FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

I'm pretty sure you have to have possession of the ball and touch the ground, just like any other spot on the field.

[BashBacker#16]

Former3DB,

Here you go...

NCAA
Rule 2-2-7
A catch is an act of establishing player possession of a live ball in flight.
c.    To catch a ball, a player who leaves his feet to make a catch must have the ball in his possession when he first returns to the ground inbounds with any part of his body.

NFHS (High School)
Rule 2-4-1
A catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds or being contacted by an opponent in such a way that he is prevented from returning to the ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball.

[wally_wabash]

OWU @ Allegheny is really this week's only noteworthy game.  What's at stake?  The right to cling to that sliver of playoff hope...the loser is for all intents and purposes done. 

On paper the two teams are statistically pretty even.  The only place where I see a distinct edge for one team or another is on defense, particularly pass defense.  OWU has an advantage there.  Of course, Allegheny did play W&J, a primarily throwing team, so the numbers may be skewed just slightly.  But Gheny did give up a ton of passing yards to Wooster last week, so maybe they aren't skewed as bad as one may initially think. 

I think this is going to be a very good game between a couple of tough, grind-it-out teams.  I'm pulling for OWU to win this one...dropping Gheny to two conference losses makes the Woo-Witt-Gheny gauntlet that Wabash embarks on next week much easier if Gheny isn't a player.  I think OWU is going to show up big and squelch some of this talk about OWU being overrated.  They're a better team than they looked against Wabash. 

[seinfeld]

For whatever it is worth, for those Wabash folks unable to make the trip to Wooster, it seems that the Wooster Web site is offering home games live on video on the Internet through Teamline. Check out:

http://athletics.wooster.edu/fb/schedule.php

[BashBacker#16]

Seinfeld,

That is impressive.  Is this new for Wooster?  I wonder how the quality is?  Wooster still has the best website in the conference - everything factored in...

Does Oberlin have a local paper?  If not, what paper would cover them?

Question:  Is there a specific rule in the NCAC (or NCAA) regarding the band's play during the opposing team's offense?  Or, is it an ethical thing???  I heard OWU's was playing when Bash had the ball last weekend.  The Wooster band was super loud in '03 - it's actually a very piece to their environment.  Not that that was a factor nor should it be this year in 2 weeks - just curious?

[BashDad]

BB16:

I suspect that the band playing (loud last Saturday, I might add) is more an "ethical" issue rather than being guided by any conference rule.  OWU had a nice homecoming turnout--maybe it was a band celebration thing more than anything else (?)--they even played during OWU possessions during the second half which was kind of surprising.  Wabash was called for two delay of game penalties the first half (first such penalties of the season on the L'il Giants).  Whether the band contributed to this, or just too much time reading the defenses, is hard to say.

Overall, the OWU fans that I met and talked with were very nice and hospitable.  One of the weekend inductees into
OWU's athletic hall of fame was on the Wabash side of the field after the game congratulating Wabash players, coaches and fans on the quality of the Wabash team--this was both genuine and classy! 

[BashDad]

Congratulations to L'il Giant linebacker, Josh Foster for being selected to d3football's "Team of the Week" for his play against OWU last Saturday.  Well deserved!

Go, L'il Giants--one game at a time.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!!

[aueagle]

I think wally is right-on with the Gator/Bishop game this Sat. The loser can start thinking about the 2006 crown. The way the race is shaping up,  one loss will get you second place. The unknown quantity could still be Wittenberg. Thanks for your support wally, the Bishops need all they can get. BashDad: Thank you for the genuine & classy. About the only thing OWU needs to work on outside the football squad itself, is the band! GO BISHOPS

[DarkSide-D]

In regards to the band issue,  I think its just a matter of band members not having a clue as to what is going on.  I remember my first year at wooster, the band travelled to OWU to cheer us on.  The only time they played was when wooster had the ball.  When OWU had the ball, not a sound was made.  Yes, this would show that they are simply supporting the team.  But if only they would realize that the noise they produce is a GREAT distraction to both teams when they have the ball.  Luckily, when playing at home, the band thinks the show is all about them, and they play the entire game.  Of course, with wooster's band, we get the pipers.  No offense to the Woo band, they are great, but I would be just as happy with only the pipes.  GOD BLESS THE BAGPIPES!! 

[smedindy]

Bands are NOT supposed to play while the action is in progress - and the NCAC made that clear this week.

[reality check]

former

I know those guys stated the rules from the book already but I wanna know what player has the ability to stay airborn for more than one second with the ball totally in their possession.  That's some serious Matrix stuff.

Since it wasn't also mentioned in the rule interpretations, in college, you have to get one foot down if you are being contacted by a defensive player.  In other words, a college defender can force a player out of bounds without putting a foot down inbounds causing a catch to be incomplete.  Since the receiver has to only get one foot inbounds, the defender has the advantage of a "force-out".  The high school rule is different as stated above.  In the pros, a player can be ridden out without putting both feet inbounds and it is the referee's judgment call as to whether or not the receiver could have gotten his feet in without the contact from the defender.

I believe the key to your "breaking the plane" scenario is that this receiver has not extablished any sort of possession as long as he is in the air with the ball without coming down.  A running back that breaks the plane has obvisously established possession in the field of play prior to entering the endzone.

[LGHistorian]

Just noticed on Wabash's website a story about former Little Giant Joe Haklin being named Marian College (IN) first full-time athletic director. It says in the article that one of his assignments is to formulate a business plan to start a football program for the college. 

[BashDad]

smeds:

As I have already said, I'm not sure the OWU band had any effect on the game when playing during game action.  It's interesting, though, to hear that the NCAC would get involved in this.  Where and when did the NCAC "make this clear?"  I don't see any mention of it on the NCAC website.

[smedindy]

My sources have seen a memo from the NCAC commish. He was at the OWU / Wabash game. In this case A does lead to B...

[DarkSide-D]

I too would like to see proof where the NCAC commish is taking action.  Perhaps action is beign taken.  I just find it hard to believe when the Wooster Band, not a wimpy lil pep band, has been playing.  Heck, Wooster's band does more for the moral of the crowd than the Wooster Cheerleaders do.

Since when has OWU had a band?  I don't remember them ever playing when Wooster played at Selby.