FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

smeds, aueagle, wabco, and Bash-Dad:

All great comments.  But aueagle, as much as I wanted to believe, along with all the other Michigan fan base, that Harbaugh (being a "Michigan man" with his history since childhood being a "ball boy" there, his own success as a player and all the great tradition) would come back to Michigan, I figured deep down that was not going to happen.  I agree with you that he would probably have had more security/longevity there than he will have in the NFL.  However, obviously, all those reasons that smeds, wabco and Bash-Dad mentioned trumped that (except that for me, San Francisco is one of the last places on earth I would ever want to go for many reasons unrelated to football )

Anyway, I think wabco has characterized the "state of the program" exactly.  Hopefully, Harbaugh will continue to have the success he has enjoyed at the NFL level.  We all know that won't last forever, but at least he'll have taken his shot at it, made a ton of $ and say..."I did that, been there".  As I mentioned, everyone has their own "dream path".  We'll see what goes.

Also, while ND is, I guess, seemingly on the "way back path" to some extent, as we all know is obvious, the "jury is still out on that one" even with Kelly.  Like Michigan just starting back on that first step as wabco mentioned ND already, it will take a couple of years to see how that one plays out too.  For me, I guess I'd rather do it the "Michigan way" rather than being "Sold Out" like former coach McCartney's boot title refers to.  I dnn't really like "thugs and convicts"

[seventiesraider]

Let me think....Ann Arbor, Michigan or San Francisco, Ca. at 5 million per.  Duh...

5 mill will go a whole lot further in Ann Arbor

[Bash-Dad #84]

Let me think....Ann Arbor, Michigan or San Francisco, Ca. at 5 million per.  Duh...

5 mill will go a whole lot further in Ann Arbor

I spent 6 years in Ann Arbor, not a lot further!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Let me think....Ann Arbor, Michigan or San Francisco, Ca. at 5 million per.  Duh...

5 mill will go a whole lot further in Ann Arbor

I spent 6 years in Ann Arbor, not a lot further!

I've lived right by Ann Arbor for 40 years and have a brother in the Bay Area.  Trust me, money goes a LOT further in Ann Arbor!  (Though I suspect I could somehow survive on $5 mil a year, even in SF! )

[Anon E Moose]

My son is currently being recruited by a number of NCAC schools (OWU, Wooster, Denison & Allegheny). We've been on visits two of the schools with two more scheduled. Can I get an honest assessment of these four programs from anyone here? Any insight would be appreciated.

[FightinScot]

Academically, you can't go wrong at any of those schools - or at any NCAC school for that matter. As far as football programs go, Wooster and Allegheny have been more successful recently, and are usually in the mix for the conference championship. Denison as a football program is a step below Woo and Gheny, but they've been improving recently. OWU has been down, and their problems have been discussed quite a bit on this board.

I'm a 2010 Wooster grad and ex player, send me a PM if you've got any specific questions about the school or program. 

[wabco]

Anon

Go visit Wabash and you will not have to waste time assessing the others.   That is the place your son should be.  WAF

[wittdad]

ANON, As others indicate, you and your son will never go wrong from an academic standpoint in any NCAC school. If it's all about sports then select another level of education. Without dedication and diligence to the academics, he won't survive long enough to play.
The Wittenberg University with it's long tradition of winning in most athletic devotions is usually the best choice.        WUW (Wittenberg Usually WINS)

[aueagle]

Here we are, in the dead of winter.....
and Wabash & Wittenberg are still going at it...
Ya Gotta Love It!!!!!!!!

[smedindy]

Let me think....Ann Arbor, Michigan or San Francisco, Ca. at 5 million per.  Duh...

5 mill will go a whole lot further in Ann Arbor

Harbaugh will have more commercial possibilities in the NFL. And the aesthetics of Northern California definitely trump Ann Arbor.

He started coaching for the Toreros of San Diego, who probably don't pay their coach that much scratch. Somehow I don't think money is what he's all about - it's the challenge. And the NFL is a bigger challenge than Michigan.

From what I have read here in Minnesota, Michigan's athletics department is almost as big of a clusterflop as Minnesota's, so there's that too!

[smedindy]

My son is currently being recruited by a number of NCAC schools (OWU, Wooster, Denison & Allegheny). We've been on visits two of the schools with two more scheduled. Can I get an honest assessment of these four programs from anyone here? Any insight would be appreciated.

Focus on the academics and where he will fit in best academically and socially. While football will be a factor, this is D-3, and he should go where he fits best - and the football should take care of itself.

[wally_wabash]

Let me think....Ann Arbor, Michigan or San Francisco, Ca. at 5 million per.  Duh...

5 mill will go a whole lot further in Ann Arbor

Harbaugh will have more commercial possibilities in the NFL. And the aesthetics of Northern California definitely trump Ann Arbor.

He started coaching for the Toreros of San Diego, who probably don't pay their coach that much scratch. Somehow I don't think money is what he's all about - it's the challenge. And the NFL is a bigger challenge than Michigan.

From what I have read here in Minnesota, Michigan's athletics department is almost as big of a clusterflop as Minnesota's, so there's that too!

And Michigan will be there whenever he wants it.  Let's say he bombs in the NFL (this 49er fan hopes not, but you never know...and without even a respectable QB, it's hard to have success in the League no matter how good your Xs and Os are)...he still has that college success to fall back on.  No matter who Michigan hires, if that guy doesn't start beating tOSU, they'll dump said coach in a flash if/when Harbaugh decides he wants to come back to Ann Arbor. 

[wabco]

Just spent an interesting evening tipping a few with a person knowledgable in DePauw football (or at least I think he is).  I don't want to use his name or other reference which will disclose the relationship ... but offer the following not as literal but more globally accurate as to statements he made.  I offer these for discussion ppurposes ... not simply because DePauw is all things bad or nasty (which it is by the way).

DePauw graduates 1/3 of its team. 
DePauw has no conference or reason to "be" next year ... other than to recruit with the "look to the future when 'we' are in the NCAC year after next".
DePauw's coach is not magnetic as a recruiter and was hiurt by the pics of him on the sideline of the Wabash game.
DePauw did itself no favors in having the pile of recruits it had at the Bell Game to see the "best DePauw team ever" perform.  (In fact did Wabash the favor as there is cross over in recruiting.)
DePauw administration (whatever that means) is enthusiastic about the womens' sports offerings and not football.
DePauw fan base for football dried up ... witness the support when DePauw fell behind in the Bell Game and further that there was an average 800 or so for home games. (Saw the sad display by Dannie fans at the Bell Game ... do not know home game stats ... these could be checked.)  The fan base (including students) sag could be the result of the far flung conference they were in and the atrophy in enthusiasm which that may engender ... however, do not ever see that as a Wabash response to the same stimuli.
Result:  There is a "perfect Storm" heading at DePauw football ... QUESTION is ... can it be deflected?

After I am killed in karma for the timerity of describing my discyussion with a source who I believe to be knowledgable, what do you all think?  Is it accurate?  Flawed? Recoverable?  (Keep in mind one is dealing with Dannies here.)

[aueagle]

My fuzzy math tells me the Tigers  had 1585.7 per game.....
Trine, Sewanee & RHIT put 2400, 2500, 2500 in Blackstock...

[smedindy]

The DPU seniors are the ones that will be hurting but they still have "B" and "C" possibilities, so the playoffs are not out of the question. If they have just one loss I can't see them being excluded unless weird things happen and they won't be excluded if they *shudder* go undefeated.

Never count them out.

And I'd be enthusiastic about the women's sports program too. It's become a powerhouse in many sports. They've won SCAC championships in almost all of them, and been to the NCAAs in practically all of them. The NCAC women will need to really step their game up to compete with them in all sports.