FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotLass]

"Losing is underestimated. You don’t learn anything from winning, it just feels good. But with a loss …you think about it and it makes you change the way you do things"

I found this quote on a motivational quotes website but they didn’t credit the author. With some changes things should be looking up this week for homecoming! 

GO SCOTS!

[nike]

Mr. Scotty,
Could you please post the resume of ES.  High school AND Wabash please.
Thanks.
You Wabash and Wooster folks are hilarious!  I am really, really, really worried about Wooster. Was the recruiting that bad? They sure looked OK before the season.  This is a true story-told by a player on a team that shall remain nameless. No, since I did not hear it first hand, lets just say that high school student/athletes visiting some d3 schools get the red carpet treatment, not quite d1, but still very nice in terms of tours, food, etc. Other d3 schools, kids get cold cuts.  But, as mentioned earlier, maybe this gets back to commitment of the school fom the top down.
I will say this. Even though I don't care for OWU wing-t, their new field is unbelievable. Not a lot of people show up and stadium could use a serious upgrade, but the playing surface is tops, as are a few other surfaces in the NCAC. Witt IMO by far best stadium for visiting fans.
Let's get ready for OWU and win first homecoming game for new president.

[wally_wabash]

Reflections from Wabash/Earlham...

- Pretty solid day for the offense.  The run game has been much maligned here, but yesterday Wabash had 21 carries for 104 yards, right at 5.0 ypc.  Not shabby.  Not mindblowing or overwhelming by any stretch, but not shabby. 

- The pass game was quite efficient.  300+ yards, just about 11 yards per catch, 4 TDs.  Solid numbers.  The receivers got a chance to run a little after the catch which we haven't really seen since the Franklin game.  Hudson's PER is over 178...that's very good and I think he's probably going to be the guy for the remainder of the '07 campaign. 

- I was a little surprised to see the TOP stat from this game.  Earlham had a 20+ minute advantage in TOP!  Solid job by the defense to not wither late in the game (you'll remember that the second half was killing the Wabash defense in 2006). 

- Excellent special teams play from Wabash.  A couple of blocked kicks, solid returns, solid kick coverage.  Well played game from the special teams unit. 

- The Pep Band gets an F-...again.  Homecoming, 5000+ fans packing the stadium...and nary a horn or a drumset on the premises.  Very, very sad indeed. 

Up next is Allegheny.  I'm not sure what to make of Allegheny.  Unimpressive wins against Hiram and Denison, a loss to Westminster (who isn't terrible, but a game we'd expect the Gators to win at home), and a somewhat surprising win at CMU.  The Gators have been underwhelming offensively...turnovers are the key for Allegheny.  +5 on turnovers (as they were against CMU) will win almost any game against any opponent regardless of how limited the offense is.  If Wabash can hang on to the ball, the LGs should be able to leave Meadville with another W. 

[wabco]

Wabash Homecoming

Great day ... lots of fans.  Where is the pep band.  Too many Wabash penalties ... very uncharacteristic for CC team.  Believe Wabash played down ... homecoming, little sisters of the poor (and overweight puds on the line to boot) as opponents, pretty much ... plays could work.  This was a good game from the standpoint of a good scrimmage with QBs and 2 deep team ... but 'Gheny will be the test whether the LGs have a running game.  Porter looked good ... but don't have his resume.  Overall ... a great game for parents.

Quaker O line was so slow and so plump that Wabash D simply slipped around them ... only if a Wabash D lineman was double teamed was he slowed.  AND ... Katie bar the door when there was a blitz.  Wabash QB was not pressured too much and found receivers pretty well ... 'Gheny will tell whether this is progress or this was Earlham.  Running game needs to get up and go.  Whatever it takes. 

NOW ... legs go.

[nike]

Wabash 2007 Numbers
RUSHING  GP-GS  Att  Gain  Loss  Net  Avg   TD  Long  Avg/G 
Evan Sobecki   4-3   50  182  11  171  3.4  2  17  42.8 
Bobby Kimp   4-1   21  96  12  84  4.0  1  25  21.0 
Brock Graham   4-3   13  47  0  47  3.6  2  10  11.8 
C.P. Porter   2-0   6  41  0  41  6.8  0  15  20.5 
Dustin Huff   1-1   6  29  7  22  3.7  0  13  22.0 
Adam Pilli   3-0   5  13  1  12  2.4  0  9  4.0 
Team   3-0   3  0  11  -11  -3.7  0  0  -3.7 
Kyle Augustinovicz  3-2   11  8  43  -35  -3.2  1  4  -11.7 
Total..........  4   115  416  85  331  2.9  6  25  82.8 
Opponents......  4   155  581  226  355  2.3  3  75  88.8 

The only resume that matters as of 10/01/2007.
Wabash people, you will have your hands full with Witt. Believe that!

[smedindy]

Wabash will have its hands full in Meadville. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Gators are all that are important now!

[BrightGuy]

Wabash Homecoming

Great day ... lots of fans.  Where is the pep band.  Too many Wabash penalties ... very uncharacteristic for CC team.  Believe Wabash played down ... homecoming, little sisters of the poor (and overweight puds on the line to boot) as opponents, pretty much ... plays could work.  This was a good game from the standpoint of a good scrimmage with QBs and 2 deep team ... but 'Gheny will be the test whether the LGs have a running game.  Porter looked good ... but don't have his resume.  Overall ... a great game for parents.

Quaker O line was so slow and so plump that Wabash D simply slipped around them ... only if a Wabash D lineman was double teamed was he slowed.  AND ... Katie bar the door when there was a blitz.  Wabash QB was not pressured too much and found receivers pretty well ... 'Gheny will tell whether this is progress or this was Earlham.  Running game needs to get up and go.  Whatever it takes. 

NOW ... legs go.

In in Quakers first series,  (I believe went something like) Manny Myers rush for 1 yard to the ERLF49 (Joshua Gangloff;Wes Anderson), Randy Kerns pass complete to Manny Myers for 8 yards to the WAB43 (Rich Lehmann;A. Pynenberg), Randy Kerns pass incomplete to John Metcalf (A. Pynenberg), Manny Myers rush for loss of 2 yards to the WAB45 (Joshua Gangloff). 
Why go for it on 4th against this defense at home?  Do you really need a reason to get this defense fired up?  After this series the Quakers Double Teamed Gangloff (93) which gave Darryl Kennon (11) free reign, he had an outstanding day.
Summary:
   - Too many flags
   - Great Special Teams play
   - CC was able to play many freshman
   - Hard Hat Deee

Next up, a long trip to Meadsville.  Lets work on the running game.
Go 'Bash

[wally_wabash]

Witt/Wabash...since the series was renewed in 2000, Witt has scored one beatdown of Wabash (in 2000) and Wabash has scored one beatdown of Witt (2003).  The remainder of the games played between these two teams since Wabash joined the NCAC have been tough, close games.  I don't expect anything different this time around. 

But Witt/Wabash talk waits for a week...the LGs have a huge game in Meadville this weekend.

[wally_wabash]

I found it odd that Earlham went for it on 4th down there also.  Last week, field position killed Wabash...Earlham had to have known this.  Earlham had a chance to pin Wabash deep early in the game and didn't do it.  Of course, as the game unfolded Earlham snapped a punt over their kicker's head, had another punt blocked, and yet another punt very nearly blocked...maybe EC's coaches knew something about the punt unit that the rest of us figured out as the game unfolded. 

[bashbrother]

Anyone remember the 2003 nightmare in Meadville.    We fumbled at our own nine yard line setting up Gheny's only points and missed a PAT on the touchdown we scored.   "Turnovers and special teams"

Even though the new turf is 10 million times better, anything can happen over there.

CC will have them ready.  I think this is the week to let one of the QB's know that "It's their team, now, go out an lead us to victory"  I believe it should be Hudson. 

[smedindy]

As for the rest of the league, the most intriguing matchup is OWU vs. Wooster. Which band of fans will stop with the sackcloth and ashes on the head, break free of their three friends, and go to the game to suppor tthe team.

/obscure?

[Schwami]

Sure do bashbrother.  That Allegheny team came into the game 0-3, the next thing you knew they rolled through the conference 7-0 to make the playoffs.

The swamp conditions that day were especially poor, and it was a cold and wet day.  The swamp was in pretty bad shape after an overtime loss to Westminster the week before in monsoon conditions (final score of that game was 3-0 in OT).

Weather forecast is looking pretty good right now for this weekend - not like the 2001 game, which was delayed so they could move the snow off of the field. 

[wabashcpa]

... and missed a PAT on the touchdown we scored.

Hopefully no deja vu all over again, as the placekicking has been uninspired to this point.  As a place kicker, Finley is an excellent punter.

[nike]

As a bagpipe guy, can look to this week's homecoming game in Wooster, but also anticipate a great game between Witt and Wabash on the 13th. So you guys worry about Allegheny and if they might upset you.  We got our hands full with the Scots dire situation. "The Thrill is Gone", as BB King says, for the NCAC this year.  I'll be better as the week moves along, because time can truly mend a broken heart. By Friday evening.  But 7-58? Come on. Last year we beat OWU 24-0, I believe, so that is encouraging. Witt and Wabash the last few years seem to string quality seasons together. Coaching and talent, right?  As of now a trip to Springfield on the 13th will have to get me through the next couple weeks. And it will certainly be more entertaining than Wooster hosting Hiram that weekend.

[bashbrother]

Nike -

Your trip to Springfield on Oct. 13th may be a quiet one.  You should have your pick of seats on the 50.  The Bash/Witt game is in Crawfordsville, a few hours West.