FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[aueagle]

sigma one; I'm psychic & trying to move the Vegas money!
But really, a buddy in Columbus was having lunch in Delaware
and heard some students say "he could play". Not a very reliable source.
formerd3db; Thank you! Job transfer (2), cancer, kid in college, have eaten
Me up the last 2 years.. But, all good & good to go!

[sigma one]

Aueagle, well, we will know in about 15 minutes.  Thanks for the reply.

End of 1st quarter:  Wabash 14-0.  Aueagle, your source is good.  Ries at QB for the Bishops.

[aueagle]

Right on, sigma one...it's all about the Vegas
and knocking "thunderdog" off the pick 'am crown.
Go Bishops

[wally_wabash]

Glad to have you back and hear you're doing well, aueagle!

[wabashcpa]

Good effort by the LG's today to defeat a game OWU squad.  Both sides need to clean up the penalties, didn't think that 1st quarter was ever going to end, LOL.

[wally_wabash]

Allegheny has 12 pass yards through the first half vs. Denison.  They did some good things vs. RPI and they were sharp for a half against Wabash, but that offense has really been not good since.  I'm not sure what's going on in Meadville, but something just looks, I don't know...broken?  Strange to watch because they're better than this. 

[ADL70]

Allegheny has 12 pass yards through the first half vs. Denison.  They did some good things vs. RPI and they were sharp for a half against Wabash, but that offense has really been not good since.  I'm not sure what's going on in Meadville, but something just looks, I don't know...broken?  Strange to watch because they're better than this.

Two head coaches in four years. Did Hammer sense something that prompted him to seek elsewhere?

[sigma one]

I was impressed with the Gator receivers when Allegheny played Wabash.  And not just with Alex Victor, who caught one pass yesterday.  It's worth noting that Naz Greer did not play in the 1st quarter.  But even he could not spark the offense when he finally entered the game.  Early on the Allegheny announcers mentioned that he might not even be dressed, but then they spotted him.  Why he didn't play from the start is a mystery:  injury or something else.  If it was an injury that allowed him to play but limited his effectiveness, that may account for the problems with a passing game.  Who knows.  The QB who started didn't come close to completing a pass.

[formerd3db]

Allegheny has 12 pass yards through the first half vs. Denison.  They did some good things vs. RPI and they were sharp for a half against Wabash, but that offense has really been not good since.  I'm not sure what's going on in Meadville, but something just looks, I don't know...broken?  Strange to watch because they're better than this.

Two head coaches in four years. Did Hammer sense something that prompted him to seek elsewhere?

We'll, Hammer is having a tough time at Bowdoin. Nagy has been at the "big time" in coaching, so give him a chance. Same for Hammer. It is still early yet-only their first years. It takes time to turn a program around.

[wally_wabash]

Allegheny has 12 pass yards through the first half vs. Denison.  They did some good things vs. RPI and they were sharp for a half against Wabash, but that offense has really been not good since.  I'm not sure what's going on in Meadville, but something just looks, I don't know...broken?  Strange to watch because they're better than this.

Two head coaches in four years. Did Hammer sense something that prompted him to seek elsewhere?

I think in fairness to Coach Hammer, we should limit speculation on why he accepted the appointment at Bowdoin.  Maybe football reasons, maybe other professional reasons, maybe personal reasons that have nothing to do with football.  Who knows.  I do know that Allegheny has players that ought to be outputting more than 213 yards and 8.5 points per game.  No idea what's going on there, but they haven't been competing the same way after Week 2.  The Gators are at Witt next week, so there's not much time for them to get right. 

Some other thoughts of mine from around the league:

- Kind of a weird game yesterday at Wabash.  Tons of penalties on both sides, a lot of it dumb tough guy stuff after the whistle.  Maybe it's just me, but I always feel like OWU comes into these games against Wabash with a bitter rivalry edge to them, and this game just isn't that for Wabash.  It's always a weird dynamic- like the Bishops are mad and I have no idea why.  Anyway, I thought Wabash's pass coverage was excellent and it had to be because Ries was rarely under any pressure.  I know they have a lot of confidence in the LBs and DBs out in the patterns, but no pressure on the QB ever is a dangerous way to play.  Over in the CCIW, Wheaton diffused one of the top 2-3 QBs in the division by putting him under relentless pressure.  Next week Wabash sees a WR in Nick Strasbaugh that is fantastic, can get deep, and has burned Wabash badly in previous games.  The 10-Mississippi pass rush thing Wabash has going on is really playing with fire. 

Offensively, it was fine, but to me it felt like Wabash was maybe forcing it to Avant.  7 catches, probably at least 10 targets.  I know Avant out in the pattern is a new and novel thing Wabash is doing, but it seemed like the LGs really went away from the really explosive stuff that has been working in the last couple of weeks.  The good thing here is that Wabash is showcasing something new every week in the offense.  Liam Thompson can beat you running.  Liam Thompson has deep targets with Hamman and Sullivan.  Ike James is a bulldozer.  Avant is a menace that Morel is lining up all over the place.  There's a lot of stuff that DC's have deal with and guess right as the season gets into the middle third.  Overall, a good win for Wabash against a team that is always tough to deal with. 

- Down in Greencastle, DPU finally figured out how to score some points and pick up a win that I think changes their ceiling a little bit, particularly coupled with the competitive game against Witt the week prior.  Next week at Hiram shouldn't be an issue, but I'll have an eye on them throughout their @OWU, vs. All, @Denison stretch. 

On the Wooster side of this game, there's really no way to look at that other than that's a bad loss for Wooster.  Wooster is a side that I thought could have crept up on some teams and maybe made a sneaky run at the NCAC this year.  That still might happen, but feels much less likely after dropping one to a DePauw squad that hadn't shown a whole lot going into this game.  Really disappointing result for the Scots.  I do expect they'll be charged up next week for Wabash. 

- Same kind of deal for Oberlin.  The Yeomen are up 7-6 late in the 4th quarter and get pick sixed.  Brutal way to lose a game that they probably win if they do anything other than throw that pick six.  But give credit to Kenyon.  Picone made a great play and the Lords have won three games after not having won in just about three years.  Really nice first half for Rosenbury there in Gambier.

- Don't have much to add on Denison/Allegheny.  Depending on what Denison with Witt later this year, the Big Red should be all about laying down these kinds of monkey stomps and trying to get in position for a Pool C bid.  If they can handle Witt on 10/26, who knows. 

[wabashcpa]

Ramsey's reluctance to dial up defensive pressure is baffling, but I temper that knowing that after only giving up 20 pts to Denison and 13 pts to OWU, it's hard to give him too much grief.  I can recall one blitz in particular from OWU that sacked Liam in what seemed like no time at all; unfortunately for OWU, the kid led with his helmet and got tossed from the game.  But it was still a "How come we never do that?" moment.  The rush 3 and drop 8 is just begging the QB to pick you apart. 

[Li'l Giant]

Maybe it's just me, but I always feel like OWU comes into these games against Wabash with a bitter rivalry edge to them, and this game just isn't that for Wabash.  It's always a weird dynamic- like the Bishops are mad and I have no idea why.

This is true. And it reminds me of the dynamic with Franklin.

[aueagle]

Some take-away from Hollett...
A few offensive calls had me wondering, like,
4th and short; Zane lines up in the gun then steps up
under center (announcer stated faking a change play call), then does
the QB sneak...Hello!..it looked like the LG's were ready & in the box.
The trick play, end around, pitch back (Twice), back to Zane, took FOREVER!
Not a good call. The block punt by Bash. A soft rush, but, it looked like to me,
the Bishop punter took an extra half-step, which gave the LG time to get his hand
on the ball. Bishop O-line; I notice in previous games, slow feet & bad footwork,
Maybe it's me, but, I'd give-up 20 pounds for better footwork. Loved the LG announcer
when he colored the OWU line as a "1,000 pounds of beef" Was that the 4th & short that
failed? In regards to wally; "Bishops are mad" & "bitter rivalry".. I think the staff instills
that Witt & Wabash are the standard of the NCAC and you have to have swagger in those
contests..But my favorite was the LG announcer, "a contentious rivalry"..
The end result was, the Bishops got exposed (see soft schedule) and now go into the meat grinder
except for a visit to the Puppy in 2 weeks...Go Bishops

[aueagle]

And, some random thoughts 'cause I'm wired on coffee...
Trine - zero pts against Hope after averaging 31 in first 3 games? What?!
Mary Hardin Baylor - when do they move-up a division. The stadium was built for up fit capacity
Zane Ries - OWU has him at 6'1, 185. A year ago Ashland had him at
6'0, 173...(1 inch & 12 pounds in a off-season? Obviously, the Russians &
Ukrainians are involved)

[aueagle]

And because I was at the Tiger/LG game a few years ago in Virginia..
Has Hampden-Sydney fallen by time?