FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Stagg Again!!]

Congratulations goes out to Matt Wenger the D3football.com DPOY --

2010 All-America team
D3football.com Offensive Player of the Year: Levell Coppage, UW-Whitewater
D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Wenger, North Central (Ill.)
D3football.com Coach of the Year: Lance Leipold, UW-Whitewater

[T_Unit14]

a few quick points...congrats to Wenger (and Coppage and Leipold) first and foremost and then onto the Stagg and the status of NCC on the national scene...

I think when you try to gauge NCC against the likes of WW and MU, today is not what you want to use.  Both teams were on their back up QB's and MU QB was making his first start in the NC game...that would be tough in a playoff game much less the NC game.  I guarantee you are going to see Piloto and Brekke starting for these teams again in the future, but there is a better QB on each of the WW and MU rosters.  Think about how many turnovers each team had coming into this game and then you see them both combine for 9?  This wasn't either teams best game.  I'm not making excuses for either team, I'm just stating the facts.

MU may have out game planned themselves with abandoning the run and throwing a crazy amount with a back up QB but that is why Kehres is where he is and has accomplished what he has.  I think you look at the depth of both teams and that is something that NCC needs to improve on.

With that all said, I think MU without Seaman is = to NCC.  I think NCC was by far our toughest game of the year on many different levels.  I would have a hard time not ranking them #3 in the country.  In regards to the "elite" status, what does that consist of?  It's one thing to get to these big games and its a whole other thing to win them and win them consistently.  WW still sees Mount as their goal to reach.  NCC needs to realize they can never become "satisfied".  WW took that first loss in the Stagg Bowl and used it as motivation...that whole next year was "unfinished business" and from there this team simply has played with a chip on it's shoulder and always found something to strive for.

I think NCC has the coaching staff in place and they have laid the ground work.  Now it is a matter of reloading every year and building that depth.  I think the more interesting thing I look at with NCC here is something many probably didn't even think about yet.

What is NCC's emergence as a top tier team do for recruiting in the Chicago area?  Most of the better recruits who get passed over by DI and DII teams have ended up going to UWW if they were recruited.  Now that NCC has emerged do they start "putting up a fence" around the Chicago area?  Imagine what a NCC team would look like with Illinois native Levell Coppage tooting the rock on offense and Matt Wenger destroying people on defense.  I know I wouldn't want face that team.  Or how about a defense that would have had the likes of AJ Raebel or any of the outstanding Illinois/Chicago area studs WW has had.  It will be interesting to see if WW continues to pull these kids to Wisconsin or if they start staying at home.

[Mr. Ypsi]

So, UMU fell to UWW by the same 10-point margin as NCC.  (And Coppage gained 299 yards today, vs. 117 against NCC.)

If NCC doesn't finish at least third in the final poll, the voters have gone crazy.  I'm wondering if very many voters will have the guts to put them second.  (At least one UWW partisan said NCC was the best team they faced this year.)

[WarhawkDad]

After seeing the UWW -NCC game and the Stagg Bowl in person my top 5 teams would be:

1. UWW
2. UMU
3. NCC
4. Wesley
5. Trine

[Stagg Again!!]

Great post T_Unit.  I understand the limitation of my sample size, and perhaps I should have said that I believe that NCC would have beaten the Mount Union team that I saw play today.  I just got done watching the game for the second time, and am even more impressed with how UWW was able to control both sides of the line of scrimmage.  I didn't notice as much of a difference between the lines in the UWW v. NCC game until midway through the fourth quarter when I think the size and weight differential between the UWW OL and NCC's DL caught up to the Cardinals. 

I thought your comments about UWWs successful recruiting efforts in the Chicago area were also quite interesting.  Only time will tell on this one.  Clearly, UWW will continue to benefit from being the best team in DIII.  IMO, NCC won't be considered a truely "elite" program until it is able to consistently get to the third, fourth, and fifth round of the playoffs.  A this point, though, I do believe that NCC's program has evolved to such a level that we will see them in the upper half of the Top 25 for years to come.  Where they go from here is anyone's guess.  I do know that the vast majority of their starters are coming back next year, that they have a great group of underclassemen chomping at the bit to get on the field, and the phones lines have been lit up during the last two weeks in Naperville with potential transfers and talented high school players all seeking information about the program and opportunities for next year.  IMO, NCC should open the season ranked in the top five (and perhaps even in the top three).

[T_Unit14]

Great post T_Unit.  I understand the limitation of my sample size, and perhaps I should have said that I believe that NCC would have beaten the Mount Union team that I saw play today.  I just got done watching the game for the second time, and am even more impressed with how UWW was able to control both sides of the line of scrimmage.  I didn't notice as much of a difference between the lines in the UWW v. NCC game until midway through the fourth quarter when I think the size and weight differential between the UWW OL and NCC's DL caught up to the Cardinals. 

I thought your comments about UWWs successful recruiting efforts in the Chicago area were also quite interesting.  Only time will tell on this one.  Clearly, UWW will continue to benefit from being the best team in DIII.  IMO, NCC won't be considered a truely "elite" program until it is able to consistently get to the third, fourth, and fifth round of the playoffs.  A this point, though, I do believe that NCC's program has evolved to such a level that we will see them in the upper half of the Top 25 for years to come.  Where they go from here is anyone's guess.  I do know that the vast majority of their starters are coming back next year, that they have a great group of underclassemen chomping at the bit to get on the field, and the phones lines have been lit up during the last two weeks in Naperville with potential transfers and talented high school players all seeking information about the program and opportunities for next year.  IMO, NCC should open the season ranked in the top five (and perhaps even in the top three).

I would have a hard time putting them outside of the top 3...top 5 should be a given for the caliber team they had this year and what they are bringing back

[Red Reign]

a few quick points...congrats to Wenger (and Coppage and Leipold) first and foremost and then onto the Stagg and the status of NCC on the national scene...

I think when you try to gauge NCC against the likes of WW and MU, today is not what you want to use.  Both teams were on their back up QB's and MU QB was making his first start in the NC game...that would be tough in a playoff game much less the NC game.  I guarantee you are going to see Piloto and Brekke starting for these teams again in the future, but there is a better QB on each of the WW and MU rosters.  Think about how many turnovers each team had coming into this game and then you see them both combine for 9?  This wasn't either teams best game.  I'm not making excuses for either team, I'm just stating the facts.

MU may have out game planned themselves with abandoning the run and throwing a crazy amount with a back up QB but that is why Kehres is where he is and has accomplished what he has.  I think you look at the depth of both teams and that is something that NCC needs to improve on.

With that all said, I think MU without Seaman is = to NCC.  I think NCC was by far our toughest game of the year on many different levels.  I would have a hard time not ranking them #3 in the country.  In regards to the "elite" status, what does that consist of?  It's one thing to get to these big games and its a whole other thing to win them and win them consistently.  WW still sees Mount as their goal to reach.  NCC needs to realize they can never become "satisfied".  WW took that first loss in the Stagg Bowl and used it as motivation...that whole next year was "unfinished business" and from there this team simply has played with a chip on it's shoulder and always found something to strive for.

I think NCC has the coaching staff in place and they have laid the ground work.  Now it is a matter of reloading every year and building that depth.  I think the more interesting thing I look at with NCC here is something many probably didn't even think about yet.

What is NCC's emergence as a top tier team do for recruiting in the Chicago area?  Most of the better recruits who get passed over by DI and DII teams have ended up going to UWW if they were recruited.  Now that NCC has emerged do they start "putting up a fence" around the Chicago area?  Imagine what a NCC team would look like with Illinois native Levell Coppage tooting the rock on offense and Matt Wenger destroying people on defense.  I know I wouldn't want face that team.  Or how about a defense that would have had the likes of AJ Raebel or any of the outstanding Illinois/Chicago area studs WW has had.  It will be interesting to see if WW continues to pull these kids to Wisconsin or if they start staying at home.

I think North Central gets the majority of the recruits they want from the area. Coppage is a product of the system... I'm not even sure if he would start at NCC, bold statement? Sure, but the truth. Guys like Reabel & Wenger weren't highly recruited out of HS, they were good players in HS and they worked their tails off and became a player well beyond expectations.

As for the transfers: Over the past 5 years NCC has had transfers for Indiana, Illinois, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois and even UW-Whitewater

So I wouldn't say transfers and high recruited HS athletes choose UWW. I think over the years NCC has proven that they get great Chicago area recruits and transfers... How do you think they got to the top? I don't think there were many recruits the past few years NCC didn't get who they wanted.

[Stagg Again!!]

I think North Central gets the majority of the recruits they want from the area. Coppage is a product of the system... I'm not even sure if he would start at NCC, bold statement? Sure, but the truth.

RR, I agree that NCC has made great strides with recruiting under Thorne, but do not agree with your comment that Coppage wouldn't start at NCC.  First, Coppage was a DI prospect at OPRF, and if he had landed at NCC three years ago, I think Thorne would have been more than happy to have added him to the roster.  And, second, I know that Thorne has a good eye for talent and would have seen the quickness, ellusiveness, and open-field break-away speed that Coppage possesses.  There is no way that Coppage wouldn't be the current starter for the Cardinals.  Perhaps he would have been slow to hit the field his freshman year given that Sulo was a mainstay, but when Sulo had his season-ending injury last year Coppage, would have hit the field and wouldn't have looked back.  I do believe that you need to explain/defend your position a bit more on this one as I, for one, would be happy to have a RB with OPOY talent on my team.

[Titan Q]

Coppage is a product of the system... I'm not even sure if he would start at NCC, bold statement? Sure, but the truth.

This is, in fact, a bold statement.  I'd use another word too - asinine!!

Come on, dude.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Coppage is a product of the system... I'm not even sure if he would start at NCC, bold statement? Sure, but the truth.

This is, in fact, a bold statement.  I'd use another word too - asinine!!

Come on, dude.

Most outrageous comment I've seen in a while on Post Patterns...

That cat has the skills to continue playing after he leaves UWW.  Darren Sproles is only 5'6" 190.  Coppage is listed at 5'8" 180 and would obviously get bigger if he makes it to the next level.

[BoBo]

NCC finishes #3 in the final TOP 25

[footballfan413]

I think North Central gets the majority of the recruits they want from the area. Coppage is a product of the system... I'm not even sure if he would start at NCC, bold statement? Sure, but the truth. Guys like Reabel & Wenger weren't highly recruited out of HS, they were good players in HS and they worked their tails off and became a player well beyond expectations.

As for the transfers: Over the past 5 years NCC has had transfers for Indiana, Illinois, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois and even UW-Whitewater

So I wouldn't say transfers and high recruited HS athletes choose UWW. I think over the years NCC has proven that they get great Chicago area recruits and transfers... How do you think they got to the top? I don't think there were many recruits the past few years NCC didn't get who they wanted.

As someone with, "inside info,"   I'll address this comment and let the others take care of the Coppage slight. Guess it depends on what you consider, "highly recruited," but my son did turn down two D-2 offers, some D-1AA interest (means nothing,) and D-2 Grand Valley State wanting him to come to a recruiting camp simply because he wanted to play closer to home.  That left the CCIW and WIAC and within those boundaries, I would say he got plenty of attention, especially from any staff that saw his tape.  There was never any contact from either side where NCC was concerned but at the time, Augie was the place to be and Coach Barnes was the first to put a bid in along with Coach Rucks, to name a few.  Interest from the WIAC was from UWW, LaCrosse and UW-P.   But the UW-W staff was, by far, the staff that recognized his potential the most and recruited him the hardest.  When he arrived for the 03 season, there were 6 boys from Illinois.  Without looking, I believe that number is up to about 25 % of the 100 man roster now.    You didn't have Coach Thorne then and this kind of success at the national level so yes, I don't doubt that they are now in a position to vie for some of the the top D-3 players in the area, especially against other CCIW schools, but with the success we've had since 05, not too worried about losing a Raebel/Coppage type player to NCC yet.  

As far as UWW is concerned, he never became, "a player well beyond expectations."  The UW-W coaching staff expected that level of success from him all along.

[02 Warhawk]

I think North Central gets the majority of the recruits they want from the area. Coppage is a product of the system... I'm not even sure if he would start at NCC, bold statement? Sure, but the truth. Guys like Reabel & Wenger weren't highly recruited out of HS, they were good players in HS and they worked their tails off and became a player well beyond expectations.

So I wouldn't say transfers and high recruited HS athletes choose UWW. I think over the years NCC has proven that they get great Chicago area recruits and transfers... How do you think they got to the top? I don't think there were many recruits the past few years NCC didn't get who they wanted.

you might want to back that statement up with an explanation of some sort...

Over the past six years, UWW has had some of its best players come out of IL.

[NCF]

Great post T_Unit.  I understand the limitation of my sample size, and perhaps I should have said that I believe that NCC would have beaten the Mount Union team that I saw play today.  I just got done watching the game for the second time, and am even more impressed with how UWW was able to control both sides of the line of scrimmage.  I didn't notice as much of a difference between the lines in the UWW v. NCC game until midway through the fourth quarter when I think the size and weight differential between the UWW OL and NCC's DL caught up to the Cardinals. 

I thought your comments about UWWs successful recruiting efforts in the Chicago area were also quite interesting.  Only time will tell on this one.  Clearly, UWW will continue to benefit from being the best team in DIII.  IMO, NCC won't be considered a truely "elite" program until it is able to consistently get to the third, fourth, and fifth round of the playoffs.  A this point, though, I do believe that NCC's program has evolved to such a level that we will see them in the upper half of the Top 25 for years to come.  Where they go from here is anyone's guess.  I do know that the vast majority of their starters are coming back next year, that they have a great group of underclassemen chomping at the bit to get on the field, and the phones lines have been lit up during the last two weeks in Naperville with potential transfers and talented high school players all seeking information about the program and opportunities for next year.  IMO, NCC should open the season ranked in the top five (and perhaps even in the top three).

Very true-getting to the quarterfinals is NOT good enough, either is being ranked #3. The goal is to get to the National Championship and win. With the group of returners they have coming back and the rest of the squad just waiting to get their shot, I'd say next year looks very good for the Cardinals. Now they know they can compete with the best, they need to push themselves to the next level and beat the best.

[footballfan413]

Darn, I usually try and refrain from talking about my son on Post Patterns with the exception of his health crisis this year but, for some reason, I felt compelled in this instance..............

I almost forgot the reason I came over to this board this morning!  A BIG congrats to Matt Wenger and his family for winning the DPOY!  I especially love it that such an honor went to an LB!!!
 Now as far as Matt goes............ we would have been happy to have him at UW-W.