FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Whitecarrera]

It's all good. I think you and I have a pretty similar perspective with a lot of things on this board, perhaps including the idea that coaches can be judged by a variety of metrics. Sometimes on-the-field success and success are not necessarily the same.

[sigma one]

Morel has been a strong presence on campus.  He has been involved in several activities outside the athletics department.  He is stepping away from coaching and moving over to a position in fundraising. 
     This year's record so far, with a bowl game looming (the seniors will have a choice whether they want to play; I don' know if it will be individual choices or a vote), there may be one more opportunity. 
The season's 8-2 is a good way for Don to go out, the losses being to Platteville and DePauw, both in the D3FB top 25.  Both playoff teams.  So, they could be 9-2 if things fall in their favor.
     If some or all the seniors decide not to play, we will get an early picture of the 2025 team.  I can see the seniors being split among themselves about playing an extra game.  But competing in an 11th game could be a positive for recruiting.   

[Little Giant 89]

Here are the specifics on bowl game logistics:

https://northcoast.org/news/2024/11/17/football-inaugural-opendorse-bowl-series-match-ups-released.aspx

[wally_wabash]

Over the years, much bemoaning has come from the lack of new teams getting deep in the playoffs and one reason why I believe that's the case is because teams that go deep in the playoffs get more practice time.  For years and years and years, Mount Union was earning five extra weeks of practice time while everyone else is getting ready for spring ball. Earning a spot in a bowl game this week is pretty invaluable.  All teams have a set number of practice opportunities- until now, where teams that played well enough to earn a spot in the playoffs or a bowl game get bonus opportunities to practice, get better, and be with their brothers for one more week.  My stance on postseason bowl games that aren't part of the playoffs has definitely shifted over the years, and I'm happy to see this come to the NCAC and happy to see Wabash get the chance to practice and play one more week.  I can't really see a downside to this. 

[Little Giant 89]

This will be a very important part of the Little Giant offseason:

https://www.wabash.edu/employment/?job_id=1993

[CollegeGolf18]

This will be a very important part of the Little Giant offseason:

https://www.wabash.edu/employment/?job_id=1993

HAVE to get it right. It cannot turn into a situation like DC was the last few years.

[LG67]

Maybe a new AD also?

[ExTartanPlayer]

Over the years, much bemoaning has come from the lack of new teams getting deep in the playoffs and one reason why I believe that's the case is because teams that go deep in the playoffs get more practice time.  For years and years and years, Mount Union was earning five extra weeks of practice time while everyone else is getting ready for spring ball. Earning a spot in a bowl game this week is pretty invaluable.  All teams have a set number of practice opportunities- until now, where teams that played well enough to earn a spot in the playoffs or a bowl game get bonus opportunities to practice, get better, and be with their brothers for one more week.  My stance on postseason bowl games that aren't part of the playoffs has definitely shifted over the years, and I'm happy to see this come to the NCAC and happy to see Wabash get the chance to practice and play one more week.  I can't really see a downside to this. 

There is no downside, I guess other than your support staff needing to coordinate one more bus ride and/or hotel stay and/or team meal (depending on how far you're going for the bowl game).

I'm not sure how much difference one extra week of practice makes in a team's future, but as a Guy Who Was Once A Senior On A Team That Made A D3 Bowl Game The Year After Making The Playoffs, it's almost *inconceivable* to me that there's actual discussion on this board of whether seniors would choose to play in the game. Are you kidding me?!?!

I played football for 14 years. I had always (and to some extent still do!) identified myself as a football player before anything else. As my senior season hit a disappointing patch at midseason (meaning a repeat trip to the playoffs was off the table) and then picked up momentum towards the end with 4 straight wins, the chance to play one more game was awesome, a temporary reprieve from The End Of Being A Football Player. One more game that was basically a just-for-fun postseason game, but with a sense of finality KNOWING that it was the last game I would ever play (unlike the playoffs - where you never know for sure it's the last one unless it's the Stagg).

I mean, guys, this was the most fun week of practice I ever had by. A mile. There's no real pressure on the bowl game so you just get that one last week of Being A Football Player without much pressure on it. And then one more game to put on the pads? One last time to stand on the field after the game talking to your family before you go in and take off the pads forever? 

I'm honestly not sure how much I agree with Greg's point about one week of extra practice time meaningfully altering a future trajectory but I absolutely agree with the bowl games being a net positive thing. I think it's great for 7-3 and 8-2 teams to get one more chance to line up against a similar caliber opponent from a peer conference. In D3 where we all complain about limited OOC play in general and even more about limited chances for good teams to test each other, I welcome the chance for bowl games between the second/third/fourth place teams from conferences in a similar geographic footprint that otherwise don't play one another often. I know Pat has in the past questioned how much stock to put in bowl results when trying to stack conferences against one another because of concerns that not all D3 teams take bowl games equally seriously, but I do think they're still useful data and even if not they're a cool chance for you to play somebody decent that you don't play every year.

[Little Giant 89]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Crawford]

Congratulations Depauw.  Do the NCAC proud.

[CollegeGolf18]

What a tough way to lose. I feel bad for Depauw.

[Ron Boerger]

What a tough way to lose. I feel bad for Depauw.

Yes, because

1) what exactly was the penalty on the last play?
2) why did the ref roll the clock after the spike on first down at the one three plays earlier?
3) and then there's the blown call on Whitehead's TD in the third quarter where he was ruled OOB.

[cush]

4) why didn't DePauw run the ball on the first play at the 1? 

Ouch, that was a lot of bad luck for the tigers

[maripp2002]

Agreed, that went about as poorly as anything I've seen all year. That last drive was just something else. I thought there was a targeting call on the sideline on that incomplete pass, because it looked to me like the DB was leading right into the head but because it went so fast there was no time for a replay, so maybe not.

A great season for the Dannies with a brutal ending. It'll be interesting to see how they play next year in the new look NCAC, still a lot of talent in that program.

[Crawford]

Congratulations to Depauw for the conference championship and the win in the first round. All the extra practice will show dividends next season, or atleast it could.  Looking forward to next season.