FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Vince McMahon]

Fair enough, Wally.   

[buffettfan1963]

The line about the drunk and the lampost is not a Lou Holtz saying, it was something Vin Scully talked about years and years ago about the use of statistics on broadcasts and what they really mean.

Statistics are a great way to argue and prove a point, but like with any/many numbers, they can be used in whatever way we want them to be used.

Although I agree Wabash had a very good defense last year, I recall a lot of points being scored upon them in two big games, one on the road and one at home.

[wally_wabash]

Again with the selective memories...

Wabash gave up 49 and 33 to Witt and Wooster, respectively.
Witt gave up 35 and 64 to Wabash and Wooster, respectively.
Wooster gave up 58 and 30 to Witt and Wabash ,respectively
Allegheny gave up 42 and 35 to Witt and Wooster, repspectively. 

A lot of points got scored on all of these teams in big games...it's only fair to be inclusive. 

[buffettfan1963]

I don't have selective memory. I've seen every Wabash game, home and road, for the past five years.  I'm quite aware of how well they've played, and how poorly they've played.

I was meerly pointing out that though they were good defensively last year, overall team statistics in college football are extremely misleading because the teams don't play the same schedule.

It might be more fair and more of a measuring stick to figure out what the big five or six did against each other exclusively.

[smedindy]

I would much rather play 10 weeks in a row than have a bye week. Besides, this week we scrimmage against a very good Wheaton team and that will tell us a lot about where Wabash is.

[wittdaone]

Smed

I think if your team is going to make the playoffs, you would like to play 10 in a row then have a week off to heal and prepare for your first round opponent or rest 2 weeks if you are Mount Union.

[scotty]

Wally, Coach Holtz and "trashing" don't really go together.

buffettfan, Coach Holtz said that at a golf outing that i attended...i didnt know he didnt write all his stories...sorry...

[buffettfan1963]

Coach Holtz is a great speaker

There was some talk about this season, and undefeated or not undefeated, and I finally think we are going to have a season with the first place team having a loss in the regular season.  It's going to be awfully competitive this season, and each team has a couple of holes, big enough, to make a difference.

I, for one, am looking forward to the season and the games.

[wally_wabash]

Ask and  you shall receive.  Here are the 2004 defensive stats for Allegheny, OWU, Wabash, Witt, and Wooster in the four games that they played against one another:  

Points per game allowed:
OWU -- 19.75
Allegheny -- 26.00
Wooster -- 26.75
Wabash -- 28.00
Witt -- 37.00

Passing yards allowed per game:
OWU -- 134.5
Allegheny -- 160.25
Wabash -- 160.75
Witt -- 220.75
Wooster -- 262.5

Rushing yards allowed per game:
Wooster -- 104.75
Wabash -- 176.5
OWU -- 178.75
Allegheny -- 199.75
Witt -- 243.75!!

Total yards allowed per game:
OWU -- 313.25
Wabash -- 337.25
Allegheny -- 360.0
Wooster -- 367.25
Witt -- 464.5!!


What did we learn...in this set of games, which accounts for only 40% of the games these teams played, OWU had the best defense statistically.  However, the regular season isn't just four games and we don't get to just pick and choose which games count for stats and which games don't.  OWU's nightmares against Franklin and Olivet last year count.  Wabash's nightmares against Wooster and Witt count.  Witt's nightmares against...well, everybody really, count.  The point is that the season is 10 games long and when you're going to talk about best this or best that from last season you have to include the entire season otherwise you're not really making any valid point at all.  

[buffettfan1963]

Wally what those point out is something we really already knew, which is that save for a few plays Wabash could have been undefeated in conference play last year, but you have to make those plays so no reason to "what if."

Last year was a strange year all the way around, and not taking anything at all from Wooster last season because they should have and did win the conference. 

As I said before, I don't see a clear cut favorite this season. Though I think Shafer is a very good QB, he still has to do it without Sutton and Mac. Witt has to prove that they can stop someone. Allegheny has had a lot of changes over the last two seasons, but may enjoy the best home field advantage of anyone in the conference because of the field conditions, not because of home support.  And I just don't know about OWU. I can't see that team putting together a string of wins week in and week out against the big five, but hey, that's why the games get played.

[aueagle]

Glad to have the season start...even though the championship was awarded to the Little Giants during the summer. Good luck to all the squads this fall & hopefully with no major injuries. Thanks Pat for the updated site and for all your help. GO BISHOPS

[smedindy]

Witt - well, there's that tradition of the Bell Game in the way of that scenario. And it wouldn't be November without the loathing of the Dannies.

Aueagle - I guess you missed the memo when the whole BOARD basically said they agreed with the way the coaches and media polls had it spelled out. Of course that was the other board, and facts are dangerous things, etc.

This year,  if someone breaks out the broad brush they'd better watch out.

Grrrr.....

[wally_wabash]

Really, had Wabash bothered to show up for more than just one half of the Witt and Wooster games, Wabash would have been in the playoffs last year.  But that was last year, we all agree that it was a strange, discombobulated year and I'm more than ready to leave it in the past. 

A few final musings as we stand on the eve of our 2005 season...
- I think Wabash has the goods to make a deep run this year
- I think that there are three other teams in our conference that can rightly say the same thing right now
- I think our conference champion will be undefeated
- I think Wooster is in for a much bigger free fall than any of us realize
- I think that our games amongst the top four or five in the conference are going to be extremely competitive
- I think that Hiram is going to score more than the 47 points they scored last year...but I don't think that they'll win a game this year. 
- I think the best QB in the conference doesn't play for Wabash or Witt or Wooster...he's a Quaker.  Go see him when he comes to your stadium. 
- I think it's time to stop talking about the hypothetical and start talking about reality. 

Enjoy your kickoffs! 

[patsajak]

I will be unable to attend the Wabash/Wheaton scrimmage on Saturday.  I wish the Little Giants all the best and i hope that someone will drop some knowledge on this board at its conclusion.  Here we go for the 2005 season!!!!

[Li'l Giant]

Good luck to the NCAC tomorrow. We need to win some non-con games. I hate this waiting a week but what can you do? I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.