FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[jam40jeff]

nike:

I did negelect to mention that the atmosphere at the Case game was a true credit to D3 football. Their fans, including a large number of students, were loudly supportive of their team without being obnoxious. They showed how to win with class.......

Thanks, ScotLass.  I was a little late to the game (walking in about 30 seconds before kickoff) and the Case section was pretty packed, so I sat in the Wooster section with the least amount of fans.  Usually I've found that sitting near opposing teams fans is unpleasant, regardless of the outcome of the game, but the Wooster fans were very easy to get along with.

[wally_wabash]

Good grief.  The Witt / CMU game (Oct. 25) will be aired nationally on ESPNU.  Witt should be focusing on getting ready for "prime time" instead of this little game coming up this weekend. 

Really??  CMU has their meathooks into the national media in a big way.  

[bashbrother]

WAF!

[big_bash]

Very nice! I've made it my background. You are going to have to post weekly updates 

[02 Warhawk]

after 5 weeks into the season, i have to check in with my favorite DIII school that's not in Whitewater, WI....... of course i'm talking about Wabash. I see you've been moving up the polls and are settled in nicely at #6. Looking at the past few games, you guys have been winning convincingly. You guys plan on running the table, entering the playoffs underfeated?

I thought about you guys when watching the Notre Dame game this past weekend. ESPN posted the teams Notre Dame has the best winning percentage against, and Wabash (of all teams) was on that list. It was nice seeing Wabash's name get flashed across the screen for a little national airtime on Saturday. not sure if anyone here saw that or not.

Best of luck, see you in the playoffs...

[BashBacker#16]

MacLeod - just commented that they had 4 personal fouls...worth noting no matter the circumstances.  I hope it is a clean game knowing how intense the rivalry is and both teams will be playing very hard.

WabCol86 - dude, has to be my Beta buddy, did you run today?  How's this for numbers...Jay Olson #72, Mike "Box" Gregory #67, Brian Kinniery #66, Gary Chambers #75 (I thought Scott Lahr started though #74) and Urbanski (playing only 1 year and starting as a Frosh out of Munster #52?)

[wally_wabash]

after 5 weeks into the season, i have to check in with my favorite DIII school that's not in Whitewater, WI....... of course i'm talking about Wabash.

This is how postive karma happens.   

I see you've been moving up the polls and are settled in nicely at #6. Looking at the past few games, you guys have been winning convincingly. You guys plan on running the table, entering the playoffs underfeated?

I thought about you guys when watching the Notre Dame game this past weekend. ESPN posted the teams Notre Dame has the best winning percentage against, and Wabash (of all teams) was on that list. It was nice seeing Wabash's name get flashed across the screen for a little national airtime on Saturday. not sure if anyone here saw that or not.

Best of luck, see you in the playoffs...

Running the table would definitely be nice.  There are a lot of really good teams in the region and getting multiple home games in the playoffs would be nice.  The LGs certainly have the opportunity to do that and this week is critical.  Without a lot of really big games on the schedule this weekend, I think a lot of eyes will be on Springfield this Saturday.  Should be a good time. 

I can think of a lot of other things I'd rather see Wabash get ESPN airtime for other than being 1-10 vs. Notre Dame.   

[02 Warhawk]

after 5 weeks into the season, i have to check in with my favorite DIII school that's not in Whitewater, WI....... of course i'm talking about Wabash.

This is how postive karma happens.   

I see you've been moving up the polls and are settled in nicely at #6. Looking at the past few games, you guys have been winning convincingly. You guys plan on running the table, entering the playoffs underfeated?

I thought about you guys when watching the Notre Dame game this past weekend. ESPN posted the teams Notre Dame has the best winning percentage against, and Wabash (of all teams) was on that list. It was nice seeing Wabash's name get flashed across the screen for a little national airtime on Saturday. not sure if anyone here saw that or not.

Best of luck, see you in the playoffs...

Running the table would definitely be nice.  There are a lot of really good teams in the region and getting multiple home games in the playoffs would be nice.  The LGs certainly have the opportunity to do that and this week is critical.  Without a lot of really big games on the schedule this weekend, I think a lot of eyes will be on Springfield this Saturday.  Should be a good time. 

I can think of a lot of other things I'd rather see Wabash get ESPN airtime for other than being 1-10 vs. Notre Dame.   

it's better than 0-11 against a DI powerhouse

[smedindy]

I could definitely see Wabash at 10-0 going into the playoffs. But I wonder how tested they would be.

Massey Ratings using MOV:

Wabash - 24

+++++++++

Denison - 153
Chicago - 190
Kenyon - 211
'Gheny - 169
Wash U - 108
Witt - 104
Wooster - 101
Oberlin - 193
Hiram - 205
Greendingle U. (heh...) - 68

Of course, Witt is Witt and that's always tough, as is the Monon Bell game.

But thinking about the post season (not to put the cart before the horse, but thinking about it...) a 10-0 Wabash is probably #3 in the North behind MUC and the Wheaton / North Central winner. A first round matchup could be against either Case, the Wheaton / NC loser, or the OAC runner-up. Each of those teams will be a huge leap up in competition, even from DePauw.

[ScotsFan]

BB 16 ... keep up your posts and comparisons.  Knowing your experience, knowledge, and attention to D III, Wabash, and NCAC ... you are a rational and good thinker.  Keep it up.

LOL!!! This is really rich coming from the predicter of monkey stomps... 

And that is "rich" coming from a "Scots Fan" whose team is 4-0 and has a "There's always next year" avatar...

Sorry I didn't respond sooner.  I was away all weekend.  But FYI big_bash, my "There's always next year" avatar is my homage to the Cubbies once again breaking my heart after another season of such promise was flushed away in 3 short games!     It has nothing to do with my feelings towards the College of Wooster football team...

Although it is fitting now after the Scot's performance in Cleveland on Saturday... 

[wally_wabash]

It's so hard to project playoff scenarios at this point.  Wheaton and NCC both have tough games to play outside of their h2h matchup...no guarantees that the winner will wind up at 10-0.  Also, as we found out last year, there's no guarantee that Mount Union stays in the North region.  The East is busy beating each other up again this year...maybe opening up that #1 seed out there again.  Or the committee might come up with something completely new that breaks the mold again.  The scenarios are endless really. 

[usee]

It's so hard to project playoff scenarios at this point.  Wheaton and NCC both have tough games to play outside of their h2h matchup...no guarantees that the winner will wind up at 10-0.  Also, as we found out last year, there's no guarantee that Mount Union stays in the North region.  The East is busy beating each other up again this year...maybe opening up that #1 seed out there again.  Or the committee might come up with something completely new that breaks the mold again.  The scenarios are endless really. 

I agree Wally. Given the comittee's track record last year I would bet they would move a North team west. They have clearly indicated they will try to get the top 4 teams as #1 seeds. But that is all extremely premature. Wheaton/Naperville/Wabash have a lot of football between now and then.

BTW, the Wheaton/cross country school H2H matchup is Oct 25th.

[wally_wabash]

Wabash has moved to the head of the Division III class in a couple of statistical categories this week.  The LGs are currrently the nation's leading scoring offense (46.0 ppg) and are also tops in the country in kickoff returns (30.08 yards per return).  I won't go through the whole list here, but Wabash is maintaining very respectable national rankings in nearly every other major statistical category.  Very cool stuff. 

[Ryan Tipps]

It is probably a little premature to really start making calls about the playoffs, but it does make for fun dicussion. Not only has the NCAA broken its stodgy track record of locking a team into one region for ever and ever, but it's also worth noting that some of the top teams out there right now are on the borders of regions and could be pretty versatile to shuflfe around.

Just looking at the D3F Top 5 (which doesn't have bearing on the NCAA, of course, but this is for illustrative purposes only ), there's:

Mount Union (could play in North or East)
Whitewater (could play in West or North)
Mary Hardin-Baylor (pretty much tied to the South)
Wheaton (could play in North or West)
Muhlenberg (could play in South or East)

If Muhlenberg wins out, that would prove to be a cheaper (and still valid) arrangement for the NCAA to dub them an East team, while still allowing the other regions to be centered around MUC, UWW and UMHB.

The alternative option would be for Wheaton (or NCC) to be the North's No. 1 while putting UWW West and MUC East.

But no matter the shuffle, it seems the North could shape up to be about the toughest region this year -- especially if the No. 2 OAC and CCIW teams don't get shipped off elsewhere.

[bashbrother]

The point has been made before, but I will make it again. 

Wabash being in the top 40 in rushing is tremendous and a sign of a healthy and balanced offense.    It is great to see and makes for a much more prepared team should we make it into late November.

Counting on the passing game is great, but sometimes it's not there. (6 feet of snow at kick-off) 

Thank goodness for those fire pits.