FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[ncc58]

Cardinalpride and other NCCers,

Give it up. John Thorne has been a  great hire for North Central. But IWU had a great year and Norm Eash deserved to be COY.

Instead of continuing to discuss about this, how about a little focus on the game with Franklin on Saturday. I'm more interested in Saturday than the COY vote earlier this week.

Former Card,
You make excellent points as to why JT should have won a COY in the last 5 years.  However, I'll liken it to Albert Pujols in baseball... the guy puts up monster #'s every year but there always seems to be someone (Ryan Howard in 2006) who does just a little bit better and steals the MVP from him.  As deserving as JT is in 2007, Eash just eeked it out in the end (and rightfully so).

I will add... (and I'm sure I'll probably take heat for this) as much as it is public knowledge that Eash is not well-liked, I do believe that JT is not on everyone's "favorite coach" list (outside of NCC players).

Thunderdog, there may be some truth to that statement!  John Thorn became the first football coach in CCIW history to win consecutive titles and NOT win COY honors in either year!  I will go out on a limb and say this has never happened in any NCAA conference that carries football and gives a COY award!

[New Tradition]

Cardinalpride and other NCCers,

Give it up. John Thorne has been a  great hire for North Central. But IWU had a great year and Norm Eash deserved to be COY.

Instead of continuing to discuss about this, how about a little focus on the game with Franklin on Saturday. I'm more interested in Saturday than the COY vote earlier this week.

Well put!  Eash did do a fantastic job and was very deserving of the award, IMHO.

[CardinalAlum]

Cardinalpride and other NCCers,

Give it up. John Thorne has been a  great hire for North Central. But IWU had a great year and Norm Eash deserved to be COY.

Instead of continuing to discuss about this, how about a little focus on the game with Franklin on Saturday. I'm more interested in Saturday than the COY vote earlier this week.

Former Card,
You make excellent points as to why JT should have won a COY in the last 5 years.  However, I'll liken it to Albert Pujols in baseball... the guy puts up monster #'s every year but there always seems to be someone (Ryan Howard in 2006) who does just a little bit better and steals the MVP from him.  As deserving as JT is in 2007, Eash just eeked it out in the end (and rightfully so).

I will add... (and I'm sure I'll probably take heat for this) as much as it is public knowledge that Eash is not well-liked, I do believe that JT is not on everyone's "favorite coach" list (outside of NCC players).

Thunderdog, there may be some truth to that statement!  John Thorn became the first football coach in CCIW history to win consecutive titles and NOT win COY honors in either year!  I will go out on a limb and say this has never happened in any NCAA conference that carries football and gives a COY award!

If you look back, most of the NCC backers on here have said that Eash deserved it as well.  

[New Tradition]

On to more important matters...how does everyone think that the Cards are going to handle this potent Grizzly Offense?  In the article from the Naperville Sun that midwestfb posted, Imbordino says that the Franklin offense resembles the '05 NCC offense.  If that is the case, the Cards will have their hands full.   It seems that teams have not been able to get a lot of pressure on Rupp, the Franklin quarterback.  Do you think that NCC should try and go after him or sit back and have as many people as possible in the secondary to negate the Franklin receivers?  Thoughts?

[ncc58]

I think North Central has to go after Rupp. Make him uncomfortable. It doesn't sound like many teams have even gone after him. Show Franklin lots of different schemes, just as the Cardinals have done all season.

The only time that I've seen NCC sit back all season was on the last drive in the Wheaton game - and the result was painful.

On to more important matters...how does everyone think that the Cards are going to handle this potent Grizzly Offense?  In the article from the Naperville Sun that midwestfb posted, Imbordino says that the Franklin offense resembles the '05 NCC offense.  If that is the case, the Cards will have their hands full.   It seems that teams have not been able to get a lot of pressure on Rupp, the Franklin quarterback.  Do you think that NCC should try and go after him or sit back and have as many people as possible in the secondary to negate the Franklin receivers?  Thoughts?

[fc_alum_84]

That is what is great about playoff football and playing good teams in general.  While most teams in HCAC can say this is the strategy they intend or should play most dont have the players to execute it. Teams like NCC do.  That's what makes it a chess match on Saturday as FC has to prepare for both strategies. It is going to be fun.

[usee]

The only time that I've seen NCC sit back all season was on the last drive in the Wheaton game - and the result was painful.

That's interesting you viewed the Wheaton game in that way. I was there and I was thinking "boy NCC sure is coming after us every play, I wish we would throw it downfield more". I think Wheaton had a good scheme for protection but NCC dbs were in single coverage and bump and run a majority of that game as I recall. They definately switched it up some too, like on the TD wheaton scored it was over 2 dbs so obviously not single coverage there.

[FormerCard]

Game notes from the North Central Website for this weekends game.  (and all games for that matter)


http://www.northcentralcollege.edu/x34102.xml

[usee]

FWIW,

the COY award dates back 29 seasons to 1978 for the CCIW and it has been shared only twice:

1984: Bob Reade, Carl Poelker
2003: Mike Swider, Paul Krohn

For OPOY it is 45 yrs old and a shared award was given only 3 times: 1984, 1994, 1995

DPOY is a 30 yr old award and it was a shared award 4 times: 1981, 1996, 1999, 2000

[DadofBashWarrior..]

I have seen Franklin vs Wabash this year and NCC vs Wheaton game.....

NCC will beat Franklin.....


WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS

[ncc58]

I was afraid someone would go back there ...

Yes, NCC came at Wheaton most of the game, as they have with every opponent. Except  the last drive. If you ever have a chance to see the last TD, NCC was playing what was essentially a prevent defense for them. Wheaton was down 3 with one timeout. NCC seemed to expect passing outside the hash marks and only rushed the three down linemen. And Wheaton passed down the middle.

The NCC DNA is to put pressure on. LBs from different spots, CBs, Safeties. If you're not going to mix it up, why even run a 3-3-5. They have to do the same thing against Franklin. Keep the pressure coming the whole game. I don't think the four straight interceptions against Elmhurst were just luck. Or the 4th quarter turnovers by IWU. It was the cumulative effect of pressure play after play from different players at different positions.

The only time that I've seen NCC sit back all season was on the last drive in the Wheaton game - and the result was painful.

That's interesting you viewed the Wheaton game in that way. I was there and I was thinking "boy NCC sure is coming after us every play, I wish we would throw it downfield more". I think Wheaton had a good scheme for protection but NCC dbs were in single coverage and bump and run a majority of that game as I recall. They definately switched it up some too, like on the TD wheaton scored it was over 2 dbs so obviously not single coverage there.

[usee]

I have seen Franklin vs Wabash this year and NCC vs Wheaton game.....

NCC will beat Franklin.....


WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS

there you go! You can put it on the board! Thanks DadOBW! an impartial opinion. previously all we had were those of us who saw wabash scrimmage wheaton and then saw wheaton play NCC. Now we have the fan from the grassy knoll.

[usee]

I was afraid someone would go back there ...

Yes, NCC came at Wheaton most of the game, as they have with every opponent. Except  the last drive. If you ever have a chance to see the last TD, NCC was playing what was essentially a prevent defense for them. Wheaton was down 3 with one timeout. NCC seemed to expect passing outside the hash marks and only rushed the three down linemen. And Wheaton passed down the middle.

The NCC DNA is to put pressure on. LBs from different spots, CBs, Safeties. If you're not going to mix it up, why even run a 3-3-5. They have to do the same thing against Franklin. Keep the pressure coming the whole game. I don't think the four straight interceptions against Elmhurst were just luck. Or the 4th quarter turnovers by IWU. It was the cumulative effect of pressure play after play from different players at different positions.

The only time that I've seen NCC sit back all season was on the last drive in the Wheaton game - and the result was painful.

That's interesting you viewed the Wheaton game in that way. I was there and I was thinking "boy NCC sure is coming after us every play, I wish we would throw it downfield more". I think Wheaton had a good scheme for protection but NCC dbs were in single coverage and bump and run a majority of that game as I recall. They definately switched it up some too, like on the TD wheaton scored it was over 2 dbs so obviously not single coverage there.

That makes more sense. I don't remember what defense they were in down the stretch but I agree with your point here. You have to win the game with what got you there.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

I have seen Franklin vs Wabash this year and NCC vs Wheaton game.....

NCC will beat Franklin.....


WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS

there you go! You can put it on the board! Thanks DadOBW! an impartial opinion. previously all we had were those of us who saw wabash scrimmage wheaton and then saw wheaton play NCC. Now we have the fan from the grassy knoll.

Don't get me wrong about Franklin.....they will be tougher than how Wheaton played you....Wheaton just was able to make enough big plays to put more points on the board that night

[ncc58]

I think North Central recognizes how good Franklin is. You don't get to be a 4 seed unless you are a very very good team. I'm actually surprised at the number of people who are picking NCC. I think Franklin is definitely the favorite in this game. North Central will have to play well, but they are capable of winning. North Central is a much better team than when they played Wheaton.

Don't get me wrong about Franklin.....they will be tougher than how Wheaton played you....Wheaton just was able to make enough big plays to put more points on the board that night