FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[HScoach]

NCC will officially host Bethel at Noon on Saturday.

From my POV, this will be the most important game the Cardinals play all season, irrespective of how far they do/don't advance in the playoffs.  (No disrespect intended to the folks in Wheaton or Bloomington.)

North Central is 10-1 in opening round games in the Thorne era, but only 2-7 in the second round:

2006, Away - Capital 41, North Central 13
2007, Away - Whitewater 59, North Central 28
2008, Home - Franklin 38, North Central 28
2010, Home - North Central 28, Ohio Northern 9
2011, Away - Wabash 29, North Central 28
2012, Away - Linfield 30, North Central 14
2013, Home - North Central 52, Platteville 24
2016, Home - Wheaton 31, North Central 14
2017, Away - Oshkosh 42, North Central 21

The Cardinals have proven they can consistently win in the opening round... the competition clearly gets better in a hurry in round two in this part of the country, but it's not always purple in quality.  The program has come so far in this era from what it once was, and there is more talent up and down the roster than even 5-6 years ago.  Bethel will be a handful, but this is a great opportunity for the program to start taking that next step up the ladder on a consistent basis.

The 2-7 record is disappointing -- particularly the losses to Franklin, Wabash, and Wheaton. But given that NCC never made the playoffs pre-Thorne, I tip my hat to the father and son for getting NCC to the 2nd round of the playoffs 10 times the past 13 seasons. That's a tremendous accomplishment.

No doubt.  The program is unrecognizable from what it once was, and that is a mammoth accomplishment.  There are a few levels above where they are today, though, and I would love to see them take that next step.

Five of the second round losses have been on the road, where the Cardinals were underdogs.  (There were losses in winnable regular season games a few times that pushed the Cardinals into tougher playoff path assignments.)  The home losses in 2008 and 2016 are games I look at as the biggest missed opportunities, albeit against very good non-purple opponents.  This one is also at home, which is why I regard it as such a critical test of progress for the program.

For comparison, here are the 2nd round records of other MIAC, ARC, CCIW, and WIAC teams over the same time period (2006-2017).  I've included only teams with more than one result.

Bethel       3-0
SJU          1-4
UST          7-0
Coe           0-2
Wartburg   3-1
Wheaton   2-4
UWO         4-0
UWW       10-0

This list got me thinking about the unbelievable run that Mount has been on.   The numbers below are just playoff games. 

Overall playoff record:  99-16
Regional Round 1:  28-1 (only loss in 1990 against Allegheny 26-15 who won the Stagg)
Regional Round 2:  25-3 (last loss in 1994 against Albion 34-33 who won the Stagg)
Regional Round 3:  13-0
Semi-Finals:  20-5 (last loss in 2016 against MHB 14-12 who won the Stagg)
Stagg Bowl:  13-7 (last loss to in 2014 against UWW 43-34)

Other items of note:
a)  of the 16 playoff losses, 14 have been to the eventual champ and the other 2 were to the eventual runner-up
b)  last time Mount failed to make it to at least the semi-finals is 1994
c)  average score of a Mount loss:  28.6 to 18.4
d)  average scope of a Mount Stagg Bowl win:  36.4 to 18.5

Who Mount has lost to and how many times:
Allegheny = 1
Albion = 1
Rowan = 1
St. John's = 1
Augustana = 2
La Crosse = 2
MHB = 2
Whitewater = 6

Note this data does not include the 2018 playoff win over Denison in Round 1.  Also I'm considering Round 3 the regionals final once the playoffs expanded in 2005.  Prior to '05, Round 3 is ignored and I jump straight from Round 2 to the Semi-Finals.

I'd post my actual summary table but that's beyond my computer skills.

[iwu70]

Good luck to NCC this weekend.  Hope you'all get out of the second round this year.  Should be a great game.

IWU'70

[hazzben]

Someone posted about all the Wheaton Alumni Coaches a few pages back and mentioned Ryan at NAIA #1 seed Morningside.

He's also got one heck of a QB in Trent Solsma this year:

• Pass Efficiency: 212.5
• Passing Yds: 4419
• Passing TD's: 61
• Completion %: 75.2
• INT's: 3
• Career Pass Efficiency: 194.8
• Career Passing Yds: 13,061
• Career Passing TD's: 152
• Career Completion %: 70.4
• Career INT's: 14

Career TD to INT Ratio of 76:7

They've beaten 2 D2 teams. His only game under 4 Passing TD's was 3, against D2 Truman State. My guess is this is the year Ryan and Morningside get over the hump and win the National Title.

Ryan was also a finalist for the UST job when Caruso got it. I'm one who is very happy he didn't get the nod and is still at Morningside. His offensive achumen/scheme (Caruso's biggest weakness IMO) and recruiting, with UST's resources would have been a terrifying combination.

[kiko]

NCC will officially host Bethel at Noon on Saturday.

From my POV, this will be the most important game the Cardinals play all season, irrespective of how far they do/don't advance in the playoffs.  (No disrespect intended to the folks in Wheaton or Bloomington.)

North Central is 10-1 in opening round games in the Thorne era, but only 2-7 in the second round:

2006, Away - Capital 41, North Central 13
2007, Away - Whitewater 59, North Central 28
2008, Home - Franklin 38, North Central 28
2010, Home - North Central 28, Ohio Northern 9
2011, Away - Wabash 29, North Central 28
2012, Away - Linfield 30, North Central 14
2013, Home - North Central 52, Platteville 24
2016, Home - Wheaton 31, North Central 14
2017, Away - Oshkosh 42, North Central 21

The Cardinals have proven they can consistently win in the opening round... the competition clearly gets better in a hurry in round two in this part of the country, but it's not always purple in quality.  The program has come so far in this era from what it once was, and there is more talent up and down the roster than even 5-6 years ago.  Bethel will be a handful, but this is a great opportunity for the program to start taking that next step up the ladder on a consistent basis.

The 2-7 record is disappointing -- particularly the losses to Franklin, Wabash, and Wheaton. But given that NCC never made the playoffs pre-Thorne, I tip my hat to the father and son for getting NCC to the 2nd round of the playoffs 10 times the past 13 seasons. That's a tremendous accomplishment.

No doubt.  The program is unrecognizable from what it once was, and that is a mammoth accomplishment.  There are a few levels above where they are today, though, and I would love to see them take that next step.

Five of the second round losses have been on the road, where the Cardinals were underdogs.  (There were losses in winnable regular season games a few times that pushed the Cardinals into tougher playoff path assignments.)  The home losses in 2008 and 2016 are games I look at as the biggest missed opportunities, albeit against very good non-purple opponents.  This one is also at home, which is why I regard it as such a critical test of progress for the program.

For comparison, here are the 2nd round records of other MIAC, ARC, CCIW, and WIAC teams over the same time period (2006-2017).  I've included only teams with more than one result.

Bethel       3-0
SJU          1-4
UST          7-0
Coe           0-2
Wartburg   3-1
Wheaton   2-4
UWO         4-0
UWW       10-0

This list got me thinking about the unbelievable run that Mount has been on.   The numbers below are just playoff games. 

Overall playoff record:  99-16
Regional Round 1:  28-1 (only loss in 1990 against Allegheny 26-15 who won the Stagg)
Regional Round 2:  25-3 (last loss in 1994 against Albion 34-33 who won the Stagg)
Regional Round 3:  13-0
Semi-Finals:  20-5 (last loss in 2016 against MHB 14-12 who won the Stagg)
Stagg Bowl:  13-7 (last loss to in 2014 against UWW 43-34)

Other items of note:
a)  of the 16 playoff losses, 14 have been to the eventual champ and the other 2 were to the eventual runner-up
b)  last time Mount failed to make it to at least the semi-finals is 1994
c)  average score of a Mount loss:  28.6 to 18.4
d)  average scope of a Mount Stagg Bowl win:  36.4 to 18.5

Who Mount has lost to and how many times:
Allegheny = 1
Albion = 1
Rowan = 1
St. John's = 1
Augustana = 2
La Crosse = 2
MHB = 2
Whitewater = 6

Note this data does not include the 2018 playoff win over Denison in Round 1.  Also I'm considering Round 3 the regionals final once the playoffs expanded in 2005.  Prior to '05, Round 3 is ignored and I jump straight from Round 2 to the Semi-Finals.

I'd post my actual summary table but that's beyond my computer skills.

- I wonder if Mount's record-keepers realize they just won their 100th playoff game?  That's a mind-boggling milestone, though I suspect there is a 'who cares?' sheen to this for a program in a place where a Stagg loss is considered a down season.

- Last pre-semi exit in 1994... unless they have a 24 year old on the team, that was before anyone on the current roster was born.

[thunderdog]

Someone posted about all the Wheaton Alumni Coaches a few pages back and mentioned Ryan at NAIA #1 seed Morningside.

He's also got one heck of a QB in Trent Solsma this year:

• Pass Efficiency: 212.5
• Passing Yds: 4419
• Passing TD's: 61
• Completion %: 75.2
• INT's: 3
• Career Pass Efficiency: 194.8
• Career Passing Yds: 13,061
• Career Passing TD's: 152
• Career Completion %: 70.4
• Career INT's: 14

Career TD to INT Ratio of 76:7

They've beaten 2 D2 teams. His only game under 4 Passing TD's was 3, against D2 Truman State. My guess is this is the year Ryan and Morningside get over the hump and win the National Title.

Ryan was also a finalist for the UST job when Caruso got it. I'm one who is very happy he didn't get the nod and is still at Morningside. His offensive achumen/scheme (Caruso's biggest weakness IMO) and recruiting, with UST's resources would have been a terrifying combination.

Fascinating stuff hazzben, never knew about Steve Ryan almost ending up at UST. Thanks for sharing.

[washdupcard]

Below is my rundown of BU from the ARC before Rd 1.

Here's my take on Bethel:

• D is really legit. Kilgore at DE is a beast, but the whole line is physical. Linebackers make a lot of plays and are athletic. [Edit: 10 sacks vs. Wart]
• Secondary is probably the best unit on the team. #7 SS Dawson Brown is our MVP imo. They are a really big, fast, physical unit. I think this is the best secondary we've ever had.
• OLine is physical and did very well against UST's speed up front last week. Best line we've had in several years.
• WR corp doesn't have any AA type guys, but 3-4 different weapons that can all take the top off a D and are capable of making big catches. And they have surprising length. RB Gilach is very solid. [Edit: #22 is a Gopher transfer that plays at both LB and RB, had several TD's against Wart]
• Roste at QB has come a long ways. Gophers transfer who is a load at 6'3" 235, but also fast for his size. They can get really creative going empty since he's still a run threat, but doesn't need a lead blocker. His passing (and confidence throwing and in the offense) has improved every week. He's gonna be really good by the time it's all said and done.
• Very physical team playing with a lot of confidence. They've got an identity and play really good, complimentary football. Built to play in the cold.
• Kicking game has been inconsistent. New guy did PAT's vs. Augsburg and we might have finally turned a corner. Roste also does a quick kick on 4th down that can be effective flipping the field.

Love to hear a similar breakdown of NCC from the CCIW braintrust.

One interesting note, Wart's QB and NCC's were both sitting atop the national stats for Completion % and Passing Efficiency. My assumption is that NCC will be much better up front than Wart was, and that you'll have a stronger running game to complement this. But I'd love the juicy details 

I won't be able to make it in person (family Thanksgiving in NW Iowa), but I did get my first ever look at NCC's campus this summer. Beautiful place.

Also, fun smack talk with a buddy from work who won a few National Titles as a Pole Vaulter for NCC a few years back (his little bro hopes to bring home another this Spring I believe, but my buddy says the vault coach isn't worth his salt  [this is an inside joke in case you don't know the NCC Vaulting history, fyi]).

Father knows best?   

USee is spot on with his breakdown of NCC.   Kilgore scares me.  His size on the outside will be an issue and will need to be accounted for.   We have to be able to run the ball some to keep the defense honest.  Clarke is every bit the beast described above.  The offensive line is young but has played well.  Looking forward to a great game.

Cardalum, What do you know about the Offensive Line  , I thought you were a kicker or something?

[robertgoulet]

Cardalum, What do you know about the Offensive Line  , I thought you were a kicker or something?

Wow a washdupcard sighting! Like spotting a bald eagle!

[ncc_fan]

Some Bethel football highlights:
Bethel vs. Wartburg (Bethel Athletics YouTube)
Bethel vs. St. Thomas (Bethel Athletics YouTube)
Bethel vs. St. Thomas (KSTP News)

Bethel vs. Wartburg full replay

[CardinalAlum]

Below is my rundown of BU from the ARC before Rd 1.

Here's my take on Bethel:

• D is really legit. Kilgore at DE is a beast, but the whole line is physical. Linebackers make a lot of plays and are athletic. [Edit: 10 sacks vs. Wart]
• Secondary is probably the best unit on the team. #7 SS Dawson Brown is our MVP imo. They are a really big, fast, physical unit. I think this is the best secondary we've ever had.
• OLine is physical and did very well against UST's speed up front last week. Best line we've had in several years.
• WR corp doesn't have any AA type guys, but 3-4 different weapons that can all take the top off a D and are capable of making big catches. And they have surprising length. RB Gilach is very solid. [Edit: #22 is a Gopher transfer that plays at both LB and RB, had several TD's against Wart]
• Roste at QB has come a long ways. Gophers transfer who is a load at 6'3" 235, but also fast for his size. They can get really creative going empty since he's still a run threat, but doesn't need a lead blocker. His passing (and confidence throwing and in the offense) has improved every week. He's gonna be really good by the time it's all said and done.
• Very physical team playing with a lot of confidence. They've got an identity and play really good, complimentary football. Built to play in the cold.
• Kicking game has been inconsistent. New guy did PAT's vs. Augsburg and we might have finally turned a corner. Roste also does a quick kick on 4th down that can be effective flipping the field.

Love to hear a similar breakdown of NCC from the CCIW braintrust.

One interesting note, Wart's QB and NCC's were both sitting atop the national stats for Completion % and Passing Efficiency. My assumption is that NCC will be much better up front than Wart was, and that you'll have a stronger running game to complement this. But I'd love the juicy details 

I won't be able to make it in person (family Thanksgiving in NW Iowa), but I did get my first ever look at NCC's campus this summer. Beautiful place.

Also, fun smack talk with a buddy from work who won a few National Titles as a Pole Vaulter for NCC a few years back (his little bro hopes to bring home another this Spring I believe, but my buddy says the vault coach isn't worth his salt  [this is an inside joke in case you don't know the NCC Vaulting history, fyi]).

Father knows best?   

USee is spot on with his breakdown of NCC.   Kilgore scares me.  His size on the outside will be an issue and will need to be accounted for.   We have to be able to run the ball some to keep the defense honest.  Clarke is every bit the beast described above.  The offensive line is young but has played well.  Looking forward to a great game.

Cardalum, What do you know about the Offensive Line  , I thought you were a kicker or something?

Finely tuned athletic machine!

[CardinalAlum]

Cardalum, What do you know about the Offensive Line  , I thought you were a kicker or something?

Wow a washdupcard sighting! Like spotting a bald eagle!

He's finally done celebrating the Cubs World Series win!

[washdupcard]

Cardalum, What do you know about the Offensive Line  , I thought you were a kicker or something?

Wow a washdupcard sighting! Like spotting a bald eagle!

"I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,
I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you."

[Pat Coleman]

Bethel vs. Wartburg full replay

Interesting. Archiving of playoff games is not permitted.

[robertgoulet]

Cardalum, What do you know about the Offensive Line  , I thought you were a kicker or something?

Wow a washdupcard sighting! Like spotting a bald eagle!

"I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,
I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you."

"You can shake
And you can dance
But the last drop
Will always end in your pants."

[ncc_fan]

Bethel vs. Wartburg full replay

Interesting. Archiving of playoff games is not permitted.

So... that means they'll have to forfeit their next game?   

[Craft_Beermeister]

NCC will officially host Bethel at Noon on Saturday.

From my POV, this will be the most important game the Cardinals play all season, irrespective of how far they do/don't advance in the playoffs.  (No disrespect intended to the folks in Wheaton or Bloomington.)

North Central is 10-1 in opening round games in the Thorne era, but only 2-7 in the second round:

2006, Away - Capital 41, North Central 13
2007, Away - Whitewater 59, North Central 28
2008, Home - Franklin 38, North Central 28
2010, Home - North Central 28, Ohio Northern 9
2011, Away - Wabash 29, North Central 28
2012, Away - Linfield 30, North Central 14
2013, Home - North Central 52, Platteville 24
2016, Home - Wheaton 31, North Central 14
2017, Away - Oshkosh 42, North Central 21

The Cardinals have proven they can consistently win in the opening round... the competition clearly gets better in a hurry in round two in this part of the country, but it's not always purple in quality.  The program has come so far in this era from what it once was, and there is more talent up and down the roster than even 5-6 years ago.  Bethel will be a handful, but this is a great opportunity for the program to start taking that next step up the ladder on a consistent basis.

The 2-7 record is disappointing -- particularly the losses to Franklin, Wabash, and Wheaton. But given that NCC never made the playoffs pre-Thorne, I tip my hat to the father and son for getting NCC to the 2nd round of the playoffs 10 times the past 13 seasons. That's a tremendous accomplishment.

No doubt.  The program is unrecognizable from what it once was, and that is a mammoth accomplishment.  There are a few levels above where they are today, though, and I would love to see them take that next step.

Five of the second round losses have been on the road, where the Cardinals were underdogs.  (There were losses in winnable regular season games a few times that pushed the Cardinals into tougher playoff path assignments.)  The home losses in 2008 and 2016 are games I look at as the biggest missed opportunities, albeit against very good non-purple opponents.  This one is also at home, which is why I regard it as such a critical test of progress for the program.

For comparison, here are the 2nd round records of other MIAC, ARC, CCIW, and WIAC teams over the same time period (2006-2017).  I've included only teams with more than one result.

Bethel       3-0
SJU          1-4
UST          7-0
Coe           0-2
Wartburg   3-1
Wheaton   2-4
UWO         4-0
UWW       10-0

This list got me thinking about the unbelievable run that Mount has been on.   The numbers below are just playoff games. 

Overall playoff record:  99-16
Regional Round 1:  28-1 (only loss in 1990 against Allegheny 26-15 who won the Stagg)
Regional Round 2:  25-3 (last loss in 1994 against Albion 34-33 who won the Stagg)
Regional Round 3:  13-0
Semi-Finals:  20-5 (last loss in 2016 against MHB 14-12 who won the Stagg)
Stagg Bowl:  13-7 (last loss to in 2014 against UWW 43-34)

Other items of note:
a)  of the 16 playoff losses, 14 have been to the eventual champ and the other 2 were to the eventual runner-up
b)  last time Mount failed to make it to at least the semi-finals is 1994
c)  average score of a Mount loss:  28.6 to 18.4
d)  average scope of a Mount Stagg Bowl win:  36.4 to 18.5

Who Mount has lost to and how many times:
Allegheny = 1
Albion = 1
Rowan = 1
St. John's = 1
Augustana = 2
La Crosse = 2
MHB = 2
Whitewater = 6

Note this data does not include the 2018 playoff win over Denison in Round 1.  Also I'm considering Round 3 the regionals final once the playoffs expanded in 2005.  Prior to '05, Round 3 is ignored and I jump straight from Round 2 to the Semi-Finals.

I'd post my actual summary table but that's beyond my computer skills.

- I wonder if Mount's record-keepers realize they just won their 100th playoff game?  That's a mind-boggling milestone, though I suspect there is a 'who cares?' sheen to this for a program in a place where a Stagg loss is considered a down season.

- Last pre-semi exit in 1994... unless they have a 24 year old on the team, that was before anyone on the current roster was born.

As always UMU reloads every year, but this year might be a challenge depending on how much pain one can endure.