FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[TigerKing]

PJSmith08 - Legitimate question for any D3 school... who does the president fear/answer to the most?  Alumni?  The board of directors (high earning alumni)? The faculty? The student body?  I've thought about this for years, and I respect your letter, but I wonder how seriously it will be taken.  Money talks, and even at a school with a rich football history like Wabash, I don't think football is a big driver of financial revenue.  Before I get jumped about how a football roster drives enrollment, I'll point out that on the website Wabash currently has 116 football players on the roster; the 2015 team that won 12 games had 115.  From a president's standpoint that's a wash, and maybe even advantage 2023, assuming they didn't have to shell out extra dollars because of pressure from the coaching staff for "good" players.

I'm a teacher, and give $100 a year to my alma mater.  I'm sure that's appreciated, but I'm also assuming my opinions are weighed on a scale based on wins (dollars donated), strength of schedule (profession chosen), and wins against top 25 opponents (my donations compared to my friends who practice medicine).

It's an interesting question, and not one with with an obvious answer.  I've heard the stories of Denison getting rid of Greek life, and how that was going to be the death blow for the college, but they seem to be thriving, both in terms of endowment and football success.  At the same time, I look at a school like Defiance and wonder how they'll keep their doors open if they lose the support of football players and alumni.  Plus, there's the very difficult political landscape a president must navigate, and I suspect that the faculty are often at odds with football alums in that that category...

[sigma one]

TigerKing, et al.  Denison still has a Greek system; the chapters do not, however, have dedicated housing.  For a long time fraternities had "privileged" housing, living in their own chapter houses.  Sorority members lived in the dorms and had chapter meetings in lodges (maybe other functions in them too?).  I'm sure others with more knowledge of what happened in the early 1990s can get into the weeds far more than I.  But, as I understand it,  the Trustees and administration decided to remove the fraternities from their dedicated houses.  When the decision was announced, the fraternities took furniture from the buildings and burned it.  When the fire department responded, they were rudely greeted.
      Today, about a third of Denison students join Greek organizations; way down from the time when at Denison the Greek system dominated the campus.  Of course, over the past 20/25 years membership is down nationally, but at Denison the drop seems beyond the average. 
      I know some of this because at the time I was fortunate to read some of the communication that was being sent to students and alumni.  Anyway, it wasn't pretty.

[PJSmith08]

I wrote the letter to present  historical facts about the football program and to indicate patterns of the program.I sent the letter knowing full well that it will most likely go to the circular file, but it is my two cents, nothing more or less, in as respectful and integral manner as I can possibly be. I have spent far too much of my life expressing vitriol over an online forum under a pseudonym and that hasn't done anything but burn bridges. I figure this letter, written under my real name and on paper was the most integral way of expressing my thoughts. It most likely will reach the trash can, but my integrity is intact. Anyways, that's all I've got.

[Li'l Giant]

PJSmith08 - Legitimate question for any D3 school... who does the president fear/answer to the most?  Alumni?  The board of directors (high earning alumni)? The faculty? The student body?

It depends on the issue. The football team being mediocre isn't going to get the torches and pitchforks marching on Center Hall. Wabash alumni will get this but, ask F. Sheldon Wettack what gets that kind of reaction.

I'm not trying to be flippant, I know he passed away a few years ago. It was rhetorical. Just saying I think that the only issue that causes any president at Wabash any real danger is wanting to go co-ed. Just about anything else can be survived, imo.

[Crawford]

Depauw receives the opening kick-off. 9 seconds into the game and the Scots are up 8 - 0.

Nice response by the Tigers. 8 - 7.

[formerd3db]

PJSmith08 - Legitimate question for any D3 school... who does the president fear/answer to the most?  Alumni?  The board of directors (high earning alumni)? The faculty? The student body?

It depends on the issue. The football team being mediocre isn't going to get the torches and pitchforks marching on Center Hall. Wabash alumni will get this but, ask F. Sheldon Wettack what gets that kind of reaction.

I'm not trying to be flippant, I know he passed away a few years ago. It was rhetorical. Just saying I think that the only issue that causes any president at Wabash any real danger is wanting to go co-ed. Just about anything else can be survived, imo.

LG,
Check your PMs.

[Crawford]

From the Quick Hits panel it looks like Frank was the winner in picking games - through the first 15 games. He didn't miss any winner and was closest to the correct score in 4 games (by my estimation).  Patrick got 3 games closest but missed two picks.  Fun weekend.

[TigerKing]

Good game yesterday in Alma.  Of the last three years, this is the best looking squad DePauw has sent into the playoffs.  Seems to me that in the playoffs you need to be able to run the ball to make any noise - the Tigers were unable to do that in the first half, and while they slowed the Alma O down enough to win, they never recovered from the opening turnover/touchdown.  At some point, I hope DPU gets used to playing an 11th game, and can start to make a push through the playoffs.  Congrats on a great season none-the-less!

[smedindy]

I don't think Defiance will have much fallout from dropping to NAIA. They'll have some scholarships, and they just lowered tuition.

Unless something drastic happens, and at Wabash we know what that is, the College will be in good shape with enrollment and financial support. When I was working in Advancement at the College, straight out Athletics giving was minor. Don't know if that's the same now, but the main thrust of giving is the annual fund and major gifts for scholarships and endowments.

[Li'l Giant]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and safe travels if you're on the move to visit loved ones. I'm grateful for another season with all of y'all and our favorite teams.

Enjoy the family, food and football this weekend. There's much to be thankful for.

WAF

LilGiant

[WAF 89]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[WAF 89]

"D3boards, you're on mute!"

[Crawford]

Not one of the Elite 8 teams fair caught their opening kick-off.

[Whitecarrera]

Trust me, I get your point, but it was really only four teams 

[Crawford]

Trust me, I get your point, but it was really only four teams 

I know I'm kicking a dead horse with hoping Wabash will ever return a kick, but all eight teams returned the first kick they received in the game (actually it appears almost every kick-off was returned in all 4 games by every team, and some of the punts too.).