FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

I totally forgot about Penola (luckily I'm not calling plays though).  He and Avant would be a good 1-2 punch at RB.

[sigma one]

The beginning of Bell Week; why we Wabash fans, those who post here, are more than concerned.

     Albion:  Wabash 14, Albion 10, at the half.  Wabash gets well ahead, and Albion scores late to make it 35-   
                  26.  Albion is now 3-6
     Kenyon:  big win for Wabash (62-7), but Kenyon led 6-0 at end of 1st quarter.
     Hiram:  Hiram scored first 14 points, and led 14-9 at end of the 1st quarter.  Wabash 16, Hiram 14, at the
                 half.  Hiram led 21-16 in the 3rd quarter.  Wabash won by 4, 25-21.  Hiram is currently 2-7.
    Wooster:  Wooster received the opening KO.  They scored on their first play, a 72 yard pass.  Wooster led
                   28-27 in the 2nd half.  Wabash won by 5, 33-28.
     Denison:  7-7 at the half.  Wabash played a very good 2nd half and won 28-7.  Best defensive effort
                    of the season.
     OWU:  OWU led 10-3 and halftime and won 16-13.  Wabash had two FGs blocked:  the first resulted in
                a Wabash TD when the kicker picked up the ball, which had not crossed the LOS, and ran it in.   
                DIII FB play of the week; strange, lucky play.  The second block at the end of the game sealed the
                win for OWU.
     Oberlin:  The Yoemen took an early lead with a 77-yard TD pass on their third play after they received
                   the opening KO.  Oberlin led 14-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
                   The LGs won 35-21.  Oberlin currently stands at 3-6.
     Witt:  Wabash defense played well, and Wabash led halfway through the 4th quarter.  Witt recovered to
              win 21-14.  Good effort.
     Allegheny:  The Gators jumped out 13-0; Wabash led 14-13 at halftime.  Scoring went back and forth in the
                      2nd half.  Close call on a turnover gave the ball back late to the LGs.  Wabash won 48-41. 
                      Allegheny, while greatly improved, is 3-6.
See a pattern?  Wabash falls behind early to teams they used to dominate.  This gives hope to the opponents.  Wabash claws back to win, usually by a close margin.  They've played good games vs. two quality opponents in Denison and Wittenberg, but they've failed to do what they need to do against the middle and bottom of the conference.  They could easily have lost to Hiram, Wooster, and Allegheny. 
     Coaching:  the LGs start slow.  The offense is unremarkable.  The defense struggles against the long pass and struggles early in games.  Are they prepared to play?
     I find the AD's recent comment disturbing and out of touch.  C'mon, man. 
     Wabash cannot repeat this year's general pattern and have any hope to win on Saturday.  Yet, I have not seen anything so far that would make me optimistic.  The definition of insanity:  doing the same troubling thing again and again with the expectation of a different, more positive result.
       
           
       

[MUC57]

Wabash fans

I really shouldn't be posting here, but I will anyway.
Seems to be a lot of concern about the Little Giants ability on the football field. I guess I understand the concern. But even though you had some close games, you did what good teams do - you won. The Wabash program has been good for so long that bumps in the road will be overcome. You haven't fallen into a sinkhole. (Wally Wabash would have had a much better analogy).
Anyway, just wanted to wish you luck for the Monon Bell. Sure wish Mount Union had something like that. Be big - Little Giants.

[wally_wabash]

Appreciate that, 57.  To clarify, I don't have any reservations at all about the players' abilities.  The men between the lines are every bit as talented a group as Wabash teams over the last decade plus.  Many of this year's players were on the field in a national quarterfinal game two seasons ago.  Ability isn't what's under scrutiny.   

[MUC57]

Wally Wabash

As I often do, I screwed up. I realize from reading previous posts, the issue seems to be problems higher up, coaching and maybe the administration. I never meant to impune the ability of the players.
As I said earlier, I probably shouldn't have posted.
Oh,what the hell. Noroc (Romanian for good luck).

[wally_wabash]

Post away!  We need the conversation in here.   

Looking ahead to the Monon Bell game, I do think we're going to get a strong effort out of the LGs.  Wabash has been really good in their big time games this year.  Denison was lights out defensively.  They led Wittenberg in the 4th quarter.  If Wabash gets something equivalent to those games this weekend, they'll win.  If they get something equivalent to the other 7 games this season, the Bell is gonna stay down south.  At the risk of oversimplifying the whole thing, I think it's that easy. 

[HCAlum86]

I'll be headed up to Williams College for the Williams - Amherst game! Next year, Monon Bell, following year, Tommies vs Johnnies!

Good luck to both Wabash and Depauw.

[Breckenridgebear]

Looking ahead to the Monon Bell game, I do think we're going to get a strong effort out of the LGs. 

That would be fantastic! 

[old wabash]

Even the conversation on this board seems flat this year. I am an old man; did I miss something? Did everything move to some other social media? Surely we are not Fair weather fans! I can't even find the Monon Bell board this year! (Autocorrect said"moan on bell")  I'm praying this is just a down year and not the end of the glory days!

[MUC57]

Old Wabash

I feel your pain. I am also old(er), Mount Union class of '57.
Hey, this is bell week. That should cheer you up. We at UMU have nothing like that. I'm envious.
I think your team is down a little"..........but not out. Get that Monon Bell back and l'm sure you'll feel better.
Hope I managed to cheer you up a tad. (How much is a "tad"?)

[Pat Coleman]

I think a tad is worth about two smidges.

[MUC57]

Pat

Except  February which has 28 (or29)!
Thanx!

[MUC57]

old wabash was right! This board is dead. I know Wally Wabash is busy with really important stuff, like who will be in pool c, how will the brackets be set up, etc.
But where is everyone else? Do the words "Monon Bell" ring a bell? (Oops, I just realized what I said)!
Anyway , does it take an old Mount Union guy to stir up some chatter on this board?
I guess I wish we had a game like this. We don't, so l'm over here. Good luck to both teams and be injury free!
I'm done. I've spoken my piece. IT'S YOUR TURN!

[Pat Coleman]

Latest regional rankings are out:
http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/second-regional-ranking

[bluestreak66]

old wabash was right! This board is dead. I know Wally Wabash is busy with really important stuff, like who will be in pool c, how will the brackets be set up, etc.
But where is everyone else? Do the words "Monon Bell" ring a bell? (Oops, I just realized what I said)!
Anyway , does it take an old Mount Union guy to stir up some chatter on this board?
I guess I wish we had a game like this. We don't, so l'm over here. Good luck to both teams and be injury free!
I'm done. I've spoken my piece. IT'S YOUR TURN!

I'll help get the convo going! This is one of the best rivalries at any level of football after all!
I expect Wabash to end DePauw's at large hopes on Saturday. They have one Stephan Shipman (a John Carroll guy) on their coaching staff, so the Blue Streak DNA will get them over the hump!