FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[djabs7]

C'mon, Wabash fans, the story said Florence "might be" second best. Witt is certainly high on Florence, which is why he's gotten so many snaps in key spots this year, but it would be quite a leap to say a kid who has never started a game is "definitely" second best, compared to more experienced players like Belton. But I'm glad at least one of you read that in our "fish wrap" because I've always enjoyed reading what the fans are saying on here, even if few of them are from Witt.

[bashbrother]

It is just such useless babble......content fill......  I believe that is what some are reacting to.   Similarly, I've heard that Wabash "might" have the 2nd best PAT holder in the Nation.   We'll never know because he will most likely not get a chance to hold anything but a clipboard this year, but I thought I would let everyone know so that we could feel better about ourselves.

[djabs7]

Well, that is what we do: fill content and sometimes babble, which also describes these forums. Nothing wrong with babble, especially when it's 10 words or so. Now a whole page devoted to backup QBs in the league, that would be overkill.
From covering this league for 11 years, I know how important having a second QB is. We saw that in 08 and 09, though both games could have gone either way even with backup QBs playing.

[bashbrother]

Fair enough.... Let's hope Zoeller remains healthy and that Florence actually returns next year (which isn't always a given in D3)

Wabash and Witt both have tremendous depth in their programs.   It is what keeps both at the top of the list and that is a good thing.

[WABCOL86]

I was busy getting my first grand child yesterday (they are all healthy and I am eager to spoil her).  I hear we won, did I miss anything important though??!!

[wally_wabash]

Sorry, jabs, but I'm not buying it. The line comes off as unfounded hometown glossing. Reed Florence might be the second best qb in the league because of what? Because of his extensive game experience? Certainly not that. Because he won a joust with some Allegheny DB one time? Nah, not enough there either. Because the coaches are high on him? Hell, 95% of the players in the league might be the best at their position if it mattered what the coaches thought of a kid's potential.

It was a cheap gloss for the hometown audience.  Nothing more, nothing less. I'm not judging. God knows there's plenty of player glossing that goes on in here. The major difference is that people in here aren't trying to pass unsubstantiated opinion off as journalism. That's all.

[djabs7]

Well, you're probably right, Wally, about serving the hometown fans, but I wasn't trying to pass it off as great journalism either. It's just a game story. That said, it's really not something I would normally do, but sometimes you get carried away. ... And how did you know my college nickname?
Nothing but respect for Wabash and its fans, by the way. I've seen every game between the two schools since 2001. The rivalry just keeps getting better. It's part of the reason I fell in love with D3 football. Also, I did pick you guys to beat Witt in the D3 season preview. Of course, I also picked you to lose to Wooster and Witt to beat Wooster and thus a three-way tie. Shows you how much I know.

[djabs7]

Another thing: I interviewed Wes Chamblee for the D3 preview before the season, and it was one of the best interviews I've had in a while and one of the easiest because he just opened up about his grandpa, his injury, etc., without much prodding. I was very impressed by him.

[wally_wabash]

Well, you're probably right, Wally, about serving the hometown fans, but I wasn't trying to pass it off as great journalism either. It's just a game story. That said, it's really not something I would normally do, but sometimes you get carried away. ... And how did you know my college nickname?
Nothing but respect for Wabash and its fans, by the way. I've seen every game between the two schools since 2001. The rivalry just keeps getting better. It's part of the reason I fell in love with D3 football. Also, I did pick you guys to beat Witt in the D3 season preview. Of course, I also picked you to lose to Wooster and Witt to beat Wooster and thus a three-way tie. Shows you how much I know.

You did that?! You overthought it! Truth be told, I had some concerns about opening the season at Wooster when Wooster got to start their year 10 days earlier than Wabash and had a game under their belt (I wasn't alone in that concern). I felt a little better after Wooster struggled hard with B-W.  The defense is really playing above my expectation (expectations have some been revised) and they kept the Scots down and got that big conference win.

No doubt Wabash/Witt is one of the best series in D-III right now. It isn't the oldest, there isn't a trophy (quirky or otherwise), but it is fierce and it is an awful lot of fun to watch. I didn't make the trip put for the 14-3 game in '01 but I've been to every game since. Won't be missing this one on 11/5 either.

[smedindy]

Thing is: Wabash and Witt doesn't need a trophy in football, since they normally are playing for one anyway. Besides, it would lose luster next to the big ol' one we have now.

[djabs7]

No doubt, I overthought it. I knew it was a reach for Wooster to beat Wabash, but the last game I had seen Wooster play was versus Witt in the finale last season. I figured they'd be tough at home.

[bashbrother]

One quick observation from the box score from the LG's game on Saturday.   Only one pass was thrown toward Wes ( a 6 yard TD)  Granted, we have a ton of weapons and the game was never in jeopardy, but just curious if this may have been a result Chicago's defense loading up on him? could he be a bit dinged?  He surely looked fine on his 94 yard scamper.

[DPU3619]

If you try to take 84 away completely, then you give Horn a nice day and allow 175 rushing yards.  The problem for Chicago yesterday wasn't that they ran into a undefendable offense.  You can matchup this offense.  Chamblee is a good player, but with a really good secondary, you can take the passing game away and make Wabash grind.  There may not be one that caliber on the regular season schedule, but there's a bunch of them coming starting November 19.

Chicago couldn't hold on the football and they couldn't make a special teams play.  5 turnovers, 4 in their own end or at midfield and the other was returned for a touchdown.  1 kick blocked that was returned for a touchdown.  Another kick returned for a touchdown.  That's 21 points right there from an INT return and special teams.  You don't even need to score any points offensively after that.

[smedindy]

One quick observation from the box score from the LG's game on Saturday.   Only one pass was thrown toward Wes ( a 6 yard TD)  Granted, we have a ton of weapons and the game was never in jeopardy, but just curious if this may have been a result Chicago's defense loading up on him? could he be a bit dinged?  He surely looked fine on his 94 yard scamper.

Wabash is multi-dimensional. I don't think it was intentional - just lots of options. Chicago is one-dimensional and Wabash made Brizzolara a marked man. Oh, yeah, and their QB was on his back a lot.

[bashbrother]

Wabash up to #15....Witt @ #16 in this weeks poll.

http://www.d3football.com/top25/2011/week4