FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

Check out Coach Leonard doing  his best impersonation of Lou Holtz...

Unless the interviewer and everything within a 10 foot radius was covered in spittle, he wasn't doing the Lou Holtz impersonation properly

[wally_wabash]

Leonard was saying the same kinds of things in the papers last year also...it comes off as a little cheesy this time around because 1) he beat Wabash last year and 2) teams coming off a 9-1 season can't credibly play the David vs. Goliath card.  Franklin isn't in the weeds this time around...Franklin doesn't have a bunch of no-name guys as Leonard says.  Rupp was among the nation's leaders in PER last year.  Hartsfield was a first team all conference player.  This year it looks like Franklin is going to use Austin Gorrell quite a bit more...Gorrell would have in all likelihood been the #1 running back for Wabash last year had he stayed with the College, so we know he's got some game.  Tony Gregory was a first team all conference receiver last year.  Franklin has good players and while people didn't know them last year, they sure as heck know them this year. 

Unless Leonard thinks that last year's win over Wabash was pretty fluky (I for one don't think it was fluky...Franklin is a very good team), I'd like to think he could talk about his team with a little more confidence. 

[bashbrother]

Nice event, heading into what should be a great game.

http://www.wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=4927

[HuffyLegend]

Not much talk about my Quakers!!  Close game versus the up and coming Engineers of ROse!  Joe White making his case early for Offensive POTY, plus the unveiling of one of the best D-3 stadiums around!

We have Manchester this week.   Should be a walk for the Quake...even as we live life without Rummell.

side note...Leonard as Lou Holtz is really funny.  Crayton will have his boys ready.

[smedindy]

If you're 4-17 over the last two seasons plus one game, I don't think ANYTHING is a walk. Not even Manchester.

Sorry to say close vs. Rose isn't going to cut it. We need to BEAT the Heartland, not just come close. Otherwise we're just going to get one team in the playoffs.

[smedindy]

BTW - wabco's favorite 'face planter' has now moved to the DL for Kenyon this season and got 3 tackles (1 solo, 2 assists) against Grinnell.

The NCAC can easily go 6-2 this week, and 8-0 may not be that much of a stretch if Denison and Hiram get in gear against Case and Bethany, respectively.

[bashbrother]

H-Legend -

Welcome to the board!  I listened to the entire RHIT/Quaker game on Saturday and was somewhat impressed with this years Quakers team.

The Offense seemed to move the ball very well at times and the defense seemed to step-up in the second half and kept the game within reach.

I give the Quakers props for coming out and playing tough.  Smed is right though....get us a win this weekend!!!

A talent like Rummell is very hard to replace.   

Good luck against Manchester and keep posting.

[wabashcpa]

BTW - wabco's favorite 'face planter' has now moved to the DL for Kenyon this season and got 3 tackles (1 solo, 2 assists) against Grinnell.

The NCAC can easily go 6-2 this week, and 8-0 may not be that much of a stretch if Denison and Hiram get in gear against Case and Bethany, respectively.

I think I have more faith in Hiram than Denison this weekend.

[HuffyLegend]

Thanks for the welcome!

Pardon the excitement...but the new palace of football and the great play of Joe White has us giddy!!  He is the real deal...and will be our next pro prospect!

[ScotLass]

Welcome to the board HuffyLegend! It's great to see fans from so many of the NCAC teams on the board!....

[wabco]

Hey ... Smed

Great Ben sighting.

3 tackles ... good for Ben ... Good Lord ... what is this world coming to.

Check out the Michigan guys on the Little Giants 2 deep roster.  Ready for Franklin and the LGs to get it on.  Too bad this is still Friday.

[WAF78]

Well, Wabash gets the spotlight in the top 25 for tomorrow...the one in the top 25 picked to be upset. All I know, if I was playing for Wabash tomorrow...I'd be so up for this game...I'd be mad and pissed.  Just hope the Cavemen give Mr. Coleman a big first week disappointment.

[Schwami]

WAF78, it was Keith McMillan who made that pick, not Pat Coleman.  I doubt that either Keith or Pat would be disappointed, regardless of who wins or loses.  Expectations are for a close and exciting game.

[wally_wabash]

WAF78, I believe it was Gordon Mann via contribution to Keith McMillan's ATN column that selected the possible Wabash upset.  I think Pat's in the clear on this one.   

Really though, it's the easy pick to take if one must pick a possible top 25 upset.  Wabash is ranked 23rd (barely in the top 25), Franklin is ranked just outside of the top 25.  Given that we have well over 200 teams in D-III the relative difference between #23 and #32 is much smaller than it is in D-I.  Tack on to that that Franklin has last year's result against Wabash and that they've got a game under their belt already, and to the unbiased outside party Wabash would be the easy choice for an upset alert blurb. 

My prediction for tomorrow: Franklin takes advantage of Wabash while the LGs get their sea legs...which buys the Grizz a good quarter or so.  The Wabash O hits the ground running (and probably throwing a little, too) to keep pace.  The Hard Hats lock it down in the second half while the offense just keeps going.  Wabash avenges last year's OT loss in Franklin and the throng of red leaves Hollett in a festive mood. 

[smedindy]

Huffy -  I know you are giddy especially with the new stadium. I often find myself having to dilute the kool-aid of everyone around here, so pardon my harshness.

Let's go 8-0!