FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[DePauwalum05]

Impressive outcome for DePauw over Denison.  Was surprised this wasn't closer.  DPU jumped out to a 17-0 lead and outgained Denison something like 200 to 20 yards through the first 20-25 minutes of the game.  The offense sputtered a bit in the second half, perhaps due in part to conservative play with the lead.  The defense is stout.  Great to see at least a share of the conference crown in Greencastle and an outright championship if the Tigers win one of the next two.

What is the outlook for 'bash vs. Witt?  This may be one of the more inconsequential matchups for these two, but it should be an interesting game nonetheless. 

DePauw can't look past Oberlin, but the Bell promises to be a great matchup, especially with the high-power 'bash offense vs. strong DPU defense.  Can DPU exploit Wabash D, as other NCAC teams have done recently?  As mentioned earlier, I expect 'bash will be ready despite some recent struggles.  Plenty of history of favorites being upset in this game.  2007 and 2008 were glorious.  2010 was a nightmare.

Here's to an awesome, historic rivalry.  Grateful to be a part of it -

[sigma one]

Welcome DePauwalum05.   Plus one from me for you first post.  This week is big for Wabash.  I'd rate the game a toss up because of the Wabash defensive problems.  But the DePauw game, although at Wabash, I'd set an early line of DPU by 8/10 points.  The DePauw defense is really good v. both the run and the pass.  You are right about upsets being fairly common in the Bell series, but I just think this is the Tigers' year.
     An interesting thing that gives me hope for Wabash (hope rather than confidence) is that of the LGs two losses this year one has been by 3 points.  Against Wooster,  Wabash kicked an apparently game-tying field goal only to have Wooster call a time out just before the snap.  The second try was missed.   Against OWU in overtime, Wabash threw a TD pass on 4th down (assuming they then would kick the PAT).  Wait, holding.  Ball back 10 yards, QB sack.  Game over.  Had they scored the TD, would they have gone for two?   They did that successfully v. Denison, and late in the 4th quarter v. OWU they converted a two-point conversion to tie the game.
     So, despite the poor poor defense, Wabash's two losses have been by 3 points, and then 7 points in OT.  Credit the offense for outscoring everyone else.
     But I just believe the DPU defense is so dominant this year, and the offense productive enough (particularly given the horrid Wabash D), to give a big edge to the Tigers.
     I'm getting ahead of myself;  more from a lot of us next week. 

[VoodooDoc]

Get BJ Hammer!

Coach Hammer is busy right now.  He is in the midst of a rebuilding program at Bowdoin.  If you want some "Hard Hat D" Wabash style, bring Blair Hammer out of retirement from coaching.  He is in the area.

[Crawford]

Nice article about female football coaches in Around the Nation.  Wouldn't it be awesome if Wabash hired the first female head coach.  I actually like Morel as coach, so maybe a female D coordinator.

[DonnieMilan4DPU]

HansenRatings had DePauw -1.9 this week

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aHZjh26_l_8w1RKov5Gn2W3lY3Smrn5zul0ewGgCetQ/edit#gid=1463296079

Thank you for the link to the HansenRatings. Do you have access for the week 9 and week 10 HansenRatings as well? Some big games this weekend in NCAC play as well as the Monon Bell game the following weekend. Even in Crawfordsville, I would imagine DePauw is a slight favorite.

[Crawford]

Ryan, hate is too strong of a word.  Unfortunately I agree with your assessment but I'll watch the game and hope for the best.

[Li'l Giant]

This has been the quietest Witt week I can recall. I looked back and the 5 combined losses are the most since Wabash joined the NCAC for football in the 2000 season. There were several seasons Wabash/Witt combined for 3, but never 5. I guess that's why it's so quiet.

[Crawford]

Who is advising Morel about special trams?  Why don't we just kick-off out of bounds?

[Crawford]

Wabash is going to finish 5th in the conference, and will have lost to every school higher than them in the standings.  Can't get anymore mediocre than that.

[Li'l Giant]

Can't get anymore mediocre than that.

Let's not give anyone any challenges here.

I'm not going to repeat myself as I have since 2016. If you're satisfied with the state of Wabash football, I can't help you.

This defense has given up 38, 44, 35, 34, and 35 points in games this season. At this point I don't think Wabash can do any worse with a complete reboot on the staff of the defense.

Crazy things happen in Monon Bell games but these results do not inspire confidence, or hope even.

[Whitecarrera]

Is there any way we could recruit eleven Casey Crozier's?
That would solve things!

[Crawford]

Congratulations to Depauw for winning the conference.  Hope you do the NCAC proud.

[HCAlum86]

Does Depauw get an AQ, even if they are upset in the Monon Bell game?

[wabashcpa]

Does Depauw get an AQ, even if they are upset in the Monon Bell game?

Yes they do, 2 game cushion on everybody.

[smedindy]

Lurked all year, and will lurk again. (New VP, new President, new systems, lotsa work):

Like most on this board, I'm disappointed with Wabash's season. And while in theory I understand the no-return policy from Morel, it seems that it can be easily gamed by the opposing coaches. And kickoffs are different than punts in this aspect.

But my main comment is about the NCAC. Over the years, we wanted the rest of the NCAC to 'catch up' to Wabash and Witt. OWU and Wooster especially seemed like they had the resources and base to do so, and DPU, of course, was somehow in the weeds.

But then, Denison came up, thanks to coach Hatem, and now DPU, Wooster, and OWU are quite competitive.  Allegheny had some flashes (but now they're leaving).

The question is: are Witt and Wabash down, or HAS the NCAC caught up?

It makes for a better conference race and interest. Six teams slugging it out can be fun, if you don't have a fervent rooting instance. And I know this is post-Covid year 1 which has its challenges. But are we going to have to get used to one of the six squads or is this a fluke?

That second non-conference game could really help the league in playoff seeding if scheduled properly. Kenyon, Hiram, and Oberlin need to schedule winnable games, and the other six need to get good D3 opponents.