FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[reality check]

Smed Indy

Mary Harding Baylor reloads?  How can you put a program that has only existed for seven years in the same mix with St. John's and others?  UMHB is very very good but they haven't been around long enough to rebuild.  They have barely been here long enough to build and load, let alone "re" anything.

[ScotsFan]

OK Wally, I'm ready to extend the olive branch.  You made some valid points in your last post.  Wooster is definately in a rebuilding stage this season and as much as I was spoiled by the success of last year's team, the reality is that Wooster is a year away for being a legit contender for the conference again.  The Scots lost just too much.  That said, I don't think that anyone is going to roll over Wooster.  I still think they will be very competitive within the conference, and seeing as the conference does not seem to have a clear cut favorite, there is still hope (althoug ever slight) that Wooster could repeat.

As far as your animosity towards Witt, I echo those feelings, just not quite to the degree you seem to despise them.  I understand where you're coming from though as from what you've described in your firsthand experiences with their fans.  You seem validated in your dislike of all things Witt.

Lastly,

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.

I would agree with one exception.  Witt @ Dayton!  What were they thinking??!!

[ScotsFan]

smed,

You actually think that Witt would boast about reloading with that defense, or lack of one, that they have??!!

[smedindy]

Mary Harding Baylor reloads?  How can you put a program that has only existed for seven years in the same mix with St. John's and others?  UMHB is very very good but they haven't been around long enough to rebuild.  They have barely been here long enough to build and load, let alone "re" anything.

Actually, they have, since they've gone through at least one or two cycles of players.  And they haven't lost a step. They've built something and kept up the success after the first batch of players have come and gone. That's re-loading.

[oldguy]

Its funny how Wabsh people talk about class with Witt fans after how the Bash faithful acted after the 2002 win in Springfield.  Running around ringing OUR bell during the game, badmouthing our coaches and players to their faces after storming the field.  Its humorous to me.  

Its also funny how many Wooster fans say similar things after the things Wooster pulled in the late 90's, such as wetting down the field and the sidelines, then practicing on it all week.  And, don't deny it, they did, because one of the same coaches did the same thing 3 or 4 years later at Thomas More.  I was in the stands for both games and witnesses the field conditions.  

I'm sure some Witt fans did some classless things here and there.  Every team has those types of supporters.  All I'm saying is to just be careful about throwing stones when you live in glass houses.  

[wally_wabash]

The broad brush sucks, doesn't it oldguy?  I don't pretend to know who started what during that '02 game, but I do know that it was very mutual.  Witt's players and fans were far from angelic on that day. 

ScotsFan, if you're going to be at Wooster on Oct. 15 I'd gladly trade that olive branch for something a little more malted.  The offer is on the table.   

[Bashbacker765]

Oldguy,

I also was at the 02' game.  Depending what side you were on is what your take would be.  I agree the young man that rang your victory bell was complete BS, and I ripped his a$$ for it.  You never mess with someones tradition.  With that being said I watched as several drunk Witt fans came into our crowd and tried to start fights.  Our crowd was not just our student body, but fans of all ages.  There is only 1 place that I have seen worst sportsmanship than Witt.  That was at Mount Union the same year.

When someone comes to your turf and is not intimidated, you take it as disrepect.  It is not disrepect.  I, and Wabash College respect Witt's football program.  We are just not going to bow down and kiss your feet.  The sooner you learn this, the sooner you will accept Wabash as a equal, and not lower class gay boys. 

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS![/size]

[wooscot]

Oldguy,

What are you talking about, Wooster watering down the field and sidelines in the late 90s?    Sorry, but last time I checked, rainfall all week accompanied by cloudy skies doesn't exactly dry out a football field.  Needless to say, I don't think the Wooster staff, as pious as they were, had enough pull with the man upstairs to make it rain during Witt week.  Heck, you're making the Papp sound like Mudville!  Not all programs want to play on that crap field turf or astroturf or whatever sorry replacement for real grass Witt comes up with. 

The coach at Thomas More, who is now at ONU, wouldn't intentionally water down a field.  Its not only borderline cheating in my opinion, but also dangerous to not only the opposing team's players, but his own.  Seriously, do you really think the dampness of the field had anything to do with Witt losing at Wooster during one of those years?  Try this one...Wooster had a better team.

[oldguy]

Trust me, if Witt fans did that, I don't support that at all.  I also don't think we expected you to bow down.  I was glad you traveled so well.  It made the atmosphere exciting.  I guess Witt would travel well also if there were no girls on campus to hang around with.

(just a joke...calm down)

We didn't want you to bow down or kiss our feet.  That type of take on the situation reminds me of someone with "little mans disease" or a "Napoleon complex."

[oldguy]

WooScot,

You believe what you will, and I will do the same.  Actually, what caused the loss was the refs not giving Witt the ball when Woo fumbled the ball into the endzone.  A move that the NCAC later apologized for.  But we've already had this discussion.

[bashbrother]

Was the Wabash overtime win in 02 at Witt's Homecoming the end of the Witt Dynasty?


Just a question.

[BashDad]

oldguy:
I, too, was at the game in Springfield in '02.  It was a fantastic back and forth game in front of a Witt homecoming crowd with a 50+ game winning streak on the line.  The Wabash fans were about 1/3 the number of Witt fans in attendance, perhaps less, but through the game contributed more vocal support for our team (on the opposite side of the field) than did the those of the home team.  We were not made to feel welcome in the stadium, even though there was no other place to sit.  The way to control the bell situation is to put fans across the way with their team.  The flow of natural emotion amongst both factions that afternoon was almost impossible to control.

I would suggest that the better measure of "class" would be to ask the Witt fans who travelled to C'ville during the play-offs later that year how they were treated.  I talked with a number of Witt fans after the game--they were, of course, disappointed to have lost again, were quiet, but
almost universal in thanking Wabash for the hospitality shown them.

Last year at Witt, after being spat upon because I was wearing a Wabash hat, I was standing in line with other Wabash players' parents, waiting to pick-up the customary complimentary tickets extended in the NCAC to visiting parents.  Finally, the Witt athletic director showed up and explained that (even though they had the roster list)  someone had not submitted a required form--all Wabash parents would have to pay to be admitted to the game.
We all paid.  I think you are chasing phanthoms in raising your argument about class.  The emotion after the '02 game, and emotions during Witt/Wabash encounters since are not as clear and simple as you would try to make it appear.  The Witt fans and officials are not all angels.  Had Witt won last week against Capital with a last second field goal--what would have been the nature of the celebration?

 

[oldguy]

You control the bell situation by having class and respect.  I do agree though about stands on the other side.  I wish there were some. 

If you read my first post on this subject closely, I never said all Witt fans were angels.  But you need to understand that not all Bash fans are angels either.  I think some of you guys have your blinders on.

[wooscot]

Oldguy,

Good job showing off that Wittenberg class with baseless accusations of "field wetting" by Wooster, then blaming losses on blown calls that the NCAC supposedly apologized for.  Seriously, what excuse do you have for Witt being hammered by Capital the past two years?  I don't know much the refs or field conditions could've done to save Witt's butt those two games.  Since we're on the topic....how about the TD pass the Witt receiver dropped in the zone in '98 against Woo AT Witt, yet was still called a TD?  That call pretty much sealed Woo's fate that day, yet I don't recall any apology from the NCAC.  Hmm, I guess I missed the memo.   

[oldguy]

What does that have to do with class?  I was just stating what I believe.  One of you Woo guys said the mud wasn't why they lost, so I posted what I thought contributed to the loss.  Simple as that.  I'm not dumb enough to blame a loss on only one play.  Witt should have been up by more points.  I told you what I believe.  If you don't think thats the case, so be it.  It has nothing to do with class. 

My excuse for Witt losing to Capital is pitiful defense.  I think that is pretty clear.