FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bleedpurple]

I wish they didn't show Coppage's play, now NCC will prepare for the "break the tackle behind the line, cut outside, then inside, and run through tacklers play". 

For what it's worth:
Some CCIW folks seem to find hope in the fact that Franklin, who gave UWW "trouble" was beat by middle of the road Carthage, who was later destroyed by NCC.  This was their first game of the season.  Of the 52 Franklin passes thrown, 24 came from Kyle Ray, the other 28 came from a different QB.  Kyle Ray was 17-24 with 2 TD's and 0 int's, the other QB was 15-28 with 1 TD and 2 interceptions.

Kyle threw 339 of the 410 Franklin passes for the season.   

so should we be taking comfort in this then?

UWEC @ NCC  20-6 NCC win
UWW @ UWEC    45-0 UWW win

And since many are finding great hope in the fact that UW-W was tied last week after 3 quarters, let's take a look at these two games after 3 quarters:

  NCC led 10-3.  UW-W led 45-0. 

In the fourth quarter, UW-W ran 15 offensive plays. Play selection? 15 handoffs to Michael Pirtle. One wasn't an official carry because of a holding penalty.

[footballfan413]

I wish they didn't show Coppage's play, now NCC will prepare for the "break the tackle behind the line, cut outside, then inside, and run through tacklers play". 

For what it's worth:
Some CCIW folks seem to find hope in the fact that Franklin, who gave UWW "trouble" was beat by middle of the road Carthage, who was later destroyed by NCC.  This was their first game of the season.  Of the 52 Franklin passes thrown, 24 came from Kyle Ray, the other 28 came from a different QB.  Kyle Ray was 17-24 with 2 TD's and 0 int's, the other QB was 15-28 with 1 TD and 2 interceptions.

Kyle threw 339 of the 410 Franklin passes for the season.   

so should we be taking comfort in this then?

UWEC @ NCC  20-6 NCC win
UWW @ UWEC    45-0 UWW win

And since many are finding great hope in the fact that UW-W was tied last week after 3 quarters, let's take a look at these two games after 3 quarters:

  NCC led 10-3.  UW-W led 45-0. 

In the fourth quarter, UW-W ran 15 offensive plays. Play selection? 15 handoffs to Michael Pirtle. One wasn't an official carry because of a holding penalty.

Remind me again?  Who is Michael Pirtle?  Oh, ya.............our 4th string RB.   

[BoBo]

Remind me again?  Who is Michael Pirtle?  Oh, ya.............our 4th string RB.   

...star of the future?!! 

Is it just me, or has this week slowed to a crawl? And it's only Tuesday/Wednesday.

[usee]

Gotta love the selective stats and selective comparisons. On the one hand it was Franklins 1st game and on the other hand NCC's early game is an "indicator". Whatever makes you feel good and helps pass the time. I'll say this (which is a stsatement about ncc and not a comparison to uww)the CCIW is a tough conference. This is the second time a team has  made it to the playoffs undefeated in the last 14 yrs. And you have to go back to Augie in the 80s to find a team tat has run the cciw slate by beating every team by at least 20. Wheaton this year, which we have seen is a very good team and quite comparable to teams in the west bracket, is your typical cciw team. Several close games through conference play, a few come from behind V's, solid defense, etc.  That's the team most would expect from the cciw. NCC is a level above that. We don't know if its UWW/UMU level, but its probably pretty close in my view. We get to find out Saturday.   

[FormerCard]

Gotta love the selective stats and selective comparisons. On the one hand it was Franklins 1st game and on the other hand NCC's early game is an "indicator". Whatever makes you feel good and helps pass the time. I'll say this (which is a stsatement about ncc and not a comparison to uww)the CCIW is a tough conference. This is the second time a team has  made it to the playoffs undefeated in the last 14 yrs. And you have to go back to Augie in the 80s to find a team tat has run the cciw slate by beating every team by at least 20. Wheaton this year, which we have seen is a very good team and quite comparable to teams in the west bracket, is your typical cciw team. Several close games through conference play, a few come from behind V's, solid defense, etc.  That's the team most would expect from the cciw. NCC is a level above that. We don't know if its UWW/UMU level, but its probably pretty close in my view. We get to find out Saturday.   

Great info here Usee.  I didnt realize how long it has been since a team dominated the CCIW like North Central did this year.    I dont expect a 20 point victory either way on  Saturday.  I am hoping the Cardinals dont have any of the mistakes on special teams that occured against ONU. (muffed punt and 12 men on the field on punt return)

[footballfan413]

Gotta love the selective stats and selective comparisons. On the one hand it was Franklins 1st game and on the other hand NCC's early game is an "indicator". Whatever makes you feel good and helps pass the time. I'll say this (which is a stsatement about ncc and not a comparison to uww)the CCIW is a tough conference. This is the second time a team has  made it to the playoffs undefeated in the last 14 yrs. And you have to go back to Augie in the 80s to find a team tat has run the cciw slate by beating every team by at least 20. Wheaton this year, which we have seen is a very good team and quite comparable to teams in the west bracket, is your typical cciw team. Several close games through conference play, a few come from behind V's, solid defense, etc.  That's the team most would expect from the cciw. NCC is a level above that. We don't know if its UWW/UMU level, but its probably pretty close in my view. We get to find out Saturday.  

The difference here, Usee, is that the early game that we are putting the most emphasis on is actually, a common opponent!!!  Seems to be a better indicator of how NCC will play UWW than the other conclusion that some how the way we played Trine or Franklin bodes well for NCC or how Franklin played Carthage, (per your boards discussion,) for goodness sake!    

[usee]

My take on the Franklin comparison and the fact that the 5 th place cciw team beat them just confirms the cciw is a tough conference. I expected Franklin and trine to do what they did vs uww. Hasn't changed my opinion of the war hawks one bit.

[BoBo]

More selective stats  - Following half-time adjustments, the Warhawk defense allowed only 118 second half yards to Trine - 68 of it coming on it's final drive, when the score was already 45-31 (the final margin), that ended in a fumble. Trine scored on a 1 yard, 2 play drive following a rare Warhawk turnover (only 8 in 12 games), had 4 punts (avg. 3.5 plays/drive), & 2 turnovers. Sometimes people only look at the points given up in the first half to reach a conclusion about the team as a whole. Coppage had 300 yards, but I would say the Warhawk defense won this game.

Talk of the premature death of the Warhawks has been greatly exaggerated. 
But, of course, it's par for the course when you're on top of the mountain!!

[T_Unit14]

a few things I just want to throw out there

1) maybe it was just power running of some sort but ONU looked terrible at tackling against NCC in the highlights...it seems that almost every big play was either a huge hole (credit to the NCC line) or terrible tackling...I don't expect WW to miss those tackles or see those kind of holes

2) Toni Kukoc kid is pretty good at running back  

3) As this week goes on, I am respecting what NCC has done but I am loving the picking against WW and hearing how bad this defense and team are.  I won't deny this pass defense has had its hiccups and is not the best in the country, but have the previous WW secondaries that managed to do "just enough" to get to the Stagg Bowl?  It's not very often the defending national champion is being doubted after going undefeated and beating 2 of the top 5 offenses in the country by 14+ in the opening rounds of the playoffs.

4) If Blanchard practices all week and is in game shape regarding knocking off the rust I hope he plays.  I truthfully think both QB's are more then capable of winning games as we have seen, but I think Blanchard brings a few more intangibles.

5) I hope that NCC buys into the hype of this WW team being less of a defense because they have given up points.  I think the offensive style of NCC plays right into the hands of the WW defense.  I think WW is more balanced when it comes to having a better passing game and better running game but its very possible that NCC has just as good if not a better defense.  I will admit I have not seen NCC play live this year so I can't comment like I know but I do know what WW brings to the table.  I usually jinx myself making these sorts of statements but I feel HSCoach has the spread on this game about right.  However, my personal feeling is that WW wins this game by 17+.

Sorry to the rest of you regulars if that stirs the pot and goes against the grain of being PC on the board but nothing that NCC does blows me away after seeing UMU (they will always be MUC to me) and the WW teams from the past few years.  Are they a great team? Obviously, one of the top 5 in the nation.  I just feel that this WW team has been taking a few more shots and negative talk from the D3 world and hell even from some of their own fans.  Believe me, they are hearing every word of it and thats just fine.  They don't need any extra motivation but I sure do like seeing it come their way  

[ncc58]

The player's game is Nick Kukoc. I guess you think you're funny but calling him Toni Kukoc doesn't seem like you respect NCC at all.

NCC has a lot of respect for UWW and UMU, and all the other teams remaining.

2) Toni Kukoc kid is pretty good at running back 

3) As this week goes on, I am respecting what NCC has done but I am loving the picking against WW and hearing how bad this

5) I hope that NCC buys into the hype of this WW team being less of a defense because they have given up points.  I think the o

[New Tradition]

The player's game is Nick Kukoc. I guess you think you're funny but calling him Toni Kukoc doesn't seem like you respect NCC at all.

NCC has a lot of respect for UWW and UMU, and all the other teams remaining.

2) Toni Kukoc kid is pretty good at running back 

3) As this week goes on, I am respecting what NCC has done but I am loving the picking against WW and hearing how bad this

5) I hope that NCC buys into the hype of this WW team being less of a defense because they have given up points.  I think the o

I do believe that he was saying it was Toni Kukoc's kid as a joke (hence the cheesey smile).  Sometimes it's tough to tell tone on a message board.  That's why they have the emoticons.  No need to get all stirred up.  I don't think he meant any disrespect.

[Warhawk 96]

Saturday can't come soon enough. 5 days left....

[usee]

T_unit,  where did anyone ever say UWW has a bad defense or a bad team?  Ulu guys are going a long way to manufacture the disrespect card. Maybe there actually are another team or two that are pretty good and they deserve some credit for playing well?

[emma17]

Gator-
The Kukoc from Unit was a joke- based on the former Bulls player (Croatia?), I'm sure he meant no disrespect to the running back. 

[New Tradition]

Gator-
The Kukoc from Unit was a joke- based on the former Bulls player (Croatia?), I'm sure he meant no disrespect to the running back. 

He was indeed Croatian.  +K