FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Bishopleftiesdad]

WHAT!!! you don't think the bishops have a chance against UMHB?  . While I commend them for scheduling a tough opponent, I have to agree with your results.

[wally_wabash]

WHAT!!! you don't think the bishops have a chance against UMHB?  . While I commend them for scheduling a tough opponent, I have to agree with your results.

I mean, everybody has a chance.  This is a major, major step up for OWU.  My hunch is that by the time OWU gets adjusted to UMHB's size/speed, they'll be chasing a massive deficit and the post-game reaction will be something like "hey, you know if you don't count the first 40 minutes, OWU was pretty competitive."  The real benefit to this game comes when they have to turn right around and play Wittenberg.  I don't know if OWU can beat Wittenberg either, but the pump will certainly be primed for game 2 and I think that'll be an interesting game, particularly with Wabash on deck for Witt. 

I'd be curious to know if this was a home and home that Watts sought out specifically or if this just kind of happened with two teams looking to fill games.  Obviously the spin after the series was announced is all about wanting to experience the best in the country and measure this program against that yardstick and yadda yadda.  That may sincerely be why the series came together, but we can't know that for sure because that's what would be said no matter what.  My hunch is that Watts sought this series out (it's not like OWU is on an island and is forced to search far and wide for week 1 opponents), but it would be fun to know for sure. 

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I agree, it really would be interesting to know. After playing teams like Bluffton regularly at their one out of conference game it was surprising to see this. I have been really surprised that OWU and BW have not scheduled a game considering Watts history. I know OWU took a trip to Italy, and he has been changing the attitude. They were pretty young last year.

[Pat Coleman]

WHAT!!! you don't think the bishops have a chance against UMHB?  . While I commend them for scheduling a tough opponent, I have to agree with your results.

I mean, everybody has a chance.  This is a major, major step up for OWU.  My hunch is that by the time OWU gets adjusted to UMHB's size/speed, they'll be chasing a massive deficit and the post-game reaction will be something like "hey, you know if you don't count the first 40 minutes, OWU was pretty competitive." 

In my opinion, the only reason the final 20 minutes will be competitive would be if UMHB was playing its backups, not because OWU adjusted to the speed of the game.

[Sir Battlescars]

Thanks Wally_Wabash for your hard work on the team analysis you posted yesterday, I needed that. This summer has seemed to drag on forever, I'm ready for some D3 Football!

[Joe Wally]

Thanks Wally!

The small bit of inside information that I can add from my source "close to the program" is that Woods has made excellent progress from his knee injury and they expect him to be in the starting 11 about half way through the year.

[BashDad]

Half way through the year? That's surprising, no?

[wally_wabash]

Half way through the year? That's surprising, no?

Surprising in a bad way, right?   Haven't we gotten knee rehab down to like 6-7 months now? 

Maybe there was more going on there than just an ACL reconstruction, but my assumption was that he would be ready to go in September (which would be 10 months post-injury and probably 9 months post-op).  I'm certainly not pressing- he's good to go when he feels like he's good to go and he's got clearance, but mid-October seems like a longer rehab than usual. 

[wally_wabash]

WHAT!!! you don't think the bishops have a chance against UMHB?  . While I commend them for scheduling a tough opponent, I have to agree with your results.

I mean, everybody has a chance.  This is a major, major step up for OWU.  My hunch is that by the time OWU gets adjusted to UMHB's size/speed, they'll be chasing a massive deficit and the post-game reaction will be something like "hey, you know if you don't count the first 40 minutes, OWU was pretty competitive." 

In my opinion, the only reason the final 20 minutes will be competitive would be if UMHB was playing its backups, not because OWU adjusted to the speed of the game.

Fair point.  In that case, the speed of the game adjusted to OWU, I suppose.   

[wabashcpa]

Half way through the year? That's surprising, no?

Surprising in a bad way, right?   Haven't we gotten knee rehab down to like 6-7 months now? 

Maybe there was more going on there than just an ACL reconstruction, but my assumption was that he would be ready to go in September (which would be 10 months post-injury and probably 9 months post-op).  I'm certainly not pressing- he's good to go when he feels like he's good to go and he's got clearance, but mid-October seems like a longer rehab than usual.

Not up on all the medical breakthroughs, but coming back in 11-12 months from that nastiness is still pretty remarkable to me.  Not sure who is coming back from this in a shorter time frame unless they are getting a pro-athlete-style rehab process.  And a pro-athlete body.

[wally_wabash]

Half way through the year? That's surprising, no?

Surprising in a bad way, right?   Haven't we gotten knee rehab down to like 6-7 months now? 

Maybe there was more going on there than just an ACL reconstruction, but my assumption was that he would be ready to go in September (which would be 10 months post-injury and probably 9 months post-op).  I'm certainly not pressing- he's good to go when he feels like he's good to go and he's got clearance, but mid-October seems like a longer rehab than usual.

Not up on all the medical breakthroughs, but coming back in 11-12 months from that nastiness is still pretty remarkable to me.  Not sure who is coming back from this in a shorter time frame unless they are getting a pro-athlete-style rehab process.  And a pro-athlete body.

I had an ACL reconstruction in 2008.  I was back to 100% in 7-8 months and 30-year old me wasn't exactly in tip-top physical condition nor would I say that really attacked my PT program with the kind of urgency somebody trying to play a senior season of college football might.  Again, I don't have details on Woods's specific injury (and those details are none of our business really), so there may be more things going on there that stretch that recovery time out some- but 7-8 months is a pretty standard recovery time for ACL reconstruction for your average Joe. 

[wally_wabash]

These are DePauw's home attendance figures from 2014:
750
1492
1010
475
575

DePauw has Wittenberg and Wabash both coming to Greencastle this year.  If the people down there want to start caring about their football again, this is probably a pretty good time to reengage. 

[bashbrother]

These are DePauw's home attendance figures from 2014:
750
1492
1010
475
575

Rough....   I am with many on the board that believe that Depauw is going to be significantly more competitive this year.   I believe 11/14 could finally be much more of a battle.... than the previous six.   Hope their fans wake up and turnout.

[Seneca45]

Wally, or others in the know,

     Really enjoyed that conference preview! It's not always easy to get accurate NCAC info. Thanks for the effort!
     You stated that Darrian Owens is not playing at Wooster.That was surprising to me, to say the least. Do you have any idea what happened there?
     Also, re: non conf games, I think Kenyon has a realistic shot to beat Sewanee in Week 1.



                                                                                                                                                                           Go Lords!!!

[Sir Battlescars]

These are DePauw's home attendance figures from 2014:
750
1492
1010
475
575

Rough....   I am with many on the board that believe that Depauw is going to be significantly more competitive this year.   I believe 11/14 could finally be much more of a battle.... than the previous six.   Hope their fans wake up and turnout.

Come on now, let's not kid ourselves... this is division 3.
Yes, at first glance they seem low, but I would guess that these attendance figures are pretty similar to most schools, especially ones who have had several down years in a row.