FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Del Val, with a win, would have two wins over RR'd teams and their SOS will get a boost after this week (they'll go ahead of St. Thomas there almost certainly).  St. Thomas would have zero wins over RR'd teams unless Bethel gets included here at the end...either way, it'll just be one win and one win isn't as nice as two wins.  Linfield, if they win out, would also have two wins over RR'd teams (Lewis & Clark is in fact ranked), and their SOS will get a big bump this week as well.  That's an interesting little puzzle to try and figure out for a fourth #1 seed. 

[Pat Coleman]

They'll have one because St. Olaf was regionally ranked last week. That will always count as a win against a regionally ranked team for UST even if STO drops out this week.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Thanks for the clarification, Pat.

I'm guessing that you may have discussed this somewhere (if so, mea culpa, and please direct me to it), but do you think Del-Val is a likely #1 seed candidate? 

If so, is the scenario that I presented (which completely eschews the actual "regions" in favor of creating a Texas/WestCoast bracket around UHMB/Linfield, a Northern bracket around UWW/UST, and a Midwestern bracket around UMU) feasible? 

My cursory glance showed that you could probably make it work if Redlands and McMurry and/or Centre get Pool C bids, nearly filling out the Texas/WestCoast bracket.

There will certainly be enough schools in the vicinity of UWW/UST to "build" a bracket around them with Monmouth, St. Scholastica, Dubuque, and a number of potential imports from the North region.

From there, it would seem relatively easy to piece together a bracket around UMU, even if you have to grab an Eastern team or two.  Hobart/Union seem like possible candidates here.

The only schools that I'm having a hard time placing are the Virginia schools (Hampden-Sydney and Christopher Newport), but they're easily within 500 miles of a few schools likely to end up in this scenario's "East" bracket (Del Val, Wesley, Salisbury).

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks for the clarification, Pat.

I'm guessing that you may have discussed this somewhere (if so, mea culpa, and please direct me to it), but do you think Del-Val is a likely #1 seed candidate? 

If so, is the scenario that I presented (which completely eschews the actual "regions" in favor of creating a Texas/WestCoast bracket around UHMB/Linfield, a Northern bracket around UWW/UST, and a Midwestern bracket around UMU) feasible? 

My cursory glance showed that you could probably make it work if Redlands and McMurry and/or Centre get Pool C bids, nearly filling out the Texas/WestCoast bracket.

There will certainly be enough schools in the vicinity of UWW/UST to "build" a bracket around them with Monmouth, St. Scholastica, Dubuque, and a number of potential imports from the North region.

From there, it would seem relatively easy to piece together a bracket around UMU, even if you have to grab an Eastern team or two.  Hobart/Union seem like possible candidates here.

The only schools that I'm having a hard time placing are the Virginia schools (Hampden-Sydney and Christopher Newport), but they're easily within 500 miles of a few schools likely to end up in this scenario's "East" bracket (Del Val, Wesley, Salisbury).

It's not at all impossible to consider that scenario. In other sports, the Texas and west coast teams are often put in together. In this case, I am not sure it would be good policy for the NCAA to put Linfield and UMHB together that early, considering they are both particularly strong teams. But fiscally, it's an option.

You can still have four top seeds as Mount Union, UWW, St. Thomas and UMHB with the west coast/southwest bracket. I

[bishopowu]

AUEAGLE- I was wondering myself why AD Roger Ingles, Basketball Coach Mike Dewitt, and Baseball Coach Fody Frentsos were announcing the game. The two students who announced the games in the past were not very good. They did a very poor job interviewing the former Bishop. I was glad to see more knowledgeable people calling a game. Coach Fody Frentsos did play for the Bishops and Coach and was great to hear his insight on the Bishop Football Program. Coach Dewitt did a great job for being a Basketball Coach announcing Football. Did you happen to catch any negative comments by Roger Ingles?

It is Puppy Week in Delaware. I was not aware they were 7-93 in there last 100 games. That is very shocking. Will this be a close game or blow out?

[aueagle]

I recall AD Ingles sounding a little frustrated of the play-calls (as did the other two) and when Espo got sacked.
He comes across as a reserved-type of guy..not a rah-rah. I hope OWU takes a cue from Wabash on how to
broadcast a ballgame...the LG Network does an outstanding presentation of their program.
Hiram has invested in football (turf, coaching, recruiting)...so time will tell. They need to restructure the stands
and make it more attractive. The first few rows  are tough to see over the players heads. But, "Vegas" has set the
game at 22 plus...so I think the Bishops should have fun in this one. The "spin" on the season will  again be...
We have momentum (we won 3 in a row)...a 4 win season ( it's a break-thru season), a very young team ( the best class
in a decade will now be Jrs)... or, what we all would like to see and what was quoted in the media guide..The Bishops will take the "next step in returning Battling Bishop football to national prominence by reclaiming the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs."
bishopowu...The off-season will be interesting....

[smedindy]

I can't see how / why the committee wouldn't make St. Thomas a #1 seed if they could.

As far as where 'Bash shows up, I really am thinking that if we take care of those evil hordes from Greendingle, then a #2 seed will be our reward.

[ExTartanPlayer]

I can't see how / why the committee wouldn't make St. Thomas a #1 seed if they could.

I agree in principle, smed, but see my above comments to wally.  If Delaware Valley beats Widener this week, they'll have a very strong on-paper case for a #1 seed (undefeated, good SOS, two wins over regionally-ranked opponents), and if the committee makes them a top seed, someone from the group of UWW/UST/UMU is probably not going to get one...unless the committee leaves UWW in the "West" with Linfield and/or UMHB?

[bishopowu]

Aueagle...Yea I thought so too that he sounded a little frustrated as well. With such a nice stadium with all the new improvements they have made you would think they could possibly do a broadcast like Wabash's.

I saw pictures on Hiram's website of their new stadium...looks great. Was there for a game few seasons ago and thought it was crap. It looked worse than a small high schools field. And the bleachers you are right they were not very good. I hate the stadiums with stands only on one side it does not look very good from a presentation standpoint and makes one team look all alone.

Yes the Bishops have momentum and it makes it look like this season is a savior if they win against Hiram this weekend. They would finish 3-0 and have the MO to the MEN to the TUM. But I really don't think anyone should be happy with a 4-6 campaign. To be honest with you if that were to happen I have a feeling that over there in Delaware, OH people would be happy about that. I just don't get how you can when you don't have any signature wins during the season. I mean your best win is against a mediocre Denison squad. Then wins against Kenyon, Oberlin, and Hiram. Combined those schools have 3 wins combined. So yes you should beat those teams. I would have felt better if we finished 4-6 and beat at least one good squad. Wittenberg, Wabash, Carnegie Mellon, Chicago all beat us badly.

The offseason will be very interesting. I don't see any change this year. I just don't. I would love to see Roger Ingles light a fire under them with a little job insecurity but you know the bar is set for wins against the Lords, Yeomen, and Puppies. As long as we win those games and beat the Puppies by at least 22 we had a good season. UNBELIEVABLE.

[ExTartanPlayer]

I mean your best win is against a mediocre Denison squad. Then wins against Kenyon, Oberlin, and Hiram. Combined those schools have 3 wins combined. So yes you should beat those teams. I would have felt better if we finished 4-6 and beat at least one good squad. Wittenberg, Wabash, Carnegie Mellon, Chicago all beat us badly.

I'd agree with you that (if I were an OWU fan) it's not so much the 4-6 record that's highly disappointing as the manner in which it occurred.  Of the six losses, I think that you'd be "proudest" of your team after the early-season losses (they did play Witt tough, and even Wabash to an extent).  The loss to Wooster is disappointing because that's a game they REALLY could have won (kicking two FG's inside the 10-yard line...a TD in either situation at least sends the game to overtime), and then it goes way downhill from there, particularly the blowout losses to CMU & DePauw.

Had you beaten Wooster and been a little more competitive vs. CMU/Chicago/DePauw, I think you could have called this season a sign of progress.  But as is, with four wins against very mediocre competition and no game in which the team CLEARLY played "up" a level, it's hard to distinguish this year from the last few.  It seems like you should have signs of hope; Espinosa is a promising sophomore QB, the leading rusher/receiver is a freshman, most of the offensive playmakers should be returning, same with the defensive playmakers. 

IF (and I know this is a big "if" from what you guys have said) the majority of those guys come back, one could imagine the Bishops going .500 or better in 2012.  A good experienced QB can make a big difference.

[nike]

I mean your best win is against a mediocre Denison squad. Then wins against Kenyon, Oberlin, and Hiram. Combined those schools have 3 wins combined. So yes you should beat those teams. I would have felt better if we finished 4-6 and beat at least one good squad. Wittenberg, Wabash, Carnegie Mellon, Chicago all beat us badly.

I'd agree with you that (if I were an OWU fan) it's not so much the 4-6 record that's highly disappointing as the manner in which it occurred.  Of the six losses, I think that you'd be "proudest" of your team after the early-season losses (they did play Witt tough, and even Wabash to an extent).  The loss to Wooster is disappointing because that's a game they REALLY could have won (kicking two FG's inside the 10-yard line...a TD in either situation at least sends the game to overtime), and then it goes way downhill from there, particularly the blowout losses to CMU & DePauw.

Had you beaten Wooster and been a little more competitive vs. CMU/Chicago/DePauw, I think you could have called this season a sign of progress.  But as is, with four wins against very mediocre competition and no game in which the team CLEARLY played "up" a level, it's hard to distinguish this year from the last few.  It seems like you should have signs of hope; Espinosa is a promising sophomore QB, the leading rusher/receiver is a freshman, most of the offensive playmakers should be returning, same with the defensive playmakers. 

IF (and I know this is a big "if" from what you guys have said) the majority of those guys come back, one could imagine the Bishops going .500 or better in 2012.  A good experienced QB can make a big difference.

I love OWU's Selby Stadium.  Usually go to those games because it is so close.
But every year the talk is pretty much the same about the following season.  OWU beats Hiram, Denison and Kenyon and should have a decent team the next year because of who is coming back. 
It is coaching. The team is a reflection of the coach(and staff) and wins because of the coach and staff.  From who they recruit, to the plays they call.  Somebody has to start the winning.  If Schmitz had 3 or 4 years in a row like Hollway, my educated guess is that he would be gone. D3 or not.
For sure the guys at at Wabash and Witt would be replaced.

[aueagle]

Goes back to "EXPECTATIONS"...some schools, with their tradition, administration, students, alumni...expect to have a winning program. At Wesleyan, football wants to reclaim a conference (co)-championship from 22 years ago and jump on I77 southbound to Salem. Maybe, in Delaware, they don't know how to do all these great things? The last 6 seasons..the Bishops are 17-42.
But, hey...we got great soccer, lax, baseball and some of the womens teams are awesome. GO BISHOPS beat Hiram

[wally_wabash]

Do you guys think it would be different if the schedule were flipped and OWU started something like 3-1 and lost six in a row to close the last couple of season?

[nike]

You are right!  But where does that "Expectations" mentality start?  With whom?  The easy and simple answer is a program changing coach.  But someone has to hire him.  When Raeburn took over, that was a gamble to some degree, especially with the cloud over the prior coach's leaving.  And sure, it was already a strong program.  But he was up to it.
17-42? Wow!
I do remember the 2005 team was 7-3 because I remember all the talk about that  OWU freshman class, with a fast set of twins and the little bitty scat back and a huge fullback who was like Jerome Bettis and only came in at the goal line.  And Hymes and a very good defense. They lost to Wooster at Papp in a very thrilling game, as I remember.  Tony Sutton was actually some type of coaching asstistant that year, roaming the sidelines.
But mostly I remember Cisco Clervoix(?)  Great and colorful defensive end.  With dredlocks.

[wally_wabash]

Wait...what cloud?  Are you talking about when Creighton took over after Carlson resigned?  I don't think there was any cloud during the transition from Creighton to Raeburn...Wabash was coming off of regional final appearance and the program was humming along nicely.