FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Congrats to NC on a big win today.  They were surely the better team on the day.  IWU couldn't get anything going offensively, and we also hurt ourselves with several costly penalties, especially after a few big plays.  Way too many yellow flags, some dubious calls on both sides.  But, NC had an outstanding running game and basically stopped IWU's previously crisp short-range passing game, giving our QB a pretty rough day. As Q has said, without Stinde, our running game is pretty limited against an outstanding defensive performance by NC.  Our QB is a sophomore and wil learn from this and have much better days in the future of his CCIW career, I'm sure.  Good luck to both the Cardinals and the Titans the rest of the way, as I'd love to see them both in post-season play. 

Again, congrats to NC on an outstanding game against our fine IWU squad.  I guess John Thorne had the best Homecoming on this day. 

IWU 70

[shepherd]

North Central showed today they are a legit top 5 team.  Able to run the ball against good defenses.  Very strong run defense.  These are two attributes of teams that play for the Walnut and bronze.  Add to that a very good special teams not only able to run punts and kickoffs for big yardage.  They also have been pinning teams inside the ten or inside the five.  Yes they definitely are playing at a different level.

[LETS ROLL]

Wheaton wins in Kenosha. 31-7

[Kovo]

 I just tried to pull up the video of the Redlands vs.  Occidental game, and Occidential wants $12.95 for the game.  I guess D3 football has arrived.

[Gregory Sager]

Boy, a real heartbreaker of a loss for NPU today. Up by a field goal in the third quarter, the Park ended up surrendering a couple of long TD passes that put Augie up by ten, and although NPU managed to score a TD late in the game on a double reverse pass from Sam Cochiaro to De'Marien Hampton, the ensuing onsides kick was recovered by Augie with 1:20 left, effectively ending the game.

I'm biased, but I thought that on balance NPU played the more consistent game. The Park didn't have any penalties called against it, only turned the ball over once (when Hampton fell down after getting his feet tangled up with the DB, who then made an easy pick), and held the ball for almost two-thirds of the game, as the option chewed up 284 yards of real estate. But Augie made the big plays; a big WR handoff run in the first half to set up one touchdown, a fake field goal that set up another touchdown, and then the two killer long TD passes in the second half. Perhaps the biggest play of the game, though, happened in the first quarter, when Tony Kebede's 37-yard field goal attempt was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Although it still had plenty of distance, the flight of the ball went awry, going wide left by about five yards. Considering that Augie missed the PAT after its third touchdown, that missed field goal loomed large all day for North Park.

Augie made those big plays happen, and for the most part exhibited a bend-but-don't-break defense that got the hosts over the finish line. Credit to them. This year's team is only a shadow of the Augie that used to be, of course, but it's still a pretty good football team.

As I said in the broadcast today, NPU is beyond moral victories at this point. The Park clearly expected to win today, which made the loss that much tougher to endure. It was a very dejected Vikings team that climbed on the buses for the long ride home to Chicago. It would've been a very special day indeed if they'd managed to pull this one out. Instead it was just another near-miss in the CCIW. But next week at Hedstrand Field against Carthage I think that North Park will have another good shot at breaking that stupid losing streak.

[shepherd]

FYI: If there happens to be a three way tie between IWU, Wheaton and North Central the points are as follows for AQ:

IWU at -19  (Wheaton +5, NCC -24) Cant win the three way tie.

Wheaton at -5 (IWU -5) yet to play NCC needs to beat NCC by +15 to win a three way tie.

NCC at +24 (IWU +24) yet to play Wheaton.  Can lose by 14 to Wheaton and get the AQ.

Wheaton has the hardest road to the playoffs in that if they don't get the AQ by beating NCC by 15 they would most certainly be behind IWU for a pool C.

Just thought I would throw that out there.  Please correct me if there are errors.

[Pat Coleman]

I just tried to pull up the video of the Redlands vs.  Occidental game, and Occidential wants $12.95 for the game.  I guess D3 football has arrived.

Oof. Try listening to www.oxybroadcast.com.

[AndOne]

Most likely top 25 team to be upset: (Pat Coleman) NCC.

Of course, I'd feel even better if he was right more often on those picks!

Looks like that crystal ball needs a bit of polishing. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Most likely top 25 team to be upset: (Pat Coleman) NCC.

Of course, I'd feel even better if he was right more often on those picks!

Looks like that crystal ball needs a bit of polishing. 

Well, in fairness, he is picking upsets, and he always picks third.  I thought today's game would be closer, but I think NCC has risen to a different level.  Probably not yet UMU/UWW, but in the group just below them.  The loss at Redlands is looking more and more like 'just one of those days'.

IF IWU takes care of business, they'll still be in the playoffs; hopefully they can make some serious noise!

[Kovo]

I just tried to pull up the video of the Redlands vs.  Occidental game, and Occidential wants $12.95 for the game.  I guess D3 football has arrived.

Oof. Try listening to www.oxybroadcast.com.

Thanks Pat.  The reality is that I WOULD pay for the CCIW broadcasts, and would not be offended if the schools charged a reasonable fee, particularly in these tough budgetary times.

[USee]

Here is the link to the Pantagraph article for yesterday's NCC/IWU game:

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/article_1bf08b2c-fcfd-11e0-aeef-001cc4c002e0.html

"The things we have done in the first six games we just didn't do," said IWU coach Norm Eash. "The reason we got to 6-0 is we made plays. We didn't make plays today ... in big ballgames it's so important you do make those plays because it keeps the momentum sliding from one way to the other."


To be fair (not picking on Q but asking the question) I guess I am not sure how Coach Eash's comments is any different than what Coach Swider said after the Wheaton/IWU game a few weeks back?

"And the sad thing is that everything, everything was just self-inflicted wounds - just plays that our kids could have made, and things that could have been done differently, and things that it wasn't our opponent doing things to us....You give Illinois Wesleyan credit, they played till the end and won a football game, but it was a tough pill to swallow, it really was"

Obviously Coach Swider's comments were more specific but both Coaches focused on what their team did/didn't do.

[Titan Q]

Here is the link to the Pantagraph article for yesterday's NCC/IWU game:

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/article_1bf08b2c-fcfd-11e0-aeef-001cc4c002e0.html

"The things we have done in the first six games we just didn't do," said IWU coach Norm Eash. "The reason we got to 6-0 is we made plays. We didn't make plays today ... in big ballgames it's so important you do make those plays because it keeps the momentum sliding from one way to the other."


To be fair (not picking on Q but asking the question) I guess I am not sure how Coach Eash's comments is any different than what Coach Swider said after the Wheaton/IWU game a few weeks back?

"And the sad thing is that everything, everything was just self-inflicted wounds - just plays that our kids could have made, and things that could have been done differently, and things that it wasn't our opponent doing things to us....You give Illinois Wesleyan credit, they played till the end and won a football game, but it was a tough pill to swallow, it really was"

Obviously Coach Swider's comments were more specific but both Coaches focused on what their team did/didn't do.

I think you are stretching big-time there, USee.  I don't think those comments are very similar at all.  To say "we didn't make plays" is one thing.  But to say, "...everything, everything was just self-inflicted wounds..." (especially with the emphasis on "everything" when you watch the statement) and "...it wasn't our opponents doing things to us..." is just very different in my opinion.

Both comments are inward-looking, but that is about the only similarity I see.

[lfter]

First post ever:   A comment on NCC's ranking with UWW/Mount Union.   I believe it's time for the playoffs to be set up so that NCC shows up in the same half of the brackets as Mt Union instead of UWW.  Comments ?

[USee]

I am not so sure it's a stretch at all. We are obviously both biased toward our teams. My point is I didn't see anything wrong with Swider's comments then and I don't see anything wrong with Eash's comments now.

If I were making an argument (this is not my opinion, I am playing devil's advocate here), I see Swider giving IWU credit. I didn't see Coach Eash say anything about NCC"s effort. I am not sure you can have it both ways. Eash saying "We didn't do what we did the first 6 games" certainly downplay's the fact that NCC created most of that underperformance doesn't it?

Separately, I posted some thoughts on the Pool C board about the CCIW situation. I think that discussion will only be relevant for another 13 days. 

[USee]

It would not surprise me at all if North Park beats Carthage this Saturday in Chicago. Carthage's offense is in shambles and NPU has a very respectable defense. If The Park can generate some offense and get some momentum, I could see the streak ending. In fact, I will go on record as saying it happens this Saturday.

NPU 17
Carthage 10