FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotLass]

I think the NCAC should go with OAC non-conference games after this UAA contract is done. That would give us a barometer and great smack talk with our bras over at the OAC.

From 2004-2007 Witt and Woo went this route.

WITT                                                  WOO

2004 Capital    L                                          2004  Muskingum      W
2005 Capital    L                                          2005  Muskingum      W                         
          Dayton   L
2006 Capital    L                                          2006  John Carroll      W
          Dayton   L
          Capital   L (playoffs)
2007  Capital   L                                          2007  John Carroll     L

Now Witt really took the plunge into scheduling strong non-conference games. In 06 they would have won the conference and probably faced Cap in the playoffs with similar results even if they had scheduled softer non-conference games which would have been more likely W's.

Woo took a softer plunge into scheduling OAC teams as non-conference games. I doubt their playoff appearance in 2004 had anything to do with playing Muskingum. I'm pretty sure that had to do with a very strong team and a once in a life time player named Sutton.

I don't think these results provided much smack to talk with our bras or bros over on the OAC board. But one does have to congratulate Woo and more so Witt for talking about it and then actually taking the plunge. Interesting to note that neither Witt or Woo managed to win the NCAC this year after 4 years of scheduling OAC non-conference games Methinks there's a bit more to it.

[aueagle]

bashbrother: Sure, the Bishops will be back.....the question is WHEN & HOW. Better recruiting & a fresh offensive outlook might be the key. West Coast would be cool....I just hate seeing my QB being the leading rusher all the time BECAUSE he is the guy taking all the punishment. OWU plays the LG's tough...BUT, we can't finish....and that's a problem. I will keep you posted on what is happening...always try too.
ScotLass: Nice research.....BTW..can I pay you to do my 2009 picks?

[old wabash]

i, too, was left confused by the two losses, which i witnessed in person (ptsd?)
when you feel your team has more promise than performance it is not necessarily HYPE?
when we were "balanced" or "in the rhythm" we looked very good.
however, we only visited those two concepts, we never seemed to take up residence.
it is the surely the rightful "job" of every fan to ease our grief by doing post-mortem work.
i have made my peace with the simple fact that promise/talent does not always equal performance!
even though many are pretty rabid fans (kool-aid or not) our hype did not produce votes in any poll!
so give the fans a break maybe the pollsters were wrong, or voted for promise?

[Joe Wally]

I apologize to my fellow NCAC posters if this is a bit off topic.....

I saw this morning on the Wabash site that Bill Placher had died this weekend at the age of sixty.

Bill was an extraordinary man who was a friend and mentor to many on campus and in the Crawforsville community.  I can't speak for others, but I know for certain that Bill kept this Little Giant headed in the right direction on more than a few occasions.

He will be terribly missed.

[Li'l Giant]

Joe Wally:

I second that. Professor Placher was amazing. I was a Religion minor, but only had two classes with him (This a.m. my memory failed me and in an email thought only one). Despite that limited classroom exposure I was struck by how he was a giant on campus and rightly a legendary role model in the history of the College. It is a sad day indeed for Wabash.

[bashbrother]

I think the NCAC should go with OAC non-conference games after this UAA contract is done. That would give us a barometer and great smack talk with our bras over at the OAC.

From 2004-2007 Witt and Woo went this route.

WITT                                                  WOO

2004 Capital    L                                          2004  Muskingum      W
2005 Capital    L                                          2005  Muskingum      W                         
          Dayton   L
2006 Capital    L                                          2006  John Carroll      W
          Dayton   L
          Capital   L (playoffs)
2007  Capital   L                                          2007  John Carroll     L

Good stuff ScotLass.....

I have just always been of the philosophy....that you schedule up and become better..... it doesn't always work out...

Notre Dame.... Always one of the toughest strength of schedules in NCAA F-Ball...... The SOS, may have partially led to their downfall.    But it got them a decent TV Contract.   

[LGHistorian]

I just wanted to put in my 2 cents here on a few things that have been mentioned.

First, Wabash's 2010 and 2011 schedules will have a season opener against Wooster and the final 3 regular season games will be in order - Allegheny, Wittenberg and DePauw. Wabash will have to be ready to roll out of the gate and there will be no easy road toward the end of the season.

Second, I think you must take into account Coach Raeburn was working with a group of players that Creighton recruited to fit his style of offense - which was mostly pass and run on occassion.  Raeburn's philosophy is a BALANCED offense (50-50). I believe you will see Raeburn look for and be able to recruit a different type of running back that we have not seen in a Little Giant uniform for a number of years. Do I dare say maybe someone that might actually rush for 1,000 yards during the season?  The high flying air attack that Carlson and Creighton used at Wabash was not exactly enticing to a high school RB with huge rushing stats.

Third, Wabash does need to get better.  We are not where we want to be yet.  But you also have to have a little luck or if you will, have the "stars align just right."  It was mentioned that Witt and BW could not play in the '77 playoffs due to the conference championship game and what was not mentioned was that on the final weekend of the season I believe 4 or 5 of the Top Ten teams in the NCAA coaches poll lost on the final weekend.  Losing on the final weekend pretty much ended your support on the committee when only 8 teams went to the playoffs and only 1 team from each region was the mandatory requirement while the other 4 teams could be wild cards.  Had those circumstances not happened in 1977 neither Wabash nor Albion would have been extended bids.  Wabash had only been ranked once during 1977 and that was after the 6th game of the season.

So, please give Coach Raeburn a chance.  He was hired because the hiring committee believed he could build on what Creighton accomplished and take us to the next level.  I can't think of anyone off hand that took a program to the next level when the coach has been on the job for less than one year.  Today, December 1, Coach Raeburn still has not had this job for one year yet.

[DPU3619]

Second, I think you must take into account Coach Raeburn was working with a group of players that Creighton recruited to fit his style of offense - which was mostly pass and run on occassion.  Raeburn's philosophy is a BALANCED offense (50-50). I believe you will see Raeburn look for and be able to recruit a different type of running back that we have not seen in a Little Giant uniform for a number of years.

I agree here... sort of.  While I thought that Kimp and Sobecki, in particular, were nice backs, I do think the Raeburn system would have had tremendously greater success if there was somebody back there with dynamic talent like a Chris Morris or an Aaron LaFitte.  Those guys could run out of 4 wide and still chew up yards.  Imagine what they could have done with two TE's and a FB.  If Raeburn gets himself somebody explosive to tote the rock, you're going to be darned hard to stop.  Those don't exactly grow on trees, but if he can recruit one, he'll be on his way.

[bashbrother]

Wes -

Great point.  It seems, at least as of late, that part of the championship formula in D3 has been the signature running back.  Kmic, Beavers etc.   Marks did quite a job for the Tigers in his 4 years.  If you gave him a crack, he made you pay.

I think Wabash had it in Lafitte... didn't work out, but boy was he fun to watch.   Need to find another one.

Sobecki, Kimp and Yoder did a fine job and put up some real numbers against some suspect defenses, but the back we need to find is one with that extra spark.  The back that could break it every time he gets his hands on it.   Those backs are hard to find.  Does T. Sutton have anymore brothers?   

[short]

So, please give Coach Raeburn a chance.  He was hired because the hiring committee believed he could build on what Creighton accomplished and take us to the next level.  I can't think of anyone off hand that took a program to the next level when the coach has been on the job for less than one year.  Today, December 1, Coach Raeburn still has not had this job for one year yet.

HEAD COACH LANCE LEIPOLD UWW
He won a National Championship his 1st season! 

[bashbrother]

So, please give Coach Raeburn a chance.  He was hired because the hiring committee believed he could build on what Creighton accomplished and take us to the next level.  I can't think of anyone off hand that took a program to the next level when the coach has been on the job for less than one year.  Today, December 1, Coach Raeburn still has not had this job for one year yet.

HEAD COACH LANCE LEIPOLD UWW
He won a National Championship his 1st season! 

Although technically, he did take them to the next level, they played in the Stagg the two prior years and almost got the Prize.  That may not be the "next level" LG was talking about... the program was already right there.  But, that would be an example.

[usee]

I don't think ER was exactly rebuilding this year. What would have happened if CC didn't leave?

[short]

Lets said Wabash won last weekend vs Wheaton and this weekend vs Franklin would that be the next level? 12-1 and playing in the National semi-finials would have been 1 game better than were CC had taken them and into a new level. 

If CC was coaching Wabash they might have won vs DePauw and maybe last weekend and maybe even next weekend but CC isn't coach the LG.  He has moved on and in time we will all see if ER can take Wabash to the next level.   For the record CC was a very Special Coach IMHO!

[wally_wabash]

This comparison to CC is interesting.  Let's keep a couple of things in mind:

- CC inherited a very talented team which he then molded to his system.  It wasn't perfect in year 1 of the CC era...it took some time to get it right.  ER is in the same boat. 

- CC got throttled by Wheaton in his first year too!  58-33 to be exact, and that Wheaton team wasn't as good as the one that ripped Wabash on Saturday. 

I really do think that the program is in fantastic shape.  The ship most certainly is not sinking here.  I know the taste right now is sour, but have some patience.   

Thanks for everything you gave to the College, Dr. Placher.  You'll be missed by the institution and all of us that have ever spent some time with you.  A sad day, indeed. 

[aueagle]

I've enjoyed the LG-Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Talk.......
In the Season we have entered...Be Thankful for what you have......
Many of us would enjoy half the success your program has had.
Don't get me wrong......I am all for Wabash to keep reaching up and the posts are all in the right perspective...
The worst thing to happen to a program is to plateau....