FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

Thanks 16,  about what I was thinking.

Happy Thanksgiving to all NCAC posters!   

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Bashbro - a couple of points to make on the 2002 crowds:  it was the first year Wabash had made the playoffs since the 1977 Stagg Bowl team so the excitement was at a peak (which had been building in the CC-era) - especially after a 10-0 season with Knott, Short, Boulais, & Co.  They other thing that may have helped was the Bell game was at home that year, Wabash left all of the temporary bleachers/seating in the stadium.  It is pretty cool when we leave temporary seating up for a playoff run - it may just help add to the excitement (not sure).

I think Thanksgiving most definitely hurts attendance - especially from the student standpoint.  There won't be any fraternity pledge classes on the track, skeleton crew of the Sphinx club, etc.  There will be a handful there but most stay home with their families and enjoy break.  I also wonder if its not a little of the Atlanta Braves-thing where playoffs are pretty common.  This time of year, in general, where a lot of people have plans, travel, holiday season, etc.  Heck - Wally Wabash won't even be there Saturday!   

My feeling is there will be a decent crowd Saturday but nothing like a Homecoming or a Bell game.  I also think the playoff crowds are a different group (the most hard core fans) which helps off set the numbers a bit. 

I'm guessing NCC will have a walk through/practice at the stadium tomorrow...  Bash likely wrapped up the week this morning.

While FC had almost 3000 (2850) last week at home, we don't expect a large home crowd at UWW nor a large contingent making the trip to Whitewater.  Most FC fans have seen UWW (twice) in last 12 months and expect no surprises this week.  A group of us are going but it more the road trip and Friday night cocktails and Saturday tailgate for us (our tailgate group has been to every game home and away plus the two scrimmages for the last 3-4 years)  We can't quit on FC now.  Mostly parents and family plus the few die hard alums that don't have anything else to do that is more fun.

[wally_wabash]

A couple of other notes about 2002...when the playoffs hit that year Wabash was on a 17-game win streak which was the longest non-Mount Union  streak going in D3 at the time.  A lot of firsts or firsts-in-a-long-long-time were going on that year...10-0, conference champs, playoffs, etc.  An awful lot of the fan base was experiencing all of this stuff for the first time and we got absolutely rabid over the whole experience.  That 2002 season was an incredible ride.  Fast forward ten years and Wabash has been 10-0 a few more times and won league titles and been the playoffs a handful of times...I won't say that there is an apathy here because I don't think that's the case by a long shot.  The passion and support is still very much there as evidenced by the conversations in this forum all season (all year round, really), but a lot of that rabid enthusiasm that was there the first time around has been tempered a bit. 

And more than anything else I think you see the numbers go down a bit for the first two rounds of the playoffs because of the timing.  These weekends bookend a big traditional family holiday and an awful lot of people have made prior plans to spend that time with family, often out of the area.  It's true that I won't be there this weekend for that very reason...I made plans to spend the holiday away a long time ago and without even thinking about the football.  It happens.   

I had given some thought to bouncing over to Dover on Saturday for the Linfield/Wesley game, but that thought evaproated pretty quickly.  Who am I kidding?  The LGs are playing in one of the biggest games in program history on Saturday.  There's no way I can let myself not watch.  This weekend, I'm thankful (amongst many other things) for the advent and widespread use of video streaming for these games. 

While I won't be there in person on Saturday, you better believe that I fully expect to be making a roadie to Alliance in about eight more days!  There's some unfinished business left to take care of up there.   

Time to get cooking (literally)!  I hope everybody has a great Thanksgiving weekend!  WAF!!

[smedindy]

Yeah, some of us make plans, "Let's go to Key West on this Saturday when you're down here" and really can't back out now lest we risk the wrath and the drama. You don't want no drama. No no no no drama.

[DPU3619]

Drops a Black Eyed Peas reference in there.  Nice.

Happy Thanksgiving fellas.

[Li'l Giant]

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Family, food and football make this my favorite holiday. Enjoy your day everyone!

[formerd3db]

Sorry Wes, I am not a Black Eyed Peas fan.

Anyway, yes, Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone else here!  Enjoy the rest of the day with you/yours and/or your families.

[smedindy]

I'm actually not a fan of the BEP. I know the song (with the reference to the drama) from the Alanis Morrisette cover. But then knew the original thanks to a younger friend. My brain is still hurting.

Happy Thanksgiving. We all have plenty to be thankful for!

[cardinaldad]

What kind of crowd do you guys expect this weekend? I do know that NCC hasn't played in front of anything like a Wabash fan section at full strength!

I hope everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving and all bellies are full!

NCC travels really well. We should have a pretty good crowd there. We are looking forward to a great game and the Wabash atmosphere we hear about.

It is somewhat disappointing when there is a home playoff game and the campus is shut down for the holiday. But, I'm sure the Wabash fans that are in attendance will make up for  any missing fans. It's playoff time!

[smedindy]

Is it Saturday yet?

[CardinalAlum]

Is it Saturday yet?

I wish!

[BashDad]

Prediction time. Usee's line (NCC -12.5) seems like a solid one. Outside of Ryan Tipps--and God bless you, Ryan Tipps--that two score difference is fairly close to both Keith and Pat's take on the game. Which kind of surprised me because, let's be honest, those predictions are probably a little tighter than most of the country thinks this game will be.

So. For fun, let's take a look at where those 13 points could possibly come from. Here are 5 things to look out for, with their relative consequence on Usee's line in italics.

1. No turnovers in the first quarter. Should Wabash decide to give away easy point early, we all might as well spend the next three quarters watching HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS or ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS.

This isn't exactly gosh-wow analysis, I know, and we won't award any points here. It's kind of essential that Bash doesn't give up any early turnovers. Otherwise, we're looking at a blowout.

But stick with me.... Here we go. Picking up steam...

2. Win the 2nd and 3rd quarters. NCC was tied 7-7 last week at the end of the first, only to go all Purple Warhawk in the following three quarters. For Wabash, I think they've got to keep the first quarter close (say, within 7), win the second and third periods, and then hang on for dear life in the fourth.

Judges award 6 points here, taking our line down to -6.5

Where do all those Offensive points come from? You got me, but....

3-A. Wabash will be pushed into 3rd and long a handful of times tomorrow. Maybe even more than a handful. Belton will have to come through on 3rd-and-15+ at least twice tomorrow. These kinds of plays are huge; the difference in stalling out a drive and continuing one with sudden momentum against a defense reeling from the let-down. Much like a big turnover, these kinds of plays can swing points. We'll need at least two of them.

Good for .5 points. Line is down to -6

3-B. Wabash will need one scoring play of 60+ yards. This could include a punt return, a fumble recovery, a pick-6, a big play on O, or anything in between. If Wabash wins, we'll see a play in the box-score that fits this description. The offense is going to have a tough time for most of the game; we'll need a play like this at some point, count on it.

Good for 2.5 points, which seems low to me. The Judges aren't budging. Now we're at -3.5

4. At least one turn-away of NCC in the red-zone. The Cardinals have scored 37 of their 56 Touchdowns inside the 20. That's 66%, which is not a huge percentage, but definitely seems about right for a team as explosive as NCC. Even if Wabash takes away big-play scores, NCC will still have several opportunities in the Red Zone. We turn them away once and it's a pretty good indication that we've got ourselves a ball-game.

Getting close. Judges award big points (3) for this. Line is down to -.5

5. NCC has to shoot themselves in the foot at least once. Something really stupid that fans for the Cardinals will be utterly shocked by. Something that's never happened. Something that they'll point to tomorrow night and say "If that didn't happen...." etc. The Depauw center-exchange fumble in 2009 is a version of this. As is, from the other vantage point, the interception call for Capital at the end of the 2005 game or the IWU fourth-down TD in 2009.

This is good for 2.5 points, giving Bash a lead of two. The crowd goes ridiculous.

A BONUS POINT:

-Good for .000025 if Bash can defend the pass plays coming in NCC's first drive. They'll test us early and throw deep. If we can defend it, we'll be that much closer to stalling them out and keeping an early TD off the board.

So there you have it. That's our check-list.

Even in an ideal game for Bash, this thing is going to be an absolute dog-fight. If the above happens, we'll call it a 19-17 Wabash win.

Go get'm LGs.

[robertgoulet]

Prediction time. Usee's line (NCC -12.5) seems like a solid one. Outside of Ryan Tipps--and God bless you, Ryan Tipps--that two score difference is fairly close to both Keith and Pat's take on the game. Which kind of surprised me because, let's be honest, those predictions are probably a little tighter than most of the country thinks this game will be.

So. For fun, let's take a look at where those 13 points could possibly come from. Here are 5 things to look out for, with their relative consequence on Usee's line in italics.

1. No turnovers in the first quarter. Should Wabash decide to give away easy point early, we all might as well spend the next three quarters watching HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS or ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS.

This isn't exactly gosh-wow analysis, I know, and we won't award any points here. It's kind of essential that Bash doesn't give up any early turnovers. Otherwise, we're looking at a blowout.

But stick with me.... Here we go. Picking up steam...

2. Win the 2nd and 3rd quarters. NCC was tied 7-7 last week at the end of the first, only to go all Purple Warhawk in the following three quarters. For Wabash, I think they've got to keep the first quarter close (say, within 7), win the second and third periods, and then hang on for dear life in the fourth.

Judges award 6 points here, taking our line down to -6.5

Where do all those Offensive points come from? You got me, but....

3-A. Wabash will be pushed into 3rd and long a handful of times tomorrow. Maybe even more than a handful. Belton will have to come through on 3rd-and-15+ at least twice tomorrow. These kinds of plays are huge; the difference in stalling out a drive and continuing one with sudden momentum against a defense reeling from the let-down. Much like a big turnover, these kinds of plays can swing points. We'll need at least two of them.

Good for .5 points. Line is down to -6

3-B. Wabash will need one scoring play of 60+ yards. This could include a punt return, a fumble recovery, a pick-6, a big play on O, or anything in between. If Wabash wins, we'll see a play in the box-score that fits this description. The offense is going to have a tough time for most of the game; we'll need a play like this at some point, count on it.

Good for 2.5 points, which seems low to me. The Judges aren't budging. Now we're at -3.5

4. At least one turn-away of NCC in the red-zone. The Cardinals have scored 37 of their 56 Touchdowns inside the 20. That's 66%, which is not a huge percentage, but definitely seems about right for a team as explosive as NCC. Even if Wabash takes away big-play scores, NCC will still have several opportunities in the Red Zone. We turn them away once and it's a pretty good indication that we've got ourselves a ball-game.

Getting close. Judges award big points (3) for this. Line is down to -.5

5. NCC has to shoot themselves in the foot at least once. Something really stupid that fans for the Cardinals will be utterly shocked by. Something that's never happened. Something that they'll point to tomorrow night and say "If that didn't happen...." etc. The Depauw center-exchange fumble in 2009 is a version of this. As is, from the other vantage point, the interception call for Capital at the end of the 2005 game or the IWU fourth-down TD in 2009.

This is good for 2.5 points, giving Bash a lead of two. The crowd goes ridiculous.

A BONUS POINT:

-Good for .000025 if Bash can defend the pass plays coming in NCC's first drive. They'll test us early and throw deep. If we can defend it, we'll be that much closer to stalling them out and keeping an early TD off the board.

So there you have it. That's our check-list.

Even in an ideal game for Bash, this thing is going to be an absolute dog-fight. If the above happens, we'll call it a 19-17 Wabash win.

Go get'm LGs.

That is a suspiciously detailed post...


That being said here's my prediction:

NCC - 24
Wabash - 10

It's a 1 possession game until NCC scores an early 4th quarter TD and the D puts the clamps down.

[bashbrother]

Mr. Robert Goulet -   This one is for you!

http://youtu.be/DvOHbxBAEN8

[wabco]

Lets Go Big Red Lets Go !

Blood Makes the Grass Grow Greener

Give Me a "W". Give me an "A", Give me a "B", give me an "A", Give mer a "S", give me an H".What's That Spell:  WABASH !  What:  WABASH!!  Tell them aAbout It:  WABASH!!!

The ever favorite:  (in addition to "the referee has no father"):  OOOOOOOoooooo WWWWWaaaaa WWWWWaaaa !

And last but not least the favorite of all but Smeds (the Kenyon girls rugby team enthusiast):  Lets Gp Big Red, Lets Go !!!

Bring out the spirits from BKT to Salter to Thad to Barney to Kerfel to Moore to  .... and in answer to the question asked with all reverance and perserverance "Did Wabash Win?" .... to the present stewards of the forces of good:  YES and GO WABASH !!!