FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Was just giving examples of schools with more than a usual private school enrollment.

Montclair has a 12,000+ enrollment per the D3football site.

NYU has over 20,000. But when you think of NYU, you don't think of sports. I wonder how many NYU students know the have athletics?

[ExTartanPlayer]

Was just giving examples of schools with more than a usual private school enrollment.

Montclair has a 12,000+ enrollment per the D3football site.

NYU has over 20,000. But when you think of NYU, you don't think of sports. I wonder how many NYU students know the have athletics?

At Carnegie Mellon, I'd guess that a majority of incoming freshmen did not know the school sponsored varsity intercollegiate athletics (probably >75% of those who weren't coming in as a varsity athlete thought this, maybe as high as 90%).  After a year or two on campus, I think that most students know that the school has a team, if only because they wandered past the football stadium during a game or they had class with a couple of varsity athletes.  They still probably don't really get the concept of Division III athletics or have any idea who else we play, but after awhile I think that most have at least figured out that the school has a few intercollegiate teams.

Around town, if I'm wearing a Carnegie Mellon football shirt, I still get "Wait, Carnegie Mellon has a football team?" or "I can't imagine Carnegie Mellon football is any good."

[bleedpurple]

You guys are way too sensitive about the enrollment thing.  I don't think HCAlum was taking shots or meant anything negative toward UWW. 

It's also extremely disingenuous for y'all to rush in the second somebody points out that the UW's are, in fact, very different from 95% of the division, and claim that we're all playing on the same level field.  We aren't and you know it.

Yeah, that was not a shot at all. I am supporting the schools in our conference who are all small, relative to even other Division III programs.

Further, recruiting to a school more comparable in size to a MAC school than an NCAC school has to have its advantages in campus life, facilities, public funding, etc. It wasn't a shot at any school, merely support of our member institutions.

It's all good HCA. I didn't take it as a shot and I doubt Newhawk did either. It's just banter we are REALLY used to having over the years. 

And it probably would have been useful and less combative for me to at least mention the fact that I can see why it would be interesting to watch a small school against a bigger school team. And I hope Witt fans and players have a great experience in WW (except for the result!). I remember stepping back at one of the games this year (non-playoff when we actually drew a crowd) and thought to myself, we are probably one of those places teams come to and want to win even more than usual if that's possible. Unfortunately, Saturday Witt fans  will probably find the stadium quite empty. Tough weekend for D-III attendance.

[sigma one]

I can say that when Wabash went to UWW years back for the mammoth snow storm game, the Little Giant fans were impressed, maybe even amazed, at the size of the stadium for DIII.  Not only the size but at the time the scoreboard and the total surroundings.  Ohio Wesleyan has the biggest stadium in the NCAC, seating maybe 7000-8000, but it was built in either the 1920s or 30s and is hardly state of the art.  The UWW reception could not have been better from the tailgate all the way through to the end of the game.  I can recall some Wabash fans saying "If this is DIII< then  . . . .  That's not a complaint about the size of what UWW has but rather for most an acknowledgement of the expanded situation some teams have to face as they move through the playoffs.
     I imagine it's likely the same for fans visiting Mary Hardin-Baylor, and to a lesser extent Mt Union.  Mount's stadium is not as large as some (it's not small), but it has that aura of success.   
     To the question of Witt's read option.  Kennedy does run that, but he also runs quite a lot of straight QB keepers.  He's not terribly mobile in the pocket, but if he gets the chance, he will escape on what are designed as passing downs.   He's better than his lack of elusiveness would suggest. 
       

[bleedpurple]

I can say that when Wabash went to UWW years back for the mammoth snow storm game, the Little Giant fans were impressed, maybe even amazed, at the size of the stadium for DIII.  Not only the size but at the time the scoreboard and the total surroundings.  Ohio Wesleyan has the biggest stadium in the NCAC, seating maybe 7000-8000, but it was built in either the 1920s or 30s and is hardly state of the art.  The UWW reception could not have been better from the tailgate all the way through to the end of the game.  I can recall some Wabash fans saying "If this is DIII< then  . . . .  That's not a complaint about the size of what UWW has but rather for most an acknowledgement of the expanded situation some teams have to face as they move through the playoffs.
     I imagine it's likely the same for fans visiting Mary Hardin-Baylor, and to a lesser extent Mt Union.  Mount's stadium is not as large as some (it's not small), but it has that aura of success.   
     To the question of Witt's read option.  Kennedy does run that, but he also runs quite a lot of straight QB keepers.  He's not terribly mobile in the pocket, but if he gets the chance, he will escape on what are designed as passing downs.   He's better than his lack of elusiveness would suggest. 

Glad you had a great time! Wish a home and home could be scheduled with you guys. Everything I hear is that Wabash's atmosphere is terrific. And our September games draw really well as long as school has started. I'm sure it would be a fun experience for your guys to catch one of the bigger crowds. I know Buffalo State enjoyed it in 2012! 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Chris Creighton's EMU team beat Central Michigan last night to finish the regular season 7-5, their first winning season in 27 years.  With their 6th win they already became bowl eligible, but not every bowl-eligible team gets an invite, especially a no-name school.  With the 7th win, I'll be shocked if they don't get their first bowl game in 29 years.

Even with 7-5 this year, his three-year record is 10-26.  I doubt we have to worry too much about losing him yet.  But he if can go AT LEAST 7-5 next year, some bigger name, bigger bucks school in need of a turnaround (Purdue, perhaps?) is bound to come calling.  That's what happened after the last bowl in 1987 - Ed Chlebek went off to UCal-Berkeley.  Such is life as one of the 'dregs' of D1.

[Pat Coleman]

Do they still play the California Bowl?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Do they still play the California Bowl?

I have no clue.

Unless a team I like is in it, I have no interest in the Tidy-Bowls/Toilet-Bowls out there.

IF it even still exists, my bet would be the Motor City Bowl.  Since EMU can't even draw fans to Rynearson, I doubt a faraway bowl would have much interest in them.

[smedindy]

Last year there weren't teams that were bowl eligible, so they took 5-7 teams that had the best academic measurements.

They need 80 teams. 64 have qualified already and 17 need one spot. Army would be the first team to fill in if there's not enough spots. Hawaii would be second if they beat UMass (they'd be 6-7).

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-2016-bowl-eligibility-tracker-six-teams-already-qualified/

[wally_wabash]

Happy Thanksgiving, gang.  Hope you all have a great day wherever you are!

IF it even still exists, my bet would be the Motor City Bowl.  Since EMU can't even draw fans to Rynearson, I doubt a faraway bowl would have much interest in them.

This isn't EMU's fault.  If people aren't going, it's on the people now.  2016 EMU is fun to watch and they win.  At some point it isn't fair to blame EMU Athletics for people not going to these games. 

[DPU3619]

Congrats to Wabash grad & former asst. Jake Gilbert on his first Indiana State Championship. His Westfield Shamrocks beat Columbus East tonight to win the 5A title.

[pennstghs]

Congrats to Wittenberg on a great season even if it ended yesterday! Glad to be an alumni of this great school that keeps producing excellent athletic teams!

[bleedpurple]

Congratulations to the Tigers on the NCAC Championship and a great overall season. They played hard Saturday but faced an uphill battle along the line of scrimmage. Your QB's definitely showed some toughness before being knocked out. Had the opportunity to meet a couple of Tiger dads after the game. Very nice people. Sounds like they enjoyed their time in Whitewater. Have a great off-season!.

[wally_wabash]

Took the holiday break to step out of the echo chamber for a bit...a little late, but some postscripts on the NCAC's postseason-

Nothing wrong with the second round at all.  Nice showing by the conference champions, particularly going on the road and beating a tough Thomas More team in round one.  As for the game at Whitewater, I always thought Witt's chances were going to be having their defense stand up to a sometimes-ordinary Whitewater offense (by recent measures anyway), win some field position, maybe score on a short field or two with turnovers.  It was always hard to see Witt's offense piling up yards against the Warhawks.  UWW held on to the ball, Witt had a tough time getting stops, and that was that.  I really thought kicking the field goal on the 1-yard line on their opening drive was a tough call.  They were never going to beat UWW with field goals and I thought setting the tone that 4th and 1 wasn't going to be a surrender situation was important for the remainder of the game.  Ultimately, it certainly seems like that decision wasn't going to change the result, but I think it did sort of define what Wittenberg felt they could and couldn't do in the game. 

The regional finals are juicy.  Looking forward to firing up the steams this weekend. 

[SaintsFAN]

The regional finals are juicy.  Looking forward to firing up the steams this weekend.

Do you steam your chicken wings, sir?