FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

The_Bishop · October 22, 2012, 09:46:36 AM

Quote from: wally_wabash on October 21, 2012, 08:53:55 PM

Again, while maybe not quite as striking, OWU hasn't seen what Wabash is bringing...not even Carnegie Mellon (was surprised to see that actually...also, OWU caught a huge break with Blanks not playing for CMU Saturday. Huge break.) Now I'm not trying to say that all of this adds up to a Wabash win or certain doom for OWU. Just trying to use some data to show how big the step up is here compared to what OWU has seen so far this season.

No doubt about it. While CMU was a clear leap in terms of the quality of overall opponents OWU had faced up to that point this season, there is still a big gap (chasm?) between CMU and Wabash. CMU did deliver some early punches that OWU took and responded to. CMU was up 26-17 in the 4th quarter and OWU responded. CMU has a very well-balanced offense and when the receivers were covered the QB scrambled and had some nice games of 15-20 yards. Against OWU, Case and Kenyon had some really good drives when they mixed up the play calling with running plays and play action passes. Belton has some legs apparently, and he could easily rack up 100+ yards if he plays and if the OWU D can't contain him. OWU took some shots on Saturday, but they were more along the lines of stiff jabs from Peter McNeely. Mike Tyson is coming out of the gates with a red 'W' on his helmet next weekend and OWU has to be ready or they will look like Trevor Berbick noodle legging it around the field after taking the first roundhouse of uppercuts. (Hoping that analogy was not lost on anyone

)

OWU has earned the right to play in a big game against the champs. Unlike their previous opponents, however, Wabash has played in big games - year after year after year. And won big games. I still look at this game as a "bridging the gap" game for OWU. Can they beat Wabash? Certainly. But they truly have to play a flawless game. Sustained offensive drives and no turnovers (amazed a pick-6 against CMU didn't cost them the game). No letups on special teams. Making every field goal attempt. The task is going to be a huge one but the Bishops still have yet to put it all together this season. Wabash is at the top of the mountain and is what every team in the conference should aspire to be.

This is an exciting week for the Bishops. Start chilling your Zima now.

smedindy · October 22, 2012, 10:22:32 AM

OWU's entrance to the stage reminds me of when Wabash first entered the conference and knew that Witt was the one to beat (followed by Allegheny at the time). We hadn't arrived until we beat Witt. Same for OWU, they need to beat Witt and Wabash to 'arrive' (at least one of them) and it may take a couple of years.

The difference is that OWU has prior knowledge of the level of play they need to bring in order to 'arrive'. Beating the other NCAC schools is an improvement for OWU but Wabash and Witt are the gatekeepers of the elite. With the round robin this year there's no dodging them (not that it's OWU's fault).

BashDad · October 22, 2012, 10:30:32 AM

Something's wacky with the conference statistics page. Tyler Holmes should be a top-3 rusher but he's not even listed.

He's gonna get a huge amount of carries on Saturday.

Bishopleftiesdad · October 22, 2012, 10:31:36 AM

In reality they probably do need to have a flawless game. I hope they do not approach the game that way. Otherwise one mistake early can doom a team. If they have the mind set that they need to be perfect and make no mistakes, and then the inevitable interception of fumble occurs, that can devastate a team and they may not be able to recover.

I would prefer them believing that they need to go out and keep their heads up and know that they can over come. I want them to believe they are good enough to compete and so not have to be perfect. Buy into the coaches game plan and execute. One fumble or interception does not doom this team. Now multiple can.

We will get a good idea this weekend how well the staff game plans and adjusts.

Go Bishops

Pat Coleman · October 22, 2012, 10:32:36 AM

Actually, Ohio Wesleyan is the reason we have a D3football.com Top 25, or at least the reason why we decided to compete with the AFCA poll starting in 2003. In 2002, OWU started out with a pair of wins against Olivet and Denison and got ranked No. 13 by the AFCA, somehow. They ended up 5-5, 3-4 in the NCAC. We knew at that point we could no longer let Division III football have just the coaches' poll.

wally_wabash · October 22, 2012, 10:42:14 AM

Quote from: BashDad on October 22, 2012, 10:30:32 AM
Something's wacky with the conference statistics page. Tyler Holmes should be a top-3 rusher but he's not even listed.

He's gonna get a huge amount of carries on Saturday.

I think the threshold is that a player has to have played in 75% of the team's games. Holmes will show up on the list next week. If he gets loose like he did on Saturday, he'll debut at the top of that list.

The_Bishop · October 22, 2012, 11:45:05 AM

It's Homecoming for OWU this weekend. A packed house at Selby is most certainly in the forecast.

Pat Coleman · October 22, 2012, 11:46:02 AM

9,000?

wally_wabash · October 22, 2012, 11:58:18 AM

Quote from: The_Bishop on October 22, 2012, 11:45:05 AM
It's Homecoming for OWU this weekend. A packed house at Selby is most certainly in the forecast.

"You don't schedule Bash for homecoming." - Erik Raeburn, 10/6/2012

nike · October 22, 2012, 12:07:13 PM

I am sure he was speaking figuratively, but anything around 5,000 or so would constitute a packed house.
Homecoming makes high attendance even more likely.
All the number crunching certainly points to a Wabash victory. But they are just numbers in the end and the game ultimately has to be played.
OWU is on a great roll and will give Wabash all they have. Their coaching this year has been tremendous. More pressure will be on Wabash, I would think, because no one expected the Bishops to be where they are at this point in the season. It is up to Watts to convince his players that they are not playing for a moral victory, but an NCAC championship and a trip to the big dance. Should be a great atmosphere.

nike · October 22, 2012, 12:08:35 PM

Quote from: wally_wabash on October 22, 2012, 11:58:18 AM
Quote from: The_Bishop on October 22, 2012, 11:45:05 AM
It's Homecoming for OWU this weekend. A packed house at Selby is most certainly in the forecast.

"You don't schedule Bash for homecoming." - Erik Raeburn, 10/6/2012

Did he really say that?

BashDad · October 22, 2012, 12:13:10 PM

After Wabash handed Wittenberg their first home loss in four years, yes, he said that.

wabco · October 22, 2012, 12:17:20 PM

He did. AND ... it is true.

Pressure? Wabash ... the one under pressure?

Visualize pressure: Wilkins, Scola, Clegg, Buresh, Koop, the Hodges, AJ, Kolisek, Breuckman, McCullen ...

Grand Canyon ... no water ... no food ... no way out

And then along comes the Wabash O line and receivers and Holmes, Hunt, Belton, Walsh ... more Grand Canyon.

"You don't schedule Bash for homecoming"

wabashcpa · October 22, 2012, 12:57:29 PM

I think instead of pooh-poohing Ohio Wesleyan because of the teams they have played, let's celebrate the fact that they are 7-0 and actually part of the solution of getting the NCAC back on the map rather than being part of the problem. Same with Kenyon - obviously DePauw is down, but that is still a signature win for a program that has been flat awful in recent years. They are both programs taking steps in the right direction. Once Wooster and DePauw get their act together, this conference may actually have some depth for the first time in forever.

Do I think Wabash should win? Of course - my glasses are as scarlet and white as anyone else. That said, I think OWU will prove a worthy opponent, and give the LG's all they want. OWU didn't get to 7-0 by not being able to take a punch.

The_Bishop · October 22, 2012, 01:14:26 PM

Quote from: nike on October 22, 2012, 12:07:13 PM
I am sure he was speaking figuratively, but anything around 5,000 or so would constitute a packed house.
Homecoming makes high attendance even more likely.
All the number crunching certainly points to a Wabash victory. But they are just numbers in the end and the game ultimately has to be played.
OWU is on a great roll and will give Wabash all they have. Their coaching this year has been tremendous. More pressure will be on Wabash, I would think, because no one expected the Bishops to be where they are at this point in the season. It is up to Watts to convince his players that they are not playing for a moral victory, but an NCAC championship and a trip to the big dance. Should be a great atmosphere.

You get me, nike. Packed house, full house, big crowd, whatever you want to call it for those more literal-minded - a lot of people will be there. Maybe 5,492 or so.

Whether there is pressure on Wabash or not, they've played in these games on practically an annual basis. And they've won a ton of them. Nike is right - a moral victory and a 9-1 or 8-2 season is not what this team has worked so hard for to get to this point in the season.

Back to the Wabash D-line putting pressure on Espinosa. OWU had some great calls against CMU last weekend when there was pressure or a blitz package that involved a quick underneath handoff to the RB that resulted in some big (20+ yards) gains. We've talked a lot about the swing passes and quick screens when Wabash brings the heat but keep an eye on how quickly the DB's can come up and make a tackle in these situations, or how well a D-lineman or two can put an arm on the back and make a play. Probably saw this play around a half a dozen times or so against CMU but I would expect to see it against Wabash to attempt to keep them off balance.