FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCC_alum62]

I agree with usee on Augie not resting its starters...what I was trying to say is that if Augie beats us then they should also beat Wheaton because they are good enough to do so.  They have been playing very well this season and especially well in conference.  Elmhurst found ways to score, but Augie came right back and handled what I though was a pretty good Elmhurst front.

I am trying to give some props to Augie, while still maintaining a sense of loyalty to my school.  Augie looks really good this year and I think they can beat Wheaton, if they beat us (which I hope they don't) I think they will have a lot of momentum traveling to Wheaton and if they loose to us there is nothing better for group of seniors to go out on a win against a team they haven't beat.  It made last years victory over Auggie the best feeling for me as a senior and we wanted it more thn anything...no matter if it is for a playoff spot or not Augie will want to beat Wheaton next week for the season ender if for nothing else than for pride.

[washdupcard]

  Usee, you say that augies defeat of Carthage & Millikin was more impressive than NCC defeating Wheaton & Carthage. How so?  Augie put up 7 points against Carthage and beat a very suspect Milikin.  While NCC tacked up big numbers against both Wheaton & Carthage.  You may call them "barnburners" but that is NCC's game, they score quickly and often. 

ncc fan-augies wins are more impressive because they dominated on the road. ncc's wins were at home. defeating wheaton and carthage were great wins but the best teams win on the road. ncc gets to show us this week. as i mentioned, ncc's most impressive win to me is over at elmhurst when they were down 14-0 and came back on the road to win.

USee,  NCC wasn't down 14-0...they were actually up 14-0 and Elmhurst came back to tie it...than eventually elmhurst was up 21-14 late in the game.  NCC rallied for two late TD's.

NCCfan,  I agree with your Kniss/Spencer comment...they have a chemistry that very few have on this level.  However, I think the key to this year is Kniss hooking up with his other receivers...I think Studeman only has 7 or so receptions less than Spencer.  The Key to NCC is that hey have found a way to win when they needed it...you can't teach that, its an undefinable quality the great teams have and the pretenders do not have.

[washdupcard]

I think as the second most moderate NCC voice (Cardalum has me beat) I may get a little deference on the substance of this post...okay so I'm hoping.

I have been saying for three weeks that the Augie O is going to roll the NCC D.  However, I have not given any attention to the inverse...NCC O vs Augie D.  Judging by the problems Augie D had with Elmhurst...I cannot fathom the NCC O not dominating Augie's D.  I don't care that the game is in Rock Island...I think that factor is overrated.  Augie has lost a conference championship on its home field before while fielding better teams (see Wheaton/Augie circa a few years ago i believe).   And i can absolutely guarantee that NCC is going to be ready to play.   NORTH CENTRAL HAS NEVER WON THE CCIW.  NORTH CENTRAL HAS NEVER BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS (except for a bid to the 1946 Corn Bowl).  They are the hungriest team in the Country right now, IMO.

The absolute key to this game is Augie's ability to control the clock and grind away on NCC's D.  If Augie has the ball for 40min I think they can win.  Anything under that, and I think the Game is NCC's.  NCC is simply too explosive to give them repeat chances at a D that was just shredded by Elmhurst (who concidentally shredded the NCC D for most of that game).

I think the blowout from last year factors into this game immensely, but not for the obvious partisan reasons.  First, NCC got over the "we can't beat Augie stigma."  Second, Augie now has the "these guys embarassed us last year, we will break them this year" thing going for them.  Third, Augie has a different D-Coordinator from last year (I can guarantee DeGeorge was virtually insane the week they played NCC...Thorne replaced DeGeorge and DeGeorge had a history of coming close to losing his mind during high stake emotional games).  And Fourth, NCC is in a position to win the conference for the first time EVER.

[usee]

washdup- you are correct. sorry, for some reason i though ncc was down 14 v elm. my point was that ncc had to come back from a deficit on the road v a good team, that is crucial experience they now have.

I totally agree augie will have a tough time stopping the ncc offense. i am sure their game plan will be to hold the ball for 40+ minutes, play extra guys in coverage and try to make ncc beat them on the ground. thats what i would do if i had a good running team.

i will clarify my position on ncc- i have believed all along (washdup, you will concur) that ncc is the team to beat and has the most talent in the conference. they have fought thru some tough injuries on defense and appear to be playing well at the right time. they are the favorite to win the conference......i have said augie is in the drivers seat because they aren't far behind ncc and are playing this game at home. that is a huge advantage. if this game was at ncc i would favor ncc by at least 7pts. i think ncc is a 2-3pt favorite. the matchups favor augie. they have a running game that can keep the ball away from ncc and a defense (we thought) that might be able to slow them down.

having said all this, after last week, i have no idea.

[usee]

nccalum- augie was good enough to beat wheaton each of the last 5 yrs. they just didn't. every game was a nailbiter and could have gone either way. these two teams have been pretty even.

[washdupcard]

As a former Cardinal Player...who shed blood, sweat, and tears on NCC's behalf, the fact that this type of game is even occurring is amazing.  John Thorne for mayor of Naperville!  Thorne has turned around a program that could not amass consecutive winning seasons...let alone play for the conference title and potentially enter the playoffs as a favorite.  I really don't think those of you who did not play at North Central can fully understand the depth of Thorne's change on North Central and its football team.

[redman04]

As a former Cardinal Player...who shed blood, sweat, and tears on NCC's behalf, the fact that this type of game is even occurring is amazing.  John Thorne for mayor of Naperville!  Thorne has turned around a program that could not amass consecutive winning seasons...let alone play for the conference title and potentially enter the playoffs as a favorite.  I really don't think those of you who did not play at North Central can fully understand the depth of Thorne's change on North Central and its football team.

I felt the same way when carthage won last year!

[CardinalAlum]

Wash'd,
I agree with your comment on being a former player at NCC.  It is just a whole lot of fun to go out and watch a team that has a chance to win every week.  To even be discussing a possible CCIW championship or playoff berth at this point in the season, is a strange feeling.  I think the schools renewed commitment to the football program has had the biggest impact.  From hiring Thorne to fundraising for the program, it is all hitting stride at the right time.  Success only accentuates the recruiting end even more.  I'm really hoping to get to RI next week for what should be a great game. 

Wash'd, Our favorite former Cardinal wanted to know your thoughts on the White Sox World Series win?  HE asked if you were ready to come over to the winning side?  Is it true you are a Cub face painter?

[Augie6]

ilcoach,

I wasn't at the Augie/Elmhurst game either and, like you, was a little shocked at the outcome.  Giving up 500+ yards and 42 points the week before you play the best offensive team in the conference cannot be a confidence builder for the defense.

Like all have posted, the key for Augie next week will be to control the ball on offense and keep NCC's offense on the sidelines.  Should be a great one.  I am hoping I can make the trip down to RI to watch.

[augievike93]

Redman, I would vote for the 8-2 team over a 7-3 team any day of the week, despite strength of schedule. 
Hey Vikings, what's the weather forecast for Ericson Field on Sat.?  I can recall during my playing days a 22-0 loss at  Augie that was so rainy, you could plant your feet and sink it was that bad!

I know I am a bit late for a weather forecast (it was great fall football weather.  I just wore a shirt and jeans in the pressbox.), but Ericson Field now has New Style Turf, so mud is irrelevant.  Now getting confused as to which yardline you are looking at inbetween the 5 yd markers with all the soccer markings is another thing.

[augievike93]

ilcoach:

I was at the game and here is my take.  This Kudyba is a much stronger foe.  He really gave the Viking d fits.  The Bluejays gave some different looks that gave them some advantages.  First, with the no-back, one-back sets, they do a great job of spreading out the field.  Even if the Augie DBs were doing a good job of covering, this QB is very competent at running the ball.  Plus he is a big kid that is tough to bring down.  Also, in the first half the Elmhurst line had some HUGH splits.  There was at least 1 1/2 feet separtating each of the linemen when they lined up before the snap.  That really helped them create some holes for scrambling.  Kuduyba ended up leading the Elmhurst rushers with something like 157 yards to complement his 200+ yard passing.  The Bluejays did a great job of moving the ball and controlling the clock (sounds like Augie doesn't it).  I don't know what the final stat was, but at half they had a 2-1 advantage.

Second, turnovers proved to be big in this game.  Anthony returned a int 92 yards for a TD and Augie also returned a fumble 46 yds for a TD. 

Third, Augie finally faced a QB who could complete some passes.  This really streached the Augie D and opened up some running room for Kuduyba and Luna (also finished with 100+ yards).

It was a crazy game that is for sure.  Especially if you realize that Augie was behind at one point in the 4th Quarter!  Almost 1000 yards of total offence between the two teams.  The most points by two teams in a game with Augie.  Elmhurst showed that they are a team on the rise.  They need to get a place kicker who is realiable-- he missed two PATs and Elmhurst gave up the ball on downs deep in Viking territory when they could have gone for a FG.  That may have been a concious coaching decision, but if the kicker is bad that can help make that decision to not kick.

This next weeks promises to be a great game vs. NCC.  I clearly am hoping for another Viking Victory and want to see the CCIW crown reside in Rock Island.  I will be there!

[washdupcard]

Alum,

I don't wish to speak about baseball at this time.

[Jim Matson]

Wheaton will have a tough time with Augie this year.  If you look at at the recent Wheaton wins over the Vikes, you'll see close, come-from-behind wins, and more than 1 crazy finish.  The odds are that Wheaton will not be able to continue to win in this fashion.  Augie will have everything to play for and will have learned well from the past.  I also am not sure of our ability to score on big plays on a consistant basis - something we were able to do in years past (e.g. 77 yard drive for 6 pts in 2 minutes), and something we HAD to do against Augie in the past.

I would also have to say, who are the best 2 teams to move on in the NCAAs and do well against other tough teams?  Ignore the outcome of the upcoming Augie/North Central game - you'd have to answer Augie and North Central.  To me, it doesn't matter much who wins that game as both teams have the skills needed to make it deep into the post-season.

If Wheaton had the talent needed to win the conference, they wouldn't have thrown all those interceptions against North Central (very few were forced, by the way) and they wouldn't have lost that game in Bloomington.

[augiedogie]

When I said Augie might rest their starters I didn't mean they would just play second stringers. I'm just saying their starting backfield might not play the whole game especially because it has been banged up this year. If Augie wins, there will be only 1 undefeated team in the North Region, and if they did then lose at Wheaton, they could still be a 4 seed and have a home game in the playoffs.

[usee]

here is a post by Gordon Mann from the General/playoff projection board (it sheds a littel light on the Pool C competition we have touched on):

Here are the Pool C teams with one or two loses in region.  I've also listed the Pool B teams for comparison.

One loss teams: Augustana, Cal Lutheran, Central, Coe, Concordia-Moorhead, DePauw, John Carroll, UMHB, Montclair State, RPI, St. John Fisher, St. Olaf

Two loss teams: Adrian, Capital, Cortland, CNU, Hampden-Sydney, Howard Payne, Methodist, Ohio Northern, St. Norbert, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Oshkosh, Widener, Wilkes, Wheaton

Pool B teams (regional record): Linfield (5-0), Thiel (8-0), Wesley (5-0), W&J (5-1), Whitworth (4-1) Salisbury (2-1), Willamette (3-0), Huntingdon (5-1)

Focusing on the one-loss teams, keep this mind:

- We'll add two East teams to the "one loss" list after next week. Alfred and Ithaca play next week. Each has a loss out of region. Hobart plays Union.

- C-M and St. Olaf still have to play each other.

- If Coe and Central both win out, Coe gets the AQ and Central is a C candidate. If Central loses to Wartburg, Coe is a Pool C candidate.

- CLU, DePauw and MSU (4-1 in region) weren't in the first batch of regional rankings.

So what does all this mean?

12 Teams with one regional loss + Hobart or Union + Alfred or Ithaca – Coe or Central – C-M or St. Olaf - 3 unranked = 9 regionally ranked Pool C teams with one loss.

That's not to say a two-loss Pool C or one-loss Pool B team couldn't get in the mix, but that's where we stand right now.