FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wabndy]

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.

Back in the day Wabash, DePauw and Rose Hulman couldn't ditch the old ICAC fast enough.  I was somewhat surprised to see Rose come back to the HCAC but not too surprised if their goal was to cut down on the killer SCAC travel budget.  Plus - Rose is academically a unique institution that is recruiting from an entirely different pool of students from most anyone in the HCAC or NCAC. 

As for the rest of the two conferences, here are the dreaded evil (but insightful) US news rankings:
HCAC: Franklin (#11 midwest regional colleges), Hanover (#112 national Lib. Arts), Bluffton (#21 midwest regional colleges), manchester (#18 midwest regional colleges), Anderson (#38 midwest regional), MSJ (#60 midwest regional), defiance (#39 midwest regional), Earlham (#82 nat. lib. arts), Rose (not ranked - see above)

NCAC: DePauw (#54 national lib. arts), Wabash (#56 national lib. arts), allegheney (#82 nat. lib. arts), kenyon (#32 nat. lib. arts), Wittenberg (#121 nat. lib. arts), denison (#49 nat. lib. arts), hiram (#167 nat. lib. arts), Wooster (#63 nat. lib arts), oberlin (#26 nat. lib. arts), owu (#108 nat. lib. arts).

The NCAC also has advertised itself as all members having Phi Beta Kappa chapters - of which Hanover and Franklin do not.  I just would be shocked if Wabash and DePauw decided to leave what the NCAC has to offer in favor of a mostly Indiana conference.  I'm not shocked that Franklin and Hanover supporters might want that to happen.

I also think that the future of NCAC football is very bright.  DePauw football will be back.  Join the dannies with a very competitive OWU, Wabash, and Wittenberg and a very credible Allegheney program and even a resurgent Kenyon program and you have the makings of a tough, tough conference. Given the similar rigorous academic programs at each school - I also don't see one school being able to recruit their way too far ahead of any other for any length of time.  Get us to a true round robin schedule and it should be very interesting for years to come.

[smedindy]

And a conference isn't just football. It's an entire athletics program and in D-3, a academic mindset as well.

[Wabash Hokie]

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 OEU alumni.
Also, hope the game is competitive until the end.

Nike:  Based on a few discussions with Wabash students, there is not much buzz on campus about the game - at least not enough for the Sphinx Club or the Student Senate to sponsor a bus to head over for the game.  Wabash fans travel well and I would not be surprised to see several hundred Little Giant fan in attendance.  Two weeks ago in St. Louis, Wabash fans were about 50% of crowd at the Wash U. game.

I did not realize until checking the OWU website last night that this is OWU's Homecoming.  I saw references to Raeburn's "don't schedule Bash for homecoming" quip in an earlier post.  Just one more reason for Wabash to be up for this game (as if they need it).  Nobody likes to be Homecoming fodder.

Finally - a brief check of the weather forecast does not bode well for OWU - cold (high 46), wet (50% chance of rain) and wind (13 mph) - not good conditions for a team that will need to throw the ball to win. 

[Pat Coleman]

Again with the mistaken assumptions that coaches somehow choose Homecoming opponents. The CONFERENCE chooses the schedule and the ALUMNI OFFICE and other administrators choose the date of Homecoming. A coach has almost nothing to do with it.

[Wabash Hokie]

Again with the mistaken assumptions that coaches somehow choose Homecoming opponents. The CONFERENCE chooses the schedule and the ALUMNI OFFICE and other administrators choose the date of Homecoming. A coach has almost nothing to do with it.

Pat - not a mistaken assumption at all.  I am keenly aware of how these decisions are made and in no way inferred that a coach had anything to do with it.  The key here is that with the conference schedule in hand, more than one person or administrative office should be involved in setting the calendar.  Depending on the importance of sports at the school, Homecoming can be adjusted each year to maximize the odds of winning.  Kenyon (10/13) or Hiram (9/28) are both better candidates for a Homecoming win, and neither conflicted with OWU's fall break. 

[Li'l Giant]

Again with the mistaken assumptions that coaches somehow choose Homecoming opponents. The CONFERENCE chooses the schedule and the ALUMNI OFFICE and other administrators choose the date of Homecoming. A coach has almost nothing to do with it.

Pat - not a mistaken assumption at all.  I am keenly aware of how these decisions are made and in no way inferred that a coach had anything to do with it.  The key here is that with the conference schedule in hand, more than one person or administrative office should be involved in setting the calendar.  Depending on the importance of sports at the school, Homecoming can be adjusted each year to maximize the odds of winning.  Kenyon (10/13) or Hiram (9/28) are both better candidates for a Homecoming win, and neither conflicted with OWU's fall break.

Besides, who says it has to be true for coaches/players of the opposing team to use as motivation? What difference does it make?

[GRIZ_BACKER]

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.

Someday maybe the Griz will earn some credit?   

[ExTartanPlayer]

And a conference isn't just football. It's an entire athletics program and in D-3, a academic mindset as well.

Quoted for truth.  Every time that someone tosses out an idea for a new conference based strictly on who has good football teams, I bang my head against the wall and scream this aloud over and over until someone calls the police.  OK, not really, but you get the idea.

Moving on...

Sorry that I wasn't around for CMU-OWU postmortem.  Was running a half-marathon a couple hours away this weekend & just now settling back into life here.  Followed the game online for most of Saturday; while a little sloppy, it was a hard-fought battle, and OWU deserves kudos for not folding up when CMU threw a couple haymakers (a 13-0 lead and then the INT to make it 26-17; honestly, when we took the lead and followed it with a pick-six, I thought we had the game won).  I know selected Wabash posters (not all) are having fun pissing in OWU's Cheerios right now, but even if the LG's blow out the Battling Bishops this weekend, if OWU finishes this season 9-1 with a blowout loss to Wabash and a win over potential-UAA-champ CMU, it's something to build on.

I didn't read through the entire postmortem, nor am I one to make many excuses, but I will say that Blanks being out of the game was a SEVERE blow to the CMU offense.  Blanks is our best runner, and with his absence, CMU was missing all three members of the starting backfield to open the season (two of them being team captains).  Erra-Hernandez has been quite productive this year and carried a load against OWU, but he was actually the #2 fullback for the opening stanza of the season until Delello's injury.  A team can only lose so many RB's before the quality of the rushing game takes a little hit.

As for the dude who pointed out that Blanks' biggest game came against Wabash, as though that's some indictment of the LG's defense: you may not have noticed, but Blanks had a huge game against Wabash out of necessity because our other starting RB's were all gone.  Blanks had several games of the "14 carries, 65 yards, 2 TD's" variety in the first five games BECAUSE WE HAD THREE OTHER ESTABLISHED BALLCARRIERS (including Nardone, who entered this season with more career rushing yardage than Blanks).  Against Wabash, Blanks got the call a lot more because Nardone was already gone, Delello was dinged, and Erra-Hernandez got hurt during that game...leading to his monster day.

Anyways.  Does all of that diminish OWU's accomplishment?  No, not really.  Injuries are part of the game, and they did still throw for a zillion yards and score 34 points on the road to beat the Tartans.  They earned that win against CMU.  I am slightly disappointed that the Tartans lost, but heck, it was a seesaw battle.  Good luck to both the LG's and the Bishops this weekend, and may the best team win!

[nike]

OWU knew what type of team they had this year and so to upgrade the Homecoming experience, decided that a win over Wabash might make that experience better.  Just playing.
Remember I am a Wooster guy, so easy on the Bishop folks.
Great new field can't stop the ball from being wet.  But wet is better than mud and rain.  Rain usually affects a prolific passing game in one way or another.  Not good news for OWU, but they will still come out throwing.  No choice. 

Wabash Hokie---was actually on Wash U's campus that day.  Peeked in on the game.  One of my children graduated from there.  Beautiful, beautiful campus and a great school.  Came to love St. Louis.  Great restaurants.

[bashbrother]

Again with the mistaken assumptions that coaches somehow choose Homecoming opponents. The CONFERENCE chooses the schedule and the ALUMNI OFFICE and other administrators choose the date of Homecoming. A coach has almost nothing to do with it.

Pat - not a mistaken assumption at all.  I am keenly aware of how these decisions are made and in no way inferred that a coach had anything to do with it.  The key here is that with the conference schedule in hand, more than one person or administrative office should be involved in setting the calendar.  Depending on the importance of sports at the school, Homecoming can be adjusted each year to maximize the odds of winning.  Kenyon (10/13) or Hiram (9/28) are both better candidates for a Homecoming win, and neither conflicted with OWU's fall break.

Besides, who says it has to be true for coaches/players of the opposing team to use as motivation? What difference does it make?

Other than having the pleasure of consistently beating the evil Wittenberg Tigers in front of a packed house (full of alums) on their home field during Homecoming.... probably not much.   

[BashBacker#16]

Man, I go to San Antonio for a work conference and the Boards "light up."  Some good stuff - love the hype and the chatter.

Did Russ ever play against Mount?  Knott in 2002 and Burke last year.  Maybe I misunderstood something. 

Griz - as I said earlier to your trolling, low blow crack on Wabash, it would be different for Franklin if you had shown better vs Mount Union in the opener (sorry - it was UGLY) and the Butler game.  Also, if you start winning playoff games on a regular basis, maybe you gain some credibility.

Speaking of San Antonio...was thinking, do you guys remember Trinity QB Roy Hampton getting arrested on the Riverwalk the week of the Stag Bowl???  Can you imagine how bad that cat felt?  WOW.  Wasn't it the night before the game or the Thursday night???  I know they were playing Mt Union. 

Nike - I seriously doubt that anyone is going to say if Belton is playing or not.  If he's a go, I think that dual-headed monster of he and Holmes will be incredibly hard for OWU to slow.  I think Espo will hit on a big play or two but I don't see them marching up and down the field all day long - not on this D.  The overall Bash D team speed will be a major adjustment for their O.  I can't wait to see what Bash does on Saturday.

WAF

[bashbrother]

Did Russ ever play against Mount?  Knott in 2002 and Burke last year.  Maybe I misunderstood something. 

Nope,  I was just giving Skunks a pass.  At least he had the correct team.



It was Capital in 2005.... you know the Eric Summer pass interference....   14-11 loss

[Li'l Giant]

Speaking of San Antonio...was thinking, do you guys remember Trinity QB Roy Hampton getting arrested on the Riverwalk the week of the Stag Bowl???  Can you imagine how bad that cat felt?  WOW.  Wasn't it the night before the game or the Thursday night???  I know they were playing Mt Union.

It was the night of the semifinal game against St. John's. I was still working at the DA's office then and pulled up the police report after it got filed. I don't remember all the details but I do remember thinking it was a BS arrest. Cops on the Riverwalk are supposed to be like cops on Bourbon Street. The boundaries are not the same as if if you're walking down a street in a suburban residential neighborhood. They typically put up with more than just typical drunkenness. I don't remember there being anything other than "he appeared intoxicated". At midnight on a Saturday night on the Riverwalk that's at least 3/4 of the people down there.

[Pat Coleman]

Besides, who says it has to be true for coaches/players of the opposing team to use as motivation? What difference does it make?

This is certainly the case. Plenty of programs have invented slights to use as motivation.

[smedindy]

Again with the mistaken assumptions that coaches somehow choose Homecoming opponents. The CONFERENCE chooses the schedule and the ALUMNI OFFICE and other administrators choose the date of Homecoming. A coach has almost nothing to do with it.

Pat - not a mistaken assumption at all.  I am keenly aware of how these decisions are made and in no way inferred that a coach had anything to do with it.  The key here is that with the conference schedule in hand, more than one person or administrative office should be involved in setting the calendar.  Depending on the importance of sports at the school, Homecoming can be adjusted each year to maximize the odds of winning.  Kenyon (10/13) or Hiram (9/28) are both better candidates for a Homecoming win, and neither conflicted with OWU's fall break.

Wabash has mandated homecoming to a the last Saturday of September or the first weekend of October, if I recall. Not much choice there. Other schools may have the predicament, so don't think they can just willy nilly change homecoming to match the opponent.