FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[bigFan0111]

ANy one have any predictions for this weekend??? i believe that UWW will spank Lakeland hard, and CUW will beat Simpson.

[Doctor Swole]

Elmhurst 45 BU 7

[FalconsFootball]

I agree Jaybird it is a definite possibility I think if they play to potential like I know they can (we never took any team lightly) I think they can run away with the conference championship.  I talked to a lot of my friends still playing and what you heard was pretty much correct.  Just to add the fact the defense allowed only a few first downs and no scores.  Good point about it being preseason now they have to coninue on that path.  CUW's closest game is Lakeland and LC won't be withing 3 touchdowns like the past 4 out of 5 years Greenville will be good but they play at CUW and they have not come to play there in a long time.

[Fatpongo]

I know you all missed me...I know you did. It seems that I've missed a lot in my absence...actually no I haven't.

I see the talk of Benedictine University and John Cooper has died down since last year around this time. Did we finally come to grips with reality all you Cooper Crazies? Let's hope so. BU won 2 more games last year than when Cooper wasn't there...but did they really improve? Hardly...

They were blown out in 4 games...lost 44-27 to North Central in a game where the score certainly didn't tell all...as BU scored half of those points on the NCC 2nd team.

In the 2nd half of the season...a tough loss to a decent Greenville team. Not bad at all. Next game...shut out by Aurora. Next 2...wins over Eureka and Mac...two sloppy teams, but wins nonetheless. The team looked to be on the rise...and then needs overtime to beat a pathetic CURF squad.

BU scored 185 points last year. 54 of those points belonged to Sergo, who is gone.  18 of those are gone with their Fullback.

The only 2 offensive weapons BU had last year are finished...did they restock? The answer is no.

I don't know if this is true...but rumor has it that Jon Cooper is to blame for Sergo not coming back for his final year of eligibility.  Cooper singlehandedly kept Sergo off of the All-Conference 1st team from what I heard from certain coaches and "league" sources. Is it true? You be the judge. Personally, I don't see how a guy with 9 touchdowns and 24 catches doesn't make the team. You do the math folks...more than 1 out of every 3 times he caught the ball, he scored.

Did the BU receiving core restock? Not so much.

But out with the old, in with the new. BU opens up against Elmhurst...and arguably a better Elmhurst team than last year. What does this mean? Well, it means Elmhurst won 52-6 last year...and it might be a lot worse.

What BU's game plan is this year...I couldn't tell you. We'll have to see come Saturday.

And for all of you IBFC junkies out there, here's FatPongo's preseason predictions:

1) Lakeland
2) Conc-Wisc
3) Greenville
4) Mac
5) Aurora
6) Eureka
7) CURF
8) BU

[Gomer Pyle]

  Teams that will get the "W" for this saturdays games, Sept 2nd.
   
    Aurora
    Elmhurst
    CU-W
    Eureka
    WhiteWater
    Augustana * Even though it`s spelled Augustanna on the IBFC site.

[Gomer Pyle]

  Oops!  Almost forgot the CU-Chicago vs Blackburn game.
          Blackburn gets the ................"W".

[baseman201]

Hey One Timer-

I never said anything about Conwell being a bad person, nor did I say anything bashing the person that he is.  Conwell was an excellent person and someone you could really talk to.  I just didn't think he would be able to bring in players who could get the job done, which is why Pries is in there now, who WILL get quality players in.

That's all I was saying, let's not get all bent out of shape and start bashing those of use who have graduated college.  Of course he puts more time into his job, that's all college coaches do each and every day of the week the whole year.  Staying up till 10 or 11 pm scouting out recruits and making game plans for the week is probably the norm for college coaches.  So of course he will put in more time then a college graduate, I don't see what the point of that was.

Either way, I agree with everyones predictions this week except for CUC.  They get the win over Blackburn and go 1-0 for the first time in who knows how long.  I think it's good for CUC to be at the bottom of everyones lists though, means they have something to prove.

[79jaybird]

Falcsfb-- Definitely the CUW/Lakeland winner is almost assuredly going to be the IBFC champ.  While Greenville is good, Aurora is better, etc. I don't see them in the same class as CUW or Lakeland at this particular time.

[diehardfan]

I just read the story in the notables, and want to offer my condolences to the Aurora community, and football team in the loss of one of your own. My brother's freshman year at Wheaton, one of his fellow freshman teammates (an outstanding young man with a promising future) died in a car crash over the summer. I still strongly remember how much it impacted the guys and colored their season.

Last year an Aurora athlete did something that I will never forget. The Aurora basketball team won our tip-off tournament, and Larry Welton, the player on the Aurora team with the best stats, won the MVP award. Larry Welton is outstanding player, and as the best player on the winning team, arguably deserved the award. However, a Wheaton player had played the game of his life, dropping thirty points for Wheaton. Obviously I only know what happened third hand, but apparently Larry Welton felt confused that he had received the award when he had only scored a third of the points that Tony had in that Championship game. He just didn't feel like he was the best player that weekend. Moreover, Welton learned that our tipoff MVP trophy had just been named after a Wheaton basketball player named Will Landry (an all-conference and academic all region player) who had tragically died of a medical condition only two months earlier. He sent the trophy back to us, saying that we should have that trophy, not him. That outstanding act of thoughtfulness and generosity left an indelible impression on me, and I know it really impacted all of us who were grieving for Will.

So with gratitude and solidarity, in the midst of this dark time for your own athletic program, please accept my fervant thoughts and prayers.

[Confused77]

Thought I would stop in and drop a quick note. I keep an eye on Aurora as I coached with Coach Duncan at Loras.

-My thoughts and prayers are with the Aurora football family during this very difficult time. May you find the strength needed to get through this tragic loss.

[FatalImpact]

Truth is Pong believe it or Not cooper did help....The couple seasons before that they weren't winning anything....Also have you physically seen their practices and seen their team..J/W?.......I do not think that Coach Coop would do that to anybody, he was a stand up classy coach at AU and I am sure he is doing the same thing at BU.......................I believe AU and Elmhurst both get the W.............

[Chili dog]

Fat Pongo-

Just wanted to clear up some of that rumor.  This is JOE SERGO and as far as Coach Cooper keeping me off the team this year that is completely false as well as keeping me off the all conf team 1st.  Coach Cooper is a class act and a completely compassionate coach is the reason Im even in school now.  The reason Im not playing is because  had some very hard personal problems and i let them affect me to a point where i became ineligible.  I messed up my first semester bad and under the guidance and counseling of Coop I got through second sem with a great GPA and 6 classes.  Now i thought I was going to be eligible but I had some transcript problems I tried to fix late in the summa but was unable to.  Simply stated Coach Coop is the reason I have any kind of sanity and work ethic right now.  Now im not that important and I dont mean to act arrogantly taking up this page but I wanna defend Coach Coop for what he is and what he isnt.

Now for all the people who like to say BU and Coach Coop is cheating by saving my eligibility.  I have not been in college for seven yrs.  This is the start of my 8th semester of college.  After my first school I took a 1.5 yrs off before coming to BU.  I was very impulsive and immature in choosig a college and I paid for it.  I took a couple years to figure out if I wanted to still play ball and found a school close to home in BU.  And I LIKE it here and I LOVE the coaching staff.

Ok so for the other rumor starters out there here is all you have to know.  I have one more year left and if I choose to play it would be next yr in grad school possibly or under some other circumstances.  I am not 29 yrs old.  im only 23 as of recently.  Once again I am not that important as to post this much and jsut wanted to clear things up.

and Fat Pongo, i had 11 TD's last yr which means i had 66 points!  ; )  No harm no foul good luck to the IBC this year and every team.  We have some good offensive weapons from what I have seen so far this yr and some young talent.  They will be competitive and you know Coach coop will find players to do the job well and give BU a chance to win.

Also best wishes out to the young man from AU. 

JOSEPH A. SERGO

[TruCountry95]

The IBC even though very week even with Lakeland, CUW, Greenville, and Aurora had a somewhat of a good showing last year. Regardless the IBC is going to be no longer after the 2007 season.  The St. Louis Intercolligiate Conference (SLIAC) takes over for some of the IBC teams. The SLIAC will begin football play in 2008, featuring 10 teams. There will be 2 divisions seperating those teams the North Div. and the South Div.  The 10 times are......   

North Div. (SLIAC Conf)
1. Crown College (MN)
2. Martin Luther College (MN)
3. University of Minnesota-Morris
4. Northwestern College (MN)
5. Principa

South Div. (SLIAC Conf)
1. Greenville College  (IBC)
2. Blackburn Colelge   
3. Eureka College      (IBC)
4. MacMurray College (IBC)
5. Westminster

They will also be a automatic qualifier for the NCAA DIV III Tourney beginning in 2010.  Does anyone know anything about some of the Norhern schools like Crown and Martin?  Should be a great Conference.


"http://www.sliac.org/other3/news01.htm"

[aufb05]

Aurora Preview 2006 Preview

The 2006 Aurora University football team has a much different make up than last season's Spartans who finished 5-5 overall and 5-2 in the Illini-Badger Football Conference.  A much younger Spartans team will have to come together under second-year coach Rich Duncan.
The keys for the 2006 Spartans will be the replacement of nine defensive starters, effectively establish the run game and make plays on special teams.  Duncan believes this will be a much smoother process because this is his second year with many of these players.  "Our kids will be more comfortable and they know what is expected of them", stated Duncan. 
            The defensive side of the football will see many new faces getting playing time, which Duncan and Defensive Coordinator Rob Erickson expect to be up tempo and force pressure.  With the loss of many key seniors from the 2005 season, Coach Duncan looks for players to fill the void.  Brandon McIntosh returns to AU for his senior season at defensive end and will anchor the defensive line along with sophomore defensive linemen Harvey Van Cleeve III and Marcus Goedken.  Juniors John Dahman and Dominik Chandler and freshman Pat Funk look to pressure opposing quarterbacks as well. 
Senior linebacker Chris McAndrew, who moved to linebacker after playing the three previous seasons at running back, and junior linebackers Sean Elliot and Brent Baker (19.0 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble) will be key players in the defensive midfield.  Freshmen Michael DeVries and Dave Gesiakowski will vie for playing time harassing opposing offenses.  Senior Austin Deer (39.5 tackles) will lead the secondary with sophomore Matt Meyer; juniors Eric Scott and Nick Gniedziejko and freshman Tony Musaraca joining to cause havoc in the defensive backfield along with Deer.
            Like the defense, the offense is looking for players to grasp opportunities and breakout seasons.  With the loss of senior quarterback Andrew Hornung due to injury,  Duncan will look to a trio of freshmen quarterbacks to run the AU offense.  Matt McGary, Matt Nelleman and David Manny all look to see a good amount of playing time in order to find the right man for the job.  Protecting these three young quarterbacks will be a strong group of offensive linemen.  In the mix for a starting job are returning starters seniors Nick Koch (All-IBFC 1st Team) and Mike Murphy Jr.  Also, sophomores Ryne Haberkorn, Don Robinson, Casey Schmit and freshman John McBurrows look to help give time to the young quarterbacks in the passing game.
            The offensive linemen will open holes for a solid group of running backs.  Led by junior Brent Harner (63 yards on 29 attempts).  Duncan believes the run game will be a huge factor to this year's team and will establish the physical style of play AU has been known by over the years.  Harner will be joined by sophomore Dan DeBosschere and a group of freshmen looking to prove that AU has a balanced attack on offense.  Those freshmen include Cody DeGrush, Ryne Reder and Rick Howell.  Senior Nick Paxson (159 yards on 30 attempts) will return as the Spartan's fullback.  Junior Aaron Harmon (3 catches for 70 yards) will assume the role of Tight End. 
            The group of young quarterbacks will be throwing to a group of talented wide-receivers.  Senior Danny Mackinson (234 yards on 19 catches), Junior Travis Paro (switching over from running back) and sophomore Corey Cowan all look to do their best to get open for their young quarterbacks.  Also looking to help in the receiving game is freshman Ryan Milus, Zach Sitter and Aaron Snyder.
            The Spartans special teams will have a new look as well in 2006.   Sophomore Mike Lund will assume the punting duties and he will be joined by senior James Unger (19-27 pats), freshmen Nate Rapp, Matt Kletti and Andrew Price all are battling to handle the kickoff and field goals duties for the Spartans. 
            The 2006 Spartans will look to turn their youthful exuberance into an Illini-Badger Football Conference championship and another trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

[79jaybird]

FatPongo-- You must be a moron because if you knew anything about the way All Conference picks are chosen, you would know that Coach Cooper can only NOMINATE Sergo (which he did), but you can't VOTE for your own player(s).  Get with the program Pongo because you obviously don't know what you are talking about.