FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[5wide]

Speaking of recruiting...

How has NP having the high school play their home games on friday nights work out?  What a recruiting gimme that is, having HS kids come in and see the stadium at a place they probably wouldn't have visited before.

Will that help turn their program around?

[Mugsy]

Speaking of recruiting...

How has NP having the high school play their home games on friday nights work out?  What a recruiting gimme that is, having HS kids come in and see the stadium at a place they probably wouldn't have visited before.

Will that help turn their program around?

Will it help?  Not significantly.  More high school players will see the facilities that otherwise would not.  But just because they see the football field, does that make them more likely to attend NPU?  While the facilities are much improved, are they significantly better than any other CCIW school (or other Wisconsin or Illinois D3 schools) to the point where a player would choose NPU?  Personally I would doubt it.  There are so many other factors that determine if a player attends a school.

IMO, what builds a program is a quality & continuity of the coaching staff.  For years NPU would replace the coaching staff ever couple of years... no continuity there.  The current coaching staff is in their 3rd or 4th year, so we are starting to see the results of their vision for the NPU program.  It is the coaching staff that "sells" the program.  In addition, the school needs to be committed to the athletic programs to give the coach staff what they need.  It appears NPU has made the moves to improve there.

This doesn't even consider in a mirade of other factors... does the player have the grades to get in?  Does the school have a degree in the area of interest?  Do they like the schools location?  Do they like the campus? Blah, blah, blah... There are a ton of factors.  Seeing the facilities on a Friday night is a tiny part, IMO.  How the coaching staff "sells" the program is #1.

[79jaybird]

Looking ahead at the NC/EC game this weekend.. I think the game is going to be determined by 1 factor- Spencer vs. Elmhurst Secondary.
Elmhurst has shown that they can stop a talented running game, so I don't think Holden will be much of a factor ( as he has been the last 3 meetings).
The difference is going to can Elmhurst's Secondary contain Spencer and eliminate the big play?  You know Spencer is going to the get the ball 15-20 times, but can they stop him?  I'm anxious to see how this matchup unfolds. 

[redman04]

Speaking of recruiting...

How has NP having the high school play their home games on friday nights work out?  What a recruiting gimme that is, having HS kids come in and see the stadium at a place they probably wouldn't have visited before.

Will that help turn their program around?

Carthage has had a local high school play on their field for years and doubt that they have more than 1 or 2 kids from that school a year.  I think that the high school paid for the lights they have now.

[NCC_alum62]

I think Thorne deserves COY if they keep winning...

Previous wniners have come from programs that were suppossed to win (Wheaton, Augie) and some for big turn arounds...so saying that it is expected or basing it on pre-season polls doesn't cut it.  How many times have teams been predicted number one only to fall...predictions and rankings mean nothing if the team and the coaches don't deliver.  It is easier being a cinderella because no one expects you to win, but to be ranked or voted most likely to win means every team will bring thier best to try and stop you.  If Thorne and the cards continue to play the way they have and win games he is COY hands down.

[Redmen96]

Speaking of recruiting...

How has NP having the high school play their home games on friday nights work out?  What a recruiting gimme that is, having HS kids come in and see the stadium at a place they probably wouldn't have visited before.

Will that help turn their program around?

Carthage has had a local high school play on their field for years and doubt that they have more than 1 or 2 kids from that school a year.  I think that the high school paid for the lights they have now.

The team held a large fund raiser for the lights as well, one of the events was a bench press contest that your lift was sponsored either per lb or for a total lift.  Bye the way Joe Bear yours truley won.

[zorbadagreek]

i believe that having a hs play on your field does help with the recruiting process, whether its ncc, carthage or np. It exposes players to that college atmosphere and may help convince a kid that he would like to play at the next level. All three of the above mentioned schools have done a tremendous job of upgrading their facilities, this can only help in the recruiting process. Will that transfer into wins?? Thats the job of the coaching staff.

[usee]

jaybird-i was listening in on the internet thru the d3fb link.

by the way, you guys spent way too long talking about the beep you heard and trying to locate it. I didn't even hear it until you started talking about it.

other than that, you can be a little more descriptive of the play itself. since you were a player you should know things like sweep, iso, play action pass, streak, out, post, etc. sometimes you guys keep the descriptions too generic when specifics make it better. i say this because all of the broadcasts i listen to have this problem but you guys i believe could actually make an effort on this when most broadcast teams have no hope.  good job on scores, time, etc.

[DarrinC]

Keith

[NCC_alum62]

79jaybird...

What great running team has Elmhurst shut down?  They have not played the two top running teams in the conference yet? (Augie and Millikin) and NCC doesn't run the football except on quick draw, option, and counters...

For all that say the defense of the cardinals has slipped the big reason in my mind is the offense of NCC is responsible...they hold the ball for maybe a minute and a half and they either score or have to punt...the D shuts down many drives of the opponent, but the offense scores so quickly they don't get much rest on the sideline.

and the D has played well enough for them to be 6-0 so I think they are pretty good and creating some great oppurtunity.

[sica-sica]

NCC alum62,
                    I agree totally.

[usee]

ncc alum 62--you should consider researching your theories before you throw them out there as fact. a quick review of the statistics reveal the following:

                       NCC 2004:                                      NCC 2005:

TOP:               30:56 per game                             30:11 per game                           
#plays            70.8  per game                               70.33 per game
yds                 418                                                469
per play            5.9                                                6.7pgame

opponents
TOP                29:04                                             29:49
#plays            65.9                                               69.6
yds                 272 pgame                                    335 pgame
ydsperplay     4.4                                                 4.8   

by your assumption you have to believe that 45 seconds of additional TOP (between 4-7 more plays) equates to 53 more yds of offense per game--thats approximately 10 yds per play.

your theory doesn't hold up. the facts seem to indicate the ncc defense is giving up more per play under similar conditions as 2004. for whatever reason, they are just not as dominant and it has nothing to do with being on the field for significantly more time. i don't propose to have the answer but your theory doesn't make sense.

[NCC_alum62]

I stand corrected...

however against Carthage the cards longest drive was 3:49 and thier shortest drive was :06 and they averaged under two min per drive.

Against IWU longest was a 6:14 that started on thier 1 yard line (ending in TD) but other than that all but three under 2:00 (most around 1:20)

I am not saying the D is playing the same way but last couple of games have shown very quick drives for the Offense and with injuries to the defense that means tired players.  I did look at the facts I was at the Carthage game when they announced the dirve times for NCC.  But you are right about the overall stats.

I played last year and remember longer drives cause we actually lined up in the I formation and ran the ball, but they use a completly spread offense now so it seems and really is alot quicker...

I concede to a point

[NCC_alum62]

I also stated in a previous post how the Defense has taken some losses amongst thier players that rotate...the d-line especially who saw two of thier players become the starting offensive tackels...I think they are going to surprise some people as they continue to get better this season...yes they will keep getting better...I did not see the same D that let Benedictine score 27 play against Wheaton or Carthage...even though they gave up points they were to way better quality teams and the first half against Carthage would have been a shutout if not for a Kniss pass intercepted in Cardinal territory that allowed for the field goal.


and thank you sica-sica

[zorbadagreek]

So is Mike Tice, I mean coach Rucks, gonna have the redmen ready to play saturday or is this gonna be a close one against NP like it was last year?? 14-10 I believe was the final last year!!