FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Sager
   Yes on paper we were tied in 94 but North Park was our only win that year so we put ourselves ahead of you in our hearts.

And you're certainly welcome to do that  ... but your compatriot Redmen93 might think that putting Carthage ahead of North Park in '94 interferes a bit with his "pre-Rucks Carthage made NPU look like Michigan" analogy.

[Gregory Sager]

The last thing I wanted to do was take anything away from Brandon Watts because he is an exceptional player.  I did want to point out that some of his stats were a bit inflated due to the outcome of the game.

I was aware that Watts is a senior, unfortunately for the Vikings.  I believe the notion of building on Watts was mentioned by lakeshore.

I actually agree with you about Watts' receiving stats being somewhat inflated by the fact that he was playing against backups late in the game, Mugsy. I realize that nobody here is disrespecting Watts; quite the contrary, in fact. And it was Lakeshore whom I was addressing when I made the comment about Watts not being a part of the rebuilding process at NPU, although I'm reasonably sure that he's well aware that Watts is a senior and was not implying otherwise. I just thought that it needed to be stated for the record.

[Gregory Sager]

NP is clearly well coached. I like the schemes Pethel is implementing. It is just painfully obvious he needs better players. particularly up front on both sides. There is a better feel and atmoshphere around NP than I have seen in past times there. the facilities and quality of coaching have given them a chance as Gregory has described in pages back. I will be very interested to see how well SP does in recruiting and retaining talent going forward.

I'm glad that there are opposing fans who are seeing past the lopsided scores and are getting a feel for how hard Scott Pethtel is trying to turn things around, and for how NPU is actively attempting to support him in this endeavor. Pethtel has definitely impressed people connected to NPU; he's remained both positive and realistic, which is quite a juggling act for someone who is coaching a team whose talent level is dwarfed by the competition, at a school whose football history makes the word "bleak" look like sunny optimism. Parkers are aware of the fact that it's much harder to turn around a football program than it is to turn around a program in any other sport, due to the sheer number of talented football players it takes to turn a team from bad to good as compared to other sports. It could take as long as three or four years before NPU begins to see positive results on the gridiron, and as I said several weeks ago the school is willing to be supportive and patient in the meantime.

Pethtel is the first NPU coach in decades who is operating without having both hands tied behind his back. Now that North Park has the facilities to at least give the football program a fighting chance, he will find somewhere down the line that the flip side of not having his hands tied behind his back is that he won't have recourse to the excuses for losing used by his predecessors. Given time, hard work, and a good performance by the coaching staff in evaluating and recruiting talent, showing diligence in monitoring player progress, and exercising sound judgment in the X's and O's, Scott Pethtel can turn NPU football into a winning program. I really believe that. But it's a far cry from being a sure thing.

[Gotberg]

This is a quote from Ron Zook I read somewhere.  I'm not saying it will end up applying to North Park, but it will be interesting to follow:

"They always say, 'The first year, you lose big. The second year, you lose close. The third year, you win close. And the fourth year, you're going."

Although I've never meet Pehtel, I only hear good things about him.  I sure hope he succeeds.

[ncc58]

This is a quote from Ron Zook I read somewhere.  I'm not saying it will end up applying to North Park, but it will be interesting to follow:

"They always say, 'The first year, you lose big. The second year, you lose close. The third year, you win close. And the fourth year, you're going."

Although I've never meet Pehtel, I only hear good things about him.  I sure hope he succeeds.

As it applies to Ron Zook, I guess he's in his second first year.

And by the fourth year, he could be the one going.

[ncc58]

Vikes...I agree if the Augie attendance numbers took into account all of the non paying students...and non paying recent grads that can pass for students the totals would be a little higher. 

At NCC, it used to be that QB Club members, students, and alumni just waved their pass and walked into the game. Then, the AD started a policy that required you to get a ticket by showing your pass at the ticket window. They only way to get an accurate accounting of the attendance was to count tickets.

I never understood, who was actually paying for tickets though (aside from supporters of the other team). Alumni, students, and QB Club members didn't pay (directly). Players were allowed to leave tickets for their families. Who was left?

[matblake]

A disturbing pre-game ritual by the Bluejays has come to my attention from the article following the quote:

"Blue Jays have an interesting behavior called "anting." When they molt (birds lose feathers as they grow new ones), Blue Jays will pick up ants and rub them on their bodies. We do not know for sure why they do this, but our best guess is that something in the ants soothes their skin as the new feathers come in. Sometimes Blue Jays "ant" with other items, such as rotten fruit."   

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/blue_jay.htm

[Mugsy]

A disturbing pre-game ritual by the Bluejays has come to my attention from the article following the quote:

"Blue Jays have an interesting behavior called "anting." When they molt (birds lose feathers as they grow new ones), Blue Jays will pick up ants and rub them on their bodies. We do not know for sure why they do this, but our best guess is that something in the ants soothes their skin as the new feathers come in. Sometimes Blue Jays "ant" with other items, such as rotten fruit."   

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/blue_jay.htm

LOL... you kill me with these every week!  Keep them coming in the weeks to come, though you have a challenge with the "Redmen", particularly if you must use the PC "Red Men" that the NCAA "encouraged" Carthage College to use.

[matblake]

A disturbing pre-game ritual by the Bluejays has come to my attention from the article following the quote:

"Blue Jays have an interesting behavior called "anting." When they molt (birds lose feathers as they grow new ones), Blue Jays will pick up ants and rub them on their bodies. We do not know for sure why they do this, but our best guess is that something in the ants soothes their skin as the new feathers come in. Sometimes Blue Jays "ant" with other items, such as rotten fruit."   

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/blue_jay.htm

LOL... you kill me with these every week!  Keep them coming in the weeks to come, though you have a challenge with the "Redmen", particularly if you must use the PC "Red Men" that the NCAA "encouraged" Carthage College to use.

To honor my favorite poster I vow not to use any sites that are deragatory or defaming to Native Americans, which I wouldn't want to do anyway but just thought that I would point that out.  Guess I better start my search now!

[Mr. Ypsi]

mat,

If Elmhurst was smart they'd publicize the 'anting' ritual - the other team would be afraid to tackle them!

[matblake]

My guess is that actual ants are only used on special weekends at Elmhurst such as Homecoming and Parents Weekend.  All other games would have to be the rotten fruit. 

[Mugsy]

My guess is that actual ants are only used on special weekends at Elmhurst such as Homecoming and Parents Weekend.  All other games would have to be the rotten fruit. 

Unfortunately I think the only option from here on out would be the rotten fruit.  With the temperatures dropping down into the 30's & 40's, insects tend to be dying off or extremely sluggish.  I don't think ants would be particularly effective for the Bluejays this weekend.

[79jaybird]

Well, I am glad that there wasn't a "hazing" ritual at Elmhurst College with ants!    I think the only thing I ever had covered over my body was whipped cream. ah it's a family show so get the drift.
Mr. Ypsi, it's good that you hacked!  I had a few friends in high school that did not have "involved parents" and they easily slipped to the drug route.  Quite a shame!  I give thanks that my parents (though divorced) were still always asking prying questions and making sure me and my younger Sister stayed on the right track.  Sometimes the truth hurts.
I knew that Bluejays in nature are nasty, possessive birds.  They aren't like CARDINALS that are the pretty boys that don't fight. hehe CardAlum!!  
Nice to see Brandon Watts get a write up in the Daily Herald Sports Section.  He was listed as CCIW Player of the Week in the Bob Frisk Sports Notes section.

[CardinalAlum]

I knew that Bluejays in nature are nasty, possessive birds.  They aren't like CARDINALS that are the pretty boys that don't fight. hehe CardAlum!!  

I'm a lover, not a fighter! 

[79jaybird]

CardinalAlum-- hehe very funny!! 
Actually most of the guys I played with on our team at EC were on the field, very physical, but off the field big marshmallows.