FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

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

Wow. As great a player as Dominick Sulo was, he would have been on the bench behind Levell Coppage. That is a fact. And there isn't a player on NCC's current roster even close to Coppage now. Who would you start at any time over the last 4 yrs over him? And if NCC has so much talent at RB why did Tassio get moved from qb to 1st team running back?  

[Stagg Again!!]

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.

Which leads to the obvious question...  What does NCC's out-of-conference (OOC) schedule look like for next year?  I checked out the D3football.com site and it appears that the Cardinals have open dates on 9/3, 9/10, and 9/24.  Based on my read, DePauw, UWSP and Wittenberg also have 9/3 open; Franklin, UWW, and UWSP have 9/10 open; and Adrian and UWW have 9/24 open. 

I have previously stated my firm opposition to playing a tough out-of-conference schedule since the CCIW is such a good conference.  However, I do believe that NCC now needs to upgrade its pre-season schedule from the likes of Cornell, Olivet, IBC, etc.  If NCC is going to schedule a challenging OOC game, they may as well schedule UWW this fall (on 9/24).  A win would do wonders for the program; a close game/loss (without injuries) would not impact them too adversely come selection time given the SOS boost of playing a team that would most likely have 9-10 wins.  I think the UWW folks would welcome another DIII game on their schedule (v. playing all NAIA opponents), and it would allow NCC the chance to continue to take the next step with their program.

[badgerwarhawk]

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. .

The truth in who's delusion?  Tell your staff to just keep passing on recruits like him and Raebel.  We'll win national championships with your rejects.

I'd also like to say congrats to Matt Wenger.  He was a hell of a competitor and I hope someone gives him a shot at playing on Sundays.  

[footballfan413]

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.

Which leads to the obvious question...  What does NCC's out-of-conference (OOC) schedule look like for next year?  I checked out the D3football.com site and it appears that the Cardinals have open dates on 9/3, 9/10, and 9/24.  Based on my read, DePauw, UWSP and Wittenberg also have 9/3 open; Franklin, UWW, and UWSP have 9/10 open; and Adrian and UWW have 9/24 open.  

I have previously stated my firm opposition to playing a tough out-of-conference schedule since the CCIW is such a good conference.  However, I do believe that NCC now needs to upgrade its pre-season schedule from the likes of Cornell, Olivet, IBC, etc.  If NCC is going to schedule a challenging OOC game, they may as well schedule UWW this fall (on 9/24).  A win would do wonders for the program; a close game/loss (without injuries) would not impact them too adversely come selection time given the SOS boost of playing a team that would most likely have 9-10 wins.  I think the UWW folks would welcome another DIII game on their schedule (v. playing all NAIA opponents), and it would allow NCC the chance to continue to take the next step with their program.

Absolutely!  Someone pointed out to me that a possible advantage of the selection committee putting the sole emphasis this year on SOS is that now other programs may have to seriously re-think their philosophy of avoiding NC games with us, especially if they are confident that they can get the AA or at least get out of their conference with only 1 loss.  It appears, for now anyway, (who knows what the next committee will do especially after we made them look silly winning it all as the #2 in the #4 region,) that building your SOS is your best way to get a top seed and home field advantage and put your team in the best position to have as successful play-off run as possible.  Want to be the best?  Then it's never to early to play the best.  

[Mugsy]

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.

Absurd statement.  You are entitled to your opinion, sure... but absurd none-the-less.  It is this kind of ignorant statement that makes the CCIW faithful look bad. 

[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.

Absurd statement.  You are entitled to your opinion, sure... but absurd none-the-less.  It is this kind of ignorant statement that makes the CCIW faithful look bad. 

Not at all, Mugsy.  I have said for years that this board has some of the most knowledgeable, respectful posters on PP and an isolated post like this won't change that.  Besides, no one knows better than Whitewater fans what it's like to be painted with a broad brush. 

[CardinalAlum]

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.

    Wow, that is as stupid of a statement as I have seen on this board in a long time!  I really doubt you will find one other person that agrees with your opinion of Coppage!  If all you're doing is trying to stir it up, find another outlet!

[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.

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.

    Wow, that is as stupid of a statement as I have seen on this board in a long time!  I really doubt you will find one other person that agrees with your opinion of Coppage!  If all you're doing is trying to stir it up, find another outlet!

....then he succeeded.

[Red Reign]

Lol.. of course it's to stir things up, it's a discussion board.

Okay, so let me explain a little here to make more sense. C. Worth, J. Beaver, L. Coppage were all great RB's for UWW right in a row. Some may say that UWW just get outstanding RB's, this maybe the case. However, anyone that knows anything in the coaching world knows Steve Dinkel at UWW. He is an outstanding OL coach that has wrote several books, as well as a DVD series. When I said product of a system I meant you can plug any good RB at UWW and their productivity will be as same as Coppage (IMO). UWW is known for the biggest, meanest O-Linemen in D-3 (do I dare say NAIA, D2?). You look back to UWW NCC I you could have driven a truck through some of those holes. I am not taking anything from those RB's at UWW, all I'm saying their Oline has be awesome that past 8+ years.

In retrospect, yeah I spoke out of my limits to say Coppage might not have started at NCC.... but it does make one wonder...

As for recruitment: NCC vs UWW: also keep in mind NCC academic standards are far more strenuous then UWW. This will limit some high profile D3 recruits. I personally spoke to an athlete at UWW that got into the school with a 16 ACT. I just don't see NCC letting a student in with that kind of score, and never heard of such things.

Nonetheless, those that have been on the CCIW board knows I like to stir up things... I find it fun to look at different views, even if they're wrong. It's the fruit of life 

Happy Holidays

[usee]

Pete Ittersagen made his regular season NFL debut Sunday with 3 special teams tackles. This week the Titans travel to Kansas City and Ittersagen will be knocking heads on special teams against former teammate Andy Studebaker. Pretty cool to have 2 D3 teammates playing against each other!

[Mugsy]

Lol.. of course it's to stir things up, it's a discussion board.

Okay, so let me explain a little here to make more sense. C. Worth, J. Beaver, L. Coppage were all great RB's for UWW right in a row. Some may say that UWW just get outstanding RB's, this maybe the case. However, anyone that knows anything in the coaching world knows Steve Dinkel at UWW. He is an outstanding OL coach that has wrote several books, as well as a DVD series. When I said product of a system I meant you can plug any good RB at UWW and their productivity will be as same as Coppage (IMO). UWW is known for the biggest, meanest O-Linemen in D-3 (do I dare say NAIA, D2?). You look back to UWW NCC I you could have driven a truck through some of those holes. I am not taking anything from those RB's at UWW, all I'm saying their Oline has be awesome that past 8+ years.

In retrospect, yeah I spoke out of my limits to say Coppage might not have started at NCC.... but it does make one wonder...

As for recruitment: NCC vs UWW: also keep in mind NCC academic standards are far more strenuous then UWW. This will limit some high profile D3 recruits. I personally spoke to an athlete at UWW that got into the school with a 16 ACT. I just don't see NCC letting a student in with that kind of score, and never heard of such things.

Nonetheless, those that have been on the CCIW board knows I like to stir up things... I find it fun to look at different views, even if they're wrong. It's the fruit of life  

Happy Holidays

Even though I still don't agree with your initial comment about Coppage not being able to start at NCC (which you somewhat backed off of in this post), at least in this post you included details/thought behind your statement of opinion.  

I do agree with your premise that UWW has one of the best, if not the best OLine's in D3.  You don't have their level of success without dominating in the trenches.  I agree to some extent that the OLine will make life easier on the UWW RB's and in some regard make them more productive than they would be if you put them on another team with less talented linemen.  It would NOT make them any less talented of a RB however.

Where I disagree with you and think it would be an oversimplification, is to imply that you can plug in any RB into the UWW system and produce an All-American, the likes of Coppage.  That would be taking away to much credit from Coppage or Beavers who proceded him.  I think UWW has one of the best OLine's year in and year out AND they have some very talented, tough RB's as well.

On the one hand you state "you don't want to take anything away from those RB's at UWW", but then you say "you can plug any good RB at UWW and their productivity will be as same as Coppage".  I'm trying to figure out how this is "not taking anything away" from Coppage.  

[NCF]

As for recruitment: NCC vs UWW: also keep in mind NCC academic standards are far more strenuous then UWW. This will limit some high profile D3 recruits. I personally spoke to an athlete at UWW that got into the school with a 16 ACT. I just don't see NCC letting a student in with that kind of score, and never heard of such things.

And that is a major issue I have with the NCAA in any division. Coach Thorne wants his players to excel academically as well as athletically.

[Mugsy]

As for recruitment: NCC vs UWW: also keep in mind NCC academic standards are far more strenuous then UWW. This will limit some high profile D3 recruits. I personally spoke to an athlete at UWW that got into the school with a 16 ACT. I just don't see NCC letting a student in with that kind of score, and never heard of such things.

And that is a major issue I have with the NCAA in any division. Coach Thorne wants his players to excel academically as well as athletically.

While clearly there are differences from school to school on academic standards/requirements to gain admission to attend the school, be careful on implying that coaches from other institutions don't value excellence in academics as well.  Unless you have 1st hand knowledge, that is speculative and irresponsible.

Most (if not all) coaches do not have much control over the standards/requirements necessary for admission.  Regardless of the average ACT score of those on the football team, be it 16 or 30, a coaching staff can have the same level of commitment to encouraging the student athlete to perform in the classroom and graduate.

There may be a difference between the admission requirements, but not necessarily on the commitment of the coaching staff to academics.

[Alliance72]

Lol.. of course it's to stir things up, it's a discussion board.

Okay, so let me explain a little here to make more sense. C. Worth, J. Beaver, L. Coppage were all great RB's for UWW right in a row. Some may say that UWW just get outstanding RB's, this maybe the case. However, anyone that knows anything in the coaching world knows Steve Dinkel at UWW. He is an outstanding OL coach that has wrote several books, as well as a DVD series. When I said product of a system I meant you can plug any good RB at UWW and their productivity will be as same as Coppage (IMO). UWW is known for the biggest, meanest O-Linemen in D-3 (do I dare say NAIA, D2?). You look back to UWW NCC I you could have driven a truck through some of those holes. I am not taking anything from those RB's at UWW, all I'm saying their Oline has be awesome that past 8+ years.

In retrospect, yeah I spoke out of my limits to say Coppage might not have started at NCC.... but it does make one wonder...

As for recruitment: NCC vs UWW: also keep in mind NCC academic standards are far more strenuous then UWW. This will limit some high profile D3 recruits. I personally spoke to an athlete at UWW that got into the school with a 16 ACT. I just don't see NCC letting a student in with that kind of score, and never heard of such things.

Nonetheless, those that have been on the CCIW board knows I like to stir up things... I find it fun to look at different views, even if they're wrong. It's the fruit of life  

Happy Holidays

Even though I still don't agree with your initial comment about Coppage not being able to start at NCC (which you somewhat backed off of in this post), at least in this post you included details/thought behind your statement of opinion.  

I do agree with your premise that UWW has one of the best, if not the best OLine's in D3.  You don't have their level of success without dominating in the trenches.  I agree to some extent that the OLine will make life easier on the UWW RB's and in some regard make them more productive than they would be if you put them on another team with less talented linemen.  It would NOT make them any less talented of a RB however.

Where I disagree with you and think it would be an oversimplification, is to imply that you can plug in any RB into the UWW system and produce an All-American, the likes of Coppage.  That would be taking away to much credit from Coppage or Beavers who proceded him.  I think UWW has one of the best OLine's year in and year out AND they have some very talented, tough RB's as well.

On the one hand you state "you don't want to take anything away from those RB's at UWW", but then you say "you can plug any good RB at UWW and their productivity will be as same as Coppage".  I'm trying to figure out how this is "not taking anything away" from Coppage.  

Although UWW's O line is very good, Coppage makes them look even better.  He breaks tackles, he has outstanding vision and changes direction to maximize whatever hole's there and he turns losses into positive plays or no gains by avoiding tacklers in the backfield.   Finally, he has breakaway speed to put additional pressure on the defense.  Not to take anything away from the rest of the team which is very good,   Coppage is the one UWW player that Mount has had had no answer for the last two years.  As a Mount fan,  it's a nightmare that he has one more year. 

[robertgoulet]

As a Mount fan,  it's a nightmare that he has one more year. 

Well, as a NCC alum, hopefully we can keep that nightmare from reaching Mt. Union in the 2011 playoffs. I'd much rather you see flashes of red in your nightmares next season.