FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[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.

Come on now, let's not kid ourselves... this is division 3.

You may have a point if you look at it from a global division 3 perspective.   I looked at it from the perspective of a football program that, for whatever reason,  lost  fan support last year.

Depauw Avg. Home Attendance in (Non-Monon Bell Games)

Year      Avg. Home Attend.    Team Record
2014 -   860                           7-3
2013 -   1,652                        4-6
2012 -   1,220                        2-8
2011 -   1,457                        4-5
2010 -   1,850                        9-2
2009 -   1,625                        7-3
2008 -   1,700                        8-2
2007 -   2,062                        8-2
2006 -   1,500                        6-4
2005 -   1,540                        7-2

[jknezek]

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.

Maybe. But according to the NCAA the average for DIII is around 1900.
See link here: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/Attendance/2014.pdf

Even if you accept 25% over counting you are still looking around 1400 average. The only conferences that averaged less than 1000 per game were the UMAC and the NACC. The NCAC averages 2000. The NCAA lists DePauw's average at 860, which is better than Hiram but near the bottom of the NCAC. Even Alleghany and Kenyon average higher, and Kenyon has had more than a few down years. DePauw falls in the bottom 30 teams, or the lowest 10% of Division III. So either they count more accurately, since I think a lot of these numbers are inflated, or the fans are really apathetic.

[Pat Coleman]

They didn't have a lot of great draws at home last year, either. Sewanee, Kenyon, Denison, Ohio Wesleyan, Hiram.

[wally_wabash]

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.

No, those are low even by Division III standards.  DePauw ranked 214 out of 242 in in per game attendance in 2014.  That's shockingly low for a school that generally has a strong sports tradition (see the truckload of all-sports trophies they have down there).  And DePauw doesn't get compared to most schools, they get compared to Wabash very directly.  I get some apathy when the team is piping in 2-win seasons, but this isn't that team.  They need to do better if they are going to get over the hump here in the NCAC. 

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!!!

First, welcome!  Glad to have a Kenyon voice here!  And you may be right about Kenyon vs. Sewanee.  The last time I checked in on Sewanee, they run a triple option sort of thing which can be weird to prep for.  If Kenyon solves that, they've definitely got a shot. 

There are a lot of reasons why kids stop playing ball or change schools or whatever and I wouldn't want to speculate on Darrian Owens's situation.  That's his business and not really message board fodder, IMO. 

[jknezek]

They didn't have a lot of great draws at home last year, either. Sewanee, Kenyon, Denison, Ohio Wesleyan, Hiram.

That could matter since 2013 lists them as averaging 2896 fans per game. Witt 3468, Oberlin 2003, Alleghany 515, Wooster 624, Wabash 7872. So clearly the Bell Game makes a huge difference, but even without that they averaged 1650 per game, which is pretty respectable.

[wabco]

The comment on Woods recovery is interesting ... BUT ... Woods has one heck of a heart and this is his 5th year.  I would still put the money on Woods in VA.  And believe he will perform well.  I have no inside info to support this other than knowing the kid and his interest and drive relative to Wabash Football.

[WooClone15]

Wally, thanks for the conference preview. It was fun to read, though as a recent Wooster grad I hope you're wrong.

And it'll be great to be on a board about d3 sports. Obviously I won't know as much as any of you guys, but it'll be nice actually hearing about them

[sigma one]

I believe that this is year number 4 for Woods.  He was a junior last year.  It seems like he has been around longer since he's been in the starting line up since his freshman year.  He was hurt late enough in the season that there is no possibility of a medical hardship waiver for a 5th year (unless he is injured again early enough in the season this year).  I agree on his toughness and heart.  I've heard that his injury was more than just a "routine" ACL tear.  I'm certainly hoping that he can return for most or all of this year, both for his benefit as a player who loves to play and for his team's benefit, also.

[wally_wabash]

Wally, thanks for the conference preview. It was fun to read, though as a recent Wooster grad I hope you're wrong.

And it'll be great to be on a board about d3 sports. Obviously I won't know as much as any of you guys, but it'll be nice actually hearing about them

FWIW, I hope I'm wrong also.  The league is a little more exciting when Wooster and Allegheny have good teams. 

[BayernFan]

I think a schedule with Witt and Wabash at Blackstock and a better DPU team should result in significantly better attendance in Greencastle this year.  The Bell Game, I think, will be hard fought, close, and in doubt in the 4th quarter.

[WooClone15]

I know this isn't about football, but I just saw that Hiram is suspending its cross country program. You hate to see colleges have to suspend sports like that.

http://www.northcoast.org/News/2015-16/HIR-XC

[wally_wabash]

I know this isn't about football, but I just saw that Hiram is suspending its cross country program. You hate to see colleges have to suspend sports like that.

http://www.northcoast.org/News/2015-16/HIR-XC

That is a bummer to see, but there is rationale there.  Hiram has placed last in 14 of 16 NCAC cross country meets (men) and it looks like 13 out of 16 for the women.  Runners gotta run and whereas Hiram doesn't sponsor indoor or outdoor track, those athletes aren't going to wind up at Hiram.  Hopefully they work towards sponsoring track and field at Hiram and bring this program back at that time. 

[Wabash1]

Is Wheaton scrimmage at Wabash this year? What is date and time of scrimmage?

[bashbrother]

Here is my first look at projected starters for the Little Giants this season.  Totally unofficial, as I am sure there are positions battles taking place as we speak.   (@) -  indicates player started the UW - Whitewater playoff game)

Offense -

QB - Michael Putko        (@)  6-0 191 -  SR
RB -  Mason Zurek                6-0  225 - SR -  Led team in rushing at UWW
LT -  Wes Brown            (@)  6-7  258 - SR
LG - Trey Taylor              (@)  6-0  297 - SR
C -   Jake Norley             (@)  6-1 260 -  SR
RG - Kyle Stucker            (@)  6-3 257 - JR
RT - Deryion Sturdivant  (@)  6-2 270 - JR
WR - Drake Christian      (@)  5-9 168 - JR
WR -  Sammy Adams      (@) 6-3 221 - JR
WR -  Matt Dickerson            6-1 190 - SR
TE -   Open  -  A number of players will be competing for this spot.

Defense - 

CB -  Justin Woods                6-1 192 - SR   (Started last year until his injury)
CB -  Delon Pettiford      (@)  5-9 178 -  JR
SS -  Eddie Cmehill         (@)  5-7 194 -  SR
FS -  Austin Brown         (@)   6-1 230 -  JR
LB -  Connor Ludwig      (@)   5-10 203 -  JR
LB -  AJ Clark                          5-11 208 -  SR
LB -  Connor Karns                 6-1 234 -  SR
LB -  Ethan Buresh         (@)   6-0 223 -  JR
DE -  Tyler McCullen       (@)   6-5 241 -  SR
NG -  Evan Rutter           (@)   6-3 237 - SR*
DE -   Open  -  A number of players will be competing for this spot.         

Again,  my totally unofficial projection....  it will be interesting to see the depth chart that comes out of camp.    The 2015 Little Giants will be an experienced team with significant depth.


WAF!

[wally_wabash]

Is Wheaton scrimmage at Wabash this year? What is date and time of scrimmage?

It'll be at Wheaton on 8/29- I assume as that would fit the pattern the two teams have fallen into over the last decade or so.