FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Gregory Sager]

However, facts are facts:
1) The conference AQ and champ, Benedictine, was beaten by the last place (no offense GS) team, North Park, in the CCIW and one of the lower rung MIAA teams in Kalamazoo.

No offense taken, RF. It is what it is. If you're a North Park supporter, you need to have a thick skin just to come onto the football section of d3boards.com and read people's posts. I suppose that the same is true if you're a NAthCon fan and you wander into another room besides the NAthCon room -- or even, as has been the case over the past 24 hours, here in the NAthCon room itself. Do not expect anyone to respect your teams or your league, because they have earned none outside of their own locker rooms. As a North Park alumnus, I've learned to let it all roll off my back.

I do find it interesting, though, that people who root for other CCIW teams are now making more hay out of NPU's win over Benedictine than are those of us who support NPU.

[dizzle52]

I would have to agree with just about everybody....it is sad to say but the NAC just can not compete with the top teams in the big conferences....right now....and I would bet my salary that BU gets rolled.....I would also say that things can change and I think they will....Teams and Conferences do not build themselves over night....it takes years and years....The powerhouse conferences that we have now have not always been powerhouses....it took time to build them up and any conference/team can do the same....look at CUC for example, they used to be the "easy win" for any team but with solid recruiting and a great job of keeping good players in the program they have built a respectable program.....Look at WLC....how many years did they go without a win? They to have started to build up a program as well

The balance of power will change but it will take time...Eventually teams like Whitewater and Mt. Union will not be the top teams in the country....this happens in every level of football no doubt about it

Teams in the NAC have done a great job of expanding by playing teams in the bigger conferences....these might not be the top teams but it is still a step in the right direction

[Frank Rossi]

We've got Regional Rankings... Final time for the season that we'll see them:

http://d3blogs.com/d3football/2010/11/10/ncaas-third-regional-rankings/

[old 40]

My guesses for the last week of the regular season.

AU@CUC- "Game of the Week". AU's D has it going but can they stop the machine on O? If they can run the ball they will eat up time and will win. AU wins 28-27 in a barn burner.

CUW@LC- CUW has come on as of late and has to much D for LC. CUW wins 24-18.

MBBC@RC- RC is home and has a slight advantage. RC wins a defensive struggle 9-6.

BU@WLC- IMHO it's a trap game for BU. WLC can't make it to the playoffs and plays this game like a championship game for them. WLC wins 21-20.

[WLCALUM83]

WLCALUM83's last 2010 regular season guesses:

Concordia-Chicago
Concordia-WI
Rockford
Benedictine  (Putting my head over my heart on this one-- (WLC's gotta be wondering "how big a lead do we need to get on these guys to feel safe?)  IL Eagles' Borselino & Co could have a field day with too many Warrior turnovers. No matter what the result, WLC will have finished above .500 for the first time in school history on the gridiiron-- 

[d3fan1515]

speaking of facility upgrades (per the BU website)

"Future upgrades to the Rice Center will include a 7,500-square foot cardio and circuit training area, a 5,200-square foot strength training area, an "Eagles Legend Center" which will house the Athletics Hall of Fame, a reception area, fitness center, yoga/pilates studio and conference center."

This is a step in the right direction for BU, their beautiful field, a new state of the art work out facility, and a conference championship ring are all GREAT sales pitches to future recruits! Also, this team is pretty young! The whole Oline minus their center is returning next year, along with Borsellino and Austin.  Defensively you lose some, but you still have a solid nucleus of players, starting with the Dline (3 out of 4 return next yr) (2 out of  DBs return) and (1 out of 3 LBs return).

There is a lot to be excited about if your a BU fan, the school is obviously making a conscious effort to become a premier program in the area and hopefully we get there!

[RFMichigan]

Another wild scoring affair from River Forest. CUC - 45  AU - 38 with 2:00 minutes to go.

[RFMichigan]

Wow. CUC goes for it on 4th & 5 at the Aurora 40 up by 7 and throw a screen pass for a TD. Then Aurora comes back and scores a late TD, but CUC recovers the onside kick to hold on - 52-45 Concordia. A little too much offense for CUC today.

[FishHack76]

The Maranatha losing streak is OVER

[d3fan1515]

BU wins 35-14

[formerd3db]

Since WLC was a former member of our conference i.e. the MIAA (of which we were grateful for their willingness to join the league as a football affiliate ot help maintain the AQ for those years), I would like to say congratulations to their team, staff and fans here, including WLCAlum83 and WLCAlum for the winning season this year.  That is great!  Except for the win against us (Hope)!

[tommiegun]

Congratulations to Benedictine on their championship!  If any fans are coming to St. Thomas this weekend, might I suggest a few area highlights:

For the Pizza Lover--> Try Davanni's on the corner of Cleveland and Grand Avenues near the St. Thomas campus.  Although no comparison to a Chicago pie, it is a local fav.

For the Burger Lover--> There is nothing quite like a Juicy Luicy.  Although born on the Southside of Minneapolis, the Lucy has become a delicacy in St. Paul.  I'd suggest stopping by The Nook, across the street from Cretin-Derham Hall HS (alma mater of Joe Mauer, Paul Moliter, and Chris Weinke) or The Blue Door, a tiny bar just minutes from St. Thomas.

For the Beer Lover--> A recently started local brewery, Surly's, produces some awesome microbrews.  The Furious is my favorite.  However, if you'd like to sample traditional Minnesota beers I'd suggest the Firebrick from Schell's or a local legend, GrainBelt Premium. 

For the Partier--> Grand Avenue is your scene.  Billy's and the Wild Onion are collegiate haunts.

Enjoy your trip to St. Paul. 

Go Tommies.

[d3fan1515]

Tommiegun,
Does UST do any live video or audio streaming of their games??

[tommiegun]

Yes.  They will be having a videocast. http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/NCAA_Tix_11-15.html

The video quality is good.

[d3fan1515]

Awesome, thank you tommiegun.