FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sigma one]

Weather forecast 2-days-out for Crawfordsville this Saturday:  Depending on the source,  54-57 degrees at kickoff, winds out of the southwest at 15-20, gusting to 25.  What effect? 

[firstdown]

Bash Giant

It is fun to speculate about the RR's and Wally has done a masterful analysis as usual.  There are so many big games yet to be played among the top teams this week and next, that all of this is far from settled and will change.   The permutations are mind boggling at this point.  Also, if the selection committee seeds the tournament the way they did last year, there will be a lot of surprises come 6:00 pm on November 17th when the selections are announced.  The only thing that can be said for certain is the final bracket won't look a lot like the RR's that were announced yesterday.  It also gives us something to pass the time until Saturday gets here and Grizz Backer to rail against.

For the Little Giants, the only thing that matters is taking care of business on Saturday.

Sigma One - an encouraging forecast for Saturday - the more wind, the better.

[The_Bishop]

Weather forecast 2-days-out for Crawfordsville this Saturday:  Depending on the source,  54-57 degrees at kickoff, winds out of the southwest at 15-20, gusting to 25.  What effect?

Stand behind a really big tree or open car door if you have to take a leak during the pre-game tailgater.

[wabco]

Maybe Grizz Backer will just concentrate his wisdom to/on the Heartland site. 

Getting antsy about the Witt. game.  Should be a large and supportive crowd and great tailgate atmosphere.  Believe there will be a full house.  Weather should be good ... with even a gusting wind to add the unknowns to passing and kicking strategies.  Appears everyone is healthy (except for the season ending injuries.)  Looking for Wabash to extend winning streak over Witt to 3 games.  Then looking for Wabash to proceed to stomp on DePauw (Lynch should have them ready to play, but we have the horses ... just need them paying attention to business ... which I am sure they will).  And finally hoping that Witt also gets into playoffs through the magic of the foggy NCAA DIV III committee choice formulas.
  A PLAN
WAF

[bashbrother]

Back-up Linebacker from Witt - #52 -   Keep talking on Twitter  (@Leak_T).... Please keep talking.......

Will not be any "Garbage Time" in this one for you to "participate".....   Although,  you were a monster in the 4th QTR... up 42 points on Hiram..... Bravo!

WAF!

[WallyFS4]

Haven't been here for some time.  I know most games are video streamed.  Where would be the best place to watch the game against Witt. on Saturday?

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS! 

[wabndy]

Could someone please explain why its a "bad decision" for Wabash to schedule a stag bowl series against Hampden Sydney? Did the administration direct something over the wishes of AD and coaches?  The only real down side I see is that its a really stinkin long bus ride or an expensive plane trip.  Beyond that, I'm not seeing much else on the negative column.  No one can dispute that it's excellent national marketing opportunity, a chance to reach out to a large number of mid-atlantic alumni.  As far as football piece of it, you are scheduling your one non-conference game against a team that is respected and where you have a decent shot at a win.  Is it a sure win? of course not, no game against a potential regionally ranked opponent (another plus) ever is.  HSC typically averages 1-3 losses a year, so your SOS is going to get a boost. 

Who else from the neighborhood should wabash schedule instead?  We've done a series with Franklin in recent memory.  Hanover's weak SOS and record doesn't do us any favors.  Sure we could go try and slay a CCIW dragon (NCC, Wheaton, IWU) if they'd have us - which is by no means a guarantee since they as recent history proves, they don't need to schedule us to be near the top of the Pool C picture and would only get hurt if they picked up a loss.  Who else then?  Sure, we might be able to work a contract with one of the other midwest teams that we've traditionally scheduled before the NCAC/UAA deal locked up the non-conference schedule.  Why is doing that again so signifigantly better than adding a few more miles to the team bus to play a series that gives us the potential for an excellent couple of games and an excellent story.  Oh, and HSC's mascot is a tiger.  I hate tigers.

[BashBacker#16]

Wallyfs4,

Talk about a blast from the past!  Hope all is well.  Hollett Little Giant stadium is the place you need to watch this game!

WAF

[gobash83]

Could someone please explain why its a "bad decision" for Wabash to schedule a stag bowl series against Hampden Sydney? Did the administration direct something over the wishes of AD and coaches?  The only real down side I see is that its a really stinkin long bus ride or an expensive plane trip.  Beyond that, I'm not seeing much else on the negative column.  No one can dispute that it's excellent national marketing opportunity, a chance to reach out to a large number of mid-atlantic alumni.  As far as football piece of it, you are scheduling your one non-conference game against a team that is respected and where you have a decent shot at a win.  Is it a sure win? of course not, no game against a potential regionally ranked opponent (another plus) ever is.  HSC typically averages 1-3 losses a year, so your SOS is going to get a boost. 

Who else from the neighborhood should wabash schedule instead?  We've done a series with Franklin in recent memory.  Hanover's weak SOS and record doesn't do us any favors.  Sure we could go try and slay a CCIW dragon (NCC, Wheaton, IWU) if they'd have us - which is by no means a guarantee since they as recent history proves, they don't need to schedule us to be near the top of the Pool C picture and would only get hurt if they picked up a loss.  Who else then?  Sure, we might be able to work a contract with one of the other midwest teams that we've traditionally scheduled before the NCAC/UAA deal locked up the non-conference schedule.  Why is doing that again so signifigantly better than adding a few more miles to the team bus to play a series that gives us the potential for an excellent couple of games and an excellent story.  Oh, and HSC's mascot is a tiger.  I hate tigers.

While I would defer to others who may have more intimate knowledge, I have been told that the opposition to the series is based upon two things:

1.  The idea was generated by alumni who pushed (some say too hard) to make it happen.  This is more of a process concern as it should be coaches and the athletic department making decisions regarding opponents. 

2.  The 11 hour, 600+ miles seems like way too much travel time and cost for a regular season, non-league game when there are other qualified opponents closer.

There may be other reasons as well, but those are the two I have heard consistently.

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Could someone please explain why its a "bad decision" for Wabash to schedule a stag bowl series against Hampden Sydney? Did the administration direct something over the wishes of AD and coaches?  The only real down side I see is that its a really stinkin long bus ride or an expensive plane trip.  Beyond that, I'm not seeing much else on the negative column.  No one can dispute that it's excellent national marketing opportunity, a chance to reach out to a large number of mid-atlantic alumni.  As far as football piece of it, you are scheduling your one non-conference game against a team that is respected and where you have a decent shot at a win.  Is it a sure win? of course not, no game against a potential regionally ranked opponent (another plus) ever is.  HSC typically averages 1-3 losses a year, so your SOS is going to get a boost. 

Who else from the neighborhood should wabash schedule instead?  We've done a series with Franklin in recent memory.  Hanover's weak SOS and record doesn't do us any favors.  Sure we could go try and slay a CCIW dragon (NCC, Wheaton, IWU) if they'd have us - which is by no means a guarantee since they as recent history proves, they don't need to schedule us to be near the top of the Pool C picture and would only get hurt if they picked up a loss.  Who else then?  Sure, we might be able to work a contract with one of the other midwest teams that we've traditionally scheduled before the NCAC/UAA deal locked up the non-conference schedule.  Why is doing that again so signifigantly better than adding a few more miles to the team bus to play a series that gives us the potential for an excellent couple of games and an excellent story.  Oh, and HSC's mascot is a tiger.  I hate tigers.

If things would align right an annual game with Wabash/Franklin would be my first choice.  Two evenly matched programs.  A win provides SOS/Regional value.  Not sure if the AD's talk or both schools are even interested.  My understanding is the Franklin would be 100% for it.

[WallyFS4]

BashBacker16,

I would love to.  Just not able to be there.  As soon as I hit post.  I knew I was going to get this response from you. HaHa  Things are good.  I hope all is well with you, and your family.  Did not see it on the Live Stream calendar.  The only one I saw was for Wabash Wrestling on 11/8.

WAF

[bashbrother]

I think Franklin makes a ton of sense.... But I admittedly know very little..

On the wind at Hollett....  Outside of playing tricks with the passing game,  it can play hamper the kicking game as many have mentioned... The result is possible issues with field position (a big key to the game IMO)...  This makes the opening coin toss a more important event.. If Wabash wins the toss... Look for them to make sure Witt starts with the wind.

[wabco]

Gobash 83.  I had not heard any opposition prior to the last couple of posts.  To the contrary, I had heard that the Hampton Sydney football game was receiving positive reception.  The HS has good academics, good football, is in an area of the country where we would like to gain exposure and to present for our graduates/fans, AND is one of the remaining all male institutions which provides ... for the marketing astute persons at both institutions .... a great platform on a national scale to bring positive attention to both schools. 

I am having trouble with the statement that there is an objection because of "alumni who pushed (some say too hard) to make it happen".  Are Wabash alumni now not to express ideas/desires less someone in the administration be bothered?  The administrators I know, are not namby pambys unable to speak their views and hold their own.  Who are these "some", these administrators who feel "pushed"?

As for the bus ride being too long.  No resistance to this being a negative.  How about embracing the idea, an excellent idea at least in my view, and take up an extraordinary collection to charter the necessary aircraft to make the trip fun and an experience.  When we went to the Stag Bowl in Alabama, Wabash chartered 3 aircraft for fans to go and had no problem selling the tickets.  (Several buses were chartered which hauled down bunches of students on what was a grand boonbdoggle.)  When our team wanted to go to Africa over spring break a couple of years ago, they asked for help and - again - no problem finding alums and others who were happy to contribute to defray the costs.

Seems to me both negatives are very lame and - perhaps - ? not the "real" reasons?

I would take the whole project a step further and see if we can take our fall sports teams to HS (and they figure out how to take theirs here) and have a series of contest over the weekend along with some interface between the athletes and others of the schools ... a celebration of our (both Wabash and HS) accomplishments and specialities.  Perhaps ... even awarding "THE REAL Stag Bowl to the winners.  This could be fun and a real "win" for both schools.

PLUS ... HS is coming here next year.  It is two years before we go there.  I, for one, would have no problem volunteering and being a part of any committee formed to raise funds, defray costs and increase participation of alumni, friends, and students.

I believe the HS game should be a very positive step in many ways and is not a burden at all except perhaps to persons who don't want their day complicated with a little extra challenge/energy. (And I did not think we had those at Wabash ... I thought they lived 25 miles south.)

[firstdown]

HS plays in C'ville in 2014. Wabash goes there in 2015, followed by a trip to Allegheny the next week.  Then comes home to play Witt the next week.

[wally_wabash]

They're really putting Wabash/Witt in the second week of league play?  Oh man, they are.  Super boo to that. 

But then again who knows...maybe in 2015, we'll have a winner take all game with Denison in Week 10.  Maybe not that crazy.