FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[BashBacker#16]

CardinalAlum,

The best tailgating at Wabash is behind the home stands (South of the stadium) - there is a an old railroad track (running East & West) and they'll be tailgates set up on both sides.  There are 2-3 lots you can settle in on too.  It's a very good environment.

Hazzben - that's your opinion on the line (I think -20+ is a bit excessive) but I'm a bit confused on your comment regarding Illinois College.  It was 38-6 until Coach Raeburn let off the gas and started subbing - that is well noted in the game notes that they scored late.  IC had 29 yards rushing and were held to 222 yards of total offense (they were averaging 499).  I'm not sure what else you wanted to see.  Wabash is playing very good football right now and we look forward to the test this weekend - knowing it will be a very tough one.  Defense (note MLB CJ Gum) and special teams (note returner Wes Chamblee) have been very strong...

[AndOne]

A quote from the Dubuque wide receiver Michael Zweifel from the interview session following yesterday's game:

"Their front four and linebackers, those guys are as good as they get," Zweifel said. "If there's a better group of guys than that in the country, I'd like to see it. That's by far the best defense we've played against. Their speed, their size, their intensity is really impressive."

And from his father Stan, the DU head coach:

"We knew we'd have to score a lot of points to be in the game and were not able to accomplish that," Spartans coach Stan Zweifel said. "They did a nice job mixing up their coverages. But the thing I was most impressed with — and we talked about it all week — is they're just fast. They really did a good job taking on what we do best and disrupted our throw game."

*While North Central obviously has many assets, these comments highlight perhaps the biggest strength of the Cardinals, namely their overall team speed on both sides of the ball. I would also submit that their depth enables the existence of this asset to always be present on the field.

[BashBacker#16]

A quote from Illinois College quarterback Michael Bates from the post game interview:

"Number 33 is obviously a big dude in there and he directs them," said IC freshman quarterback Michael Bates. "He has the play sheet on his wrist and he tells them what to do. He tells everybody what to do. Every tackle goes through him. We tried to get a little mis-direction stuff going with me and it just didn't go because of him. He's a heck of a football player. He was the key."

A quote from the IC coach from the post game interview:

IC Coach Campbell Garrett said the Wabash defense was "by far the fastest defense we've played  all year. They were really fast. Number 33 is a heck of a football player and he's surrounded by some other great players who are extremely talented. They're big and you can look at the heights and weights but their speed is what is going to keep them progressing throughout the playoffs."

[iwu70]

Longtime IWU wrestling, football, and track coach Bob Keck passed away today in Florida, at age 81.  He coached and mentored Norm Eash, surely coached John Thorne and thousands of other IWU athletes, both men and women.  Full write-up on his long career at IWU on the iwu.edu sports site now.

Keck, Swede Larson, Jack Horenberger, and Dennie Bridges were the key IWU coaches for many many years.

RIP Coach Keck.  Thanks for all the dedication, thanks for the memories. 

IWU70

[iwu70]

Correction:   Bob Keck passed away today in Jekyll Island, GA. not Florida.  See iwu.edu sports page for full story, details of where to send condolences.

[USee]

Peter Bulandr's election as DPOY surprised me not because I didn't think he deserved it but because there are at least 3 other defensive players for NCC that could have won it. Garza, Hayes, Skuteris and McLeod were all the best players at their positions I have seen this year. That defense is absolutely loaded.

[lfter]

A quote from Illinois College quarterback Michael Bates from the post game interview:

"Number 33 is obviously a big dude in there and he directs them," said IC freshman quarterback Michael Bates. "He has the play sheet on his wrist and he tells them what to do. He tells everybody what to do. Every tackle goes through him. We tried to get a little mis-direction stuff going with me and it just didn't go because of him. He's a heck of a football player. He was the key."

A quote from the IC coach from the post game interview:

IC Coach Campbell Garrett said the Wabash defense was "by far the fastest defense we've played  all year. They were really fast. Number 33 is a heck of a football player and he's surrounded by some other great players who are extremely talented. They're big and you can look at the heights and weights but their speed is what is going to keep them progressing throughout the playoffs."

Illinois College plays in the Midwest Conference, not near as strong as the CCIW so IC Coach saying "by far the fastest Defence they have played against all year" is not saying much.  The Blueboys rushed for just 29 yards and picked up 193 passing. Their total offense of 222 yards was substantially below their 499 yard offensive average.  If the Blueboys can't do any better than that against IC they are in for a very long day against NCC

[CardinalAlum]

Peter Bulandr's election as DPOY surprised me not because I didn't think he deserved it but because there are at least 3 other defensive players for NCC that could have won it. Garza, Hayes, Skuteris and McLeod were all the best players at their positions I have seen this year. That defense is absolutely loaded.

Any of those would've been great choices.

[CardinalAlum]

A quote from Illinois College quarterback Michael Bates from the post game interview:

"Number 33 is obviously a big dude in there and he directs them," said IC freshman quarterback Michael Bates. "He has the play sheet on his wrist and he tells them what to do. He tells everybody what to do. Every tackle goes through him. We tried to get a little mis-direction stuff going with me and it just didn't go because of him. He's a heck of a football player. He was the key."

A quote from the IC coach from the post game interview:

IC Coach Campbell Garrett said the Wabash defense was "by far the fastest defense we've played  all year. They were really fast. Number 33 is a heck of a football player and he's surrounded by some other great players who are extremely talented. They're big and you can look at the heights and weights but their speed is what is going to keep them progressing throughout the playoffs."

Illinois College plays in the Midwest Conference, not near as strong as the CCIW so IC Coach saying "by far the fastest Defence they have played against all year" is not saying much.  The Blueboys rushed for just 29 yards and picked up 193 passing. Their total offense of 222 yards was substantially below their 499 yard offensive average.  If the Blueboys can't do any better than that against IC they are in for a very long day against NCC

Huh???

[Schwami]

A quote from Illinois College quarterback Michael Bates from the post game interview:

"Number 33 is obviously a big dude in there and he directs them," said IC freshman quarterback Michael Bates. "He has the play sheet on his wrist and he tells them what to do. He tells everybody what to do. Every tackle goes through him. We tried to get a little mis-direction stuff going with me and it just didn't go because of him. He's a heck of a football player. He was the key."

A quote from the IC coach from the post game interview:

IC Coach Campbell Garrett said the Wabash defense was "by far the fastest defense we've played  all year. They were really fast. Number 33 is a heck of a football player and he's surrounded by some other great players who are extremely talented. They're big and you can look at the heights and weights but their speed is what is going to keep them progressing throughout the playoffs."

Illinois College plays in the Midwest Conference, not near as strong as the CCIW so IC Coach saying "by far the fastest Defence they have played against all year" is not saying much.  The Blueboys rushed for just 29 yards and picked up 193 passing. Their total offense of 222 yards was substantially below their 499 yard offensive average.  If the Blueboys can't do any better than that against IC they are in for a very long day against NCC

Huh???

Hmmm, not sure what to make of that ---

If Wabash doesn't do better than it did against the Blueboys and gives up 223 yards to the Cardinals --- I'm thinking I'm OK with that 

[USee]

As another way of comparison (make your own judgement of how valid this is), since both defenses are "big, fast, strong, and the best either has ever seen".

Let's assume both defenses do their job and the respective offenses have something near or below their worst offensive performance against the other team.

NCC's 3 worst offensive games this year are:

@Carthage
24 pts (TD on blocked punt)
287 total yards
221 rushing (32 att)
66 passing (6-12)

@IWU
24 pts(defensive pick 6)
334 total yds
199 rush (49 att)
135 passing (11-20)

@Redlands
29 pts
394 total yds
175 rush (43 att)
219 pass (21-35)

Wabash's worst 3 offensive games:
@Allegheny
22 pts
271 total yds
63 rush(24 att)
208 pass (14-28)

v WashU
24 pts (Wes punt return for TD)
300 total yds
101 rush (38 att)
199 pass (18-30)

v Witt
28 pts (punt block for TD)
364 total yds
238 rush (66 att)
126 pass (10-17)

Interestingly all three of NCC's worst games came on the road and 2 of Bash's came at home (both of which had special teams TD's). To say special teams and turnovers will be a major factor is probably an understatement.

For the season, NCC has turned it over 11 times (4 picks and 7 fumbles). Their defense has 29 takeaways (22 picks, 7 fumbles). Wabash has turned it over 15 times (5 picks, 10 fumbles) and has 28 takeaways (14 picks, 14 fumbles).

[BashDad]

A quote from Illinois College quarterback Michael Bates from the post game interview:

"Number 33 is obviously a big dude in there and he directs them," said IC freshman quarterback Michael Bates. "He has the play sheet on his wrist and he tells them what to do. He tells everybody what to do. Every tackle goes through him. We tried to get a little mis-direction stuff going with me and it just didn't go because of him. He's a heck of a football player. He was the key."

A quote from the IC coach from the post game interview:

IC Coach Campbell Garrett said the Wabash defense was "by far the fastest defense we've played  all year. They were really fast. Number 33 is a heck of a football player and he's surrounded by some other great players who are extremely talented. They're big and you can look at the heights and weights but their speed is what is going to keep them progressing throughout the playoffs."

Illinois College plays in the Midwest Conference, not near as strong as the CCIW so IC Coach saying "by far the fastest Defence they have played against all year" is not saying much.  The Blueboys rushed for just 29 yards and picked up 193 passing. Their total offense of 222 yards was substantially below their 499 yard offensive average.  If the Blueboys can't do any better than that against IC they are in for a very long day against NCC

Wow. Are you drunk? And British ("Defence!")?

Dubuque doesn't play in the CCIW, either. They also don't play in a conference with a team that won a game, in the playoffs, against a team from the CCIW. Guess who did tha-aa-aaat?

The rest of this post is a big tangled ball of confusion.

[CardinalAlum]

A quote from Illinois College quarterback Michael Bates from the post game interview:

"Number 33 is obviously a big dude in there and he directs them," said IC freshman quarterback Michael Bates. "He has the play sheet on his wrist and he tells them what to do. He tells everybody what to do. Every tackle goes through him. We tried to get a little mis-direction stuff going with me and it just didn't go because of him. He's a heck of a football player. He was the key."

A quote from the IC coach from the post game interview:

IC Coach Campbell Garrett said the Wabash defense was "by far the fastest defense we've played  all year. They were really fast. Number 33 is a heck of a football player and he's surrounded by some other great players who are extremely talented. They're big and you can look at the heights and weights but their speed is what is going to keep them progressing throughout the playoffs."

Illinois College plays in the Midwest Conference, not near as strong as the CCIW so IC Coach saying "by far the fastest Defence they have played against all year" is not saying much.  The Blueboys rushed for just 29 yards and picked up 193 passing. Their total offense of 222 yards was substantially below their 499 yard offensive average.  If the Blueboys can't do any better than that against IC they are in for a very long day against NCC

Wow. Are you drunk? And British ("Defence!")?

Dubuque doesn't play in the CCIW, either. They also don't play in a conference with a team that won a game, in the playoffs, against a team from the CCIW. Guess who did tha-aa-aaat?

The rest of this post is a big tangled ball of confusion.

Pay no attention to idiotic posts from Johnny come latelys with 4 posts.  Same person had a different name and more moronic posts.

[AndOne]

Peter Bulandr's election as DPOY surprised me not because I didn't think he deserved it but because there are at least 3 other defensive players for NCC that could have won it. Garza, Hayes, Skuteris and McLeod were all the best players at their positions I have seen this year. That defense is absolutely loaded.

Usee---

Just wondering..........

1. Did you not mean you felt there were 4 other Cardinals that could have won DPOY?
2. Given you were surprised Bulandr won the award, and you apparently felt 4 other players could have won, would you not have also been surprised if any of the other players you mentioned would have won?      

[USee]

AndOne,

I said "at least 3..." which can certainly be interpreted as 4 or more. Bulandr wasn't the household name on that defense like Garza or Hayes. I think NCC plays 6-8 defensive linemen every game and all of them would be starters at most bother d3 schools. Bulandr is only on the field about 60% of the time due to the way they rotate players.