FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

A few points....

- Kenyon won't knock off the big names because they aren't playing the big names.  They already beat Wooster and Allegheny last year...repeating that feat validates last year's results, but wouldn't be terribly shocking.  There are couple of other teams absent from their schedule...and in the current landscape of the NCAC, unless a team is running the Gheny/OWU/Wabash/Witt/Woo gauntlet, there will be legitimate second guesses to the numbers and records that they post.  Strength of schedule does in fact count quite heavily in the court of public opinion.  

- There are more measures to a quarterback than just the amount of yards he can pile up.  An efficiency rating that doesn't crack the top 10 in the league, under 52% completion percentage, more INTs than TDs...there is no way to spin that stat line into something that resembles great quarterbacking.  It's not terrible, but it's far from great.  

- I would think Sanchez is a longshot at best for POY.  If Sanchez is going to be POY, I think the following things have to happen:  1) He duplicates his 1000 rush/1500 pass season; 2) He gets his TD:INT ratio up to somewhere around 2:1; 3) He leads his team to 7-0 in the conference and into the playoffs; 4) No offensive player from either Wabash or Wittenberg have standout years.  

Kenyon has so much going for itself right now...good players, increased numbers, new facilities...unfortunately, the one thing that they have going very much against them is the schedule factor and the second guessing that comes along with posting a good record against everybody but the top two in the league.  Normally I would be sympathetic toward a team with this schedule disadvantage, but remember, Kenyon ran away from their scheduled games with Wabash and Wittenberg in January of 2003, so this is very much the bed they made for themselves.  Kenyon gets Wabash back on their schedule in 2008...until then, there are going to be skeptics.  

[BashBacker#16]

We actually have some good football discussion going and it is only May.  Nice.  I apologize but I have never heard of Shoemaker until the recent posts.  What kind of WR is he?  Speed, hands, athletic, etc.?

No receiver in the league as as physically gifted as Russell from Wabash.  High 30s" vertical, 6'2", a burner (100 & 200 meter champ '05), and extremely athletic.  Bart Banach should burst on to the scene after an injury plagued Soph season.  He took the NCAC Sprinter of the Year honor from Russell this season.  He is also 6'2, was an all state WR, Indiana All Star, and should work well in the Bash WR corps.  I am not sure I wouldn't take either guy (including Ray Green) over Shoemaker.  They should cause major mismatches in the conference this year with much smaller corners.  Banach is on the left in this photo and Russell is on the right...good luck in coverage to the patented 5'9 NCAC CB - http://www.wabash.edu/sports/  You have to keep in mind that their stats will never be that gaudy because the ball is spread around (to 4-5-6 guys) and Bash (CC) typically has an even run/pass balanced attack.

Salliemae35k - time will tell but I can tell you that I think Knott & Co (Short, Boulais). were probably more loaded in the skilled areas then this year's class.  This class strength is probably the OL, LBs, and the J-back/TE mold guys.  One of the reasons that '03 class was so great was their leadership and their mental toughness - only time will tell there.  Last year's class would have to be mentioned too with Selby, Parker, Foster, Summers, Harbaugh, etc.

Oldgiant - great post - not a bad tandem!  YOU still are part of the family and always will be.

[short]

-I heard that Witt's QB "Collins" never finish camp at UT-Martin. He showed up and they moved him to DB the 2nd or 3rd day so he left school and "tranfered" to Witt in Jan. but was never a student at UT-Martin and will be a Freeshmen at Witt next year.
-I have also heard that Witt's recruiting class is at 40ish with some good players. Sorry no details yet.

[wittman78]

Just heard from a very reliable source that Witt landed Aaron Huffman QB, to lead this years' class. Wanted to play QB and the big schools wanted him for defense. And heard Collins is doing well too so should be a fight for the starting job.


http://www.miamihawktalk.com/home/recruits/player/58/

GO TIGERS

[medicine man]

Huffman ended up with no DI offers. What you have referred to is from last summer.

[wittman78]

I never said that he ended up with any D1 offers, like posted earlier it would be insane to give up a D1 scholarship to go DIII. But as I was getting at Huffman sounds like a very good recruit for Witt, so I was just sharing with everyone.


GO TIGERS

[medicine man]

I don't think you have to be "Insane"to play DIII over DI. I know two players, one being a family member, who did just that and I am sure there are many, many more. When it comes down to the actual decision a player makes it for many reasons. Some would rather be playing on a DIII field and making an impact than watching from the DI sideline. One of the players I referred to knew his parents could not travel around the country to see him play and wished for them to be able to watch and the DIII was closer, he liked the smaller campus and was desirous of a quality education (offered by most NCAC schools). I hardly would consider a person who decided based on these reasons "INSANE" quite the opposite. I think it is a mature player making a very difficult decision and looking to his future while still playing football.

[lancer98]

If what you say is true, Huffman is a very good get for Witt.  He is from my area.  He was borderline D1 prospect at QB.  Good size at 6-4 200.

[short]

-6'4 270 Mike Starky the Toledo CC starting Center and all-state player is going to Denison next season.  He is a GREAT get for the Big Red.  I saw in play in the state championship and was shocked that he was not offered by anyone. 
-Have heard that Wabash got some great OL coming in with this class. Two guys from Avon and 6'3 280 Even Isaac "sp" from North Central
-Wabash also has Matt Piety a 6'3 215 TE/DB from Franklin Central who was been recruited by some Ivy schools also.

Question: Where else did Huffmen look? Did he visit any other D3 or NCAC schools?  How did Witt land him?

[formerd3db]

I agree with medicine man.  Every student-athlete has to make their own decision based on what is best for them and their families, and as was pointed out, there are a variety of factors that can play into that situation.  It is different for each individual.  Certainly, financial situations are determining factors and I could see where if one was offered a DI scholarship being the only way he could obtain his education in association with participating in his sport, that could be the deciding factor for that person.  On the other hand, if,  in that isolated factor/example, one's financial situation was that tight, I can't imagine that they wouldn't qualify for a majority of that for grants/scholarships, etc. at some of the smaller schools.  Indeed, it is not always an easy decision to make in deciding whether or not to accept an athletic scholarship or not in the venue that we're discussing.

[medicine man]

Huffman had narrowed it down to Ohio Northern and Witt

[evacuee]

Lancer98,

Huffman's bio says he runs a 4.9.  Can you think of a reason that a scholarship program might have been interested in him to play DB?  I figure you might know if you've seen him play.

Plus, I heard Wittenberg just hired one of Paul Pasquiloni's proteges and is going to the freeze option this year.  I have to believe he'll have a tough time cutting up the field with that lanky frame and 4.9 speed. 

[Li'l Giant]

I hate to pick the scab on this issue but did anyone else see this regarding blowouts?

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2457707

I can understand the idea but, let's be honest, what are teams supposed to do when they're up on a clearly inferior team? Punt on 1st down?

[oldscot73]

Li'l Giant

You have to be kidding me this is one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard of.  I have personally seen a high school game where the first, second and third team offenses were pulled by the end of the first quarter.  If I am not mistaken the score ended up being 90-0 and the Freshman team scored 42. 

[BashBacker#16]

Short,

Isaacs will be a beast and may be the best of the group.  Nice source...correct on the Avon kids too.  We also scored in IL and OH.  The thing that impresses me is the overall size and large frames.  Tokar is 6'6 290, and they are all 6'2 or better. 

Huffman sounds similar to Wabash's Matt Hudson from Salem (6'5 220) who made the Indiana South all star team as a D-back - one of his INTs this year he ran back 101 yards so I think he can run.  Maybe they will square off someday in the NCAC.  No doubt big kids, especially as QBs.