FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Emma---

Consider:

1. You said its execution, not talent that sets the purples apart. Perhaps those that can execute properly most often are able to do so because they are also the most talented. To be the best overall, you need both physical and mental toughness. Its that mental toughness which enables an athlete to execute at the highest level with a minimum number of mistakes.

2. Some teams have even more than talent and execution going for them. 

[cardinaldad]

New rankings are out. I guess NCC handily beating ranked Redlands for their opener was not as impressive as Wheaton's loss to Albion. Redlands drops all the way down to 25, while Wheaton only drops to 19. Is anyone else surprised by this?

Yes, NC should have moved up at least one spot. More motivation for the this way though.

My point wasn't so much how NCC didn't move up. It was how far Redlands dropped compared to Wheaton. Wheaton's loss to Albion was much more of a surprise. Yet, Wheaton's ranking dropped little compared to Redlands.

[ncc58]

New rankings are out. I guess NCC handily beating ranked Redlands for their opener was not as impressive as Wheaton's loss to Albion. Redlands drops all the way down to 25, while Wheaton only drops to 19. Is anyone else surprised by this?

Yes, NC should have moved up at least one spot. More motivation for the this way though.

My point wasn't so much how NCC didn't move up. It was how far Redlands dropped compared to Wheaton. Wheaton's loss to Albion was much more of a surprise. Yet, Wheaton's ranking dropped little compared to Redlands.

It did surprise me that #15 Bethel beat an unranked Wartburg team 21-0 and jumped over NCC. But at this stage, it doesn't matter if NCC is #13 or #12.

[ncc58]

Emma---

Consider:

1. You said its execution, not talent that sets the purples apart. Perhaps those that can execute properly most often are able to do so because they are also the most talented. To be the best overall, you need both physical and mental toughness. Its that mental toughness which enables an athlete to execute at the highest level with a minimum number of mistakes.

2. Some teams have even more than talent and execution going for them. 

Emma, suddenly a UWW guy is being humble.  Usually, UWW supporters are talking about how much talent they have, how deep they are. Maybe it's practicing against that deep talent that improves their execution.  Or practicing deep into December every year. 

[NCF]

New rankings are out. I guess NCC handily beating ranked Redlands for their opener was not as impressive as Wheaton's loss to Albion. Redlands drops all the way down to 25, while Wheaton only drops to 19. Is anyone else surprised by this?

Yes, NC should have moved up at least one spot. More motivation for the this way though.

My point wasn't so much how NCC didn't move up. It was how far Redlands dropped compared to Wheaton. Wheaton's loss to Albion was much more of a surprise. Yet, Wheaton's ranking dropped little compared to Redlands.

It did surprise me that #15 Bethel beat an unranked Wartburg team 21-0 and jumped over NCC. But at this stage, it doesn't matter if NCC is #13 or #12.

I agree with the # at this point, but Bethel jumping three ahead of us is a head scratcher.

[79jaybird]

Augie 6 thank you for your reply.  Sounds like Augie is in real bad shape.  Sorry to hear this.  There are many, pivotal factors that come into play as you mention (i.e. facilities, recruiting, coaching, player's execution etc.) People who just show up in the stands on Saturdays don't see or know about how many details come into play.

[emma17]

Emma---

Consider:

1. You said its execution, not talent that sets the purples apart. Perhaps those that can execute properly most often are able to do so because they are also the most talented. To be the best overall, you need both physical and mental toughness. Its that mental toughness which enables an athlete to execute at the highest level with a minimum number of mistakes.

2. Some teams have even more than talent and execution going for them. 

1.  I think talent and execution are mutually exclusive.
2.  I don't get your point.

[wally_wabash]

New rankings are out. I guess NCC handily beating ranked Redlands for their opener was not as impressive as Wheaton's loss to Albion. Redlands drops all the way down to 25, while Wheaton only drops to 19. Is anyone else surprised by this?

Yes, NC should have moved up at least one spot. More motivation for the this way though.

My point wasn't so much how NCC didn't move up. It was how far Redlands dropped compared to Wheaton. Wheaton's loss to Albion was much more of a surprise. Yet, Wheaton's ranking dropped little compared to Redlands.

It did surprise me that #15 Bethel beat an unranked Wartburg team 21-0 and jumped over NCC. But at this stage, it doesn't matter if NCC is #13 or #12.

Bethel was the only team that picked up more poll points than North Central did this week.  A couple of reasons why they picked up steam and jumped NCC I think...

- They went on the road, to play their own Game 1 against a pretty good team that played the week before, and proceeded to shut them out.  Said opponent scored 73 points seven days earlier.  That's from 73 to zero.  Doesn't matter who the competition was the week before...73 one week, zero the next.  That's impressive. 

- Bethel doesn't have that pesky "1" on the right side of the hash on their W-L record. 

- The arithmetic is: Strong road win + not losing a game = poll jump

[Mugsy]

New rankings are out. I guess NCC handily beating ranked Redlands for their opener was not as impressive as Wheaton's loss to Albion. Redlands drops all the way down to 25, while Wheaton only drops to 19. Is anyone else surprised by this?

Yes, NC should have moved up at least one spot. More motivation for the this way though.

My point wasn't so much how NCC didn't move up. It was how far Redlands dropped compared to Wheaton. Wheaton's loss to Albion was much more of a surprise. Yet, Wheaton's ranking dropped little compared to Redlands.

Likely more a function of name recognition.  Some voters are much more familiar with what Wheaton has done in the past - Wheaton has had a longer run of playoff appearances, including quarterfinals and semi-finals. That and being more consistently in the top 25 year to year. 

I honestly was surprised that Wheaton was still in the top 25, but I attribute that the number of years Wheaton has finished in the top 25.

[NCF]

New rankings are out. I guess NCC handily beating ranked Redlands for their opener was not as impressive as Wheaton's loss to Albion. Redlands drops all the way down to 25, while Wheaton only drops to 19. Is anyone else surprised by this?

Yes, NC should have moved up at least one spot. More motivation for the this way though.

My point wasn't so much how NCC didn't move up. It was how far Redlands dropped compared to Wheaton. Wheaton's loss to Albion was much more of a surprise. Yet, Wheaton's ranking dropped little compared to Redlands.

It did surprise me that #15 Bethel beat an unranked Wartburg team 21-0 and jumped over NCC. But at this stage, it doesn't matter if NCC is #13 or #12.

Bethel was the only team that picked up more poll points than North Central did this week.  A couple of reasons why they picked up steam and jumped NCC I think...

- They went on the road, to play their own Game 1 against a pretty good team that played the week before, and proceeded to shut them out.  Said opponent scored 73 points seven days earlier.  That's from 73 to zero.  Doesn't matter who the competition was the week before...73 one week, zero the next.  That's impressive. 

- Bethel doesn't have that pesky "1" on the right side of the hash on their W-L record. 

- The arithmetic is: Strong road win + not losing a game = poll jump

I disagree, but we're all entitled to our opinions

[matblake]

New rankings are out. I guess NCC handily beating ranked Redlands for their opener was not as impressive as Wheaton's loss to Albion. Redlands drops all the way down to 25, while Wheaton only drops to 19. Is anyone else surprised by this?

Yes, NC should have moved up at least one spot. More motivation for the this way though.

My point wasn't so much how NCC didn't move up. It was how far Redlands dropped compared to Wheaton. Wheaton's loss to Albion was much more of a surprise. Yet, Wheaton's ranking dropped little compared to Redlands.

Likely more a function of name recognition.  Some voters are much more familiar with what Wheaton has done in the past - Wheaton has had a longer run of playoff appearances, including quarterfinals and semi-finals. That and being more consistently in the top 25 year to year. 

I honestly was surprised that Wheaton was still in the top 25, but I attribute that the number of years Wheaton has finished in the top 25.

Agreed.  Name recognition does play a role, especially early in the season.  Also, definitely not saying the the pollsters don't know what they are talking about.  However, teams that have won in the past are likely given a little more leeway.

[AndOne]

Emma---

Consider:

1. You said its execution, not talent that sets the purples apart. Perhaps those that can execute properly most often are able to do so because they are also the most talented. To be the best overall, you need both physical and mental toughness. Its that mental toughness which enables an athlete to execute at the highest level with a minimum number of mistakes.

2. Some teams have even more than talent and execution going for them. 

Emma, suddenly a UWW guy is being humble.  Usually, UWW supporters are talking about how much talent they have, how deep they are. Maybe it's practicing against that deep talent that improves their execution.  Or practicing deep into December every year. 

WHAT UWW guy?

[Titan Q]

The Purple Powers thing is strange to me.  Having seen so much of UWW and Mt- IMO the one thing that sets them apart from the other top teams in the country is execution more than anything else- and not talent. 

Everytime I watch UWW and MTU online or on TV (in the title game), I leave thinking there is an enormous talent gap between them and the rest of Division III.  In my opinion the two powers have more "scholarship-caliber" kids across the board (offense, defense, special teams) than other teams. 

Don't get me wrong, they both execute extremely well, but I think UW-Whitewater and Mount Union get off the bus with the best players week after week (including the playoffs).

In recent years it has seemed like NCC is really closing the talent gap with the big two...but I don't think the Cards have ever pulled even.  Certainly heading in the right direction though.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Agree with TQ.  I'd add that a healthy 2010 Wheaton may also have been nearly equal, but they were absolutely destroyed by injuries.

[BashDad]

Bethel was the only team that picked up more poll points than North Central did this week.  A couple of reasons why they picked up steam and jumped NCC I think...

- They went on the road, to play their own Game 1 against a pretty good team that played the week before, and proceeded to shut them out.  Said opponent scored 73 points seven days earlier.  That's from 73 to zero.  Doesn't matter who the competition was the week before...73 one week, zero the next.  That's impressive. 

- Bethel doesn't have that pesky "1" on the right side of the hash on their W-L record. 

- The arithmetic is: Strong road win + not losing a game = poll jump

I disagree, but we're all entitled to our opinions

You know, I'd be all for this ho-hum, nice guy, "everyone has their reasons" schtick if at some point you actually got into a conversation or argument with some gusto. The past several times you've posted--and not just on this board--Wally's made some good, sound points that would make for lively discussion should you actually disagree.

And for the record, I think NCC is right where they ought to be. The only time it seems appropriate to go around grumbling, a week after your team lost, about poll position and who jumped who is if your Team-A beat a Team-B who was ranked above your boys when the game went down. Otherwise, you're still just a .500 team with a good win against a team you were supposedly better than anyway.