FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[old 40]

IMHO this week is character week for some teams. Can some teams bounce back or will they turn belly up and ditch the rest of the season. This could also be called statement week by some teams.

My guesses for this week;

AU over Rockford- 28-21, Rockford can be dangerous and leads the league in rush offense. AU will have to be ready. Rockford has won the last two years. Close game.

CUC over M.Baptist- 56-21, M.Baptist will be able to throw on the Cougars. To much offense by CUC in the long run.

Lakeland over BU- 31-30, Lakeland has no defense but can run and pass. BU has good special teams and will run the ball at will.

WLC over CUW- 13-10, MY upset special. WLC is playing good. The big question will be if CUW can recover from last week.

Good Luck to everyone's team this week. Safe Play and Safe travels by all.

[FalconsFootball]

It is unfortunate to see what is happening around CUW.  I have only seen a limitied number of games and it seems they cannot get over the injury bug and their youth.  I have not heard many good things at all about the new batch of players that have come in.  For some reason there is a real sense of entitlement going on, and that is really disappointing.  It's something usually trumped by a strong group of upperclassmen, I am just affraid it is too late for them to step up.  There has been a strong football culture at CUW for a while now and it would be a shame to see it fizzle out.  LETS GO FALCONS!

[baseman201]

Any updates?

[ausid]

Aurora defeats Rockford 28-12, AU scored 21 unanswered to finish the contest.  I was not at the game just getting reports from the contest.

[old 40]

Congrats to M. Baptist on playing CUC a great game. Nice to see your offense explode for 21 points. Keep up the good work. Despite having a small roster you guys are playing your hearts out. 

Looks like AU is rolling and awaiting the playoffs. IMHO, they have it wrapped up. They have so much balance between their Offense, Defense and Special Teams. They are a Senior dominated team with the best QB in the league. Their remaining 3 games should be business as usual for the Spartans.

Sounds like the CUW and WLC game was a good one Saturday. Did anyone see the game? What happened?

[baseman201]

Old 40-

Actually, AU probably won't make the playoffs this year.  For a team from the NAC to make the playoffs this year, didn't we agree that they would have to go undefeated?

Would AU even have a chance for an at large bid with 1 loss?

Although, I guess you could call it a "quality loss" against a team like IL Wesleyan.

So do they have a shot?

[old 40]

baseman201;

The NAC get an auto bid this year. The league winner goes. I don't know how the NAC got the auto bid but it does have one.

Your Cougars are playing pretty good ball this year. IMO, they will knock someone else off this year. The stats on the Lakeland game was very impressive. Good luck the rest of the year.

[hickory_cornhusker]

The conference was able to get it because it has already been a conference for two years. The rule never said that you have to sponsor the sport two years, just to be a conference for two years. The conference got their paperwork in and the NCAA gave them a Pool A bid.

[baseman201]

Well then, I did not know that.

AU is in the drivers seat for the playoffs then, definately the favorite at this point.

Yeah, CUC isn't playing bad, I was especially impressed with the Lakeland win.  But with the close win over Maranatha they have some work to do.  I can see a 4 win season though, hey baby steps.....2 wins in 2006, 3 wins in 2007, 4 wins in 2008 (hopefully), keeps going up, good sign. 

They definately have a shot at possibly winning 2 more games though, CUW and BU.  AU seems too good right now.

[falcons#1]

Falcsfb why do u feel the concordia wisconsin program has a sense of entitlement?  All i have seen is a group of players who were coached by another coach for a couple years , who was a great coach, that have had to adjust to a new headman. The freshman class of course is going to take a shot when they were recruited by another coach and then they find out half way through the summer that they have differant coach that would always send your new recruits running.

[WLCALUM83]

WLCALUM83's picks for 11/01/08 games:

Lakeland at Maranatha:   Lakeland

Concordia-Chicago at Concordia-WI:  CUW (although this could be a tight one if the Falcons aren't careful).

Rockford at Benedictine:  Benedictine (IL Eagle special teams kick-off return team is dangerous--this is another one that could go either way.)

WLC at Aurora:  Aurora--even more so given the Warriors knocked off the Spartans last year, so they'll want big time revenge.

[footballguy1]

The NAC definitely gets an automatic bid for the conference winner.  It had something to do with them appealing the NCAA because the conference has been in existence for two years now and it is pretty much the same as the IBFC.  Plus it is an NCAA rule that any conference with 7 teams gets an auto bid

[old 40]

Guesses for this week;

CUC at CUW- CUW 38-31, Both teams score alot of points.

LC at MBC- LC38-21, LC has alot of passing "O". MBC can score via the air as they did last week.

WLC at AU- AU21-20, Close game if AU is not ready. Talent wise WLC has some good players but not as many as AU. AU gets a step closer to the playoffs.

Rockford at BU- Rockford will control the ball and win 24-10


Good Luck to everyones team. Safe travels.

[CU Alum]

Being honest, i am not sure cuw will come back from this loss.  After seeing the games and hearing what i have about the new head coach, I do not believe in these falcons.  The players seem uninspired and/or unwilling to listen to the new coach.   I know alumni have lost the interest they used to have and its kinda sad.  We used to love watching the young talent come in and progress.  We loved meeting new coaches and being involved in alumni events.  Now, the players don't respect what has been done, new coaches ignore/brush off alumni that come in and many of the alumni events have been cancled.  School pride for the football team also looks to be at a low.  It's a sad time at C,U.....doubleU

sadly i must concur...they are still my team but IMO something needs to change -- and also IMO Coach Etter has not had the time yet -- read into that what you will

[CU Alum]

Falcsfb why do u feel the concordia wisconsin program has a sense of entitlement?  All i have seen is a group of players who were coached by another coach for a couple years , who was a great coach, that have had to adjust to a new headman. The freshman class of course is going to take a shot when they were recruited by another coach and then they find out half way through the summer that they have differant coach that would always send your new recruits running.

they'll get better to be sure how long though is IMO dependant upon Coach Etter molding the team into his personality (and not that of any other coach or support staff) -- if he can do that I believe we will see exponential improvement -- Coach Etter was a good choice -- earlier in the year I complained about the HFc search -- I still disagree from the way it went down (I got my info from the president of the U as to the procedure followed)  but we got a good one -- I still disagree about the offensive schemes -- that is what I think needs to be changed

just my opinion  -- but I know it is held by all the former falcons I stay in touch with