FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

North Central:

Returning starter/2 deep player not listed on 2019 Roster:
Starters: WR Cam Moore (fr), RB Dom Muogahlu (jr), K Derik Judka (fr), DE Josh Leonhard (Jr), DT Lane Brinkman (so), P Zane Lodico (jr)
Backups: QB Conor Joyce (Fr/Transfer), DB Jonathan Mitchell (fr), DB De'Angelo Roberson (so)
Returning Starters: 15
Offense: 8 (14/22 from 2 Deep) 5 OL, 1 WR, TE, QB
Defense: 7 (15/22 from 2 Deep) 2 DL, 2 LB, 3 DB
Key Returning starters: QB Broc Rutter, 5 OL, WR Andrew Kamienski, DL Tommy Hyland, DB Jake Beesley
Key losses: DB Pat Cravens, LB Derek Werkenthein, WR Cam Moore, RB Dom Muoghalu, K Derik Judka

NCC is the favorite but not by much. Broc Rutter along with his starting 5 OL and Andrew Kamienski make them a dangerous offense. No RB or top speed WR is a problem. DL and secondary will be much better. Losing 7 expected returnees brings them back to the pack and lower in the rankings a bit. Playing 2 of the 3 other contenders on the road further bunches the top CCIW teams (@WashU, @Wheaton, vs IWU). At the end of the day, they still have Broc Rutter, an elite D3 QB so I expect them to be tested, but still prevail. 🔮

While I certainly hope the Cardinals do indeed prevail, and expect such to be the case, the above write-up does not readily inspire a large degree of confidence in their being ready to do so. Considering the seemingly more optimistic summaries of Wheaton and IWU, perhaps the poster is employing a bit of reverse psychology in his analysis of the NCC squad? 😏  

[USee]

North Central:

Returning starter/2 deep player not listed on 2019 Roster:
Starters: WR Cam Moore (fr), RB Dom Muogahlu (jr), K Derik Judka (fr), DE Josh Leonhard (Jr), DT Lane Brinkman (so), P Zane Lodico (jr)
Backups: QB Conor Joyce (Fr/Transfer), DB Jonathan Mitchell (fr), DB De'Angelo Roberson (so)
Returning Starters: 15
Offense: 8 (14/22 from 2 Deep) 5 OL, 1 WR, TE, QB
Defense: 7 (15/22 from 2 Deep) 2 DL, 2 LB, 3 DB
Key Returning starters: QB Broc Rutter, 5 OL, WR Andrew Kamienski, DL Tommy Hyland, DB Jake Beesley
Key losses: DB Pat Cravens, LB Derek Werkenthein, WR Cam Moore, RB Dom Muoghalu, K Derik Judka

NCC is the favorite but not by much. Broc Rutter along with his starting 5 OL and Andrew Kamienski make them a dangerous offense. No RB or top speed WR is a problem. DL and secondary will be much better. Losing 7 expected returnees brings them back to the pack and lower in the rankings a bit. Playing 2 of the 3 other contenders on the road further bunches the top CCIW teams (@WashU, @Wheaton, vs IWU). At the end of the day, they still have Broc Rutter, an elite D3 QB so I expect them to be tested, but still prevail. 🔮

While I certainly hope the Cardinals do indeed prevail, and expect such to be the case, the above write-up does not readily inspire a large degree of confidence in their being ready to do so. Considering the seemingly more optimistic summaries of Wheaton and IWU, perhaps the poster is employing a bit of reverse psychology in his analysis of the NCC squad? 😏  

I am not sure how predicting NCC is going to win the conference is viewed as not optimistic. The fact they had 19 starters returning and now have 15, have only 1 RB (Ethan Greenberg) with any experience, no kickers w experience, lose their leading receiver, and lose 2 starting DL including an all conference player is not an opinion or psychology is it?

My point was they went from clear cut favorite to slight favorite, despite those losses. Any other team with those losses goes from contender to middle of the pack.

[wheels81]

North Central:

Returning starter/2 deep player not listed on 2019 Roster:
Starters: WR Cam Moore (fr), RB Dom Muogahlu (jr), K Derik Judka (fr), DE Josh Leonhard (Jr), DT Lane Brinkman (so), P Zane Lodico (jr)
Backups: QB Conor Joyce (Fr/Transfer), DB Jonathan Mitchell (fr), DB De'Angelo Roberson (so)
Returning Starters: 15
Offense: 8 (14/22 from 2 Deep) 5 OL, 1 WR, TE, QB
Defense: 7 (15/22 from 2 Deep) 2 DL, 2 LB, 3 DB
Key Returning starters: QB Broc Rutter, 5 OL, WR Andrew Kamienski, DL Tommy Hyland, DB Jake Beesley
Key losses: DB Pat Cravens, LB Derek Werkenthein, WR Cam Moore, RB Dom Muoghalu, K Derik Judka

NCC is the favorite but not by much. Broc Rutter along with his starting 5 OL and Andrew Kamienski make them a dangerous offense. No RB or top speed WR is a problem. DL and secondary will be much better. Losing 7 expected returnees brings them back to the pack and lower in the rankings a bit. Playing 2 of the 3 other contenders on the road further bunches the top CCIW teams (@WashU, @Wheaton, vs IWU). At the end of the day, they still have Broc Rutter, an elite D3 QB so I expect them to be tested, but still prevail. 🔮

While I certainly hope the Cardinals do indeed prevail, and expect such to be the case, the above write-up does not readily inspire a large degree of confidence in their being ready to do so. Considering the seemingly more optimistic summaries of Wheaton and IWU, perhaps the poster is employing a bit of reverse psychology in his analysis of the NCC squad? 😏  

..And so it begins a new season of "And One" nipping at "Usee" heels ever so passive though

[Gregory Sager]

North Park had its annual scrimmage with Rockford today. Borsch and Bobo split time with the first-team offense today, so my guess is that the jury's still out on who will be the starting QB for the Vikings.

[Titan Q]

A couple articles on the Titans since practice started...

https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/seniors-want-to-make-iwu-football-history-and-then-some/article_b1528890-56ee-5787-8aa0-94caa4feeeeb.html

https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/new-iwu-defensive-coordinator-trying-to-take-strengths-and-go/article_c1702b0b-5cbc-5b06-80c9-077495bb3295.html

[CNU85]

In less than 2 weeks North Central travels to the heat and humidity of Southeastern Va. If anyone is making the trip and needs any info - travel, hotels, restaurants, things to do/see, etc.....ask away. I will help out the best I can. Safe travels to all!

[CardinalAlum]

In less than 2 weeks North Central travels to the heat and humidity of Southeastern Va. If anyone is making the trip and needs any info - travel, hotels, restaurants, things to do/see, etc.....ask away. I will help out the best I can. Safe travels to all!

How's the team looking out in Va.?  What can we expect to see?

[USee]

A couple articles on the Titans since practice started...

https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/seniors-want-to-make-iwu-football-history-and-then-some/article_b1528890-56ee-5787-8aa0-94caa4feeeeb.html

https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/new-iwu-defensive-coordinator-trying-to-take-strengths-and-go/article_c1702b0b-5cbc-5b06-80c9-077495bb3295.html

One of the critical keys to IWU's season will be the defensive coordinator's ability to utilize the talent they have on that side of the ball. This article says both that he isn't changing anything AND that he did change things in spring ball. We'll see. It also says the corners are playing bump and run at the line on every play. That is really tough to do for a whole game at our level and it will be interesting to see if that's a philosophical change or just something they are doing in camp to improve technique.

[CNU85]

In less than 2 weeks North Central travels to the heat and humidity of Southeastern Va. If anyone is making the trip and needs any info - travel, hotels, restaurants, things to do/see, etc.....ask away. I will help out the best I can. Safe travels to all!

How's the team looking out in Va.?  What can we expect to see?

That's so difficult to figure out right now. The coach is in his third year. So, the seniors are from the previous regime. Last year we were 7-2 (had a game cancelled due to a hurricane that turned south) and those 2 losses were at home and in OT. The cancelled game was against the NJAC champion and they have now moved to DII.  We are very young. a lot of new faces. We are bigger up front than in past years but many of those guys are Freshman and Sophomores. Lost our top WR but have a group of guys at that position including a guy who redshirted his Fr year at D1 Appalachian State. We have our QB returning. Our Defense was #8 in country last year allowing only 12.4 points per game. Our running game was weak last year. We do have a preseason All-American.....to match up against your 3! yikes!!! I imagine being #5 there aren't any missing pieces on your end.

[USee]

Wheaton will scrimmage NAIA Taylor at 5pm Friday at McCully.

[79jaybird]

Lot of question marks with Elmhurst.  McDonald is certainly no stranger to the conference, but with a new coach, there is always that "gap" created by the change.

My personal goal for Elmhurst this year is to get 3 CCIW wins.  Hopefully more of course, but lately the grind of the
CCIW has been a challenge for the Jays.   

The other thing I'm going to be interested in this year is who's going to be #4 and possibly interfere with the final finish?
NC/WC/IWU (and in any order) seem to be the likely front runners,  but #'s 4 & 5 could make it interesting. 

[CNU85]

Any North Central fans heading down for the game next weekend, please check the weather before you head this way. Dorian has shifted course and we could have lots of rain and possibly tropical storm force winds starting around Thursday. Right now NOAA has us getting 4" of rain by next Saturday.  Be safe y'all. 

[USee]

Wheaton QB battle appears to be down to Luke Anthony and Spencer Peterson with Anthony holding the advantage for a week 1 start. Wheaton scrimmage Taylor last night and played well, winning each quarter and scoring 21 pts to Taylor's 0.  The Thunder open on the road @Monmouth next Saturday.

[matblake]

Thanks USee

[CNU85]

Hoping this hurricane doesn't get too close and they shut the campus down and thus the game is cancelled. Right now we are in the cone and expecting 90mph winds on Friday. That's enough to close campus by Wednesday night and evacuate Thursday. Stay tuned.