FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Here are the ones I found:



Sporting News
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/jhop/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/sportingnews2014top25.pdf

Lindy's
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/jhop/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/lindys2014top25.pdf

[firstdown]

Bashgiant

The polls at this point in the summer you see in the football magazines are complied by folks the really know very little about the teams in Division 3.  At best they are little more than beauty contests of the worst sort based on last season.

The polls compiled by D3Football.com when they are available, are certainly based a group of poll participants that are knowledgeable of the teams in Division 3. Wally's comments are spot on about where Wabash should be ranked at this point and, despite having many good pieces going into the season, needs to prove it on the field.

I agree that with the number of returning starters and experienced players, the return of the the two stud running backs, and a defense that was not only one of the best in the country, in fact the LG defense was the best in Division 3 in a number of statistical categories,  but also number 1 in all of college football in several, bodes well for this season.  There are some big shoes to fill like Nate Scola's and on the O line.

Fate tends to play a hand in every season.  The LG's had to cope with a new starting quarterback and the loss of Holmes and Zurek last year.  If you remember the job that Holmes did in the fourth quarter at Wittenberg in 2012, the 2013 game would certainly have been different with him at full speed.  The coaching staff did a great job last year filling in for Holmes and Zurek with other running backs, several of whom were converted linebackers, and in developing a rookie quarterback.  Putko looked strong in the game with DePauw, and Belton and Rice are standing in the wings.

Also, rumor has it that the LG's have a good group of incoming freshmen on the way that will help as well.  I also think that opening with Hampden Sydney given the success that they had last year will be a good test for both teams.  It would not be surprising to see the winner of that game  ranked as high as the 6 - 10 range that you suggested, with the losing team finding themselves in the mid to lower teens going into conference play. 

The real key is win the conference and claim the AQ.  As noted, Fate will play a hand in the season.  Wabash was dealt some bad cards last year, but responded. There is every reason to hope for a better hand this year.

[wally_wabash]

That's great.  Thanks for sharing, BLD.  Those mags are a little more bullish on Wabash in the preseason than I would have thought or even than I think the D3football.com preaseason top 25 will be.  Or maybe I'm just too conservative with that prediction.  Interesting that neither of the two rankings that you posted have H-SC ranked at all.  Contrast that with this that I just found elsewhere on the board:

Hampden-Sydney was picked 10th in USA Today's preseason poll.  This preseason poll is interesting only because it was compiled by D3football.com's Pat Coleman.

Here's the top 10

1. Whitewater
2. UMHB
3. Mt. Union
4. Wesley
5. Bethel
6. Linfield
7. North Central
8. St. Thomas
9. Heidelberg
10.  Hampden Sydney College

Either the folks at Sporting News and Lindy's don't know that H-SC kicked Linfield in the neck for 20 minutes (we'll leave the last 40 minutes of that game alone...for now) or they do know and they don't think it's particularly important.  OR Pat's treatment of H-SC is prophetic or he's given too much weight to that really good 20 minutes they played in McMinnville last season.  Or he's the guru and knows that H-SC is absolutely a major, major player this year. 

I think the answer is somewhere in the middle...I think there's some ignorance on the part of the other mags' rankings  (they probably shouldn't be out of the top 25) and I think H-SC is probably getting too much steam from that first half against Linfield from the folks at D3football.com. 

[bashgiant]

Here are the ones I found:



Sporting News
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/jhop/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/sportingnews2014top25.pdf

Lindy's
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/jhop/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/lindys2014top25.pdf

These are the same polls I was looking at.

[bashgiant]

Sure thought Wabash would have been shown a lot more love in the preseason polls with the amount of returning starters and one of the best defenses in the country, not to mention two healthy stud running backs that they did with out most of the season last year. I was expecting a ranking around 6 or 7.

That's probably a little lofty for preseason polling, bg.  Teams generally don't get to not make the playoffs and then be top 10 to start the next year (with the exception of maybe UWW 2012-2013...but many titles buy you that kind of poll placement mulligan).  I'd guess that when the D3football.com poll comes out in August (or maybe late July?), Wabash will land somewhere around 20 give or take a few spots. 

I haven't looked around for the other preseason rankings...which ones have you seen and where is Wabash?  And other NCAC teams (probably just Witt, maybe Wooster if some mag is feeling frisky)?

Probably just the homer in me, can't help it. Hopefully they will prove me right and start off the season with a big win against HS. I'm just glad I am not the LG's coach and have to decide on a starting quarterback as Belton, Putko, and Rice all seem like very good quarterbacks. The edge has to go to Putko with a year of experience under his belt, but hey you never know.

[Joe Wally]

What are the expectations for Zurek this year in terms of his return from injury?  Is he expected to be fully recovered in time for the start of the season?

[sigma one]

Zurek and Holmes both participated in spring workouts.  They expect to be ready for the fall.  Time will tell on the question of full recovery.

[bashgiant]

So when is LG's first day of camp ? Does anybody on this board go to camp ?

[wally_wabash]

So when is LG's first day of camp ? Does anybody on this board go to camp ?

If my math is right and the practice rules are the same as they were last year, I think fall practice starts somewhere around Aug. 13, give or take a day or two. 

[HSCTiger fan]

That's great.  Thanks for sharing, BLD.  Those mags are a little more bullish on Wabash in the preseason than I would have thought or even than I think the D3football.com preaseason top 25 will be.  Or maybe I'm just too conservative with that prediction.  Interesting that neither of the two rankings that you posted have H-SC ranked at all.  Contrast that with this that I just found elsewhere on the board:

Hampden-Sydney was picked 10th in USA Today's preseason poll.  This preseason poll is interesting only because it was compiled by D3football.com's Pat Coleman.

Here's the top 10

1. Whitewater
2. UMHB
3. Mt. Union
4. Wesley
5. Bethel
6. Linfield
7. North Central
8. St. Thomas
9. Heidelberg
10.  Hampden Sydney College

Either the folks at Sporting News and Lindy's don't know that H-SC kicked Linfield in the neck for 20 minutes (we'll leave the last 40 minutes of that game alone...for now) or they do know and they don't think it's particularly important.  OR Pat's treatment of H-SC is prophetic or he's given too much weight to that really good 20 minutes they played in McMinnville last season.  Or he's the guru and knows that H-SC is absolutely a major, major player this year. 

I think the answer is somewhere in the middle...I think there's some ignorance on the part of the other mags' rankings  (they probably shouldn't be out of the top 25) and I think H-SC is probably getting too much steam from that first half against Linfield from the folks at D3football.com.

Hello Wabash fans. I'm excited about our game this fall.  Certainly the first 20 minutes at Linfield has something to do with the early season ranking. But there are certainly other reasons to consider. They return 7 starters on 31st ranked offense of 2013. Of those seven, 3 are 5th year seniors, 3 are seniors and the other is a 4th year Junior. Those returning starters include: HM All American QB - Nash Nance and All American WR Holton Walker.   Additionally they return their leading rusher (Macko) and their All Conference TE (Druhan).  Another little tidbit is 6 of the backups to those 7 returning starters are also back.

On Defense they return 8 starters.  HSC's defense did not rank first in Total Defense like Wabash did last year but they did rank 22nd.  HSC is one of 3 teams in the nation to return 2 offensive All Americans and also are one of only 3 teams to rank 31st or higher in Offense and Defense last season. Finally they have 60 upperclassmen returning this fall.  HSC has an exceptionally experienced team.

Maybe 10th is too high but for now it's not far off.  One thing for certain is if they go to Wabash and lay an egg they won't be 10th the next week.

[Pat Coleman]

I wanted to recognize H-SC doing something the ODAC doesn't usually do, yes. It's a crapshoot, really, after that first eight team.

[bashgiant]

That's great.  Thanks for sharing, BLD.  Those mags are a little more bullish on Wabash in the preseason than I would have thought or even than I think the D3football.com preaseason top 25 will be.  Or maybe I'm just too conservative with that prediction.  Interesting that neither of the two rankings that you posted have H-SC ranked at all.  Contrast that with this that I just found elsewhere on the board:

Hampden-Sydney was picked 10th in USA Today's preseason poll.  This preseason poll is interesting only because it was compiled by D3football.com's Pat Coleman.

Here's the top 10

1. Whitewater
2. UMHB
3. Mt. Union
4. Wesley
5. Bethel
6. Linfield
7. North Central
8. St. Thomas
9. Heidelberg
10.  Hampden Sydney College

Either the folks at Sporting News and Lindy's don't know that H-SC kicked Linfield in the neck for 20 minutes (we'll leave the last 40 minutes of that game alone...for now) or they do know and they don't think it's particularly important.  OR Pat's treatment of H-SC is prophetic or he's given too much weight to that really good 20 minutes they played in McMinnville last season.  Or he's the guru and knows that H-SC is absolutely a major, major player this year. 

I think the answer is somewhere in the middle...I think there's some ignorance on the part of the other mags' rankings  (they probably shouldn't be out of the top 25) and I think H-SC is probably getting too much steam from that first half against Linfield from the folks at D3football.com.

Hello Wabash fans. I'm excited about our game this fall.  Certainly the first 20 minutes at Linfield has something to do with the early season ranking. But there are certainly other reasons to consider. They return 7 starters on 31st ranked offense of 2013. Of those seven, 3 are 5th year seniors, 3 are seniors and the other is a 4th year Junior. Those returning starters include: HM All American QB - Nash Nance and All American WR Holton Walker.   Additionally they return their leading rusher (Macko) and their All Conference TE (Druhan).  Another little tidbit is 6 of the backups to those 7 returning starters are also back.

On Defense they return 8 starters.  HSC's defense did not rank first in Total Defense like Wabash did last year but they did rank 22nd.  HSC is one of 3 teams in the nation to return 2 offensive All Americans and also are one of only 3 teams to rank 31st or higher in Offense and Defense last season. Finally they have 60 upperclassmen returning this fall.  HSC has an exceptionally experienced team.

Maybe 10th is too high but for now it's not far off.  One thing for certain is if they go to Wabash and lay an egg they won't be 10th the next week.

Welcome to the dark side I know I am looking forward to this match up as well. I am sure the Wabash D coordinator is already putting together a game plan to try and stop the great offense of HSC, should be a great match up. I look for the Bash defense to be even better than last year as they will have more seniors and some of the younger guys will have that year of college experience and the game should slow down for them. I am sure Wally will be chiming in with his always knowledgeable and entertaining break down of the LG's on both sides of the ball so I will leave all that to the expert! It's great to have some new blood on the board and I look forward to some entertaining banter. Hopefully we will see some of your fellow tiger buddies over here on the dark side as well.

GO BASH!!

[wally_wabash]

I'll leave a more thorough breakdown for game week after I've had a chance (hopefully) to see the team and have a better idea of who's playing where, who's healthy, etc.  But, three months out, I'll say that it's a tremendous challenge for both teams.  Specifically for Wabash, having to play against THAT guy for the first time ever in the first week of the season is an extraordinary challenge.  Reminds me a bit of the Chad Rupp episode in 2006 (although admittedly I had no clue who Chad Rupp was before that game at Franklin...we all know who Nash Nance is). 

[The_Bishop]

New turf going in at Selby - again.

http://blog.owu.edu/transcript/2014/05/05/4084/

Had no idea players were getting injured so would be curious to hear any thoughts of folks who saw some games there in the last year or so.  I was really impressed when it was installed 4 or 5 years ago but glad they are opening the checkbook to get it right.

[tigerfanalso]

Nash and the offense do present a challenge but I'm sure the LG's offer their own set of challenges for the HSC defense. I have no idea what to expect but I do pray the game lives up to all the hype. Traveling to Wabash, first game of season is by no means the typical season opener, but I guess that is why this opportunity is so exciting to the kids and respective fan base(s).