FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[HCAlum86]

Sigma - Just to your point, a guy at work told me this morning that no National Champion in football at any level (outside of the state of Florida) has ever had more than 11 personal foul penalties in a season.

[Schwami]

Good points, sigma one.

I recall a couple of years ago looking closer at the Wabash penalty statistics.  What I found interesting, not only did Wabash lead the conference in penalties, but they also ranked dead last in the category of "penalty yardage against by opponents".  In other words, the other teams committed fewer penalties against Wabash than they typically did against their other opponents.  I didn't even know they kept that statistic!  Could have been just a fluke, but I tend to think that there was some compensating going on.

[HCAlum86]

Good points, sigma one.

I recall a couple of years ago looking closer at the Wabash penalty statistics.  What I found interesting, not only did Wabash lead the conference in penalties, but they also ranked dead last in the category of "penalty yardage against by opponents".  In other words, the other teams committed fewer penalties against Wabash than they typically did against their other opponents.  I didn't even know they kept that statistic!  Could have been just a fluke, but I tend to think that there was some compensating going on.

It is weird too, because when I think of dirty play or malice intent within our conference, Wabash is most certainly not the first school(s) that comes to mind

[HCAlum86]

There is a real chance that the state of Ohio sees four teams make the playoffs this year. Two of which will more than likely get a home game or two in the playoffs.

[wally_wabash]

There is a real chance that the state of Ohio sees four teams make the playoffs this year. Two of which will more than likely get a home game or two in the playoffs.

Who is the fourth? 

[17Bearmo]

It's onlyWednesday and all the parking lots next to Little Giant Stadium are nearly filled. Going to be a great Monon Bell game... Bring on the Dannies....

[HCAlum86]

There is a real chance that the state of Ohio sees four teams make the playoffs this year. Two of which will more than likely get a home game or two in the playoffs.

Who is the fourth?

I think, provided a heavyweight, closely contested matchup from JCU-UMU, that Heidelberg may well sneak in the back door and get an at-large bid. Their only losses have come to the #3 and #6 teams in the country thus far, and they have handled the rest of the OAC with a fair amount of ease.

[HCAlum86]

It's onlyWednesday and all the parking lots next to Little Giant Stadium are nearly filled. Going to be a great Monon Bell game... Bring on the Dannies....

PICTURES!!

[wally_wabash]

There is a real chance that the state of Ohio sees four teams make the playoffs this year. Two of which will more than likely get a home game or two in the playoffs.

Who is the fourth?

I think, provided a heavyweight, closely contested matchup from JCU-UMU, that Heidelberg may well sneak in the back door and get an at-large bid. Their only losses have come to the #3 and #6 teams in the country thus far, and they have handled the rest of the OAC with a fair amount of ease.

Well, the rest of the OAC is easy. 

Last week, and unfortunately we are still stuck on last week's rankings, Heidelberg was ranked behind UMU/JCU (for obvious reasons), Witt/Wabash, and North Central.  That puts Heidelberg fourth in the region in the at-large pecking order.  I don't see any path right now for Heidelberg to jump any of those teams and if you're fourth in line from the region, you're not getting considered, let alone in. 

Really, the biggest roadblock for Heidelberg is that while they may have lost, quite badly mind you, to two of the best teams in the region (if not the nation), they didn't beat anybody that raises eyebrows.  Zero quality wins plus two complete no-shows in their showcase games isn't going to be enough in a year where we've got a lot of teams out there that do have quality wins. 

[HCAlum86]

There is a real chance that the state of Ohio sees four teams make the playoffs this year. Two of which will more than likely get a home game or two in the playoffs.

Who is the fourth?

Heard, but wasn't it in 2007 when Otterbein or ONU got in without being even close to an at-large bid in week 10, unless my memory has gone to crap. Which is a very real possibility.
I think, provided a heavyweight, closely contested matchup from JCU-UMU, that Heidelberg may well sneak in the back door and get an at-large bid. Their only losses have come to the #3 and #6 teams in the country thus far, and they have handled the rest of the OAC with a fair amount of ease.

Well, the rest of the OAC is easy. 

Last week, and unfortunately we are still stuck on last week's rankings, Heidelberg was ranked behind UMU/JCU (for obvious reasons), Witt/Wabash, and North Central.  That puts Heidelberg fourth in the region in the at-large pecking order.  I don't see any path right now for Heidelberg to jump any of those teams and if you're fourth in line from the region, you're not getting considered, let alone in. 

Really, the biggest roadblock for Heidelberg is that while they may have lost, quite badly mind you, to two of the best teams in the region (if not the nation), they didn't beat anybody that raises eyebrows.  Zero quality wins plus two complete no-shows in their showcase games isn't going to be enough in a year where we've got a lot of teams out there that do have quality wins.

[HCAlum86]

Also, does anyone have any film-clips that I can YouTube for the Monon Bell game. I am talking the type of video that makes you want to suit up again.

[wally_wabash]

Also, does anyone have any film-clips that I can YouTube for the Monon Bell game. I am talking the type of video that makes you want to suit up again.

Ken Owen has compiled clips from (or about at least...video was tough to come by in 1890) every game in the Wabash/DePauw series here.  Check out all of the Monon Memories right here.

[smedindy]

HC Alum -

It's all about the regional rankings. The D3.com rankings mean nothing to the NCAA.  If Wabash and NC take care of biz, there's no way 'Berg can leap them on the criteria.

ONU made the playoffs in 2010, and they were 9-1. Otterbein made the playoffs in 2008 when they were 9-1. That '1' is the key. You gotta have an excellent SOS and positive results against RR foes, AND make it to the "C" board.

[HCAlum86]

Thanks Wally!

And yeah, I hear you Smedindy. I was almost positive there was an OAC school that got an at-large one of those years with 2 losses. Maybe it was Capital. Or maybe I am delusional, either way...Go Terriers

[smedindy]

There have been "C" teams with two losses, SJF last year.  But they have to get on the board and have RR wins.