FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[umhb2001]

Any OWU fans on here?

[umhb2001]

OWU is hanging in pretty well with UMHB so far.  7-3 Cru in the 2nd.

OWU did play well early but couldn't hang long term. UMHB definitely has some holes to fill. OWU showed that.

The DE for Ya'll is legit. Good player.

QB needed some help on the OLine.

Good luck on the rest of the season. Win out!

Thanks
Two weeks to getvready for yea olde skull.

Thoughts on the game? Were you there?

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Responding to a request for a photo of Ye Olde Skull Trophy, here is a photo of what may be the original skull. I found it in a filing cabinet in the library of the News-Sun along with a bunch of old photos of Wittenberg's campus. I doubt it has seen the light of day for decades. The date on the back is Sept. 22, 1938. It reads, "Witt Trophy, Gold Skull." I don't know if this is a real skull or what. I know the new trophy isn't a real skull.

So every one remembers what it looked like before it was retired.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

No unfortunately I was not. The days are getiing shorter and I have work to do. I

[wally_wabash]

Let's talk Gentlemen's Classic!  First, the venue- very cool.  I really like the layout down there at Hampden-Sydney and they've got a pretty sweet tailgate scene happening.  Lot of dudes going blazers and bowties, lot of tents, lot of music...really great scene.  That's probably got to be in your top 15 places in D3 for a game day.  What happens at Everett Stadium could be enhanced a shade if a larger fraction of those tailgaters made it over to the game, but we won't judge.  To each his own.  Overall, really fun experience down there today. 

On to the game.  Tigers get the ball first and MARCH down with a really nice 13-play, 63 yard drive.  Nice mix of run and pass.  Unfortunately, the thing stalls out inside the 5 and HSC settles for a short field goal.  LGs turn.  First play- HSC DLs run by Wabash OLs and stuff Zurek for a 3-yard loss.  Second play- Putko intercepted on a bad bad bad play and throw.  It was slow motion.  Hamden-Sydney ball at the Wabash 22.  Game on, right?  Not so much.  Wabash forces HSC 4 and out and whatever was working for the first 10 plays of this game had vanished for good.  After that first drive, HSC ran 39 more plays for the entire game and gained a total of 21 more yards.  Wabash eventually established a run game- 62(!) attempts, 252 yards- and Hampden-Sydney never really had a chance despite four interceptions thrown by Wabash quarterback.  And that's not a but-we-won-by-30 throwaway thing either.  That's a big deal.  Wabash's whole thing for the last 8 years has been play tremendous defense, don't screw it up at the Q and handcuff your defense.  The quarterback(s) thing needs corrected because 4 turnovers is way too many. 

I mean, obviously the Wabash defense was the story today.  They gave up the 3 on the first drive, but after that HSC was paralyzed.  Little Giants harassed Edgar Moore all day in the backfield, HSC definitely gave looks to Kyree Koonce (he's the best guy in that backfield, it's not close) but HSC really never had the ball for long after that opening drive.  McCullen had a monster game (recorded two sacks), thought our corners had really good games against much taller players (Michael Mey caught just 2 balls for 18 yards), and the LBs were strong (FR Evan Hansen registered a pick in his first collegiate action).  Just lockdown type stuff when you hold a team under 100 yards.  And HSC finishes their second straight Gentlemen's Classic with -5 rush yards. 

And while I'm here, let's talk about what Wabash has done vs. the Marty Favret offense.  Holton Walker, full blown stud, touched the ball 10 times in this series for 168 yards.  HSC ran 99 other plays in these two games vs. the Wabash defense and gained 158 yards total.  Maybe it's me, but that's an amazing stat against a team coached by that guy. 

Other than making sure the QBs throw it to guys wearing the same jersey, there wasn't much to pick on here.  Really a great effort.  Special mention for Mason Zurek here- Z piped in 26 carries for 134 and he was clearly suffering out there.  It got warmer out there today than I think we thought and it got Z pretty good.  But the big guy hung in there and gave Wabash what they needed, particularly in the first half when things were still a bit unsettled.

Next up is a week off, then another long roadie out to Meadville.  Then it's ON.   WAF. 

[wally_wabash]

Ye Olde Skull is rad.  My favorite traveling trophy in the non-locomotive-based category. 

I know the dam broke late there for OWU, but based on what I saw of OWU tonight and based on what I can guess happened in Bexley, OWU has a real shot here if they don't have Witt's full attention (and they might not with what's coming in Week 4). 

[ohiofan1954]

Denison looked good. Yes I know it was Marietta(just as bad if bigger) but still a very good game. Way too many penalties, lots of holding, unsportsmanlike , etc. that made for a long evening. Game went over 3 hours, almost like a d1 game in length. Denison has a favorable schedule  through 10/10. If they can reverse Hiram and get by the Bishops it could be interesting.

[firstdown]

Wally - 2 other thoughts.  First, Shamir Johnson also had a good game.  On one play he ran over a linebacker with a bone jarring hit
Second, the ref crew, which I am advised is typical for the ODAC, blew so many calls it was laughable.  Fortunately it did not make a difference in the outcome of the game, but it was embarrassing for the ODAC.  Otherwise I concur that HS was a great tail gating setting.

[Wabash Hokie]

Wabash,  it's been fun. I know I got a lot of you really fired up. I tend to do that. I want you to know it was in good fun. You have to admit it was a little fun having a villain to target your scorn.  I did not mind taking that role. In the end, I am just a blindly devoted and probably a little misguided Tiger fan.

You guys were great hosts last year and I anticipate you enjoying your time at HSC.  If you are coming down, I feel obligated to offer you a beer, or bourbon, and a cigar for putting you all through my rants. We have a great tailgate and would love to have you stop by.  From the Wabash tailgate area there will be a wooded area directly in front of you, to the left of the wooded area a lake. We will be on the right side of the lake and the far back left of the wooded area. I have a very cool tailgate trailer. You cannot miss it. It will be worth the 100 yard walk just to check it out. I have a TV in it. We usually have on ESPN Game Day.

Here's a pic of my HSC Tailgate trailer.- https://pbs.twimg.com/media/COBGkR0W8AAJlBT.jpg

I hope you'll drop by. There will be lots of parents of Tigers there and I promise HSCTiger fan is a lot more fun in person at a tailgate than on the message boards.

HSCTigerFan:


It was an outstanding visit to HSC.  Forgetting about the game itself, the people, the campus and the overall event was well worth the trip to Farmville.  You guys really do it right and now I understand why so many alums, parents and fans come to the campus for a home football game. I drank the kool-aid.  Wabash and HSC are truly special places.  We are blessed.


On a personal note - your trailer is a thing of beauty.  You even got my wife to consider something like that for us.  You welcomed us with open arms, a cold beer and a cigar - what more could a guy ask for.  And then to top it off, thanks for the ride in your golf cart to the bookstore.  My wife, son and I very much appreciated the quick tour of the campus.


We hope that the powers that be somehow agree to another series down the road.  It would be fun to do this again.


Thanks HSC.

[aueagle]

My take on the LG game:
Officiating was very poor...almost "Homer-style"
LG kicking game was solid
The Mason Jar is a tough tough back.. Love when he jumps over
People.. Nice they pulled him at the end
Two QB rotation? Again? I liked Conner's arm..but Putko had some
Nice runs (at the end), but his passing decisions need attention
( the end zone duck in the 1st half & crossfield throws were hair raising,
Team speed...I thought I'd see better from Bash
Missed opportunities.. LG's should have had another TD
Great day at C Everett... Worked on my tan the Wabash fans I
Sat with were outstanding... One even let me have his game program
Good job LG's... U represented the NCAC with class
Didn't see OWU... But 4100 at Selby.. That's great
Looks like they hung tough... But 20 something pts given
Up in the 4th?

[The_Bishop]

OWU is hanging in pretty well with UMHB so far.  7-3 Cru in the 2nd.

OWU did play well early but couldn't hang long term. UMHB definitely has some holes to fill. OWU showed that.

The DE for Ya'll is legit. Good player.

QB needed some help on the OLine.

Good luck on the rest of the season. Win out!

Thanks
Two weeks to getvready for yea olde skull.

Thoughts on the game? Were you there?

Saw the first half on the live stream and don't really have much to offer.  UMHB offense seemed to start in their own territory most of the time.  Kind of the same old story from OWU when they play a team with more talent:  defense does a good job of playing "bend don't break" for a half but UMHB just pulled away in the end.  Really no momentum for the OWU offense at all, majority of possessions were 3 and out.  Receivers got past the UMHB a few times on some long routes but were overthrown, looked like there was some confusion among the UMHB d-backs.  OWU O-line was way undersized compared to UMHB D-line; OWU D-line had a couple beasts and some guys with speed and length in the secondary, which is generally their Achilles heel. 

Sorry for the bland review, but it was a fairly bland half of football from my perspective.  Thanks for stopping by the NCAC board and hopefully we can keep it within 7 TDs next year when we visit your house.  All the best this season.

[ADL70]

Didn't see OWU... But 4100 at Selby..

I was there, 4100 waaay over inflated.

[wildcat11]

You guys boast more than any fans east of Linfield. At least they've won their conference the last 3 years and advanced deep into the playoffs Being the 2nd best team in a bad conference, losing badly in big games, and no recent NCAC titles is not much to boast about.

It's actually the last 6 years and you're STILL talking about that game???   

[formerd3db]

wally wabash:

Hey friend.  Please check your PMs as I need your assistance in a history search re: Wabash versus Hope, if you would be so kind.  I want to check on a statistic reported this weekend, which I believe is in error (although I could be wrong).  I can't check on it in my personal collections/files, since they are all in storage right now since we recently moved.  Thanks.

[umhb2001]

My take on the LG game:
Officiating was very poor...almost "Homer-style"
LG kicking game was solid
The Mason Jar is a tough tough back.. Love when he jumps over
People.. Nice they pulled him at the end
Two QB rotation? Again? I liked Conner's arm..but Putko had some
Nice runs (at the end), but his passing decisions need attention
( the end zone duck in the 1st half & crossfield throws were hair raising,
Team speed...I thought I'd see better from Bash
Missed opportunities.. LG's should have had another TD
Great day at C Everett... Worked on my tan the Wabash fans I
Sat with were outstanding... One even let me have his game program
Good job LG's... U represented the NCAC with class
Didn't see OWU... But 4100 at Selby.. That's great
Looks like they hung tough... But 20 something pts given
Up in the 4th?

UMHB's defense was too much all day, only allowing 3 pts. UMHB's offense has two returners on the Oline which is a work in progress, but thankfully our senior and junior QB were able to make up for some of the lingering issues. Our running attack wore down the D and we were able to make some nice throws and catches for TD's, and that D I mentioned earlier gave us some great field position to have some quick scores in the 4th. OWU has some nice pieces and should do well this year.