FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashBacker#16]

Wabash press release on this weekend's game...

http://www.wabash.edu/sports/docs/Sept7release.pdf

Go Bash!

[ScotsFan]

Why is it that I can't run some commentary on other games around the league without everybody reading an underlying Wabash-centric subtext?  That I follow Wabash doesn't exclude my interest in other games and the other teams in the conference.  There's much more objectivity in these posts than you care to realize.

It's because your objective commentary, at least when Witt and Wooster are involved, doesn't always come off as being so objective.  You rarely have anything good to say and your personal dislike of Witt and Wooster comes through more than you might care to admit.  If you were truly being objective, you wouldn't let your personal bias come into play, and I think that would be impossible for you when Witt and Wooster are concerned (especially Witt).

...although I'll posit right now that Wabash could probably beat Muskingum by more than a field goal at Muskingum or at Wabash or on the moon or underwater or wherever you want to play the game and if they didn't the vast majority of us wouldn't be very pleased...

Are you now Nostradamus or is this some more of that objectivity shining through?!  You act as though we, as Wooster fans, are happy with the result last Saturday.  We are happy the Scots escaped with a win and that is about it.  Oh, and since you seem so sure that Wabash would handle Musky better than the Scots did, need I remind you of what happened to Wabash just 2 years ago at K-zoo in your season opener .  Stranger things have happened on opening week.

[BashBacker#16]

ScotsFan,

Now you've done it...now we are going to get a statistical analysis comparing Kalamazoo '03 vs. Musky '05!!!  I think we are reaching for topics at this point.  Wally - that would be too easy so don't waste the time.

I have to admit, I enjoyed hearing how it was Musky's grand opening of their monstrous stadium and how every citizen in neighboring counties packed the house to see the game...  That sounds like something I would try to rationalize after a poor Little Giant performance.

[scotty]

did the fact that Wooster went 11 and 1 last year really upset you Wabash guys?...i dont get it...by the way, it was a nice crowd in New Concord...an ugly win, but a win none the less...

[Li'l Giant]

Personally, I didn't have a problem with Wooster going 11-1. More power to them. I kind of like the fact our conference has had 4 different champs in the last 4 years. Could anyone really have a problem with that?

[smedindy]

All of the Wooster posters have their deflector shields up! Have you all not noticed how many of the Wabash fans cheerlead the NCAC (even...groan...Witt) non-conference? My gosh, you think we're still interlopers here.

Wooscot - may I remind you about the broad brush! C'mon.

Objectively, I've followed D-3 for many years, and squeaking by Musky, no matter what the circumstances, doesn't bode well if a team wants to contend for a championship.

And someone from WITT saying that people don't like another school. Ye olde potte and kettle conundrum there.

[cufan]

After week 1 would Witt still be selected to win the NCAC?  If not who would it be?

[wabco]

WABASH

[big_bash]

In all fairness, it is really difficult to postulate who would be voted #1 after week 1 when Wabash hasn't played. Do I think Witt would be moved down? Possibly, I won't say definitely because several people DID learn a lesson from the Gators in '03.

Do I think OWU might get more respect? Probably. The Bishops came out the gate strong, which is always a good sign. Denison would also probably be treated with more respect, BUT Wabash is still an unknown.

As positive as I am about Wabash's chances this season, we haven't played. If we lose to, barely beat or demolish Kalamazoo will only tell us so much as well.

In the meantime, I wish ALL NCAC schools luck in the non-conference season.

[wooscot]

First, I couldn't help myself.  No hard feelings, as always.  Second, I personally know former Wabash students  and players and have the utmost respect for not only the program, but also the institution itself.   

That said, the broad brush is needed sometimes to paint the collective fan base of Wabash as wearing  rose-colored glasses when commenting on the Little Giants.  Some are more objective than others, but the same sort of "we don't we rebuild, we reload" attitude just isn't realistic outside of Alliance.  I haven't seen another Jake Knott or Blair Hammer yet, have you? 

Wooster's problems appear to be the same as last year.  Ineffective pass blocking at times and a glaring failure to maintain consistent QB play.  Everybody knew the RB situation would be a wildcard, and it probably still is despite the 100 yd effort.  The D still looks tough, with a strong nucleus returning, but again, everybody knows you don't simply replace All-American D-linemen or All-Conference LBs overnight.  The true test will be how Wooster improves from Week 1 to Week 2....we should all have a better sense after this weekend where Wooster stands, as well as Witt.

Now, as all eyes gaze-upon C-bus this weekend for the "Showdown in the Shoe," I have to admit I'm more concerned this week about the OSU-Texas game than any DIII game. Sorry, just being honest. 

[BashDad]

Even though Week #1 was not kind to the NCAC, Week #2 holds a lot of promise against non-conference foes.  Good matchups.  My wishes of good luck to all NCAC teams--hope all have safe and successful play.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!!  

[wally_wabash]

So that you guys don't have to guess as to where I stand on things: 

I pull for 9 of the 10 NCAC teams to do well every week.  My commentary here is tough because I think we, collectively as a conference can do better.  If there is a team outside of Wabash that I pull for most in this conference, it's Wooster.  I've always liked Wooster...people I've met there, people I've met in C'ville, across different sports (not just football)...Wooster is a classy outfit.  Once they beat Wabash last year, I was firmly in the Scot corner and I'm not at all beat up over the fact that Wooster won the conference championship and Wabash didn't.  Good for them, they earned it and they deserved it more than any other team in the conference.  That I like Wooster doesn't mean that I'm going to sugar coat problems I see or give them a pass on a bad performance.  13-10 over Musky is a red flag.  The starting qb has completed 16 of 46 passes in Wooster's scrimmage and first game.  We'd all have our heads up our collective kilts if we ignored this stuff.  My apologies if my commentary has come off as more abrasive than you like.  It's simply honest commentary on what's going on.  It sounds like the problem here isn't what was said as much as it was who said it.  That part of it, I think, you need to get over pretty quick. 

As for Witt...Wittenberg is the only NCAC team that I want to see lose each and every week.  As far as I'm concerned, Wittenberg and Depauw are about in the same boat.  All of the things I said about Wooster and their nice, classy people above...the exact opposite is true of my experiences with Wittenberg and their fans.  Especially when it comes to football.  So...Witt can soak.  And if they end up 5-5 this year, nobody will be happier about it than me. 

Now, the NCAC has a very legit shot to win 7 of our 10 games this weekend (should have been 8, but Witt was stupid enough to schedule Dayton...fools).  7 wins for our conference in one week would be the best week for the NCAC that I can remember....here's hoping they make it happen. 

[BashBacker#16]

Scotty,

I was actually glad Wooster won it last year and ran the table in the regular season.  Class players like Sutton and McNally (yes I am serious) helped.  McNally won me over with his performance against Wabash last year and how he approached Brandon Clifton after the game...class and stud performance.  I also was bummed they lost in the playoffs as I am sure most NCAC fans were - same as I was the year before when Gheny lost!

Is MacMurray any good this year?

[smedindy]

Wooscot - I'm sure Witt has the "we don't build, we reload" thing down pat. So does Linfield, St. John's, Trinity, Hardin-Simmons, Mary Hardin-Baylor, etc. etc.

A 6-4 record is disappointing, because there were high expectations for last year. This year, with many returnees, it's not rebuilding at all. Rebuilding is when you graduate a lot of starters and have a lot of fresh faces in the lineup. That hasn't happened for a while.  (1999, to be exact, would be a rebuilding year IMHO).

[bashbrother]

Wooster's season last year was good for the NCAC.  Anytime a NCAC team can get out of the first round of the playoffs, the conference is helped.

I was also glad to see Sutton and all of the Woo seniors get to taste a playoff run.