FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Capital Preview

http://www.d3football.com/preview.php?id=1095&year=2007

[wabco]

From the Woo football report:

"On offense, Wooster returns junior running back Dustin Sheppard, who will be counted upon heavily as the unit adjusts to a new starting quarterback, several new receivers into the rotation, and three new starters on the line."

Now that is a tall order.  New QB, new receivers, 3 new O linemen.

Now on D:  "The Scots' remaining returning starter is senior tackle Deron Boyd, who will likely anchor the defensive line, ... "

D must step up early.

Finally in sum:  "Summarizing, many of the names will be different, but the veterans who have been waiting in the wings as well as some newcomers are expected to successfully take on significant roles on the field and as leaders this fall. " 

Is this rebuild or reload?

[Nonbiased Observer]

It is a one-bid basketball league under the new rules and will never go deep in the football playoffs again.

The one bid you speak of (Wooster) wasn't the one bid that blew the title game two years ago (that is admittedly a dig on Witt and a compliment to the league). 

Wabash doesn't have lacrosse, either.

Wabash needs varsity lax.  Tomorrow. Are you listening Vern?

The new strength of schedule portion of the selection process means either the league has to win a lot more out of conference or live wiith only getting one in.

I meant the future, not the past.

[wally_wabash]

It is a one-bid basketball league under the new rules and will never go deep in the football playoffs again.

The one bid you speak of (Wooster) wasn't the one bid that blew the title game two years ago (that is admittedly a dig on Witt and a compliment to the league). 

The new strength of schedule portion of the selection process means either the league has to win a lot more out of conference or live wiith only getting one in.

I meant the future, not the past.

Wooster and Witt both play strong non-con schedules during hoops season and as long as they perform well there and don't blow more than a game or two during the NCAC season, they'll continue to be strong candidates for postseason selection.  Last year Witt made the mistake of getting drubbed twice by OWU and dropping one to Allegheny which pretty much knocked them out of Pool C consideration.   

Now if we're talking about football, it will be very difficult for the NCAC to put two teams into the tournament.  With just a 10-game schedule, the QoWI is far less forgiving of teams that play in bottom-heavy conferences. 

[C.O.O.L]

Let me just throw this out there fellas!  What do you think if the NCAC went to a schedule like the OAC's where the whole conference plays each other for nine conference games but then they and the OAC agree to play the lone opener against each other?  That would make for a strong strength of schedule and I know this has it's pluses and minuses but what do you think about that and if that may ever happen?

[Ralph Turner]

Let me just throw this out there fellas!  What do you think if the NCAC went to a schedule like the OAC's where the whole conference plays each other for nine conference games but then they and the OAC agree to play the lone opener against each other?  That would make for a strong strength of schedule and I know this has it's pluses and minuses but what do you think about that and if that may ever happen?

I think that the OAC feasts on the NCAC and thereby boosts it QOWI to the degree that it can.  I think that the best schedule that a football team can have is 7 conference games and 3 in-region games that you can likely win.  If you pick up 3 wins that offset a 2-5 conference record that helps the QOWI.

But, QOWI as we knew it last year may be gone...
More later on the opponents' opponents' record...

[smedindy]

That wouldn't work because Wabash, for one, does not play on week one.

[Pat Coleman]

It is a one-bid basketball league under the new rules and will never go deep in the football playoffs again.

The one bid you speak of (Wooster) wasn't the one bid that blew the title game two years ago (that is admittedly a dig on Witt and a compliment to the league). 

The new strength of schedule portion of the selection process means either the league has to win a lot more out of conference or live wiith only getting one in.

I meant the future, not the past.

Wooster and Witt both play strong non-con schedules during hoops season and as long as they perform well there and don't blow more than a game or two during the NCAC season, they'll continue to be strong candidates for postseason selection.  Last year Witt made the mistake of getting drubbed twice by OWU and dropping one to Allegheny which pretty much knocked them out of Pool C consideration.   

The change in SOS calculation will hurt regardless of the non-conference schedule.

[Ralph Turner]

...

Antioch is one of Colleges That Changes Lives. Maybe we should make a bid to add them.

Kenyon alumnus Henry Wickham reports on the demise of Antioch College.

Gotta find another one. 

[aueagle]

The more I look at Hiram...the more I become ill. They have been in the OAC twice - last time from  1990-1999. PAC member as well (this is their fit). Since joining the NCAC, Puppies have a total of 4 conference wins. The President is Tom Chema, the former Ohio Lottery guy and the AD is a guy that led the juggernaut athletic program at Oberlin for 18 yrs before landing in Puppyville. Oh, and he is an x-OWU football staffer for 2 yrs/OWU grad too. Yikes! But, Hiram was in the NCAA postseason in 1987 (53-0 loss to power Augustana). That's more than the Bishops can say. Like the upgrade to Beane Memorial Stadium for the Quakers...looks good. Also, like the ratio of 57% Female - 43% Male...outstanding numbers. I am rolling the dice when OWU will update the football website. The blockbuster 2006 Season in Review is an awe-inspiring paragraph. The smart money says early September. Regarding the "Save Antioch From Itself" campaign; maybe Gore & Pelosi can help out...with Bono doing a concert. I will go back to reading my Athlon's Big Ten & Street & Smith's to keep my sanity...

[wally_wabash]

Figures...as soon as I start to get comfortable with QoWI, the NCAA goes and tweaks it again.  Hopefully for the better this time around. 

[Li'l Giant]

Figures...as soon as I start to get comfortable with QoWI, the NCAA goes and tweaks it again.  Hopefully for the better this time around. 

Kind of like the BCS formula. 

[WallyFS4]

Lil,

I like the USA uni's.  Different, but I think they are very cool.

Jr. will be in Mesquite this next year.  WR coach and teaching history.  He will be staying with Jozwiak until he can find a place.  Looks like they are to be pretty good.  I believe in the top 20.  As always.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!!!!

[scotty]

Congratulations to O'Connell.  That is a great achievement.  Also, another example showing that some DIII athletes have the talent to play at other levels as some have discussed/debated on occasion on the various boards.  I wish him all the best.  Too bad for Wooster, though from the standpoint of losing a talented player, but again kudos to O'Connell.

I hope he gets as good of an education at IU as he would have at Wooster!   

One can only hope.

[DagarmanSpartan]

AU Eagle.

Yes indeed!

My Spartans did move full-time to the UAA in order to be with other "wanna be" Ivy League Division III schools.  At the time that Case was in the NCAC, we were the only comprehensive research university in the group (the other NCAC schools were liberal arts colleges).

Since moving, we've enjoyed a bit of an athletic renaissance, with our men's soccer team making the Sweet 16 last year, and our women's cross country team finishing in the Top 10.

Here are the USNWR academic rankings for the schools in the University Athletic Association, aka "The Nerdy Eight."

University of Chicago: #9
Washington U.-St. Louis: #12
Emory University: #18
Carnegie-Mellon: #21
Brandeis University: #31
New York University: #34
University of Rochester: #34
Case Western Reserve U.: #38