FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

Mt Union shut out ONU this year.  I think NCC's defense is as good as Mt Unions. I don't know if their offense is as good but it should be, given the UMU youth and inexperience. I know NCC's OLine is experienced and the strength of their offense. Defensively, Garza, Hayes and Clendenning are bringing their 25 sack,32 tfl games against a strong and physical OLine. And Wenger is as fast and physical a linebacker as you will ever see in D3. However, this will be the most physical team NCC has played but I do think they are at least better than ONU by the 10pt spread HSCoach has them in the pickem's. It's the playoffs though and NCC has not played well against good teams in the playoffs. However far they make it from here, they will certainly have to earn it. No one can say they have it easy the rest of the way.

Yes, the Raiders shut out of ONU, 27-0,  but in two other similar scores, the Raiders gave up 10 points to Otterbien winning 28-10 and 14 points to Marietta winning 28-14.  Hard to look at score alone and draw any reliable conclusions about ONU.  I'd still be way more nervous playing 8-1 ONU than a 5-4-Otterbien or a 1-8 Marietta.   

I agree with you but I think my comments were based on more than the score of 1 game. 

[robertgoulet]

Mt Union shut out ONU this year.  I think NCC's defense is as good as Mt Unions. I don't know if their offense is as good but it should be, given the UMU youth and inexperience. I know NCC's OLine is experienced and the strength of their offense. Defensively, Garza, Hayes and Clendenning are bringing their 25 sack,32 tfl games against a strong and physical OLine. And Wenger is as fast and physical a linebacker as you will ever see in D3. However, this will be the most physical team NCC has played but I do think they are at least better than ONU by the 10pt spread HSCoach has them in the pickem's. It's the playoffs though and NCC has not played well against good teams in the playoffs. However far they make it from here, they will certainly have to earn it. No one can say they have it easy the rest of the way.

Yes, the Raiders shut out of ONU, 27-0,  but in two other similar scores, the Raiders gave up 10 points to Otterbien winning 28-10 and 14 points to Marietta winning 28-14.  Hard to look at score alone and draw any reliable conclusions about ONU.  I'd still be way more nervous playing 8-1 ONU than a 5-4-Otterbien or a 1-8 Marietta.  

I agree with you but I think my comments were based on more than the score of 1 game.  

Based on the Massey Ratings posted on one of the other boards, NCC has the #1, #2, and #10 ranked teams in their region of the bracket. (trying to make myself feel worse)

NCC being #1. (trying to make myself feel better)

[footballfan413]

Mt Union shut out ONU this year.  I think NCC's defense is as good as Mt Unions. I don't know if their offense is as good but it should be, given the UMU youth and inexperience. I know NCC's OLine is experienced and the strength of their offense. Defensively, Garza, Hayes and Clendenning are bringing their 25 sack,32 tfl games against a strong and physical OLine. And Wenger is as fast and physical a linebacker as you will ever see in D3. However, this will be the most physical team NCC has played but I do think they are at least better than ONU by the 10pt spread HSCoach has them in the pickem's. It's the playoffs though and NCC has not played well against good teams in the playoffs. However far they make it from here, they will certainly have to earn it. No one can say they have it easy the rest of the way.

Yes, the Raiders shut out of ONU, 27-0,  but in two other similar scores, the Raiders gave up 10 points to Otterbien winning 28-10 and 14 points to Marietta winning 28-14.  Hard to look at score alone and draw any reliable conclusions about ONU.  I'd still be way more nervous playing 8-1 ONU than a 5-4-Otterbien or a 1-8 Marietta.  

I agree with you but I think my comments were based on more than the score of 1 game.  

Yes they were, Usee, and they were well thought out as usual.  I guess I just had a hard time getting past the first part.   After playing the Raiders 5 times and only coming out on top twice, even with their, "youth and inexperience," this season, well,  ............. not sure I would feel comfortable making that statement about the Warhawks.  

[nccfac]

[

Based on the Massey Ratings posted on one of the other boards, NCC has the #1, #2, and #10 ranked teams in their region.

NCC being #1.
[/quote]
I just looked at those Massey Ratings and given the given the way they rank the conferences alone makes me wonder what the heck are they doing?
To take a look http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cfhe

[robertgoulet]

Mt Union shut out ONU this year.  I think NCC's defense is as good as Mt Unions. I don't know if their offense is as good but it should be, given the UMU youth and inexperience. I know NCC's OLine is experienced and the strength of their offense. Defensively, Garza, Hayes and Clendenning are bringing their 25 sack,32 tfl games against a strong and physical OLine. And Wenger is as fast and physical a linebacker as you will ever see in D3. However, this will be the most physical team NCC has played but I do think they are at least better than ONU by the 10pt spread HSCoach has them in the pickem's. It's the playoffs though and NCC has not played well against good teams in the playoffs. However far they make it from here, they will certainly have to earn it. No one can say they have it easy the rest of the way.

Yes, the Raiders shut out of ONU, 27-0,  but in two other similar scores, the Raiders gave up 10 points to Otterbien winning 28-10 and 14 points to Marietta winning 28-14.  Hard to look at score alone and draw any reliable conclusions about ONU.  I'd still be way more nervous playing 8-1 ONU than a 5-4-Otterbien or a 1-8 Marietta.   

I agree with you but I think my comments were based on more than the score of 1 game. 

Yes they were, Usee, and they were well thought out as usual.  I guess I just had a hard time getting past the first part.  After playing the Raiders 5 times and only coming out on top twice, even with their, "youth and inexperience," this season, well,  ............. not sure I would feel comfortable making that statement.   

As we've spoken about before on this board, I just don't think NCC has the offensive weapons to compete with UWW and Mt Union. I mean, Mt Union has a WR who many consider one of the top 20 WRs when he decides to enter the NFL draft. I would venture to guess that the only NCC offensive player that may sniff the NFL would be Feidorowicz (or maybe a lineman?), he's not exactly a big-play game breaker like Shorts is.

[robertgoulet]

I just looked at those Massey Ratings and given the given the way they rank the conferences alone makes me wonder what the heck are they doing?
To take a look http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cfhe

Being a fellow NCC person, I would think you would joyfully accept the #1 overall ranking, much like I have!

Move along, nothing to see here  

[FormerCard]

I just looked at those Massey Ratings and given the given the way they rank the conferences alone makes me wonder what the heck are they doing?
To take a look http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cfhe

Being a fellow NCC person, I would think you would joyfully accept the #1 overall ranking, much like I have!

Move along, nothing to see here  

RG.....Somebody must be off work this week...I havent seen this many posts from you in long time! 
and finals week was always slow for us Business majors...we already had our "Case studies" done

[usee]

Fffan413- good point. That's  why you don't see me talking about my team like that (remember I'm not an NCC guy,) I wish my team were 2-3 vs mt union. I'm 0-6!  

[footballfan413]

Fffan413- good point. That's  why you don't see me talking about my team like that (remember I'm not an NCC guy,) I wish my team were 2-3 vs mt union. I'm 0-6!  

LOL     Yes, Usee, I do know that you are not a NCC guy.  But you do seem to be a bit of a kiss-up!   
    Just kidding..........

[Gregory Sager]

Yah.....that Benedictine team is a POWERHOUSE!  

Benedictine HAS to be the worst team in the tournament. They lost to North Park for goodness sakes

Which is why the selection of the play-off field must change.

What are you going to say when the UMAC gets its automatic bid next year?

A conference with the champion having three losses should forfeit their automatic AQ.

No, they shouldn't. You're missing the point. The NCAA believes that equal access opportunities for all its member conferences is the proper way to do things. Perhaps you think that the Arkansas-Pine Bluffs, Winthrops, and New Hampshires of the world shouldn't be in March Madness, but America seems to love the underdogs that represent their conferences in the first round of the D1 basketball tournament.

The NCAA's governing philosophy is that member schools and member conferences are to all be treated on an equal footing, and that includes tournament access.

As dues-paying leagues in good NCAA standing the UMAC (as of next season) and the NAthCon are just as entitled to their automatic bids to the football tournament as are the CCIW, the WIAC, and the OAC.

[bleedpurple]

Bleedpurple,

If you are offering to give UWW and points for next week I am definitely interested!! While I stand by my comments I don't think you will be seeing anyone suggest UWW is remotely close to an underdog in any game this season. Interesting theory though.

Bleedpurple is the Prince of Sarcasm.

Wow! I kind of liked Prince of Sarcasm, until I read 413's suggestion.  King does have a nice ring to it.  I'm not sure the post referred to was sarcasm as much as it was following through on the logic of the original post.  How about "Emperor of Wit"? 

[UMUplayerdad]

Mt Union shut out ONU this year.  I think NCC's defense is as good as Mt Unions. I don't know if their offense is as good but it should be, given the UMU youth and inexperience. I know NCC's OLine is experienced and the strength of their offense. Defensively, Garza, Hayes and Clendenning are bringing their 25 sack,32 tfl games against a strong and physical OLine. And Wenger is as fast and physical a linebacker as you will ever see in D3. However, this will be the most physical team NCC has played but I do think they are at least better than ONU by the 10pt spread HSCoach has them in the pickem's. It's the playoffs though and NCC has not played well against good teams in the playoffs. However far they make it from here, they will certainly have to earn it. No one can say they have it easy the rest of the way.

Yes, the Raiders shut out of ONU, 27-0,  but in two other similar scores, the Raiders gave up 10 points to Otterbien winning 28-10 and 14 points to Marietta winning 28-14.  Hard to look at score alone and draw any reliable conclusions about ONU.  I'd still be way more nervous playing 8-1 ONU than a 5-4-Otterbien or a 1-8 Marietta.   

I agree with you but I think my comments were based on more than the score of 1 game. 

the ONU game was a big "focus game" and uh-check out stats, it was a physical beat down-long ass 99yd/80 yard long drives-and-god, mt union had a bad case of "sloppy w football/stupid penalties for a few games-and the hill folk fromMarietta-they can HIT, Im not sure their prime objective is to win  as much as or make a team LIMP off after the games...mt union stays healthy and doesn't get a case of fumble-itis?  they will be playing into december

[skunks_sidekick]

I wouldn't put a TON of stock into HSCoach's spread.  Remember, he is trying to get as much even action as possible.  If he set the line at where I would guess he THINKS it would be (3-6 points), he would probably get a lot of picks for NCC. 

I think you allow 3 points for the home team, and possibly another 3-4 based on stats, etc...

If NCC wins this game by something more than 10 points, then I will believe they are even better than I gave them credit for.  I personally think the game will be back and forth (IF there isn't a flurry of turnovers from one team vs. the othert)affair that could come down to the last possession. 

[robertgoulet]

I just looked at those Massey Ratings and given the given the way they rank the conferences alone makes me wonder what the heck are they doing?
To take a look http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cfhe

Being a fellow NCC person, I would think you would joyfully accept the #1 overall ranking, much like I have!

Move along, nothing to see here  

RG.....Somebody must be off work this week...I havent seen this many posts from you in long time! 
and finals week was always slow for us Business majors...we already had our "Case studies" done

Somebody is off work...that being my clients....which means my work days are very slow!

Case studies...and you have those night classes with teachers that don't want to have finals on Thanksgiving week...boy I miss college.

As soon as NCC is out of the playoffs (Salem, obviously) I will return to my cave and only to re-emerge once every few months to spout nonsense.

[TCrawf5825]

The past two times NCC was in the play-off they have lost in the second round and No coach nor player has used that as an excuse nor would they !!    That said kids should have all their work done on time BUT If you believe ALL kids always do what they are supposed to do is nieve.  But as my post says it IS a factor along with home field advantage and an NCC loss the last time they played.  I guess if your not an NCC fan you want to believe we are looking fr=or excuses then I guess that's what you'll see.





I don't think that Finals is either an excuse or a distraction. But it does affect individual and team schedules. I think that was the point that TCrawf5825 was trying to make. It can affect when team meetings occur. It can affect when players watch film. It can affect when they come up to speed on this week's game plan.

Most players have a set routine at this point in the season. Some may not reflect well when that changes. Others may welcome a change. Who knows.

Other schools have similar academic calendars. Stanford, for one, has exams during the first week of the NCAA Basketball calendar. And, there is also a story on some player who is a Biochem major, or some other similar major, and the number of finals he had earlier in the week plus preparing for his team's first round games. So, at least the media thinks a student athletes "day job" can affect their athletic performance.

UWW has Finals beginning the Thursday before the Stagg Bowl. I would imagine that some players reschedule exams to occur after the Stagg Bowl, although that could interfere with their celebrations.

I don't know if anyone commented on TCrawf's other points. That, NCC and ONU have played the last two seasons. That gives them two extra game films on each other. The home team has won both games. And for the seniors, they have seen some of the key players. There should be less of a feeling out process in this game.

Some factors in the ONU - NCC game is that NCC players have to take finals Monday - Wednesday so for some of them the game will be hard to focus on for the next few days not to mention the ones who cram and then don't get much sleep for a few days. Another factors that the last time these teams played ONU won in Ohio and many NCC players are still on the team (NCC won at home the year before), not to mention NCC is at home this year.  I believe NCC should win but just want to point out a few intangibles that factor into the game preps

Finals is a lame excuse.  

Most NCC posters would not have posted this.  TCrawf5825 is newer to the board.

My first reaction was the post smacked of paving the way for excuses in the event things don't go as planned.  All D3 players are student athletes.  All are responsible for taking care of business both on the field and in the classroom.  Should not have to be stated as if this is unique to NCC.

And in the event ONU beats NCC on the field, you would NOT hear the players or coaches complain that "well we had finals this week, so we could not prepare the way we wanted and we are tired because we had to stay up studying".

Mugsy, I think both you and HScoach are being a bit harsh.  Finals during the week before Thanksgiving IS a rarity (in d3 or elsewhere).  I concur that if NCC loses (heaven forbid! ), neither the coaches or the students will use it as an excuse, but (unlike some places) they ARE student-athletes.  Of course finals will interfere with preparation this week!  For most student-athletes, how could they not?

(On the flip side, IF they make it to the semis or the Stagg, the OTHER team has finals looming and they do not! )

Mount usually has finals during Stagg week, so I think it's over blown as an excuse or distraction.  Though I would agree that having 100% of your school work done with nothing to focus on but football would be an advantage.   I just don't see school being a disadvantage in D3.  

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