FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

When was the last time Wabash was a home dog on "pick 'em"?

Probably vs. Witt in 2017, but it's definitely not a thing that has happened often at all in the history of NCAC Pick 'Em. 

[fantastic50]

It seems that endowments can't cushion the blow anymore.

Seeing that Oberlin ($887 million) and DePauw ($731 million) are struggling, I tend to agree.  A 4-5% annual draw is still a substantial amount, but operating budgets range widely throughout the conference, from about $30 million at Hiram up to $188 million at Oberlin, so even a large endowment covers a relatively small percentage at some.  By endowment-to-expenditures ratio, Denison looks to be relatively strong, with an endowment that measures roughly seven times the annual budget, so endowment proceeds might cover about 30%.  Clearly, good financial management and a strong market position will be critical for every institution in the NCAC.

[83 Little Giant]

Below is the link to the Wabash game notes for tomorrow's Homecoming game with Denison.  Going to be an usually warm day for late September.  This is Wabash's first home game of the year so the tailgating will be especially fun. 


https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/wabash.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/9/26/vs_Denison_9_28_19_Homecoming.pdf

[ncc_fan]

My understanding is that Wittenberg has been experiencing financial difficulties for several years.  DePauw is offering a buy-out program for faculty and staff as it seeks to balance financially.  First-year enrollment there is down significantly.  After the last financial trough Wabash offered buy-outs and cut some budgets in an attempt to better manage its finances.  Concerns about expenditures affect most small enrollment-driven colleges these days.

Yes, there are financial/enrollment issues for nearly every school in the conference.  Besides the ones that you mentioned, OWU has fallen well short of making its class more than once, Allegheny, Oberlin, and Wooster have also offered buyouts, and Hiram has a smaller and less-affluent student body than most of its peers.  However, Witt's difficulties seem to be the most acute, so I hope that the administration can stabilize the situation, but I fear that we may see several D3 schools in our region close their doors within the next decade or two.

Administrators are also concerned about projected numbers of high school graduates.  Those projections look dire for colleges that draw students primarily from the midwest.

[bashtownie]

Terrible time management by Wabash at the end of the half. Defense seemed hit or miss in the first half. Will be an interesting second.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

OWU 28 -All 10.
Hunter Davis started at QB.
Wabash week starts now.

[wabashcpa]

Nice bounce back effort on D for Wabash yesterday, holding Denison to 20 points gives cause for optimism the rest of the way.  Freshman connection of Liam Thompson to Cooper Sullivan will be fun to watch for a while as well.  Great run at the end by Isaac Avant to seal the deal yesterday.

Keep improving, and the conference is there for the taking.

[Dr. Acula]

From the box score it looked like Denison was intent on bottling up James.  Wise move.  Unfortunately for them the freshman QB stepped up and beat them.  Very nice performance by the youngster!  With Witt's continued offensive woes Wabash has to like their chances going forward.

[Li'l Giant]

Wabash's secondary really locked down when it needed to. The offense, especially Liam, stepped it up in the 4th. I'd like to see the defensive line get more pressure but the improvement was good. Still stuff to work on but kudos for the defense getting stops when they needed them.

It was also really good to see Avant bust a long TD. If he's that good the rest of the season this offense is going to be must see TV.

Solid win but no time to celebrate. OWU is 4-0 and will be a tough opponent next week.

[wally_wabash]

From the box score it looked like Denison was intent on bottling up James.  Wise move.  Unfortunately for them the freshman QB stepped up and beat them.  Very nice performance by the youngster!  With Witt's continued offensive woes Wabash has to like their chances going forward.

This is spot on.  Denison really decided that they weren't going to let Ike James beat them, and they did it!  The Big Red flowed to James and didn't give him room to breathe at all all day.  They did pay for it on the first Wabash touchdown.  You can see the entire DU defense swarm to Ike James, Liam Thompson read it perfectly, kept the ball and outran Denison's defense for a 50 yard TD.  Undeterred, Denison stayed on James and kept him bottled up. 

Now, where it gets really interesting is what Wabash does in the fourth quarter.  Wabash is traditionally stubborn when it comes to sticking the with run.  The LGs will accept a plodding run game for two or even three quarters and trust that eventually the dam will break (it usually does).  I don't know if it was going to happen on Saturday.  The decision going in to the fourth quarter was keep pounding on them with Ike James and trust that he's going to get loose- which would have been a defensible strategy down just four points- or turn Liam Thompson loose and try to score through the air.  Wabash turned him loose, pick up two quick scores through the air, and by the time the time/score scenario swings in favor of Wabash, it's too late for Denison to make meaningful adjustments.  The timing of when the game strategies from the two sides flipped is a fascinating part of what went down Saturday.  It really was a great game. 

Wabash's secondary really locked down when it needed to. The offense, especially Liam, stepped it up in the 4th. I'd like to see the defensive line get more pressure but the improvement was good. Still stuff to work on but kudos for the defense getting stops when they needed them.

It was also really good to see Avant bust a long TD. If he's that good the rest of the season this offense is going to be must see TV.

Solid win but no time to celebrate. OWU is 4-0 and will be a tough opponent next week.

Tossing Avant out there late in the 4th quarter with fresh legs against a defense that's been running into Ike James all day isn't fair.  And Isaac delivered the hammer.  There's a lot going on here in this offense right now.  Denison sold everything out to take away option 1A and it didn't quite work out.  It's going to be really interesting to see how teams gear up to defense Wabash going forward.  Through three games, I don't know if "put it on the freshman qb" is going to be a winning strategy.  He delivered 6-6 for 148 and 2 TDs in a fourth quarter that started with a four point deficit.  When it was crunch time and Wabash had to put it in the air, he was perfect. 

This is a big one against OWU this Saturday.  OWU is undefeated and there's something different with them this year.  They've had an offensive awakening.  The Bishops historically play Wabash really tough and, let's not forget, won in their last visit to the Hollett in 2017- a game where they held Wabash without an offensive touchdown IIRC.  No doubt this is a big one against a team coming in with big time momentum. 

[sigma one]

NCAC has 4 games this week.  Hiram and Wittenberg rest.

Wooster (2-1) at DePauw (1-2).  The Scots are coming off a narrow loss to Wittenberg and have given up only 20 pts in 3 games.  DePauw's offense has been anemic--averaging
     235 yds and 12 pts a game.  Wally favors Wooster by 4.5.  Only Witt among the Scot's opponents has won; the other two teams, both wins for Woo, are 0-7,   DPU also lost a
     close game to the Ohio Tigers.  A low-scoring duel or someone breaks out?
Ohio Wesleyan (4-0) at Wabash (2-1).   OWU has looked strong, but against teams with a combined record of 2-12.  Three of the Bishops' wins are against teams that are 0-10. 
     Nonetheless, they have played Wabash tough recently and won the last game in C'ville.  The LGs come off a nice win vs. Denison.  Saturday will tell us a lot about both teams. 
     Wally picks Wabash by 8.5.
Kenyon (2-2) at Oberlin (0-3).  Kenyon has 2 wins already--by a total of 4 pts. against teams that are a combined 0-8.  Oberlin is 0-3 and has scored a total of 3 pts. on the season.
     Wally shows the Lords by 2.5 in what is essentially toss-up game.  Three wins for Kenyon would give them a rare good start under a new head coach.  Obie badly needs some pts 
     and a win.     
Denison (2-1) at Allegheny (0-3).  The Big Red was slowed last week at Wabash.  Allegheny's 3 losses are against teams that are 9-2, and those teams' losses are both by 3
      pts.  Could this be a closer game that Wally's 18.5 call for Denison?   Or--is the Big Red so enraged by the late loss last week that they come out on fire?

     

[83 Little Giant]

Here are the Wabash game notes for tomorrow's game with Ohio Wesleyan.  Looks like the weather is going to cooperate with a glorious fall day.  Safe travels to those making the trek to Crawfordsville.


https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/wabash.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/10/3/vs_OWU_10_5_19.pdf

[aueagle]

Key for the Bishops today...
Where are they & where the season goes will be revealed at
Hollett... OWU has played a very soft schedule & now must prove
they belong in the top tier of the conference. The "awakening" wally
stated in the Bishop offense, I believe, starts with QB Zane (x-Eagle!).
He is a very good athlete that has made good decisions and makes solid
percentage throws. The O-line needs to progress and keep Zane
alive against a tough LG defense. Everyone touts the OWU defense (because of
D-Coordinator Delaney), but, again, they've had to scheme against offensive
juggernauts in Gheny, Kenyon, Oberlin, Otterbein. Its nice to see the Bishops
on top in the standings on the NCAC site, but, I think after today, it will change.
After 7 years of Watts (batting above 500), the program needs to break through or
build a indoor like Witt. Go Bishops

[sigma one]

Aueagle,

Ries didn't play last week v. Allegheny.  The Wabash Game Notes for today list Davis, who did play last Saturday, and Harville as the QBs on the two-deep.  Do you know something the rest of us don't?

[formerd3db]

aueagle:

Where have you been?  You haven't been posting as much as you usually do at this time of year.  You are missed, but glad to see you are "back!"