FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

We traded a Kenyon loss for a Hiram win; otherwise it was what I thought would happen. The Wooster score was a bit much, though.

And unlike the B1G, the winner of the league is going to the playoffs! 

[aueagle]

The Thiel win somewhat surprised me...
They have upgraded the program over the years
& the intensity of W. Pa football is there, but
I figured the Gators were better, Every season
I think the Gators will rise, capture some of the
1990 magic...every season they blow-it.....

[ExTartanPlayer]

Could be worse. We could be the B1G.

Ugh.  What a dreadful day for the B1G.  Clearly running fifth in the pecking order of the Big Five.  OSU loses at home to VaTech, Michigan pummeled by Notre Dame, Nebraska barely survives McNeese State, Purdue loses to Central Michigan (huzzah! my girlfriend teaches at the "other" CMU and I'm on the Chips bandwagon), Illinois needed 21 fourth-quarter points to survive Western Kentucky, Iowa needed a final-minute touchdown to beat Ball State, Northwestern lost to Northern Illinois (Jesus, are we even sure the B1G's bottom half is better than the MAC? I'm not).

When the conference "highlight" is either MSU's 19-point loss at Oregon (which was actually a very good game, BTW) or Penn State beating Akron, you know it's going to be a bad year.

Congrats to the LG's on a very nice win to start the season.  Unfolded much as I expected - big play by HSC early, Wabash stays the course with the running game and grinds out a win.  HSC's defense is good.  Wabash had to work for everything they got.  Now HSC, don't go farting around and losing to Shenandoah.  Run the damn table.

Loving that Hiram comeback win.  Not like they're challenging for the league title but it would be really great to see HC competitive with the bottom of the league and winning a handful of games.  If Partridge is healthy all season, I think they'll have a shot to win against 3 or 4 NCAC teams.

Re: Thiel vs. Allegheny, although it's disappointing how far the Gators have fallen, TBH that game was a pretty serious improvement over last season.  Last year they scored in double digits twice all season and played precisely one game that was truly competitive into the fourth quarter.  Scoring two touchdowns (especially after going into a 21-0 hole where they could have folded) is improvement. 

[Pat Coleman]

Our parish's pastor, Mike Reding, is a Wabash grad from the late '80s and I chatted with him about that after this morning's service. He said when he was there, campus was basically deserted for every Saturday home game -- dorms, fraternity houses, library, and everyone was at the football games.

He doesn't get back for Monon Bell games because he has some Sunday obligations but said he would like to go back for one sometime soon.

[aueagle]

Hey LG faithful...
do you play AT HS-C
in Sept 2015?

[wally_wabash]

Hey LG faithful...
do you play AT HS-C
in Sept 2015?

Sure do.  We'll be down in VA for week 1 next September.

[Li'l Giant]

Our parish's pastor, Mike Reding, is a Wabash grad from the late '80s and I chatted with him about that after this morning's service. He said when he was there, campus was basically deserted for every Saturday home game -- dorms, fraternity houses, library, and everyone was at the football games.

He doesn't get back for Monon Bell games because he has some Sunday obligations but said he would like to go back for one sometime soon.

Can't speak for how it is now but in the mid/late 90s when I was there it was the same way. Remember working at the library and there were complaints from some international students that the library would close during the Monon Bell game because all the student workers were at the game.

Thanks for sharing that convo with Father Mike.

[aueagle]

 I'm already booking 2015 dates...
and sitting on the visitor side at Lewis C Everett
Stadium is confirmed...Way to put the ODAC
Champions down, LG's...

[Geezer Citizen]

Some gentlemanly observations re: Hampden Sidney v. Wabash game yesterday.

HS-C is one fine football team. Nance and his receivers can dominate a lot of games, and probably will.

Rumor is that Cody Buresh has said that his brother Ethan will be better than he. This, I sure am looking forward to seeing.

'Bash defense is incredibly good - perhaps even great!

I have been attending Wabash football games for over 60 years - since I started going with my dad in the '50's. I have seen some miserable officiating over the years, but the crew we had yesterday was probably the worst ever. Rumor has it the referee for that particular crew got called for Guard duty and the guy wearing the white hat was a virgin in that regard. The number of meetings he and his crew held indicated that someone sure didn't know what he was doing out there, and it had to be him.

The tailgates before and after the game were delightful.

I sure had a great afternoon.

[aueagle]

wally: I thought Gheny & Witt would win (I bet against WU)....
The Puppy pulled a surprise...still, I don't think going 5-5 is what
we are/should be about..you say we met expectations...I say we
fell short

[smedindy]

I have been attending Wabash football games for over 60 years - since I started going with my dad in the '50's. I have seen some miserable officiating over the years, but the crew we had yesterday was probably the worst ever. Rumor has it the referee for that particular crew got called for Guard duty and the guy wearing the white hat was a virgin in that regard. The number of meetings he and his crew held indicated that someone sure didn't know what he was doing out there, and it had to be him.

Wow, that's a bold statement - considering some of the old crews in the ICAC when a certain B1G official was heading the ICAC's officiating crew and staffed it with, well, officials that were less than stellar (like him...)

[sigma one]

I, too, thought the officiating was suspect.  Wabash was called 10X for121 yards; Hampden-Sydney 11X for 91 yards. 
Of course, many of the calls were justified, but more than a few were suspect.  The officials' group discussions probably added 10-15 minutes to the length of the game with most or all of the crew with their heads together on a number of occasions.  The many delays certainly didn't help inspire confidence in their judgment when some penalties were called.
     The game had great intensity as one might have suspected, and both teams played aggressively.  In their zeal to keep a lid on the officials may have over-reacted a couple of times.  In the end, I don not think the officials' calls significantly influenced the outcome.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Football at Bluffton 09-06-2014: http://youtu.be/5T5LHqy9Xq8

[wally_wabash]

wally: I thought Gheny & Witt would win (I bet against WU)....
The Puppy pulled a surprise...still, I don't think going 5-5 is what
we are/should be about..you say we met expectations...I say we
fell short

I get the sentiment.  We should definitely strive for better than 5-5.  But given where the various teams are at at the moment and the matchups the league had on Saturday, I can be satisfied with the results overall.  The league is getting better.  A few years ago, 5-5 against the schedule we played on Saturday would have been a pipe dream. 

[WABCOL86]

Pat:

Father Reding was in my class at 'Bash and we had a good time talking at our Big Bash Reunion a couple years ago.  It had been awhile since he'd been to campus then!

The game itself was a great time from both a chance to visit as well as on the field.  The thing that gave me pause was Wabash's kicking game.  Definitely a work in progress.