FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

If Wabash had a way out of it, I'm disappointed that we didn't take it. I don't know because I wasn't involved in it. It's not like the NCAC told us how this worked. Hell, they don't even publish their tiebreaker policy on their website.

This has been argued about before, ad nauseum, and I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said before:

Would Wabash, Witt, and Wooster have played 2 UAA games per season if the NCAC didn't tell them to? I doubt it. It's not like any of those schools were playing 2 UAA teams per year before.

I'm not a genius and I'm not an "insider". But I can read a schedule and I can read a press release. 

If you have anything to enlighten me I'd be happy to hear it.

[ScotLass]

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but a year and a half ago when this was announced, representatives from the schools involved didn't sound "forced" into anything.....

The NCAC and UAA allied football schedule certainly possesses the unique combination of academic and athletic pursuit of excellence that is hard to duplicate anywhere else in NCAA Division III," said Vernon Mummert, AD at Wabash College (and the Chair of NCAC Athletic Directors). "Along with Wabash's great football rivalry with DePauw (The Monon Bell Game), Wabash is elated to have the University of Chicago and Washington University of St. Louis on our schedule."

That being said, there's nothing wrong with disagreeing with the AD....

[Li'l Giant]

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but a year and a half ago when this was announced, representatives from the schools involved didn't sound "forced" into anything.....

The NCAC and UAA allied football schedule certainly possesses the unique combination of academic and athletic pursuit of excellence that is hard to duplicate anywhere else in NCAA Division III," said Vernon Mummert, AD at Wabash College (and the Chair of NCAC Athletic Directors). "Along with Wabash's great football rivalry with DePauw (The Monon Bell Game), Wabash is elated to have the University of Chicago and Washington University of St. Louis on our schedule."

That being said, there's nothing wrong with disagreeing with the AD....

I can't imagine any ADs would have thrown the league under the proverbial bus.

And, if Mummert did it willingly, like i said, I'm disappointed.

[ScotLass]

I'm not sure how the schedules were determined after the agreement was made......Earlham doesn't have anyone from the UAA scheduled and several other teams are still open for at least one out of conference game with others of their choosing.....but Wabash has all ten slots filled, as do a couple of other teams. I can understand your disappointment.

[ADL70]

I'm also neither genius nor insider.  We read the same schedule and press release.  Earlham plays 0, Allegheny 1, all the rest 2, but Kenyon 3.  It's not like Wabash hasn't played WUStL several times in the last few years.

Persuaded certainly, but the schedule doesn't suggest anyone being forced.  The only exemption I can think of that would apply only for Earlham and Allegheny would be some sort of distance exception.  But I would think CWRU is closer to Allegheny than Wabash is to St. Louis or Chicago.

Maybe the persuader was continuing the schedule that allows for the Monon Bell game to be week 11.  If that is force, then I guess Wabash could have been forced.  More likely it seems it was a decision for the good of the whole.

Anyway, you have every right to express your regret about the decision.  I only take issue with the suggestion of Wabash being forced to play two UAA teams, when two NCAC teams are playing fewer.  And I don't disagree that it limits teams choices (including those of the UAA, as I have stated on that board).

Thanx ScotLass for your contribution of the quote. 

[ScotLass]

I need to do my power ratings again, but Massey doesn't have a link to a listing of the MOV ratings, you have to find the teams in the non-MOV order and hunt for them.

Massey has a good SOS metric, I believe.

The NCAA's system is CRAP-OLA because it's all about the region.

Here ya go smedindy:  Rankings based on MOV

Wooster 56
Wabash 74
Witt 85
Allegheny 109
Oberlin 155
Kenyon 160
OWU 166
Earlham 184
Denison 204
Hiram 226       poor Hiram

Phewwww.....now I can release some more trivia from my brain....

[Li'l Giant]

I'm also neither genius nor insider.  We read the same schedule and press release.  Earlham plays 0, Allegheny 1, all the rest 2, but Kenyon 3.  It's not like Wabash hasn't played WUStL several times in the last few years.

Persuaded certainly, but the schedule doesn't suggest anyone being forced.  The only exemption I can think of that would apply only for Earlham and Allegheny would be some sort of distance exception.  But I would think CWRU is closer to Allegheny than Wabash is to St. Louis or Chicago.

Maybe the persuader was continuing the schedule that allows for the Monon Bell game to be week 11.  If that is force, then I guess Wabash could have been forced.  More likely it seems it was a decision for the good of the whole.

Anyway, you have every right to express your regret about the decision.  I only take issue with the suggestion of Wabash being forced to play two UAA teams, when two NCAC teams are playing fewer.  And I don't disagree that it limits teams choices (including those of the UAA, as I have stated on that board).

Thanx ScotLass for your contribution of the quote. 

My last blow to the dead horse:

From the same press release quoted above:

The announcement was made today by Dennis Collins, Executive Director of the North Coast Athletic Conference in Cleveland, and Dick Rasmussen, Executive Secretary of the University Athletic Association in Rochester, NY, who both crafted the schedule amongst the 13 colleges and universities.

(emphasis mine.)

I read that to mean these guys came up with the schedule and that was that.

Again, I wouldn't expect an AD, even if he disagreed with it, to say so publicly, let alone in the official conference release.

[ScotLass]

Everybody in that release was "thrilled, elated, overjoyed".........if that's not what they wanted to do.......maybe banding together and having a crystal ball or two to see how to say so would have been a better choice.....   Now it is what it is.

How about that Woo Bash game.....

[Li'l Giant]

How about that Woo Bash game.....

The weather report concerns me. according to the National Weather Service the wind will be 16-26 m.p.h. with gusts up to 44 m.p.h.

[ScotLass]

The whole thing concerns me....   I have to leave at 5am and  :-\couldn't get to sleep......so here I am....

Here's to a good, injury free game tomorrow.

[Li'l Giant]

Enjoy the game. I'm a webcast warrior. I haven't seen a Wabash game in person since 2000.

You ought to peruse the Wabash tailgates. Usually pretty fun and welcoming.

[wally_wabash]

You ought to peruse the Wabash tailgates. Usually pretty fun and welcoming.

Very much so...I've had some good times with Wooster fans in previous years (learned all about the Latern before the '02 game from some great guys who made the trip)...everybody is welcome to stop by our tailgates before the game.  Hope to see some of you there tomorrow! 

[ScotLass]

Enjoy the game. I'm a webcast warrior. I haven't seen a Wabash game in person since 2000.

You ought to peruse the Wabash tailgates. Usually pretty fun and welcoming.

Too bad you can't be there! Enjoy the webcast.....and be nice if I come back crying and I will be nice if you are.....

[chillydigits]

     Well, its 04:45 and The truck is fueled up warmed up, and its Crawfordsville or bust. Looking forward to a nice 6hr drive from the land of Dan Emmett...GO SCOTS...... but goodluck to all... ScotLass if I see you hitch hiking lift your kilt and I will pick you up

[Li'l Giant]

I usually keep editing the same post for updates so, unless we get bumped to a new page, stick with me here.

And WNDY is announcing that Reiff will play. And I wish we could find someone who doesn't say "Wooster" wrong.

Wabash wins the toss and will receive first.

Wooster 0
Wabash 0 Start of 1st