FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ExTartanPlayer]

Hiram could very well have been 3-0 heading into this game against Wooster. Partridge getting hurt mid-game put them at a great disadvantage against Denison. Although Blake filled in admirably from then on, he was not put in a terrific situation having to head into that game.

Hiram's biggest obstacle will be its HC, unfortunately. The past several years have seen players recruited that Moore knows will be unable to keep pace with the academic rigor of such an institution, then them leaving after a semester. Also, there had been interference on both the offensive and defensive side of the football in years past; whether it be forcing the OC to get the ball to player X even in inopportune moments, or staying in cover 2 for a half at a time. This year the reigns have been completely handed over to his coordinators, and it seems to be paying off significantly.

The team plays hard every snap and that is what I am most proud of. With that being said I see them beating Oberlin and Depauw, with close games coming against Wooster and Kenyon as well. GO TERRIERS

Calling your shot!  I love it.  Turn up the heat! 

I've taken Wooster this week in the pick 'em, but I'm happy to be wrong.  Go Dawgs.

I also love it.  I've gone on record as predicting that we're slightly overreacting to the HC win over Allegheny because the Gators are so inept.  I still won't make them a favorite in any game, although I expect that they can play competitive game with the four teams named here and win at least one of them.  But just playing hard and going out there believing they can win would be a terrific start.  Enjoy the ride HCAlum, and as the Bash guys have said, please stick around.  This board is more fun when it's the NCAC board and not the Wabash board (nothing but love for you guys, though, you can't make other fans show up).

[The_Bishop]

Caption that pic (for #11):

http://www.pictureprints.net/albums.php?gallery=3043&photo=0071

[Dr. Acula]

Are there any Witt posters around?  Or are they your BW over here (usually good team with no posters)? 

[big_bash]

Well done. This is good insight that I'm sure a lot of fans "conveniently" overlook.

Alright. I decided to spend my lunch hour on this since it's been rattling around in my head for a week or so.

http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2013/09/25/scheduling-homecoming-its-not-done-that-way-anymore/

[bashbrother]

Caption that pic (for #11):

http://www.pictureprints.net/albums.php?gallery=3043&photo=0071

"There he goes...again"...  Miss saying that.  Wes was a special player.

[Pat Coleman]

Also coaches, big_bash -- even though coaches know full well how this is done, they still use it as motivation. "They scheduled us for Homecoming, can you believe that?" Or, "three teams scheduled us for Homecoming this year, so they must not think we're very good."

[The_Bishop]

Caption that pic (for #11):

http://www.pictureprints.net/albums.php?gallery=3043&photo=0071

"There he goes...again"...  Miss saying that.  Wes was a special player.

I couldn't figure out if one of the first highlight clips I saw of him was in real time or not.  True story.

[sigma one]

Welcome to the Board HCAlum86.  Your Terriers are becoming one of the talks of the town.  Just a comment on the coach recruiting players who cannot compete academically:  the coach does not admit students, so where is the Admissions Department in all this?  If students don't have the ability, that usually shows up in previous performance and in the materials submitted in the admissions process.  For sure most coaches try to recruit the talented borderline student-athlete, but that does not seem to be your reference.

[smedindy]

Are there any Witt posters around?  Or are they your BW over here (usually good team with no posters)?

Witt? Witt has fans who post? 

[wabco]

Not sure Witt has fans who can "rite"

[USee]

re-post from the pick em's board (probably more appropriate for this board)

Hope @ Illinois Wesleyan (-14.5) - Why do games involving CCIW teams always seem to not be about team vs. team but converence vs. conference?  It only seems to happen with the CCIW.  I don't get it.  Anyway, Hope is playing good ball and IWU trailed Alma 3-0 at halftime.  That's the reddest of red flags.  I do think IWU wins, but Hope has enough offense to keep this one under the number. 
Waynesburg @ Thomas More (-5.5) - Thomas More has not given up a point this year.  Most impressive.  Respect the shutouts.  No shutout this week, but I think Thomas More handles business. 
Concordia-Moorhead @ St. John's (-4.5) - Upset special here.  I think the Cobbers win outright. 

Tiebreak: Pass yards allowed by Wabash - Oh boy...77 yards.  Maybe.

I agree you don't get it. I assume you are referring to my comments on the CCIW board about the Hope vs. IWU game. While I agree that there are exceptions like Franklin, Wabash/Witt, Trine from 2008/2010, etc, there IS a reason some conferences perform better against other conferences. You can choose to ignore it but it doesn't change the fact that there are conferences with better teams.

The Hope v IWU game isn't about conferences, but the relative performance of the top teams from those two conferences informs us about the potential outcomes. Doesn't mean it will happen.

I would be more interested in the analysis that shows why some conferences succeed and others don't. I know it has to do with geography, admission standards, demographics, and all that, but I think there is something more there. Is the OAC good because UMU has raised the bar for so long? What has been the impact of Witt/Wabash playoff experiences on the NCAC? It seems to me the level of play is on the rise throughout the conference. The CCIW hasn't always been good. Augie in the 80's set the standard for all those schools and every team but North Park has been to the playoffs since 2000. I don't have the answers but I think its an interesting question.

[oldtiger]

Not sure Witt has fans who can "rite"

Considering the topic, the attention to detail in your post was less than stellar.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Not sure Witt has fans who can "rite"

Considering the topic, the attention to detail in your post was less than stellar.

Apparently the Witt fans also struggle to interpret sarcasm.

[oldtiger]

Not sure Witt has fans who can "rite"

Considering the topic, the attention to detail in your post was less than stellar.

Apparently the Witt fans also struggle to interpret sarcasm.

The sarcasm did not evade me, nor did the punctuation. Period.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Not sure Witt has fans who can "rite"

Considering the topic, the attention to detail in your post was less than stellar.

Apparently the Witt fans also struggle to interpret sarcasm.

The sarcasm did not evade me, nor did the punctuation. Period.

Now that is just plain punny.  Er, funny.  Did you try to do that?