I have followed D3 football closely since I began playing at UW-Oshkosh in the mid-1990s. I've followed the WIAC (it was the WSUC when I played) for the past 30 years, but three years ago I became the most ardent North Park fan outside of the esteemed Greg Sager when my son transferred into the program (I already had a daughter playing tennis at NPU, so this gave me two reasons to spend a lot of time on campus). I've kept my distance when posting, because I never wanted to be critical of the players and coaches in the program I rooted so hard for. Now that my son's playing career is over, I just wanted to say thank you to Kyle Rooker and the NPU staff for a great three seasons. I've seen the last 30 NPU games in person, and the development of this program has been a joy to watch. What coach Rooker has done to develop a competitive program in this conference can't be understated. I can attest that those players in the locker room wanted to win one of their last three games more than anything to get to that 6-win plateau. But the fact that the program feels there is unfinished business after consecutive 5-win seasons shows just how far this team has come. In 2022, NPU needed a late TD against Elmhurst to avoid a winless season. Since that point, the Vikings have beaten every team in the conference not named North Central, Wheaton, and WashU (and they had the Bears on the ropes). In 2022, the team didn't believe they could win. Now they do, and that is a testament to Coach Rooker and his staff. This year's team trailed in the 4th quarter in NINE games. But they believed. Late comebacks against Ripon, Augie, Carroll, and IWU only happen when a team believes in themselves and the coaching staff. They lost some close games (Elmhurst, Carthage, and WashU) that they could've won and those games sting, but that's why you play the games. Lesser teams would've folded after the Elmhurst loss. But this team came back to win at Augie in OT and beat Carroll in comeback fashion. After a tough loss to North Central, this team came back from a two-score deficit to IWU and rallied to win. After a devastating loss  to Carthage, this team played maybe its best game of the season against WashU. This team was resilient and it is a testament to the culture that has been built at NPU. The seniors will be missed! But they have done something at North Park that shouldn't be overlooked. They have made Saturdays matter at the corner of Kedzie and Foster. There will be continued growing pains as this program tries to take the leap from competitive to contending. But what has transpired at North Park has been amazing, and I'm a fan for life.

Wasn't there a rule that a conference had to have a certain number of teams to get an AQ? Northwestern of the UMAC won 7 games but only beat 5 teams. They played and beat two of those teams twice. WIAC (and some CCIW) teams are always going to struggle with finding out of conference games. Seems like allowing teams to beat the same team more than once isn't a great use of the data either.

The Wheaton team I saw yesterday was not the same team I saw play Oshkosh in week 1. That is the problem with a model that just uses data to pick the field. Wheaton was incorporating a band new offensive line and quarterback early in the season. They were hitting on all cylinders yesterday. This team would've been a tough out in the NCAA playoffs.

Quote from: cardinal773 on August 17, 2024, 06:17:51 PMDoes anyone know how the 2024 NCC O-line is shaping up?  I feel like Jerod Thornton is going to be almost impossible to replace. Fortier was really good too.

Any word on some of the new kids on campus?

The Cardinals return two all-american offensive lineman and they prioritize the position in recruiting every year. This is a luxury most teams just don't have and what sets NCC apart. Something tells me they will be just fine. 

Quote from: emma17 on November 22, 2023, 02:14:24 PM
Have any of you WIAC folk had the chance to see Wheaton play?
I had them on one of three screens Saturday- so I caught what I could.
I was especially interested to see Thorson given the incredible 0 int to 30+ TD's.
He definitely throws a nice ball and makes plays, big challenge.
I did see four, (I assume this may trigger a debate), dropped interceptions, plus he threw an interception. Certainly all QB's need the luck of butter-fingered defenders, but I feel UWW won't be so generous.

Weeks is good all around, w excellent open field moves.

I've seen Wheaton play twice. Once in their opener against Oshkosh and once in their finale against North Park. They are good, and they would compete in the WIAC. Generally speaking, they are better on the offensive side of the ball. The offensive line is good enough to play in the WIAC and the QB is really accurate. They have a running back that is special in the run and pass game. I haven't seen Whitewater play, but Wheaton has moved the ball well on everybody except North Central. I was surprised to see Wheaton win the LOS against Oshkosh as much as they did on both sides of the ball, especially because it was Wheaton's first game and Oshkosh had played already. That being said, I don't think the Wheaton defense is special. First off, North Central ran all over them. As did Augie. North Park was able to consistently move the ball as well. The North Park team is much improved, but I didn't think NPU would have as much success as they did, especially because Wheaton had to impress the committee on the last weekend of the season. North Park put up 26 points (it should've been 31), passed for 271 yards, and ran the ball effectively. I'd probably pick North Central over any WIAC team, but Wheaton just isn't in North Central's class. Wheaton might score some points, but I just don't see them stopping the UWW run game. As long as UWW doesn't turn the ball over, I think they win by two scores.

One thing that can't be overstated as to why the gap increases for North Central is the amount of practice and game reps that they get. I remember when I was young and there weren't as many bowl games, D1 coaches always used to say making a bowl was so important because you got to practice an extra month and those reps are invaluable. Look at Mount and Whitewater when they were making Stagg runs to play each other every year. They got 5 extra weeks of practice and games compared to others in their conference year after year. North Central has more talent than anybody in the CCIW, and it isn't close. Add to it that they get 5 more weeks of practice to hone their skills, work on timing, get more cohesive as an offensive line, etc. Other CCIW players will be home enjoying Thanksgiving and Christmas while North Central will likely be getting extra practice and game reps for the next 5 weeks. This doesn't only help the starters. The ascending players get to compete against the best D3 players in the country and get better every week. The good teams earn the right to continue to play, but it does provide a tremendous advantage in the development of 18-22 year olds and it does make it harder for lesser teams to close the gap. If a team makes two consecutive Stagg Bowls, they get 10 extra weeks of practice and game reps. That's an extra "season" for those players to develop.

As the regular season enters the final week, I'm wondering if North Park's five wins garners Coach Rooker with CCIW Coach of the Year honors? If Augie beats North Central, I'm sure the award goes to Coach Bell. I know the award often goes to the conference winner. However, North Central is supposed to do what they are doing. The Augie season is a good one, but they have been a perennial power in the past. North Park was picked last in the preseason poll. They have beaten 4 teams that they lost to last season, and they have captured 4 conference wins. They could finish as high as fifth in the conference. They have won the most games in program history since 1968. I'm biased and I've seen the improvement and hard work from the players and coaches at NPU. I've only been a CCIW guy for the last two seasons, but I'm impressed with what Coach Rooker has accomplished.

Quote from: badgerwarhawk on August 09, 2020, 01:47:42 PM

Quote from: emma17 on August 07, 2020, 10:15:27 AM

Quote from: UWO Titan 78 on August 06, 2020, 08:11:16 PM

Quote from: emma17 on August 06, 2020, 02:25:35 PM
Talking with a work mate he told me his two high school kids are transferring from their IL high school to the IN high school where the family has a lake house. They both play football. The decision wasn't purely football based as they really aren't doing well with online classes, however, one is a senior and he now gets the benefit of a football season to play.

I saw an article that WI schools near Lake Geneva are seeing an increase of IL students transferring, it didn't mention high schoolers or football though.

He starts on the offensive line for an Illinois power, but he's hoping to get a scholarship as a long snapper. He feels he needs to play this fall in order to do that.

An article in the paper today said an Illinois player was transferring to Florida to play, where his parents have a vacation home. The article stated that IHSA rules would allow the kid to move with his family to Florida and play there in the Fall and move back with his family and play in Illinois in the Spring. I'm not sure of the rule, but that is a lot of football.

Wow, now that's making lemonade out of lemons.

Is this some 5 star recruit or some kid who'll end up playing a lower level?  FWIW, I think his parents are insane.

Quote from: emma17 on August 06, 2020, 02:25:35 PM
Talking with a work mate he told me his two high school kids are transferring from their IL high school to the IN high school where the family has a lake house. They both play football. The decision wasn't purely football based as they really aren't doing well with online classes, however, one is a senior and he now gets the benefit of a football season to play.

I saw an article that WI schools near Lake Geneva are seeing an increase of IL students transferring, it didn't mention high schoolers or football though.

An article in the paper today said an Illinois player was transferring to Florida to play, where his parents have a vacation home. The article stated that IHSA rules would allow the kid to move with his family to Florida and play there in the Fall and move back with his family and play in Illinois in the Spring. I'm not sure of the rule, but that is a lot of football.

Quote from: bleedpurple on August 03, 2020, 01:54:21 PM

Quote from: WW on August 01, 2020, 06:48:15 PM

Quote from: bleedpurple on August 01, 2020, 07:39:20 AM
It looks like there is a silver lining amongst the craziness of this football "season" for at least one student-athlete. Apparently Evan Lewandowski will be able to participate with the team this fall and still fulfill the "sit out" requirement imposed by the WIAC.

https://wkow.com/2020/07/30/evan-lewandowskis-unpredictable-road-to-uw-whitewater/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_DanPlutchak

Should be an interesting QB situation there in 2021 if Meylor and Oles each choose to pursue remaining eligibility

And there are a couple of pretty prolific freshman expected to join the mix as well. It will be a talented room, that's for sure.

I'd expect nothing less in Candyland.

Quote from: bleedpurple on July 06, 2020, 12:47:00 PM
It's official. Former UW-LaCrosse QB Evan Lewandowski is headed to UW-W.

No idea where he stacks up with all we have, but the dude can sling it!

History repeats itself (somewhat). When I was being recruited to UW-O, the Titans had a prolific QB named Dennis Bogacz. When I showed up in the fall, I realized he had transferred to Whitewater. He made the right choice. He won a WSUC title (that is what it was when I played), and I think he's in the Warhawk Hall of Fame.

I was watching my Rolling Meadows Mustangs in the IHSA semi-finals get hammered by a Nazareth team that looked like a college squad, so I missed the Titans game. I am at a loss for how this program loses two playoff games after having big leads in both. I don't really know what to think. I wouldn't trade Coach Cerroni and his staff for anybody, so I will just live with it and be proud of what this team did this season. I didn't think this team would contend for a National title, so I'm happy with a conference title and some playoff experience for this young squad. Now I just have to figure out what I think about these parochial high schools that can recruit players and give scholarships.

I think the Titan draw is very fair. We are the WIAC representative, but we aren't the normal WIAC representative that comes in 10-0 and a favorite for the semis. The body of work of this Titan team has them at 8-0, with one very bad loss. I think this was a fair landing spot. I honestly think they match up with both teams they may play. They easily can go one and done, but nobody will convince me that Central and Wheaton are looking forward to a potential match-up with the Titans. The D will keep them in any game. I'm just happy this young team gets more reps. Every additional practice is a bonus for this team. Hail Titans!

Quote from: formerd3db on November 17, 2019, 06:37:56 PM
UWO Titan 78:

Congratulations on the big win yesterday.  But one quick question...with such the stakes being that high for such a game, why such a low attendance (only 1675) to that kind of game at your home stadium and, especially with your big rival UWW?  What's with that?  I hope that there will be a much bigger attendance for UWO home playoff games.  Anyway, good luck in the playoffs.  BTW, nice stadium you have (Titan/Keller)-I stopped by to see it on a trip out west this summer.

This has been a problem forever. Frankly, the team deserves better. I expected a much bigger crowd, because UWW usually brings 3,000+ to us. The beiggest problem is that the stadium is off campus. But I'm not going to give the student body a pass there either. They don't show up to basketball games either. And we have the defending national champions, so it isn't like the product isn't good. The student body and the community don't support the Titans. I'm jealous of the Whitewater faithful. The athletes support each other at Oshkosh, but we never get the crowds the product on the field/court should get. I know the administration wants to change it and has tried, but nothing seems to work. I'm not there, so I don't know how much hunting season is affecting it, but that is always an issue. If it isn't the Packers or Badgers, there is often apathy. Which is a shame, because WIAC athletics are so darn good.

So proud of the Titans. If they were going to write a script on how they would have wanted this game to play out, I think last night was exactly how they would've scripted it. Earlier in the week, I had asked for UWW to play whichever QB would throw the ball to the Titans. They both did, and that was obviously the difference in the game. When you get 5 interceptions, you usually win by 30! UWW is the better team and would likely win 8 out of 10 games. But not this time. Coach Cerroni again proved he is the best coach in this conference. This team improved all season (even if some people don't want to admit it). They executed their game plan to perfection (even if I disagreed with some decisions at the time). They played conservatively, and leaned on their defense hoping to get the game to the 4th quarter. We ran the ball effectively. Yes, the ypc wasn't great, but 43 rushes kept us in the game and kept the clock running, and it kept the ball out of the hands of UWW. Our redzone defense was again huge. To keep UWW out of the endzone and force them to settle for field goals on two occasions paid huge dividends. Our QB had to make a play to win this game. He didn't throw it well (although there were some drops), but he made the throw of his young career when he delivered on the clutch TD pass. The defense came up time and time again. They put on pressure when they needed to. They stepped up in the redzone when they needed to. They got turnovers when they needed them. Lastly, the kicker was huge. He has been very good all season, and he hit clutch kick after clutch kick. That was a true team win! Which is how you have to beat the Warhawks. I'd never say we've taken over as the top team in the conference, but having split the conference title the past 8 years, we've proven we are right there. Good luck to both teams in the playoffs! I'm sure they will do the WIAC proud like always. Hail Titans!