FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sigma one]

A little perspective on Allegheny.  I don't want to be an apologist for a new coach, but their 0-4 start this year may not be as deflating as it seems.  Allegheny has lost to RPI (4-1, with their loss only to an undefeated WPI by 3 pts.), Wabash (3-1, with their loss to UW Stevens Point by 3 pts), Ohio Wesleyan (4-1, loss only to Wabash), and Denison (3-1,loss
only to Wabash).  The combined records of the four teams is 14-4.  So far, Victor has 27 receptions for 313 yds, just over 11 yds/catch.  He has only rushed the ball 3X for 17yds.

Last year, with Victor and Balla as the Gator receiving and rushing combo, Allegheny opened 2-2, with good wins over two middle-of-the conference teams, Wooster and OWU.  Their losses were to WPI and Denison, both 2018 playoff teams.  Through 4 games Victor had 20 receptions for 495 yards (24+ yds/catch).   

One stat worth noting.  In 2018, Denison held Victor to 1 reception for 19 yds.  This year they held him to 1 reception for 25 yds.  Clearly, they know how to hold him down. On the flip side, in 2018 Victor had 12 catches for 159 yds. v. Wabash.  This year his numbers were 7 catches for 146 yds. Last year, he scored 2 TDs rushing (on short runs); this year, 2TDs, receiving, including a 77 yd. catch.

Edit:  Wittenberg looms this week, another one-loss team, with the game to be played in Springfield.

[Li'l Giant]

Mary Hardin Baylor - when do they move-up a division. The stadium was built for up fit capacity

It's Texas. Everything is bigger here. Especially football stadiums. You should see the high school stadiums. . .

[formerd3db]

Mary Hardin Baylor - when do they move-up a division. The stadium was built for up fit capacity

It's Texas. Everything is bigger here. Especially football stadiums. You should see the high school stadiums. . .

LG:
That's for sure! Which makes it even more disheartening to see that many of those high schools (and we could include some in Ohio and Pennsylvania and I'm sure elsewhere) have attendance that even puts to shame the meager attendance that many of the DI FCS schools, most  DII schools have. A lot of DIII even outdraw the latter two at some places. Anyway, I do like to see those larger attendance numbers for DIII teams and it appears that several, including MHBp (others would be Albion, Eureka, WW, and WPlattville, to name a few) are having great years so far in that category, of course, joining schools like St.John, St. Thomas, Bethel, Trine who perennially have several big attendance games.

I could be wrong, but, it appears that possibly college fb attendance may be having an upward trend this year, but it is still only about halfway thru the season- too early to tell.

[wally_wabash]

One stat worth noting.  In 2018, Denison held Victor to 1 reception for 19 yds.  This year they held him to 1 reception for 25 yds.  Clearly, they know how to hold him down. On the flip side, in 2018 Victor had 12 catches for 159 yds. v. Wabash.  This year his numbers were 7 catches for 146 yds. Last year, he scored 2 TDs rushing (on short runs); this year, 2TDs, receiving, including a 77yd. catch.

Something that I think is interesting re: the Denison/Allegheny matchup is that Allegheny's offense kind of took off under former DU standout Braden Layer- except, as noted, against Denison where they've been really smothered.  May be a case there were Layer installed an offense incredibly similar to what he learned at Denison and Denison has a pretty good handle on how to deal with that.   Now, Layer went to Bowdoin with Coach Hammer, but to my novice eye, I don't see Allegheny's offense as being super different this year under a new OC. Either way, Denison certainly sees what the Gators do pretty well. 

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.

At the start of the 4th down play, Wabash had three down linemen with LBs all back off the line.  I think Ries saw a 5 on 3 situation there and thought he could take a quick snap and just lunge ahead for two yards, except it didn't happen fast enough.  The LBs filled gaps as soon as he went up under center, the OL didn't get any push (needed because it wasn't 4th and inches, it was 4th and 2...they had to go forward there), and Ries had nowhere to go.  I think the idea was good, Wabash just reacted properly to the audible and stuffed it. 

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.

I can understand that and definitely understand added intensity for OWU in those games.  100 penalty yards tells me they aren't channeling that intensity constructively though. 

[wabashcpa]

Eagle,

That blocked punt was 100% on the long snapper, that ball took FOREVER to get to the punter.  Pretty sure the intro to 2001: A Space Odyssey was playing while that ball was floating back to him.

[Li'l Giant]

Pretty sure the intro to 2001: A Space Odyssey was playing while that ball was floating back to him.

I LOL'd

[sigma one]

Again this week, 4 NCAC games.  Kenyon and Ohio Wesleyan take the week off.

Allegheny (0-4) at Wittenberg (3-1)  In an earlier post I noted that Allegheny's losses so far are to teams that are a combined 14-4.   Witt has played 3 close games thus far, with
     wins by  2 and 7 pts, and an 8-pt loss.  Wally says the Tigers by 23.5--a big margin.  Not hard to argue that even if the spread isn't that large the Gators will be 0-5.
DePauw (2-2) at Hiram (0-4)  DPU got a good win last week v. Wooster.  Hiram comes in off a bye week after losing to Kenyon.  They have scored only 29 pts this season.  Wally
     says the Tigers by 19.5.  Hard to see any positives for the Terriers going forward, but could they make it closer than the spread?
Oberlin (0-4) at Denison (3-1)  Wally sets the margin at 40.5 in favor of the Big Red.  With Oberlin having scored just 10 pts so far (they got their first TD last week), it's hard to
     see that the game might be closer than the spread.  On the other hand, the Yoemen defense has 3X yielded 17 pts. or fewer.
Wabash (3-1) at Wooster (2-2)  Wally has Wabash as a 12.5 pt. favorite.   Until last week the Scots' defense had been stout.  The Wabash offense is more varied this year; while
     defenses have been geared to stop Ike James, other players have stepped forward.  The LG defense is improving, but still giving up big yards in the middle of the field.  Could
     be a game that comes down to who wins the 4th quarter.
     

[aueagle]

The Big 3(Witt,LG's,Big Red), should get separation from the rest of
the field this week. The bye comes at a good time for the Bishops, as they need to rest up & prepare for the grind the rest of the season..
Good Luck to all & safe travels to those making a trek. I'm planning on watching a bit of the Polar Bears at Amherst...see if they can notch their
first W.

[Li'l Giant]

Sigh. . .

[CollegeGolf18]

Let's say Wabash goes 8-2 or 9-1.  I understand that some may think that this should trigger a review of the DM hire......but does anyone think that Wabash would fire him?  I don't.

Probably not next year, but again in 2020? Yes, I think it would be debated.

So, 9-1 in each of the next two years could trigger a review of your head coach? Who are you guys, Nebraska?

I, in fact, am very pleased with the job Morel has done. I was just simply stating that rumors around do not want a missed playoffs in 4 straight years.

So when do we revisit this?

[sigma one]

Today, the triumph of  toughness over statistics.  Wabash had 9 more first downs, more passing yardage, more rushing yardage, a better 3rd down percentage, and did not have to punt, even once.  Wooster stopped them inside the 20 all game, stopped them on 4th down when they needed to, had 7 sacks, 10 total tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, and bottled up Ike James.  They controlled field position for the entire game.  Hard to find a better example of statistics being for losers.  Congratulations to Wooster on a well-played game, especially defensively.  A well-deserved win.
     The LGs have some regrouping to do--and some real hard thinking about defensive strategy before next week's visit from Witt.  In the second half, out of the necessity of being behind, they abandoned the 3-man rush, crowded the line of scrimmage, brought more blitzes,  mixed up the defense, and kept the Scots off balance.  It worked.  Maybe that will wake up Ramsey about what happens when the players are allowed to cut loose. 
     Wabash is teetering on the edge of the abyss.  Next week will tell us a lot about their moxie--and about what the coaches learned today. 
     

[aueagle]

Just checked the NCAC scores...I must be in shock because, even my wife
said, "what's wrong?" ...well, there goes my bracket !!

[wabashcpa]

Today, the triumph of  toughness over statistics.  Wabash had 9 more first downs, more passing yardage, more rushing yardage, a better 3rd down percentage, and did not have to punt, even once.  Wooster stopped them inside the 20 all game, stopped them on 4th down when they needed to, had 7 sacks, 10 total tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, and bottled up Ike James.  They controlled field position for the entire game.  Hard to find a better example of statistics being for losers.  Congratulations to Wooster on a well-played game, especially defensively.  A well-deserved win.
     The LGs have some regrouping to do--and some real hard thinking about defensive strategy before next week's visit from Witt.  In the second half, out of the necessity of being behind, they abandoned the 3-man rush, crowded the line of scrimmage, brought more blitzes,  mixed up the defense, and kept the Scots off balance.  It worked.  Maybe that will wake up Ramsey about what happens when the players are allowed to cut loose. 
     Wabash is teetering on the edge of the abyss.  Next week will tell us a lot about their moxie--and about what the coaches learned today. 
   

It was an inspired effort from Wooster, so credit where it is due.  At least one team came to play today.

[Li'l Giant]

Let's say Wabash goes 8-2 or 9-1.  I understand that some may think that this should trigger a review of the DM hire......but does anyone think that Wabash would fire him?  I don't.

Probably not next year, but again in 2020? Yes, I think it would be debated.

So, 9-1 in each of the next two years could trigger a review of your head coach? Who are you guys, Nebraska?

I, in fact, am very pleased with the job Morel has done. I was just simply stating that rumors around do not want a missed playoffs in 4 straight years.

So when do we revisit this?

Hopefully on November 17.

[Dr. Acula]

Let's say Wabash goes 8-2 or 9-1.  I understand that some may think that this should trigger a review of the DM hire......but does anyone think that Wabash would fire him?  I don't.

Probably not next year, but again in 2020? Yes, I think it would be debated.

So, 9-1 in each of the next two years could trigger a review of your head coach? Who are you guys, Nebraska?

I, in fact, am very pleased with the job Morel has done. I was just simply stating that rumors around do not want a missed playoffs in 4 straight years.

So when do we revisit this?

I'm admittedly a glass half full guy, but if they beat Witt and win out wouldn't they still win the auto bid via H2H over Witt and Denison?  I don't know the NCAC tie breakers. 

This isn't saying that losing to Wooster isn't troubling on its own because I'd think most Wabash fans were shaking their heads today.  The odd thing is what sigma hit on which is that the Wabash D has been very un-LG like in their aggressiveness.  I always felt that was your calling card.  Your D was coming and attacking the offense.  The 3 picks today hurts, but those are the growing pains of a young QB learning under fire.  That's expected.  The defensive stuff is unexpected and, frankly, strange IMO.