FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

Thanks, MUC57! You are a good man and a super fan!

[sigma one]

Opening weekend with eight NCAC teams scheduled against out-of-conference opponents.  DePauw and Wabash are idle.

Some interesting match ups:  Allegheny (6-4 last year) at RPI.  RPI was a playoff team in 2018, finishing 10-2.  Tough opener for the Gators.  Over on the pick'em board Wally has the Engineers
                                            as 14.5 pt favorite.  Allegheny has a new coach  and 16 returning starters. 
                                            Denison (8-3) at Ohio Northern (5-5).  Denison will break in a new QB to replace Gebele, a 4-year starter.  The Big Red returns only 4 offensive starters, but 8/9 return
                                            on defense.  Wally has ONU by 10.5  Could by close if Denison can generate some offense.. 
                                            Marietta (7-3) at Hiram (2-8).  Marietta is #64 in the D3FB pre-season rankings; Hiram is #222.  Wally has Marietta a 17.5 pt. favorite.  The margin could be larger.
                                            Kenyon (0-10) at Catholic (1-9).  Kenyon goes to D.C. with a new coach and a 4-year starter at QB.  Could this be a break out win for the Lords?  Wally has Catholic
                                            by 13.5. largely I guess because of Kenyon's porous defense last year.   
                                            Kalamazoo (7-3) at Oberlin (2-8).  K'zoo is coming off an improved year.  Oberlin plays well with a limited roster.  Last year it wasn't close:  K'zoo by 24-7.  Wally gives
                                            the Hornets the edge by 6.5.
                                            Otterbein (2-8) at Ohio Wesleyan (4-6).  OWU's defense should be challenging all year.   D3FB has Otterbein #137 and the Bishops #157 in its rankings.  Ott won last
                                            year's game 10-7.  Might be another low-scoring contest.  Wally gives Ott the edge by 3.5.
                                            Wittenberg (9-1) at Washington  & Jefferson (9-1).  Surely one of the premier first-week games nationally.  D3FB has Witt at  #18 and W & J at #21.  Two really good
                                            traditionally successful teams in a competitive opener.  Witt will start a new QB; W and J returns a prolific passing duo.  Wally handicaps this by 5.5 to W & J. 
                                            Bluffton (3-7) at Wooster (5-5).  Wooster took last year's game 44-34 in a slugfest.  The Scots are more settled at QB this year and playing at home.  Look for a big win
                                            here for Woo.

DePauw and Wabash open next week vs. good competition.  DPU goes to Central, and Wabash to UWStevens Point. 

I encourage all those who are interested in following the NCAC to participate in pick'ems.  Wally has done a stellar job year after year handicapping the games, making the process much more challenging than simply picking the winners.  Good competition vs. a lot of guys who really know DIII.

[1837Tigers]

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/football/college/region-collegians-region-well-represented-on-wabash-football-team/article_4f9b22d8-a816-5883-9d53-4064f385df57.html?fbclid=IwAR0Y_tyJdVhqjiDloHbir4BY6P3XgiZRflfwMZGsYbp_bSyxUj6xz6sSy7I

Friend of mine from high school wrote the article.  This quote from Morel has me struggling:

"The kids have higher expectations than me," Morel said. "That's what makes it such an easy place to coach."

Great that the kids have high expectations, I would expect nothing less.  But higher than the head coach?  That's a disconnect for me.

Can't it just be that he's giving the players the spotlight?  I don't think it has to be any more complicated than that.

If it wasn't Morel, maybe.  But what exactly has he done to inspire confidence in anybody?  I commend him for the job he did keeping the kids together last year with dealing with the Hansen tragedy, but he has never exuded a championship vibe to me.  Do you think the kids had higher expectations than Creighton or Raeburn?  I don't.  If I'm reading too much into it, then guilty as charged.

Long time reader, first time poster here.

As a proud DePauw alum, I have to tell you guys, Wabash has been rolling over my Tigers for years now. DePauw has been on the wrong end of the Monon Bell 14 times since 2000, and all signs point to continued futility on our end (even though it is a little bit more competitive lately). Might I ask, with all sincerity, what exactly are you guys looking for in a coaching staff? We have our complaints with Lynch, but the numbers are in our favor. There is a real disconnect here in your case, at least as an outsider looking in. Also, lets be honest, "Championship Vibe" is what us old guys who don't know football try to say to stay relevant. It is truly an empty saying.

And, as an added bonus (and all in good fun, CPA) what was YOUR Monon Bell record over in Crawfordsville?

I was 4 - 0 here in Greencastle.

Proud DePauw alum who winds up in the middle of this game every year.  There aren't two better guys than Bill Lynch and Don Morel, and as much as I want to beat Wabash every year, Coach Morel is a complete class act and exemplifies, I believe, Wabash at it's very best.

Good luck to all as we get set to kick off '19!

[HCAlum86]

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/football/college/region-collegians-region-well-represented-on-wabash-football-team/article_4f9b22d8-a816-5883-9d53-4064f385df57.html?fbclid=IwAR0Y_tyJdVhqjiDloHbir4BY6P3XgiZRflfwMZGsYbp_bSyxUj6xz6sSy7I

Friend of mine from high school wrote the article.  This quote from Morel has me struggling:

"The kids have higher expectations than me," Morel said. "That's what makes it such an easy place to coach."

Great that the kids have high expectations, I would expect nothing less.  But higher than the head coach?  That's a disconnect for me.

Can't it just be that he's giving the players the spotlight?  I don't think it has to be any more complicated than that.

If it wasn't Morel, maybe.  But what exactly has he done to inspire confidence in anybody?  I commend him for the job he did keeping the kids together last year with dealing with the Hansen tragedy, but he has never exuded a championship vibe to me.  Do you think the kids had higher expectations than Creighton or Raeburn?  I don't.  If I'm reading too much into it, then guilty as charged.

Long time reader, first time poster here.

As a proud DePauw alum, I have to tell you guys, Wabash has been rolling over my Tigers for years now. DePauw has been on the wrong end of the Monon Bell 14 times since 2000, and all signs point to continued futility on our end (even though it is a little bit more competitive lately). Might I ask, with all sincerity, what exactly are you guys looking for in a coaching staff? We have our complaints with Lynch, but the numbers are in our favor. There is a real disconnect here in your case, at least as an outsider looking in. Also, lets be honest, "Championship Vibe" is what us old guys who don't know football try to say to stay relevant. It is truly an empty saying.

And, as an added bonus (and all in good fun, CPA) what was YOUR Monon Bell record over in Crawfordsville?

I was 4 - 0 here in Greencastle.

Proud DePauw alum who winds up in the middle of this game every year.  There aren't two better guys than Bill Lynch and Don Morel, and as much as I want to beat Wabash every year, Coach Morel is a complete class act and exemplifies, I believe, Wabash at it's very best.

Good luck to all as we get set to kick off '19!

This is what Browns fans said about Marvin Lewis....

Jk lol I think you're spot on re: Morel

[thunderdog]

Opening weekend with eight NCAC teams scheduled against out-of-conference opponents.  DePauw and Wabash are idle.

Some interesting match ups:  Allegheny (6-4 last year) at RPI.  RPI was a playoff team in 2018, finishing 10-2.  Tough opener for the Gators.  Over on the pick'em board Wally has the Engineers
                                            as 14.5 pt favorite.  Allegheny has a new coach  and 16 returning starters. 
                                            Denison (8-3) at Ohio Northern (5-5).  Denison will break in a new QB to replace Gebele, a 4-year starter.  The Big Red returns only 4 offensive starters, but 8/9 return
                                            on defense.  Wally has ONU by 10.5  Could by close if Denison can generate some offense.. 
                                            Marietta (7-3) at Hiram (2-8).  Marietta is #64 in the D3FB pre-season rankings; Hiram is #222.  Wally has Marietta a 17.5 pt. favorite.  The margin could be larger.
                                            Kenyon (0-10) at Catholic (1-9).  Kenyon goes to D.C. with a new coach and a 4-year starter at QB.  Could this be a break out win for the Lords?  Wally has Catholic
                                            by 13.5. largely I guess because of Kenyon's porous defense last year.   
                                            Kalamazoo (7-3) at Oberlin (2-8).  K'zoo is coming off an improved year.  Oberlin plays well with a limited roster.  Last year it wasn't close:  K'zoo by 24-7.  Wally gives
                                            the Hornets the edge by 6.5.
                                            Otterbein (2-8) at Ohio Wesleyan (4-6).  OWU's defense should be challenging all year.   D3FB has Otterbein #137 and the Bishops #157 in its rankings.  Ott won last
                                            year's game 10-7.  Might be another low-scoring contest.  Wally gives Ott the edge by 3.5.
                                            Wittenberg (9-1) at Washington  & Jefferson (9-1).  Surely one of the premier first-week games nationally.  D3FB has Witt at  #18 and W & J at #21.  Two really good
                                            traditionally successful teams in a competitive opener.  Witt will start a new QB; W and J returns a prolific passing duo.  Wally handicaps this by 5.5 to W & J. 
                                            Bluffton (3-7) at Wooster (5-5).  Wooster took last year's game 44-34 in a slugfest.  The Scots are more settled at QB this year and playing at home.  Look for a big win
                                            here for Woo.

DePauw and Wabash open next week vs. good competition.  DPU goes to Central, and Wabash to UWStevens Point. 

I encourage all those who are interested in following the NCAC to participate in pick'ems.  Wally has done a stellar job year after year handicapping the games, making the process much more challenging than simply picking the winners.  Good competition vs. a lot of guys who really know DIII.

Great stuff sigma one

[Bishopleftiesdad]

At the half OWU 19 OC 3.
My condolences to Ott who lost a Sophmore football player,  Nigel Chatman, in a car accident this morning.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

At the half OWU 19 OC 3.
My condolences to Ott who lost a Sophmore football player,  Nigel Chatman, in a car accident this morning.

19-10 Ott making a comeback.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

At the half OWU 19 OC 3.
My condolences to Ott who lost a Sophmore football player,  Nigel Chatman, in a car accident this morning.

19-10 Ott making a comeback.

At the half OWU 19 OC 3.
My condolences to Ott who lost a Sophmore football player,  Nigel Chatman, in a car accident this morning.

19-10 Ott making a comeback.

Final OWU 22-Ott 10.

[aueagle]

Bishops grab the win 22-10..
I didn't now about the Otterbein player that
Lost his life the other night in a car accident..
My prayers go out to his family, his mates and
all the Cardinal family

[sigma one]

Kenyon 32  Catholic 31 in 2OT.  I have not yet read any accounts, but the Box Score shows that Kenyon was successful on a 2 pt conversion to win.  Congratulations to Coach Rosenbury on his first win at Kenyon.  They had a 300+ yard passer, a 100+ yard receiver, and a 100+ yard rusher. 

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Bishops grab the win 22-10..
I didn't now about the Otterbein player that
Lost his life the other night in a car accident..
My prayers go out to his family, his mates and
all the Cardinal family

Ashland transfer Zane Ries starts at QB for the Bishops.
22 of 31 for 211 yards. Also ran for a TD.

[wally_wabash]

Kenyon 32  Catholic 31 in 2OT.  I have not yet read any accounts, but the Box Score shows that Kenyon was successful on a 2 pt conversion to win.  Congratulations to Coach Rosenbury on his first win at Kenyon.  They had a 300+ year passer, a 100+ yard receiver, and a 100+ yard rusher.

Indeed.  Rosenbury dialed up a 2-pointer in the 2nd OT to get the win.  Really happy for those players to finally get on the right side of the scoreboard. 

[wally_wabash]

Elsewhere, Denison started slowly, but is absolutely dominating ONU at the moment.  28-6 after a long TD pass by Drew Dawkins, who looks like a very capable successor to Gebele.  I'm fully ready to admit that I was all the way wrong about how this game was going to go. 

[sigma one]

The NCAC goes 4-4 in its out-of-conference games yesterday.  Quick recap:

RPI  52   Allegeheny 14.  Allegheny had more 1st downs (25/21), and a better 3rd down conversion rate (59% to 53%), but were outgained 504/404.  The Gators threw for 373 yds, but rushed for only 31.   They lost 4 fumbles and an Int.  Victor:  7 catches for 54 yds.
Denison 42   Ohio Northern 13.  Impressive win for the Big Red.  I watched the entire game and saw a dominating defense and a varied offense that consistently picked up big yardage.  Drew Dawkins, the new sophomore QB, passed for 267 yds, and ran for 44--a la Gebele.  Minton was a beast: 139 yds, rushing with 2 TDs, and 7 catches for 83 yds, 2 more TDs.  Defense recorded 7 sacks.
Mariettta 41   Hiram 0.  About what expected with Marietta coming off an impressive 2018.  Hiram generated only 168 total yds.  The had only 7 1st downs,  were 1/15 on 3rd down, and passed for 66 yds.
Kenyon 32   Catholic 31  2OT.  Kenyon goes on the road to break a 26 game losing streak.  The Lords go for 2 after a TD in the 2nd OT--and convert.  Gutsy.  Merkle passed for 322 yds, and they had a 100+ yd rusher and a 100+ yd receiver. 
Kalamazoo 3   Oberlin 0.  A bit of a surprise in terms of the score.  Oberlin held to 250 yds: 130 passing, 120 rushing.  Their QB Taylor injured.  Still, maybe the Yoeman defense will be good.  Hard to tell.
Ohio Wesleyan 22   Otterbein 10.  Good opening win for the Bishops.  Solid defensively.  OWU had 286 total yds, including 75 rushing.  Threw 3 Ints.  Sanfilipo kicked 3 FGs.
Washington & Jefferson 16   Wittenberg 8.  Another game I watched start to finish. Sloppy by both teams, a combination of great defenses, or opening jitters as two solid teams squared off.  Witt breaking in a new QB, sophomore Blake King.  He was erratic.  The tigers totaled just 10 1st downs, while punting 10X.  They managed 256 yds of offense, 139 passing, 117 rushing.  Witt lost 3 fumbles and an Int.  On the flip side they held down a prolific Presidents' passing attack.
Wooster 31   Bluffton 6.  After a slow start, the Scots rolled in the 2nd half.  Renteria passed for 308 of their total offensive of 478.  They converted 47% of 3rd downs, while holding Bluffton to 20%.  Strausbaugh:  8 catches for 134 yds.

All in all, a respectable weekend.  DePauw and Wabash open next week on the road vs Central in Iowa and Stevens Point in Wisconsin.  Central won yesterday vs. Northwestern (MN) 42-14; UW Stevens Point lost to pre season #17 John Carroll 21-7.   

[wally_wabash]

Definitely more good than bad from the opening weekend for the NCAC.  I think my major takeaway is that 48 hours ago I really thought Wabash was a head and shoulders above kind of favorite this year, and today I think their path to the tournament is more challenging than I believed.  Wittenberg's defense was exceptional against a really good offensive team and I think their offense is going to come around in the next few weeks.  The Tigers are going to be just fine.  Denison's win against ONU was an absolute statement.  They manhandled ONU, particularly up front which is a thing I never thought would happen against an upper half OAC team.  Minton is great, Drew Dawkins was really impressive in his debut.  Denison has a program built there, not just a golden era fueled by a generational player.  This is going to be another three team race here this fall.