FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[robertgoulet]

I'm laughing that the Whitewater guys are the overconfident ones in here!!     We appreciate the confidence coming from the Warhawk Nation!

Same here! Ha!

[GRIZ_BACKER]

I also remember the NCAC champion giving UWW a real scare all of two years ago.

Please. Come up with something better than "strength of schedule" or "I saw them play four years ago."

At this point Wittenberg may have been the best that Wabash has seen this year.  Not saying Bash cant make a game of it but having a "filthy" defense (as some have said earlier this year) in the NCAC may still be a long way from stopping NCC's running game and being able to score enough points.  I am saying this from the same perspective as Franklin's defense was stout in the HCAC but UWW is another matter. (FC will be seeing them for third time in 12 months)

Wabash got a home second round game based on record in the region.  Just being realistic. 

[BashDad]

I think USee said it best on Saturday (11/19) on the NCAC Boards when he said, "The biggest challenge is figuring out how to score points against them (NCC)."  On my count, NCC has seen five better offenses than they will see on the field this coming Saturday.

(DIII Rankings)     SOS        Rushing       Passing          Total Offense     Points Scored
Redlands              #30        #41            #87               #37                  35  (SCIAC)
MU                      #2          #57           #107             #61                  14  (CCIW)
Elmhurst               #147      #28            #57              #22                  10  (CCIW)
Wheaton              #32        #160           #18              #40                  7  (CCIW)
Dubuque               #189      #77             #4               #2                    13 (IIAC)
Wabash                #114      #83            #129            #117                 TBD (NCAC)

The Bash Defense and Special Teams have combined for 11 TDs this season. I don't think I can emphasize enough how much of an impact those components of the team have had on our offensive numbers. It's been staggering the extent that the games have been dictated and won without major contribution from the offense. They haven't needed to do much. Tons of short field opportunities.

Against Depauw, our offense didn't touch the ball for three consecutive series. At the end of the game, we'd thrown for like 12 yards. No-one I know was bummed about that. It didn't mean our offense was terrible. It meant everything else was so good.

[Stagg Again!!]

Another interesting set of statistics.  Wabash's defense is clearly very good and fast (as has been noted several times on the CCIW board and the NCAC board and attested to by the Illinois College folks), and they pride themselves on their ability to stop the run.  Below is the list of the Top 3 rushing teams that Wabash faced (pre-playoffs) with their DIII rankings along with NCC and its rankings:

(DIII Rankings)     SOS        Rushing
Wooster               #58        #162               
Denison               #196        #111
Chicago               #39         #154
NCC                    #28         #13

[GRIZ_BACKER]

I think USee said it best on Saturday (11/19) on the NCAC Boards when he said, "The biggest challenge is figuring out how to score points against them (NCC)."  On my count, NCC has seen five better offenses than they will see on the field this coming Saturday.

(DIII Rankings)     SOS        Rushing       Passing          Total Offense     Points Scored
Redlands              #30        #41            #87               #37                  35  (SCIAC)
MU                      #2          #57           #107             #61                  14  (CCIW)
Elmhurst               #147      #28            #57              #22                  10  (CCIW)
Wheaton              #32        #160           #18              #40                  7  (CCIW)
Dubuque               #189      #77             #4               #2                    13 (IIAC)
Wabash                #114      #83            #129            #117                 TBD (NCAC)

The Bash Defense and Special Teams have combined for 11 TDs this season. I don't think I can emphasize enough how much of an impact those components of the team have had on our offensive numbers. It's been staggering the extent that the games have been dictated and won without major contribution from the offense. They haven't needed to do much. Tons of short field opportunities.

Against Depauw, our offense didn't touch the ball for three consecutive series. At the end of the game, we'd thrown for like 12 yards. No-one I know was bummed about that. It didn't mean our offense was terrible. It meant everything else was so good.

The D will certainly be the cornerstone, assuming the QB is not 100%.  I think Bash will keep the score respectable.  My gut says 35-16 NCC. 

[WarhawkDad]

I'm laughing that the Whitewater guys are the overconfident ones in here!!     We appreciate the confidence coming from the Warhawk Nation!

We were duly impressed with the Cardinals last year and many of us have been following NC this year fairly closely, especially those of us who live in Illinois, not far from Naperville.  Overconfident in NC, not really, just recognition of the improvement NC has had over the last several years.


WarhawkDad

[BashDad]

I also remember the NCAC champion giving UWW a real scare all of two years ago.

Please. Come up with something better than "strength of schedule" or "I saw them play four years ago."

At this point Wittenberg may have been the best that Wabash has seen this year.  Not saying Bash cant make a game of it but having a "filthy" defense (as some have said earlier this year) in the NCAC may still be a long way from stopping NCC's running game and being able to score enough points.  I am saying this from the same perspective as Franklin's defense was stout in the HCAC but UWW is another matter. (FC will be seeing them for third time in 12 months)

Wabash got a home second round game based on record in the region.  Just being realistic.

Really? Is Witt the best we've seen?! REALLY?! Did we get a home game based on the regional record? Is THAT what happened?  You give me headache.

This kind of argument is so effing tiresome. I don't need you to recite all the superficial reasons why Wabash is out-matched. It's boring. Dig a little deeper.

[robertgoulet]

I think USee said it best on Saturday (11/19) on the NCAC Boards when he said, "The biggest challenge is figuring out how to score points against them (NCC)."  On my count, NCC has seen five better offenses than they will see on the field this coming Saturday.

(DIII Rankings)     SOS        Rushing       Passing          Total Offense     Points Scored
Redlands              #30        #41            #87               #37                  35  (SCIAC)
MU                      #2          #57           #107             #61                  14  (CCIW)
Elmhurst               #147      #28            #57              #22                  10  (CCIW)
Wheaton              #32        #160           #18              #40                  7  (CCIW)
Dubuque               #189      #77             #4               #2                    13 (IIAC)
Wabash                #114      #83            #129            #117                 TBD (NCAC)

The Bash Defense and Special Teams have combined for 11 TDs this season. I don't think I can emphasize enough how much of an impact those components of the team have had on our offensive numbers. It's been staggering the extent that the games have been dictated and won without major contribution from the offense. They haven't needed to do much. Tons of short field opportunities.

Against Depauw, our offense didn't touch the ball for three consecutive series. At the end of the game, we'd thrown for like 12 yards. No-one I know was bummed about that. It didn't mean our offense was terrible. It meant everything else was so good.

As stated on the NCAC board, I think the Special Teams is what worries me most about this game. NCC is prone to giving up good field position (see the Wheaton game when they started around midfield often), but their D has been able to hold. One more broken tackle and those 50 yard line starts are TD's.

[GRIZ_BACKER]

I also remember the NCAC champion giving UWW a real scare all of two years ago.

Please. Come up with something better than "strength of schedule" or "I saw them play four years ago."

At this point Wittenberg may have been the best that Wabash has seen this year.  Not saying Bash cant make a game of it but having a "filthy" defense (as some have said earlier this year) in the NCAC may still be a long way from stopping NCC's running game and being able to score enough points.  I am saying this from the same perspective as Franklin's defense was stout in the HCAC but UWW is another matter. (FC will be seeing them for third time in 12 months)

Wabash got a home second round game based on record in the region.  Just being realistic.

Really? Is Witt the best we've seen?! REALLY?! Did we get a home game based on the regional record? Is THAT what happened?  You give me headache.

This kind of argument is so effing tiresome. I don't need you to recite all the superficial reasons why Wabash is out-matched. It's boring. Dig a little deeper.

Do you really think Bash should be seeded ahead of NCC other than W/L record?  I must be missing something obvious.  Honestly I don't follow all the other leagues that close. If Franklin had scheduled a beatable team instead of UWW I still think they would be a 4 regardless of record.  Quality wins and schedule is the biggest stat in my book.

[BashDad]

Another interesting set of statistics.  Wabash's defense is clearly very good and fast (as has been noted several times on the CCIW board and the NCAC board and attested to by the Illinois College folks), and they pride themselves on their ability to stop the run.  Below is the list of the Top 3 rushing teams that Wabash faced (pre-playoffs) with their DIII rankings along with NCC and its rankings:

(DIII Rankings)     SOS        Rushing
Wooster               #58        #162               
Denison               #196        #111
Chicago               #39         #154
NCC                    #28         #13

You wanna point at the team whose statistics DON'T YET REFLECT A GAME AGAINST WABASH? Beyond that, your point confuses me. Yes, NCC is the best rushing team we'll face. No, we won't hold them to 30 yards a game. But holding NCC to 150-175 is the same as holding Wooster to 25. Yes? Yes.

Snark is spilling out of my nostrils.

[BashDad]

Do you really think Bash should be seeded ahead of NCC other than W/L record?  I must be missing something obvious.  Honestly I don't follow all the other leagues that close.

Do you know how little I care about these kinds of things? Little. Who cares what they were ranked relative to one another? They play on Saturday. I could give a flip about anything else. Who cares.

[robertgoulet]

Do you really think Bash should be seeded ahead of NCC other than W/L record?  I must be missing something obvious.  Honestly I don't follow all the other leagues that close.

Do you know how little I care about these kinds of things? Little. Who cares what they were ranked relative to one another? They play on Saturday. I could give a flip about anything else. Who cares.

This is the kind of stuff that we've been missing on the CCIW board all year!

As stated earlier in this thread, the work day is much better when there's heated discussions going on on the D3Boards!

[Stagg Again!!]

I think USee said it best on Saturday (11/19) on the NCAC Boards when he said, "The biggest challenge is figuring out how to score points against them (NCC)."  On my count, NCC has seen five better offenses than they will see on the field this coming Saturday.

(DIII Rankings)     SOS        Rushing       Passing          Total Offense     Points Scored
Redlands              #30        #41            #87               #37                  35  (SCIAC)
MU                      #2          #57           #107             #61                  14  (CCIW)
Elmhurst               #147      #28            #57              #22                  10  (CCIW)
Wheaton              #32        #160           #18              #40                  7  (CCIW)
Dubuque               #189      #77             #4               #2                    13 (IIAC)
Wabash                #114      #83            #129            #117                 TBD (NCAC)

The Bash Defense and Special Teams have combined for 11 TDs this season. I don't think I can emphasize enough how much of an impact those components of the team have had on our offensive numbers. It's been staggering the extent that the games have been dictated and won without major contribution from the offense. They haven't needed to do much. Tons of short field opportunities.

Against Depauw, our offense didn't touch the ball for three consecutive series. At the end of the game, we'd thrown for like 12 yards. No-one I know was bummed about that. It didn't mean our offense was terrible. It meant everything else was so good.

I believe that points from turnovers may be more difficult to come by this coming Saturday.

(DIII Rankings)     SOS        Turnover Margin    Fumbles Lost   INTs Thrown
NCC                     #28        #5 (+1.7)             7                    4
Wabash                #114      #11 (+1.3)           10                   5

I should note that NCC's opponents had an average net turnover margin of 0.0 while Wabash's had an average net turnover margin 0f -.67.  So, the teams that Wabash played were prone to turnovers while the teams that NCC played were not.

[New Tradition]

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!")?

Hahahahaha K+

[USee]

Do you really think Bash should be seeded ahead of NCC other than W/L record?  I must be missing something obvious.  Honestly I don't follow all the other leagues that close.

Do you know how little I care about these kinds of things? Little. Who cares what they were ranked relative to one another? They play on Saturday. I could give a flip about anything else. Who cares.

This is the kind of stuff that we've been missing on the CCIW board all year!

As stated earlier in this thread, the work day is much better when there's heated discussions going on on the D3Boards!

Heated discussions? All we are getting here is cherry picking of stats and an impassioned "Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" speech. I don't see much substantive debate over the facts. SOS? doesn't matter, never has!!!? Stats? No worries!!!!??? Wes Chamblee is a great returner. But NCC's special teams are as good as any team in the nation. Wheaton came in the with #2 kick return team in the country. They got good field position (through way too many opportunities) but went nowhere. Their defense is as good as any defense in D3. If Wabash limits the big play and can slow down the run they can keep it close. I simply don't know where Wabash will manufacture enough points in this one. NCC hasn't given up a special teams or a defensive TD all year. I don't expect that to start Saturday. NCC is a solid 12 pt favorite.