FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Stagg Again!!]

I was at the WC v. NCC games both last year and this year, and there was a clear difference in terms of the number of times that #34's number was called.  This year, I only recall seeing a few runs for no/limited yards and one for a loss of five.  Last year Gingg was a much bigger part of the WC game plan, especially early in the second half when he seemed to carry the load for the Thunder.  I have heard that he has been banged up this year (possibly a high ankle sprain that has limited his ability to cut).  Aside from Norris' QB keepers (especially the one for 30 yards in the 2nd quarter), WC's running game never got on track against the Cardinals.  Clearly, that was mainly due to the NCC defense, but it didn't help matters that WC's WRs couldn't hang onto the ball throughout the entire game.  It is hard to establish any run game when the first step that the LBs are taking is toward the LOS!

[Son of Tailgater]

I hope they start doing well in the post season also. I've got to watch this team for three more years!!  

I would rather be worrying about playoff wins rather than worrying about a conference win. Not a knock on the Vikes but it would be a lot more difficult as a parent supporting a player in that position.

[SaintsFAN]

My selecting NCC as the archrival goes back to the 4 years I played at Wheaton and the 5 years I coached there.

No biggie on "the whiff" <insert Dan Patrick  tag line> regarding SOT... nice to have others outside the CCIW head over here from time to time.

Oh I know what you meant... my comment was about parents of freshman players deciding who the rivals are... smugness no doubt.

I enjoy this page... I've met USee last year in Alliance and respect his input.

[Son of Tailgater]

I didn't think that fans and parents could choose who the archrivals are??  Learn something new everyday.

Mugsy... I know Wheaton will be back next year --- with a healthy Gingg..  I saw them play at MUC last year in the Semi-finals and was very impressed with the poise at QB and how Swider coached the guys up.  Solid program.

Sorry about whiffing on who SOT was affiliated with..

I am just glad you didn't associate me with IWU, Coach Rucks has been all over me since I was moved down here for work. He keeps asking me how Norm is doing, how many green shirts I have....ect  

[Mr. Ypsi]

I didn't think that fans and parents could choose who the archrivals are??  Learn something new everyday.

Mugsy... I know Wheaton will be back next year --- with a healthy Gingg..  I saw them play at MUC last year in the Semi-finals and was very impressed with the poise at QB and how Swider coached the guys up.  Solid program.

Sorry about whiffing on who SOT was affiliated with..

I am just glad you didn't associate me with IWU, Coach Rucks has been all over me since I was moved down here for work. He keeps asking me how Norm is doing, how many green shirts I have....ect  

Note to all: there ARE worse things in life than rooting for the Titans!

[Mr. Ypsi]

My selecting NCC as the archrival goes back to the 4 years I played at Wheaton and the 5 years I coached there.

No biggie on "the whiff" <insert Dan Patrick  tag line> regarding SOT... nice to have others outside the CCIW head over here from time to time.

Oh I know what you meant... my comment was about parents of freshman players deciding who the rivals are... smugness no doubt.

I enjoy this page... I've met USee last year in Alliance and respect his input.

Wheaton and NCC are about 5(?) miles apart.  A pretty obvious rivalry!

When I was at IWU the archrival was Millikin (30-some miles apart, and more than eighty from any other school).  This apparently has cooled, as Millikin has fallen down in most sports, but at the time they had one of the top-5 CCIW bball players ever (Jesse Price), and IWU and Millikin were both members of the Big Four in fball (the traditional Big 4-Little Four is long gone - NCC was part of the Little 4!).

[Mr. Ypsi]

Saints Fan,

We respect your insights, even if you do respect USee's.  (j/k, USee! )

And as you wander back to other precincts (esp. OAC), always keep in mind that Augie did one thing that even MUC has never accomplished: FOUR CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL TITLES!

[NCF]

Not smug at all. NCC needed to win, it didn't matter who they were playing. They still need to win out for the automatic bid and a better seed for the play-offs.

[ncc58]

Whoa, the mood has tunred a little.  

I'm older than Mugsy and NCC only has one archrival. There is only one team you want to beat in football every year and that is Wheaton. The other schools are competitors but the archrival is Wheaton. Parents don't pick it, players don't pick it. It just is.

SOT, you whiffed on NCC's playoff record. They have three wins in the last four years - CUW, Franklin, and Tommie Moore. They lost to two very good Capital teams, UWW, and Franklin. They have three straight CCIW titles and four straight playoff appearances. The 2005 Carthage season doesn't compare to the run that NCC is on. Like it or not, the CCIW title goes through Naperville (Prior to that, it went through Wheaton).

In my view, Mugsy is a straight shooter. So, I'm not sure why he's under attack. I don't see him making excuses. Gingg is an excellent running back, the second best back in the CCIW if everyone were healthy. However, he clearly wasn't 100% last week. I would have played Velling more, but Wheaton clearly abandoned the running game. Maybe Gingg doesn't even play if it's not NCC.

Let's move on to this week's game. Wheaton is old news.  

[ncc58]

Note to all: there ARE worse things in life than rooting for the Titans!

Are you sure about that? Maybe it just looks like that from eastern Michigan.

[NCF]

It doesn't matter who you are playing when you need a win. NCC might have a hard time getting a play off bid with 2 losses. Take it to IWU!! Go Cardinals!!!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Note to all: there ARE worse things in life than rooting for the Titans!

Are you sure about that? Maybe it just looks like that from eastern Michigan.

Well, let me put in terms that even the Norm-haters can comprehend:

1. Death of your child.
2. Death of your spouse.
3-9,997. Fill it in yourself.
9,998. Rooting for the Titans.

We Titan alums might have BEST things with rooting FOR the green in the top 1,000!

[RedBear1107]

I think the Titans will surprise a lot of people on Saturday...including the Cardinals.  The IWU receiving corps will benefit greatly from Ladd's return, and the change of pace offense that Rooney directs for a few series every game should keep the Cards on their heels.  No doubt that NCC is a well-established, sound team, but they still have to play the game.  I stick by my prediction, a very competitive game: IWU 28, NCC 24.

[ncc58]

The newer people on this board may be surprised to learn that Mugsy is in fact an NCC Alum. 

[FormerCard]

I think the Titans will surprise a lot of people on Saturday...including the Cardinals.  The IWU receiving corps will benefit greatly from Ladd's return, and the change of pace offense that Rooney directs for a few series every game should keep the Cards on their heels.  No doubt that NCC is a well-established, sound team, but they still have to play the game.  I stick by my prediction, a very competitive game: IWU 28, NCC 24.

Yeah, after a dominating offensive performance  in a loss against Millikin (13 points) and then hanging an impressive 7 points on Augie and a big 20 spot on Elmhurst, I can see IWU putting up 4 touchdowns against North Central and limiting the #1 ranked offense in the country to 24 points.

Makes complete sense.

But thats why you play the game, right Berman?    ahhh..i love ESPN