FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[robertgoulet]

What in the world happened to NCC at ONU?  The loss was an absolute shock to me.  Especially after reading how ONU keep the ball for the last 7 mintues of the game.  With all that NCC had coming back from a team those season ended with a shocking playoff loss (and therefore assumed to be very hungry and focused), I expected them to roll over a Northern team that has been pretty pedestrian the last few years.  Northern has traditionally played tough defense, but hasn't had a real playmaker on offense in a decade.

With Mount traveling to Ada next week, I'd be very curious to hear what the NCC guys thought of Northern. 

I didn't watch or listen to the game so I don't have much of an explanation, but I do know NCC lost their multi-year All-American MLB in the first quarter to a potential ACL knee injury.  Matt Wenger is one of the finest MLB's I've had the chance to watch from the CCIW in the past decade.  He is a beast who plays MLB like you are suppose too. 

When you lose a potential D3Football DPOY and team captain in the first quarter against a tough OAC team, it is going to have an impact.   

That is by no means a complete explanation as to the egg NCC laid against ONU, but the loss of a leader like that will more often than not impact the attitude of a defense.

As I look at the boxscore what stands out to me is what the ONU defense did against NCC.  They held an offense loaded with returning starters, including a multi-All CCIW RB (Sulo) and a QB (Fanthorpe) mentioned by at least one D3Football writer as a potential D3Football OPOY candidate, to only 267 yards of total offense.  To me this is the most surprising result, minus the final score.  While it looks like Sulo had a decent game (120 yards rushing on 25 carries), Fanthorpe's stats are completely unexpected.

11-21 for 108 yards, 3 INT's and 0 TD's?  You'd have to go back a couple of years to see a boxscore like that for Fanthrope.  In fact, Fanthrope had 6 INT's in 10 games last year. Whatever the ONU defense did, CCIW coaches should study and try to execute as well.

ONU held the ball for 15 more minutes than NCC and had 80 offensive plays.  That is controlling the game.  While NCC jumped out to an early lead, it looks as if ONU took control of the rest of the game, including the drive to run out the clock.

Another key appears to be NCC's inability to convert turnovers into points.  NCC trailed 14-13 at half and the first 3 possessions of the 2nd half for ONU resulted in turnovers.  Points NCC gained from those 3 turnovers... 0!

I would agree w/ Mugs on all points. Fanthorpe's stat line is unbelievable, and the lack of ability to turn the 3 turnovers that ONU led off the second half with really hurt the Cards.

I am crossing my fingers that Wenger only suffered a sprain or a twist, but it doesn't sound good right now. It reminds me of when Tyke Spencer went out w/ his knee injury a couple years ago. I think this would have a much more devastating effect on the Cards playoff hopes though. It would be heartbreaking.

What a crappy beginning to football season. NCC loses, and U of I gets housed by Mizzou. (U of I's defensive backfield was embarassing)

[Gregory Sager]

Greg:

I was thinking of the time when North Park held it's Homecoming Game at Elmhurst in 2003.  Tom Scholle, Chris Baer, Scott Groot, and several others from that group met in Elmhurst to support Lilj.  Or at least that is what I recall.  The kicker in question was Christ Thomsen...he was 3-3 that day from 30-39 yards, and 7-9 on the season.  North Park lost 30-23 so Christ kicked often.

You have the year and the score right, and Christ Thomsen was indeed the kicker in 2003 for the Park, but the NPU coach that season was Cooper, not Lilj. Mike Liljegren coached the Vikings from 1995 thru 2000, and Robin Cooper coached them from 2001 thru 2005.

Speaking of NPU kickers, freshman Bryn Nottoli was named the CCIW's Special Teams Player of the Week today. His teammate, Vikings junior defensive back Nick Pantaleo, and IWU junior running back Eli Williams, were named Defensive and Offensive POY, respectively.

[oldnuthin]

Just got back from a long wekend decatur. Millikins new QB, Hockaday looked very good, as well as their running game. Defense looked good at times but at other times not so much. A very friendly crowd. JV game. where my nephew plays, rained out at the half. I know they have not contended for a while ,but my hope is that they are turning a corner, It looks like NPU has turned a corner , making this an even tougher conference.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Question of the day for North Park fans?

when was the last time North Park held an opponent scoreless in the 2nd half of a victory while kicking a forty-yard field goal?

Looking back at my records stored in the basement....

1968 at Elmhurst qualifies.  Art Anderson kicked a 40-yard field goal 5 seconds before halftime to cut the Blue Jays lead to 12-10.  In the 2nd half Anderson kicked two more field goals and his brother Joe scored on a short run as North Park kept the Jays off the scoreboard and won 23-12.

dgp

[RogK]

Here is a web site that some of you may find interesting:
http://inside99.net/Helmet_Project/
I haven't looked into the previous posts here to see if it has been mentioned before. Sorry if it has.
Anyway, all sorts of professional and collegiate helmets are illustrated, including current and older CCIW versions. I don't know the guy who runs it, but he's done a pretty good job assembling it all.
Some of you might be able to help supply additional CCIW helmet info for that project.

[redman04]

Here is a web site that some of you may find interesting:
http://inside99.net/Helmet_Project/
I haven't looked into the previous posts here to see if it has been mentioned before. Sorry if it has.
Anyway, all sorts of professional and collegiate helmets are illustrated, including current and older CCIW versions. I don't know the guy who runs it, but he's done a pretty good job assembling it all.
Some of you might be able to help supply additional CCIW helmet info for that project.

It has, but there are a lot of new posters that might not have seen it before.  Good site.
BTW... Is that Elmhurst's new helmet?  If so, It Sucks! Worst Helmet Logo ever.  I liked the Bluejay that they had.

Hope the redmen take it to HOPE! 

[Jim Matson]

Good old Ryan Johnson!!

[NCC.2008]

Any word on Wenger?

[robertgoulet]

Any word on Wenger?

I was wondering the same thing...and goind with the "no news is good news" idea....hopefully the fact that there hasn't been anything posted means it wasn't very serious.

[NCC.2008]

Any word on Wenger?

I was wondering the same thing...and goind with the "no news is good news" idea....hopefully the fact that there hasn't been anything posted means it wasn't very serious.

I sure hope so.

[redman04]

ZZZZZ  This board is dead!

WHEATON SUCKS.... NORTH CENTRAL SUCKS... IWU SUCKS... ELMHURST SUCKS...AUGIE SUCKS... NORTH PARK SUCKS... MILLIKIN SUCKS!!!!

GO REDMEN!

(I think that will wake up the board a little  )

[Mugsy]

ZZZZZ  This board is dead!

WHEATON SUCKS.... NORTH CENTRAL SUCKS... IWU SUCKS... ELMHURST SUCKS...AUGIE SUCKS... NORTH PARK SUCKS... MILLIKIN SUCKS!!!!

GO REDMEN!

(I think that will wake up the board a little  )

Actually in the 5-6 years that I've been posting, this is by FAR the most quiet this board has been in season.  Almost nothing...  It isn't what you want, but starting Saturday when Wheaton's season actually starts, I'll have a bit more to say.

For me it has been a combination of crazy work hours to keep my employer happy, remodeling a bathroom (complete gut and redo) and 3 kids that has limited the time I've had to keep up on what's going on.  I didn't go to a single training camp practice for Wheaton and I live just about a mile away from the practice field.  This is the least informed I've been about who is doing what for Wheaton, the injury situation, etc...

Alot of the usual posters have not been around at all.  I've been trying to figure out why.  I'm wondering how much the terrible economy is impacting spare time.  Instead of pouring over the D3 boards and tracking their favorite teams, how many people are working extra hours, looking for work, etc...?

[izzy stradlin]

I heard that Wheaton beat Wabash 35-21 in their scrimmage.   Not sure how much the 1st team played.   

I am interested to hear who ended up winning the 9 open starting spots on defense, especially the 4 linebackers.

[Mugsy]

I heard that Wheaton beat Wabash 35-21 in their scrimmage.   Not sure how much the 1st team played.  

I am interested to hear who ended up winning the 9 open starting spots on defense, especially the 4 linebackers.

If they followed the historical structure of the Wheaton/Wabash scrimmages, the 1st teams typically play close to a half of the scrimmage - often 1st and 3rd quarters.

Reviewing Coach Swiders season preview would give a good guess as to who is in line to win most of the positions.  It is extremely rare for an incoming freshman to win a starting position.  That said we'll find out for sure on Saturday...

[79jaybird]

RE:  quiet on the board

For me this past summer has been a new house, getting married, found out we're expecting in March, so my time has been limited.

Plus, I think with every team good, including a much improved NPU,  i think people are waiting a couple of weeks to make their judgements and estimations.