FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[DePauwalum05]

Enjoyed re-watching the Monon bell over the holidays. Not rubbing it in at all, but just near-flawless game plan and execution on both sides of the ball. Exceptional defensive scheme, coverage, pressure, and intensity for six sacks, six fumbles (1 recovered), two pic-sixes any generally shutting down 'bash's high-powered offense all day. Only allowed the one big pass out of the endzone to midfield. That defense was a symphony.

Outstanding blocking at all positions on O. Gus Bus ran hard all day, peeling off 5, 10, 18 yards, always falling forward with 2-3 white jerseys on him. Renie was efficient enough, and came up big with a sneaky DPU record four Bell TD passes.

As Morel said, DePauw played at a higher level than we had all year. Great to see guys step up like that and with great coaching. Interesting to see how the recruiting goes. Noted the transfer from Butler, Cathedral grad Mencer at RB. Go Tigers! Happy holidays all

[WAF5290]

Wabash travels to Butler week 2. Their last time playing was 1976 with the last time Wabash beating Butler in 1969. Hopefully the Little Giants can figure out how to play defense between now and the fall.

[Shamrock]

Also an extremely early bye week for the Little Giants between the trip to Hampden Sydney on the 2nd of September and the trip to the Butler Bowl on the 16th.

[Li'l Giant]

Why TF are we playing Butler? There's zero upside to that game. Out of 239 other D3 teams we couldn't find an opponent? And only 4 home games? What a weird schedule.

[sigma one]

Wabash played six home games in 2022.  We owed HS-C a game in Virginia.  Then, there's Butler.  I'm sure the Bulldogs would not come to C'ville, so . . .But the question remains: why Butler?  All the window dressing in the world about Indiana players getting to play in Indy, etc.  does not excuse what many will consider, as do I, a mistake.  Last year, I understood North Central; play the best of DIII, with probably zero chance to win.  But at least it was DIII and a team from the Chicago area at home. 
     So far, this is a much as I can find about other NCAC teams and their OOC schedules.  Denison:  Capital and Hilbert.  DePauw:  Rose-Hulman and Anderson.  Hiram:  Heidelberg and Mt St Joseph.   Kenyon:  Bluffton and Kalamazoo.  Oberlin:  ? and Alvernia.  Ohio Wesleyan:  Otterbein and ?.  Wittenberg:  Dubuque and ?.  Wooster:  Wilmington and Olivet. 
   I think we all know the Wabash/Butler game will be non competitive.  Several years ago DPU played them and scored three TDs but got stomped.  A long time ago I went to the  Butler Bowl to watch Wittenberg in their first game of the year.  Butler beat them something like 49-7 (best I can recall),  Witt then ran the table, winning the next nine games.  And that year Butler had a losing record.  This time they are coming off a pretty solid 2022. 
     I think Wabash will start 1-1.  But HS-C has a lot of talent returning from the team that took Wabash to the wire last fall.  It's possible that the LGs could start 0-2.  And I'm not being pessimistic. 

[formerd3db]

sigma one and Li'l Giant:

I have always appreciated and respect your postings over the years and still do. However, I admit that I have a different opinion than you regarding scheduling of the Butler game (and this general topic has been discussed by in past years, although it has been quite some time). Personally, I have no problem with scheduling a team like that. IMO, it is a great and exciting opportunity for the players in playing an upper level team (some people disagree with the premise that the Pioneer League FCS non-scholarship teams are in that category, however, I disagree).

Playing that type of competition (an upper level team whether it is a DII or FCS non-scholarship program) makes a team better even if you lose. Second, in reality, it doesn't matter if you lose (even big) because the bottom line is a DIII team still has to win their league to get the automatic bid. And, if by chance a team beats a "Butler" in a down year for them, that's a bonus. Way back in my day when there was no playoff opportunities until my last year, our HC (who played at a major DI school and in the pros and was a star player in both) had this same philosophy in playing a non-conference game against DII teams (and later, the D-IAA non-scholarship teams) because it made us better in the long run. Of course, no one likes to lose, but the opportunity to play a team like that can be a positive and exciting experience (and depending on the circumstance and the day, sometimes/perhaps in front of a huge crowd). Of course, it also depends on any specific year in regard to the talent level of one's team i.e. if a team is in a rebuilding phase or down year, getting your derriere kicked by those type of teams might not be fun, although again, I would argue in looking at the overall experience in a positive manner. Anyway, I realize there are many who may disagree with me, think I'm totally off base, which is fine. But that's just my opinion and philosophy on this topic.

BTW, (and you both know this), the stadium's name is the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl-the Butler Bowl is no longer. However, I agree with you that to us veterans (or for some of us, perhaps the better term is old school or old guys!), it will always be the Butler Bowl!

All best to your both.

   

[sigma one]

formerd3db:  Yes, we disagree, but you've made a sensible argument.  I can see both sides.  Here's a footnote.  When I was playing (and for a brief period coaching--though not football), I wanted a schedule where you had at least some chance to win, especially with OOC games.  I don't mean scheduling a team OOC that has almost no chance to beat YOU.  I mean that I wanted to be able to tell my athletes "Let's go out and do our best and, if things go well, we can be right there, win or lose."  The Wabash coaches will not schedule a weak sister OOC, and that's the right philosophy.  Take the sometimes scheduling of Hampden-Sydney, a worthy opponent and good choice to measure two all-male programs against one another. 
     I don't like scheduling either in another Division or NAIA unless absolutely necessary.  I know that there are DIII programs that will not schedule Wabash--because they have little or no chance to win. Fine.  But Wabash has the resources to go practically anywhere to schedule a game OOC.  There must have been better choices for 2023 than to schedule Butler.  I say that while understanding and appreciating your point of view about your team getting better by scheduling a top-tier team.  Reference last  year's Wabash game v.  North Central.  But, as I've already said, at least Wabash can point to the fact that the Cardinals were going to compete on the national DIII stage.
   

[Shamrock]

Wabash has a new defensive line coach, Marcus Adams, who most recently coached at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota.

[WAF5290]

DePauw seems to be spanking Wabash in recruiting the Indy kids. Wabash just lost another solid player from Bishop Chatard to Depauw. Sad part is, this kid's older brother attends Wabash. You can't lose a player like that esp when he will be paying 17k ish more per year. I think Don is going to hang his hat on Liam and then step down when Liam graduates. They seemed to have thrown in the towel on trying to out recruit their rival. In the near future, Tigers will dominate this rivalry.

[wildcat11]

Shout out to Denison for helping Linfield with our schedule issue. Looking forward to making the trip out this fall.

https://golinfieldwildcats.com/news/2023/4/17/football-linfield-adds-denison-to-2023-football-schedule.aspx

[D O.C.]

What he said.

[Crawford]

Any D3 guys who might get drafted or camp invites?

[ADL70]

Any D3 guys who might get drafted or camp invites?

https://www.d3football.com/notables/2023/04/d3fb-camp-invites

[sigma one]

Every year Wabash sponsors Big Bash (alumni weekend).   As part of the event, the College chooses a theme for presentations on a different topic relating to the liberal arts.  This afternoon the theme is "Wally in the Arena:  A Symposium on College Sports and the Liberal Arts."
Among the sessions will be one conducted by D3FB's own Ryan Tipps and Greg Thomas (both Wabash Class of 2000).  Their title is "Winning Isn't Everything:  How the Stories Shape the Impact of Small-College Athletics."   I am looking forward to hearing what they have to say. 

[Shamrock]

The football board has clawed its way back to the top of the page.

All is right with the world.