FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotLass]

Wooster may lose quite a few but they have a fairly experienced qb coming back and several very good skill people. In addition, the best player in the league this year (Drushal) returns for his final go round. I would put Woo up there as an early favorite to take it all. I can hardly wait.

We must be looking at different teams nike.......

Woo has 3 starters on offense returning....the center, an O-lineman(not Drushal), and  Sheppard

On defense: returning starters are: a DT, an OLB, and both CB's

Both Shafer and Reiff graduate.

They have a lot of key positions to replace. I'll wait to see how spring practice and camp go before feeling real warm and fuzzy....

[smedindy]

I had the pleasure to speak with a couple of coaches after the game on Saturday. Huff passed on that third down because they couldn't run and that route was open all day. One first down would have secured the game for sure.

Hertel was just a man-beast and disrupted the play.

[firstdown]

When Allegheny redid their football field, they sent the old mud pile to C'ville.  Hopefully, we will see some field turf at Little Giant Stadium in the near future.

Congrats to the Lil Giants on their win Saturday in the Bell Game before a record crowd.  The Bell stays in C'ville!  Good job seniors in winnin the Bell 3 out of 4 years.

[BashBacker#16]

ScotLass -

I am glad you posted that, I was wondering what Nike was seeing that I didn't.  Mizak's gone, Watson's gone, Andre's gone, the bulk of the O-line is gone, Shafer's gone, etc.  In fact, Woo may struggle mightily next season.

Hertel may have been the best player Bash faced this year.  I would think he is a lock on all of the All American teams.  Slim pick'ins next year in DPU-land.  It will be interesting to see what happens with the coaching situation.  No offense to Walker but honestly, how could someone do both sports and do it well?

It was really good to see the Bash D progress as the year went on - really, from game 6 on, they were a totally different unit.  My opinion, the keys were Knez going to DE (playmaker and best pass rusher), the emergence of Deig at ILB (how about he and Adi next year inside???), and Kraft at OLB.  

On O, Sobecki will be a beast.  O-line should re-load and get back Powell & Long from season ending injuries.  There should be fierce competition for the remaining OT spot (Millikan's graduation).

[uknowme2]

Regarding comments against Coach Creighton, I must say I personally have no problem with the guy.  I have only spoke with him once following the 2004 game in Crawfordsville.  I congratulated him for a hard fought game, and his comments in return, I thought, were very classy.  I think he is a true class act, and represents the NCAC well.

I too have interacted with CC in recent years and as recent as the Witt-Wabash game this year.  After a tough lose to the Tigers CC was outside near the buses, and I told him it was a tough lose and a great game.  He responded with "It certainly was and congrats to Witt.  They played well today."  I have nothing but respect for CC and his program.  He is a class act.  

Not too soon to start thinking about next year:

2:  Witt ... unless they can find another Juco or Brown transfer ...

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.  Wittenberg doesn't have another Murray.  But they do have a young man named Tony Hall that should be a fine replacement for Murray.  No one thought we would ever have anyone like Donaldson again, but we found Murray.

GO TIGERS!!!

[wally_wabash]

It will be interesting to see what happens with the coaching situation.  No offense to Walker but honestly, how could someone do both sports and do it well?

Do it well?  Not possible.  But doing it "adequately"...that's a possibility.  It's easy to not be disappointed when you set the bar low, which is apparantly DPU's new approach to football. 

[nike]

Apologies ScottLass,
Don't know why I thought Drushal and Reiff were still underclassmen. And didn't check roster. Must have had brainlock or something. Yes, that does change things as far as next year.
Will Sheppard make All Conference? Maybe not 1st team, but he still had an outstanding year. 
Lesson to all-do your homework before you come on line with comments.

[ScotLass]

Apologies ScottLass,

No need to apologize nike.....just wanted to make sure you weren't betting on something without adequate input....

[wabco]

What are your bracket picks for the Mount Union bracket?

I see no hope for Hope ... it will be MU in a slaughter.
Wheaton will win out over Mt. St. Joseph by a goodly margin (not as big as MU but almost)
Concordia over North Central in a close game
Capital will put one on Witt (Note:  the end of season rankings by Pat and the boys lists Wabash as an also ran but does not list Witt)
St. John Fisher cruises over Union
Springfield's margin of win is like that of Wheaton

Love to have Witt win ... but just do not believe it is in the cards.  Discussion?

[drt]

I'm mostly a lurker because geography prevents first-hand input, but,
the Tigers are back in the playoffs and "all is right with the world."
That said, from what I read here, I don't think that the best from the NCAC can compete with the top three or four from the OAC.  No news to the regulars.
Thank you Bill Kinnison......

[ScotLass]

Love to have Witt win ... but just do not believe it is in the cards.  Discussion?

Not much to discuss....even Fincham is having trouble putting any positive spin on this one....

"I'm sure our guys, from a confidence standpoint, feel better about themselves than they did in (September)," Fincham said, "especially when you look at how many young guys we had playing at that point in time, but I'm sure Capital is a much better football team than they were in September, too."

[wally_wabash]

I think you have to figure that there are about 30 other teams that Witt would have rather been paired up with yesterday.  If there is one team in the field that we can say with near certainty Witt is going to have trouble with, it's Capital (I know there are others as well, but we know how Witt does with Capital).  The combined score of about 874-20 over the last three years vs. Capital is pretty definitive. 

[crusader26]

I think you have to figure that there are about 30 other teams that Witt would have rather been paired up with yesterday.  If there is one team in the field that we can say with near certainty Witt is going to have trouble with, it's Capital (I know there are others as well, but we know how Witt does with Capital).  The combined score of about 874-20 over the last three years vs. Capital is pretty definitive.

This is an excellent point, but you wouldn't want to play too many other teams in this Region.  I think this game will be closer than most predict.  Cap has played through a lot of injuries & so far has succeeded.  Two points to consider to give Witt a chance: (1) Can Murray run on Cap??  (2) Can Cap contain Murray??  If Witt does not give up if they get behind like the usually do vs Cap, then they will have a chance to pull off the upset.  I just don't hope Cap takes Witt lightly and comes ready to play.

[Li'l Giant]

I think you have to figure that there are about 30 other teams that Witt would have rather been paired up with yesterday.

And I think that was the NCAA's way of telling the NCAC to:

[ScotLass]

  Two points to consider to give Witt a chance: (1) Can Murray run on Cap??  (2) Can Cap contain Murray??  If Witt does not give up if they get behind like the usually do vs Cap, then they will have a chance to pull off the upset.  I just don't hope Cap takes Witt lightly and comes ready to play.

1) No.......he had a net of 26 yds the first game
2) Yes......Witt had 99 yards of total offense

BUT, I am a firm believer in occasional miracles. ...