FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

This game in Cleveland is to big....we all need the LG's to win this first round.
Wabash Always Fights.....did I just say that?....Oh noooooo.

No shame there, eagle.   

[formerd3db]

I'll stick my neck out here like Mr. Ypsi.   I'm not advocating anything here, but rather just tossing these thoughts in for the discussion and reflection.  I guess even at our level DIII the win % is taken seriously by many, heck, most people, and for legit reasons, of course.  However, does perhaps what a longtime head coach as far as the effect in the longterm aspects of his player's lives count for something?   I think so and while I realize no one likes losing all the time, perhaps that has a little to do with it.  I know it has at some other schools. 

[blue4now]

Yo Wally Wabash...   You said "If you're bothered by those handful of fans, you're not paying enough attention to the game.  It's easy enough to just ignore those fans.  And I'm not talking about just those 2% of Wabash fans....EVERY team has that 2% of fans. 

Were you directing that comment to your 'fans' who were calling out CWRU players by name with obsceibnties, or
were you directing your 'fans' remark to those Wabash fanes who were spitting on Case parents as they walked belong the stands, or
were Case fans just being over sensitve and should just pay attention to football?

The bottom line, while there were only a few 'fan's involved its tough to ignore and pay attention to the game when you're having your son and family called out by name with obscenities while being spit on from the idiots hanging over the railing....   

Sportsmanship involves everyone: players, coaches, parents and other supports.  Lets' hope everyone supporting every team this weekend sets the correct example and appreciates the players efforts in every contest. 

Good luck to all!  Nothing beats playoff football at any level!!!!

[wally_wabash]

The bottom line, while there were only a few 'fan's involved its tough to ignore and pay attention to the game when you're having your son and family called out by name with obscenities while being spit on from the idiots hanging over the railing....   

No, it really isn't.  All you've got to do is sit there and watch the game.  Cheer for your team.  Ignoring idiots is one of the easiest things on the planet to do...because all you have to do is nothing.  If nobody cares what these guys are saying, how long do you think they'll keep going?  Usually, it stops if there is no reaction.  The one way that I can guarantee that guys like that will in fact carry on, and probably amplify, is if anybody gets visibly or verbally pissed about it.  These kinds of hecklers feed off of the reaction.  Just let it go....you know these guys look and sound dumb.  We know these guys look and sound dumb.  Sooner or later they'll get the hint when people stop enabling them.  Do you think any of those guys actually knows who the heck they are yelling at?  They pick a name off of the program and yell something until one of those names turns around and gives them a reaction.  Ignore it, and it stops almost without fail. 

I'm not condoning any of what you allege.  But those guys do exist and will exist at EVERY game and they exist in the underbellies of both fan bases.  You can elect to let guys like that rob you of a fun playoff experience or you can ignore them and enjoy your game.  It's really up to you. 

[bigkrapper]

Could not agree more with Wally Wabash.  That is very unfortunate about what allegedly happened last year at the Case vs. Wabash game.  Wally is right sometimes you just need to ignore it all.  Unfortunately picking out someones name and heckling is not just done by Wabash.  It is something that has increasingly become a more integral part of College Sports for the worse.  I am sure some remember JJ Redick at Duke being heckled by UNC or some of you might not even remember Steve Kerr (NBA player) while a Freshman at Arizona was heckled with chants of "PLO, PLO" or "Where's your dad?"  For those that don't know the story, His dad was killed while at American University in Beirut by the PLO.  That may put everything into perspective.  You just cannot react to the hecklers, it is not good for these young student-athletes but acknowledging it will not help you out.  I don't have a rooting interest as I am an oldtime NCAC fan back when Case was in our league so good luck to both teams.  Best thing that can happen, just don't go near each other.

[oldtiger]

Programs identify players by name and number. Pretty pervasive approach transcending the various sports. So, they know precisely the target of their obnoxious banter. And when your kid is the target of their derision, it is definetly not easily ignored.

Try again.

[Li'l Giant]

I think the issue is a bit more complicated than what you think, wally.

Nothing I saw (or said or did) at a Wabash sporting event from either Wabash or other fans holds a candle to some of the stuff I saw and heard at high school games.

My older brother and I went to different high schools 5 years apart. Our schools happen to be in the same district and were rivals. So I've seen it from both sides when he played football and baseball for his school and as a fan at football and player at baseball at my own.

Maybe things at football games get more heated in Texas on a Friday night but what blue4now complains of is pretty tame stuff compared to the stuff down here. Especially when you factor the ethnic stuff with predominantly Hispanic schools playing predominantly white schools. Throwing tortillas at the opposing teams bus, referring to players as "Chuy" and "beaner", etc. As you can imagine some of that stuff made my blood boil as a 16-17 year old. I think it would be much easier to ignore now as a casual fan. Unless it was my kid, as oldtiger points out. Then I'd probably be itchin' for a fight. I can handle being called names. Leave my family out of it.

I excuse none of it. I don't think it's as easy to say "ignore it". But at the same time you can only control what comes out of your mouth and what you do with what you hear.

[aueagle]

Anybody have a pulse on the LG camp....mind-set, injuries....Has CC sent a congrats note? For real Italian food on Friday or after the game, Little Italy is a stones throw from CWRU. My recommendation if you carry a concealed weapon....leave it in the car or check it in. You'll enjoy the meal a whole lot more.....Go Bash....Just Win Baby!!!

[BashBacker#16]

AUEagle,

I'll bite.  From the sounds of it, the Little Giants are ready to go Saturday and cannot wait to gain some redemption after the sub-par performance against DPU.  I also think they realize they have an opportunity to make a playoff run and fortunately, do not have to end their season with a poor Bell loss.  I'll take faith in this group of seniors and the fact that they realize, this could be their last game.  Personally, I wouldn't bet against Bubba Lange, Josh Gangloff, Darryl Kennon, Tony Neymeiyer, Jeremy Morris, & Co.  As we have said, these guys have won 39 games - so they know what to do.  I also think it is a motivating thought, as a Wabash player, to know if you win on Saturday, they could play at Hollett next weekend.

Regarding the matchups on Saturday:  Can Bash run the ball on the Case D?  (Case's D front is not overly big and their LB's are all 200 - imagine J-Mo locking on)  Can Case run on the Bash front 7?  Can Case protect Whalen? (2 frosh vs. DK & Bubba - 5th year seniors)  Does Hudson bounce back?  Will Case face too many 3rd & longs?  ....as always, turnovers and special teams must be solid on both sides.

"The hay is in the barn."  We'll see at 12 noon this Saturday in Cleveland.

Be careful what you wish for...

Wabash Always Fights!

[wally_wabash]

Last year Wabash overwhelmed CWRU with the run game...in a year when running the football wasn't a big priority.  This year Wabash is running as a priority and for the most part are doing it better than they did last year.  Unless CWRU has gotten a lot better against the run, this game could look a lot like last year's game. 

With that being said, Wabash can not under any circumstance get careless with the football.  It happened against Wittenberg and Wabash nearly got beat (would have if Wittenberg had any offense at all at that point in the year).  It happened last weekend and Wabash was down by 23 points in a hurry.  Wabash won't be able to win if they have to try and chase down a big early deficit. 

So it's run run run, hang on the ball.  If  Wabash can't run, the players are there to have success with the pass, but that portion of the game will have to play much much better than they have in the other big games this year. 

Should be a good one on Saturday. 

[ADL70]

http://www.northcoast.org/sportsmanship/sportsmanshipmain.html

[Joe Wally]

Last year Wabash overwhelmed CWRU with the run game...

What's the word on the health of Kimp and Graham?

[formerd3db]

I'll jump in here if I may.  I agree with Wally to a degree in that in some circumstances, the best is to ignore those jerks.  This is taking the high road.  On the other hand, I disagree with Wally and agree with you others that one cannot always ignore these actions.  By that I mean the following - spitting on someone absolutely, unequivically crosses the line and cannot be tolerated whatsoever.  There are ways to deal with this unacceptable, inappropriate and disgusting actions by such jerks and thus obtaining the assistance of game ushers, law enforcement and/or college administrators at the game to confront and take care of such jerks is the right way to go for this.

All that being said, as everyone has pointed out, it is unfortunate that a few idiots/jerks have to attempt to spoil it for everone else, let alone behaving totally inappropriate, disrespectful to the people they attack/offend as well as being disrespectful to their own school.  Very sad.

[ADL70]

if you carry a concealed weapon....leave it in the car or check it in.

There's a gun buy back in Cleveland Saturday morning!!!

Ignoring or tolerating inappropriate and disgusting behavior is tantamount to condoning it.

[wally_wabash]

Words are just words...and I do think that it is easy to ignore guys that just yelling things at you.  Now obviously you can't have people throwing things at others or spitting on people or anything of that sort.  As d3db pointed out, that's way way way over the line and if that really happened last year by someone wearing Wabash red, it is deplorable and unacceptable and is a slap in the face to our Gentlemen's Rule.  It is also absolutely not representative of the Wabash community.  Please don't let the bad behavior of one or two jerks formulate an opinion about an entire community.  The very vast majority of Wabash fans that I know that travel regularly are happy to share stories, refreshments, laughs, and all of the other good things about football Saturdays with fans from whoever it is that we're playing that weekend (one school excepted  ). 

Saturday is going to be a good game...and I hope you guys will join me in enjoying that game regardless of outcome and regardless of a couple of loudmouths.