FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

NCAA Stats are Updated:  Wabash Defense Notables (National Rank)

Team -

Wabash  #2  Rushing Defense -  28.50 yards per game
Wabash # 9  Scoring Defense -  7 ppg
Wabash #3   Turnover margin

Individual -

Austin Hodges (SR) -  Interceptions -  T1
J. Koop (Sr) -  Interceptions -  T8
Cody Buresh (So) -  Sacks -   T1
T. McCullen (FR) - Sacks -  T-3
Cody Buresh (So) -  Tackles for Loss -  2
T. McCullen (FR)-  Tackles for Loss -  T10

Stats link...   http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/mainpage.jsp?year=2012   Plenty of NCAC representation thus far.

[wabndy]

http://www.thedepauw.com/mobile/sports/university-officials-silent-about-long-s-dismissal-1.2903541

A whole lot of not saying much of anything.

[wallyworld12]

Well, if anything it seems that the folks at DPU have at least started to say more intelligent things about this mess. I am still baffled by how open they have been, even while saying they can't talk much about it.

Wonder if that's a reflection of the flack they've gotten from alumni and friends over the past few days???

[wally_wabash]

I'd be encouraged with the comments by President Casey (who, in the couple of times that I've seen him at Monon Stag events, has left a favorable impression with me).  The AD seems to be stuck having to give the same non-answer that she never should have given in the first place.  She said just enough on Sunday to invite prying and now the questions aren't going to go away soon.  Now you're going to have to field questions about what administrative assignemnts football coaches have which will inevitably get compared to similar assignments that other coaches in the department have and it becomes a big, fat, juicy investigative report for whichever DePauw student-journo wants to dive into that rabbit hole.  I don't know what good comes from that...we all hold transparency as an ideal, but generally speaking, nobody really wants to see how the sausage is made. 

Anyway, if it's program stability that they are after, then I think they need to not only get serious about this national search that they are embarking on, but it may be appropriate to review these internal policies that the last three coaches have allegedly failed to adhere to.  Did DePauw just happen to hire the three worst dudes in the profession in the last six years, or is there something out of whack with the policies?  It's probably somewhere inbetween, but I would think that a review is in order or else DePauw may well find themselves in the same situation in another 2-3 years. 

[bashbrother]

We also all have to remember the "collegiate coaching environment"  that we find ourselves in today, is different.  After the past year + of high profile issues at a certain Big Ten institution,  alumni, media, parents, & fans etc. are all more sensitive to any issues....    This is partly why being vague or clumbsy with your communication on a coach being fired in the middle of the night, is not satisfying the masses.  I believe they will eventually need to come out with greater detail on what happened.

When Walker was released, it was a different time and they counted on it just going away.... and in time, people did forget about it.  I was bit shocked when I saw the amount of sources that picked this story up off the wire.  I don't think this will go away as easily.   

[wabco]

Stevie Wonder ... it is the cover up and not the crime that is the killer.  To show you how lack pof good definitive information is filling the gap ... A Danny parent who has a son there and had a daujghter there ... is saying the reason was that Robbie used too many "F...bombs" with the players after the shellacking they took from Whit.  WHAT?  ... only at DPU would they fire a coach per Stevie Wonder "not for wins or losses" ... but for administrative failures ("F-bombs"?) and parents buying that and repeating that? 

The team has to be a shambles.  With a 17 year assistant coach from a Ho - Hum D3 football school?  Focus on Saturday game?  Nonexistant.  I feel badly for them. The pressure is on their NCAC opponent to complete the Whitt bookend.

Bash AD: ... no need for extra bleachers on Danny side ... only the Danny language police will be there on that side.  Stevie Wonder ... you have driven a stake right into the heart of Danny faithful.  And you thought long about this with your compatriot Cindy?  The teo of you must be a pair to draw to.  Stevie Wonder came from North Central.  I wonder what info North Central bloggers have about her tenure/rule at  North Central?  Did her departure coincide with the elevation of the success of North Central football?

[wally_wabash]

Really good Around the Great Lakes column this week focusing on Kenyon.  That story, along with what is going on down south currently, puts a good bit of perspective on what it takes to be successful at college football.  Winning games is hard.  It takes a lot of work and commitment from a lot of places...student-athletes, coaches, administration, and more.  There are a lot of moving parts that have to be in phase with each other to manufacture a win on Saturday.  I think it's easy to take some of those wins for granted sometimes, especially when you start stacking them up on the regular...these stories going on around us should make it easy to see that every win is an achievement.

Alright...sentimental break over.  Back to regularly scheduled programming. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

...a good bit of perspective on what it takes to be successful at college football.  Winning games is hard.  It takes a lot of work and commitment from a lot of places...student-athletes, coaches, administration, and more.  There are a lot of moving parts that have to be in phase with each other to manufacture a win on Saturday. 

Excellent point, and one that's too often forgotten.  Most every school that you line up against on Saturday has players that also are trying hard to win the game.  Hard work and emotion on the part of the players can carry you to a certain point, but if the other team brings an equal amount of hard work and emotion to that week's practices and games...those factors ultimately are a wash, and other factors (talent, coaching schemes, and luck) will determine the outcome.

It's very easy to say that the coach is the problem at a struggling program (at any level).  It's much harder to find a coach that's actually capable of orchestrating a dramatic turnaround, especially with the other factors you mention, wally.

[bashbrother]

The initial 30 seconds of this video is ... um.... interesting...   "Go out and fail forward guys" "We've got to be failing at a fast rate"

http://youtu.be/M4q1thh1G20

[Li'l Giant]

Now you're going to have to field questions about what administrative assignemnts football coaches have which will inevitably get compared to similar assignments that other coaches in the department have and it becomes a big, fat, juicy investigative report for whichever DePauw student-journo wants to dive into that rabbit hole.  I don't know what good comes from that...we all hold transparency as an ideal, but generally speaking, nobody really wants to see how the sausage is made.

Looking at this from the perspective of one who sues people for a living when I think of the bad that can come of this I think in terms of discovery in a lawsuit. As a Plaintiff's lawyer I'd salivate over the possibility of discovering evidence or testimony that Long was treated differently and disproportionately to other coaches. I salivate even more if there is a racial disparity. That is purely speculation on my part. I have no knowledge and we certainly can't glean that from what's been released. But I'd certainly be looking to find that if I were Long's lawyer. That stuff is all discoverable.

That may very well not be the case. This may be an entirely defensible firing and claim. Having defended claims like this as well I recognize that there is a way to do a firing right. Depauw may have done it.

However, there is going to be some discovery and some way to get into what administrative duties the other coaches have and what happens when those coaches don't live up to them. That may not end well for Depauw.

[wabco]

Here is some info on Stevie Wonder fresh from the Danny archives:

"Baker-Watson started at North Central in 2007 and has directed the department's compliance and eligibility activities as well as all aspects of its student-athlete leadership development programming.  Through her work with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Student-Athlete Mentors and Cardinal Marketing and Promotions, she provided student-athletes leadership awareness training and leadership development opportunities.

Additionally, she supervised undergraduates and post-graduate interns in areas of athletics administration, academic services and athletics marketing and promotions and previously served as the manager for all of North Central's indpoor and outdoor athletic facilities.

Prior to coming to North Central, Baker-Watson spent eight years at Aurora University where she was the head athletic trainer, senior woman administrator and instructor in physical education.  As part of the athletics management team, she oversaw all aspects of game operations, directed student-athlete education as CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator, helped develop marketing and promoitions initiatives and served as an advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee."

So ... as the DePauw piece is dated Jamnuary 6, 2012 ... she is in her 9th month at DePauw.  Her academic training is as an athletic trainer and PE person, which is apparently what she was at Aurora University.  Her employment with North Central was - by the article - from 2007 to end of 2011.  She is labeled as an "Assistant AD at North Central" during that period with responsibilities as outlined (by the Danny news release) above.  She is highlited as have marketing and promotions experience pertaining to things athletic.

[wallyworld12]

  She is highlited as have marketing and promotions experience pertaining to things athletic.

Could've fooled me

[smedindy]

A lot of AD's are now marketing, promotions and facilities types now. Way of the world.

[BashBacker#16]

Did you know:  Stevie's "significant other" is/has been a D3 football coach and was on the Benedictine staff.  I don't believe he is this year though - not sure where he is. 

This story get's juicier and juicier.

[wabco]

Especially marketing and promotions with a folundation as a degreed athletic trainer.  I just smelled "PC" ... could that "possibly" be at DePauw?  Can you spell a few months on the job and way over your skis ... boys and girls?