FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[ncc58]

My first thought is this:

It does not appear that Concordia (IL) will lose either of their last two games (playing teams that are 2-6 and 0-8, respectively), but I would not be surprised to see NCC leapfrog them for the #2 spot if they beat Wheaton this weekend.

Happy to see Elmhurst at #5.

I would hope so, that just doesn't seem right.

CUC has a SOS of 34; NCC is at 63. However, CUC can only go down, and NCC can only go up. 

It will all work out when the playoff brackets come out. If NCC wins out, they'll likely end up seeded 2 in the North (regardless of the #1 being UMU or UWO). CUC and NCC  don't have a common opponent. But, CUC beat Chicago by 1, Elmhurst beat Chicago by 33, and NCC beat Elmhurst by the same margin.

[79jaybird]

The fact that Elmhurst is even in shouting distance this time of the year is an attest to the job done by the players on the field.  I don't think anybody envisioned them to be in this present state, with a good shot at an at-large bid.  Hopefully lady luck can continue to be on their side during those "moments" the rest of the regular season.

[CardinalAlum]

The fact that Elmhurst is even in shouting distance this time of the year is an attest to the job done by the players on the field.  I don't think anybody envisioned them to be in this present state, with a good shot at an at-large bid.  Hopefully lady luck can continue to be on their side during those "moments" the rest of the regular season.

I think the coaches at EC have to get their props as well. 

[NCF]

Congrats to Elmhurst as well. Today's Sun-Times has a nice article on the team.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/16072027-419/elmhurst-eyeing-spot-in-division-iii-playoffs.html

T- minus 2 days until Bell Ringing commences!!!!! 

[matblake]

T- minus 2 days until Bell Ringing commences!!!!! 

How nice of newcard to agree that it's going to be great to see Wheaton ringing it again!

[NCF]

T- minus 2 days until Bell Ringing commences!!!!! 

How nice of newcard to agree that it's going to be great to see Wheaton ringing it again!

Hahaha-not happening this year

[79jaybird]

CardinalAlum- Agreed. Since Tim Lester has come into the picture the Jays have been stronger.  Coaching has a lot to do with it. I would say 40% of it is coaching 60% of it is the players executing.  In between the 40-60 you need the players gelling together the confidence/trust between player-coach and visa versa has to be strong.

The big question and what I will be paying attention to next year is,  how will Elmhurst replace Williams and will they be able to sesstain competitiveness we have seen this year?  Or, is this just a 1-year wonder with luck proving to be the reason they pulled out 3 games this year?  Yet to be seen.  For right now,  Elmhurst is in a good position.

[Mugsy]

Or, is this just a 1-year wonder with luck proving to be the reason they pulled out 3 games this year?  Yet to be seen.  For right now,  Elmhurst is in a good position.

This will be the big question.  We have examples of both directions on this. 

NCC is the perfect example of reaching a point of sustained, conference championships with no rebuilding necessary (now they need to translate that success to post-season).

Carthage is an example of the 1-year wonder.  True Carthage has had competitive teams, but only 1 conference championship and playoff team under Rucks - 2004.  All other years they have had at least 3 conference losses.

[ncc58]

CardinalAlum- Agreed. Since Tim Lester has come into the picture the Jays have been stronger.  Coaching has a lot to do with it. I would say 40% of it is coaching 60% of it is the players executing.  In between the 40-60 you need the players gelling together the confidence/trust between player-coach and visa versa has to be strong.

The big question and what I will be paying attention to next year is,  how will Elmhurst replace Williams and will they be able to sesstain competitiveness we have seen this year?  Or, is this just a 1-year wonder with luck proving to be the reason they pulled out 3 games this year?  Yet to be seen.  For right now,  Elmhurst is in a good position.

You don't think Josh steps in and replaces Scottie without skipping a beat? Isn't Josh bigger and faster?

[NCF]

Or, is this just a 1-year wonder with luck proving to be the reason they pulled out 3 games this year?  Yet to be seen.  For right now,  Elmhurst is in a good position.

This will be the big question.  We have examples of both directions on this. 

NCC is the perfect example of reaching a point of sustained, conference championships with no rebuilding necessary (now they need to translate that success to post-season).Carthage is an example of the 1-year wonder.  True Carthage has had competitive teams, but only 1 conference championship and playoff team under Rucks - 2004.  All other years they have had at least 3 conference losses.

That's for sure! This year would be a great year to start.

[New Tradition]

Or, is this just a 1-year wonder with luck proving to be the reason they pulled out 3 games this year?  Yet to be seen.  For right now,  Elmhurst is in a good position.

This will be the big question.  We have examples of both directions on this. 

NCC is the perfect example of reaching a point of sustained, conference championships with no rebuilding necessary (now they need to translate that success to post-season).Carthage is an example of the 1-year wonder.  True Carthage has had competitive teams, but only 1 conference championship and playoff team under Rucks - 2004.  All other years they have had at least 3 conference losses.

That's for sure! This year would be a great year to start.

Agreed.  I'd love to see anther CCIW team step up and start to have the same consistency that NCC, IWU and Wheaton have had.  Since the fall of Augie, I think the conference may have fallen off a bit, competitively.  It would be neat if more teams performed at a high level consistently for a little parity. (Underneath the NCC dominance, of course!  )

[Gregory Sager]

CardinalAlum- Agreed. Since Tim Lester has come into the picture the Jays have been stronger.  Coaching has a lot to do with it. I would say 40% of it is coaching 60% of it is the players executing.  In between the 40-60 you need the players gelling together the confidence/trust between player-coach and visa versa has to be strong.

The big question and what I will be paying attention to next year is,  how will Elmhurst replace Williams and will they be able to sesstain competitiveness we have seen this year?  Or, is this just a 1-year wonder with luck proving to be the reason they pulled out 3 games this year?  Yet to be seen.  For right now,  Elmhurst is in a good position.

You don't think Josh steps in and replaces Scottie without skipping a beat? Isn't Josh bigger and faster?

I don't know if he'll duplicate big brother's career, but after seeing him last Saturday I'm sold on Josh Williams. I overheard one NPU coach comment after the game that he thinks Josh has a higher ceiling than Scottie. That's a scary thought to contemplate if you're a player, coach, or follower of one of the seven other teams in the league.

[bluejay4ever]

Instead of worrying about next year can we enjoy the ride this year first?

One of the reasons I am not concerned  is quality of recruiting that Elmhurst has done without winning at this level. Their staff are excellent recruiters and when we finish this out, I believe it will help them capitalize on their success. That will allow for sustained competitiveness in the upper third of the conference.

Again it comes down to playing one game at a time and it's time to get CC. We have to finish!

[ncc58]

CardinalAlum- Agreed. Since Tim Lester has come into the picture the Jays have been stronger.  Coaching has a lot to do with it. I would say 40% of it is coaching 60% of it is the players executing.  In between the 40-60 you need the players gelling together the confidence/trust between player-coach and visa versa has to be strong.

The big question and what I will be paying attention to next year is,  how will Elmhurst replace Williams and will they be able to sesstain competitiveness we have seen this year?  Or, is this just a 1-year wonder with luck proving to be the reason they pulled out 3 games this year?  Yet to be seen.  For right now,  Elmhurst is in a good position.

You don't think Josh steps in and replaces Scottie without skipping a beat? Isn't Josh bigger and faster?

I don't know if he'll duplicate big brother's career, but after seeing him last Saturday I'm sold on Josh Williams. I overheard one NPU coach comment after the game that he thinks Josh has a higher ceiling than Scottie. That's a scary thought to contemplate if you're a player, coach, or follower of one of the seven other teams in the league.

I also heard that Josh potentially has a higher ceiling. I'd like to know the real story on what happened to him at UWW, but we'll likely never know.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

I'm happy that I could stir things up a bit, proving that the NCC-Wheaton rivalry is still one of the feistiest in D3. And it's only Monday.

The rivalry is why I will be at the game...and NCC can be beaten ...Wabash Always Fights...

Yeah, yeah, yeah....you had to go there.  Those are deep wounds still healing! 

yet hoping for a rematch

Feel free to get ahead of yourself.  As Obi Wan would say, "The game this weekend is not the game you need to win." Cardinals repeat, "The game this weekend is not the game we need to win." 

Don't kid yourself.

BashWarrior must have got lost on his way to the discussion of his own Bell game.

ILGator...Nada...not lost at all as I follow this thread along with several others on D3...I am very familiar with this conference and follow Wheaton and NCC closely...I have had two sons play in D3 one for Bethel and one for Wabash...one is now coaching at the D3 level...since 2005 have seen at least one and sometimes as many as 3 games from your conference per year...usually like to catch Wheaton/NCC as it is usually great teams and players with great coaching...Have seen IWU play twice live as well as Millikin... and just saw Elmhurst play IWU last year as I wanted to see Elmhurst knowing that Lester was doing a great job and the program was on the rise....

As far as you thinking I was rubbing it in about Wabash and NCC last year...no not at all...I have great respect for Thorne and what he has done at NCC...He was recruiting my son in January and February of 2005...(please note that this was before ever winning a conference championship)...after watching what he was doing and what he had achevied at the HS level I told my son...Thorne is building a "Dynasty" at NCC...My words have come to pass....

It seems that many on here almost have given the game to NCC in their heads....

So much about football is the psychological part of the game...and of course...above talent and chemistry and coaching the most valuable part is the heart of each player (see the movie Rudy)...If Wabash and NCC played that game last year 10 times...I do think that NCC would have come out the victor more than 5 times...What will stay with me about it was that it was such a great game...just as the 2009 playoff game with Wabash and IWU was such a great game....

I will be at the NCC Wheaton game on Saturday...the reason is I just love to watch great football...

and who knows...maybe if the RR work out NCC won't have to play Wabash this year...(Wink)