FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[gobash83]

First time back in front of a computer since returning from Alliance (which is a good thing) and I wanted to join in the praise for the 2011 team.  They are a special group of young men and coaches who showed resourcefulness and heart.  As an alumnus, I am extremely proud of their efforts and accomplishments this season.

I also would commend the Wabash faithful.  We traveled well and represented the College and community with enthusiasm and creativity.

I refrained from commenting about the team's play earlier in the season as I had not seen us play in person.  Now, after having the chance to see the last 5 games live, I feel comfortable saying that I believe that Wabash has taken its play to the next level.  We went toe to toe with one of the "Purples" after beating a nationally respected team in North Central.  Our challenge will be to maintain that caliber of play going forward.

The defense certainly has that potential.  They are young and played with intelligent abandon.  On occasion, I did see some attempts to "blow up" the player with the ball rather than make a solid tackle that worked to our disadvantage.  However, I think the defense is fundamentally sound and prepared to sustain the excellence that it showed this season. 

I think the offense is a little behind the defense.  The move to a more balanced offense was the right decision.  I would like to see a running game less reliant on the quarterback's contribution, though a mobile quarterback is still important.  We saw in NCC and UMU the advantage of having a strong running game lead by talented running backs.  I think this is an area of improvement for Wabash.

I also think that we need to work on certain mental aspects of our game.  Over the last 5 games, there were stretches where we had bad penalties, wasted timeouts and the inability to get a play timely called.  By saying this, I am not questioning the intelligence, savvy, or heart of anyone on the team or coaching staff.  Also, sometimes it is the other team that can throw you off stride.  However, when you are playing at a higher level, it demands more both physically and mentally and we need to make sure that we raise our game to that level as well.

And, for our alumni, we need to continue our efforts to support the team and the College.  It was moving to see the number of parents, alumni and friends who waited for the team to walk off the field at the end of the game Saturday and applaud its efforts.  Of course, if you can refer to the College a stud football player who would like to attend a small, liberal arts college for men in West Central Indiana, that would help too.

What a great season and we have a lot to look forward to in the future.  WAF!       

[skunks_sidekick]

From other posts, it appears that Wabash used the same play-calling system throughout the play-offs.  I have never been a fan of the "call a play, line up, see what the defense is doing, and then look over to the sidelines to see if it changes" system.  Mount did this a while ago (maybe when Campbell & Candle were still there?), and it seemed to cause as much confusion as anything. 

It appeared to me that ER was constantly trying to outguess/manuever LK, to the point of disrupting his own offense (using all the timeouts up early in the second half, etc...).  I know LK put a stop to that system a few years ago for the same reasons.

Just an observation.....definitely not a criticism.

[firstdown]

Congrats to the Little Giants for a great season.  Many thanks to the seniors for their leadership and play this year.

Congrats to Mount Union, and good luck through your next two games.

I know that the Wabash coaches and  players are already looking forward to next year.  Enjoy the holidays, recruit well, and work hard in the classroom and in the weight room.

By defeating a strong North Central team,  by playing hard at Mount Union, and having 12 win this year, the Little Giants have made some good strides this season.   There are some big shoes to fill, but the contributions made by the younger players the season give the Wabash faithful great hopes for further success next year.

[wally_wabash]

From other posts, it appears that Wabash used the same play-calling system throughout the play-offs.  I have never been a fan of the "call a play, line up, see what the defense is doing, and then look over to the sidelines to see if it changes" system.  Mount did this a while ago (maybe when Campbell & Candle were still there?), and it seemed to cause as much confusion as anything. 

It appeared to me that ER was constantly trying to outguess/manuever LK, to the point of disrupting his own offense (using all the timeouts up early in the second half, etc...).  I know LK put a stop to that system a few years ago for the same reasons.

Just an observation.....definitely not a criticism.

That's actually how Wabash has been running the offense since Coach Raeburn and OC Hoeg arrived at Wabash in 2008.  There are pros and cons to the system, so far mostly pros as Wabash's record since Coach Raeburn took over would indicate.  Saturday wasn't the finest hour, but Coach Kehres and his staff deserve credit for being disruptive. 

I do hope that going forward, if Wabash has to burn a timeout somewhere or gets up against the play clock on occasion that our people watching won't lose their freaking mind about it. I heard some pretty unfair stuff being directed towards our staff on Saturday...would just like to remind the vocal dissenters of the following items that are true since the beginning of the 2008 season:
- Wabash is 39-7 (three of those seven in the postseason)
- Two NCAC championships
- Three NCAA tournament appearances
- 3 Monon Bell victories, the last two being the biggest two-game wipeout in the 118 game series
- A handful of All-Americans, more all-league players than I care to count right now, and a few NCAC POYs just for the fun of it

These things didn't happen by accident.  Wabash has one of the best coaching staffs in Division III so, you know, chill out when every now and then something doesn't go perfect.  They get it right way, way, way more often than they don't.  And also remember that the coaching staff they were up against this past weekend has only been beaten by one team in the last six years...not exactly dealing with amateurs over there.  This winter, they'll head back to Dagobah and complete their training.  Next season, it's on. 

[WABCOL86]

wally_wabash:

I will grant a great deal of truth to what you said.  However, while they do get things much more right than wrong, it is the ones that go "wrong" that we notice that end up costing us mightily.  That's true not just here at 'Bash but most everywhere.  I do hope they get back to Dagobah to complete their training, as you state.  Because if the offense can catch up to where the defense is, we are going to be damn fine foootball team...

WAF!

[wabashcpa]

Watched the game yesterday (I have it on DVR if anyone is interested in watching it) - the 4th and goal was unfortunate, as was the long run when Mount was backed up deep, but Wabash stood toe to toe with arguably the best program in the country, and acquitted themselves very well overall in the national landscape this season.  While there are certainly areas of improvement and some outstanding players to replace, we are on the precipice of a championship, and I believe the staff will seize on this momentum and make it happen. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

I do hope that going forward, if Wabash has to burn a timeout somewhere or gets up against the play clock on occasion that our people watching won't lose their freaking mind about it. I heard some pretty unfair stuff being directed towards our staff on Saturday...would just like to remind the vocal dissenters of the following items that are true since the beginning of the 2008 season:
.....
These things didn't happen by accident.  Wabash has one of the best coaching staffs in Division III so, you know, chill out when every now and then something doesn't go perfect.  They get it right way, way, way more often than they don't.  And also remember that the coaching staff they were up against this past weekend has only been beaten by one team in the last six years...not exactly dealing with amateurs over there. 

Beautifully said, and something that's far too often forgotten by fans of winning programs at the high school and/or Division III level.  It's easy to be spoiled when you root for a winning team, and you often tend to forget how "good" you have it.  I understand that fans get upset at coaches for things like burning a timeout, or a strange play-call on a critical down, but check out NFL games every Sunday and you'll see the same things happen, and those are (presumably) 32 of the 50 or so "best" football coaches alive.

[smedindy]

All I was wondering was a time-out could have been 'banked' - perhaps a combo of the coach / QB could knowingly not call a 3rd period TO to save one for the fourth. It's water under the gate. I know they've been successful, but it's a situation that hadn't happened before. Of course, though, you don't need to bank 2nd half TOs against Kenyon! 

[joelmama]

wally_wabash:

I will grant a great deal of truth to what you said.  However, while they do get things much more right than wrong, it is the ones that go "wrong" that we notice that end up costing us mightily.  That's true not just here at 'Bash but most everywhere.  I do hope they get back to Dagobah to complete their training, as you state.  Because if the offense can catch up to where the defense is, we are going to be damn fine foootball team...

WAF!

it is funny what coaches in the stands think they know compared to the coaches on the field.  I know that I am an idiot when I look at a play call of Kehres and say why did he do X when I would have done Y.  Whenever I catch myself saying this (hopefully to myself and not out loud so I don't look like too big an idiot), I realize that 99.99% of the time its because he has forgotten more about football than I know.

[WABCOL86]

joelmama:

Except maybe I am not just a coach in the 'stands...'  Read what I said, it is the truth...  And as I said, not just at Wabash.  It is little things that matter.

[joelmama]

I wasn't disparaging what you said.  In fact I also saw that the Wabash sideline was disorganized at times.  I think Wally was right in that they were probably overthinking and over adjusting what they were doing.  I would guess that was not something that went on all year. 

I do not know what your credentials are, but I would make a bet that LK and ER's are a bit higher and that of course is no shame.  The point is that it is easy to second guess and of course at times coaches do make boneheaded calls.  Sometimes though theses out of the box type plays work and they look like geniuses too.  I was just commenting about the coaches in the stands in general not your specific comments.  For example the old man sitting next to me (I would estimate that he was 85 plus or minus 2 years) complaining about LK's play calling in the second half.  I think Larry knew what he was doing to get the win and not too worried about style points.

[nike]

joelmama:

Except maybe I am not just a coach in the 'stands...'  Read what I said, it is the truth...  And as I said, not just at Wabash.  It is little things that matter.

I tend to agree, as a fan of Wabash except when they play the Scots. Love the NCAC schools and athletics in particular.
It is a fair question in retrospect to ask what was going on with the time management and if Belton might have come in earlier or even started.  Not in a critical way, but as someone who has seen Wabash play three times this year and was rooting for them against Mt. Union.  Belton looked a lot healthier than I thought he would have. Not even a knee brace.  It might have made a difference.
He might have helped Chamblee and Horn be more of a factor.  Wabash defense, lights out, but when the offense was clicking, it was pretty darn good, too during the season and through the playoffs.  Untill Mt. Union.

And for those of you who get STO, our favorite high school team, Norwayne won a state championship on Saturday in as good a high school game as you will ever see. Heavy underdogs. 48-42, with 31 seconds left.  It may be shown again on STO.  A couple of the players may wind up in the NCAC one day.

[formerd3db]

Well said, Ex-Tarton-Player.  Aside from some of the "blunders" called in the NFL games we see each week, another example is Saturday night's Michigan State/Wisconsin game in which Dantonio himself called for the attemp to block that last punt.  While it was the player's mistake for running into the kicker (and yes, while the kicker did a nice bit of "theatrics", still the official made the right call in that you can't touch the kicker), what was Dantonio thinking?  A mistake in calling for that block without question, however, in the heat of the moment of a game, those things happen as you say.  At the same time, while "coaches in the stands" are like "arm-chair quarterbacks", not everyone is a "wannabe coach" as some do have some extensive coaching experience and for those who are familiar with the programs of the team they follow, they do have some knowledge and, also are entitled to their opinion. So in that regard, I can see perhaps where some of the other posters are coming from in questioning some of the calls. Yet, that said, obviously as joelmamma and you point out, it is the head coach who is in charge on the field, he knows his own program and it is his perogative to call what he wants regardless of what those of us in the stands think he should.    

[Mr. Ypsi]

Well said, Ex-Tarton-Player.  Aside from some of the "blunders" called in the NFL games we see each week, another example is Saturday night's Michigan State/Wisconsin game in which Dantonio himself called for the attemp to block that last punt.  While it was the player's mistake for running into the kicker (and yes, while the kicker did a nice bit of "theatrics", still the official made the right call in that you can't touch the kicker), what was Dantonio thinking?  A mistake in calling for that block without question, however, in the heat of the moment of a game, those things happen as you say.  At the same time, while "coaches in the stands" are like "arm-chair quarterbacks", not everyone is a "wannabe coach" as some do have some extensive coaching experience and for those who are familiar with the programs of the team they follow, they do have some knowledge and, also are entitled to their opinion. So in that regard, I can see perhaps where some of the other posters are coming from in questioning some of the calls. Yet, that said, obviously as joelmamma and you point out, it is the head coach who is in charge on the field, he knows his own program and it is his perogative to call what he wants regardless of what those of us in the stands think he should.

I have yet to see the 'running into the kicker' play, but have read two or three different places that the MSU guy was pushed into the kicker by a Badger, and that it was a bad flag that should have been picked up - comments?

[smedindy]

No, I didn't see a push. I watched the replay four times and then consoled a girlfriend via the phone who saw her Spartans lose.