FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

One thing to watch for....IF the North stays the way it will probably end up.

Otterbein will be a scary team for the 2nd or 3rd seed to play. 

[BashBacker#16]

Bashbro - excellent point.  I'd much rather see NCC get Otterbein and we take Franklin - if that's how it shakes out.  Ideally though, I'd want Trine or Case (Whalen is really good though - I just can't see Case beating us at Hollett) first...probably before Chadd Rupp starts slinging it all over the field...although Franklin's D is seems soft and they do not have Hartsfield this year for a running game.  If we play & come out of the Bell game healthy, I really think we can go aways...I really do.

[BashBacker#16]

Wally,

Only 13.5 huh?  Hmmm.  I know you are the expert but I would have thought 21...

Hey - you coming to the Stag this year?? 

[ADL70]

Is stag at Wabash redundant?   

[wally_wabash]

Wally,

Only 13.5 huh?  Hmmm.  I know you are the expert but I would have thought 21...

Hey - you coming to the Stag this year?? 

I'm giving DPU some credit for last year...last year was supposed to be a non-contest as well.  I'm guessing the steam is going to be on Wabash big time in the pick 'em. 

Am definitely planning on being at the Stag.  Had a blast last year! 

[usee]

Probably looks like Wabash is a #3 in the North unless Mt. Union gets moved East. Though they may pull a South team up East as well. At any rate, it looks that 'Bash will be on the road if they make the final 8. Alas.

Keeping the North as the North only, playoff seeds look like this:

1. Mt. Union
2. North Central
3. Wabash
4. Trine
5. Case
6. Franklin
7. Otterbein
8. Aurora

However, instead of moving Mt. Union East, they could pull Case East to fill in the East bracket. The East has a legit #1 in Cortland. The South has Millsaps AND Muhlenberg, and the West has Willamette so there's no need to move the Mount or Wabash to balance brackets.

Actually, I bet Muhlenberg moves East. Allentown is "south" in D3 but fairly East to the rest of us!

I think its wishful thinking to believe Otterbein will be ranked behind Franklin. I would be very surprised to see them any worse than 6th in the regional rankings. Unless the committee moves MUC I would think a Wabash/Otterbein 1st round matchup is a decent probability (both teams have tough games this week though).

[D3_DPUFan]

Is stag at Wabash redundant?

[Superfoot Wallace]

Coming into this game the Allegheny score that stood out most was versus Westminster, Pennsylvania.  6-2 shows a team playing stout defense, not allowing many points and gleaning their own.

There are three ways to play successful defense and they all begin with turnovers.  Generally, believe the three to be: competent and disciplined while finding turnovers to buy the offense opportunities, bend don't break baiting the offense to flirt with Uncle MOJO, and bar the door and pin the ears back we're coming for the points ourselves.

Defense isn't a stand alone product unless you're Frank Beamer looking to win with special teams and homeruns.  Looking at Allegheny's number of passes and situational choices to pass,  Allegheny's D looks more like the former - competent, disciplined and increasing offensive opportunities. 

Watched the LSU-'Bama tilt at the watering hole, and the guy on the neighboring bartstool noted a turnover in overtime being nearly equivalent a defensive score. 

There's been discussion whether homefield advantage exists or not.  If it does exist should posit defense, both style and demeanor, is the most pressing variable.  Against the type of stand mounted by the Gators, a visiting team must strike on all chords without cyphering or misapprehending an octave.

This years brand of Witt defense has shown glimpses of all three aforementioned defensive types.  Against WasUStL, the defense bent and bent some more, but then when it seemed defeat was imminent... snapped back and nearly took Uncle MOJO for the win.  The Witt defense against Bash looked more like the latter, ears pinned back and slamming the door.  Against CMU the Witt defense most of all looked competent, disciplined and willing to give no quarte

What occured this past week, well... to all appearances Allegheny proved a homefield stand amongst quality defenses favors the more disciplined at home.  The penalties, particularly roughing the passer and personal foul variety, must be eliminated.  That is not to say play with less passion.  Nor is it to say don't drive your feet through blocks or tackles.  It is not mistaking an unwarranted hit for pinning your ears back.  It is to say be sharp, honed and true: atonal of the three offered defensive means and modus if must be.  The THING^tm about following this years Tiger squad has been apparent, they don't know the meaning of the word quit.  Good leadership is infectious.

When LSU beat Auburn earlier in the season, the very defense that made the game clinching sack was also the same defense that on the very play prior had been flagged for roughing the passer.  The fact the quarterback drug himself up and took the following snap resonated grit.  The next play, though for the win, clanged without relative pitch.

Just as the online stat sheet late in games nominates rushes as TEAM instead of listing indiviudals, penalties to turnovers are credited to the whole.  Don't see the film.  Don't know that the turnovers are the fault of line, back or receiver.  Don't have a feeling as to whether the personal fouls are egregious or legitimate.  Doesn't matter, the film from last week is probably already in moth balls.  Heard there is a bell that is rung on campus following a victory, and the way the Tigers decide to handle themselves, the officials and opponent this weekend will determine whether it was a clang when rung last or will be a true sonorous strike.  The cold of the Hollow in deep winter acts like bedrock on seismic waves.

signed,
Chuck Long

[ADL70]

Although I'm a lifetime Tiger fan I'll be pulling for the Scots to help my alma mater's OW%

[jam40jeff]

Probably looks like Wabash is a #3 in the North unless Mt. Union gets moved East. Though they may pull a South team up East as well. At any rate, it looks that 'Bash will be on the road if they make the final 8. Alas.

Keeping the North as the North only, playoff seeds look like this:

1. Mt. Union
2. North Central
3. Wabash
4. Trine
5. Case
6. Franklin
7. Otterbein
8. Aurora

However, instead of moving Mt. Union East, they could pull Case East to fill in the East bracket. The East has a legit #1 in Cortland. The South has Millsaps AND Muhlenberg, and the West has Willamette so there's no need to move the Mount or Wabash to balance brackets.

Actually, I bet Muhlenberg moves East. Allentown is "south" in D3 but fairly East to the rest of us!

So does this mean Case will most likely have a home game (either in the East or as #4 in the North if MUC is moved to the East?

[bashbrother]

Case better take care of business this weekend at Wash U. and Wabash needs to do the same in the Bell.

and here is the annual installment of - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwq7BYOnDrM

[BashBacker#16]

Crazy that Trine is a #4!

[bashbrother]

In all due respect to Trine #4 and the fantastic season they have had...... they will not make it out of the first round.  I believe that the #5, #6, & #7 teams on the list above would beat them and most likely pretty bad.

(and yes, I know they beat Franklin the 3rd week of the season, but they gave Trine a lot of help in that game with 5 turnovers. - que Mora)

[usee]

If they don't ship anyone out I think the 1st round could easily be:

Mt Union v Aurora/Lakeland
NCC v Franklin
Wabash V Otterbein
Case V Trine

The Cas/Trine winner plays Mt Union in round 2 and Wabash/Ott winner plays NCC/Franklin winner in round 2. I would love to see a wabash/ncc game in naperville.

If they move MUC to the east again everyone moves up a spot and Thomas More likely moves in as a #7 and could face Bash in round 1. NCC/Aurora is a geographic layup. That's a better bracket for everyone in the North IMO (except for Trine or Case who would likely get to play OTT in round 1)

[wally_wabash]

Go Ithaca!