FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wabashcpa]

What, Zeke Mowatt wasn't available to add his contribution?

[bashbrother]

Here you go Wally. 

[WAF78]

I think with Olivet's loss of so many seniors from last year and with Witt returning so many skill players...and it's a Witt home game... the Tigers are going to roar...loudly.

As Wally noted, I don't think I'd like to be Oberlin this week. However, Oberlin has some good skill guys...so I hope they can keep it close.

I think if Wooster can hold Waynesburg's Heller under 200 yds rushing...it'll be a moral victory for the Scotts. Heller led the nation in rushing last year as a freshman and he has his whole O-Line back. If the Waynesburg team bus has a wreck and several players get broken legs...then Wooster has a chance.  Unless...Sheppard and company can also run the ball and keep Heller off the field. Go Scots!

CMU (ranked 75) vs. OWU (ranked 132) - CMU looks to be the winner here but the Bishops bring back 16 starters from last years team. OWU's defense was stellar vs. Wabash last year and they could really give CMU trouble. Also, running that hybrid single wing they run is hard to prepare for. Go Bishops!!

I find it interesting that the Fighting Quakers (an oxymoron in itself) play for  a broadsword as the prize if they beat the Rosey Boys.

Just a thought...with the conference rankings what they are...I think it would be intriguing to have Wabash and DePauw both join the UAA. The UAA is ranked 14th, the NCAC ranked 19th, the SCAC 18th.  That way the UAA conference is strengthened and the Wabash/DePauw rivalry can regain primary status.

[wally_wabash]

Just a thought...with the conference rankings what they are...I think it would be intriguing to have Wabash and DePauw both join the UAA. The UAA is ranked 14th, the NCAC ranked 19th, the SCAC 18th.  That way the UAA conference is strengthened and the Wabash/DePauw rivalry can regain primary status.

Without a seventh team and a Pool A bid, there's no way I can even consider this hypothetical.  Also consider that this is more than a football conference...the UAA has schools scattered all over the eastern half of the country.  I know DePauw has already blown up the geographical relevance factor so such a move wouldn't be much of a shock to their system, but I wouldn't want to see Wabash do the same with their athletic program. 

I'd love to be playing DePauw in conference games as much as the next guy, but until DePauw stops pretending to be a southern school, it isn't going to happen.  Always remember...this is the bed they made. 

[wabndy]

Remember they are the UAA - or University Athletic Association.  Their website description (via google) says it all:  "A conference of selective private research universities."  They aren't true liberal arts colleges.

It seems to me that D3 conference partnerships has a lot more to do with how schools want others to perceive them.  The NESEAC is the perfect example of this - staking their claim as the "D3 Ivy League."  Wabash and DePauw (and Rose-Hulman at the time) left the old ICAC because neither school wanted to be perceived as just another "Indiana college," hoping to open their admissions offices to a more national recruiting pool.  Wabash decided that it didn't want to have fly 10 sports teams down to Texas in the middle of the week to play conference games.  DePauw did - and for better or worse - have done it for a decade.  Rose tried it a few years in the SCAC before deciding to come back to the HCAC.  Wabash stuck out another year in the HCAC and is now able to dance with other highly regarded midwestern liberal arts colleges.

That brand didn't fit with CWRU, who wanted to be branded as a national research institution - and so jumped in with like-minded institutions.  In reality it was a lousy choice for football, The UAA doesn't have an AQ and has to come begging for a scheduling arrangement with the NCAC to ensure their teams can land october non-conference games.  From a school marketing perspective - it makes perfect sense. 

So travel be darned, I just don't see the UAA welcoming two teaching oriented liberal arts institutions into the mix, just as I don't see Wabash or DePauw looking for an invitation.  Besides - with the aforementioned scheduling arrangement, the UAA has its scheduling problem licked.  If Case can keep up their level of play, the UAA won't have to sweat too much about getting a pool B bid either.

[D3_DPUFan]

Remember they are the UAA - or University Athletic Association.  Their website description (via google) says it all:  "A conference of selective private research universities."  They aren't true liberal arts colleges.

It seems to me that D3 conference partnerships has a lot more to do with how schools want others to perceive them.  The NESEAC is the perfect example of this - staking their claim as the "D3 Ivy League."  Wabash and DePauw (and Rose-Hulman at the time) left the old ICAC because neither school wanted to be perceived as just another "Indiana college," hoping to open their admissions offices to a more national recruiting pool.  Wabash decided that it didn't want to have fly 10 sports teams down to Texas in the middle of the week to play conference games.  DePauw did - and for better or worse - have done it for a decade.  Rose tried it a few years in the SCAC before deciding to come back to the HCAC.  Wabash stuck out another year in the HCAC and is now able to dance with other highly regarded midwestern liberal arts colleges.

That brand didn't fit with CWRU, who wanted to be branded as a national research institution - and so jumped in with like-minded institutions.  In reality it was a lousy choice for football, The UAA doesn't have an AQ and has to come begging for a scheduling arrangement with the NCAC to ensure their teams can land october non-conference games.  From a school marketing perspective - it makes perfect sense. 

So travel be darned, I just don't see the UAA welcoming two teaching oriented liberal arts institutions into the mix, just as I don't see Wabash or DePauw looking for an invitation.  Besides - with the aforementioned scheduling arrangement, the UAA has its scheduling problem licked.  If Case can keep up their level of play, the UAA won't have to sweat too much about getting a pool B bid either.

All in all, a pretty good assessment...personally, I like the travel piece although I know there are lots who do not agree...

[DadofBashWarrior..]

CC and Drake played their opener tonight...Drake wins 17-13

[wally_wabash]

As promised, +k for bashbro.  Nice work!   

Good to see Drake off on the right foot.  I don't think any Wabash fan in recent years are surprised to see that result.  CC is going places....big places.  I'm anxious to see continued success for CC and his staff. 

[BashBacker#16]

Congrats to CC on his first win.  Sounds like he has a lot of work to do though.  Actually saw that on the ESPN ticker which was cool.

DPU has their updated roster posted (even before week 6 of the season  ) - keep an eye on 2 Frosh RB's - Ellis from Chicago and Creighton Harrington from Decatur Central.

Witt's media guide is on their site (hint hint B Harris!) - also listened to Coach Fincham's interview about the upcoming season.  He called McKinley "the most explosive" player he has ever had!  That is quite a statement and pretty scary knowing he is only a sophomore and knowing some of the players he has had over the years.

Bash Red & White Saturday (not sure what time)...will be the first one in 7 years that more then half the team didn't have to run the 12 minute run the morning of.  Wally & Co. - I am anxious for your post scrimmage comments and take-aways...I won't be able to make it.  I saw practice last Sunday.  ER's practices are pretty fun to watch and both sides seemed to be grasping the new schemes.  The most impressive thing to me was the O and D fronts. 

[wally_wabash]

2008 NCAC Pick 'Em is underway!  Rules and week 1 games are posted over on the Pick 'Em board in the General Football section.  Good luck to everybody who wants to play along this year! 

[DPU3619]

DPU has their updated roster posted (even before week 6 of the season  )

I don't get it.  You'd still complain if he gave you one a month ago with no heights and weights.

[1837Tigers]

BashBacker,

The alleged "gentleman's code" Wabash men supposedly adhered to seems to have missed you.  Your cheap shot aside, Bill Wagner happens to be one of the top DIII SIDs in the nation and, in fact, was recently elected president of a group of CoSIDA DIII SIDs.  He's no slouch and has twice the sports to cover as your guy does.  Cut him some slack, please, and remember the "code." 


quote author=BashBacker#16 link=topic=3546.msg930032#msg930032 date=1220007084]
Congrats to CC on his first win.  Sounds like he has a lot of work to do though.  Actually saw that on the ESPN ticker which was cool.

DPU has their updated roster posted (even before week 6 of the season  ) - keep an eye on 2 Frosh RB's - Ellis from Chicago and Creighton Harrington from Decatur Central.

Witt's media guide is on their site (hint hint B Harris!) - also listened to Coach Fincham's interview about the upcoming season.  He called McKinley "the most explosive" player he has ever had!  That is quite a statement and pretty scary knowing he is only a sophomore and knowing some of the players he has had over the years.

Bash Red & White Saturday (not sure what time)...will be the first one in 7 years that more then half the team didn't have to run the 12 minute run the morning of.  Wally & Co. - I am anxious for your post scrimmage comments and take-aways...I won't be able to make it.  I saw practice last Sunday.  ER's practices are pretty fun to watch and both sides seemed to be grasping the new schemes.  The most impressive thing to me was the O and D fronts. 
[/quote]

[Pat Coleman]

has twice the sports to cover as your guy does

Kind of a big deal, good point.

[BashBacker#16]

Wes & 1837,

You know it is slow when the last few posts are defending the DPU SID - Bill Waggoner.  I didn't realize it was such a big deal...I have met Bill - good guy and does seem to do a good job - it was just a comment...certainly not meant as a slam beyond the fact that in some of the past year's it seems like it takes awhile to get the updated roster posted.  I apologize.

Any reports from the Red & White from anyone that was able to attend?  This next Saturday's scrimmage should be a good test vs. Wheaton.  Wally - will you make that one?

Congrats to Garcon making the Colts...very cool!

Go Bash!!!

[wally_wabash]

16, I'll be at Hollett for the Wheaton scrimmage.  Do you have a start time on that?