FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[bluejay4ever]

So nice to be going into conference game week. I am hoping that EC will bounce back from shooting themselves in the foot at Chicago. You cannot do that in conference games. Congrats to NP on 3-0. Although NP always makes me nervous against EC(it seems like they view it was their super bowl every year), I believe NP is taking the same steps EC took a few years ago. You start by winning the non conference games and then it takes a couple years before you compete in conference. Now taking it another step to compete with the big boys takes time and development. I am hoping that EC can take that step this year. Good Luck to all the rest of the way and I hope the fighting blue birds take a bite out of you!

[Gregory Sager]

I'll give my .02 about the Viking victory.  Despite hail and rain, and a history of losing, I chose to attend North Park's home opener against Wash U.  I may have missed NP's first possession; the home team did not have a turnover during my attendance.

NPU did not turn the ball over all day. In fact, the only "turnover" that the Vikings have suffered this year was when Benedictine recovered an onside kick in Week Two.

Wash U's starting QB, Dan Burkett, had thown for six TDs entering the game, and threw for another in the first half.  I did not see him get injured, but his backup played a majority of the second half.

Burkett wasn't hurt. He and Adam Banks regularly alternate at QB within a game.

NP won the turnover battle as the Bears threw an INT in the end zone at the close of the first half when they were easily within FG range.  Halftime score, 10-10.

Yeah, it was an ill-advised throw into coverage. But NPU sophomore safety Darius Dacanay made a great play to step in front of the receiver and take the ball away.

NP's TD came on a long pass to Sam Cochiaro  who separated from the defender just before catching the ball.  He waltzed into the end zone. NP converted a chip shot FG to take the lead 13-10.  The Vikes controlled much of the fourth qtr by, of course, running the ball.  The D was stout.  NP tried the same pass play in the second half.  Cochiaro made a great leaping grab, but the ball popped out when he hit the ground.

That would've gone for about forty yards if he'd caught it, down to about the Wash U 18-yard line. But even though NPU had to punt on the ensuing play, the thwarted drive still chewed up over six and a half minutes of clock for the Vikings.

Krebs needs to look at a RB during passes, I think.

They have a short screen over the middle designed for the running back, but I think that that's the only pass play that they have in the playbook for the RB. At least it's the only one I've seen in the year and a half that the Park has run the option. You have to remember, Mark, that the option is not designed for a wide variety of pass plays. The pass exists mostly as an occasional change-up within the option offense. NPU threw the ball only three times on Saturday, and the Vikes have only attempted eight passes for the entire season. That's low, even for an option team -- among D3's other option teams, Sewanee's averaging seven pass attempts per game, Merchant Marine's averaging about twelve, and Ripon's averaging about thirteen -- but the Vikings are certainly having success with this low total of pass attempts thus far.

Wash U got the ball with what seemed would be the last possession. When a Viking got flagged for a late hit I thought, "How are we going to find a way to lose?"  Wash U had a first down, 45 yards from the winning score with under a minuted to play.  But zero timeouts.  (BTW:  Wash U had two returns called back due to penalty...one featured two blocks in the back.)  Wash U got a first down, but NP deflected a pass and intercepted it.  As the Viking went back and forth, even backwards, I yelled "lay down!"  I had thought somehow he would fumble while being tackled and Wash U would recover inside the 15.  There was no fumble.  QB Krebs took a knee on the game's final play.  A Viking victory!!

There were actually two late fourth-quarter drives by Wash U that were curtailed by NPU interceptions. The first ended with a pick by junior safety Andrew Saltzman at the NPU 20-yard line with 3:12 left in the game. One the ensuing drive the Vikings gained a first down and ran off five rushing plays, but were forced to punt with 1:25 left. Wash U started the final drive at its own 21 and made it to midfield before NPU's junior cornerback Cicero Porter made the final interception at the North Park 31 to effectively end the game with 28 seconds left.

On a sour note, two Wash U fans yelled constantly.  Every penalty against their team should not have been called...there was a conspiratorial line judge.  One guy was particularly offensive.  For example, he'd yell, "You're still short" at Krebs.

The Wash U idiot fan's mockery notwithstanding, Krebs's lack of height is an asset to his running game. Tackling him must be like trying to catch a jackrabbit with your bare hands.

He mocked a Viking who had long hair.  He shouted something after nearly every play.  On one play, as the Wash U tailback leaned too far forward, he had to reposition his leg to regain his balance, but the ball got snapped before the RB could re-establish a position.  A very easy call to make.  According to the red-faced lout, the penalty should have been called on the Vikings.  The fan was beyond obnoxious.  I felt like asking the announcer to ask fans to behave in a respectful manner.  Fans all around me at this D3 game were very agitated yet remained composed.

I just love watching obnoxious fans like that when their team loses. I won't say a word to them, and I keep my distance, but I love watching their anguish. Sometimes schadenfreude is justified.

Back to the game. The most remarkable stat on the day was time of possession. NPU had the ball for an impressive 40:25, more than twice as long as the 19:35 of the Bears. The Vikings had drives that lasted for 7:01, 8:27, and 6:38. In fact, Wash U only had the ball for 7:47 of the entire second half. That's the kind of grind-it-out, let's-play-keepaway football that is the hallmark of an effective option offense.

Congrats to NP on 3-0. Although NP always makes me nervous against EC(it seems like they view it was their super bowl every year)

I don't think that that's really accurate. It's never been brought to my attention by anyone affiliated with the team that the Vikings take a special interest in Elmhurst, as distinct from the other six CCIW teams. On the other hand, Elmhurst has usually been circled on the calendar in the past as being one of NPU's best shots at a possible CCIW win. Over the past few seasons, however, Millikin has tended to be presented as NPU's most winnable game, not Elmhurst.

[thunder38]

I know that it is way to early to start making CCIW comparisons, but I thought I'd throw out the first bit of common opponents data:

EC v. Olivet -  Final EC 64 OC 14
                         Starting QB out with 15:00 left in 2Q when score was 30-0. 
                         162 yds passing/233 yds rushing.
NCC v. Olivet -   Final NCC 86 OCC 14
                         Starting QB out with 2:11 left in 1Q when score was 21-0. 
                         167 yds passing/329 yds rushing.
WC v. Olivet - Final WC 49  OC 15
                         Starting QB out with 9:24 left in 3Q when score was 36-8.
                         175 yds passing/336 yds rushing.

It would be interesting to hear from OC fans or anyone who saw all three games to get a sense of what they saw from EC, NCC and WC.

I'd be interested to hear how the comparisons stack up outside of the score.  Wheaton certainly lacked the crispness that Elmhurst and North Central had dealing with Olivet but they also did hold out a number of starters trying to "freshen up" the ranks a little bit so you saw a few odd combinations of 1s and 2s on the field a lot.  I know the staff didn't want the starters in that long but as sloppy as the play was early on it turned out to be out of necessity.

[LETS ROLL]

New Top 25 Out:http://www.d3football.com/top25/2011/week4

Spots 1-7 stay the same with Wheaton remaining at #7

North Central makes the jump back to the Top Ten, making the #9 spot with previous #9 Ohio Northern and #10 Wartburg losing.

Redlands moves from #15 to #13

[LETS ROLL]

Correction, here's the link:

http://www.d3football.com/top25/2011/week4

[NCF]

As a fan of DIII football, I am elated that [North Central] decided to enter into what I hope will be a long-time partnership with Redlands.  There are not enough inter-region games nationally.  The only schools which regularly are willing to travel are Hardin-Simmons, Mary Hardin Baylor, as well as a couple of the west coast schools.  Games like the NCC v. Redlands matchup will help teams like Redlands get the attention it deserves comes playoff selection time.

I, too, would like to see NCC and Redlands in an extended partnership.  I suspect that the presidents of the two schools will have a big say about whether that happens; they helped initiate the current agreement, and of course they have ultimate control of the purse strings.  NCC will have to decide whether the benefits in recruiting and alumni relations (and football) are worth the cost of a bi-annual flight to southern California.  For Redlands cost may be a lesser issue, as their non-conference series always involve long-distance travel.

From this fan's perspective, week 1 (a.k.a. Labor Day weekend) is the perfect time for the game:  if you're going to follow your team to southern California (or Chicago) then let it be on a long weekend!

I can definitely see the alumni benefit, but does NCC recruit or plan to recruit west coast?    Who pays transportation cost for a team traveling that far?   It would seem to be hard to justify for an extended period of time.

Big Z, see also Titan Q's comments.  It certainly is a benefit for the coaches from any DIII program to be able to walk into the living room of a recruit's home and say, "Our team not only has a game in California every other year, but every third year we play in Europe."  NCC has paid the transportaton costs for trips to Italy in 2006, Switzerland in 2009, Los Angeles in 2011, and will pay for the transportation costs for a trip to Barcelona in June 2012.  I believe that these costs have all been critical in building a top-tier national program.  I am positive that the school's administration will assess the continuing value of a Redlands relationship after next year's game, but I can not stress enough the belief by NCC's administration that the schools share many of the same core values regarding ethics, education, and programs. 

I do know that (other than being disappointed by Cardinals' loss!) the members of the Cardinal Caravan who went to Redlands on 9/3/11 had a VERY positive experience.  The folks that we met at Redlands were very nice and accommodating, the alumni pre-game event was fantastic, the campus was beautiful, the stadium was perhaps the nicest I have seen outside of B-W (though I do like the cannons at Franklin and Capital!), the team was very good, and the game was competitive.  What more can you ask for (other than a win)?

The cost of the Redlands trip was a lot more than I thought. I don't know if they will be allowed to do that every other year. The Europe trips are not financed by the school. We just paid the first installment last week, after putting a down payement on the trip in the spring.  I know the players will be fundraising come January to help lower the cost for all players who want to go.

[markerickson]

In what kind of fundraising activities do they participate?  Aside from working a concessions booth, isn't it unusual for college athletes to fundraise?

[Mugsy]

In what kind of fundraising activities do they participate?  Aside from working a concessions booth, isn't it unusual for college athletes to fundraise?

Wheaton does fundraising to pay for the short term mission trips over spring break to Dakar, Sengal Africa, Haiti, South Africa, etc...  The players do so independently by sending support letters to family, friends and churches.

[NCF]

In what kind of fundraising activities do they participate?  Aside from working a concessions booth, isn't it unusual for college athletes to fundraise?

I think they will be doing a phone-a-thon or letter writing campaign. If it turns out they are not allowed to do this or any fundraising activity, the cost per athlete will be around $3000.

[New Tradition]

In what kind of fundraising activities do they participate?  Aside from working a concessions booth, isn't it unusual for college athletes to fundraise?

I think they will be doing a phone-a-thon or letter writing campaign. If it turns out they are not allowed to do this or any fundraising activity, the cost per athlete will be around $3000.

We did both of those things when we went to Italy in 2006.  The generous contributions of our friends and families dropped the out of pocket cost to around $1000 per athlete.

[NCF]

In what kind of fundraising activities do they participate?  Aside from working a concessions booth, isn't it unusual for college athletes to fundraise?

I think they will be doing a phone-a-thon or letter writing campaign. If it turns out they are not allowed to do this or any fundraising activity, the cost per athlete will be around $3000.

We did both of those things when we went to Italy in 2006.  The generous contributions of our friends and families dropped the out of pocket cost to around $1000 per athlete.

That's what the coaches hope will happen this year. At $1000, most athletes will have been able to work the previous summer to afford the trip. A great opportunity to see Europe and play football and maybe even use some of the Spanish he spent five years learning(but he doubts it ) Can't wait for the CCIW season to finally get under way. Good Luck to everyone(except when they play NC )

[ncc58]

In what kind of fundraising activities do they participate?  Aside from working a concessions booth, isn't it unusual for college athletes to fundraise?

I think they will be doing a phone-a-thon or letter writing campaign. If it turns out they are not allowed to do this or any fundraising activity, the cost per athlete will be around $3000.

For previous trips, players have been part of phone-a-thons. Supporters of the program, especially Quarterback Club members, receive phone calls from nervous players begging for dollars.

It's no different than phone-a-thons by students or alumni for general fundraising.

[markerickson]

Thanks for the info.

I forgot that NP led 10-7 at half, and Wash U kicked a FG early in the third qtr to tie.

[Gregory Sager]

I don't participate in the CCIW football pick'ems, but I do check out the picks every now and then out of idle curiosity. I couldn't help but notice that picking against North Park seems to be the default position of most of the prognosticators in the CCIW football pick'em room, even in non-conference play. This has created a weekly hole on the scoresheet for most of the prognosticators, much to my amusement.

For the first week's game against Aurora, the prognosticators favored the Spartans over the Park by a 13-2 margin. On the heels of NPU's 25-point victory in that game, a few people wised up and switched over to picking the Vikings to win in Week Two -- but just a few. The pickers favored Benedictine over NPU by a somewhat more modest 11-5 tally. Naturally, that left eleven people chagrined after the Vikings cruised to an 18-point win over the Bennies.

This past weekend they gazed into their crystal balls and gave Wash U the nod over NPU by a whopping 13-3 margin. The result of the game, of course, was enjoyed by only three of the sixteen prognosticators.

On behalf of NPU football fans everywhere, I want to encourage the CCIW pick'em room's participants to continue to demonstrate that they are slow learners. Let's get that pro-Elmhurst pick'em margin up as high as we can, people.

[Always.A.Titan]

CCIW Players of the Week...

http://cciw.org/news/2011/9/26/FB_0926115100.aspx