FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[hazzben]

So where is the silver lining?  All of the things that had to happen today for an NCAC runner up to have a reasonable shot at a tournament invitation DID happen.  The CCIW and OAC will not have ties.  Concorida-Moorhead lost.  Those are the big ones.  Texas Lutheran lost in spectacular fashion, but I'm not sure whether or not that domino is going to matter or not.  I'm not sure Illinois College losing matters or not.  Franklin losing doesn't...they were either going to be in Pool A or out.  But the big things that needed to happen for the NCAC runner up, did.  So we hope that Wabash beats DePauw by 80 next week and then wait anxiously until Sunday night.

Here's a question, would Wabash get in over a 2 loss UST? I suppose it depends a bit on how the RR turn out. If Concordia stays ranked in the West, which I think they might with Pacific and Illinois College both losing, it leaves the Tommies 1-1 v. RRO (I'm assuming SJU loses, if they beat Bethel I think they actually become a Pool C threat, with wins over UST and Bethel). I'm not lobbying for UST with the question, I'd rather not have to worry about playing them again. But wandering if they are still alive...Do tell Obi Wan 

[bashgiant]

Knew it was going to be a long day after loosing the coin flip and got stuck going into the wind right off the bat. I was hoping the defense would have started the game. Doesn't look like it would have mattered but you never know. I am kind of surprised at all the talk about how Wabash has been exposed and this and that. This team looks pretty young (on paper), got smacked in the mouth , and had  trouble handling that at first but for the most part came around and fought to the end. How many other teams could dismantle decent teams week after week after loosing 2 stud running backs. Did Wabash look pretty bad today? Yep, but they are still a very good, fairly young football team. There are some great days ahead for this football team and I have a feeling it starts next week. Who knows maybe they get another shot at Witt and show them how they can really play. Wabash is very fortunate to have such a good football program year after year even when they are young or hit by the injury bug or both. This is a damn good football team and they will be back!

Go Bash!
WAF!

[wally_wabash]

I really hope today's result doesn't turn into a full blown referendum on Wabash's season.  We shouldn't invalidate how good Wabash is and the great things this team has done this season because they lost to a damn good Wittenberg team.  I just hope we don't get into a "well, I guess they really aren't very good" funk here.  They are good.  They just weren't better than Wittenberg today...which by the way isn't terrible.

Wabash had three early opportunities to get out of field position jail:
- Second series, Wabash punts 51 yards to the Witt 26, Kirkman muffs the punt, Witt recovers. 
- Very next play, Florence completes a pass to Cunningham, Cunningham fumbles, Witt recovers. 
- Early second quarter, Wabash forces a Witt punt, a fair catch is signaled but the ball is allowed to travel over the return man's head, 25-30 yards of bounce and roll later, the punt is downed at the Wabash 6 yard line. 

These are bounces that have very decidedly gone Wabash's way all year.  Today they didn't.  That's football.

So where is the silver lining?  All of the things that had to happen today for an NCAC runner up to have a reasonable shot at a tournament invitation DID happen.  The CCIW and OAC will not have ties.  Concorida-Moorhead lost.  Those are the big ones.  Texas Lutheran lost in spectacular fashion, but I'm not sure whether or not that domino is going to matter or not.  I'm not sure Illinois College losing matters or not.  Franklin losing doesn't...they were either going to be in Pool A or out.  But the big things that needed to happen for the NCAC runner up, did.  So we hope that Wabash beats DePauw by 80 next week and then wait anxiously until Sunday night.

Here's a question, would Wabash get in over a 2 loss UST? I suppose it depends a bit on how the RR turn out. If Concordia stays ranked in the West, which I think they might with Pacific and Illinois College both losing, it leaves the Tommies 1-1 v. RRO (I'm assuming SJU loses, if they beat Bethel I think they actually become a Pool C threat, with wins over UST and Bethel). I'm not lobbying for UST with the question, I'd rather not have to worry about playing them again. But wandering if they are still alive...Do tell Obi Wan 

Pacific was never in the rankings, so their losing doesn't matter much.  Illinois College losing does matter because now there's an open spot in the West.  I think St. Thomas will go in now.  If St. John's beats Bethel they'll probably end up in there at the end as well.  I think you could see St. Norbert possibly squeeze in there.  So many ways that whole thing could go.  Would St. Thomas get selected when compared directly with Wabash (and probably Thomas More and some multi-loss team from East)...who knows.  There are logical arguments both ways.  Wabash's SOS is .513 at the moment.  That won't change much next week (it'll go down a smidge).  St. Thomas is currently at 0.537 but 1-8 St. Olaf won't do them any SOS favors next week.  In fact, if my quick math is correct, Wabash and St. Thomas are going to wind up with about the same SOS.  I'd guess within 0.010 of one another.  So it's a toss up.  Do you like St. Thomas with two losses and 1-1 (maybe 1-2) vs. RROs or Wabash with one loss and 0-1 vs. RROs?  There's not a right answer...it's a matter of preference. 

[nike]

To change topics a bit, will enjoy watching Wooster host OWU next week.  No doubt the best QB in the NCAC, but Barnes vs. Espinosa will a treat.  Barnes has quietly had a pretty nice year.
Wabash people, why was CP Porter playing so much?  Because he is a senior or was everyone in front of him hurt?

[ExTartanPlayer]

Knew it was going to be a long day after loosing the coin flip and got stuck going into the wind right off the bat. I was hoping the defense would have started the game. Doesn't look like it would have mattered but you never know. I am kind of surprised at all the talk about how Wabash has been exposed and this and that. This team looks pretty young (on paper), got smacked in the mouth , and had  trouble handling that at first but for the most part came around and fought to the end. How many other teams could dismantle decent teams week after week after loosing 2 stud running backs. Did Wabash look pretty bad today? Yep, but they are still a very good, fairly young football team. There are some great days ahead for this football team and I have a feeling it starts next week. Who knows maybe they get another shot at Witt and show them how they can really play. Wabash is very fortunate to have such a good football program year after year even when they are young or hit by the injury bug or both. This is a damn good football team and they will be back!

Go Bash!
WAF!

This is an excellent post, as is Wally's. + K

[wally_wabash]

Wabash people, why was CP Porter playing so much?  Because he is a senior or was everyone in front of him hurt?

I'll go with because he's good and ER thought that more CP gave Wabash their best chance to win. 

[hazzben]

Pacific was never in the rankings, so their losing doesn't matter much.  Illinois College losing does matter because now there's an open spot in the West.  I think St. Thomas will go in now.  If St. John's beats Bethel they'll probably end up in there at the end as well.  I think you could see St. Norbert possibly squeeze in there.  So many ways that whole thing could go.  Would St. Thomas get selected when compared directly with Wabash (and probably Thomas More and some multi-loss team from East)...who knows.  There are logical arguments both ways.  Wabash's SOS is .513 at the moment.  That won't change much next week (it'll go down a smidge).  St. Thomas is currently at 0.537 but 1-8 St. Olaf won't do them any SOS favors next week.  In fact, if my quick math is correct, Wabash and St. Thomas are going to wind up with about the same SOS.  I'd guess within 0.010 of one another.  So it's a toss up.  Do you like St. Thomas with two losses and 1-1 (maybe 1-2) vs. RROs or Wabash with one loss and 0-1 vs. RROs?  There's not a right answer...it's a matter of preference.

That's about how I saw it. I do think Pacific's loss matters though. Had they won, I think (and I'm reading tea leaves a bit here) they were likely right on the edge of the rankings. With IC dropping there was an open slot. Concordia's loss might have meant a W by Pacific got them onto the board. Possibly Redlands and Pacific. The Pacific L makes it easier for Concordia to stay ranked this week and strengthens UST's resume. I think there is something to be said for a team getting into the rankings this week. If the Cobbers beat GAC, it seems harder for the committee to drop them out next week, if say UWP picks up their second loss. If Pacific won and got in this week, then UWP loses, the committee is considering whether to bring Concordia back into the mix or drop UWP out. Maybe it's not this big a deal, but it seems like Concordia is in better shape to stay in through the secret rankings if they can sneak in this week. And if they remain in, they'd strengthen UST's resume.

But we're getting way ahead of ourselves. Wednesday first, then next Saturday. It's shaping up to be an exciting finish though.

[bashbrother]

Ok... So I have had some time to process ...

First of all... Congrats to Witt... You are really good,  your Senior led team was not going to be denied.

It was not our day....  It was yours.

Reed Florence and their big receivers are going to be tough to stop...

Lick our wounds and on to keeping the Bell.

[WABCOL86]

I really hope today's result doesn't turn into a full blown referendum on Wabash's season.  We shouldn't invalidate how good Wabash is and the great things this team has done this season because they lost to a damn good Wittenberg team.  I just hope we don't get into a "well, I guess they really aren't very good" funk here.  They are good.  They just weren't better than Wittenberg today...which by the way isn't terrible.

Uh, actually Wally, it is.  Like mention about the playoffs in the rest of your post, if we had won the most important game of the year and beat up the Dannies, Pool C would be moot.  Personally, I don't think our SOS and RR will be enough to get a one loss 'Bash in without some sort of miracle.  So, yeah, I think that losing the single most important game is a referendum on the season, because success (like it or not) is now defined by a post-season appearance.  Believe me, I was at Wabash for the 10-0 1982 season.  It sucks to be good and not get in.  Now we are good, just not good enough.  Witt came prepared to play, and obviously, we did not.  I am glad this team is young because they might learn from this.  Unfortunately, they also might be burned by this.  One never knows...

[firstdown]

Congrats to Wittenberg on a great win yesterday.  The LG's were in hole via field position from the get go and Witt came to play.

A very disturbing thing yesterday was the poor quality of calls by the officials.  Fortunately, it really had no impact on the outcome of the game.  There was a particularly bad call in the third quarter  for which the Wabash faithful gave the refs a hard time.  The refs responded not as professionals, but like a bunch of 5 year olds and made a series of bad or excessively harsh calls to extract revenge.

It was a pleasure to see the refs in the Alabama LSU game later in the evening get the call right when there was contact in the end zone but the ball was uncatchable. 

The players in the NCAC deserve better.  As I said earlier, the incompetence of the refs did not impact the outcome of the game.  The crew yesterday isn't competent to judge a bakeoff with one pie entered, let alone a football game.

[BayernFan]

Wow....  way to lay an egg Wabash.

Full house...  There were alums around me who hadn't been back for a game in years.... they brought some friends.....  and left disgusted.

I did get into it with Witt's booth coaches who were tossing F bombs and such.  No class.  But what do you expect from Ohio?

Oh well.... on to the Bell Game.  Let's make Lynch 1-1.

[bashgiant]

Wow….  way to lay an egg Wabash.

Full house…  There were alums around me who hadn't been back for a game in years…. they brought some friends…..  and left disgusted.

I did get into it with Witt's booth coaches who were tossing F bombs and such.  No class.  But what do you expect from Ohio?

Oh well…. on to the Bell Game.  Let's make Lynch 1-1.

Disgusted? Really? I was disappointed but by no means disgusted. Would hate too see what would be said if Wabash was to finish .500 instead of 9-1 it wouldn't be pretty.
These young men are winners in so many ways.

1. They are winners for getting into a college such as Wabash not many do.
2.They are winners for volunteering there spare time (Which I'm sure they don't have much of)  to help others whether it be tutoring young kids or helping build a house for someone going through tough times or the numerous other good things they do for the community.
3. They are winners for putting in the hours and hours of practice so they can be the best they can on Saturdays.

You could go on and on with the reasons these young men are winners. I am sure they did the best they could on 11-9-2013 everybody gave 100% as I don't see anyone at this level giving any less. Just wasn't meant to be that particular day, happens to the best of them, even the one's being paid millions to play a game.
I have been an ultra-competitive player and coach in multiple sports, and it's funny when I get together with old team mates or players that I have coached we don't talk much about the championships we won or lost 95% of the time is spent talking about pranks we pulled on each other, or remember joe bloe would hit on every girl he came within 10 feet of, or the time we were eating spaghetti and Johnny started laughing and had spaghetti coming out his nose. There is so much more to it than what we see on Saturdays. I think a lot of us need to think before we type
myself included. I think we need to remember these are young men giving their best, not professionals. One more thing before I get down off the soap box. STOMP a mud hole in the team 30 miles to the south this Saturday!

Go BASH!
WAF!

[sigma one]

Left disgusted.  Hadn[t been back in years.  I'm with bashgiant--that's on you and those alums, not on the Wabash team.  Wabash has not lost more than TWO games in a season since 2004 when the team was 6-4.  From 2005 to now (and including Saturday) the Little Giants are 85 wins and 15 losses (and 5-4 v. Wittenberg, who almost annually is among the top 25 teams in the nation).  Yes, the standard for some folks, and frankly for the team and coaches, has been the team making the tourney; that shows you how high "expectations" have become.   The Monon Bell Game record is 6-2.
     Let's not forget, Wabash is a top-level, small liberal arts college for men.  Anyone who has graduated or spent time as a student knows the academic "expectations," and should understand the rigors of academic life--and throw in recruiting qualifed students and athletes to a college for men.  I'm here to say that Wabash does not stretch admissions standards to get athletes (not accusing anyone else, but there has been that accusation from those outside the college).   It's remarkable to me that for these last eight years (and going back to the beginning of this century, throw in seasons of 8-2 and 12-1 not counted in the record mentioned above)  under two different head coaches that Wabash has produced the teams it has. 
    So, to Saturday.  Wabash didn't play well; Wittenberg did.  Wabash made some mistakes of the kind it had not made all year--against a team plenty good enough to take advantage.  Others have given specifics about why the game went the way it did.
This team is better than it showed yesterday, and my disappointment (bordering on disgust)  is that this is the way some people will want to remember this season.  The team and coaches don't deserve that.  Did you watch Oregon this week?  Did you watch any number of teams this year who have dominated opponents and then failed to produce v. another quality team?  Did you see the Franklin score v. Bluffton?   
     Wabash players were far more disappointed (dare I say disgusted) with how they performed yesterday than anyone else could be.
They are spoiled by their success.  And so are most of us, and I include myself here.  So, let's beat DePauw this week; didn't THAT used to be a marker of a successful season.  After that, it's 9-1 and wait to see what happens.   9-1, 9-1, 9-1--how many times do I have to repeat this record. And if the LGs are in the playoffs, then the WORST they can do is lose 2 games this season.  In any case, assuming the victory in Greencastle, which still has to be accomplished, it will be the 9th season in a row with no more that 2 losses.  Do you know how many teams in the whole of Division III can say that?  (Mt. Union, Mary Hardin-Baylor?, others?  Not Whitewater, Not North Central, Not Wesley, Not Linfield. Not)  A decade or so ago, fans wondered whether Wabash football had had it's day in the sun with a remarkable number of excellent players.  Other teams have had their day and sunk back into averageness.  Please don't come back and assert that I am equating Wabash with Mount and MHB, or any of the top teams yearly at the top of Division III.  We play who we play in a conference that we petitioned to join so that we would be with a quality bunch of schools--remember that thing about Phi Beta Kappa chapters?
     The playoffs, the precious playoffs are a bonus, icing on the cake, to be enjoyed to be savored and enjoyed.  We've just become too demanding; "expectations" are fine, but let's not get carried away.   

[DPU3619]

If nothing else, the schadenfreude of the panic button being depressed is rather enjoyable from this angle.

[nike]

Wabash people, why was CP Porter playing so much?  Because he is a senior or was everyone in front of him hurt?

I'll go with because he's good and ER thought that more CP gave Wabash their best chance to win. 

My question was not meant as a knock on Porter. I simply had not read much about him being used so early in prior games.  Thought maybe other backs were hurt.