FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Crutches McGee 87]

I spoke with an inside source. It is just a rumor around campus that Sulo injured his ACL. The word is that it is his miniscus.

The primary difference being that injuries involving the crescent shaped lamellae of fibrocartilage that border and partly cover the articulating surfaces of the tibia and femur at the knee can often be surgically repaired through arthroscopic means whereas ACL injuries typically require a much more extensive reconstructive procedure.   

Apparently AndOne went through Kendall Selsky's Human Anatomy course, haha!  However, a meniscus repair after the age of 18 is highly unlikely due to the lack of blood flow to the meniscus.  They require a season of recovery and often fail.  Generally, a surgeon would like to perserve it.  However, in the case of a 21 or 22 year old they will MOST LIKELY remove it.  This process usually takes about 4 weeks to fully recover from.  I am no stranger to knee injuries, myself.

[Crutches McGee 87]

Well Mugsy and Wheaton Posters...it is Monday night on the week before the biggest game so far of the year in the CCIW.    What can we expect from the Thunder this week, and how do they plan on stopping a very potent NCC offense.   Forecast looks like there may be some rain and snow on Saturday...could slow down the Cardinals a bit.

I will put the 1st prediction out there.

North Central 31
Wheaton        21

 

2nd prediction

Wheaton 35
NCC 34

WC wins on another last second play. 

I'm going to go against the grain and say Wheaton 20-Naperville School 14.  Both offenses look to be on top of their game.  I just feel that defense will be the key of the day, especially if the weather predictions are right.  In any case, it should be a rockin' game.  The litmus test for both teams on the CCIW slate so far. 

I am going to keep this simple. Wheaton might need to score 70 points to top NCC's explosive offense but I know that Wheaton's defense is going to be the best one that they have seen.

Wheaton 31
NCC 24
(With two minutes left and NCC on Wheaton's 30 yard line with 2 timeouts.....)

Ouch... my pride... 

[FormerCard]

Go Thunder- Hope you are feeling better and get back to full strength shortly. 
On a side note, I had to pull 3 ticks off of my labrador yesterday so now I'm worried about ticks and other disease carriers in our back yard. 

I don't think one can predict the WC/NC game.  There is too much talent on both sides to really favor one side or the other.

If we cant predict games and have fun with it, then what the heck am I doing on this website?? 

[Mugsy]

The history of the "Battle for the Bell."

Saturday's game is the 90th meeting in the all-time series between Wheaton and North Central, with the Thunder holding a 49-37-3 edge in those meetings. Wheaton has come out on top in nine of the last 11 contests with the Cardinals. The winner of Saturday's game will receive the "Little Brass Bell" trophy that has been awarded to the winner of the Wheaton-North Central game since 1946. Wheaton has won 44 of the 59 contests between the two teams since the Little Brass Bell was introduced.

According to Legend, "The Bell" first appeared in New York in the early 1800's. In 1839, a New England family headed westward carrying "The Bell" and settled in DuPage County. "The Bell" became part of the political bickering between Naperville and Wheaton over the location of the DuPage County Courthouse.

In 1857, Wheaton began a campaign to assume the leadership of the county and 10 years later officially gained control. However, the city of Naperville refused to turn over the county records to Wheaton.

At 4 AM one July morning, according to the DuPage County Guide, Wheaton struck back with a raid on the Naperville courthouse which netted the records in question. From his home opposite the courthouse, Naperville resident Herom H. Cody awoke to see men carrying off armfuls of documents. Before the Congregational Church bell could sound the alarm, the culprits had fled. The Brass Bell was among the items removed.

At the end of the century, "The Bell" came into the possession of a farmer living between the two cities whose sons both wanted to attend college. It was agreed that the son who won a coin toss could attend North Central, while the other would go to Wheaton.

Shortly afterwards, the father died and in the division of the estate, the brother attending North Central inherited the "Little Brass Bell." So "The Bell" left the political arena to enter the world of campus loyalties.

[Mugsy]

Well Mugsy and Wheaton Posters...it is Monday night on the week before the biggest game so far of the year in the CCIW.    What can we expect from the Thunder this week, and how do they plan on stopping a very potent NCC offense.   Forecast looks like there may be some rain and snow on Saturday...could slow down the Cardinals a bit.

I will put the 1st prediction out there.

North Central 31
Wheaton        21

 

I'm still trying to pull together all my thoughts on the game.  I'll post my prediction tomorrow - too busy with a bathroom remodel tonight to post anything meaningful.

Even though North Central is scoring a bazillion points a game, I actually have a good feeling about this game.  Much better than I did a few weeks ago... and no I'm not in denial about what NCC brings to the table this year.

Yes, Wheaton has lost 4 or 5 key starters due to injury, but so has North Central.  North Central has depth most teams would love, but losing Wenger, Champion and the Sulo brothers (beyond the athletic ability they bring to the table); you don't replace senior leadership so easily.

Those filling in for the injured players appear to be performing very well, but until last week against weaker competition (no offense meant to the other teams, but...).  Due to injury NCC's defense is now nearly as young as Wheaton's.  I believe Carthage may have exposed some weakness in the NCC defense that Wheaton could exploit.  Wheaton's defense has really started "gel-in" and performing very well.  Wheaton is now 6 games into the transition to the 3-4 scheme, so the comfort level and familiarity should be there.

I like Wheaton's success under fire thus far, a last play victory on the road against a very tough Bethel team.  A key last minute victory against Augustana and a solid road victory against the apparent upstart Millikin team.  Outside of last weeks game against Carthage and the loss to ONU, NCC has not been tested as much.  If it comes down to a tight game, I like Wheaton's chances.

I like the fact that Wheaton has held North Central to just under 150 yards rushing over the past 4 years - hopefully that trend continues. Like all huge games, turnovers and special teams should play a huge factor in the outcome.

What intrigues me more than anything will be the 2nd half adjustments.  You two outstanding head coaches and coaching staffs.  In 3 of the past 4 games, it seems to have been a tale of two halves where one team has dominated the first half, only to have the other team make the critical adjustments and completely turn the tables in the 2nd half.  I specifically recall Wheaton's dominance in the 2nd half of the 2006 and 2007 games, where Wheaton rallied from a 17-0 and 13-0 deficits for 28-24 and 31-19 victories.  Then there is the less memorable 2005 game where NCC rallied to score the last 21 points in the 4th quarter for a 35-26 win.    Which staff will come up with the key adjustments and which team will execute the adjustments?  Plus... what new wrinkles will Coach Thorne and Coach Swider roll out this week?

I'm hoping for an awesome, hard-hitting game fitting of the battles this rivalry deserves.  

My call: Wheaton 35 - North Central 28

(Of course... I could be completely wrong on almost everything above.  We shall see...)

[Mugsy]

btw: Rumor has it Doug Rothchild has an interview with Andy Studebaker to be aired at halftime of Saturday's game.  Check it out on WETN and listen to the game.  The Wheaton broadcast team call an outstanding game.

Editted to include radio frequency:

That's 88.1 on your FM dial (for those near Wheaton) and you can also hear it on the web by going to www.wheaton.edu/wetn.

[Mugsy]

Interesting... the "Around the Region" article for the Midwest goes at length to describe the "injury bug" that has hit North Central, yet makes no mention of the fact Wheaton has lost just as many starters (though granted not as impactful as the NCC starters).

I suspect this is due in part to Clyde Hughes only speaking with Coach Thorne for the article?

[shepherd]

That's the scariest Halloween picture on the front page of D3football I've ever seen.  I'll have nightmares until Saturday afternoon.  Ahhhhh!!! My eyes it burns - it burns!!!

Wheaton 38 North Central 35

[ncc58]

Wheaton has a lot of nice players on defense, but I don't see the player that you have to gameplan away from, as has been the case the last four years. The NCC offense is rolling and confident. I see it as:

NCC 53 Wheaton 24

[FormerCard]

Well Mugsy and Wheaton Posters...it is Monday night on the week before the biggest game so far of the year in the CCIW.    What can we expect from the Thunder this week, and how do they plan on stopping a very potent NCC offense.   Forecast looks like there may be some rain and snow on Saturday...could slow down the Cardinals a bit.

I will put the 1st prediction out there.

North Central 31
Wheaton        21

 

I'm still trying to pull together all my thoughts on the game.  I'll post my prediction tomorrow - too busy with a bathroom remodel tonight to post anything meaningful.

Even though North Central is scoring a bazillion points a game, I actually have a good feeling about this game.  Much better than I did a few weeks ago... and no I'm not in denial about what NCC brings to the table this year.

Yes, Wheaton has lost 4 or 5 key starters due to injury, but so has North Central.  North Central has depth most teams would love, but losing Wenger, Champion and the Sulo brothers (beyond the athletic ability they bring to the table); you don't replace senior leadership so easily.

Those filling in for the injured players appear to be performing very well, but until last week against weaker competition (no offense meant to the other teams, but...).  Due to injury NCC's defense is now nearly as young as Wheaton's.  I believe Carthage may have exposed some weakness in the NCC defense that Wheaton could exploit.  Wheaton's defense has really started "gel-in" and performing very well.  Wheaton is now 6 games into the transition to the 3-4 scheme, so the comfort level and familiarity should be there.

I like Wheaton's success under fire thus far, a last play victory on the road against a very tough Bethel team.  A key last minute victory against Augustana and a solid road victory against the apparent upstart Millikin team.  Outside of last weeks game against Carthage and the loss to ONU, NCC has not been tested as much.  If it comes down to a tight game, I like Wheaton's chances.

I like the fact that Wheaton has held North Central to just under 150 yards rushing over the past 4 years - hopefully that trend continues. Like all huge games, turnovers and special teams should play a huge factor in the outcome.

What intrigues me more than anything will be the 2nd half adjustments.  You two outstanding head coaches and coaching staffs.  In 3 of the past 4 games, it seems to have been a tale of two halves where one team has dominated the first half, only to have the other team make the critical adjustments and completely turn the tables in the 2nd half.  I specifically recall Wheaton's dominance in the 2nd half of the 2006 and 2007 games, where Wheaton rallied from a 17-0 and 13-0 deficits for 28-24 and 31-19 victories.  Then there is the less memorable 2005 game where NCC rallied to score the last 21 points in the 4th quarter for a 35-26 win.    Which staff will come up with the key adjustments and which team will execute the adjustments?  Plus... what new wrinkles will Coach Thorne and Coach Swider roll out this week?

I'm hoping for an awesome, hard-hitting game fitting of the battles this rivalry deserves.  

My call: Wheaton 35 - North Central 28

(Of course... I could be completely wrong on almost everything above.  We shall see...)

I like your points, but hope your final score is off.     

This game will have a playoff atmosphere you can't believe.  The good part about that is that both teams should be on top of their game making plays and hopefully not alot of mistakes.   It should be a great weekend!   

The biggest game will probably be the alumni game at 9:00 am that morning, so if you are a former Cardinal, come out and play and prepare to be sore for a week!

[Mugsy]

Wheaton has a lot of nice players on defense, but I don't see the player that you have to gameplan away from, as has been the case the last four years. The NCC offense is rolling and confident. I see it as:

NCC 53 Wheaton 24

NCC will hang 53 on Wheaton?  Carthage sticks 48 on you and Wheaton will only get half that?  Wow...

[robertgoulet]

I spoke with an inside source. It is just a rumor around campus that Sulo injured his ACL. The word is that it is his miniscus.

The primary difference being that injuries involving the crescent shaped lamellae of fibrocartilage that border and partly cover the articulating surfaces of the tibia and femur at the knee can often be surgically repaired through arthroscopic means whereas ACL injuries typically require a much more extensive reconstructive procedure.   

Apparently AndOne went through Kendall Selsky's Human Anatomy course, haha!  However, a meniscus repair after the age of 18 is highly unlikely due to the lack of blood flow to the meniscus.  They require a season of recovery and often fail.  Generally, a surgeon would like to perserve it.  However, in the case of a 21 or 22 year old they will MOST LIKELY remove it.  This process usually takes about 4 weeks to fully recover from.  I am no stranger to knee injuries, myself.

Everyone should have a chance to take a course with Kendall 

[robertgoulet]

Also, for those who can't make it to the game (or don't want to put up with the possible rain and wind that we may be getting), the game can be seen live on http://www.nctv17.com.

[Mugsy]

Also, for those who can't make it to the game (or don't want to put up with the possible rain and wind that we may be getting), the game can be seen live on http://www.nctv17.com.

Or heard on WETN radio... www.wheaton.edu/wetn.   

[robertgoulet]

Also, for those who can't make it to the game (or don't want to put up with the possible rain and wind that we may be getting), the game can be seen live on http://www.nctv17.com.

Or heard on WETN radio... www.wheaton.edu/wetn.   

Or heard on http://www.wonc.org

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