FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashDad]

You mean the punting.

[HSCTiger74]

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...

I haven't been there for a while, but if memory serves be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen or a good hat. Maybe both.

[wally_wabash]

New poll is up.  LGs up to 14 (+103 points- biggest upward move in the poll).  Witt down to 16.  There's a decent shot at setting up a top-15 matchup in November.  Here's the list of leagues that have two teams in the top 16: OAC, WIAC, MIAC,...NCAC.  Do with that info what you will. 

[smedindy]

I don't think Witt really deserved to move down two spots. When I vote in the fan poll I'm not downgrading them. Alas, it's still awful early.

[bashbrother]

I agree Smeds..  I think that was more of an adjustment from them possibly being ranked a bit too high in the preseason poll.  It was a nice result for them... Even in a loss.

The question in my mind is:  Did Butler fall that far or did Witt successfully reload the cannons?  The answer to this will become clearer as we work into the season.

That is one of the greatest things in my mind about Wabash playing a tough opponent in week 1. Unlike so many other years,  we don't have to wait till the latter part of our season to know that we have a good.. Possibly great team.

[smedindy]

I don't know about you all, but it's going to be weird for me with Wabash having an off week this week. I'm so used to not having a bye week in season. When was the last time that happened?

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think Witt really deserved to move down two spots. When I vote in the fan poll I'm not downgrading them. Alas, it's still awful early.

I agree Smeds..  I think that was more of an adjustment from them possibly being ranked a bit too high in the preseason poll.  It was a nice result for them... Even in a loss.

I thought there might be questions and wrote up a quick analysis:
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2014/09/08/top-25-poll-analysis/

[wally_wabash]

I agree Smeds..  I think that was more of an adjustment from them possibly being ranked a bit too high in the preseason poll.  It was a nice result for them... Even in a loss.

The question in my mind is:  Did Butler fall that far or did Witt successfully reload the cannons?  The answer to this will become clearer as we work into the season.

I more or less agree with this, bashbro.  The one team that kind of stood out to me in the preseason top 25 as being most obviously out of place was Wittenberg.  13 seemed pretty lofty for a second-round team that lost 30 seniors (really, really important seniors at that).  Side note- the other team that I thought was probably a bit over-ranked was Rowan and, welp.  That being said (and to your second point), I think Witt exceeded expectation in their game Saturday night (Pat's DD write up is spot on).  Butler isn't the same deal they were last year and they hadn't already played a game like they did last year, but I still figured they'd lay it on the Tigers breaking in a new offense.  NRFP teaser- I actually moved Witt UP in my north region ballot this week based on their better-than-expected performance coupled with Franklin's loss (got some serious concerns about that Grizzly D) and Wooster getting dropkicked.   

[The_Bishop]

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

This video is worth watching for the two times they cut away to the random guy sitting on top of what I think is the visitors' bus alone.

[bashbrother]

One more comment on the Wabash/HSC game on Saturday..

How much did HSC learn to respect the defensive pressure that Wabash was applying?  How about HSC punting (quick kick) on a 3rd and 26 from their 4 yard line...  White flag moment or smart play?

I've seen field goal attempts on 3rd down,  but don't think I have seen a punt.

[waf56]

Clearly they saw that Dylan was also on the roster and were worried!

[Wabash Hokie]

One more comment on the Wabash/HSC game on Saturday..

How much did HSC learn to respect the defensive pressure that Wabash was applying?  How about HSC punting (quick kick) on a 3rd and 26 from their 4 yard line...  White flag moment or smart play?

I've seen field goal attempts on 3rd down,  but don't think I have seen a punt.

I think smart play.  That drive (if you can all it that) was going downhill fast and a 4th down punt from the back of the end zone was worth avoiding.  HSC was able to get the punt off with no pressure and, as I recall, no return.   And (and I did not check my facts) the punt may have gone farther than a few Wabash 4th down punts. 

[DadofBashWarrior..]

One more comment on the Wabash/HSC game on Saturday..

How much did HSC learn to respect the defensive pressure that Wabash was applying?  How about HSC punting (quick kick) on a 3rd and 26 from their 4 yard line...  White flag moment or smart play?

I've seen field goal attempts on 3rd down,  but don't think I have seen a punt.

3rd and 26 Quick kick was a very smart play...

[wally_wabash]

One more comment on the Wabash/HSC game on Saturday..

How much did HSC learn to respect the defensive pressure that Wabash was applying?  How about HSC punting (quick kick) on a 3rd and 26 from their 4 yard line...  White flag moment or smart play?

I've seen field goal attempts on 3rd down,  but don't think I have seen a punt.

I couldn't believe that play.  Given that you'd already proven that your guy (Walker) can win a jump ball over Wabash's DBs, why don't you just run a sideline go and see what happens.  Nance can throw it as far or farther than he can kick it.  Possible outcomes:
1) Walker wins the ball and runs in for a 95 yard TD (which isn't crazy because it had already happened!)
2) Wabash intereferes (or gets called for interfering)
3) Wabash defends the pass appropriately and you kick on 4th down
4) Wabash intercepts and takes over in around the same place (probably further back actually) than they did when you quick kicked.  I'll dismiss the possibility for a return because I think in the jump ball scenario, Walker has position to bring the intercepting player down before a return is on.

I don't get why that happened, but hey- Wabash never saw it coming.  Didn't even have a guy back to return.  Probably the only time all game Wabash got fooled. 

[wabco]

Maybe the 3rd down kick was smart ... but on the other hand, you have the supposedly best QB passer and best QB/Receiver combo.  I think it was the outward sign that they knew Saigon was in danger of falling and ... get the helicopters warmed up.  If you had the confidence in your #1s, wouldn't you have said ... guys ... we are at a pivotal moment in the game.  We need you now.  Wouldn't you have called the best 10+ yard pass play by the best passer rather than punch kick to the 40?  (Or worse if we had chosen to put a man just a little further back?  I think it was not smart ... but the first admission by coaches to their team that ... we are in some deep s^^^^ now.  Just my thought while watching it.  I thought "game over" ... when I saw that.