FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sigma one]

Above many things, this I know:  BashDad knows a lot about how to evaluate QB play.  Until his analysis is shown to be wrong, I'm paying attention to what he says.

[bashbrother]

I think the 6,745 yards he has thrown for in almost three seasons probably doesn't count much

BashDad - 7,118 and quite a bit of hardware.  Not saying he's not an ass sometimes.... he is        

Saturday cannot get here fast enough.

[skunks_sidekick]

I think the 6,745 yards he has thrown for in almost three seasons probably doesn't count much

BashDad - 7,118 and quite a bit of hardware.  Not saying he's not an ass sometimes.... he is        

Saturday cannot get here fast enough.

Yah.......he was "good" against all those lesser opponents.  When he finally played someone good (MOUNT!), no so much.   

You live by the sword...you die by the sword. 

[wally_wabash]

I think the 6,745 yards he has thrown for in almost three seasons probably doesn't count much

BashDad - 7,118 and quite a bit of hardware.  Not saying he's not an ass sometimes.... he is        

Saturday cannot get here fast enough.

Yah.......he was "good" against all those lesser opponents.  When he finally played someone good (MOUNT!), no so much.   

You live by the sword...you die by the sword. 

From the "Great moments in semi-anonymity" file...

[BashDad]

I think the 6,745 yards he has thrown for in almost three seasons probably doesn't count much

BashDad - 7,118 and quite a bit of hardware.  Not saying he's not an ass sometimes.... he is        

Saturday cannot get here fast enough.

Yah.......he was "good" against all those lesser opponents.  When he finally played someone good (MOUNT!), no so much.   

You live by the sword...you die by the sword.

I'm capable of--and more comfortable with--standing by my opinions on here without the context of whatever career I had as an athlete, which honestly should count for very little. Please proceed, Governor.

[smedindy]

Ah, yes, the whole claim that only the super-duper mega elite is 'good' and everything else is just dross.

[sigma one]

Yes, well, for the last umpteenth years who besides WH2O has had a QB in the left-hand column v. Mount? Um, let me see: a QB from Ohio Northern (once).  And what exactly does that have to do with knowing the game?  There are a lot of us on here who played and a lot who did not; both can be insightful.  I wouldn't want (again) to get into the long debate about how could you know because you didn't play at  [fill in the level you want].  If we are not careful this will turn into another Monon Bell thread.  Just a few more days, and we can focus on post-analysis instead of pre-whatever.  Just a few more weeks, we can fuss about who did and who did not qualify for the championship round.

[gofor7pitt]

A couple ?'s here as I am new to D3 Football and how the playoff scenarios and seeding work.  Is it possible the HCAC champ (Franklin ) and the NCAC champ could end up meeting in the 1st round? Or...Do both our conference champs get an away game at one of the top seeds?

Does not seem like Franklin is getting much cred nationally even though the Mount game is not looking so bad as the season unfolds. Franklin is still the only team to score on Mount all year and hold them to under 50 points. 

Also heard a rumor that Wabash, DePauw, Hanover, Franklin, and possibly Trine, are contemplating creating a new conference. This would definately give more cred to that conference champ!  But....just a rumor I heard from a former Hanover player.

[cave2bens]

A couple ?'s here as I am new to D3 Football and how the playoff scenarios and seeding work.  Is it possible the HCAC champ (Franklin ) and the NCAC champ could end up meeting in the 1st round? Or...Do both our conference champs get an away game at one of the top seeds?

Does not seem like Franklin is getting much cred nationally even though the Mount game is not looking so bad as the season unfolds. Franklin is still the only team to score on Mount all year and hold them to under 50 points. 

Also heard a rumor that Wabash, DePauw, Hanover, Franklin, and possibly Trine, are contemplating creating a new conference. This would definately give more cred to that conference champ!  But....just a rumor I heard from a former Hanover player.

The selection committee is always capable of a surprise or two. 

"Cred" is relative dependent on selective or objective perceptions IMHO, particularly when it comes to rumors.  A return to the ICAC days as wishful thinking?    Maybe football fortunes might be elevated if programs remain status quo (and DPU improves), reduced travel expenses, and some flexibility with out of conference opponents.  Other sports would be worse off, conference-wise, particularly in track, cross-country, basketball, baseball, soccer, and swimming.  Interesting rumor, though... what, no Earlham?

[Li'l Giant]

Also heard a rumor that Wabash, DePauw, Hanover, Franklin, and possibly Trine, are contemplating creating a new conference

Barf. I hope that's just some nutty rumor by a Hanover person who misses the old ICAC.

[smedindy]

A. The seedings are based on regional rankings, SOS, and other factors and are done regionally, though teams can move a region to save on a plane ride. That's why Mt. Union goes East sometimes and Whitewater has come to the North.

B. The way its working out, it may be a 4-5 or a 3-6 game between Franklin and the NCAC champ depending on who all makes it. Franklin's SOS is heinous even with the Mt. Union game and I don't see it improving that much. I see Mt. Union as #1, and #2 may be the CCIW champ if it's North Central. Does the committee slot in a Heidelberg (if they are 9-1) at #3? Does it reward Concordia-Chicago as #3 (their SOS is very good now but they have two blah teams and possibly the worst team in D-3 to play) Does Wabash get #3 with that loss to Allegheny? Does it reward Franklin? Above my pay grade and with three weeks to go it's all a conjecture anyway.

C. That won't happen. DPU just joined the NCAC to be with their peer group institutions and not travel all over the south. Wabash and DePauw fit very nicely academically and athletically with the NCAC. And there's plenty of 'cred' for the NCAC champ in many sports. You need seven schools for an auto bid and as the new SAA and remnants of the SCAC are finding out that's kind of tough to do.

[gofor7pitt]

Well you could also throw in Witt, Thomas Moore, and possibly Mount St. Joseph. This would be a very good group of football teams that most likely would get an at large bid most years. Another idea from Franklin's side would be to play Witt or Wabash each season instead of Whitewater or Mount, to help offset much weaker HCAC opponents. Would help Wabash or Witt as well.

Where do the regional rankings stand right now?

[wally_wabash]

A couple ?'s here as I am new to D3 Football and how the playoff scenarios and seeding work.  Is it possible the HCAC champ (Franklin ) and the NCAC champ could end up meeting in the 1st round? Or...Do both our conference champs get an away game at one of the top seeds?

Possible, yes.  Likely, no.  It all depends on who all makes the tournament and where they're located.  I think the more likely scenario is road games for the NCAC and HCAC champs.  The best shot at a Franklin vs. the NCAC champ scenario would be if OWU goes 10-0 and hosts, I believe. 

Does not seem like Franklin is getting much cred nationally even though the Mount game is not looking so bad as the season unfolds. Franklin is still the only team to score on Mount all year and hold them to under 50 points. 

It was game 1...Mount Union was still rusty.   

In all seriousness, I think Franklin is getting plenty of cred for a team that has beaten Manchester, Earlham, Mt. St. Joseph, Anderson, and RHIT.  There aren't a lot of teams that could have two losses (to whoever) and those five wins and still be ranked.

Also heard a rumor that Wabash, DePauw, Hanover, Franklin, and possibly Trine, are contemplating creating a new conference. This would definately give more cred to that conference champ!  But....just a rumor I heard from a former Hanover player.

Hmmm...I doubt very much that this is a real thing.  The NCAC has been great for Wabash.  I believe the NCAC is great for DePauw despite their weekly Saturday whoopin' this fall.  As far as cred for the champ goes...I think your conference champ earns "cred" by winning playoff games.  Or winning high profile non-con games in the regular season. 

[nike]

Will there be more Wabash folks coming to this game, as opposed to other recent years when the OWU game wasn't quite the spectacle it has become this year?
Never really see a lot of people from other schools at games like this when we have done this before.  Maybe this one will draw more NCAC fans and OWU alumni.
Also, hope the game is competitive until the end. 

[wally_wabash]

Well you could also throw in Witt, Thomas Moore, and possibly Mount St. Joseph. This would be a very good group of football teams that most likely would get an at large bid most years. Another idea from Franklin's side would be to play Witt or Wabash each season instead of Whitewater or Mount, to help offset much weaker HCAC opponents. Would help Wabash or Witt as well.

Where do the regional rankings stand right now?

And that's all well and good, but we can't just go making new conferences all willy-nilly.  Trine leaving the MIAA doesn't make sense geographically.  Franklin/MSJ/Hanover...maybe they don't dig the HCAC anymore (been there, done that), but really I think that's a good grouping of schools.  I don't think Witt is unhappy with the NCAC.  Thomas More in the PAC seems a little odd, but their next best option would be the HCAC.  That's the move that you'd really want to give Franklin a push in the Heartland.  And Hanover isn't awful...the other bell game might be a decent contest this year.  And for all the HCAC marbles.  We could have that someday if DePauw gets their shtuff together. 

There are no regional rankings quite yet.  Those should be coming on 10/31.  Keith has teased some some mock regional rankings in ATN this week, so check that out on Thursday.