FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

Oberlin adopting an albino squirrel as a mascot is pretty much the most Oberlin thing possible.

yes

[cave2bens]

Oberlin adopting an albino squirrel as a mascot is pretty much the most Oberlin thing possible.

yes

At least the Sciurids went with a vertebrate though some "Nice and Easy" and a good dose of tetracycline (for the "pink eye") may be necessary.   

[formerd3db]

+k there cave2bens!

[Li'l Giant]

We've talked about the woes at EMU before many times. I'm sure CC would be able to find another job but this isn't a good sign for the future of FBS football there.

Eastern Michigan Analyzing Football Program After Athletic Department Lost $52 Million Over The Last Two Years

[DadofBashWarrior..]

We've talked about the woes at EMU before many times. I'm sure CC would be able to find another job but this isn't a good sign for the future of FBS football there.

Eastern Michigan Analyzing Football Program After Athletic Department Lost $52 Million Over The Last Two Years

What CC is up against is really stiff to turn around...

Raeburn seems to be up to something very similar...

It can happen...North Park

[jknezek]

We've talked about the woes at EMU before many times. I'm sure CC would be able to find another job but this isn't a good sign for the future of FBS football there.

Eastern Michigan Analyzing Football Program After Athletic Department Lost $52 Million Over The Last Two Years

What CC is up against is really stiff to turn around...

Raeburn seems to be up to something very similar...

It can happen...North Park

Different animal. North Park benefited from football just by having kids pay the tuition. EMU is bleeding apparently. I will say killing a football program, even one as forlorn as EMU, is very hard to do. See UAB. The decision to kill UAB was probably right, the timing was wrong, and the blame was not necessarily the current decision makers but those who had blocked UAB from investing in the program over the last 20 years. But even still, the community rallied to bring back a program it essentially ignored for decades. Not sure why, but it does demonstrate that killing a big time football program, even one with a history of futility on and off the field, isn't easy.

[wally_wabash]

We've talked about the woes at EMU before many times. I'm sure CC would be able to find another job but this isn't a good sign for the future of FBS football there.

Eastern Michigan Analyzing Football Program After Athletic Department Lost $52 Million Over The Last Two Years

Yikes.  Master of Coin has failed EMU.  It's not going to make up $52 mil, but this story would be about somebody else if anybody in or around that school would give CC even the slightest whiff of a chance and, ya know,  go to a damn game. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

We've talked about the woes at EMU before many times. I'm sure CC would be able to find another job but this isn't a good sign for the future of FBS football there.

Eastern Michigan Analyzing Football Program After Athletic Department Lost $52 Million Over The Last Two Years

Yikes.  Master of Coin has failed EMU.  It's not going to make up $52 mil, but this story would be about somebody else if anybody in or around that school would give CC even the slightest whiff of a chance and, ya know,  go to a damn game.

I've been to a few games, but it is damned lonely!   Son #2 is about to graduate from EMU, is a total sports nut, and even he has stopped going.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'd like them to simply drop football.  I'm not sure if the MAC would keep them without it, but they have shown nationally ranked teams in other sports (though mostly 20+ years ago): baseball (once finished 2nd in the CWS, and had 4-5 players in MLB)), basketball (though not since Earl Boykins graduated), women's soccer (they dropped men's soccer the same year they recruited son #1), and track & field (they have had several Olympic medalists, mostly in sprints).  They are NOT a good candidate for D2.  But with 'the Big House' just 6 miles away, they are also not a good candidate for D1 football.

[Li'l Giant]

But with 'the Big House' just 6 miles away, they are also not a good candidate for D1 football.

Location, location, location.

[wabco]

EMU was death valley when Creighton chose to go there.  Same will be the case with ER and his poor choice. I am afraid when ER realizes he is in "Creighton/EMU land" ... it will be too late.  Both ... my view ... have detoured their career.

D III outstanding younger coaches in outstanding D III Programs, need to quit reading their own clippings ... they almost need a slave in their chariot whispering in their ear.  I am sorry, but both these gentlemen (my view) were blinded by their self view of their importance and abilities ... superman complex.  I am super.  Must get my way.  I can do anything. 

It just that this combo (younger/good ability/successful in a successful environment also seems to have the downside (for some) of blindness to where you are and what in face can be done verses unique enviornment.  A not so recent Wabash Coach who felt the mojo and jumped to schools including Miiiishigan, Ball State, Kansas S.............. have opined that Wabash was the best job they ever had.  Perhaps not the best paying.  Perhaps not the "I run my own department" without any College say coming from other areas of the College.  Perhaps not going to lead to the fast "Kelly-esk" track to ND (he was D II lucky  Coach as well as talented). But overall ... if head football coaching on the college level is your schtick ... the Little Giant environment is one of the best.  Good coachable students.  Good dedicated assistants (often also holding positions ... which assists with pay issues ... in the "other" part of the College world which helps in securing the quality you need). Players without all the baggage and discipline issues which is so destructive .  Fans who are very supportive and positively enthusiastic.  College support. SO ... if you can understand it, understand the heart beat, appreciate the values that are there and the part you play ... ... ... then schools like Wabash are where you should be and stay and carefully analyze your career steps (with the slave speaking in your ear) before you jump to an EMU or ER's new place in "cut and shoot" GA with an EMU history of football  ... before opting for the song ... I am Great ... give me chocolate cake ... I get more money ... I can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.    I have genuine admiration for both gentlemen's abilities ... just don't drink their kool aid.  I may be wrong ... but what the hey ... I like grape.

[wally_wabash]

EMU was death valley when Creighton chose to go there.  Same will be the case with ER and his poor choice. I am afraid when ER realizes he is in "Creighton/EMU land" ... it will be too late.  Both ... my view ... have detoured their career.

D III outstanding younger coaches in outstanding D III Programs, need to quit reading their own clippings ... they almost need a slave in their chariot whispering in their ear.  I am sorry, but both these gentlemen (my view) were blinded by their self view of their importance and abilities ... superman complex.  I am super.  Must get my way.  I can do anything. 

That's a really unfortunate take.  Both men deserve better than that.

A not so recent Wabash Coach who felt the mojo and jumped to schools including Miiiishigan, Ball State, Kansas S.............. have opined that Wabash was the best job they ever had. 

What is Stan Parrish's answer to the obvious follow up questions: was it a mistake to leave Wabash?  Should you have stayed there forever?  (correct, practical, based-in-the-real-world answers are no and no)

In the real world that exists outside of and free from the influence of blind, rabid fandom, football coaching is a business and football coaches, like any of the rest of us, are doing this to make a living.  And like the rest of us, they owe to themselves and their families to make the best damn living possible.  Chris Creighton is in the middle of 5-year contract that guarantees him in excess of $2,000,000.  2 MILLION dollars for five years of work (less if EMU shutters the program).  You don't get that coaching Wabash for five years.  Coach Raeburn is going to be in charge of an FBS team by week 1 2021 (take it to the bank) and he'll be working under a similarly guaranteed 4-5 year deal worth well over $2 million as well.  How self-righteous of anybody to say that realizing a path into THAT economy is in any way a "poor choice". 

These men should be celebrated for their contributions to the College. Full stop.

[ExTartanPlayer]

D III outstanding younger coaches in outstanding D III Programs, need to quit reading their own clippings ... they almost need a slave in their chariot whispering in their ear.  I am sorry, but both these gentlemen (my view) were blinded by their self view of their importance and abilities ... superman complex.  I am super.  Must get my way.  I can do anything. 

....

But overall ... if head football coaching on the college level is your schtick ... the Little Giant environment is one of the best.  Good coachable students.  Good dedicated assistants (often also holding positions ... which assists with pay issues ... in the "other" part of the College world which helps in securing the quality you need). Players without all the baggage and discipline issues which is so destructive .  Fans who are very supportive and positively enthusiastic.  College support. SO ... if you can understand it, understand the heart beat, appreciate the values that are there and the part you play ... ... ... then schools like Wabash are where you should be and stay and carefully analyze your career steps (with the slave speaking in your ear) before you jump to an EMU or ER's new place in "cut and shoot" GA with an EMU history of football  ... before opting for the song ... I am Great ... give me chocolate cake ... I get more money ...

An unfortunate take, indeed. 

You are welcome to your opinion.  Fortunately (or unfortunately, I guess, depending on your point of view) neither Chris Creighton nor Erik Raeburn had to ask for you to sign their permission slip to go on the field trip, and they are welcome to choose where they "should be" rather than allowing you to choose for them.

All of the posters here do hold great appreciation for Division III football and the ideals which you espouse.  Supportive fans, coachable kids, true "student" athletes, indeed - those are all wonderful things.  But even with that appreciation of the Division III game, the assumption that any Division III coach who chose to move up a level did so because they were "blinded by their self view of their importance and abilities" is preposterous.  Why would you know better than them what is best for their life, career, and ambitions?  As wally said, both men deserve better than that.

[badgerwarhawk]

I'm not convinced that having confidence in your ability necessarily means you are suffering from a "superman complex."  I'd have to agree with both Wally and Tartan.  Your characterization of these men is very unfortunate. 

If Wabash fans didn't see the writing on the wall when Raeburn looked at WHITEWATER they didn't have their eyes open.  Wabash, WHITEWATER and a lot of other D3 institutions are great places to coach but it's a great big world out there and some people just aren't made to stay in one place. 

[DadofBashWarrior..]

We've talked about the woes at EMU before many times. I'm sure CC would be able to find another job but this isn't a good sign for the future of FBS football there.

Eastern Michigan Analyzing Football Program After Athletic Department Lost $52 Million Over The Last Two Years

What CC is up against is really stiff to turn around...

Raeburn seems to be up to something very similar...

It can happen...North Park

Frankly...my view was to hold it to each of their credits that they chose "problem schools" with the challenge it presents...

Neither of them is the type of Man that is lookin' for a walk in the park to get by...

CC taking this on reminds me of one of my heroes in life... Sir Ernest Shackelton...

I would like to add...reaching for and having a mindset of high ideals as Men has been lost by many in this country...Great new book am reading right now is ...Self and Soul... Harvard Press    I heartily recommend