FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Superfoot Wallace]

Surprised not more is being said on this page about the running back from Oberlin.  RV Carroll just put his name in the record books for the life of the confernece most likely.

The way Oberlin resides in my memory, they did nothing besides try and sling the ball a mile and hope one of their guys came down with it.

Theres some determination evidenced by a team that gains yardage the way they did this past weekend.  Was a nice momentum game for the rights to be the conference cinderella.  But for all the props Kenyon was getting in the postseason prognostications, the matchup would have just been another also ran.  This game is the litmus test that will tell whether the UAA agreement was wise in a few years.  More opponents in common outside the conference, especially with growing parity in the conference will help to grow the conference strong for all those things it was intended.

Throw in Rummel and OWUs upset win and there was a good story line to almost every conference game this year, save the Terriers.  Have to wonder how that heralded qb recruit they landed last year is feeling the college hats.  Hopefully hes not gun shy yet so we can ahve another cinderella for years to come.

Cant say in the back of my mind wasnt hoping for some Kenyon partially dimpled chad runaway with the conference AQ, just glad it wasnt at the expense of the Tigers.

best regards,
Rick Cru

[BashBacker#16]

I think the fact that R.V. Carroll put these numbers up against Kenyon's D is the reason there haven't been more comments.

[Superfoot Wallace]

We will have to wait and see the final grade Kenyons D receives for the year.  With Wooster still to come, and this being their only game against one of the Ws, this one game will go a long way towards qualifying everything Kenyon has done as well as the Carroll kid.

Really like both the story lines this season for Kenyon and Oberlin.  Nothing to lose and verything to gain.  Hows the saying go?  Nothing ventured nothing gained?  Either team doesnt play another down this season and theyve gained ground on college football.

[wally_wabash]

You hit the nail on the head, BB16.  Through the games of 11/4, there is one team out of 229 Division III teams that has a worse rush defense than Kenyon.  Just one.  They give up 285 rush yards per game!!!  His stat line was ridiculous, but he's been shut down by teams that are even half-interested in playing defense.  LG could probably go for 200 and 3 scores against Kenyon.  

Regardless of what Kenyon does this weekend, they are still going to be giving up way over 250 yards rushing per game and somewhere close to 40 points per game.  That's awful by any metric.  The Lords are proof positive that you can have all the awesome offense you want, but if you can't play a lick of defense, you will lose.  I'd have to label Kenyon as a colossal disappointment this year. 

[Li'l Giant]

LG could probably go for 200 and 3 scores against Kenyon.

Only if every man, woman and child in Hollett was chanting "Free Beer in the Endzone".

[Superfoot Wallace]

The Lords are proof positive that you can have all the awesome offense you want, but if you can't play a lick of defense, you will lose.  I'd have to label Kenyon as a colossal disappointment this year. 

Would probably put that label on Kenyon this year as well, but think Earlham took the cake already.

Thought Kenyons mode of offense would help their defense, with the quarterback moving his feet occassionally to keep the sticks moving, but Earlhams wasnt all that was advertised offensively, save the lowly Manchester game to start the year.  They brought neither to the table in my opinion, whereas Kenyon was in several games they wouldnt have probably even shown fora few years back, and all with that defense that was giving like a sieve.

If Oberlins not careful they very well could be a legitimate program.

[Li'l Giant]

Would probably put that label on Kenyon this year as well, but think Earlham took the cake already.

No doubt. Only two more wins with a healthy Rummell is pretty disappointing.

[wally_wabash]

I think you have to like what Oberlin is doing.  They had a roster of of something like 43 players and have managed to be reasonably competitve...certainly taking the "best of the rest" crown as has already been mentioned.  I'd be curious to see what Coach Ramsey could do with a full roster.  

Won't argue one bit about your Earlham thoughts, MacLeod.  They were my pick to be the conference thorn this year, but the Quake didn't bring it at all.  

[Superfoot Wallace]

Dont know if I necessarily agree with your last post about roster sizes wally.  In the Pro am or semi pro world, sometimes too big a roster can cause problems.

Think some of the arguments put forth as to coaching stability and the coaches ability to recruit and get more in to the school for tuitions and revenues holds some water.

Think I would rather have a roster of 45 kids that want it bad than a roster of 120 with 60 kids that can play and only twenty of them or so full tilt hungry to win.  Takes more than 30 to practice and injuries are a calculated risk, but when the participation reports come out, that is usually about the line, 30 played.

You can bet the 40 or so on that roster are tight with one another from top to bottom.  Wonder if Oberlin still has certain players repping both sides of the ball.

[wally_wabash]

Aren't numbers an issue at the college level?  Without a good-sized roster, you lose the chance to develop players through JV games, have limited resources for scout teams, etc.  We can argue all day about what the optimum number is for roster size, but I think we could agree that at this level, teams that have at least 80 guys on the roster have a pretty significant advantage over the teams that only have 40 or so. 

[formerd3db]

I would agree with that Wally. MacLeod has some valid points with respect to the attitude.  However, I think you are right.  For teams with about 40, it can get quite thin at some positions towards the end of the season due to injuries, fatigue, etc., particularly when a team has only a few linemen. That can be a problem or rather a difficult challenge I should say.  I've seen it happen in the past for a couple of small college teams (although this has not happened at our school).  In such situations, though, the players are happy to some extent since everyone makes the traveling squad.

[wally_wabash]

D3DB-

Congrats to Hope for winning the MIAA title and making the postseason.  If I recall you made the trip down to C'ville for the Albion game last November...I'm sure it will be a little different this time around for you!  Best of luck with your draw and the postseason. 

[formerd3db]

D3DB-

Congrats to Hope for winning the MIAA title and making the postseason.  If I recall you made the trip down to C'ville for the Albion game last November...I'm sure it will be a little different this time around for you!  Best of luck with your draw and the postseason. 

Wally:

Thank you very much for the congrats on the title.  I'm sure you and others can appreciate that it was quite a surprise given our horrendous 0-3 start.  Nonetheless, I have to give credit to the Hope coaching staff and, of course, the players as they all are very determined and playing their hearts out.  As I've commented on our MIAA board, our offense will need to really step-it-up for improved play to have a chance in the first round game.  The defense has been tremendous, but if you are out on the field all the time and if the offense can't put up a lot of point, it speaks of trouble.  Yet, at least we've come this far.  Thanks also for the well-wishes for the draw - like many others, I just HOPE it isn't Mount Union for obvious reasons!

You, indeed, have a very good memory as I did come down to C'ville for the Wabash/Albion playoff game and had a very good time.  My college roommate/teammate's son and some other people I know, play for Albion so it was fun to support our MIAA foe.  It was also a time of reminisence for me in returning to Hollett where I had the opportunity to play against your Wabash "many years ago"   Another highlight was meeting the wonderful late BashDad.

Allow me to return the well-wishes to you and your 'Bash colleagues for a wonderful time at the Monon Bell game.  A fantastic and great rivalry and I hope the weather is good.  Enjoy the game and good luck to your Wabash team; have a hot dog and coke for me at the half too! Thanks again and see you around the boards.

Best,
formerd3db

[BashBacker#16]

Wabash press release and game preview for 113th Monon Bell game... http://www.wabash.edu/sports/docs/Release110706.pdf

[kcreds]

BashFan74, it is surprising to me that anyone on this board would have any knowledge on WV high school football. Parkersburg High is undefeated  this year which will help their overall winning percentage but don't go and compare them to Massillon or any other major football school in Ohio, there is no comparison. Would love to see PHS play an Ohio big boy. Just another interesting tidbit, PHS's head coach was the head coach at Williamstown when the 56 game winning streak started.

Just speculating on my part but in accordance with what I said about WV high school football comparing to OH is the same kind of comparison I give to DII in WV compared to the stronger DIII programs. To clarify, I feel strongly that the top teams in the NCAC could compete very well against any of the DII schools in WV.  The disclaimer would be the years that a WV DII school was in the running for a national title.