FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashBacker#16]

Wabco,

Sounded like a successful weekend with over 50 football recruits.  Definitely some good ones (especially WR's & DL from what I heard) so hopefully this is a good sign for a solid recruiting class.  Coach Raeburn seems more and more comfortable.  I think they are anxious to start Spring ball right after Easter.  It will be the first time he will get to see the guys in action - at least partial.

Heard some favorable news on a certain RB that should be back.    That is huge.  Also, prediction for one of the surprises next season on the offensive side of the ball...Derrick Yoder, RB.  Much different style then Sobecki so he should compliment nicely.

Lastly, sounds like the staff has been solidified.  I feel much better then I did 2 months ago.   

WAF!

[wab64]

       Sorry-forgot about hoops, the big ten tournament, selection Sunday, and all that jazz. (and you're from Indiana). I tend to forget about it when they started wearing baggy pants, which are an abomination.

Oh I don't know, 64...somehow this:



seems preferable to

.

I don't know, Wally. It all depends on your perspective. I'm just a traditionalist in sports uniforms- black shoes for football, green grass, short pants for basketball, and buttoned shirts for baseball.
     BTW, be careful around those open bars. In the 1973 Sports Illustrated article about the Bell, the author characterized Wabash men as-"they're the ones found face down in the wedding cake"

[wab64]

16 - we gotta catch up.....

Love to be there when Coach Raeburn sees DK and Lange go full pads for the first time.

Hudson should come out this Spring as a seasoned signal caller with a ton of experience now beneath him.

Need to find some burners to go with Rode and Graham.  I am sure they are there.....just anxious to find out who they are.

Hope the recruiting group has some gems..... There had to be a few that were waiting to see who Wabash brought aboard.  May have lost a few, but i am sure it will be a good group.

     There is JT Moore, who should move up from returning kicks and 3 solid freshmen from this year-PJ Tyson, Wes Chamblee and Kody Lemond. Chamblee tore up the indoor track season as a triple jumper and sprinter and I understand Lemond was a much sought after recruit and Wabash was pleased to get him. Plus any promising freshmen from next year's class. ( a plug for BashDad #84). The heart of Wabash teams, as far back as I can remember, has always been the linebackers. there have been so many, year after year. There are two pairs of shoes in the middle that will be hard to fill. One thing, if DK and Bubba Lange continue to expand, maybe no one will get that far.

[Bash-Dad #84]

It will be very difficult to replace the exemplary corps of wide recievers that graduate this year, however Matt Hudson will have no shortage of talented kids to throw the ball to. There are several young recivers that are waiting to show the Wabash faithful what they can do. The competition for playing time should be very good.
The same can be said for linebacker. You can't just "replace" a pair like the ones we had last year, but again there are big hitters just waiting to make their mark.

I feel very good about the way things are shaping up for this season, I can't wait to hear all the scuttlebutt that will come out of spring ball!

B-D #84

[BashBacker#16]

Chamblee was a 48 second quarter miler and I think he was also a 6'4" high jumper in high school so he is an athlete for sure.  Lemond led the state of Indiana in receptions as a senior hauling in 95 catches at Pendleton Heights.  I think expectations are high for both of those guys.  Another one that will be in the mix if he can stay healthy is Ryan Kerney.  He'll likely be more of a possession guy but is about 6'4 210.  I saw him on campus last weekend and he said he's been working hard.

[Superfoot Wallace]

Looks like Rose Hulman might have an Olympian swimmer.  The real reason Rose isn't in the NCAC.

signed,
Kenyon Athletics

[wab64]

Looks like Rose Hulman might have an Olympian swimmer.  The real reason Rose isn't in the NCAC.

signed,
Kenyon Athletics

         Olympic swimmers to the contrary notwithstanding, Gheny, and you eastern Ohio people hate the trip to Wabash being as how we are in the Far West. RH would give them more trips to Indiana, even further west than Crawfordsville. Ostensibly, the reason I heard, when Rose Hulman applied, was that, as an engineering school (albeit a highly regarded one) they had no chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and no way to get one. Along with threatening swimmers, The REAL reason could be that the tone of our liberal arts institutions would be lowered by a school named after the Clabber Girl baking powder tycoon.

[Superfoot Wallace]

Olympic swimmers to the contrary notwithstanding, Gheny, and you eastern Ohio people hate the trip to Wabash being as how we are in the Far West. RH would give them more trips to Indiana, even further west than Crawfordsville. Ostensibly, the reason I heard, when Rose Hulman applied, was that, as an engineering school (albeit a highly regarded one) they had no chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and no way to get one. Along with threatening swimmers, The REAL reason could be that the tone of our liberal arts institutions would be lowered by a school named after the Clabber Girl baking powder tycoon.

Touche' 64.  Actually, was just an ongoing stab regarding my sentiments about the NCAC not having an engineering school amongst its members.  The conference qualifications have been discussed ad nauseum nearly every spring.

As an engineering school, personally felt Case leaving the NCAC was a blow to the conference, but think the member schools might actually benefit more from the UAA-NCAC agreement.  And have to believe Case's charter NCAC membership is the prompted first footing.

The fullback on my semipro is on the board of directors for RHIT, I'll be sure to pass on your regards.       JK, 64.  Really, don't think anyone Case or otherwise can turn their nose up at RHIT.  Was a helluva land for the HCAC, a conference with many schools, dating back to the ICAC days,  have followed pretty closely.

signed,
Roger Ward's Pit Crew

[short]

This is the SLOW time of year in football. The times after the coaching turnover, and before Spring Practice and before our schools have many or any commitments.  So I thought about a discussion about "the top 10 team over the last 10 season of the NCAC".  I know that Wabash only has been in the NCAC 8 season but I would be glad to discuss both the Bash 98 and 99 team but feel they are both irrelevant in this discussion. 

#1 Wittenberg 1998 / 11-1
This team finished 3rd in the final AFCA poll and played National Champs Mount Union to a 2pt game.  They lead D3 in scoring Defense (5.3ppg) and had an avg margin of Victory of 24ppg. Star player included So Running Back Casey Donaldson, Sr OL Aaron Shaffer, Sr DB and 4-time All American Ken Pope, and Fr All American Dustin "Cheeseburger" Goldsberry.

#2 Wittenberg 2000 / 12-1
This team finished 5th in the final AFCA poll and played National Champs Mount Union to a 17 pt game and a Stat standoff, in a playoff season the saw Mount beat ONU by 31 the week before and Widener 40 a week later.  Their avg margin of Victory was 23.8ppg.  They were lead by Sr RB Donaldson, Jr LB Cheeseburger Goldsberry, and Jr DL Juan Howard.

#3 Wabash 2002 / 12-1
They Finished the season rank 7th and had and had an avg margin of Victory of 22.5ppg.  But more imporantly, this team changed the NCAC landscape for years to come in a sweet soft kick in the North endzone of Wittenberg Field on October 12th 2002.  Easily the best game I've ever seen live with Witt jumping out to a big lead and then Wabash taking a big lead then Witt ties it up to take the game to overtime as we watched the rivalry begin.  The only loss was a 29pt one to National Champs Mount Union. Lead by the Best QB ever to play in the NCAC Jake Knott, an All-American TE Ryan Short, Defensive Player of the Year Nate Boulais, and DL Blair Hammer.   

#4 Wooster 2004 / 11-1
They finished 10th in the Final poll and an avg margin of Victory a CRAZY 25ppg!  Lead by one of D3 all-time Greats this team appeared unstoppable on Offense when Healthy (note the Witt game).  Only an injury to their Stud QB keeps them from play Mount Union to see how they stacked up with the 3 teams in front of them.  Star plays... only the BEST the NCAC as ever seen in Sr RB Tony Sutton (NFL tryout), Sr DL Joe Kearney, Sr LB Tim Cline, and So OL Rick Drushal (NFL signee). 

#5 Witt 2001 / 11-2
Finished 5th in Final Poll and had avg margin of Victory of 23.3ppg.  They lost two game one to Alam early in the season and a 28pt loss to National Champs Mount Union.  However they had big playoff wins over Hardin-Simmons and 11-1 Thomas More.
Lead by Sr DL Juan Howard, Sr WR Mike Aljancic, SR OL Matt Leisure, and Jr RB Dan Grove. 

#6 Wabash 2005 / 11-1
Finished 12th AFCA and 15th in D3 Polls and post a 23.1ppg margin of Victory.  Lead by Sr QB Russ Harbaugh, So LB Adrian Pynenberg, and JR LB/DB Josh Foster.

#7 Wabash 2007 / 11-2
Finished 10th in D3 and 8 in AFCA Polls and post an 11.8ppg margin of Victory. Overcome injury to win the NCAC but loss to Depauw and 40 pt loss to National Champ UWW keeps this team below other 6.  Stars were Adrian Pynenberg, WR Mike Russell, and DL Jared Lange.

#8 Wittenberg 2002 / 10-2
Finished 10th and had a 30.8ppg margin of Victory (counting both losses).  See Team #3 and apply the opposite.  Lead by Sr LB Cheeseburger Goldsberry, Sr LB Andy Pope, and Sr RB Dan Grove.

#9 Wittenberg 1999 / 11-1
Finished 10th with 21.2ppg margin of Victory with a big loss to ONU in the playoffs.  Donaldson, Juan Howard, and Cheeseburger all on this team.

#10 OWU 2001 / 9-1
Rank 24th in final poll. This was GREAT team but lost to Witt in a close game and didn't make the playoff.  Had an avg Margin of Victory of 25ppg CRAZY!!! Lead by SR RB Matt Capone, Sr DB Jason Martin, and SR OL Joe Kyte.

[Superfoot Wallace]

Hard to believe there's not an Allegheny team amongst those ten greatest of the last ten.  The Gator conference championship during that run might take a backseat to the two loss, both to the LG's, Witt team.  This would probably leave that Gator team in a coin flip with the OWU team mentioned.  As a fan of the grit necessary to run the favored winged offense, personally give the nod to OWU ahead of both should it come down to a triumvirate with a 10a and 10b.

Aside from the 98 Witt team, which I watched from the stands, the only witness I've had to the teams on the list are the '02 Witt and Bash teams, as was at the game that changed the landscape of the NCAC the last few years.  Those were both great teams.

If could rate best games of the last ten years that would like to see,  should most like to have seen the great Witt comeback against Wooster that fell just short.  Surely, this game and the 02 Witt homecoming are the biggest tilts of the conference the last ten years.  Of course, would be much more satiating had the Tigers claimed those victories.

Having not seen Sutton play, don't know would rate him head and heels above the all time NCAC running backs.  Not sure he faced the same type of defenses as Mormino and his predecessors the seven years prior.  Have heard legends even of the OWU defenses faced by Allegheny's Drayton.  Neither having won the whole shebang probably rate Sutton ahead of Donaldson based on raw statisitcs, but am more enamored by the consistency and scatter plots of Donaldson's.

Did see enough of the OWU Capone led teams to have some opinion there.  Research purposes exclusively of course.

Having seen Perryman in person, am not sure he doesnt rate right up there.  Allegheny had some awfully tough defenses in those days.  Grove was no slouch, but not so sure the Wabash Arizona transplant isn't same or better talented as Drayton.

When it comes to backfield tandems however, think Witt has two of the greatest all time, one being not only conference but all divisions.

signed,
Kevin Mack and Ernest Byner

[frank uible]

Mac: You overlooked the backfield of Jim Brown and Leroy Kelley and also the 49ers million dollar backfield of Tittle, Perry, McElhenny and Johnson.

[wab64]

Scott- Many thanks for the change of pace. Much food for thought, there. I would think some consideration should  go to Allegheny in 2003, was it, when they ran the table in the conference after losing their first three non-conference games. They didn't last in the playoffs, but any time someone can go 7-0 in the conference is worth something.

[seventiesraider]

When you start talking all D3 running back tamdems, you better include Chuck Moore and Dan Pugh from Mount Union, back to back Gagliardi trophy winners

[Superfoot Wallace]

Seventies, was just trying to give some perspective and trying to be careful in my word selection.  Wasn't an assertion of best all time in Division 3, but there are statistics that bear Warga and Stockdale in the all division pantheon.  Not that Moore and Pugh aren't there as well.  Two, much less consecutive Gagliardi's is an unfathomable feat.

Really, think Pugh and Moore's Staggs are a true testament.  Look at the nod given Drayton in this poster's opinion over Sutton based on the Walnut and Bronze. 

Raw stats are however the means by which the RJ Bowers of the world get their names included in the all divisions talk.

Am such a fan of the blended Arena skills of Warner, the two step drop, Faulk and Holcombe, that personally include Booker and Powers as feel Witt was ahead of Vermeil's curve with their complementary skills.  Not sure Witt was using the same West Coast philosophy of short slants in front of the linebackers as the Vermeil-Martz system.  In fact, am pretty positive there wasn't the additional run n' shoot optioned route from these slants as the now named Multiple West Coast, but the run game was very similar, save Booker's fullback draw in place of the weak belly counter.  That Witt pass system seemed more like those of the Redskins and Giants of the eighties and even early nineties.  The optioned routes were somewhat more downfield as posts rather than slants evidenced by the Aljancic years.

And Frank, didn't overlook them, just a little before my time.    Have seen enough highlights of Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly, but not too familiar with the Niners you mention.  But I really did dig that old black and white picture of believe Tittle with his balding head bloodied down on both knees, but think was a Giant at the time.  Always a fan of the old quarterback running systems, like the Baugh spinner series, am enthused to see some of the new college run oriented systems move away from the off tackle option to a newly reinvented QB wedge.

Guess these old-new innovations are profiting from the Multiple West Coast ideology of optioned routes.  Micheli from MUC, Whelan from Case and Huffman from Witt all are stirring echos with their return to a new running style.  But, just as wouldn't expect LK to shelve the famed MUC roll pass, don't expect Coach Fincham to fully retire the nasty multiple I playaction.  Think Whelan might be the guy with the fully versed vertical prowess in addition to some slippery running

signed,
Jacobs > Williams and Brown

[Pat Coleman]

This is the SLOW time of year in football. The times after the coaching turnover, and before Spring Practice and before our schools have many or any commitments.  So I thought about a discussion about "the top 10 team over the last 10 season of the NCAC".  I know that Wabash only has been in the NCAC 8 season but I would be glad to discuss both the Bash 98 and 99 team but feel they are both irrelevant in this discussion. 

#1 Wittenberg 1998 / 11-1
This team finished 3rd in the final AFCA poll and played National Champs Mount Union to a 2pt game.  They lead D3 in scoring Defense (5.3ppg) and had an avg margin of Victory of 24ppg. Star player included So Running Back Casey Donaldson, Sr OL Aaron Shaffer, Sr DB and 4-time All American Ken Pope, and Fr All American Dustin "Cheeseburger" Goldsberry.

The AFCA poll didn't start until 1999.