FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

Morel - Almost from day one this guy has been taking hits for not being Creighton, Raeburn, or for that matter, BJ Hammer.

I think that's a mischaracterization. It was known from day one (by some) that he wouldn't be as successful as those coaches. That has borne itself out to be true. You can't follow up the two most successful coaches in our program's history and not expect comparison, especially when that standard isn't met. That's different from "not being" those coaches.

[ncc_fan]

Playoffs- How did Wabash get sent to North Central and Hanover get sent to Mount Union? Hanover clearly would be a higher seeded team. Why would they get sent to the top seed in the region with no difference in travel costs or any issue regarding scheduling rematches?

Jim Catanzaro talks about this pretty directly on today's ATN podcast.

.
I did like Pat's take on the subject as some other things could have moved around and not added cost.

I like the hypothetical Mt Union/NCC/Monmouth/Wabash pod, but it doesn't work because Monmouth is 575 miles from Alliance.

[smedindy]

the NCAA - penny wise and pound foolish.

[smedindy]

Morel - Almost from day one this guy has been taking hits for not being Creighton, Raeburn, or for that matter, BJ Hammer.

I think that's a mischaracterization. It was known from day one (by some) that he wouldn't be as successful as those coaches. That has borne itself out to be true. You can't follow up the two most successful coaches in our program's history and not expect comparison, especially when that standard isn't met. That's different from "not being" those coaches.

It is also that the NCAC is improving, whether we like to admit it or not. Also, let us not forget the 7-3, 6-4 records in 2003 and 2004 - losing to Kalamazoo in 2003 and losing 4 out of 5 to end 2004. And then the "Are you kidding me?" home losses to Allegheny and Oberlin in 2012.

All I want is Wabash to compete well and stack up to the best teams in the region 9 seasons out of 10. We will have a down year once in a while. 8-2, 8-2, 7-3 would earn many coaches raises. We can and will do better.

The most important thing is how these young men do in the classroom and community, and how they fulfill Wabash's mission statement.

[Li'l Giant]

Also, let us not forget the 7-3, 6-4 records in 2003 and 2004 - losing to Kalamazoo in 2003 and losing 4 out of 5 to end 2004. And then the "Are you kidding me?" home losses to Allegheny and Oberlin in 2012.

CC had already had a deep run in the playoffs and hadn't lost the Bell until 2004. In 2012 ER had already had 3 trips to the playoffs and was on a 3 Bell winning streak. There was some goodwill built up there that doesn't exist at this point.

The most important thing is how these young men do in the classroom and community, and how they fulfill Wabash's mission statement.

I don't disagree but that implies they are mutually exclusive. They're not. I'm not advocating we hire Art Briles or something. 2001-2015 proved that both can be attainable.

[formerd3db]

Playoffs- How did Wabash get sent to North Central and Hanover get sent to Mount Union? Hanover clearly would be a higher seeded team. Why would they get sent to the top seed in the region with no difference in travel costs or any issue regarding scheduling rematches?

Jim Catanzaro talks about this pretty directly on today's ATN podcast.

I did like Pat's take on the subject as some other things could have moved around and not added cost.

It's a moot point now (and FWIW), but in that regard (travel distances/cost), Hope should have been paired with Hanover, Monmouth, Aurora, Wabash, or North Central or Wheaton. But as some others have said, some of us really didn't want to see Hope/Aurora II and, aside from not getting the chance to "return" to one of those great older rivalries we've had in the past (Wabash, Wheaton), it is good to get a chance to play a team we haven't faced in past years and see how we stack up. I would have been fine with Central (IA) also, but Wartburg will be a good matchup as well.

A Hope/Wheaton semi-final would be "out of this world!, But,  realistically, the chances of that are just that!😁But...you never know!🤪🙂

[1837Tigers]

This just in - Bill is a great guy and a good friend.  Happy for him, sad to see him going. https://www.depauwtigers.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20191119iciznn

[CollegeGolf18]

Don Morel Show just came out. Here are a few snippets from what he said:

"DePauw played extremely well throughout the game at a higher level than I could have imagined."
"We felt like we were the better team and we should have won that game."
"Defense played extremely well."
"We shot ourselves in the foot all day long in the red zone. You can't just go down there and kick field goals."

(On the missed TD call with 1:45 to go)
"It's a game-changing play and you can't do anything about it."
"I really admire our players who haven't said anything about it. We have went through tougher things here at Wabash, unfortunately, so they are going to get through this Bell loss."
"Whether it was the officiating or what, we didn't play well and we are moving on."

(On getting the North Central film, I thought it was very interesting)
"Between 8PM when the film arrived and 2AM...that kind of equated to our typical Sunday where we have been done by 5PM."

(More on North Central)
"They are the most skilled team I have seen since being here. Our defense is going to have to play their best game to hang in there with them."
"Our ability to run the football is going to be critical. We need to keep our defense off the field. We are really going to pick our spots to make a play on offense."

(On being one of the 32 football teams still practicing...thoughts on the season)
"Incredibly proud"
"We have 3 goals. The #1 goal is to win the Bell game. Sometimes we get scoffed at about it until you lose the Bell game, then you realize that really is the #1 goal."
"We won the conference championship by beating Wittenberg and beating Denison and we get to go to the playoffs."
"This is something we wanted. We set the goal and we achieved it and I am incredibly proud of our Wabash football team."
"The men that play on Saturday are all great Wabash men and we all should be very proud of them."

Some interesting bites in here.

[Dr. Acula]

ER is the new HC at Gannon.  Good luck!

[Li'l Giant]

ER is the new HC at Gannon.  Good luck!

I had no doubt he'd be a head coach again soon. Always wish him the best.

[aueagle]

Good luck to the LG's...put all the politics aside & play Wabash football.
Represent yourself, the NCAC, and your great traditions like you always have...with class. GO DEEP in your run !!!

[Li'l Giant]

Good luck to the LG's...put all the politics aside & play Wabash football.
Represent yourself, the NCAC, and your great traditions like you always have...with class. GO DEEP in your run !!!

Thanks, aueagle.

At the end of the day we all want Wabash to win. Tomorrow and every game. Always means always.

[BayernFan]

Well Wabash is not completely impotent but Greenfield is unstoppable.  200 yards rushing at the half?  Wow. 

Not liking the 2xp attempt or the fake field goal. Smacks of desperation and an underdog mentality.  Of course, if they had worked (like the 4th and 19 TD pass) then......  lol

Wabash gets the ball to start the second half down 16.  Buckle down.  Lock that jaw.  Get a turnover or two.  Take points.

[BayernFan]

Wabash is running the ball well.  Need stops.

[wally_wabash]

Well Wabash is not completely impotent but Greenfield is unstoppable.  200 yards rushing at the half?  Wow. 

Not liking the 2xp attempt or the fake field goal. Smacks of desperation and an underdog mentality.  Of course, if they had worked (like the 4th and 19 TD pass) then......  lol

Wabash gets the ball to start the second half down 16.  Buckle down.  Lock that jaw.  Get a turnover or two.  Take points.

Wabash were underdogs in a pretty significant way today.  It was always going to take some risks today to win.  Why not go all out?  If he chose to kick and lay down all day, you'd have criticized him for that too. There's no way that they could have played today that would have satisfied you because your mind has been made up. It sucks that the team has to play and compete to prove their own "fans" wrong. 

I was proud of the way Wabash played today.  They got flat out beat by two lines that were just better.  The offense played a good game, but Wabash couldn't trade FGs for touchdowns today.  The defense needed some stops or a turnover or three and it just didn't happen.  That was an elite team that beat Wabash today.  Should be an outstanding game in Alliance next week.