FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCF]

This is, indeed, the terrible news I had heard.  I cannot stress enough how much I looked to Coach Wienke for guidance as a player and a person.  On top of producing what very respected members of this board believe to be 2 of the best 3 linebackers in the conference in the last DECADE, he is a stand-up individual who legitimately cares about every aspect of his players' lives, more so than any other coach on that staff while I was playing.  As Crutches McGee pointed out, Coach Wienke lost his best 2 defensive players, Wenger and Sulo, in the first game of the season, and had Champion, his best defensive lineman, dinged up for the majority of the season as well.  Despite these losses, Coach Wienke STILL managed to help guide the Cards to a share of the conference title.  Many believe that Wenger even had a legitimate shot to be the Defensive Player of the Year for the entirety of Division III football.  The loss of a player like that would cost most teams much more than it did NCC, but it didn't because Coach Wienke had players like Willie Hayes ready to go.  How can a coach be let go under circumstances like these for "the defense not performing"?  Unless there is a fact that we are all being kept in the dark on which led to this decision, I believe that letting Coach Wienke go is a HUGE mistake by the NCC coaching staff.  There are not words to describe the level of my disappointment right now.

I think there is more to the story, but as of right now it is just rumor, so I would not want to mention it on this board.

[Crutches McGee 87]

This is, indeed, the terrible news I had heard.  I cannot stress enough how much I looked to Coach Wienke for guidance as a player and a person.  On top of producing what very respected members of this board believe to be 2 of the best 3 linebackers in the conference in the last DECADE, he is a stand-up individual who legitimately cares about every aspect of his players' lives, more so than any other coach on that staff while I was playing.  As Crutches McGee pointed out, Coach Wienke lost his best 2 defensive players, Wenger and Sulo, in the first game of the season, and had Champion, his best defensive lineman, dinged up for the majority of the season as well.  Despite these losses, Coach Wienke STILL managed to help guide the Cards to a share of the conference title.  Many believe that Wenger even had a legitimate shot to be the Defensive Player of the Year for the entirety of Division III football.  The loss of a player like that would cost most teams much more than it did NCC, but it didn't because Coach Wienke had players like Willie Hayes ready to go.  How can a coach be let go under circumstances like these for "the defense not performing"?  Unless there is a fact that we are all being kept in the dark on which led to this decision, I believe that letting Coach Wienke go is a HUGE mistake by the NCC coaching staff.  There are not words to describe the level of my disappointment right now.

I have a feeling that many of the former players have the same sentiment that you are showing NT.  I bet if the coaches polled alumni about this situation they would most likely laugh in the other coaches' faces.

[oldnuthin]

For all the NCC guys, was Wencke's move or demotion from DC 2 years ago when the Elmhurst coach came to town, a precursor of this? If memory serves Weinke had some pretty impressive stats the year before the change. From the outside it looks like there may have been an ongoing thing.

[usee]

Well, the fact is Weinke was demoted to LB coach from DC in favor of Tim Lester who had never coached defense (was a QB in college and Offensive coach prior to NCC) so there was already something there between Weinke and Thorne. Lester got the Elmhurst job pretty late so Thorne may have had no choice but to reinstate Weinke (finding a quality DC in the summer before a season is a problem). So Weinke leaving to me is not a surprise and I doubt it had anything to do with the defensive performance.

That said, or one is irreplaceable so i expect NCC to find a great candidate and continue to roll. It has to be a very desirable job.

[matblake]

I feel for the kids that used Coach W. as a mentor.  They are probably the ones that will be most affected by this.  That being said, with the place that North Central is at right now, they shouldn't have a problem filling that vacancy with a well qualified individual who'll keep things on track.  It's exciting to continue to have several programs in the CCIW that are in the national picture. 

[NCF]

I feel for the kids that used Coach W. as a mentor.  They are probably the ones that will be most affected by this.  That being said, with the place that North Central is at right now, they shouldn't have a problem filling that vacancy with a well qualified individual who'll keep things on track.  It's exciting to continue to have several programs in the CCIW that are in the national picture.  

Rick Ponx is going to be the new defensive coordinator. It is rumored that he is bringing in two Ohio coaches also. One of the older players told my son the defense will have a new look next fall. We'll just have to wait and see what that means.

[formerd3db]

Well, the fact is Weinke was demoted to LB coach from DC in favor of Tim Lester who had never coached defense (was a QB in college and Offensive coach prior to NCC) so there was already something there between Weinke and Thorne. Lester got the Elmhurst job pretty late so Thorne may have had no choice but to reinstate Weinke (finding a quality DC in the summer before a season is a problem). So Weinke leaving to me is not a surprise and I doubt it had anything to do with the defensive performance.

That said, or one is irreplaceable so i expect NCC to find a great candidate and continue to roll. It has to be a very desirable job.

Interesting.  This is just another example as to why I have to laugh at other people who follow college football (particularly the DI level) that scoff at the notion that politics plays a huge role in the coaching situations even at the DIII level.  Those who do attempt to insinuate that because it is "just small college football" - unfortunately, some have no clue whatsoever as to what their talking about in reality.  

[Crutches McGee 87]

Well, the fact is Weinke was demoted to LB coach from DC in favor of Tim Lester who had never coached defense (was a QB in college and Offensive coach prior to NCC) so there was already something there between Weinke and Thorne. Lester got the Elmhurst job pretty late so Thorne may have had no choice but to reinstate Weinke (finding a quality DC in the summer before a season is a problem). So Weinke leaving to me is not a surprise and I doubt it had anything to do with the defensive performance.

That said, or one is irreplaceable so i expect NCC to find a great candidate and continue to roll. It has to be a very desirable job.

Hmmm... I hadn't thought about the previous replacement.  That is a very good point USee.  Actually, Wienke was the DC and linebacker coach and they moved him down to D-line.  I agree that NCC will definitely find good coaches to fill the vacant slots at the moment.  However, the way Wienke was able to relate to the players will be hard to replace.  Especially because Coach Wienke has been there for so long and can attest to how far the program has come.  Other coaches will have a tough time relating to the seniors on that team, especially the ones that trusted Wienke, IMO.

[CardinalAlum]

I think the world of Bill Weinke!  I think he is an incredible person and a very good football coach.  I really think our inability to defend good passing teams in the playoffs is ultimately what led to this.  Even the Franklin game that we won, we needed big points to pull that game out.  Think about the second Capital game and the second Franklin game at home.  We were outcoached, plain and simple.  I know you can talk about injuries, but that is part of the game.  Fact is, we couldn't stop them.  Rick Ponx will work his tail off to get the defense where it has to be.

[NCF]

I think the world of Bill Weinke!  I think he is an incredible person and a very good football coach.  I really think our inability to defend good passing teams in the playoffs is ultimately what led to this.  Even the Franklin game that we won, we needed big points to pull that game out.  Think about the second Capital game and the second Franklin game at home.  We were outcoached, plain and simple.  I know you can talk about injuries, but that is part of the game.  Fact is, we couldn't stop them.  Rick Ponx will work his tail off to get the defense where it has to be.

I think you hit  the nail on the head. I thought the same things watching the team this season...they could not stop the pass.

[Red Reign]

To my understanding Wienke was not fired. He was demoted (yet again) to LB's coach. He then decided to leave and take his coaching expertise somewhere else.

I believe a big reason the cards defense has struggled in big games the past 4 years or so is because the defense has changed EVERY year.

Championship/Playoff years:
05/06- 4-3 (Wienke)
07- 3-3-5 (Lester)
08/09- 3-4 (Wienke/Foster- Using Fosters Def from Wheaton North)
10- ?? (Ponx)

Wienke is a great coach and person. He will move on and be successful, despite what NCC's staff thinks of him.

Ponx is also a great coach and former D-Coordinator of the OVC he will do great things for NCC.

IMO, this is the problem... as you can see from over the years players have not been in the same defensive system for their entire stay at NCC. The graduating class has seen 4 different defense's. The problem is sticking with a system and letting these athlete's play to it. Can you imagine switching systems and terms every year you play. Thorne has set his defense up for failure the past few years.
Hopefully, Ponx is the answer and Thorne sticks with him for at least 4 years. However, the defense might not click the first year and hopefully Thorne will understand that and play this coordinator out.

Either way all the coordinator over the years have all been stand up coaches, and all the athletes have respected them.

[79jaybird]

Hi all,

been away for the board.  Mrs. Jaybird and I have been waiting for the little Jay to hatch  so life's duties call. 

I have been reading the talk about NC and Wienke.  Does NC have a game overseas during the off season?  If so,  that would enable them to learn the new system prior to live game action.

I know Elmhurst is planning on going to Europe in the Spring.

[CardinalAlum]

Hi all,

been away for the board.  Mrs. Jaybird and I have been waiting for the little Jay to hatch  so life's duties call. 

I have been reading the talk about NC and Wienke.  Does NC have a game overseas during the off season?  If so,  that would enable them to learn the new system prior to live game action.

I know Elmhurst is planning on going to Europe in the Spring.

Wishing you all the best on the arrival of a future Cardinal!! 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hi all,

been away for the board.  Mrs. Jaybird and I have been waiting for the little Jay to hatch  so life's duties call. 

I have been reading the talk about NC and Wienke.  Does NC have a game overseas during the off season?  If so,  that would enable them to learn the new system prior to live game action.

I know Elmhurst is planning on going to Europe in the Spring.

Wishing you all the best on the arrival of a future Cardinal!! 

I wasn't aware that Cardinals were also parasites on other specie's nests!

[NCF]

Hi all,

been away for the board.  Mrs. Jaybird and I have been waiting for the little Jay to hatch  so life's duties call. 

I have been reading the talk about NC and Wienke.  Does NC have a game overseas during the off season?  If so,  that would enable them to learn the new system prior to live game action.

I know Elmhurst is planning on going to Europe in the Spring.

Wishing you all the best on the arrival of a future Cardinal!! 

I wasn't aware that Cardinals were also parasites on other specie's nests!

I think you've got it all wrong. CARDINALS are the DOMINANT species