FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[nike]

I will be at the Wabash OWU game. 
Until OWU loses, no harm in being excited about their possibilities.  Have always loved Selby and have imagined what that place would be like with 7,000 or 8,000 folks at a game.  If both teams don't lose until they play each other, my fantasy may come true this year.  Would guess that a ton of OWU alumni would migrate back for a game like that.
That would be very cool.   
Love the Scots, enjoy and respect Wabash and am happy for the Bishops this year.  Now if Hiram could just bottle some lightning. 

[The_Bishop]

CMU is going to destroy OWU.

It's all Kenyon this week, Bashdad, but feel free to add fuel to the OWU fire that is gaining steam in Delaware right now.  If Wally wants to throw in a (-28.5) spread for the CMU game when the time comes, I'm all in favor of that as well. 

The schedule change for OWU obviously helped the Bishops this year get out to a strong start, and 3 of their 5 wins (Denison, Oberlin and Hiram) largely matched the same margin of victory against these teams as the year before.  But they hung on against Case and hit a 47-yard field goal with seconds left in the game.  They went on the road and beat DePauw last week.  There is marked improvement for the football program this year and while there is still a long, long way to go before we can talk about them contending for conference titles, try not to poop on our picnic too much.  The Bishops are still 5-0, after all. 

[formerd3db]

You guys. OWU has played 5 teams that have won, in total, 7 games. Let's take a breath.

I think they all realize that BashDad; at least that is what some of us have conveyed.  But...come on BashDad, you don't have to "rain" on their positive enthusiasm.  Let them enjoy it while it lasts.   We all must admit, though, that it is refreshing to see OWU get to this point i.e. a good start and certainly improved as compared to where they have been in recent years.  Just thought I'd chime in on that.  We know Wabash is good, but let's encourage these guys a little.  It can't hurt anyone and/or the league, right?

[GRIZ_BACKER]

You guys. OWU has played 5 teams that have won, in total, 7 games. Let's take a breath.

I think they all realize that BashDad; at least that is what some of us have conveyed.  But...come on BashDad, you don't have to "rain" on their positive enthusiasm.  Let them enjoy it while it lasts.   We all must admit, though, that it is refreshing to see OWU get to this point i.e. a good start and certainly improved as compared to where they have been in recent years.  Just thought I'd chime in on that.  We know Wabash is good, but let's encourage these guys a little.  It can't hurt anyone and/or the league, right?

Wabash is good but they still lost to Allegeny at home.  And is Witt a qulaity win or just a win over an equal opponent. Neither Witt nor Bash has beaten or played any power teams.  Just saying

[BashDad]

You're "just saying" what, exactly?

[smedindy]

Wabash heard that song and dance last year, before they beat North Central.

The LGs have a chance to hang the solitary "L" on a few teams if they take care of business; that's some quality wins there.

[BashDad]

And is Witt a qulaity win or just a win over an equal opponent.

What?

[BashDad]

There is marked improvement for the football program this year and while there is still a long, long way to go before we can talk about them contending for conference titles...

But no, there's not. That's what's happening now. That's what I'm responding to.

See, look:

Wabash, Witt, and OWU can all (very reasonably) finish at 9-1. 

Who would ever have imagined a year ago that "OWU" would be used in the same sentence with Witt and Wabash by anyone with regards to contention for the league title.

Can anyone say Coach of the Year?

I'm glad OWU is off to a good start, but they shouldn't be beyond inspection, especially if the conversation is going to start meandering toward the word "champion". The reasons they are 5-0 are many, but at least one of the more glaring factors is that they played the worst half of the NCAC first. Also, and sorry if this rubs you wrong, it really, really, really bugs me that they could go to the playoffs this year without having played Witt. I think that's kind of gross. Beyond their control, sure, but gross nonetheless.

[smedindy]

My nightmare Kenyon scenario would see BashDad's head asplode like Scanners.

[Pat Coleman]

Yeah, that one is surprisingly hard to watch for a neutral observer a decade removed. It's... well. Yeah. Ugh.

It was NCAC officials, although the clock operator is primarily to blame and he was someone the ODAC uses. (In fact, he had done the Stagg Bowl previously.)

Lots of things have changed since then but I still remember talking to a member of the committee, from neither Rowan's nor Bridgewater's region, and he told me and Keith that when he saw that video it made him sick to his stomach.

[Ryan Tipps]

Have two NCAC teams ever made the tournament in the same year?

Didn't see that you had gotten an answer to this question, but 2009, we got two teams in. Witt won the AQ, while Bash got in as a Pool C.

Wabash played Illinois Wesleyan to the bone in a high-scoring Round 1 loss. (I briefly talked to IWU's coach on the sidelines at the Stagg Bowl that year, and he said Wabash impressed him a lot.) Wittenberg made it to the regional finals and hung with eventual national champs UW-Whitewater through almost three quarters. Gave the conference some cred with that performance.

[BashDad]

2002, as well. Witt and Wabash met in Round 2.

[BashBacker#16]

GrizzBacker,

Love your shot on Bash.  Dude - I went to the Mount/Franklin game and it was UGLY.  It wasn't even a game.  Then, you play Butler and get torched again (Butler has improoved over the years but really how good are they?). Now you're beating teams like Earlham 70-20.  What exactly has Franklin done this year?  Bash played poorly and they've got things fixed with good wins over CMU and Witt (at Witt).

Not even sure this is a discussion worthy of this post.

Like BashDad said:  "What exactly are you saying?"

[Wabash Hokie]

Thoughts on the upcoming Wabash/Wash U game:

Unlike two years ago where Wabash was cruising through the NCAC and came into St. Louis and played an uninspired game, I am expecting to see a much more focused Little Giant team when they return this weekend.  Several of us watched the Wash U/Whitewater game earlier this year and I am not surprised at Wash U's record to date. Their defense stood up to Whitewater for just over a half but they had to spend way too much time on the field. Wash U's offense has not done much all season (ranked #210 in Div III in Total Offense) and will struggle mightily against Wabash's defense.

If any of you are going to make it to the game, we will be tailgating in the parking lot east of Francis Field - look for an RV with a Wabash flag flying from a yellow pole. 

[bashbrother]

Congrats to Charlie Kolisek on being named to the D3 Football "Team of the Week"   He caught a TD Pass,  Picked up and INT and recorded a QB sack...  May not be the "Cycle", he didn't return a punt to the house or kick a 52 yard field goal, but he got very close. 


Charlie Kolisek, Jr., Wabash
Kolisek played on the both sides of the ball in Wabash's 27-24 win at Wittenberg. He intercepted the first pass of the game and recorded the final sack on the Tigers' last offensive drive. He also caught his first career pass -- a 4-yard reception -- to score the Little Giant's first TD of the game. Kolisek also caught an 8-yard pass on third down to extend Wabash's final game-ending drive.