FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

CardinalAlum and NCC colleagues:

What's the "scoop" on Lester leaving Western Michigan University?  I'm surprised.  I thought that after leaving Elmhurst and then St. Joseph's (the latter where he was successful in turning that program around) that he had "found a home" back at WMU where he starred at QB.  I thought he had planned on staying there for quite sometime.  Obviously, although he has roots back in the greater Chicago outlying regions as you all know, I guess I thought he would have wanted to stay at WMU's level.  Just curious, but, of course, a great gain for NCC and DIII.

This article explains it pretty well.  Family came first for him.

The news some have been awaiting.....via the Kalamazoo Gazette

http://www.mlive.com/sports/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/sports-3/1171088590277770.xml&coll=7

[formerd3db]

CardinalAlum:

I understand family comes first - IMO, it should for all of us!  However, maybe I missed it, however, the article didn't exactly explain why.  It mentioned about them buying a home back in Napeville and he and wife having family in the area, so perhaps being back "home" near extended family was the sole reason as you mention.  If so, IMO, the article could have been written a little more clearly.  I just thought perhaps there was some other factor involved, for example, perhaps his wife's job, family health issues, etc. (of course, that is his own personal business and if he/they did not desire that information to be made public, then certainly his/their perogative and understandable.  Anyway, as I said, a great gain for your NCC.

[79jaybird]

formerd3db-- I understand your thinking because when CardinalAlum first told me that Lester was coming to NC I was stunned!  He claimed he was leaving Elmhurst to seek his dream job.  Dream jobs don't come around every day.  I know family comes first and we all agree there is nothing more important in life than family- but work is a close 2nd to family because you will doing that for a long time!
Well, WMU's loss is NC's gain because Lester is a very good motivator and play caller.
Tailgater- I look for big things from Ryan Keeton this year as he has another year under his belt.  I will definitely circle Kenny Wilcoxen on the roster sheet this year. If you coached him, then he must be well conditioned both as a player and person!  8)
Usee- I agree with you that Journell (and Krohn) have laid the foundation and the "return time/cycle" won't be as long for the Jays to get another good team put together. 
When I played it would have taken us 4-5 years to get another team assembled like the one we had last year.  Now, perhaps 1-2 years is all that is needed because of some better recruits, and a better team "focus".

[CardinalAlum]

CardinalAlum:

I understand family comes first - IMO, it should for all of us!  However, maybe I missed it, however, the article didn't exactly explain why.  It mentioned about them buying a home back in Napeville and he and wife having family in the area, so perhaps being back "home" near extended family was the sole reason as you mention.  If so, IMO, the article could have been written a little more clearly.  I just thought perhaps there was some other factor involved, for example, perhaps his wife's job, family health issues, etc. (of course, that is his own personal business and if he/they did not desire that information to be made public, then certainly his/their perogative and understandable.  Anyway, as I said, a great gain for your NCC.

Fd3db,

I believe he did give the sole reason in the article.   He wanted to live closer to where his son lives.

[Augie6]

There may have been a few top players on a couple of those teams that were "enhanced" for lack of a better word, but there were no regulations or testing for anything in those days.

CardAlum,

They did start testing during the playoffs in 1986.  We got tested by the NCAA after our quarterfinal game against Mt. Union.  It was supposed to be a random test of players, but they randomly managed to test all of our starters on offense and defense and our kicker.  Not one second string player was tested.  It was one of the most unorganized events I have ever seen.  It took longer to get our players through the testing procedure than it did to play the game, with none of us being able to shower/change until everyone had been tested. 

[formerd3db]

CardinalAlum:

I understand family comes first - IMO, it should for all of us!  However, maybe I missed it, however, the article didn't exactly explain why.  It mentioned about them buying a home back in Napeville and he and wife having family in the area, so perhaps being back "home" near extended family was the sole reason as you mention.  If so, IMO, the article could have been written a little more clearly.  I just thought perhaps there was some other factor involved, for example, perhaps his wife's job, family health issues, etc. (of course, that is his own personal business and if he/they did not desire that information to be made public, then certainly his/their perogative and understandable.  Anyway, as I said, a great gain for your NCC.

Fd3db,

I believe he did give the sole reason in the article.   He wanted to live closer to where his son lives.

CardinalAlum:

Forgive me please, however, the article link that you posted (at least the version that comes up when I click on it and have seen) mentions nothing about Lester regarding his son.  The only reference to a "son" is HC. John Thorne's son Jeff as O.C.  The article mentioned that Lester and his wife now live in Naperville where they just bought a house.  Am I missing something here?   This is in reality a moot point in a sense, but you are confusing me!   I'll try not to "beat a d.h. i.e. this topic" further!  Thanks for any clarification.

[CardinalAlum]

There may have been a few top players on a couple of those teams that were "enhanced" for lack of a better word, but there were no regulations or testing for anything in those days.

CardAlum,

They did start testing during the playoffs in 1986.  We got tested by the NCAA after our quarterfinal game against Mt. Union.  It was supposed to be a random test of players, but they randomly managed to test all of our starters on offense and defense and our kicker.  Not one second string player was tested.  It was one of the most unorganized events I have ever seen.  It took longer to get our players through the testing procedure than it did to play the game, with none of us being able to shower/change until everyone had been tested. 

Thanks for the clarification.  I thought they started later than '86, but I stand corrected. 

[washdupcard]

The '98 Cardinal D...was a great group.  I still believe that it was one of the top D's in the last 20 yrs of the CCIW.

washdup,

I know you're just stating a belief here, but that's a pretty strong statement when you consider there have been some very good (and several great) defensive teams in the CCIW over the past 20 (or so) years.  When you look at the defensive stats for the 98 Cards, they look pretty good over the course of a season, particularly for a 3-6 team.  That team gave up a total of 244 yards per game and 18.1 points per game.  However, when you look at the teams they played, there were some very weak programs on the schedule (IBC, U of Chicago in non-conf and North Park (2-7) and Elmhurst (3-6) in conf. )and the defense didn't fare very well vs the upper half of the conference.  Against Millikin, Augie, Wheaton and IWU (the top four teams in the CCIW that year), NCC gave up an average of 31.25 points per game.  Based on these stats and playing/watching CCIW teams over the past 25 years, I think it would be hard to make a case for that defense being in the top 10, let alone one of the best.

Its a lot easier to give up 31 pts per game to the "top" programs when they are getting the ball on the opposing team's 30 yrd line.  Look at the Cards offensive (being used as both a noun and an adjective) stats for the same year. 

I'm not trying to put down NCC's D from 98'.  It was obviously a solid unit that didn't get much support on the offensive side of the ball.  I'm just questioning you're putting them in the category of one of the best in the past 20 years.  That timeframe put them against some very good defenses, including the ones I played on at Augie in the mid-80's.  Bottom line, if it was truly one of the top defenses, it would find ways to stop opposing offenses from scoring, regardless of whose end of the field they are starting at.  

The reason I'm questioning the statement is, over the past couple of years, there have been some comments made on this board that tend to be a little "over the top" when it comes to assessing certain teams/players abilities and their "place in history".  IMO, many of these comments are based on very limited experience and historical perspective of the CCIW and DIII in general.  It sounds like you were a player on the 98' team and I'm not sure if you had much experience watching CCIW teams prior to that.  Besides Augie, there were some very good Millikin, Wheaton and IWU defensive teams in the last 20+ years.  Unless you saw any of those teams play and have regularly watched CCIW teams since your playing days ended, I don't see how you can support your opinion that a defense from a 3-6 team was one of the best defenses to play in the CCIW over the past 20 years.  

I'd have to agree with Augie6 here... 240+ yards and 18.1 pt per game does not equate to one of the best defenses in the past 20 years by a long shot.  That is a solid defense, but not a great defense.  I don't care how you rationalize how it really was better than the numbers suggest...

I certaintly never thought that anyone was going to agree with my statement.  I'm not saying its indisputable or that someone else has to agree with me...all I'm saying is that I think it was a great defense...and I'm just giving my opinion.  Is my opinion biased...absolutely.

[CardinalAlum]

I certaintly never thought that anyone was going to agree with my statement.  I'm not saying its indisputable or that someone else has to agree with me...all I'm saying is that I think it was a great defense...and I'm just giving my opinion.  Is my opinion biased...absolutely.

Spoken like a true officer of the court! 

[washdupcard]

I think bringing in a Rookie Defensive Coordinator in Lester is a gamble.  I understand that he is highly regarded and that Thorne coached him...went to college with his father...blah blah blah...  However we are talking about a program that just earned a share of the CCIW title for the first time in history...and we are bringing in a D.C. who has never coached on the Defensive side of the ball?  

How well is he going to understand the Defensive Line and linebacker responsibilities/capabilities?  

On the other hand...who better to stop an offense than a former Q.B.  Surely he is intimately familar with Secondary coverages...blitz packages..etc.  

This is either going to be a brilliant hire or a brilliant blunder.  What was the drawback to having him coach a Defensive position for year...then taking over as the coordinator?

[redman04]

I'm not credible for analyzing the best defenses in the CCIW over the past 20 years, but I'd like to suggest that the 2004 Carthage defense should at least make the team picture. Certainly not the best, but in contention for a high seating

Tailgater, do you have any stats on the '04 defense?

Here is a good one
Interceptions:  31 in 2004
I'm looking for other stats as well.

[diehardfan]

I'm not credible for analyzing the best defenses in the CCIW over the past 20 years, but I'd like to suggest that the 2004 Carthage defense should at least make the team picture. Certainly not the best, but in contention for a high seating

Tailgater, do you have any stats on the '04 defense?

Here is a good one
Interceptions:  31 in 2004
I'm looking for other stats as well.

http://www.cciw.org/fall_football/2004fboverallstats.php
http://www.cciw.org/fall_football/2004fbstats.php

Sure is a nice conference website we've got there.

[Titanwatcher]

I'm not credible for analyzing the best defenses in the CCIW over the past 20 years, but I'd like to suggest that the 2004 Carthage defense should at least make the team picture. Certainly not the best, but in contention for a high seating

Tailgater, do you have any stats on the '04 defense?

Here is a good one
Interceptions:  31 in 2004
I'm looking for other stats as well.

http://www.cciw.org/fall_football/2004fboverallstats.php
http://www.cciw.org/fall_football/2004fbstats.php

Sure is a nice conference website we've got there.

Thank you both for your help on this, even with the sarcasm diehard

[diehardfan]

Thank you both for your help on this, even with the sarcasm diehard

It wasn't meant in a mean spirited way at all, hope it wasn't taken that way. 

[Titanwatcher]

No, I have lurked here long enough to know what a fun loving, unassuming, warm hearted person you are. So no, no offense taken.