FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mugsy]

Congrats to NCC and IWU for making into the playoffs.  Here's hoping you both go far into the playoffs and represent the CCIW by playing hard-nosed, inspired football.  Do us proud!

[Titan Q]

With IWU facing Monmouth and QB Alex Tanney, it makes this popular video worth posting here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxDJb03a0yo

[bluejay4ever]

Good Luck and Congrats to IWU and NC! Looking forward to see how they do. On the other hand I will lay the 70 when the purple people eaters welcome BU to their place this weekend. That team would not win one game in the CCIW.

[Titan Q]

Here is a post from the Pool C board, with a best guess at seedings (the D3 committee does not release the actual seeds).  I think this is well done...

Here's the best guess I have as to seeds with Pool C in bold. The MHB bracket is still screwy but it's the best I could come up with at least until the two halves play in the quarterfinals

1 UW-Whitewater (10-0)                1 Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-0)
8 Albion (6-4)                        7 Redlands (8-1)
4 Franklin (9-1)                      3 Trinity, Texas (10-0)
5 Thomas More (9-1)                   5 McMurry (8-2)
3 Kean (9-1)                          2 Linfield (9-0)
6 Christopher Newport (8-2)           6 Cal Lutheran (8-1)
2 Salisbury (9-1)                     4 Wesley (9-1)
7 Western New England (10-1)          8 Hobart (7-1)

2 St. Thomas (10-0)                   2 Wabash (10-0)
7 St. Scholastica (10-0)              7 Illinois College (9-1)
3 Illinois Wesleyan (9-1)          3 North Central (9-1)
6 Monmouth (9-1)                      6 Dubuque (9-1)
4 Johns Hopkins (10-0)                4 Centre (8-1)
5 St. John Fisher (8-2)            5 Hampden-Sydney (8-2)
1 Delaware Valley (10-0)              1 Mount Union (10-0)
8 Norwich (7-3)                       8 Benedictine (7-3)

The national chair was on a radio program tonight and stated that the 4 #1-seeds are:

1. UW-Whitewater
2. Mount Union
3. Mary Hardin-Baylor
4. Delaware Valley

When you start from there, I think you'll find that FCGrizzliesGrad is very close on his projections.

In the article below, Norm Eash refers to being told that IWU is the #12 overall seed, which would support the projection that they are a 3-seed in their quadrant.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-to-face-ex-lexington-star-qb-in-playoffs/article_7206314c-0e55-11e1-96c2-001cc4c002e0.html


This all becomes relevant in determining hosts.  If this is right, North Central will have to go to Wabash in Round 2.

[lfter]

First post ever:   A comment on NCC's ranking with UWW/Mount Union.   I believe it's time for the playoffs to be set up so that NCC shows up in the same half of the brackets as Mt Union instead of UWW.  Comments ?

Why?

Exactly, Augie6
And, Mt. Union would be how much of an advantage over facing UWW?

The people at NCC believe UWW is better than UMU and I for one am tired of the same 2 teams in the finals. In addition distance does not matter.  Benedictine adn Aurora have made the play-offs the last few years and NCC has played St. Norbert and Franklin respectively

Since when? They believe that BOTH of those teams are equally great! That said, the road to Salem goes through BOTH UWW AND UWU. NC wants to be in the play-offs and they don't care where they go and who they play. They have to be ready to play anyone on any day. They learned that lesson the hard way in week 1. They still have to take care of business this week and next and not look too far down the road.

Ifter,

Ok, I get that you think NCC might have a better chance of getting to the Stagg Bowl through MU than UWW (although many people would disagree with that opinion).  But why should the NCAA set up the playoffs so that NCC could have a more favorable match-up (understanding that's in your opinion).  In my mind, the NCAA did NCC a huge favor last year by seeding the Cardinals above UWW and giving them the opportunity to play the Warhawks at home.  Despite playing very well, they didn't get it done.  The bottom line is, someone has to beat one of those two teams to be deserving of anything that may be perceived as beneficial.  Personally, I would love to see another team (or two) in the Stagg Bowl besides UWW or MU.  But I think that the NCAA has been doing the right thing by keeping those two teams on opposite sides of the bracket and should continue to do so.  There is no question we have had the best two teams playing for the National Championship for several years running, which is the way it should be.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looks like I am going to get my wish !!!!  NCC and Mount Union in the same bracket and to top it off they might even get another crack at Redlands !  Can't wait to get this going !!

[scottie]

As a follow-up to the Youtube video, there might be an additional "scouting report" for IWU this Thursday night.  http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans

[nccfac]

This all becomes relevant in determining hosts.  If this is right, North Central will have to go to Wabash in Round 2.

Let's take it one game at a time. I am sure the University of Dubuque will come to play and we need to be ready for them. And there is no assurance that Wabash moves on although I am not sure that Illinois College (which I wasn't sure would make the playoffs) will be as much of a test for them. The Committee rather than giving seedings is saying (From Ralph Turner on Daily Dose) that they will let the teams know next Sunday where they will play. Go figure. 

[USee]

Fantastic bracket. Love it. Going to be a fun tourney this year. I think IWU got the best possible draw they could get.  NCC will get to show what they are made of as they will be on the road after round 1. NCAA did a great job with this bracket. I will say they should adjust the process for ranking the at large teams if they are going to continue to go away from a regional focus. It would be great they could rank the pool C teams at the national level so Wheaton could get compared w an STJF or Ill College. this is the best bracket I have ever seen though.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Agree on the bracket (lot's of first-time ever games or potential games, instead of the same old, same old) but disagree on IWU getting "the best possible draw they could get".  First round we get the QB with the all-time records for completions and TDs (remember NCC vs. Chad Rupp?); survive that, we get to go to the Twin Cities to face a team virtually everyone assumed would be a #1 seed!  If that is a 'good' draw, I'm glad we didn't get a bad one!

But I'm happy anytime we are in the playoffs - bring 'em on!

[USee]

Well, the other options were to play at UWW or UMU in round 2 or 3. I think you take this draw. St Thomas is basically Bethel from last year. IWU can compete with them. Playing up there will be an issue. And Alex Tanney isn't any better than Garret Meador.  IWU would much rather face a potent offense (ala Monmouth)than a strong defense ( which St Thomas has).

[scottie]

Agree on the bracket (lot's of first-time ever games or potential games, instead of the same old, same old) but disagree on IWU getting "the best possible draw they could get".  First round we get the QB with the all-time records for completions and TDs (remember NCC vs. Chad Rupp?); survive that, we get to go to the Twin Cities to face a team virtually everyone assumed would be a #1 seed!  If that is a 'good' draw, I'm glad we didn't get a bad one!

But I'm happy anytime we are in the playoffs - bring 'em on!

Technically, it is yardage and TDs.  Should be a great battle of MC offense vs. a IWU defense. 

[nccfac]

Agree on the bracket (lot's of first-time ever games or potential games, instead of the same old, same old) but disagree on IWU getting "the best possible draw they could get".  First round we get the QB with the all-time records for completions and TDs (remember NCC vs. Chad Rupp?); survive that, we get to go to the Twin Cities to face a team virtually everyone assumed would be a #1 seed!  If that is a 'good' draw, I'm glad we didn't get a bad one!

But I'm happy anytime we are in the playoffs - bring 'em on!

These brackets are not what was expected and are very interesting. I think each has some challenges but unless Salisbury (#10) or Kean (#12) give UWW (#1) a game they have no competition. While MHB (#4 rank) could meet Lindfield (#5) or Cal Luth (#8) or Wesley (#7) a very strong group. I know that geography doesn't allow us to even out all of the bracket, but I agree they are the best I could have imagine given the NCAA's strange ways in the past. St. Thomas (#3)  has no top ten competition but does have Delaware Valley (#11), Johns Hopkins (#13) and IWU (#16) as its most competitive potential opponents. Mt Union has #6 NCC and #9 Wabash as its toughest potential opponents.

[Always.A.Titan]

At least we can all agree that this is better than the BCS System.

[Titan Q]

Agree on the bracket (lot's of first-time ever games or potential games, instead of the same old, same old) but disagree on IWU getting "the best possible draw they could get".  First round we get the QB with the all-time records for completions and TDs (remember NCC vs. Chad Rupp?); survive that, we get to go to the Twin Cities to face a team virtually everyone assumed would be a #1 seed!  If that is a 'good' draw, I'm glad we didn't get a bad one!

But I'm happy anytime we are in the playoffs - bring 'em on!

I think Usee is absolutely correct.  I do think this is the "best possible draw" IWU could have gotten because,

1) The Titans are hosting in Round 1, and
2) Round 2 does not involve the Warhawks or Purple Raiders.


Monmouth's offense poses a huge challenge, and I know St. Thomas is very good, but any way you look at this, this is as good as Pool C IWU could have done.

[AndOne]

At least we can all agree that this is better than the BCS System.

Absolutely Always.
Its nice to know DIII does a better job than the big boys.

Good luck to the CCIW Cardinals & Titans in the playoffs.