FB: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

There are always people reading -- sometimes people who aren't registered or logged in. I definitely appreciate the detail on games!

[57Johnnie]

Recapping yesterdays games.

St. Scholastica had the easy time which was expected with Iowa Wesleyan, the Saints cruised to a 61-8 victory. The most interesting play of the game may have been after CSS took the opening drive 6 plays for a TD, IWU blocked the PAT and returned it the distance for a 2 point defensive PAT. CSS looks to finish the season strong and end the season in the top half of the standing as is the norm for the Saints. The Tigers chances of gaining a win this season are looking rather long from here as they close out the season with Greenville and Northwestern. Winter sports can't get here quick enough for IWU.

Westminster received an offensive lift when QB Wyatt Ellis returned to the field and lead the Blue Jays to 3 second half TD's to break open a game that was 3-0 at the half. The sophomore QB seems to be a difference maker for Westminster and probably will make the Blue Jays a dangerous team the next couple of seasons in the UMAC. The Crown team just keeps battling. They have a very small and young roster, but even so they battle ever week regardless of what the score is. There is some good UMAC talent in their freshmen class and if they can keep it together and add a little each year it will be an interesting team in a few seasons.

Martin Luther cruised to the easiest of wins, dominating in all phases in a 49-0 victory that could of been much worse. The Knights out total yarded the Cougars 565-57 and that was with backups playing a good portion of the second half. Minnesota-Morris managed two 1st downs in the game, one on their first drive of the game and one on the last drive of the game. They never came close to scoring a point. Coach Hoffmann in Morris has a tough project ahead of him, starting with recruiting volume is probably the first step. The good news for them is that it is the UMAC and one good recruiting class can go a long ways.

Greenville continues with their good play by going to MacMurray and ending the Highlanders title hopes 41-30. It looked to be a good game going in and they did not disappoint, but in the end MacMurray couldn't go blow for blow offensively with the Panthers who's balanced attack racked 534 yards in total offense (250 rushing, 284 passing). Greenville has probably stamped themselves as the early favorite for next season with their continued good play from a very young roster. As for MacMurray they will lose 9 starters on the offense and defense combined, but do return their QB and most of their key defensive players. Fill a few holes and they are right back in the hunt next season.

That is back-to-back 4-0 weeks on the late start to the games analysis for the UMAC, now the question is there a single individual out there who is reading this board? 

Yes

[sjusection105]

Recapping yesterdays games.

St. Scholastica had the easy time which was expected with Iowa Wesleyan, the Saints cruised to a 61-8 victory. The most interesting play of the game may have been after CSS took the opening drive 6 plays for a TD, IWU blocked the PAT and returned it the distance for a 2 point defensive PAT. CSS looks to finish the season strong and end the season in the top half of the standing as is the norm for the Saints. The Tigers chances of gaining a win this season are looking rather long from here as they close out the season with Greenville and Northwestern. Winter sports can't get here quick enough for IWU.

Westminster received an offensive lift when QB Wyatt Ellis returned to the field and lead the Blue Jays to 3 second half TD's to break open a game that was 3-0 at the half. The sophomore QB seems to be a difference maker for Westminster and probably will make the Blue Jays a dangerous team the next couple of seasons in the UMAC. The Crown team just keeps battling. They have a very small and young roster, but even so they battle ever week regardless of what the score is. There is some good UMAC talent in their freshmen class and if they can keep it together and add a little each year it will be an interesting team in a few seasons.

Martin Luther cruised to the easiest of wins, dominating in all phases in a 49-0 victory that could of been much worse. The Knights out total yarded the Cougars 565-57 and that was with backups playing a good portion of the second half. Minnesota-Morris managed two 1st downs in the game, one on their first drive of the game and one on the last drive of the game. They never came close to scoring a point. Coach Hoffmann in Morris has a tough project ahead of him, starting with recruiting volume is probably the first step. The good news for them is that it is the UMAC and one good recruiting class can go a long ways.

Greenville continues with their good play by going to MacMurray and ending the Highlanders title hopes 41-30. It looked to be a good game going in and they did not disappoint, but in the end MacMurray couldn't go blow for blow offensively with the Panthers who's balanced attack racked 534 yards in total offense (250 rushing, 284 passing). Greenville has probably stamped themselves as the early favorite for next season with their continued good play from a very young roster. As for MacMurray they will lose 9 starters on the offense and defense combined, but do return their QB and most of their key defensive players. Fill a few holes and they are right back in the hunt next season.

That is back-to-back 4-0 weeks on the late start to the games analysis for the UMAC, now the question is there a single individual out there who is reading this board? 

Scouting 1st round play-off match ups

[Baldini]

Recapping yesterdays games.

St. Scholastica had the easy time which was expected with Iowa Wesleyan, the Saints cruised to a 61-8 victory. The most interesting play of the game may have been after CSS took the opening drive 6 plays for a TD, IWU blocked the PAT and returned it the distance for a 2 point defensive PAT. CSS looks to finish the season strong and end the season in the top half of the standing as is the norm for the Saints. The Tigers chances of gaining a win this season are looking rather long from here as they close out the season with Greenville and Northwestern. Winter sports can't get here quick enough for IWU.

Westminster received an offensive lift when QB Wyatt Ellis returned to the field and lead the Blue Jays to 3 second half TD's to break open a game that was 3-0 at the half. The sophomore QB seems to be a difference maker for Westminster and probably will make the Blue Jays a dangerous team the next couple of seasons in the UMAC. The Crown team just keeps battling. They have a very small and young roster, but even so they battle ever week regardless of what the score is. There is some good UMAC talent in their freshmen class and if they can keep it together and add a little each year it will be an interesting team in a few seasons.

Martin Luther cruised to the easiest of wins, dominating in all phases in a 49-0 victory that could of been much worse. The Knights out total yarded the Cougars 565-57 and that was with backups playing a good portion of the second half. Minnesota-Morris managed two 1st downs in the game, one on their first drive of the game and one on the last drive of the game. They never came close to scoring a point. Coach Hoffmann in Morris has a tough project ahead of him, starting with recruiting volume is probably the first step. The good news for them is that it is the UMAC and one good recruiting class can go a long ways.

Greenville continues with their good play by going to MacMurray and ending the Highlanders title hopes 41-30. It looked to be a good game going in and they did not disappoint, but in the end MacMurray couldn't go blow for blow offensively with the Panthers who's balanced attack racked 534 yards in total offense (250 rushing, 284 passing). Greenville has probably stamped themselves as the early favorite for next season with their continued good play from a very young roster. As for MacMurray they will lose 9 starters on the offense and defense combined, but do return their QB and most of their key defensive players. Fill a few holes and they are right back in the hunt next season.

That is back-to-back 4-0 weeks on the late start to the games analysis for the UMAC, now the question is there a single individual out there who is reading this board? 

Scouting 1st round play-off match ups

I'll be here.

[hazzben]

Recapping yesterdays games.

St. Scholastica had the easy time which was expected with Iowa Wesleyan, the Saints cruised to a 61-8 victory. The most interesting play of the game may have been after CSS took the opening drive 6 plays for a TD, IWU blocked the PAT and returned it the distance for a 2 point defensive PAT. CSS looks to finish the season strong and end the season in the top half of the standing as is the norm for the Saints. The Tigers chances of gaining a win this season are looking rather long from here as they close out the season with Greenville and Northwestern. Winter sports can't get here quick enough for IWU.

Westminster received an offensive lift when QB Wyatt Ellis returned to the field and lead the Blue Jays to 3 second half TD's to break open a game that was 3-0 at the half. The sophomore QB seems to be a difference maker for Westminster and probably will make the Blue Jays a dangerous team the next couple of seasons in the UMAC. The Crown team just keeps battling. They have a very small and young roster, but even so they battle ever week regardless of what the score is. There is some good UMAC talent in their freshmen class and if they can keep it together and add a little each year it will be an interesting team in a few seasons.

Martin Luther cruised to the easiest of wins, dominating in all phases in a 49-0 victory that could of been much worse. The Knights out total yarded the Cougars 565-57 and that was with backups playing a good portion of the second half. Minnesota-Morris managed two 1st downs in the game, one on their first drive of the game and one on the last drive of the game. They never came close to scoring a point. Coach Hoffmann in Morris has a tough project ahead of him, starting with recruiting volume is probably the first step. The good news for them is that it is the UMAC and one good recruiting class can go a long ways.

Greenville continues with their good play by going to MacMurray and ending the Highlanders title hopes 41-30. It looked to be a good game going in and they did not disappoint, but in the end MacMurray couldn't go blow for blow offensively with the Panthers who's balanced attack racked 534 yards in total offense (250 rushing, 284 passing). Greenville has probably stamped themselves as the early favorite for next season with their continued good play from a very young roster. As for MacMurray they will lose 9 starters on the offense and defense combined, but do return their QB and most of their key defensive players. Fill a few holes and they are right back in the hunt next season.

That is back-to-back 4-0 weeks on the late start to the games analysis for the UMAC, now the question is there a single individual out there who is reading this board? 

Yep, appreciate the work.

[hazzben]

Any insight (AO??) into why Northwestern was such a disappointment this year? Picked 1/2 by the coaches pre-season and down in the cellar now. What's up?

[Baldini]

Any insight (AO??) into why Northwestern was such a disappointment this year? Picked 1/2 by the coaches pre-season and down in the cellar now. What's up?

Northwestern timeline,

2014 - 8-2 Overall, 7-2 Conference
2015 - 8-2, 8-1
2016 - 9-2, 8-1, playoff appearance

March of 2017 Head Coach Kirk Talley resigns and DC is promoted to HC.

2017 - 6-4, 6-3
2018 - 5-5, 5-4
2019 - 2-6, 2-4 so far

Is Northwestern not getting the players? A look at their roster makes me think they are closer to a middle to low level MIAC roster and not a UMAC roster. They have size in both the volume of the roster and physical build of their players. Most UMAC rosters are in the high 40's to low 60's in volume, Northwestern is over 80 players. The UMAC is littered with 160 pound DB's, 190 pound LB's, 170 pound RB's and 200 pound TE's, but Northwestern has 200+ pound DB's, 245 pound MLB, a 220 pound hammer for a RB, a pair of 240+ pound TE's. On athletic size alone Northwestern should be overwhelming most of the UMAC. In weekly roster comparisons Northwestern seems to be the larger AND more talented team in most of their matchups.

It is not fair of me to point the finger at Coach Moore or anyone else, but if Northwestern is looking for answers for the slow decline they have had the past 3 season they should first look at Coach Moore as a leader of a team. Is Moore an example of the Peter principle, was his ceiling that of a DC? Just how much importance does the institution put on winning? Is it enough to push one of their own out for the sake of a few more win? What is the economic impact of not fielding a winning team for the school? Maybe I have headed down an empty rabbit hole and the issues are something completely different, but if I was the one looking for answers I would first look at the leadership in the locker room. 

[AO]

Any insight (AO??) into why Northwestern was such a disappointment this year? Picked 1/2 by the coaches pre-season and down in the cellar now. What's up?

Northwestern timeline,

2014 - 8-2 Overall, 7-2 Conference
2015 - 8-2, 8-1
2016 - 9-2, 8-1, playoff appearance

March of 2017 Head Coach Kirk Talley resigns and DC is promoted to HC.

2017 - 6-4, 6-3
2018 - 5-5, 5-4
2019 - 2-6, 2-4 so far

Is Northwestern not getting the players? A look at their roster makes me think they are closer to a middle to low level MIAC roster and not a UMAC roster. They have size in both the volume of the roster and physical build of their players. Most UMAC rosters are in the high 40's to low 60's in volume, Northwestern is over 80 players. The UMAC is littered with 160 pound DB's, 190 pound LB's, 170 pound RB's and 200 pound TE's, but Northwestern has 200+ pound DB's, 245 pound MLB, a 220 pound hammer for a RB, a pair of 240+ pound TE's. On athletic size alone Northwestern should be overwhelming most of the UMAC. In weekly roster comparisons Northwestern seems to be the larger AND more talented team in most of their matchups.

It is not fair of me to point the finger at Coach Moore or anyone else, but if Northwestern is looking for answers for the slow decline they have had the past 3 season they should first look at Coach Moore as a leader of a team. Is Moore an example of the Peter principle, was his ceiling that of a DC? Just how much importance does the institution put on winning? Is it enough to push one of their own out for the sake of a few more win? What is the economic impact of not fielding a winning team for the school? Maybe I have headed down an empty rabbit hole and the issues are something completely different, but if I was the one looking for answers I would first look at the leadership in the locker room.

I think the players are there, we've just struggled to get the passing game going.  Last year the defense was good enough to win the conference.  Martin Luther also deserves a little credit for building up their program, we can't just roll over them like we used to 5 years ago.

[Baldini]

The 4 games this weekend could shape up to be two very good games and two over matched ones.

Westminster makes the 520 mile trip north to face Northwestern in what I think has the making of a good game. QB Wyatt Ellis returned last week for the Blue Jays and their offense again began to score points, he will stress the Northwestern defense on Saturday. But I believe this game will be about Northwestern and their Seniors on Senior Day. Northwestern has had a very disappointing season by their standards and Saturday will be their opportunity to flush all of that from their systems. Westminster's run defense has been good most of the season giving up 103.3 YPG, but I look for Northwestern is set the tone early with their big RB Payton Bowdry. And I look for that talented defense of the Eagles that was tops in the UMAC in both 2017 and 2018 to show up large. One game I will be checking in on.

St. Scholastica travels to Minnesota-Morris to face the Cougars. This is another week that appears to be a bad match up on paper for Minnesota-Morris, the Saints score at a clip of 34.1 PPG and the Cougars give up 36.0 PPG on average. M-M was shutout last weekend and gained only 2 first downs in the process, I do believe they will be much more effective this week at home and against a defense that has given up 376 YPG themselves. The Saints should continue their winning ways this week in fairly easy fashion. Good news for Morris is that the volleyball team is in the conference championship game this weekend, Go Cougars!

Iowa Wesleyan travels to Greenville. This is a huge mismatch on paper and Greenville is playing as well as anyone in the UMAC right now. The Panthers should build an early lead and clear the benches in the 2nd half. Better days are ahead for the Tigers, just not Saturday.

Martin Luther travels the 511 miles to Jacksonville to take on MacMurray. If MacMurray had gotten the win last week again Greenville this game would of been for the conference title, but now the Highlanders can only hope to play the spoiler and help Greenville. The game features the top 2 offenses in the UMAC with MLC at 453 YPG and MacMurray at 449 YPG. The Highlanders will attempt to make this a shootout, the Knights defense who is #1 in scoring (16.3), #1 in rushing (57.5), #1 in passing (164.4) will attempt to slow the high octane MacMurray offense. MLC has a repeat sequence season from a year ago going for themselves. Their schedule is a match of last season with the same opponents in the same order and their bye on the same weekend, both seasons they opened with a lose to Gustavus Adolphus followed by wins in every game until the playoffs. Last season MLC clinched the conference title with a win against MacMurray, does the repeat sequence season continue on Saturday with MLC clinching the title again? Is another playoff visit to St. John's in their future? Their is still work to be done, but something fun to watch none the less. 
 

[Baldini]

Any insight (AO??) into why Northwestern was such a disappointment this year? Picked 1/2 by the coaches pre-season and down in the cellar now. What's up?

Northwestern timeline,

2014 - 8-2 Overall, 7-2 Conference
2015 - 8-2, 8-1
2016 - 9-2, 8-1, playoff appearance

March of 2017 Head Coach Kirk Talley resigns and DC is promoted to HC.

2017 - 6-4, 6-3
2018 - 5-5, 5-4
2019 - 2-6, 2-4 so far

Is Northwestern not getting the players? A look at their roster makes me think they are closer to a middle to low level MIAC roster and not a UMAC roster. They have size in both the volume of the roster and physical build of their players. Most UMAC rosters are in the high 40's to low 60's in volume, Northwestern is over 80 players. The UMAC is littered with 160 pound DB's, 190 pound LB's, 170 pound RB's and 200 pound TE's, but Northwestern has 200+ pound DB's, 245 pound MLB, a 220 pound hammer for a RB, a pair of 240+ pound TE's. On athletic size alone Northwestern should be overwhelming most of the UMAC. In weekly roster comparisons Northwestern seems to be the larger AND more talented team in most of their matchups.

It is not fair of me to point the finger at Coach Moore or anyone else, but if Northwestern is looking for answers for the slow decline they have had the past 3 season they should first look at Coach Moore as a leader of a team. Is Moore an example of the Peter principle, was his ceiling that of a DC? Just how much importance does the institution put on winning? Is it enough to push one of their own out for the sake of a few more win? What is the economic impact of not fielding a winning team for the school? Maybe I have headed down an empty rabbit hole and the issues are something completely different, but if I was the one looking for answers I would first look at the leadership in the locker room.

I think the players are there, we've just struggled to get the passing game going.  Last year the defense was good enough to win the conference.  Martin Luther also deserves a little credit for building up their program, we can't just roll over them like we used to 5 years ago.

AO, is there any restlessness with the alumni about the football program or it just to early for that? Martin Luther does deserve credit, but is that sustainable for them? From the outside Northwestern has soo many more resources than most others in the UMAC, it doesn't feel like they should be taking one of the backseats in football. IMHO

Good luck to the women's soccer and volleyball teams playing in their title games on Saturday.

By the way, I tuned into the volleyball last night in the 3rd set and that was a fun watch. Gotta love playoff action.

[Pat Coleman]

I don't foresee a Martin Luther-St. John's game this year after SJU fell out of contention for a high seed.

[Baldini]

I don't foresee a Martin Luther-St. John's game this year after SJU fell out of contention for a high seed.

Me either, that was for all the Johnnies out there. I'm thinking Wartburg?

[hazzben]

I don't foresee a Martin Luther-St. John's game this year after SJU fell out of contention for a high seed.

Me either, that was for all the Johnnies out there. I'm thinking Wartburg?

Maybe if Wartburg holds serve. More likely, whoever the #1 seed is in whichever region the place Martin Luther.

[wally_wabash]

Whitewater would be on the short list.

[hazzben]

Whitewater would be on the short list.

Exactly