FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

WC Legacy - My earlier posts were office talk. My informed source post was just that - an informed source. Not idle gossip. I've used the phrase "informed source" in the past when I got info that's legit from a legit source.

I probably should have used "regret to inform" because I didn't really want the Rose Bowl Rule in place.

Perhaps my source will be wrong, but I doubt it...

[Ryan Tipps]

smedindy--
It sounded very much to me like you were griping on me for trying to dig deeper into a topic rather than just take at face value what you now call your "office talk" about the Rose Bowl rule. I might have misinterpreted your intentions, but there seemed a sharp edge to your words. If I have misjudged that, I am sorry.

I like to hear things straight from the horse's mouth, and that's what I tried to do by emailing the conference execs. I feel that I have reported my correspondence appropriately and well within the bounds of "message board ethics." I felt -- and still feel -- confident in what I was told from the NCAC brass. Right or wrong, they are the most verifiable source on this topic, but since they didn't disclose the full criteria, there is still lots of gray area that is open to speculation.

I hope that what the conference told me about the AQ is right, not for the sake of this little argument, but because it will work to Wabash's favor if the Rose Bowl rule doesn't happen. I'm thrilled that Kenyon is having such a great year, and I hope that they turn around their program in the same way that teams like Capital and Thiel have during the past few years. But this year, I think Wabash is more deserving and would represent the conference better in the postseason.

[WallyFS4]

This is not D3, but it about football spirit.  I've know this young lady for a very long time.  Not only is she attractive, she is a complete sweetheart.  She deserves your vote.  If you have the time, take a look, and give Shay your vote.

http://www.athlonsports.com/spirit/round.php?round=3&id=6

As always.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!

[buffettfan1963]

Since the Big Ten Tie-Breaker keeps getting thrown out there, here is the actual tie-breaking criteria. Notice that the last team to go to the Rose Bowl is not number one.

The Big Ten tiebreaker for a two team playoff is the following:

1. head to head
2. overall record (not counting preseason "exempt" games)
3. the team that has not been the representative in the longest time.

So if, in fact, the NCAC follows the Big Ten Rule, then at this point it favors Wabash because of the better overall record. However, IF Witt wins this week and Kenyon and Witt win out, then it would be Kenyon going... IF the NCAC follows this rule to the letter.

If I recall from 2002, I thought there were six or seven criteria used before it was simply the last team to go.

I hope this helps clears a little up...

Terry

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think it does. You said yourself there are six or seven criteria. Why muddy the waters with the Big Ten's full tiebreaker rules?

[smedindy]

There are seven criteria but many of them revolve around two or three teams with one loss.

They don't use the actual "Big Ten" rule, as my reliable source says, buffetfan. I was told, flat out, that overall record doesn't enter into the NCAC tiebreaker.

WC -  There was nothing meant to slight what you had reported, but I just got back from a staff meeting and was told what I reported by my source in earshot of many. It was no slight to you, but methinks the NCAC may not reveal all of its cards to the public.

[buffettfan1963]

Thanks Pat.

I posted that so that IF it becomes the Rose Bowl tie breaker, it's not simply the last team that went to the playoffs.

[smedindy]

BF - the "Rose Bowl Rule" is different from the acutal Big 10 tiebreaker.

[buffettfan1963]

Smed,

You got me on that one. The tie breaker is designed to figure out who to send to the Rose Bowl, that is, unless I'm missing something big time.

[smedindy]

What is known as the 'Rose Bowl Rule' is the last part of that Big 10 tiebreaker - the team that went to the Rose Bowl the farthest back made the trip. In my lifetime it's been invoked at least a couple of times - IU's trip and didn't Northwestern get a trip with it?

Anywho - it's all moot if OWU beats Kenyon. But I have a hunch that karma is with the Lords. And I can't believe I typed that...

[buffettfan1963]

Smed, we agree on the Rose Bowl thing! That's my point! It's not the first criterion, it's near the bottom.

If Wabash runs the table I can't imagine they won't be in the playoffs. And I can't imagine they wouldn't be a high seed, regardless of whether they are technically the AQ or not.

But Pat would be able to guess better than me. I'm just a baseball announcer that dables in football in the fall.

Ask me about baseball and I've got an answer of you!

Terry

[kenyonkid]

Hey all- just heard about these boards.  I've been reading the site, but didn't know about the message board.  Anyways, a little background.  I'm a former Kenyon football player- my last season was 2003.

I'd like to clear something up- we dropped the conference that year because we had a new coaching staff, only like 25 kids on the team, and we were attempting to start a rebuilding.  I was not a fan of the idea, but it seems to have paid off with how the team is playing now.

My comment is with regards to the "Rose Bowl Rule".  If we win out, and Wabash also wins out, then wouldn't it be good for the league to have 2 teams in the playoffs, rather than just one.  We would certainly not pick up a Pool C bid, but Wabash, at 10-0, would definitely get in.  So, I understand Wabash fans wanting to be the AQ, but in my mind, the playoffs are the playoffs, so I would hope that, if this situation did end up happening, you would let us take the AQ- for the good of the league and our developing program- after all, it's in your best interests that the NCAC becomes a football powerhouse.

Ask me about baseball and I've got an answer of you!

Terry, what do you see happening in the NCAC in baseball this year?  I am friends with a couple current players, that's why I ask.  Kenyon was, IMHO, screwed by the league allowing Hiram to get smoked 4 straight by Wooster so they could be in the playoffs, but we didn't take care of business against the Terriers, so that's on the team.    However, the only player that graduated was Nick Sussman, a middling DH.  No other contributors have left the team(assuming that Shoemaker heals from his football injury, of course), and the team, to me, looks primed for a shot at the NCAC's- what do you think?

[MITCH]

Kenyonkid

I guess I'll take the bait

First of all, when Bash wins the conference, and if Kenyon is still there, why would Bash let you have the AQ. IMHO, Kenyon should not even be considered. Kenyon decided to drop the wabash and wittenberg games on their own and again IMHO should have dropped any claims to a conference title until they were back in the mix with everyone else. Fair is fair

I think this whole thing is ridiculous and it would be a shame if the NCAC conference championship would have to be shared with a team who (for whatever reason) refused to play (or didn't play) the best of the rest.

[Li'l Giant]

That may have been the case before, but their schedule is set by the NCAC now. I'd rather have had Kenyon take a year off than have their program go the way of Swarthmore.

[MITCH]

Li'l Giant,

I do agree its better than the Swathmore route, but it would be a bitter pill to swallow.