FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sigma one]

Fascinating discussion, everyone.  There's a piece I have not seen yet that I believe is a contributing factor (sometimes a determining factor).  Yes, there is the "I'm getting a scholarship piece" that is bigger than probably you and I know.  Some players and parents are seduced by the scholarship, even in a small amount.  I know of several recruits who have gone away from Wabash because they were offered as little as a couple of thousand dollars elsewhere.  Ego, Pride, etc.
     That leads me to the part I have not yet seen.  I'll use a hypothetical, but based on a real case, and not an uncommon one.  Player is recruited a Wabash.  His family qaulifies for financial aid of a certain amount (need-based aid).  He does not qualify for any other money (merit-based aid) because he  does not have the high school academic record or rank high enough in his high school class (which at Wabash automatically qualifies him for a certain level of aid).   Now, another school recruiting him is able to give him merit-based aid simply because their academic profile is lower.  So, he gets both need-based and merit-based aid there.  In a recent case I know about a player whom Wabash wanted (and who said he wanted to enroll at Wabash) receiving a late letter (early April) telling him (and his middle-class family) that he was going to receive a $16,000 A YEAR academic award.  That's $64,000 over four years at a place that is respectable academically, and a bit lower in cost than Wabash.  Oh, and they play good football.  Well, that leaves the player and the family with a very tough choice. Parents will stretch to help their sons go where they want to go, but there is almot always a limit.  You can get a good education a lot of places.  And let's face it, plenty of parents and students really don't recognize much difference among schools regardless of what the magazines and the schools themselves say.  I use Wabash, but this happens at DePauw as well, as at other places.  The point made several times about Franklin's attraction is no doubt true; then add in the cost factor.  I know of  players every year who say they would like to come to Wabash who  turn up on another roster because of the gap in financials.    That is just the way it is.
     Add this financial factor to others and parents, who are still usually in charge, steer their sons in the way they think will best work--and even moreso when considering how much loan debt a student might accumulate.  (Most schools awarding "need-base" financial aid package together grants and loans, and often work/study, so saying that a student gets $15,000 year might mean that a some percentage of that is in loan.).  As schools look at their financials many are committed to reducing their "discount rate"--the money they pay out to attract students--and this only contributes to the issue.
     I do agree that coaches are a large, and usually growing, part of admissions efforts as the number of students shrinks and more institutions compete for male enrollment.  Take this to Wabash and one can see how the talent pool slowly evaporates. Credit the coaching staff for their efforts year after year.   Other coaching staffs, too. 

[smedindy]

  It's not as cut and dried as "Franklin's academics aren't as good so nobody smart ever goes there," which appears to me to be what you're saying.

That's not what I meant. What I meant is that there are certain players (how many, don't know, maybe a handful or two handsful) that Franklin can look at that Wabash or DPU can't or won't because of grades and or test scores. That's what I really meant. Sorry I was being inarticulate or confuzzling.

I agree with LG's post that a player may choose Franklin or Wabash and DPU if he gets into all three because of all of the factors. I'm sure there are all kinds of students that choose the Grizz when they get into all three - costs, athletics, being close to home, GIRLFRIENDS, etc.

Franklin can get the solid if not spectacular students that used to disperse themselves around the state because they built their winning program - the kids that want to play D-3 football that just fall short of being admitted to a Wabash or DPU have a solid choice if they want to be part of a winning culture. The other HCAC schools and Trine need to catch up.

As this relates to DPU, without Lynch as a recruiter they'd be really stuck.

Wes, I know you all are women's sports juggernauts and that breeds success, so is football the only sport there that's having trouble recruiting athletes?

[smedindy]

It would also be interesting to hear this from the Ohio perspective, specifically Wooster. Is Wooster football going to be a tougher sell to the kids from OH and Western PA now that OWU (and Heidelberg) is on an upswing and the rest of the OAC is basically the same as they always were?

I also wish we had some 'Gheny perspective since they seem to be maintaining the course with a good size class and a lot of local PA / OH kids.

[firstdown]

Sigma - I agree that coaches are an important part of the process of attracting new students.  One thing that Wabash does well is the cooperation amongst the coaches and the admissions department.  When a coach or an admissions recruiter from Wabash makes a visit to a high school, the admission recruiters and the coaches will reenforce each other by meeting with potential applicants.  There are schools where the admissions people don't have a cooperative relationship with the coaching staff.  For all the reasons discussed on this board, recruiting is a tough enterprise.  I suspect that one characteristic of those schools which have strong sports programs year and year out is that all involved in the admissions process work cooperatively.  At the end of the day, a coach will have invested many hours with each recruit and the last thing a coach would want to do is focus the finite resource of time on recruiting someone who, while they may be athletically gifted, doesn't meet the academic standards for the institution.

[DPU3619]

Wes, I know you all are women's sports juggernauts and that breeds success, so is football the only sport there that's having trouble recruiting athletes?

I guess I don't know for sure, but the long run of Presidents' Cups that they won in the SCAC and a win and 2nd in the NCAC All-Sports Trophy since coming over aren't just because of women's sports.  Being a Top 50 school in the Directors' Cup every year in the last 8 (6 in the Top 25) isn't just women's sports, either.  They're a successful athletic program across the board in both genders.  In my honest opinion, DePauw's football problem isn't anything more than bad seasons, which are probably caused a boatload of coaching changes.  A little stability with Lynch should solve those problems. 

[shepherd]

Is the annual Wheaten Wabash scrimmage happening this year?  You cant tell a whole lot from them but its a chance to see new faces.  Wheaton has a couple of freshmen and sophs I really want to see play a few snaps.

[BashBacker#16]

Go Thunder,

Yes, the scrimmage is today at Wheaton.

Reports are welcome!

Wabash Always Fights!

[bashbrother]

Thanks 16  -

Any update you get would be appreciated!   

WAF!

[bashgiant]

Thanks 16  -

Any update you get would be appreciated!   

WAF!

Yes it would!

[BashBacker#16]

Half at Wheaton.  Thunder up 3-0.  Heavy rain...

Walsh and Putco rotating.  Walsh threw an INT.  Hodges caught a sweet TD but they said he bobbled it.  Bash also missed a field goal.  Stella could be a really big boost to our ground game.  221 lbs and may be the fastest guy on the squad.  Evan Rutter has made some plays at DE 6'3 220.  Sobleski's punts have been fantastic.  He can really BOOM it!

All I got for now...

[BashBacker#16]

A Wabash frosh name to remember:  Delon Pettiford - from Lawrence Central.

[shepherd]

Half at Wheaton.  Thunder up 3-0.  Heavy rain...

Walsh and Putco rotating.  Walsh threw an INT.  Hodges caught a sweet TD but they said he bobbled it.  Bash also missed a field goal.  Stella could be a really big boost to our ground game.  221 lbs and may be the fastest guy on the squad.  Evan Rutter has made some plays at DE 6'3 220.  Sobleski's punts have been fantastic.  He can really BOOM it!

All I got for now...

Also your offensive line also looked pretty good and big.  They were getting a good push on running plays.

[USee]

Tough to take a lot from the scrimmage at Wheaton today. The only thing that seemed pretty certain is Wheaton's 2nd/3rd string running game was better than Wabash's 2nd/3rd string run defense.

The Scrimmage today in Wheaton was played like a game for 4, 12 minute quarters. Most of the starters on both sides were done by halftime. Some played early into the 3rd period. I was impressed with Wabash's size and athleticism. Some great looking athletes across the roster on both sides. Really like the defensive front 7. If #42 can play a fraction as well as he can talk he will be an all-american. Our pre-season All-American Center got the worst end of a verbal spat by being tossed after reacting adversely to some of the bantering back and forth. Very good tackling team and fundamentally sound. The defense breaks on the ball as well as most D3 defenses I have seen. I would say we saw 2 above average to excellent defenses against 2 developing offenses.

Wabash had short fields the whole first half (the Bash D pinned Wheaton's O deep virtually the whole half) and couldn't produce any points. They threw an INT (the only turnover I saw in the Scrimmage) missed a field goal, and turned it over on downs 2-3x. The running back (#11) was the best player on offense from my opinion. The Qb's are still trying to figure it out. Your O-line is going to be pretty good. Good size and athelticism.

Great hitting and intensity by two pretty good teams. This is a great scrimmage for both schools and will prepare them well for next weeks openers.

Good luck to the Bash this year!

[BashBacker#16]

Usee,

Great update thank you!  Ver interesting perspective.  #11 is Stella and that is great to hear. 

Any comments con the 2 QB's that Wabash used in the 1st half?

I also realize Wabash has 2 full weeks l left to prepare and work out the kinks - ER will have them ready.

[wally_wabash]

You know,  if Wabash is good on OL and DL to start, I think I think the rest will come around. Gotta win at the LOS to have a chance when the games get big. Thanks for the updates, gentlemen.