MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[scotty]

just always wondered about Hiram...

[David Collinge]

When I think of Richmond, I think of Tom Raper RVs.  A lovely image to project to the world, or at least every over-the-road trucker and cross-country driver. 

[DarkSide-D]

Just interested in the discussion about Hiram's facilities.  I know they recently renovated their phys. ed. center.  Vanillacow, I know it has been some time since you left Woo, but is Hiram's facility still as bad as it was then?

WooBoo,

Obviously you have never been to Delaware in the summer months.  I used to commute there when I was still in school for a summer job.  While driving west bound on 36, there is a distint odor that rises from the water treatment plant (just south of Shelby Field on 23).  This would definately drop Delaware down on the list.  And let's be honost, Gambier isn't that bad!!  I mean, there is fun in the sun Mount Vernon just down the road...home of Chewing Gum and "Dixie"

[fighting_scots]

FYI, from the Scots' website:

Replays of the Wittenberg-Wooster game from this past Saturday night, featuring commentary from Coach Moore, will be broadcast locally on Clear Picture Channel 22 Wednesday and Thursday at 8:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at noon and 3 p.m.

Get those VCR's rollin'. . .

GO SCOTS!

[Lboogz15]

I know its not the Wooster vs. Witt matchup, but what can i expect to see and hear from the crowd tomorrow?  

And somebody else posted earlier comments about our brand of ball being thuggery.  What?  You see one foul that may have been warrented and now our brand of ball is thuggery, come on!  

I can't wait to see the environment out there tomorrow.  I hope you scots fans will be in attendance.  If you win you win. But if you lose, you will definitely hear from me on here again. We know calls will not go our way at all, but then again when have they every really.  I just think this game is going to be more suprising then people think.  

Just questions

[wally_wabash]

Most NCAC towns/campuses are pretty nice per my experience.  I've not been to Oberlin, Hiram, Gambier, or Allegheny.  All are a far piece away from me in western Indiana and three of the four offer matchups that don't quite justify the trip (I do most of my traveling during football season, but the matchup issue still exists for hoops).  My takes on the towns I've been to (in no particular order of preference)...

Denison - I had a college roommate from Granville, so I've been a few times but not for sporting events (I think that changes when Wabash goes Denison this fall).  Granville is a great little town for all of the reasons already mentioned.  Very quaint...seriously, the place is right out of a book.  

Earlham - I don't know how I've been to Richmond and not left with an RV.  Maybe next time...I'm weakening to the power of the billboard.  Earlham has a nice campus, and a horrible football facility.  They should play all of their games at the high school.

Springfield - Springfield is nice save the whole Wittenberg thing.  I remember going to the BW3 after the 2002 Wabash/Witt OT classic to celebrate and having the bartender look on in disbelief when we told him that Wabash beat Witt.  His response "Wittenberg never loses."  I'm still not sure he think Witt lost that day.  Great wings though.  

Wooster - I'm not a huge fan of Wooster the town, but it's a stone's throw from the greatest attraction in the state of Ohio: Grandpa's Cheese Barn.  That alone is worth any trip to Wooster.  

Delaware - Come for the NCAC action, then head south to Columbus for postgaming.  Too many great spots to go in Columbus on game night to mention here.  OWU's campus also has two of the most interesting facilities I've been to in Selby and Branch Rickey.  Cool places, even if it is a little dark in the gym.  

Crawfordsville - Having spent four years there, it grows on you a bit.  You learn to find your fun in C'ville, even if it takes a couple of years to figure it out.  There are definitely worse places (cough, Greencastle, cough).  

[billy_pilgrim]

Earlham has a new football facility under construction. There is rumor that it may even be complete by next season.

I'll see if I can find blueprints for it online. They were in the most recent alumni magazine and also on display outside of the football offices last weekend.

A new grandstand and press box would go on what is now the visitor's side at M.O. Ross Field. A new locker room facility would be built on the east end of the field. I'll see what I can find.

[DarkSide-D]

BP,

Are you telling me that half the team wont have to stand outside while the other half dresses?   

[fighting_scots]

How can you visit Woo and NOT get a pizza at Coccia House!

DC, I know that will get your thoughts drifting--

[smedindy]

You know, I love quaint little college towns. I'll take it anyday of the week of some boring blah strip malled suburbia.

Hey Scots Fan - just doing DC's light work. I'll let him take care of the heavy stuff! 

[jscwittfan]

Wooster - I'm not a huge fan of Wooster the town, but it's a stone's throw from the greatest attraction in the state of Ohio: Grandpa's Cheese Barn.  That alone is worth any trip to Wooster.  

I always see that sign on my way home, and I always want to stop, but never do . . . if not just because that's a great name.  C'mon, who doesn't laugh when you say "Grandpa's Cheese Barn"?

[earlhamalum]

Playing both Basketball and Baseball for 4 years I've seen a lot of the campuses on a number of occasions.  Spent the night at (Granville, Delaware, Crawfordsville, Wooster, Oberlin, Hiram, Allegheny)  Here is what I think of the NCAC schools and towns.

Granville- Has a nice little historic town with older houses and businesses.  Never like the wooden bleachers, but rumor has it they updated the gym a little.  Baseball field was pretty nice.  I just like the hills and all the trees.  It looks real nice during the fall and winter months. (2nd hottest locker-rooms in the NCAC)

Springfield- You know the Earlham people love Mike's and Rosie.  I think Springfield/Dayton/Richmond would put up one heck of a fight for the best DIVE Bars in the Region.  I felt like their Baseball field was in the middle of no where. (Is the visiting locker-rooms right next to Wittenberg's locker-rooms?)

Wooster- Might have the best Town support in the NCAC.  I think Wooster and Springfield would be 1 and 2 in Town crowd support.  They have some nice chain restaurants   and I always enjoyed the view of Wooster. (I think I'm a sucker for hills)  Plus that little hill outside the back entrance where people Sled all the time when it snowed made me jealous.  

Hiram-  Some of the Hiram posters might help me out here.  They had a Bar/ restaurants that we went to.  You had to go down Steps to get in and had some GOOD PiZZA, With an old school Bowling game (i believe).  Not sure of the damn, but that was a nice little joint.  Other than that i can't remember seeing that the Town had much to offer. (hands down the farthest locker-rooms in the NCAC)

Meadville-  For some odd reason I liked that town. (hands down the Closest Locker-rooms in the NCAC.)  Never saw much of the campus, but I loved the DQ/Gas station near the Hotel we stayed in.

Oberlin-  Not a bad little town.  I actually really liked the campus and the business around the campus.  Doesn't offer a lot, but OBERLIN COLLEGE have been around for a Long-time.  If I'm not wrong they had the First Black Female attend there and Graduate.

Kenyon- We always played them on Wednesday night and they always came to Richmond for a Double-Header during the week.  So I can't say a lot about Kenyon, plus my Opinion about basketball would be out-dated, since they have a whole new facility.  I can say I saw the Worst injury ever at a Kenyon game.  Stoops crossed over a kid at the top of key and his ankle broke in the other direction. (STILL can't get that nasty image out of my head.)

Delaware-  Still my least favorite gym... yes even behind Hiram (Only had to play at Hiram Twice)  I always felt like they built it to be a church and changed it into a GYM.  (Hottest Gym in the NCAC)  I hated those Stairs.  Baseball field was nice, but right by an Inter-State.  Has a nice little stretch of momma pop restaurants and older businesses.

Crawfordsville- Seem to have a decent relationship with the town.  They updated the front entrance a few years ago and a pretty good gym.  The town has a lot of older houses, but A LOT more updated then in Richmond. (FYI- I do bathroom remodeling for a family business)  So wally_wabash and any other Posters from Crawfordsville looking to remodel their bathrooms let me know... I got to that city about 3-4 times a month.  They also have a nice little baseball field near a river and near a house with a lot of Wabash students, that cook out and support the Lil Giants on Saturday and Sundays.

Richmond- Don't give me started, I think the EC basketball has to think Richmond.  The Wright Brothers (Curtis and Jamar) came from Richmond High School along with, Mike Bradley, Tyler Steward, Markous Jewett, and Brandon Miller.  When it comes to the town the average family income is only about 17,000 dollars.  The town is built for 60,000+ and I believe they have around 35-40 thousand now.  A lot of huge Factories have closed or moved out of Richmond in the Last 20 years.  I guess Richmond is still thankful for TOM RAPERS.

[smedindy]

My house was built in 1872, but we really need a kitchen upgrade, because it's a very Brady kitchen (the previous owners didn't get to it, but upgraded everything else).

However, it would take a big pile o' money falling from the sky to get that done.

[wally_wabash]

jcswitt -

Stop by the Cheese Barn.  Say hi to Grandpa.  Get some gouda.  It's great. 

[David Collinge]

I've lived in or had connections to the Holmes/Wayne County (i.e. Wooster) area for almost 40 years, and I've never heard of Grandpa's Cheese Barn.  Where is it?  Sounds tasty!

As for the Coccia House...well, suffice it to say that I once drove in a blizzard all the way to Dover, following a snowplow all the way down 250, just to get my mouth around one of Mama Zifer's pizza.