FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Great season. We just ran into one of the elite teams today.

[gobash83]

Despite today's disappointment, this team has done well and all the Wabash faithful should be proud of its efforts this season. 

As for what this game teaches CC and the rest of us regarding the program's progress, time and reflection are necessary.  No one doubted that UW-W had one of the best teams in the country this season (and the last few previous ones as well).  In order to win today, Wabash had to come out with its "A game" and not make mistakes.  That didn't happen. 

I tend to think that the margins are very thin at this level.  A team like UMHB can lose 44-14 to UW-W when they have early turnovers and fail to play their best.  Is Wabash closer to UMHB and the other top tier D-III teams and today was the result of a great opponent hitting on all cylinders when Wabash failed to play its best?  Or, are we really just that far behind the top tier?  That will take time to answer.

In any event, congratulations to UW-W on a great game, fantastic season and best wishes in the remainder of the tournament.  You were clearly not just the better team today, but are one of the elite teams in the country. 

[Li'l Giant]

Or, are we really just that far behind the top tier?

My personal opinion is "yes". There is a huge gap between the "elite" programs and "the rest". Can we be one of the best of "the rest". I think so. Can we be one of the elite? I don't know. We clearly have a long way to go to get there.

[smedindy]

After seeing what Mt. Union did to SJF, and what Whitewater did to good Wesley teams the last couple of years - Mt. Union and Whitewater are playing at levels that we are not familiar with...

[reality check]

CONGRATS on a great season from myself and the OAC.  The Little Giants did a great job this season, especially in dealing with the injury at the QB spot early in the season.  Hang your heads high and remember the good of this year while you address and improve upon the bad in the off-season.  Good job Wabash.

[reality check]

if you can turn recruits away and target 30-40 players that you want a year as a Div. III team you are pretty good.  When non-scholarship schools (MUC, UWW, Dayton, San Diego) start recruiting like Div. I schools you know they've got it rolling.

Could you explain this comment to me.  Firstly, I'm conused at the comparison of schools as these programs recruit in incredibly different ways.  Secondly I don't understand what you mean by turning recruits away.  Just some clarification on the statement.

[Devil Badger Gopher]

Congrats to Wabash, but do not think that you can come to the WIAC and beat us.  Not even close as we stated all week. 

[KitchenSink]

Congrats on a fine season, Wabash fans.  I was impressed with your turn out at the Perk today, and the spirit that they maintained through virtually the whole game.

Hope all the travelers get where they are going safely.  Man, the roads are UGGGG-LY out there.

[Mr. Ypsi]

After seeing what Mt. Union did to SJF, and what Whitewater did to good Wesley teams the last couple of years - Mt. Union and Whitewater are playing at levels that we are not familiar with...

Pending the results of next Saturday's game at UWW, I'd tentatively add UMHB in there also (despite the blowout a few weeks back).  They have had some pretty impressive 'monkey stomps' themselves, and remain the last team to beat MUC in the postseason.

[smedindy]

Devil Badger Gopher -

We have great confidence in our lads, and won't back down. But we knew Wabash had to play on their A-game and we didn't. You just can't turn the ball over and give the other team short fields.

But Wabash won't be intimidated. Yeah, they got spanked today, and the superior team won. But Wabash ALWAYS fights.

KitchenSink -

Thanks! I wish I was there. I know there had to be a great turnout, and yes, Wabash fans will stay and cheer come hell or high water. We did at Mt. Union and that confuzzled the natives. I knew that you guys would get it.

Best of luck next week.

[Duster72]

Congrats to Wabash, but do not think that you can come to the WIAC and beat us.  Not even close as we stated all week. 

Great sportsmanship!   

[joepieters]

Congratulations to the Little Giants. 

Today's loss was disappointing, but it has been a TREMENDOUS year.

[BashFan74]

Back from the game, warm and with something to eat.  The roads were nasty and I assume that the Indiana-based Wabash faithful will have a long trip home.  

UWW has a fine team and should give UMHB (and MUC?) quite a battle.  Beaver is quite an athlete, as well as his back-up Pittz.  They also showed a very effective passing attack.

Huff started and I believe he played a couple of series before Hudson came in.  Interceptions plagued Wabash during the first half (and as was stated shortened the field for UWW).  Credit to the O-line which protected Huff and Hudson well.  Will leave the detailed analysis for BB16 and others.

A lot of credit to the Wabash Faithful.  The snow started about 10:00 and continued, with freezing rain, through the entire game.  Can't remember if the visitor's side holds 2000 or 2500 but it was about 3/4 full.  Made a lot of noise during the game and impressed the UWW tailgaters, too.  Thanks to the Student Senate for providing a charter bus to bring students.

Wabash Always Fights!

[aueagle]

UWW boxscore had the crowd at 2335....I just saw the game photos....
I would not have believed it if I didn't see them myself......

[gogetit9]

Reality Check-

Take Mt. Union & UWW for example....there are hundreds of "non-scholarship" players who would like to go to these schools and play for National Championships but these programs do not take all comers....which is a great deal different than 90% of the other DIII schools.

These schools have built programs that allow them to selectively recruit their incoming classes, some people call it slotting...they offer kids a spot on their team based on need/talent so on and so forth.  And no other players are invited to pre-season camp.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Manchester's, Bluffton's & Sewanee's can't recruit like this or they'll end up with 30-man rosters (some of them aren't that far off right now ((K-Zoo)).

Hope this clears up my previous statement

Their teams tend to have more transfer/JC/Prep school players on the roster, which is an advantage b/c academic standards may not be as high.