FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[markerickson]

NPU went 0-3 in nonconference play last year, and this year went 0-3, which surprised me.

In the close loss to WashU, WR Conway did not have a catch.  Was that b/c WashU had a lockdown CB, Conway was hurt, or the bro-to-bro connection did not click?

[AndOne]

Recently, there has been much written about the announcement of the retirement of NCC's Head Coach John Thorne effective at the end of the season. Portions of various posts questioned the reason for and timing of the announcement.
First of all, Coach Thorne has continued working past the age by which many, if not most, people retire. Secondly, by the excellence of the record he has achieved, he has earned the right to retire on his own terms. Third, as a man of faith and family, above football, there are circumstances well beyond football involved that have just been released. It would not have been proper for anyone at or close to North Central to comment on the particulars prior to the official announcement being made.
Now, in order to hopefully put to rest any speculation regarding the reason(s) for, and timing of the announcement, here are a couple of newspaper articles, printed only today, that will provide some additional background and details for anyone interested.

Naperville Sun article: http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/2014/09/29/john-thorne-retire-north-central-college-coach-end-season/

Daily Herald article: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140930/sports/140939809/

This has been simmering since spring, 2011 and was first reported upon by Channel 7 (ABC-Chicago): http://abc7chicago.com/archive/8439382/

North Central release: http://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2014/8/20/FB_0820144910.aspx

Simply put, it very understandably appears Coach Thorne has decided its time that faith and family need to be his primary focus. In that regard support and prayers to Mrs. Thorne, Coach, and the Thorne family.
NCC is extremely fortunate to have had John Thorne lead its football team over the last 12+ years. That good fortune will continue as Coach will continue on board as his son Jeff's special teams coach.

[Pat Coleman]

Or, if you read the front page of D3football.com today, the Around the Region column:
http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/midwest/index

And our 2011 column, which predated your local TV report by a month.
http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/midwest/2011/the-football-family

[Gregory Sager]

NPU went 0-3 in nonconference play last year, and this year went 0-3, which surprised me.

In the close loss to WashU, WR Conway did not have a catch.  Was that b/c WashU had a lockdown CB, Conway was hurt, or the bro-to-bro connection did not click?

He didn't dress for the Wash U game due to an injury, Mark. I mentioned it on the air several times during the course of the game. You've gotta start listening to the games on your smart phone when you're out and about on a Saturday afternoon, so that you'll know stuff like this.

[markerickson]

I do not own a smart phone and do not want one.

So, Coach Thorne will retire as one of the top three (?) all-time successful CCIW coaches?  I'm thinking Augie's Reade is also in the mix.

[Gregory Sager]

Well, the games are always archived, so you can listen to them later in case you're not in front of a computer on Saturday afternoon.

(Bear with me, people. This is salesmanship. Mark's one of NPU's more long-term football fans, and I've got to sell each and every one of those fans on the idea that they can now listen to every road NPU football game, and listen to and watch every home NPU football game.)

[Kovo]

I do not own a smart phone and do not want one.

So, Coach Thorne will retire as one of the top three (?) all-time successful CCIW coaches?  I'm thinking Augie's Reade is also in the mix.

The short answer for me is yes.  Not only is Coach Thorne currently 7th in total wins, 3rd in winning percentage and tied for 3rd in titles, but you have to remember that he stepped into a real mess that hadn't won the CCIW in over 40 years.  He promptly posted a 6-4 record that first year, and built from there.  Of course, he learned quickly how far away the team was from contending when our friends from Rock Island welcomed to the league with a little 65-0 message for the new guy.  So yes, I'm going with the top three.  But, until someone else brings home a door stop (or four), I have to go with Reade as #1.

[79jaybird]

AUGIE-READE
CARTHAGE- KELLER
WHEATON- CHROUSER & SWIDER (TAKE YOUR PICK.  I KNOW SWIDER PERSONALLY SO I'LL GO WITH MIKE)
IWU-LARSON & EASH (EITHER ONE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL)
MILLIKIN- POELKER
NORTH CENTRAL-THORNE
ELMHURST- BECK
NORTH PARK- I'LL LET GREG CHIME IN ON THIS ONE AS I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPINION

*The above is whom I would recognize as best coaches at each school.  IMO, it is more than just Wins.  You have to factor in the times (as they were), their legacies, etc.  that all factor in the equation.

[AndOne]

NCC NEWS

There is a change at QB this week for the Cardinals as junior Tyler Dicken gets the nod over sophomore Dylan Warden who started the first three games, and leads the CCIW in pass efficiency.

[robertgoulet]

NCC NEWS

There is a change at QB this week for the Cardinals as junior Tyler Dicken gets the nod over sophomore Dylan Warden who started the first three games, and leads the CCIW in pass efficiency.

[shepherd]

NCC NEWS

There is a change at QB this week for the Cardinals as junior Tyler Dicken gets the nod over sophomore Dylan Warden who started the first three games, and leads the CCIW in pass efficiency.

The problem is not at QB it was the offensive line play which started out horrible and got a little better by game 3.
This is not last years awesome offensive line.
If you have three A players and two D players your pass blocking is at a D level.
The only blocking scheme NCC has done good at is the delay draw where the guard center guard keep their guys at the line of scrimmage and the tackles sucker the defensive lineman back 3 plus yards creating a seam.  They do that great everything else especially pass blocking has been poor to ok at best.
What can you tell if your not playing the same level of competition for a while.  Not much.

[Gregory Sager]

AUGIE-READE
CARTHAGE- KELLER
WHEATON- CHROUSER & SWIDER (TAKE YOUR PICK.  I KNOW SWIDER PERSONALLY SO I'LL GO WITH MIKE)
IWU-LARSON & EASH (EITHER ONE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL)
MILLIKIN- POELKER
NORTH CENTRAL-THORNE
ELMHURST- BECK
NORTH PARK- I'LL LET GREG CHIME IN ON THIS ONE AS I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPINION

I already have, Mark.

[CardinalAlum]

NCC NEWS

There is a change at QB this week for the Cardinals as junior Tyler Dicken gets the nod over sophomore Dylan Warden who started the first three games, and leads the CCIW in pass efficiency.

The problem is not at QB it was the offensive line play which started out horrible and got a little better by game 3.
This is not last years awesome offensive line.
If you have three A players and two D players your pass blocking is at a D level.
The only blocking scheme NCC has done good at is the delay draw where the guard center guard keep their guys at the line of scrimmage and the tackles sucker the defensive lineman back 3 plus yards creating a seam.  They do that great everything else especially pass blocking has been poor to ok at best.
What can you tell if your not playing the same level of competition for a while.  Not much.

The problem right now IS the QB play.   There are people running wide open and Warden was missing them badly.  I didn't even see a 2nd progression in a couple of routes, which means there was one thing to read.  The ball going to the other color jersey in a very basic read means he is not ready.   Swider and any decent D coordinator would have a field day gameplanning for the Cardinals offense as was.  I think this is the right move.  Warden I'm sure will still have packages in the gameplan but going to Dicken now was needed.

[robertgoulet]

NCC NEWS

There is a change at QB this week for the Cardinals as junior Tyler Dicken gets the nod over sophomore Dylan Warden who started the first three games, and leads the CCIW in pass efficiency.

The problem is not at QB it was the offensive line play which started out horrible and got a little better by game 3.
This is not last years awesome offensive line.
If you have three A players and two D players your pass blocking is at a D level.
The only blocking scheme NCC has done good at is the delay draw where the guard center guard keep their guys at the line of scrimmage and the tackles sucker the defensive lineman back 3 plus yards creating a seam.  They do that great everything else especially pass blocking has been poor to ok at best.
What can you tell if your not playing the same level of competition for a while.  Not much.

The problem right now IS the QB play.   There are people running wide open and Warden was missing them badly.  I didn't even see a 2nd progression in a couple of routes, which means there was one thing to read.  The ball going to the other color jersey in a very basic read means he is not ready.   Swider and any decent D coordinator would have a field day gameplanning for the Cardinals offense as was.  I think this is the right move.  Warden I'm sure will still have packages in the gameplan but going to Dicken now was needed.

Agreed 100%, CA.

[AndOne]

With 1:26 left, Williams goes outside the right tackle untouched into the end zone from 2 yards out to give the Bluejays a 17-10 win over Augie.