year.  I'm not taking sides here; rather I was just responding to the question that DePauw wasn't undefeated going into the Bell game with Wabash (or that they didn't have an undefeated season).  Anyway, I wish I could get down to that game this year, but will be at ours.  

[wally_wabash]

Witt Week!!!

Wittenberg has been a model of efficiency this season.  Just 6 turnovers through 8 games, and a +12 turnover margin.  Wabash, on the other hand, has 18 turnovers and is -2, with 5 of the turnovers coming in the red zone.

Interesting to note that the one game this season where Wabash did not turn the ball over was....Washington.  Go figure.  

Looking ahead to Saturday (is it okay to look ahead now?), I do think it will be important for Wabash to limit giveaways.  It'll be tough for Wabash to be -2 or more on turnovers and win.  I think we're in for a really good defensive game on both sides this weekend.  

[Ryan Tipps]

In 1933, DePauw went 7-0 and defeated Wabash in the last game (that was the photo I was referring to).  They also beat Ball State that year.  

To be fair, almost everyone wailed on Ball State that year

[BashBacker#16]

Wabash/Witt thoughts...

- how does the Wabash secondary slow McKee?  If he goes crazy, Bash is in for a long day.  We certainly can't give him big plays...  His #'s are sick.
- who's under center for Wabash...Burke or Belton...and how does that change Witt's D game plan? 
- will either team have success running on the other?
- on the surface and on paper, I would probably predict a low scoring Defensive struggle...but who knows?
- will Bash get heat on Zoeller and keep it on him all day?
- how does the Witt secondary slow Horn?  Do they risk what Gheny did and double him all day with a corner and a safety over the top?

Saturday has all of the makings for another classic!

[Schwami]

Witt has efficiently rolled to an 8-0 record while ranking #225 in Strength of Schedule (replacing WashUStL as dead last in all of D-III this week!).

Wabash is #132 and figures to move up in the SoS rankings significantly as it finishes up with 6-0 Wittenberg and 8-0 DePauw.

Witt really gets hurt in SoS by playing two non-regional UAA teams.  I would hate to see that be a reason for them to be left out of the playoffs as a 9-1 Pool C candidate (not that I am assuming they will lose to Wabash --- although that would be perfectly fine by me  ).

[Schwami]

BB16, you have nailed it regarding Zoeller and McKee.  If Wabash can keep them in check, they should be confident when the names change to Engel and Koors.  If not . . . . hmmmm.

[bashbrother]

Another key to the game:

Penalties -  

For the most part this year Bash has been still winning easily even with numerous penalties that have turned 1st and 10's into 1st and 20's or 3rd and 2's into 3rd and 7's or 12's.  This cannot happen for us to have a chance to win.   The Witt defense is too good to kill drives and momentum with stupid drive killing penalties.  We just won't have that many opportunities to score.

I believe timely penalties could have as much of a negative impact in this game as a turnover would.

[nike]

So is Belton starting this week?  
Which comes first, great teams or great websites?  Wabash and Witt have the two best sports websites by far in the NCAC.  Just my opinion.  They really helped when trying to talk a couple buddies into travelling to Springfield this weekend.  Both sites are easy to use and give a ton of information on the teams, players, history, Wabash-tons of first rate pictures with the Wabash players named, etc.  Both websites have always been top shelf as long as I have been going to them.
Looking forward to a great game Saturday.  Looks like a 30% chance of rain.  Does that favor Wabash, because of Witt's passing attack?

[DPU3619]

In 1933, DePauw went 7-0 and defeated Wabash in the last game (that was the photo I was referring to).  They also beat Ball State that year.  

The '33 DePauw team is the last team in any division to go undefeated without a tie while surrending no points.

10/7 Ball State W 9-0
10/14 Earlham W 28-0
10/21 Manchester W 13-0
10/28 Hanover W 12-0
11/4 Franklin W 26-0
11/11 Evansville W 34-0
11/18 Wabash W 14-0

The Neal Fieldhouse (basketball) is named after that team's head coach, Raymond "Gaumey" Neal.

[Ryan Tipps]

The '33 DePauw team is the last team in any division to go undefeated without a tie while surrending no points.

All jesting aside, that's pretty cool!

[wally_wabash]

So is Belton starting this week?  

I'd be happy if the only people on planet earth that knew who was starting on Saturday were Coach Raeburn, the quarterbacks, and their teammates.  To whatever minimal degree Wabash may have an advantage by having Wittenberg not know who is starting, it's worth keeping this a secret. 

So let's say, hypothetically, that I were a journalist that occasionally covers Wabash football, and I learned at some point this week who may be starting on Saturday, I'd probably go ahead and find something else to write about on Wednesday...like the school history setting punt block unit.  Those guys deserve some pub.