FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Wildcat'64]

Welcome to the Catdome NCC fans.  I think you'll find our venue an enjoyable and hospitable environment.  Please stop by our 'Tailgate Area' and introduce yourselves. 

[D O.C.]

My best to Kathie Thorne.
So far I'm winning the battle.

[footballfan413]

I still don't think that the Linfield guys have made one post here that has to do with Saturday's game. 

Add to add a few emoticons, in case they skip posts that don't have at least three.

The Linfield fans are a playoff savvy group Gator -- same reason you haven't seen many significant posts by NCC or STU fans this week -- you learn to keep your "Cards" close to your vest, but still have fun with the process during the week leading up to the big game.  There will be plenty of time to reflect during the offseason (I believe this is the point that D O.C. Was also making).

I think we know what the Cards need to do this week. It was pretty apparent in Mugsy's Tale of the Tape and Usee's followup post.

NCC needs to be able to run the ball, and Linfield has been very good at run defense. If NCC is forced to pass, that's trouble. Linfield has 57 sacks in in 11 games, and their stud DE has 18 of them. If NCC needs to pass often, I fear what will happen. Stanek has a tendency to hold the ball too long at times, and that could result in big plays for Linfield. This games could go several different ways. From a close, slugfest to a blowout, ugly result on either side.

I'll speak football but not a Linfield poster.    (I do like emotocons though.).   Having had a dog in the fight for the last 7 Stagg Bowls, for a team to advance deep in the play-offs, it MUST have a balanced offense, IMHO!  No team will play in Salem without one.  Making a team one dimensional is the hallmark of a championship caliber DEFENSE.  The offense has to, not only do both very well, but have very little drop off in execution with both.  The passing game needs to be a legitimate part of the game plan from the start, not just something a team becomes forced to do.  For example, UMU has two WR's in the NFL right now and we put one there from the 06 team and have a QB on the Bears practice squad right now, even as rare as that is at this level.  A team needs a great passing game and the horses to pull it off to be playing late in December.  Again best of luck to the Cards tomorrow.   The Catdome will be rocking! 

[Li'l Giant]

Best of luck to NCC tomorrow! I'll be pulling for y'all!

[USee]

The Elmhurst vs St Thomas game looks a lot to me like the Elmhurst v NCC matchup. St Thomas is a 60-40 run v pass team with a dominant defense led by its defensive front. This is a strength vs strength matchup. Elmhurst has some similarities to Bethel as well but Bethel is a better defensive team than the BlueJays. In order for Elmhurst to win this game they will have to play near perfect football. They cannot turn it over (they lead the league this year with +17 margin) and they have to be able to balance their offense. Furco is going to need to be highly efficient in the passing game. The BlueJays offense played that way against IWU and will need nothing less on Saturday. Defensively for Elmhurst they are facing a team that can run the ball and has balance. Their QB was all conference and their offensive line is big and physical. This formula has not been a good matchup for Elmhurst all season. They will need to get takeaways as I just don't think they have the horses to stop St Thomas' offense.

If both teams play the way they are capable of playing, St Thomas wins by a comfortable margin in my opinion. If St Thomas tries to phone it in, turns it over and let's Elmhurst stay in it til the 4th quarter, the Bluejays can absolutely steal a win.

In the D3 playoffs, if you can run the ball and play defense, you can play into December. St Thomas has both. Elmhurst has a championship running game and a defense that gives up a lot of yards and points, but has gotten key stops when they need it all year. 

I don't suspect St Thomas will be in a Christmas giving mood just yet.

St. Thomas 44
Elmhurst 21

[footballfan413]

The Elmhurst vs St Thomas game looks a lot to me like the Elmhurst v NCC matchup. St Thomas is a 60-40 run v pass team with a dominant defense led by its defensive front. This is a strength vs strength matchup. Elmhurst has some similarities to Bethel as well but Bethel is a better defensive team than the BlueJays. In order for Elmhurst to win this game they will have to play near perfect football. They cannot turn it over (they lead the league this year with +17 margin) and they have to be able to balance their offense. Furco is going to need to be highly efficient in the passing game. The BlueJays offense played that way against IWU and will need nothing less on Saturday. Defensively for Elmhurst they are facing a team that can run the ball and has balance. Their QB was all conference and their offensive line is big and physical. This formula has not been a good matchup for Elmhurst all season. They will need to get takeaways as I just don't think they have the horses to stop St Thomas' offense.

If both teams play the way they are capable of playing, St Thomas wins by a comfortable margin in my opinion. If St Thomas tries to phone it in, turns it over and let's Elmhurst stay in it til the 4th quarter, the Bluejays can absolutely steal a win.

In the D3 playoffs, if you can run the ball and play defense, you can play into December. St Thomas has both. Elmhurst has a championship running game and a defense that gives up a lot of yards and points, but has gotten key stops when they need it all year. 

I don't suspect St Thomas will be in a Christmas giving mood just yet.

St. Thomas 44
Elmhurst 21

And that ratio would be a perfect mix and give any team a great chance to be successful late in the playoffs as long as they can execute the offense well, IMHO. 

[footballfan413]

My best to Kathie Thorne.
So far I'm winning the battle.

Thoughts and prayers to her and the family from me as well!  Cancer is a bitch but she can be beat, absolutely. Gotta believe! 

[Tailgater]

The end of era. Effective Nov 19th, 2012, 18 year Carthage Head Football Coach Tim Rucks takes off the coaching hat and is promoted to Assistant Athletic Director at Carthage College. I will miss Tim on the field and working with the boys. His new roll will allow him to impact a larger spectrum of student athletes and those kids lives will be all the better for it. Congratulations Tim on a fantastic coaching career and best wishes to you in your new roll at Carthage!

http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2012/11/19/Football_1119122533.aspx

[wesleydad]

really looking forward to this game tomorrow.  will make a hasty return from dover to see the second half at least of what i think will be a reall good football game.  good luck to ncc.

[USee]

For NCC, the key matchup to me is the NCC O-Line vs the Linfield D-Line. This is the strength of each team in my opinion. The OT's for NCC vs the DE's for Linfield. North Central's ability to run the ball is absolutely critical for them to win. They have to create 3rd and short opportunities and their passing game will be much easier if they can run the ball. There are plenty of other matchup's that will be fun to watch but that matchup is the key to victory for both teams in my view.

The second matchup that will be a key is the NCC secondary against the Linfield WR's. When teams have a hard time passing against NCC, the Cardinals usually win. Their losses have come against teams that have kept extra blockers in vs the Cardinal rush and protect the QB to allow the WR to get open.

[kiko]

Good luck and good health to both sets of birds tomorrow!

[bleedpurple]

Good luck to the Cardinals today. It is a huge opportunity to make a statement on the national level.  It seems like for the last few years, NCC has been regarding by some as on the verge of breaking into the "Almost-Annual Top 5" grouping of Mount, UW-W, Wesley, UMHB, and Linfield.  I'm not sure that's how the rankings have ended up each year, but if you had to pick the top 5 programs for the last 5 to 10 years, that would probably be the five.

NCC seems to be one team that really divides opinions out there. I think there are many that have them right on the cusp of the top 5.  There are others who think they simply haven't done anything on the national stage to earn those props (such as BEAT one of those teams). 

Along the way, NCC has had a disappointing loss or two that strengthened the opinion of the doubters. If they want to remain in the conversation as a genuine Stagg Bowl threat, one of these times, they need to win one of these.  From the outside looking in, it seems like a big day for the NCC program today.

[tommiegun]

Good luck to the Jays today! The cold conditions should favor their running game but we'll see.

Go Tommies!

[NCF]

Good luck to the Cardinals today. It is a huge opportunity to make a statement on the national level.  It seems like for the last few years, NCC has been regarding by some as on the verge of breaking into the "Almost-Annual Top 5" grouping of Mount, UW-W, Wesley, UMHB, and Linfield.  I'm not sure that's how the rankings have ended up each year, but if you had to pick the top 5 programs for the last 5 to 10 years, that would probably be the five.

NCC seems to be one team that really divides opinions out there. I think there are many that have them right on the cusp of the top 5.  There are others who think they simply haven't done anything on the national stage to earn those props (such as BEAT one of those teams). 

Along the way, NCC has had a disappointing loss or two that strengthened the opinion of the doubters. If they want to remain in the conversation as a genuine Stagg Bowl threat, one of these times, they need to win one of these.  From the outside looking in, it seems like a big day for the NCC program today.

I would agree and I'm hoping today's the day they make a statement.I've got my $2 poncho from Home Depot, so I'm ready to go! Bring home a victory today Cards!!!

[desertcat1]

Good luck to the Cardinals today. It is a huge opportunity to make a statement on the national level.  It seems like for the last few years, NCC has been regarding by some as on the verge of breaking into the "Almost-Annual Top 5" grouping of Mount, UW-W, Wesley, UMHB, and Linfield.  I'm not sure that's how the rankings have ended up each year, but if you had to pick the top 5 programs for the last 5 to 10 years, that would probably be the five.

NCC seems to be one team that really divides opinions out there. I think there are many that have them right on the cusp of the top 5.  There are others who think they simply haven't done anything on the national stage to earn those props (such as BEAT one of those teams). 

Along the way, NCC has had a disappointing loss or two that strengthened the opinion of the doubters. If they want to remain in the conversation as a genuine Stagg Bowl threat, one of these times, they need to win one of these.  From the outside looking in, it seems like a big day for the NCC program today.

thats a fair statement,,  i agree.   
This should be a good game today boys. 
Go CAts
Go Big D