FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[1837Tigers]

You guys in red will have some more red meat soon -- I'm recutting the '54 Memory using some incredible color footage Jim Amidon loaned me (that was not available when I made the '54 the first time).  There are a lot of parallels to where things are now -- W had won 5 straight coming in. 

It's interesting to see that in '54 the current visitors sideline was the home sideline for W.  Wonder when that changed?

[Li'l Giant]

If I had to venture a guess it changed when Little Giant Stadium was built in 66.

[wally_wabash]

Freshmen have been added to the Little Giant 2014 roster.  Quick notes:

55 FR listed
- 42 Hoosiers
- 6(!) AZ
- 2 TX
- 1  each from WV, MI, NE, IL, OH

I'll be honest here - I don't know squat about pretty much any of the new guys (youtube clip searches will be a popular evening activity this week), but I do have a couple of comments.  First, the one from Michigan is a Buresh brother, so...awesome.  And then Jake Doty from West Lafayette...sources familiar with Lafayette area football told me "Oh wow.  Really?  I think he's better than a Division III player" which we'll put in the compliment column. 

One more week until camp. 

[sigma one]

I arrived at Wabash in 1964.  That was before the current stadium was built in 1966.  I recall sitting behind the Wabash bench, on the same side of the field (south side) where the home team bench is now located (if memory serves, and I hope it does.) So, I believe that the flip from north side to south side has to predate 1964.  If someone could get in touch with Max Servies, he may know the answer, though there are others who also could remember when the change took place.

[firstdown]

Wally

If you Google the name followed by the word football, it will generally refer you to Hudl which will have video clips, and to Maxpreps which will have the various statistics.  I looked at a few last night, and there are exciting players among the group of new players coming in.

[bashgiant]

Wally

If you Google the name followed by the word football, it will generally refer you to Hudl which will have video clips, and to Maxpreps which will have the various statistics.  I looked at a few last night, and there are exciting players among the group of new players coming in.

Hard to tell a whole lot from highlight videos 1) Videos are from a 4 year period and generally there best plays 2) Is the competition top notch or below average in the highlight clips? You can take an average player and make him or her look like a superstar with highlights from over a four year period and below average competition. Anyway, I am sure Wabash did a fine job of recruiting and will be bringing in some young studs to fill the few holes that they have this year. I'm thinking if everybody can stay healthy this year Wabash could have a team that could make a really strong run for the crown this year. Saw a couple of the Ohio boys at the gym and they looked like they have been working really hard in the weight room this summer. Pumped and primed and ready for some hard hitting, smash mouth, spine tingling football. Can't get here quick enough!!!

GO BASH!!!

[wally_wabash]

Preseason poll! 

1. Wabash (5) 95
2. Wittenberg (4) 92
3. Denison 67
  Wooster 67
5. DePauw 57
6. Ohio Wesleyan 55
7. Kenyon 36
8. Oberlin (1) 35
9. Allegheny 23
  Hiram 23

Not a big surprise with the two clear cut favorites there.  I thought the split might be something more like 7/3 for Wabash. 

But let's address the one thing that is a surprise.  Oberlin's first place vote.  Until notified otherwise, I'm going to live under the assumption that that is Coach Anderson's vote and that is awesome.  Good for him (assuming that's his vote).  Love the confidence (assuming that's his vote). 

Raise your hand if you thought you'd see a day where Allegheny and Hiram are tied for last in a preseason poll.  Nobody?  That's what I thought. 

The preseason poll is going to light the fuse for my annual rambling about how I think the season will play out.  So you'll have that to look forward to tonight. 

[1837Tigers]

As promised, the "new" 1954 MM using film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QDf_REOw70

And here's the "old", which is quite different, and remains in the collection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtr7WgXDiGo

[ExTartanPlayer]

But let's address the one thing that is a surprise.  Oberlin's first place vote.  Until notified otherwise, I'm going to live under the assumption that that is Coach Anderson's vote and that is awesome.  Good for him (assuming that's his vote).  Love the confidence (assuming that's his vote). 

I thought most preseason polls prohibited the coach from voting for their own team?  This may not be the case for the NCAC, though.

However, it is kind of far-fetched to imagine that anyone else voted for Oberlin.  Can't imagine Wabash & Witt voted for anyone but each other.

Raise your hand if you thought you'd see a day where Allegheny and Hiram are tied for last in a preseason poll.  Nobody?  That's what I thought. 

After last season's debacle, I'm surprised that Allegheny is even tied with Hiram for 9th.  I'd have voted them about 15th.

Look forward to your thoughts this evening.

[firstdown]

Wally

If you Google the name followed by the word football, it will generally refer you to Hudl which will have video clips, and to Maxpreps which will have the various statistics.  I looked at a few last night, and there are exciting players among the group of new players coming in.

Hard to tell a whole lot from highlight videos 1) Videos are from a 4 year period and generally there best plays 2) Is the competition top notch or below average in the highlight clips? You can take an average player and make him or her look like a superstar with highlights from over a four year period and below average competition. Anyway, I am sure Wabash did a fine job of recruiting and will be bringing in some young studs to fill the few holes that they have this year. I'm thinking if everybody can stay healthy this year Wabash could have a team that could make a really strong run for the crown this year. Saw a couple of the Ohio boys at the gym and they looked like they have been working really hard in the weight room this summer. Pumped and primed and ready for some hard hitting, smash mouth, spine tingling football. Can't get here quick enough!!!

GO BASH!!!

Bash Giant - the highlights on Hudl are by year, e.g 2013 - 2014.  Hard to tell a whole lot for the reasons that you cite.  Nonetheless, there are still 30 days until the LG's are on the field.  Getting a sample of the new guys helps pass the days.

[wally_wabash]

Alright, here's how I think things shake out in the NCAC in 2014...from the bottom up. 

Allegheny (0-9 NCAC, 0-10 overall) - I tried to find a win here, but I couldn't.  Allegheny is a year older and will no doubt be a better team.  Their problem is that a whole bunch of teams in the league can say that this year.  The few that can't probably aren't slipping enough to predictably get beat by Allegheny. 

Kenyon (1-8, 2-8) - Kenyon's defense is a question mark for me.  I like what Monfiletto is doing in Gambier and my calling them at 1-8 in league play is really more about other teams getting a lot better than it is about Kenyon getting a lot worse. 

Hiram (2-7, 3-7) - Partridge is back!  I thought he was a graduating senior last year, but he is indeed back for another year at Hiram.  Let's remember here...Hiram had defeated Westminster in week 1 and were leading Denison in week 2 when their star quarterback went down for the year.  They had a strong chance to win that game.  So I've got the Terriers winning games with Allegheny and Kenyon.  I couldn't pull the trigger on more wins here, but we shouldn't be surprised if the Terriers win another game or two if their signal caller plays all ten games. 

Oberlin (3-6, 3-7) - Oberlin is building back up.  A little deeper this year, they've got a bunch of starters returning.  They can be a problem for some teams this year, but I'm looking ahead to 2015 (when their top skill guys are seniors, this year's class has a year of college under them, and they get another year of 20+ recruits) as a year when Oberlin gets up into the top half of the league standings. 

OWU (4-5, 5-5) - Pretty much a mystery to me.  I have no idea what their offense looks like post-Espinosa.  As good as Espinosa has been for the Bishops, maybe that offense gets a little more dynamic if they plug a run/pass guy in there. But whoever the new guy is, he will have had about six snaps of experience.  Maximum.  And with as fast as they like to play, offense could be going in fits and starts for this year.  Or at least for a while. 

Denison (5-4, 6-4) - There's a pretty good amount of potential for this offense.  They really came alive after the aforementioned Hiram game in week 2 last year.  The Big Red do have to replace an entire defensive line and that's my reason for bringing them back a notch from the 7-win season last year. 

DePauw (6-3, 7-3) - DePauw won 4 of their last 6 last year and very nearly knocked off Wooster in November which would have made it 5 out of 6 to close the year.  There's a lot of positive inertia in Greencastle and I expect that will translate into a winning record this season.  A lot of those kids that got tossed into the dumpster fire in 2012 now have a bunch of experience and some coaching continuity. 

Wittenberg (7-2, 7-3) - So Witt has to replace an all-timer at quarterback, an all-timer at WR, and two more top receiving targets.  The good news is that Gary and Dehnke are back to hand off to and they have 3 OL starters back.  So it's not as bare as it might seem.  There's also some quality returning pieces on the defense.  Witt's going to be good.  But not as good as 2013.  And I think there are two teams that are better...starting with...

Wooster (8-1, 8-2) - The Scots are getting Witt at home and that's why I'm going this way.  The return of Richard Barnes is a major boon for Wooster.  The Colaprete up-tempo offense really elevated Richard Barnes' game, and they've got most of that offense back.  Short story: the Scots are going to score a bunch of points this year.  Defense is where they had some difficulty last year...in their three losses, they gave 172 points.  You can't win games giving up 50+.  They retooled that defense last year with a lot of young guys and lot of guys playing new positions.  Experience counts in this game, and while I don't think Wooster's defense will have grown into a really good unit, I think they can be average and average is probably good enough with their offense. 

Wabash (9-0, 10-0) - I think Wabash is the most experienced, most complete team in the league this year.  Wabash returns a starting quarterback, a pair of standout running backs, a deep threat WR (Hodges), a swiss army knife guy (Drake Christen...seriously, I think this guy is about to go bonkers).  They will need some guys to step up on the offensive line (which shouldn't be glossed over...offensive line play is critical...all of those fun toys on the edges of the field are no good if you can't block).  The defense ought to be outstanding.  I won't get into a semantics argument about what the "best" defense is from 2013, but Wabash was one of the best.  And they are all back less a Nate Scola.  Not a negligible absence for sure, but LB is a place where Wabash has plenty of dudes.  The LGs are also replacing a couple of all-timers in the kicking game, but if the offense and the defense play to their potential, Wabash should be able work through some growing pains in the kicking game. 

So there it is.  I believe Wabash is the most complete team in the league, but I do think Wooster is about to have a really good year.  Witt also hosts Wabash this year which ratchets up the degree of difficulty there.  DePauw is much improved and who knows how good they might be by the time we get week 11.  There's a depth of quality in the league this year that I think makes a 9-0 run extremely difficult for anybody.  It's conceivable for a team to beat Wooster and Witt and lose to Wabash and DePauw...or Denison...or OWU.  I think we're in for a year with more quality games amongst the top 6 in the league than usual.  Not to the levels of ODAC randomness, but I expect more games in doubt in the fourth quarter than we're used to seeing.  Which is for the better. 

[sigma one]

After reading the 2014 NCAC Media Guide and seeing the pre-season rankings, some comments and questions to think about:

ALLEGHENY:  Can the Gators possibly put 0-10 seasons back to back, as Wally predicts?   A good many starters return, but they are starters who managed to lose every game.

DENISON:  Sklenar and Morris returning will continue to stimulate the offense, but can they manage to produce all the points they did last year?  The defense looks to have some major gaps.   

DEPAUW:  Wally points to success at the end of last season, but the New Tigers lose their top running back and top wide receiver.  The offensive line looks to be a big plus, and the QB has a season under his belt, though only a sophomore.  Can the defense keep them in games, as they search for offensive firepower?

HIRAM:  Partridge has to be a big bonus, and a strong group of starters, relatively speaking, returns.  Still, the defense is, as always, a question mark?  Can Partridge lead them to 3 wins (more?)?  His health is the key to a rising year.

KENYON:  Defense?  Losing all those good linebackers is a significant minus.  The offense has promise with a competent returning QB and two solid RBs.  Again, defense???

OBERLIN:  Are the Yoemen the team on the rise in the NCAC.? A solid group returns; what will the coaching change mean?  A lot of us thought that the previous HC got a lot out of his small roster.  The roster is bigger now, but almost half will be freshmen.  The o-line will be a strong point, and could help the returning RB and QB.  Another 4-win season, or could there be more than that, or less?

OHIO WESLEYAN:  What will happen to Coach Watts's offense in the post-Espinosa era, and with the loss of a couple of productive WRs as well? Can they develop a more balanced attack while developing on defense?  Two big questions.  Cagney is a continuing asset.

WABASH:  that defense will be the strength.  Question mark for the offense:  can Holmes and Zurek return to form, and will the o-line mature early enough to get them past HSC in a tough opening challenge? The LGs also play at Wittenberg.  Wally says 10-0, a bold prediction.

WITTENBERG:  a new QB, but Gary and Dehnke return.  Witt always seems to find receivers, and that may well make up for the loss of Cunningham.  The return of Coeling and Killilea is really big, also Banjo.  They get Butler at home to open the season, and the Bulldogs lost a lot of starters; still they are a big step for a team with an inexperience QB.  What will they be like in the 2nd half of the season when they go against Wooster (game 6) and Wabash (game 9)?

WOOSTER:  A fifth-year Barnes is huge for the Fighting Scots, eliminating the need to break in a new QB in an otherwise experienced offensive unit that includes Hackel at RB, three top receivers, and the core of the o-line.  Can the porous defense improve?  Last year, several players were moved from one side of the ball to the other; will that happen again to find a defensive combo that holds down the points against?  The secondary should be a strong group to build from. 

[Li'l Giant]

I don't have much to add to these fine breakdowns. I will make these comments:

I agree with Wally that DePauw is going to be better. The DePauw/Denison game will be good. 

The Wooster/Witt game is going to be must see TV. Wooster is a team to watch for sure.

If Gheny does end up 0-10 for the 2nd straight year they have to make a change right?

[Dr. Acula]

The Gheny situation is surreal to me. I watched them give two great Mount teams everything they wanted in 96 and 97. By far the toughest games for two national championship teams.  To see the Gators where they are and, on the flip side, Heidelberg where they are now just goes to show how much we should applaud sustained success because it is not a given.

p.s. I can't help it...I have to pull for Hiram to win some games.  They deserve a good season.

[HSCTiger fan]

Wabash (9-0, 10-0) - I think Wabash is the most experienced, most complete team in the league this year.  Wabash returns a starting quarterback, a pair of standout running backs, a deep threat WR (Hodges), a swiss army knife guy (Drake Christen...seriously, I think this guy is about to go bonkers).  They will need some guys to step up on the offensive line (which shouldn't be glossed over...offensive line play is critical...all of those fun toys on the edges of the field are no good if you can't block).  The defense ought to be outstanding.  I won't get into a semantics argument about what the "best" defense is from 2013, but Wabash was one of the best.  And they are all back less a Nate Scola.  Not a negligible absence for sure, but LB is a place where Wabash has plenty of dudes.  The LGs are also replacing a couple of all-timers in the kicking game, but if the offense and the defense play to their potential, Wabash should be able work through some growing pains in the kicking game. 

Wow. This game Sept 6 is going to be fun. Wally most of what you said could be applied to HSC as well. All-Americans back at QB and WR, leading rusher, all conference TE, 7 starters on offense return ALL seniors.  Offensive line is the question mark for HSC too -replacing 4 starters. Defense loses all-American LB but his replacement is a stud. 8 total starters on D return - 7 are seniors and 5 are 2013 all conference players. Kicking game will be great. In an odd circumstance before last season both the kicker and punter were injured. The kicker was all-conference in 2012. Both return this fall as well as last year's punter and last year's kickoff guy.  My prediction is HSC 7-0 10-0. So Wally one of us going to be wrong.