FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

I am hearing very encouraging reports nike. Tomorrow's Black/Gold scrimmage at Woo will be interesting to watch after a week of camp. Looking forward to a great Scot's season!!! I hear the D-line is really pumped up!

Does anyone have any news to report on the Black/Gold scrimmage?  They sure didn't have too nice of a day to play it on if they played it at all.

[wally_wabash]

Happy Kickoff Day! 

The release of Kickoff means that we're only a couple of short weeks away from opening day in D-III which also means that we're getting tantalizingly close to the return of NCAC Pick 'Em.  2006 was a banner year for participation in NCAC Pick 'Em (even if it wasn't a banner year for my lousy picks).  Hopefully participation will grow even more this fall. 

If you're new to the NCAC this year, you can find the NCAC Pick 'Em page located over on the General Football topics page.  Later this week I'll post the rules and regs as well as the first set of games for the 2007 season.  Week 1 has some pretty nice non-conference games slated, so I'm excited to get underway. 

Back to wearing out my refresh button waiting for Kickoff... 

[seinfeld]

A write-up about Wooster's Black & Gold game from yesterday:

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/2426431

[aueagle]

Thanks Wally for doing the "Vegas" for the NCAC guys again. If I ever get to see you at Selby, the first round is on me.....By the way, are you linked to any NBA officials on the spreads for this year?

[wally_wabash]

No problem, aueagle. 

I'm at Selby every other year for the Wabash/OWU tilt.  Selby is one of my favorite places to visit and I'll be sure to get out there for this year's game as well. 

[WallyFS4]

This was sent to me.  I know this is football season, but I thought I would stir the pot a little.
  http://spotlight.encarta.msn.com/Features/encnet_Departments_College_default_article_10schoolsBestClassroomExperience08.html?GT1=10289

As always.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!!!!

[ski]

Wooster a big question mark!

Woo is advertising a strong Freshman class. But, reality leans toward the fact that they will be hard pressed to reach the levels achieved by the classes of 07 and 05 and even harder pressed to reach the goal they achieved together. That is a conference championship.   

[wally_wabash]

There's quite a bit of buzz about Wooster's freshmen...are we expecting that a lot of these kids are going to start in a couple of weeks or are we talking about players to keep an eye on in 2008 and beyond?

[seinfeld]

Wooster's Class of 2006 was probably it's worst class ever. There wasn't really a single player of impact from that very tiny group.

I have no clue what direction Wooster is going this year, but I don't think they are going to collapse like they did in 2005, because there is some good senior leadership. But clearly they are a notch behind Wabash and at least half a notch behind Wittenberg. I would say a third-place showing would be a success this year.

As for this year's freshmen, I don't really know enough to say. I think they felt it was a pretty solid group, but I doubt we'll see much this year. Maybe at wide receiver and linebacker there might be some action, but no where else.

[ski]

SEINFELD - OOOOOPS, MY BAD

I meant the classes of 07 and 05. 

[WAF78]

Was any one else surprised that the NCAC was only ranked 18th out of 25 as far as strength of conference?

[wally_wabash]

Not particularly, WAF78.  The NCAC overall had a down year last year.  Our conference champion ended up 7-4 on the season and got pasted in the first round of the playoffs.  They also lost a game by 50 points in the regular season.  Our conference had losses to powerhouse teams like Randolph-Macon (2-8 in 2006), Catholic (3-7), twice to Bethany, and we managed to be responisble for three of CWRU's five wins.  In fact, I think Wooster was the only team that swept the non-conference portion of the schedule.  That isn't good. 

The sad reality is that while the NCAC has a few good teams who occasionally have great seasons with deep playoff runs, the bottom half of the conference throws up a LOT of bad looking losses.  In these conference ranking sorts of things, those bad losses hurt more than a couple of good wins can help.  I think this year will be better though.  Witt has scrubbed the Dayton game, I think Oberlin might be good enough to top CWRU at home this year, OWU will have Catholic at home this time around...overall the schedule sets up a little better.  I think the NCAC will climb a little in this kind of ranking after the next 4 months of football play out. 

[smedindy]

The ranking all depends on how quickly Denison, Hiram, Oberlin and Earlham can get their act together. Kenyon has now the appearance of respectability, which is good.

[aueagle]

The NCAC has never been strong from top to bottom. We need to have two (2) teams in the playoffs every year - like the "other" conference. Got caught throwing the football in the house last night and hit the lamp...the Mrs. got pis#$....let's get this season rockin'.......GO BISHOPS.

[wooscot]

I"m curious as well to check out Wooster's freshmen class.  Its an average sized class, which is not surprising given recent history, but it sounds like there is a lot of quality here, particularly in the skill positions.  I'm certain we'll see a few frosh starters early.  Plus, with all the "pub" and kudos this freshmen class is receiving, it will without questions motivate the upperclassmen to perform up to their potential.  There is no better motivating tool in Division III than having a new kid of the block challenge you for playing time.  We'll see how it all plays out.

Also, I have never bought the DIII preview before and I'm debating buying it for the first time this year.  Is it worth purchasing?  How detailed are the reviews on a conference and per team basis?  Should I expect something similiar to what STreet & Smith or Steele does for DI?  Thoughts?