FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wabco]

Smed

No offense intended.  I was just paying homage to Grunge ... who does do a lot of heavy lifting on the "Another Wabash College First Down" chant.

[smedindy]

Oh, I know. Again, it was supposedly a funny. I'd better not quit my day job. 

[ravishingrabbi]

wally - like i said, that was just the feeling i got. i wasn't alone, as many others in attendance that day, as well as people who post on this board, said the exact same thing. we didn't just make it up, because that formation/strategy really did work when it was used. obviously, we'll never know for sure what would have happened. wabash could have made a defensive adjustment and shut down that look as well. keep in mind this isn't an excuse for losing the game, cause wabash was the better team.

i'm sure you were at the woo-bash game in '02. on that day, you got the feeling that wooster just could not run on wabash, no matter what. same thing with wooster vs. carthage in the playoffs last year. carthage barely got to the line of scrimmage, let alone anywhere beyond. my point is that i did not get this feeling with wabash's defense this year. from what i've seen, i think bash's overall offense in '05 is better than in '02, but i don't think their defense is as good. maybe i'm wrong, but that's just my opinion, and i'm pretty sure that's what this board is all about.

[lancer98]

Wally,

Since when is this about Wooster?  They were a bad team especially at the end of the year without Shaffer.  I wouldn't gauge how good a team Witt is based on their performance against Wooster.  Inside the conference Witt is a good 5-5 team but not outside it.  That is my point.

I will go on record saying Wabash will get beat in the second round period.  No matter if it is Capital or North Central(I think).

[BashBacker#16]

Most of you guys act like Wabash is a pile of crap this season - you seem to forget some of the things this squad has going for them...

- Coaching Staff; Creighton is now 43-10 at Wabash after posting his 2nd undefeated regular season and his 2nd playoff appearance.  Coach Neathery continues his magic with another nationally ranked defense - he does it every year - has anyone noticed yet?  Game plan wise - these guys and their staff are very very strong.
- Playoff experience; yes only a few of the current seniors saw significant action in '02 (save the post DD) but they know what it is about and have been there practicing in the post season.  Selby was a starter, Parker played significant minutes when Boulais was dinged, and Foster was a starter until his knee injury against Witt in week 12.
- Team Defense; 9.4 pts. per game (4th in the country), 66 yds./game rushing (5th in the country), one of the best LB crews - Selby, Foster, Pynenberg, Parker, and a D that can really run and cover the field - speed, speed, and more speed.
- Team Offense; 316 yds/game (10th in the country) with a Sr. All American candidate at QB along with 4-5 targets (stud WRs) that all have game breaking ability.  464 yds/game in total offense (18th in the country) and they have given the ball up 10 times all season with a +9 turnover ratio.
- Team Chemistry & Focus; this is hard to support with stats but those close to the program know this is true.  No flat out superstars but with common team goals & focus.  This shows in their play - example; our RB shuffle with 2 team captains = Ogden & Roop (+ Don Juan) - no selfishness but lots of pride.  Every single week we have heard questions...every single week they have taken care of business.

Wally said it best; Wabash will make for a "tough out" on this run - especially at Hollett Stadium.  Whether they get knocked out this weekend in an upset, next weekend, or later in the tournament - I guarantee they will do the NCAC proud and represent well!

[jdean]

jdean - i don't think you can ever consider mount an underdog these days, especially at home. while we're at it though, what's your take on mount? they haven't really been tested since the game they lost. do you think they're still poised to go all the way, or did capital (for 3 quarters) and ONU reveal enough flaws to indicate that mount really is down this year?

RRabbi: There would be some vigorous opposition by some on the OAC board to my Augie spot so keep in mind that I represent a minority view. You can disregard 3 of the last 5 Mount games--Muskie, Marietta and H'berg--as their scores are meaningless.
I think the 2005 Mount team would beat the 2004 edition so its not that I think Mount is down. One of Mount's 2 best flankers returned last week from an injury so he'll be ready for the playoffs. Their passing game has been very sharp the last few weeks and their OL has been playing great--that will have to continue to beat the likes of Augie. My 3 point spread has more to do with Augie and what they bring to the game. I don't think Mount matches up very well against them. Home field advantage will not be huge in 1 1/2 weeks as the students will be home for Thanksgiving.
I'll worry about it next week if the local Mount beats the other Mount this Saturday.

[smedindy]

I think our students would come back, though, for a playoff game. They did in 2002 - as the second round outdrew the first round.

[smedindy]

Veering off the playoffs a smidge.

I was thinking about our non-conference agreement with the UAA, and really those teams aren't so bad.

Case is weak, but:


The conference was ranked #17 in Massey, above average. The NCAC, #25. Ulp.

Three of the four teams were .500 or over.

Wash U. was #89 in Massey
Chicago was #92 in Massey

They're not the dregs of the world. They're probably a better matchup than a non-Hanover non-MSJ HCAC team. Because of the OAC only having one non-conference game, I think this works out OK for the NCAC, really.

I'd much rather play Wash U. and Chicago than K-Zoo and Manchester.

[wabco]

You go BB 16.  When all is said and done ... ole 'Bash is still playing.

OOooooo   WWWWaaaa WWWWaaaa

You like Adi P. now ... wait till you see him in 2 years.

And, if you look at the Wabash 2 deep chart ... it is reload next year.  Others will also improve ... but no Woo falloff for 'Bash next year.

Bring on Albion your seester and the other seesters!!!

[The_Bishop]

One other thing Wabash has going for them (at least based on listening to the Bash/Witt game):

*solid punting game - I remember the Bash punter having 6 or 7 boots for an average of 46.7 yards in the Witt game.  Not sure if wind was a factor or what, but winning the field position battle in the playoffs is huge.

[DarkSide-D]

RAH RAH RAH...WABASH WABASH WABASH!

You guys need to stop thinking the world is against you guys.  With the likes of the "All-Sports (with the exception of Wabash) Trophy", now we can add that we think Wabash is a pile of crap?!?  Come on.  Wabash was undefeated for the season.  Swept the NCAC.  Beat all the traditional top tier teams.  It really doesn't matter what the final score was, they won.  Twenty years from now, no one is goin to say, "Hey, you remember that game between Wabash and Witt in O5?  Damn, they almost beat us!"  No, they will say, Wabash went 10-0 for their second outright NCAC Championship.  Do you think OSU players and fans care that the majority of their games they won their title year were very close games.  No, they won the national title, thats all they care about.  Wabash typically has the best defense in the conference.  If not the best, they are right there in a close second.  Wabash is definately not a Crap team.  They are hands down the best the NCAC has to offer this year.  Granted, the NCAC was down this year.  (And yes, it was down.  When you consider Gheny was sub 500, Witt barely met 500 [losing to a sub 500 gheny], we all know about Woo's troubles, And OWU runs the Wing-T (had to throw that in for Oldguy and USee).  All this allowed a surprisingly good Kenyon to sneak up and take second in the conference and have a winning season since 1991, or whenever it was.

Here are my thoughts about the game.  Wabash over Albion.  Wabash will squeak out the second round, but I think it will be close.  I think Wabash will stumble and fall in the third round.  As was evident this year for the conference, every team is one injury away from 500/sub 500.  I don't want to see it happen, but if it does, I dont see Bash being able to overcome an injury.

With that said, Let's go Bash, go get those "seeeeeeeeeeeee-sters"  After a long first semester, I bet your hormones are raging...

[smedindy]

Darkside -

I think it's the interlopers, for the most part, stirring up the pot - not the normal NCAC posters (with a few exception).

[oldguy]

No matter how many times you say it, I still can't believe Kenyon finished 2nd in the conference with a 6-1 record.  Crazy. 

I predict a 2nd round loss for Wabash.  I hope I am wrong, but I just think Capital and NCC are too strong.  Just my prediction, for what its worth. 

Again, I hope I am proven wrong.

[lancer98]

I echo Oldguy's post that is all I am trying to say.  I am not trying to ruffle any feathers.

Its just my opinion based on what I have seen so far this season.

Bashbacker bring up a good point with the home-field advantage.  I had forgotten about that with 'Bash getting the #1 seed. That will definetly be an advantage for Wabash for not having to travel.  It is definetly something that should not be overlooked.

[BashDad]

My take on the Albion game in C-ville on Saturday is not a lot different than most of the games of the regular season--the L'il Giants need to control the line of scrimmage, protect the QB and give him time to look for receivers.  Albion's D line is large, their LB's are better than average, their dbs have picked off 20 passes--again, we need to control.  If we do, our WRs (helped out by the running games of Augie and Roop) will be open.  Albion has given up a lot of yards to the run.  Can/will we take advantage?

Albion will give us a good fight, but this Wabash team is on a mission.  Not all of the "unfinished business" has been finished.  I hope there is lots of red in the stands on Saturday.  I look for a good game and hope that our pass defense is a little tighter--Albion's QB and WRs will bring it!


WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!!