FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Kovo]

I have been watching Mount since the mid seventies and while I have not seen NCC this year based on what I know about Mount at best I would say this is a game that should have a spread of no more than 3 points.  Now the over under could be interesting.  Maybe 70+

So I'm clear---- you are setting the line at 3 without having seen one of the teams?    Well ok, I can do one better.  I'm setting the line on the UWW vs. UMHB at 5-----AND I HAVEN'T SEEN EITHER TEAM!

[skunks_sidekick]

Pffft.......I will set the realistic line. 

Mount -7.  Three points for being at home, and another four because NCC has never been there before, and hasn't faced The Machine. 

UWW vs. MHB....MHB -3.  It's a "pickem" game with MHB getting three points for being at home. 

It should be interesting to see what the lines will really be.  Mind you, most of that is based on the bookies putting the line where they will get action both ways.  Not that I know anything about that.  I have friends of friends.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

The holtz in here is getting so thick that I need waders and a shovel just to read this page.

And it's only Tuesday.

And HScoach, as expected, I've been yelled at by the NCC faithful!

I'll stand by it.  On my bracket, I had UMU winning it all, but I now think NCC is a slight favorite this Saturday.

ANY of these final four could definitely win the Stagg.  A pleasant change from most years!

[Pat Coleman]

I have been watching Mount since the mid seventies and while I have not seen NCC this year based on what I know about Mount at best I would say this is a game that should have a spread of no more than 3 points.  Now the over under could be interesting.  Maybe 70+

So I'm clear---- you are setting the line at 3 without having seen one of the teams?    Well ok, I can do one better.  I'm setting the line on the UWW vs. UMHB at 5-----AND I HAVEN'T SEEN EITHER TEAM!

I've seen all four teams and I am not setting any lines!

[Stagg Again!!]

The holtz in here is getting so thick that I need waders and a shovel just to read this page.

And it's only Tuesday.

Are any of the points i made inaccurate?  I think Kovo said it best when he described this as the next step in the development of the North Central program.  There is no pressure on the #5 Cardinals this weekend as they have already exceeded my expectations and that of many others in this rebuilding year. 

All the talk has been about how much Mount Union lost last year.  Well, let me take you all down memory lane.  In 2012, 1,897 of the team's 2,569 net rushing yards (74%) came from Kukuc and Tassio; 1,040 of the teams 2,641 receiving yards (39%) came from Stolzenburg, Kukuc, Juarez, Fuentes, and Tassio; 100% of the teams 750 punt return yards came from Mitchell and Fuentes; 390 of the team's 721 kickoff return yards (54%) came from Mitchell and Fuentes; the Cardinals' #1 and #3 tacklers were Michals and Haas; and Josh Mitchell was a Second Team All North Region CB and Joey Michals was a Third Team All North Region LB.  There was uncertainty every position coming into 2013, including QB given that Stanek and Dicken were back to compete for the starting role. 

The future is very bright for the Cardinals in this rebuilding year with Kent, Randolph, Pattat, and Brown all coming back at RB; Tillman, Sorenson, and Skokna back at WR; Dicken and Warden back at QB; and DesLauriers, Bolger, Knaperek, Hosey, and James all back on the OL in 2014.

[Stagg Again!!]

I have been watching Mount since the mid seventies and while I have not seen NCC this year based on what I know about Mount at best I would say this is a game that should have a spread of no more than 3 points.  Now the over under could be interesting.  Maybe 70+

So I'm clear---- you are setting the line at 3 without having seen one of the teams?    Well ok, I can do one better.  I'm setting the line on the UWW vs. UMHB at 5-----AND I HAVEN'T SEEN EITHER TEAM!

I've seen all four teams and I am not setting any lines!

Come on Pat, get off the fence and tell us all who you think is going to win this week.  We don't need you to handicap it for us with spreads...  Suppose you will make us wait 'til the Triple Take on Friday.

[kiko]

The holtz in here is getting so thick that I need waders and a shovel just to read this page.

And it's only Tuesday.

And HScoach, as expected, I've been yelled at by the NCC faithful!

I'll stand by it.  On my bracket, I had UMU winning it all, but I now think NCC is a slight favorite this Saturday.

ANY of these final four could definitely win the Stagg.  A pleasant change from most years!

FWIW, I think any conversation of North Central being favored in Alliance deserves the same response as a suggestion that they are roughly level with Augsburg this year.  And that's not a knock on the Cardinals -- it's coming from a deep and tremendous respect for the Purple Raiders.

A dozen years ago, the Cardinals broke through, finishing above .500 in both conference and overall play for the first time in several years.  It was the first step in what has been a long and relatively fruitful journey.  A dozen years ago, Mount Union was extending its winning streak to 42 games, their national championship streak to three in a row, and their track record of reaching the semifinal round to seven consecutive years.

I am very curious to see how the Cards stack up in this one.   And, I do take solace, given the track record, in the fact that Mr. Ypsi is picking the Cards to win. 

[kiko]

This is worth a read - the official MUU preview of this weekend's game:

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/20131210p4d9tn

The most interesting stats to me are:

1. MUU's record since 1996 when winning the turnover battle is 136-0.  (Their record when losing it is probably something like 63-3, but this is nonetheless pretty impressive.)

2. The Purple Raiders can become the winningest team in D3 history with a victory on Saturday.  Let's hope we aren't part of that history this weekend.

[Desertraider]

This is worth a read - the official MUU preview of this weekend's game:

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/20131210p4d9tn

The most interesting stats to me are:

1. MUU's record since 1996 when winning the turnover battle is 136-0.  (Their record when losing it is probably something like 63-3, but this is nonetheless pretty impressive.)
2. The Purple Raiders can become the winningest team in D3 history with a victory on Saturday.  Let's hope we aren't part of that history this weekend.

Actually i think it is better than that. Ric used to have a great site that was everything Mount Football - but then Mount's SID rolled it into the Universities athletic site. Rics was still better!

For the record - it is UMU, though MTU works as well - and of course the old school MUC.

[rscl70]

^  Careful.   That last sentence will get you yelled at. 

By the NCC faithful. 

. 3) Mount Union has the defense to shut down NCC's running attack; making them very one dimensional.   

At which point Coach Thorne will be saying "They have us right where we want them."

[CardinalAlum]

^  Careful.   That last sentence will get you yelled at. 

By the NCC faithful. 

. 3) Mount Union has the defense to shut down NCC's running attack; making them very one dimensional.   

At which point Coach Thorne will be saying "They have us right where we want them."

Classic!!  +K

[Stagg Again!!]

The holtz in here is getting so thick that I need waders and a shovel just to read this page.

And it's only Tuesday.

And HScoach, as expected, I've been yelled at by the NCC faithful!

I'll stand by it.  On my bracket, I had UMU winning it all, but I now think NCC is a slight favorite this Saturday.

ANY of these final four could definitely win the Stagg.  A pleasant change from most years!

FWIW, I think any conversation of North Central being favored in Alliance deserves the same response as a suggestion that they are roughly level with Augsburg this year.  And that's not a knock on the Cardinals -- it's coming from a deep and tremendous respect for the Purple Raiders.

A dozen years ago, the Cardinals broke through, finishing above .500 in both conference and overall play for the first time in several years.  It was the first step in what has been a long and relatively fruitful journey.  A dozen years ago, Mount Union was extending its winning streak to 42 games, their national championship streak to three in a row, and their track record of reaching the semifinal round to seven consecutive years.

I am very curious to see how the Cards stack up in this one.   And, I do take solace, given the track record, in the fact that Mr. Ypsi is picking the Cards to win. 

You hit the nail on the head with the Augsburg comment Kiko.  Both are ludicrous IMO, but I certainly don't know as much about football as most of the other long-timers on this board.  +k

[robertgoulet]

Good article about NCC's All Region safety - Shane Dierking. Heck of a pedigree on the kid (Father and brother both played made it to the NFL as RB's). Small-ish, but plays a great center field for the Cards.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20131210/sports/712109624/

[Kovo]

The holtz in here is getting so thick that I need waders and a shovel just to read this page.

And it's only Tuesday.

Are any of the points i made inaccurate?  I think Kovo said it best when he described this as the next step in the development of the North Central program.  There is no pressure on the #5 Cardinals this weekend as they have already exceeded my expectations and that of many others in this rebuilding year. 

All the talk has been about how much Mount Union lost last year.  Well, let me take you all down memory lane.  In 2012, 1,897 of the team's 2,569 net rushing yards (74%) came from Kukuc and Tassio; 1,040 of the teams 2,641 receiving yards (39%) came from Stolzenburg, Kukuc, Juarez, Fuentes, and Tassio; 100% of the teams 750 punt return yards came from Mitchell and Fuentes; 390 of the team's 721 kickoff return yards (54%) came from Mitchell and Fuentes; the Cardinals' #1 and #3 tacklers were Michals and Haas; and Josh Mitchell was a Second Team All North Region CB and Joey Michals was a Third Team All North Region LB.  There was uncertainty every position coming into 2013, including QB given that Stanek and Dicken were back to compete for the starting role. 

The future is very bright for the Cardinals in this rebuilding year with Kent, Randolph, Pattat, and Brown all coming back at RB; Tillman, Sorenson, and Skokna back at WR; Dicken and Warden back at QB; and DesLauriers, Bolger, Knaperek, Hosey, and James all back on the OL in 2014.

Rebuilding year?!     Could it be possible, if it isn't too much to think it, that maybe, just maybe, that perhaps we are getting close to the point where we "reload" rather than "rebuild"?  Not quite like UMU where they lose 20 starters and their head coach and end up with the #1 seed, but the kind that you expect to win even when you have lost top talent from the year before.

[robertgoulet]

The holtz in here is getting so thick that I need waders and a shovel just to read this page.

And it's only Tuesday.

Are any of the points i made inaccurate?  I think Kovo said it best when he described this as the next step in the development of the North Central program.  There is no pressure on the #5 Cardinals this weekend as they have already exceeded my expectations and that of many others in this rebuilding year. 

All the talk has been about how much Mount Union lost last year.  Well, let me take you all down memory lane.  In 2012, 1,897 of the team's 2,569 net rushing yards (74%) came from Kukuc and Tassio; 1,040 of the teams 2,641 receiving yards (39%) came from Stolzenburg, Kukuc, Juarez, Fuentes, and Tassio; 100% of the teams 750 punt return yards came from Mitchell and Fuentes; 390 of the team's 721 kickoff return yards (54%) came from Mitchell and Fuentes; the Cardinals' #1 and #3 tacklers were Michals and Haas; and Josh Mitchell was a Second Team All North Region CB and Joey Michals was a Third Team All North Region LB.  There was uncertainty every position coming into 2013, including QB given that Stanek and Dicken were back to compete for the starting role. 

The future is very bright for the Cardinals in this rebuilding year with Kent, Randolph, Pattat, and Brown all coming back at RB; Tillman, Sorenson, and Skokna back at WR; Dicken and Warden back at QB; and DesLauriers, Bolger, Knaperek, Hosey, and James all back on the OL in 2014.

Rebuilding year?!     Could it be possible, if it isn't too much to think it, that maybe, just maybe, that perhaps we are getting close to the point where we "reload" rather than "rebuild"? Not quite like UMU where they lose 20 starters and their head coach and end up with the #1 seed, but the kind that you expect to win even when you have lost top talent from the year before.

One would hope...but I know that I, personally, find myself worrying every offseason about how we're going to replace such and such player (Wenger, Fanthorpe, Radtke, Michals, etc. Up until this point that's been needless hand-wringing...but I guess until I see it year after year after year, like UMU and UWW, I just can't be comfortable when there's a high amount of roster turnover. (I'm already doing it for next year!)