FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

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.

Had a busy weekend so I didn't get to chime in. I second all of this. I hope that the team, having seen what that level of team looks like, can use this experience in the offseason to prepare for next year.

WAF

[Li'l Giant]

This isn't our conference but just wanted to share this great quote from the article about this year's Wheaton team.

For the past two years, we've come up one or two games short. We've had opportunities we wish we could have had back. Realizing the pain of missing playoffs and conference titles by one or two plays is tough," said senior offensive lineman Jake Hibben. "Most programs would love to go 8-2, but 8-2 feels like we're falling short and we hated that feeling of losing.

Anyway, the full article is here: https://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2019/wheaton-2-wasnt-good-enough

[hcdawg804]

https://www.hiramterriers.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20191212oui3ew

new era begins now... let's see what he can bring to the NCAC

[Dr. Acula]

https://www.hiramterriers.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20191212oui3ew

new era begins now... let's see what he can bring to the NCAC

Interesting hire.  If I'm a Hiram guy I have to like that he's a young guy who's coached at some of the best programs in the East region.  He's certainly learned how successful programs are run.  My biggest concern would be the lack of any(?) recruiting knowledge of this part of the country.  Who knows, maybe he'll still recruit that part of the country too.  I wish him good luck.  I'm sure the excitement of running his own program is making sleep seem overrated right about now.

[MUC57]

To all my friends on this board

Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.
Glad tidings to all! ✝ 🎄

[sjujohnnie]

Speaking of Wheaton, Ryan won his second straight NAIA championship game with Morningside last night. What's the likelihood that he'd leave having built that program since they transitioned from Division II to the NAIA? Anxiously awaiting Wheaton's announcement of who their next coach will be! If he leaves it will also be interesting to see whether or not Morningside will fall off. Any idea what compensation for the head coaching position at Wheaton looks like versus Morningside?

[aueagle]

CC with the nice pre-game, sideline interview at the Quick Lane Bowl.
National exposure for EMU. CC on the rise???

[formerd3db]

CC with the nice pre-game, sideline interview at the Quick Lane Bowl.
National exposure for EMU. CC on the rise???

Yes. Am at the game now. Great game, but the Eastern Michigan receivers need to me those catches or they will lose the game
Too many dropped passes
Great crowd here!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Oh, so close!  EMU led at the half, 20-17.  Going into the 4th it was 20-20.  With time running down, EMU was up 30-27.  In the final minute, Pitt scored to win 34-30.  (EMU got it out to the 40, but had 4 consecutive incomplete passes.)

Perhaps it's just as well.  If EMU had won, CC might have gotten hired away - the ONLY coach who ever won a bowl game for EMU (1987 California Bowl) was immediately snatched up by UC-Berkeley.

Most people don't realize how basically impossible the situation is for EMU.  Rynearson Stadium is EIGHT miles from The Big House; EMU gets less media coverage than many D3 schools!  Prior to CC they suffered the worst possible combination: they were terrible AND they were boring.  (They had to cheat on attendance figures to keep D1 status - they got caught at it, but apparently the NCAA didn't give a f**k.)  I don't know if they can rise any higher than they have (they are now downright decent, and have beaten a Big 10 team each of the last three seasons, and gone to bowls 3 of the last 4 years); perhaps more importantly, they are now worth watching!

[formerd3db]

CC with the nice pre-game, sideline interview at the Quick Lane Bowl.
National exposure for EMU. CC on the rise???

Yes. Am at the game now. Great game, but the Eastern Michigan receivers need to me those catches or they will lose the game
Too many dropped passes
Great crowd here!

Oh, so close!  EMU led at the half, 20-17.  Going into the 4th it was 20-20.  With time running down, EMU was up 30-27.  In the final minute, Pitt scored to win 34-30.  (EMU got it out to the 40, but had 4 consecutive incomplete passes.)

Perhaps it's just as well.  If EMU had won, CC might have gotten hired away - the ONLY coach who ever won a bowl game for EMU (1987 California Bowl) was immediately snatched up by UC-Berkeley.

Most people don't realize how basically impossible the situation is for EMU.  Rynearson Stadium is EIGHT miles from The Big House; EMU gets less media coverage than many D3 schools!  Prior to CC they suffered the worst possible combination: they were terrible AND they were boring.  (They had to cheat on attendance figures to keep D1 status - they got caught at it, but apparently the NCAA didn't give a f**k.)  I don't know if they can rise any higher than they have (they are now downright decent, and have beaten a Big 10 team each of the last three seasons, and gone to bowls 3 of the last 4 years); perhaps more importantly, they are now worth watching!

Yes, so close, Mr.Ypsi. So disappointing, but a great bowl game! Attendance was just under 35,000- a great atmosphere at Ford Field! Had Eastern made one more first down in that last 2:05 of the game, I believe they would have won. However, it was not to be. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, their WRs dropped too many catchable passes, although QB Glass did not have a stellar performance as he was off on too many throws, and, the DB performance was terrible. No way should guys get bebind them like that on simple post patterns. Also, unfortunately, I am not sure what happened at the very end when Glass was ejected after being sacked and the ref knocked down in the scuffle (the lady in front me and my brother stood up blocking our view and the ESPN crew did not show the replay on the big stadium screen.) It was an ugly way to end the game.

Most of the younger posters here are too young to know the history of the program there (unless they really into college fb history), but, you, Mr. Ypsi, being a former prof at EMU know that well and your comments above are a great summary capsule. I was thinking the same as you that if they had won this game, CC might have been gone, however, I think now he will be there for a while longer (the coach you mention who guided them to that 1987 California Bowl was the late Jim Harkema, former Kalamazoo College star QB and Grand Valley State's first HC-that was the year that the MAC schools, especially Central Michigan was trying to kick them out, which is why, ever since then, I'm always glad when Eastern beats Central😁).

But, as you say, CC and staff have made them very respectable and at least competitive and fun to watch. They have now have legitimately met the DI attendance requirements in his recent years (quick story here- one of my former Hope teammate's sons was being recruited by EMU before CC's tenure and after seeing less than 1,000 people at Rynearson, he turned and said to his dad..Geez, Hope College gets more people to their games than here!🙄😬 He turned down his full-ride scholarship and went to Hope becoming an All-MIAA lineman multiple years!)

Anyway, EMU is competitive now ( kind of like Northwestern in the Big Ten) and certainly worth watching as you mention. The only question remaining is how long will CC remain there before he is snatched up by a bigger program? Thanks for the history summary, Ypsi!

(Now back to DIII topics!😁)

[Pat Coleman]

Glass punched two Pitt players in that scuffle, which was two unsportsmanlike penalties and automatic ejection. Dumb way for a guy to end his collegiate football career.

[ADL70]

Pre-d3, but EMU was a PAC member for a few years in early 60s.

[Li'l Giant]

(They had to cheat on attendance figures to keep D1 status - they got caught at it, but apparently the NCAA didn't give a f**k.)

How do they cheat at attendance? Asking for a moribund D1 program I'm a season ticket holder for.

Perhaps it's just as well.  If EMU had won, CC might have gotten hired away - the ONLY coach who ever won a bowl game for EMU (1987 California Bowl) was immediately snatched up by UC-Berkeley.

That might happen anyway. Like I mentioned earlier this season, given how long he's been at previous stops he may be due for a change.

I never had any doubt CC could get that program at a respectable level. That's just what he does. And I loved during the broadcast about how the team takes on his personality. His enthusiasm has always been contagious. I'll always root for any team that CC coaches.

[USee]

(They had to cheat on attendance figures to keep D1 status - they got caught at it, but apparently the NCAA didn't give a f**k.)

How do they cheat at attendance? Asking for a moribund D1 program I'm a season ticket holder for.

Perhaps it's just as well.  If EMU had won, CC might have gotten hired away - the ONLY coach who ever won a bowl game for EMU (1987 California Bowl) was immediately snatched up by UC-Berkeley.

That might happen anyway. Like I mentioned earlier this season, given how long he's been at previous stops he may be due for a change.

I never had any doubt CC could get that program at a respectable level. That's just what he does. And I loved during the broadcast about how the team takes on his personality. His enthusiasm has always been contagious. I'll always root for any team that CC coaches.

Interestingly, Heather Lyke is the AD at Pitt, whom EMU lost to, and came from EMU. She was the one who hired Chris at EMU and is a huge fan. It wouldn't have been a surprise if she hired Chris to replace Narduzi if EMU had won that game. She may still do it but optics are tough.

[Mr. Ypsi]

(They had to cheat on attendance figures to keep D1 status - they got caught at it, but apparently the NCAA didn't give a f**k.)

How do they cheat at attendance? Asking for a moribund D1 program I'm a season ticket holder for.

The simplest possible way - they simply lied about the numbers.