FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

I'm flummoxed why NC didn't just go for two during the second half. The analytics would have worked in their favor. It wouldn't be 'chasing points' - it would be playing the smart probability, especially in that weather.

[firstdown]

The AFCA All American team for Division III is out.  Where was Nate Scola's name?  Wabash was number 1 in total defense in Division III.  It is awful that Wabash's Scola was omitted.  I sure hope that D3football.com will give him the recognition that he is due, along with Cody Buresh.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Mason Espinosa invited to the FCS Senior Bowl.

http://www.battlingbishops.com/news/2013/12/17/FB_12172013.aspx

Espinosa, the Battling Bishops' quarterback, garnered the invitation after receiving Overall Most Valuable Player honors in the National Bowl last Saturday.  Espinosa guided the Red Nation team to a 40-26 win in that contest.

Congrats Mason.

[wally_wabash]

Mason Espinosa invited to the FCS Senior Bowl.

http://www.battlingbishops.com/news/2013/12/17/FB_12172013.aspx

Espinosa, the Battling Bishops' quarterback, garnered the invitation after receiving Overall Most Valuable Player honors in the National Bowl last Saturday.  Espinosa guided the Red Nation team to a 40-26 win in that contest.

Congrats Mason.

Congrats, indeed.  I hope he can make the best of this next opportunity.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Mason Espinosa invited to the FCS Senior Bowl.

http://www.battlingbishops.com/news/2013/12/17/FB_12172013.aspx

Espinosa, the Battling Bishops' quarterback, garnered the invitation after receiving Overall Most Valuable Player honors in the National Bowl last Saturday.  Espinosa guided the Red Nation team to a 40-26 win in that contest.

Congrats Mason.

Wow!  Very cool for Espinosa!  Congrats.

[D3gab]

Really Super Very early 2014 predictions.   Who ya got?

[smedindy]

Predictions? Some teams will improve, others decline, still others will tread water. 

Need to wait until recruiting classes show up and find out who stays and who goes from the underclassmen.

[wally_wabash]

Really Super Very early 2014 predictions.   Who ya got?

In general the preseason polling for the league likes to favor the defending champion, but I'd be shocked if we don't see Wabash on top of that poll next August.  Wabash has a ton returning- QB, top WR, an emerging WR, RBs out the wazoo, most of the OL, and then most of the league's top defense (8 starters back I think).  Witt has good pieces returning as well, but the loss of Florence, Cunningham, and 11 other all-NCAC performers puts them in a spot where they will be playing with a lot of unknown quantities next year.  And while I don't doubt that Witt has the roster depth and quality to field a very good team, there is no plug and play replacement for Reed Florence.  I don't see Witt being the same kind of offensive juggernaut they were in 2013.  By the way...just noticed that of those 13 All-NCAC players Witt loses, not one of them is Desi Kirkman.  I'm not sure how Desi Kirkman missed the all-league team as a return guy.  He had a phenomenal season. 

So the early lean is probably Wabash, then Witt.  Then we'll have to wait and see what happens with Wooster- specifically does Richard Barnes use his medical hardship and return next year or not.  If he does, Wooster will be tough.  Denison has a lot of nice pieces returning to a 7-win team as well.  And DePauw will have had a full season under Bill Lynch now, a new Bill Lynch recruiting class...they could be tough as well.  OWU is a wild card because I have no idea what their offense transforms into post-Espinosa.  Kenyon's on the right track, but I think they lack enough dudes to challenge for a top 3 spot.  Oberlin is officially in limbo with Jeff Ramsey's departure.  Hiram took some steps forward but they struggled after Partridge went down and I think he was a senior and not returning (if he does have another year to play, Hiram will be an interesting watch).  And then Allegheny...that group has a long way to go to get back to the middle of the league. 

[wabashcpa]

Watching the North Central Mount Union replay.  Boy did North Central let a golden opportunity slip through their hands.  Shame the weather wasn't a little better but playing in that snow had to be fun.  Just not for the kicker.

[Wfaf1234]

3 Wabash All-Americans! That's pretty great to see, especially Buresh's first-team spot! I do have to admit I feel like Scola might have deserved a higher spot, and disappointed to not see both Wabash kickers on the list. I thought it was odd that te JCU guy kicker didn't receive any accolades either.

Who picks the teams, and what is normally the criteria for selection?

But Pat did a great job with the pregame show!

[Schwami]

Mason Espinosa invited to the FCS Senior Bowl.

http://www.battlingbishops.com/news/2013/12/17/FB_12172013.aspx

Espinosa, the Battling Bishops' quarterback, garnered the invitation after receiving Overall Most Valuable Player honors in the National Bowl last Saturday.  Espinosa guided the Red Nation team to a 40-26 win in that contest.

Congrats Mason.

Congrats also to Witt's Brendon Cunningham, likewise selected to play in the FCS Senior Bowl after being named MVP in the D3 Senior Classic. 

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Good to hear about Cunningham. Good to see NCAC guys get the opportunity.

[bashbrother]

Stagg Bowl thoughts and Comments:

I have to admit, last night I was shocked by the outcome of that game... I think we all were.    Not necessarily by UWW winning...  but by how bad they made Mount Union look... 

in hindsight -  many of the answers to how last night's game would probably go... where all their before kickoff.   

I woke up this morning and reflected back on how I had expected the playoffs to go....  I also thought about the shear amount of points that this Mt. Union team surrendered in their run to the Stagg.   Bottom line,  Mount Union did not have a defense this playoff season -  they had a great offense and a WINNER in Burke.   I remember thinking to myself back a couple of weeks ago during the Witt game.  (After the score quickly went to 14-14 in the 1st Qtr.)   The first team that stops or frustrates this Burke and Co..  will beat the Purple Raiders.   UWW did that in a big way.   Once the Warhawks got Mount down by 3 scores last night... Burke began pressing and the Mount O,  began self-destructing.   This year's Mount team needed to score tons of points to compensate for their defense.

All of this was very similar to my thoughts about Wabash all year.  "The first team that stops Wabash's running game.... Will defeat the Little Giants"  Sure enough Witt did and the game was over early.

Congrats to Mount on a fine season....  lick your wounds and find a defense.  UWW deserves all the credit in the world!  From not making the playoffs in 2012 to having one of the best DIII I have ever had the pleasure of watching and being champions!

[1837Tigers]

DePauw's Nikko Sansone plays in the Tazon de Estrella in Monterrey, Mexico at 2 pm today. See the game at http://fb.me/3fIyvbWn2

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Congratulations to Nikko.