FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[TitanPride]

Any of the Wabash fans have insight into the pre-game tailgating scene?  Is there a designated visitor tailgating area near the stadium?

I'm guessing Illinois College won't bring a huge crowd --- probably a few hundred people, mainly consisting of family and friends.  As you have pointed out on the board, IC has a very small enrollment (huge percentage of students actually on the team) and not a very storied football history, which probably equates to a relatively small travel contingent compared to many other schools in the playoffs.

Looking at Wabash's statistics from the year, your defense looks to be very impressive.  What teams from your schedule run the spread/are pass happy?  Is that a common style of football in the North Coast?

[wabco]

Titan Pride.  Not being from DePauw ... you all are very welcome to tailgate with andfalong side the Little Giant tailgaters behind the home stands of the Little Giant stadium.  Bring your colors, flags and coolers ... you will find us very hospitable hosts and and enjoyable experience (Which experience I hope does not extend to the game itself.  Several years ago, one of the best playoff tailgate experiences I remember was with the Purple of UWW.  Great people and a great tailgate.  Only problem was we suffered a little in the game and then they ordered up the worst snow and ice storm for us to drive home through.

So come over early and just let people know you are Illinois College Blues ... we will trade beers. 

And by the way ... we do intend to beat you.

[TitanPride]

Wabco -- appreciate the response and hospitality!  Sounds like a great setup.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I really hope KC turns things around. Perhaps the right coach will turn that program around. If they could push their way into at least the middle of the pack perhaps it would open up the eyes of the powers that be at OWU. If they started losing some to programs like Kenyon and Oberlin, perhaps they would not be happy with the status quo.

[utahgetme2]

interesting article on the kenyon situation

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/Sports/11/11/16/kenyon-coach-stanley-forced-out-after-nine-seasons

[wabashcpa]

I feel for him - sounds like he was swimming upstream.

Interesting that the DC would be the interim head coach, since they were so effective on defense the last several years.  Maybe they really are trying to kill off football there.

Blessing in disguise, Ted.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Just beat me to the punch Utah Here are my thoughts.

His Departure does not look exacly Mutual.

In an interview with the News, Stanley said the resignation was “in lieu of termination

Stanley had some interesting things to say in this interview. To me these two are the most interesting:

In a statement posted on its website, Kenyon announced Stanley resigned “after several years in which the football program has struggled to attract recruits and to find success on the field.

Stanley said he was offended by the statement.

“Look at the teams that I have had, said Stanley. “We had some of the best Kenyon offenses ever. And that was due to my ability to recruit ... and the assistant coaches with me. Unfortunately, in the last two years, we were not able to bring in the type of kid that we wanted to bring in to help us be competitive. And they were, in my mind, admissable students, and could certainly handle the Kenyon workload. They chose not to allow those kids in.”

and

Stanley said he has been attempting to change the attitude of football at Kenyon since his arrival.

“It takes more than a football coach,” said Stanley. “It takes the entire institution. You need to build a culture around it. Football can bring the whole campus together, and really the whole community. I think they were unwilling to try to do things to try to create that culture. ... Does that mean more money? Probably. Does that mean paying coaches a competitive rate? Probably.”

What does this mean to the future of the program? Clearly he thought he was recruiting acedemically qualified players, but the school clearly did not feel that way. I remember in an earlier articke posted on this site, that Kenyon president was complaining of slotting sone by schools such as the NESCAC. How much sucess can a program have with out support form the admissions etc.

I think this does not bode well for the program.

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/Sports/11/11/16/kenyon-coach-stanley-forced-out-after-nine-seasons.php

[smedindy]

Oh, man.

Hiram has issues, of course, but no one says the Pups aren't trying at least. And Oberlin, the past problem child, just needs more bodies. Of course that's recruiting but at least on the field they're headed in the right direction.

The President can't continue to treat football as a glorified club sport. This isn't the rugby team, nor the ultimate frisbee team. This is a varsity sport - support it or drop it.

[wabco]

Smed

Before you get flippant with the Rugby team as a "club sport", I suggest you  try it.  The Wabash Rugby squad is pretty darn good, plays Div I school Rugby clubs and the game is not for the "ultimate frisbee" types.  I doubt there is a Rugby team/club at Kenyon.

[smedindy]

My best friend played on the rugby club at Kenyon, Wabco. The women's rugby club when was quite good, as I recall. I saw the men play Denison when I visited him and a Denison rugger broke his collarbone but didn't go to the hospital until the after match scene was over. Kenyon won BTW.

It wasn't flippant at all.

And I've also played ultimate frisbee too - that's a tough game because you run all the friggin' time on a huge field. I almost broke my nose in a collision. They don't break much at all during the game either. It's not sunshine and roses so don't denigrate that, either or be flippant unless you've tried it. (Of course, I was younger then..)

The point being, varsity football needs time, attention and funding like other varsity sports. It's not a club sport where you do with what you have.

[wabco]

lets see ... you watched a girls rugby club team at Kenyon once and also ran around and almost broke your nose running into someone playing frisbee.  Now there are ingredients for opining on football teams complexity and funding and attention verses rugby.
I say it again, tell that to the Wabash Rugby team that is is somehow a lesser being.

[Mr. Ypsi]

lets see ... you watched a girls rugby club team at Kenyon once and also ran around and almost broke your nose running into someone playing frisbee.  Now there are ingredients for opining on football teams complexity and funding and attention verses rugby.
I say it again, tell that to the Wabash Rugby team that is is somehow a lesser being.

C'mon!  I don't often defend Smed (he does quite well defending himself!), but that is not at all what he was saying, and I hope almost everyone could see that.  He was in no way defaming the efforts, toughness, or anything else about the Rugby (club) team, but if you can't recognize the difference (by definition!) in support (financial especially, though not exclusively) required by the administration for a varsity sport vs. a club sport, Wabash may be checking into your credentials for a Wabash degree.

[LGHistorian]

Wabash sent out a message to their alumni that in spite of the appearance that Wabash received a #2 seed it does not necessarily mean that the Little Giants would host a second round home game if they win this weekend.  I know the NCAA does not always share their rules for seeding and hosting but if they are no longer going to give the higher seeds the automatic homefield (barring not filing proper paperwork/lack of suitable facilities) how will they decide?

- better chance of larger attendance?
- better chance of good weather? (In 1977 the NCAA did this...Wabash was a #7 seed and hosted #1 seed Minnesota-Morris in the second round...and of course Indiana weather cooperated by dumping about 4-6 inches of snow during Thanksgiving week requiring the field to be plowed and game time temperature on Saturday was a crisp 20 degrees when normal temperatures during this time is mid 40's during the day.)
- assigning host in rounds 2-4 based on breakdown of how many times a school has played at home? (Indiana's high school playoffs used to assign the game to the team that had hosted the fewest playoff rounds...can't remember how they settled it if the teams had hosted the same number of previous rounds.)
- coin flip after each round of games?

I don't know about you guys, but if they have altered the way hosts are assigned somehow I don't anticipate any of the #1 seeds playing anywhere but their home stadium until the semifinals. 

[smedindy]

No, I watched the MEN'S rugby club at Kenyon, Wabco! MEN'S! The women were good (not girls, sir) but I saw the men, if you would read the post carefully before spouting off.

And ultimate frisbee is not the same as frisbee the same as football is not playing catch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6RUo1Wq4IQ&feature=related

It's not just tossing a frisbee back and forth. Why do you constantly denigrate something that isn't mainstream? You can corroborate my Ultimate experience with our favorite SID, who played alongside me when we were young and fit(ter).

I love rugby! I watch it a lot! It's great sport! But it's not a VARSITY sport at Wabash. If it were, I'd want it to have funding and attention much like cross country, swimming, baseball, etc. relevant to its needs.

It IS at Norwich.

http://www.norwichathletics.com/sports/mrugby/index
http://www.norwichathletics.com/sports/wrugby/index

I wouldn't call them 'girls' Wabco.

You're missing the forest for the trees. Again:

Kenyon needs to focus on football like it focuses on EVERY OTHER VARSITY SPORT! It's not a club sport at Kenyon, like rugby or ultimate frisbee. It is a varsity sport, and if you remember the article the president acted like it was.

Yeesh!

[smedindy]

From the Kenyon Website, BTW:

Women's Rugby Club

The Women's Rugby Club was formed to encourage knowledge of the game of rugby for Kenyon women students. The club emphasizes the friendship and comaraderie cultivated by participation in this sport. No experience is necessary, but it is important to value physical fitness.

Men's Rugby Club

The Kenyon Men's Rugby Football Club strives to be an institution that introduces students to the noble sport of rugby and in doing so builds a brotherhood that Kenyon can be proud to call their own. While the KMRC considers a professional attitude and a serious work ethic to be of paramount importance, we welcome all students regardless of athletic ability or rugby know-how.