FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

I'm predicting an interesting race.

1. Wabash 6-1 (loss to Witt at Witt)

2. Wittenberg 5-2 (losses at Gheny and Woo)
2. Allegheny 5-2 (losses at Bash and Woo)
2. Ohio Wesleyan 5-2 (losses at Witt and Gheny)
2. Wooster 5-2 (losses at OWU and Bash)

6. Denison 3-4 (wins vs. Hiram, Kenyon, Earlham)
6. Kenyon 3-4 (wins vs. Hiram, Oberlin, Earlham)

8. Earlham 1-6 (win vs. Hiram)
8. Hiram 1-6 (win vs. Oberlin)
8. Oberlin 1-6 (win vs. Earlham)

[gobash83]

1-Wabash
2-Wittenberg
3- Ohio Wesleyan
3- Allegheny
3- Wooster
6- Kenyon
6-Oberlin
8-Denison
8- Earlham
10- Hiram

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Garcon showed up well for the Colts in the HOF game last night

Rec 4/33, Kick ret 1/51, Punt ret 1/1

Would be great to see him make it.

[wally_wabash]

My prediction isn't quite as interesting as yours, smeds.  I believe it is a two-horse race this year...winner TBD in Springfield on 10/18.  My rankings:

1) Wabash - It comes down to the Witt game on 10/18.  I'll take Wabash, but it really could go either way.  I think the x-factor in that game is going to be Raeburn and whether or not  Fincham can prepare for unfamiliar schemes (I think it's no secret that Fincham and Creighton were getting pretty familiar with one another...made for great chess matches the last couple of seasons). 
2) Witt - They can just as easily win that game.  Witt's got a really good team coming back. 

Big gap.  I mean big.  I can't see any of the next few teams beating Wabash or Witt.  Not saying it isn't possible, but it would be very surprising. 

3) Allegheny - Here's to the Gators bouncing back after last year's faceplant. 
4) Wooster - Made huge strides at the end of last year.  Continued improvement this year, enough to be competitive but not enough to contend. 
5) OWU - With Hymes, OWU could be a sleeper and contend.  Brutal opening schedule though. 

Another sizeable gap.

6) Kenyon
7) Oberlin

Gap.

8 ) Denison
9) Hiram
10) Earlham...I'm predicting the 0-fer for the Quake this year.  It had to be somebody. 

[wabco]

1. Wabash ... if they remain healthy, should run the table for the regular season
2. Witt ... only blemish will be Wabash in a very hard fought contest ... great Wabash tailgate is predicted
3. OWU ... always good personnel and heart.  If coaches do not limit their potential, they will be tough.  A good chance to hurt some people ... good year for Oberlin and not OWU joining the meat of Wabash schedule.
4.  Gheny ... will play hard, have good personnel, will be heard from ... hopefully not at Wabash.
5.  Woo ... slip continues ... but will stop at #5.
6-8 ... toss them in a bag:  Kenyon, Oberlin, Denison
9 - 10.  Earlham pushed very hard by Hiram ... good opportunity for Hiram to start its upward climb to the upper reaches of #8.

Wabash will beat a good DePauw team.  D will not be the repeating loop variety.  And, Wabash will be ready with the necessary talent.  Should bew a good game as the Dannies will come to play and have talent as well.  Look to break the game attendance record ... and no Mummert to dampen the event on a scooter with an over abundance of country "you in a heap of trouble, son" constables.

[BashBacker#16]

Sounds like new road jerseys for the Little Giants this season.  Nice!

Any recruiting scoop from other NCAC teams?  Any predictions for newcomer of the year - type recruits?

I think the strength of Wabash this season will be both fronts.  The D front may be one of the best we have ever had (side note conversation for later...) - Lange, Kennon, Gangloff...scary.  Watch for Ramsey and Kolisek to emerge as Sophomores.  Looks like they'll play (roster) the Princeton transfer down too so look for Coggins and Whyde to be in the hunt as well.  The O front is freaking massive and could have at least 3 - 400 lb bench guys...J Mo (6'6 302), Tokar (6'6 310), and Niemeyer.  Long will battle for a guard spot and will be back, Morrison had starts last year after converting from D, and Evan Isaacs may be our best if he can stay healthy at the OT spot.  Big question marks for Bash...WR's - can the talented Soph's step up quickly, can Rode stay healthy and play to his potential?  Will the Bash running game get established?  Will our D-backs have the ability to play in the new scheme?  You also have to wonder about ILB's in losing Adi and Deig.

[WallyFS4]

I'm like Wally.  I think it will be a 2 horse race.  Again it will come down to the game in Springfield.  I'm going to base this on what my head says, not my heart.  I hope I'm 100% wrong.

1. Witt
2. Wabash
3. OWU
4. Gheny
5. WOO
6. Kenyon
7. Denison
8. Oberlin
9. Earlham
10. Hiram

Can't wait for the season to begin.  As Always.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!!!!

[wabashcpa]

I believe it is a two-horse race this year...winner TBD in Springfield on 10/18.

My sentiments exactly, but I'm not sure on the order.  Being that the game is in Springfield, that will be a difficult task.  It could easily go the wrong way (almost did last year).

[wally_wabash]

I believe it is a two-horse race this year...winner TBD in Springfield on 10/18.

My sentiments exactly, but I'm not sure on the order.  Being that the game is in Springfield, that will be a difficult task.  It could easily go the wrong way (almost did last year).

The home team has won every game in this series since the Oct. 12, 2002 46-43 OT game in Springfield.  The home field definitely plays a big role in these games. 

Witt is catching this game on Fall Break.  Wabash caught the same Fall Break nonsense for this game last year and stuffed 4,100 into Hollett.  Can Witt keep people on campus for the game?  They should hope so...

[OldTymer20]

The race will come down to Wabash Witt and OWU....Wabash goes to Wittenberg (Where they have lost their last two meetings), and Wittenberg goes to OWU. (Where they have lost their last two meetings.).  OWU and Wabash do not play each other. Whichever QB from these 3 teams steps up the most will decide who wins the conference. This could be a deciding factor, if OWU beats Witt at home which they are very capable of doing, they can easily run the table without Bash on the schedule. Gheny and Wooster will trail right behind, in 4th and 5th. Followed by Oberlin, Denison, Kenyon, Earlham, and Hiram. My predictions:

1.Wabash 7-0 (They finally beat Wittenberg on the road. Something they haven't done since the 2002 season in OT 46-43.
1. OWU 7-0 (Witt at home, and no Wabash. 18 Returning starters...including QB Hymes...weak schedule. OWU is my surprise pick.
3. Wittenberg  5-2 close losses against Wabash and at OWU. The Tigers are in desperate need of an impact player to step up.
4,5,and 6 will be too close to call between Gheny, Wooster and Oberlin
7. Denison
8. Kenyon
9.Earlham
10.Hiram

[cave2bens]

1. Wabash - if... new sheriff, new schemes, WR and RBs step up to overcome Witt
                         experience.  Other advantage for 'Bash is Witt's previous games
                         vs. WStL and OWU; Wash should provide interesting baseline
2. Wittenberg -  experienced, but roadtrips to OWU, Woo, and 'Gheny loom
2. OWU - will there be a lapse with Wooster or Allegheny, regardless of Witt game?
4. Wooster or Allegheny - pick 'em
6. Oberlin - RV Carroll aside, it's still Oberlin with a tough road schedule
7.  Denison - if only some of their rugby players (they're good) would don pads
7.  Hiram   - just a hunch;  Oberlin and Earlham at home, and twelve frosh
                         from a tough football conference (Gwinnett and Hall Counties - GA).
                         The recruiting group logged a lot of miles with this roster!
9.  Kenyon - at least Hiram and Earlham are at home
10. Earlham - another tough year for the Quakers

[wally_wabash]

I'm going to interrupt the NCAC top 10s briefly....D3football.com has posted their preseason top 25.  Wabash comes in at #11 (Wabash's highest ever preseason ranking by this publication).  Wittenberg is unranked, but did recieve 17 votes.  Other notables...

- CWRU checks in at #19
- Our fellow hoosiers over at Franklin will start off at #21
- DePauw is unranked (correctly  ) but has managed to coax 11 votes from the pollsters

DePauw and Witt are the only teams with votes that Wabash has on the 2008 schedule...unfortunate.  How soon could Wabash crack the top 10?  It might not take long.  #10 St. John Fisher opens with Mount Union.  #5 Bethel has a September meeting with #18 Wheaton.  #9 Central opens their conference schedule in September against #23 Wartburg. 

Alright...back to your NCAC prognostications! 

[BashBacker#16]

Wally,

I believe the Wheaton/Wabash scrimmage is still planned (last I heard), as in year's past - that will be a really good pre-season test for both squads.

What is the over/under on the DePauw roster being updated...I'd say by game 6...   

[wally_wabash]

That's good news about the scrimmage.  I think the scrimmage may have been a bigger help the last couple of seasons when Wabash needed something close to game speed heading in to their first game against really good Franklin teams that already had played a real game.  This year with Wabash opening against Denison, I think the scrimmage isn't quite as important for the sake of week 1 preparation, but it's always good for the players to go and play against somebody wearing a different helmet after the long camp.  Let's keep everybody healthy through that scrimmage! 

[Li'l Giant]

Sounds like new road jerseys for the Little Giants this season.  Nice!

Anyone got any pics? Can we get some new road pants, too? Those white pants are hideous. And while I'm at it, let's ditch the red-on-red.