FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

We all know what week it is, but there are other games afoot in the NCAC:

Non-Conference (NCAC / UAA)

Denison (2-2) @ Carnegie - Mellon (4-1) - The Tartans proved they were real last week even though Wabash rose up at the end. A key injury on offense to their fullback probably doomed CMU as they lost one of their big weapons. Denison survived a furious Wooster comeback for a road win. They've got a good offense but have a lot of work to do on the defensive end especially in defending the pass. It wouldn't surprise me to see Denison putting up 28 points and losing by 15 or more. The Big Red aren't a pushover but CMU is just that good.

Wooster (1-3) @ Case Western Reserve (2-3) - This contest is a requiem for two disappointing teams. The Scots have been listless on offense except for their furious comeback Saturday. The issue again are turnovers - they commit way too many of them. They played well on defense against Wittenberg but not so much against the Big Red. Meanwhile, the Spartans are reeling after three straight losses and may be salivating over a Scots team that could have a QB controversy affecting it. (Barnes could be hurt, too.) One of these teams is going to get a much-needed Tonic of Victory (+2) Saturday, and I bet it's the home squad.

Allegheny (3-1) @ Chicago (2-2) - The Gators survived their trap game, escaping with a 15-3 win over a gutty and out-manned Oberlin squad. They really need to keep it close against the Maroons, who still have quick-strike capability in Dee Brizzolara. I don't think the Gators will be intimidated by the Maroons offense. The question will be can they muster enough offense to come away with the victory. That, and can they manage not to be overcome by the bus fumes as the wend their way on the Borman Expressway in Da Region.

Conference Games:

Ohio Wesleyan (2-0, 4-0) vs. DePauw (0-1, 1-3) - While the New Tigers sipped the sweet elixir of a win Saturday, the Bishops have glugged it down all season. There are some great things happening in Delaware right now from an attitude and spirit side. Yes, their schedule has been pillowy soft but maybe that's what's needed. DPU had a good win (heck, Hiram would have been a good win for them) against Wash U. and the may have found themselves a QB to build on in Justin Murray. I don't think the New Tigers' D can contain Espinosa for four quarters, but this won't be an absolute lambasting by OWU.

Oberlin (0-2, 1-3) @ Kenyon (1-0, 2-2) - There is a good shot that the Lords will be 2-0 in NCAC play after the day is done. That's pretty remarkable considering how low Kenyon's football team was after the last few seasons. Pity poor Oberlin, though, who have shown flashes of competitive play undercut by low numbers and things going wrong in the second half. Those two items are probably related. The Yeomen have been outscored 49-7 in the second half of those three losses. Add another 5-10 decent D-3 players in their mix (especially in the line) and they may have been 3-1 and not 1-3. If not for the sheer weight of the Wabash / Witt game, this may be the best matchup of the weekend.

Wabash (1-1, 3-1) @ Wittenberg (2-0, 4-0) - Oh, yeah...I think we're talking about this game....

[ExTartanPlayer]

Witt is very negative when it comes to recruiting and especially when you let them know you will not be going there. It is even worse when you are from Springfield and you head to Wabash. WAF!

There's a range of reactions you'll get from Division III coaches.  I visited three schools.  When I informed the "other two" that I was choosing CMU, one of the schools just never responded (which I'm fine with - if you're recruiting a few hundred kids, that's a lot of "Thanks for considering us" emails to send out) and the other was somewhat negative (as you guys are describing with Witt).  I'm sure there are some coaches out there who will politely wish you luck at your chosen destination, but I haven't heard much of that. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

Nice writeup as always, smedindy.  I think a number of this week's matchups are fascinating, even the "lesser" matchups below the obvious highlight game of the week.

Wooster vs. CWRU pits a pair of slightly-underachieving teams on the verge of letting their respective chances at a winning season slip away.

Allegheny vs. Chicago gives the Gators an opportunity to keep the momentum rolling, while Chicago could really use that win to pick up a little steam heading into the UAA schedule.

OWU vs. DPU gets my vote for the most interesting "middle-tier" game of the week: can OWU keep it rolling against a DPU team that might be slowly righting the ship?

Even Oberlin vs. Kenyon is an interesting matchup with Kenyon's resurgence and Oberlin's continued scrappiness.  Not very often can you look at the entire slate and see that every game is a toss-up or has at least one interesting storyline.

[wally_wabash]

2011 Highlights:  Wabash vs Wittenberg - love the crowd!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1466766424001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAFSNjfE~,2tNjBNcGiVjyYB9_KCWjXkS3b9Fhz4mB&bctid=1265212274001

The angle isn't great on the first TD, but was there controversy whether Belton broke the plain on that first score?

Here's another clip of game highlights from last year.  This still isn't a great angle on that play, but I think it's a little better. 

[firstdown]

Witt is very negative when it comes to recruiting and especially when you let them know you will not be going there. It is even worse when you are from Springfield and you head to Wabash. WAF!

There's a range of reactions you'll get from Division III coaches.  I visited three schools.  When I informed the "other two" that I was choosing CMU, one of the schools just never responded (which I'm fine with - if you're recruiting a few hundred kids, that's a lot of "Thanks for considering us" emails to send out) and the other was somewhat negative (as you guys are describing with Witt).  I'm sure there are some coaches out there who will politely wish you luck at your chosen destination, but I haven't heard much of that.

A polite thanks for considering us and best of luck is probably the best response.  Certainly a coach can be disappointed, but a negative response only creates motivation for that recruit when he faces that  team in the future.  I happened to be nearby when my son very politely told the former DePauw coach that he had decided to go to Wabash, only to have the coach react by yelling at him over the phone.  As if any additional motivation were need for the Monon Dell Game, Wabash won three Bell Games in a row while my son played.

[BashBacker#16]

Firstdown,

Which son?   

BB16

[nike]

Witt is very negative when it comes to recruiting and especially when you let them know you will not be going there. It is even worse when you are from Springfield and you head to Wabash. WAF!

There's a range of reactions you'll get from Division III coaches.  I visited three schools.  When I informed the "other two" that I was choosing CMU, one of the schools just never responded (which I'm fine with - if you're recruiting a few hundred kids, that's a lot of "Thanks for considering us" emails to send out) and the other was somewhat negative (as you guys are describing with Witt).  I'm sure there are some coaches out there who will politely wish you luck at your chosen destination, but I haven't heard much of that.

A polite thanks for considering us and best of luck is probably the best response.  Certainly a coach can be disappointed, but a negative response only creates motivation for that recruit when he faces that  team in the future.  I happened to be nearby when my son very politely told the former DePauw coach that he had decided to go to Wabash, only to have the coach react by yelling at him over the phone.  As if any additional motivation were need for the Monon Dell Game, Wabash won three Bell Games in a row while my son played.

If your son played in three Monon games, then you are not talking about Long, right?  Or was he there then?

[The_Bishop]

2011 Highlights:  Wabash vs Wittenberg - love the crowd!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1466766424001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAFSNjfE~,2tNjBNcGiVjyYB9_KCWjXkS3b9Fhz4mB&bctid=1265212274001

The angle isn't great on the first TD, but was there controversy whether Belton broke the plain on that first score?

Here's another clip of game highlights from last year.  This still isn't a great angle on that play, but I think it's a little better.

Ah.  Thanks Wally.  Not even close.

[wally_wabash]

Watching the debate tonight and it felt an awful lot like watching Wabash vs. Allegheny.  It was just...off.  That's probably about the best comparison I can find for that game.  And that's the last I'll mention of the Allegheny game.   

[bashbrother]

Watching the debate tonight and it felt an awful lot like watching Wabash vs. Allegheny.  It was just...off.  That's probably about the best comparison I can find for that game.  And that's the last I'll mention of the Allegheny game.   

I am sure the Allegheny Fans think that it was a tremendous game....   Politics on this board,  do we really want to go there?


Wabash Game Notes: http://sports.wabash.edu/documents/2012/10/3/ReleaseOct32012.pdf?id=89   

[wally_wabash]

My entire 12 or so year history of posting here has all been political metaphor.  Was that not what we do here?   

[ExTartanPlayer]

Watching the debate tonight and it felt an awful lot like watching Wabash vs. Allegheny.  It was just...off.  That's probably about the best comparison I can find for that game.  And that's the last I'll mention of the Allegheny game.   

I spent the last 20 minutes waiting for Mitt to yank out a sword, stab Barack, turn to the crowd and yell out "Are you not entertained?  ARE! YOU! NOT! ENTERTAINED!"

[smedindy]

I....um....er....well.....um.....

...um....two minutes...

[Li'l Giant]

I didn't watch the debate. On purpose. I also stayed mostly off of social media. I played a video game. The people who get the most out of watching debates are the fanboys of the candidates (I'm not a "fanboy" of either) and people who are undecided (which I'm not).

Did anyone watch the NFL Network documentary "Cleveland '95" last night? It was excellent.

[BashBacker#16]

This struck me when reading the press releases.  Coach Fincham is 148-33 in his 17 years.  In NCAC games he is 98-15!  Against Wabash he is 6-7!!  Muhahahahahahahaaaa. 

Sigma One - waiting on your pre-game analysis...?

Witt has some big WR's, 2 Frosh running backs, both teams have a lot of size.  I can't wait for Saturday.  I wonder how both teams are on the injury front.

Another thing that struck me as funny.  In the highlights from the 2011 game "they - Witt" had captions questioning officiating calls...  Does anyone remember the mysterious inadverdent whistle at Witt that one year???  Rivalry games like this always involve some luck - you get some calls and you don't get other calls.

Wabash Always Fights!