FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

I think a lot more people look at this board than we might think. I bet only 1 out of 100 people that actually visit this site regularly ever post, if even that.

If this is true, and I believe that it is probably pretty accurate, do these message boards play a real part in influencing change within Div III athletics?   

[seinfeld]

I'd say somewhere in the middle of thinking it has a large influence or none at all. I know Schmitz at one time was looking at the board fairly regularly. I doubt he is alone, but who knows.

With the Schmitz situation, it all depends on what motivated the players to be a part of this change, if a wider perspective on Schmitz's career was provided through this board to the AD and president than might have otherwise existed, and whether the local paper getting into the act had was spurred by conversations on this board. It's very likely the events that lead to Schmitz leaving would have happened anyway, but one never knows for sure. I do think, at least in Wooster's case, people have now actually started talking about the football team again. I think a lot of people had just resigned themselves to the fact that Schmitz wasn't going anywhere, and that there was no hope to turn things around. My main reason for beating what probably seemed like a dead horse is that I wasn't willing to believe it was a lost cause, nor did I think it was impossible that Schmitz would never be let go (although I still would have bet against it). To those who are familiar with how Wooster has done business since Grant Cornwell has taken over, this shouldn't be a surprise. There have been more than a few people who have been around the school a very long time (outside of athletics) in pretty important positions that you would have thought were safe -- when in fact they weren't.

[BashBacker#16]

I haven't been on the board recently but wanted to chime in on some things:

- saw the 4 finalists for DPU.  Call it a gut but I rank the most likely to take the job as Waugh, Wilkerson, Monmouth, and Lynch.  Didn't the Monmouth guy turn down Coe when ER left there?  If he did, why would he want the DPU job?  Waugh looks good - '93 alum, sharp, been at Army for awhile, etc.  Keep in mind that DPU is faced with a PR problem too - meaning, they may throw some names out but reality is, no shot at landing those guys.
- not surprised about Schmitz at all.  Long over due.
- just a thought; if you are a coaching candidate for DPU, how jacked are you to work for the AD?  Kind of jacked?  Super jacked?  Not jacked?  So excited you can't wait?   
- did Espo enter the NFL draft?
- Mount takes the title this weekend 35-14

[wally_wabash]

As for Schmitz resigning, I assume no one is actually buying this, or at least they shouldn't be.

I think we've seen enough of these types of press releases to read the between the lines. 

I think a lot more people look at this board than we might think. I bet only 1 out of 100 people that actually visit this site regularly ever post, if even that.

If this is true, and I believe that it is probably pretty accurate, do these message boards play a real part in influencing change within Div III athletics?   

If this is true, then I have some extensive thoughts to share regarding the positive impact on the NCAC of Wabash playing 10 home games every year.   

[skunks_sidekick]

Not to honk the OAC too much, but if Wooster was smart they would get a young, but established up and comer from the OAC (similar to what OWU did), that has Ohio recruiting experience.  I think Wooster is very "sellable" to many kids that meet the academic requirements. 

On another note, as for the North Canton kid quitting the team during the year, I will just say that it's no surprise to people from North Canton.  Brilliant kid (4.0+ GPA), but let's just say his work ethic at times didn't seem to match his athletic ability.

As we all know, this happens quite often.  The dedication and work a kid must put in to play college ball is heads and tails above what most kids were used to in high school.

Here's hoping Wooster makes a great choice. 

[ohiofan1954]

I don't know if what is posted here affects decisions in d3 other then it might be the straw the broke the camels back as they say. Otterbein basketball and athletic director might be a example of that.  There  had been pressure on Dick Reynolds to step down for years but when fans finally starting letting their feelings be known at places such as this it finanlly happened. At least though he still  went out being fondly remembered for all he did for that program over 40 years.

[wally_wabash]

In other offseason news, Wittenberg is going to use its lone non-league games in 2013 and 2014 to play...Butler.  Why?  Honestly, why?  I didn't understand it when Wittenberg was scheduling games with Dayton, I don't get why Franklin is scheduling games with Butler, and I don't understand why Wittenberg is tossing its one non-league game to get face-kicked by Butler.  I will never understand the point of this. 

And why is Butler playing these games?  Seriously, that Final Four money is going to run out sooner or later.  Why don't the Dogs go take money from Purdue or IU if they want to burn a non-league game that they won't get anything meaningful out of football-wise?  If you're going to waste everybody's time, you might as well get paid for it. 

[smedindy]

Butler, Valpo, et. al. are in a weird limbo with the Pioneer League. They're non-scholarship, so they'll normally get whapped by scholarship D-1A football programs. They're going to be the only league besides the Ivy when the Patriot and Northeast go to scholarship football but they will get an auto bid next year. I can see why they'd want to schedule some good D-3 teams as non-conference, but why a team like Witt would play them I don't know.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Not to honk the OAC too much, but if Wooster was smart they would get a young, but established up and comer from the OAC (similar to what OWU did), that has Ohio recruiting experience.  I think Wooster is very "sellable" to many kids that meet the academic requirements. 

On another note, as for the North Canton kid quitting the team during the year, I will just say that it's no surprise to people from North Canton.  Brilliant kid (4.0+ GPA), but let's just say his work ethic at times didn't seem to match his athletic ability.

As we all know, this happens quite often.  The dedication and work a kid must put in to play college ball is heads and tails above what most kids were used to in high school.

Here's hoping Wooster makes a great choice.

I agree with you skunk. Watts was a great choice for OWU because he was recruiting Coordinator for BW. (flaming Pile) I hope he can get some players from the Cleveland area. I was very happy he had recruiting experience.

[bashbrother]

As for Schmitz resigning, I assume no one is actually buying this, or at least they shouldn't be.

I think we've seen enough of these types of press releases to read the between the lines. 

I think a lot more people look at this board than we might think. I bet only 1 out of 100 people that actually visit this site regularly ever post, if even that.

If this is true, and I believe that it is probably pretty accurate, do these message boards play a real part in influencing change within Div III athletics?   

If this is true, then I have some extensive thoughts to share regarding the positive impact on the NCAC of Wabash playing 10 home games every year.   

After the results of this year,  do we really want more home games?   

[smedindy]

Any truth to the rumor that #3 is going to be signed by the Cardinals since Kolb is out for the year and the other two are...less than stellar?

It'd make a smashing short!

[84]

I haven't posted in a while on the boards. Unfortunately, I have some sad news. Della LeMond, mother of Wabash star receiver Kody LeMond, was summoned by our Heavenly Father earlier today. She battled pancreatic cancer the past two years. Mrs. LeMond was a wonderful woman. The Lord brought home an angel. RIP

[wally_wabash]

Speaking of Marian, did you see that trophy last night?  I couldn't tell if they had just won a college championship or the Bud Bowl. 

[GRIZ_BACKER]

They have a players problem--and all signs point to the fact that Bill Lynch will be a confusing recruiter, at best.  He coached up some athletes that were more or less evenly matched with Wabash, and then he left. Walker was probably doing all the recruiting anyway. Now Lynch's pitch would be: I promise I won't leave this time? GOOSE BUMPS. SIGN. ME. UP.

Late to the party here on my response to this post from days ago, but why is he a confusing recruiter?  I say again that every single coach in the country would have done what he did when he went to IU.  Nobody turns down a chance to leave D3 to be an asst in the B1G for your best friend.  Nobody. Your assumption that Walker did all the recruiting is just that.  He hardly had time to recruit football.  I would guess that recruiting season is baseball season.  Long was the recruiting coordinator, anyway.  Lynch is a very good recruiter.  He knows Indiana better than just about any coach I've ever met.  There are some unique challenges right now in recruiting Indiana.  Marian is a problem.  Franklin is a problem.  I think the pool of kids that DePauw & Wabash both recruit is dwindling, and truthfully, most of those kids go to Wabash right now.  Why wouldn't they?

I'll say this again, just to make sure we're on the same page with how this is going.  Either they're going to cave to do it Lynch's way or not.  He's the guy for the job.  I believe that 100%.  But, the admin needs to let him do it and stop trying to have a hand in it.  That hasn't worked.  In fact, it destroyed the program.  There are lots of rumors flying about how this staff will be assembled.  Some of it is very, very concerning.  If any of it is true, it's not sounding too promising right now regardless of who the hire is, which makes me sad. 

I'm just working on an assumption here, but I'd be surprised if Bell actually means it.  Like somebody said earlier, why wouldn't you take Coe when Raeburn built it but then turn around and take DePauw when it's a mess and there are questions about the administration's commitment to anything football related?  I thought the same thing when Steve Mohr from Trinity was a finalist for the DePauw job when Lynch got it.  It just feels like a contract leverage situation to me.

Nice to know Franklin is a problem!! 

[GRIZ_BACKER]

In other offseason news, Wittenberg is going to use its lone non-league games in 2013 and 2014 to play...Butler.  Why?  Honestly, why?  I didn't understand it when Wittenberg was scheduling games with Dayton, I don't get why Franklin is scheduling games with Butler, and I don't understand why Wittenberg is tossing its one non-league game to get face-kicked by Butler.  I will never understand the point of this. 

And why is Butler playing these games?  Seriously, that Final Four money is going to run out sooner or later.  Why don't the Dogs go take money from Purdue or IU if they want to burn a non-league game that they won't get anything meaningful out of football-wise?  If you're going to waste everybody's time, you might as well get paid for it.

IMO Franklin playing Butler is foolish.  As hould Witt, FC should be playing a solid D3 team from the North Region to establish a better region record and SOS.  FC got a 6 seed road game this year as they didnt have enough region metrics.  While Butler doesnt count, it doesnt help unless you win and then the NCAA selection team would have to know enough about Butler to consider the win a positive. In a normal year Butler will pound Witt. Just my two cents.