FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[nccfac]

Congrats to the All-Conference Honorees.  Yes, lots of talent graduating.  It will be a new scene, a new league next fall.  Maybe somebody can catch up with NCC next season. 

Conway deserves the award, certainly, but a bit surprised Thorne didn't get it again. 

Stanek was outstanding all season.

IWU70

I think John Thorne would be happy to see Mike Conway get the award. Moving a team from the bottom is a great accomplishment, and hopefully moving them forward in the coming years.

[lakeshore]

wow congrats to Coach Conway and his son TD.  1st NPU QB to be named ALL CCIW since Shelby Wood in 2008.

When was the last time no Wheaton skill players made 1st or 2nd team All CCIW.  Maybe 12-15 years!

[Langhorst_Ghost]

Definitely the right call with the Cards sweeping the players awards and Conway earning the HBC hardware...and a big Bluejay salute to all the 1st and 2nd teamers!

Of particular note in the selections, i was really impressed with the efforts of the NCC defense all year - and sure enough, there they are - SIX first-teamers from Naperville on defense, including 3 on the D-Line.  And justifiably so...the fighting Thornes gave up just 226 yards/game in conference play (50 yards better than second place Wheaton, and 90 yards better than playoff bound IWU).  What's most impressive - playing second and third stringers for long stretches of conference blowouts, NCC gave up just a dozen tuddies in 7 contests...that's pretty special.

Despite EC's struggles in 2013, i was encouraged to see the coaches recognize our stand-outs, in particular the work of gritty leaders Charlie Roberts and George DeMaria (1st teamers on D)...the Jays finished in the top half of the conference in all the significant defensive statistical measures - glad to see those kids' efforts rewarded.  Also cool for our big road grater Adam Smith to earn himself a 2nd-Team slot - i thought he earned a place on last year's list, good to see him recognized in 2013.  Josh Williams made the most of his shared carries and powered his way to a nod on the 2nd Team - very much looking forward to what he can bring to the backfield as the featured ball carrier in 2014's attack.

Congratulations to all the honorees and to those still representing the conference this Saturday - make us proud! 

[AndOne]

Congratulations to all the honorees and to those still representing the conference this Saturday - make us proud! 

[Luke blows up his first TIE fighter]
Luke: Got 'im! I got 'im!
Han Solo: Great, kid. Don't get cocky.

[AndOne]

I have no problem with Conway receiving coach of the year. But, I thought the award was automatically given to the Conference champion.  Was I incorrect, or did it change?


If it did change it is for the better!!

I think the talk a couple of weeks ago was that it SEEMED as if the award was automatically given to the conference champ, not that it was actually so. I may be wrong on that.

It actually used to say that the coach of the conference champion was the COY in the CCIW football handbook.  Before the CCIW site changed a few years ago, links to the handbooks for each sport were posted on the CCIW site.  I actually really liked that because the handbooks talked about all sorts of things from limits on viewing other schools live, to when CCIW games had to be scheduled, to what was required to provide to the opposing teams.  Now that the handbooks are no longer available on the website, a change could have been made, and there is not a way to verify it outside of getting your hands on a handbook directly.

If the COY award was previously always automatically given to the league winning coach, but was changed recently so any coach could get it, kudos to the conference. If this is indeed the case, the policy of any conference head coach being eligible needs to be carried over to the basketball side of the table. If I am not mistaken, the COY in basketball still automatically goes to the coach whose team wins the regular season conference title. This is wrong if for no other reason than consistency throughout the conference.   

[emma17]

Question:
I guess this is the time each year I get on my NCC is the real deal kick.  Is there reason to believe this year will be different (as in reaching the Stagg Bowl) than previous playoff runs?

I'd love to have a Mt. Union vs. NCC semifinal this year. 

No offense to IWU, I am assuming the head to head result is a true reflection of the difference in the two teams.

[iwu70]

I'm sure IWU would be happy to have another chance at NCC.  NCC surely the better teams on the last encounter.   Getting through Bethel a huge challenge.  Warthogs first.

IWU70

[New Tradition]

Question:
I guess this is the time each year I get on my NCC is the real deal kick.  Is there reason to believe this year will be different (as in reaching the Stagg Bowl) than previous playoff runs?

I'd love to have a Mt. Union vs. NCC semifinal this year. 

No offense to IWU, I am assuming the head to head result is a true reflection of the difference in the two teams.

Assuming top seeds win, Plattville and Bethel will be tough ones.  Provided NCC doesn't fumble the ball (I don't mention interceptions as Stanek has only thrown 1 all season against 32 touchdowns while completing passes at close to a 75% clip), and stays balanced on offense with their committee of running backs, I like NCC's chances to make it out of the bracket and over to Alliance.  Defensively, we don't have a DOMINANT linebacker (a la Radke, Wenger, Michals), but Slezak (a CCIW DPOY candidate despite having just moved to LB this season) has filled the role nicely, and has the support of an excellent line and secondary.  As Langhorst Ghost pointed out, NCC's defense has only given up 12 TD's in 7 CCIW games, and makes up over half of the All-CCIW first team defense, so teams will definitely struggle to score. 

[emma17]

Question:
I guess this is the time each year I get on my NCC is the real deal kick.  Is there reason to believe this year will be different (as in reaching the Stagg Bowl) than previous playoff runs?

I'd love to have a Mt. Union vs. NCC semifinal this year. 

No offense to IWU, I am assuming the head to head result is a true reflection of the difference in the two teams.

Assuming top seeds win, Plattville and Bethel will be tough ones.  Provided NCC doesn't fumble the ball (I don't mention interceptions as Stanek has only thrown 1 all season against 32 touchdowns while completing passes at close to a 75% clip), and stays balanced on offense with their committee of running backs, I like NCC's chances to make it out of the bracket and over to Alliance.  Defensively, we don't have a DOMINANT linebacker (a la Radke, Wenger, Michals), but Slezak (a CCIW DPOY candidate despite having just moved to LB this season) has filled the role nicely, and has the support of an excellent line and secondary.  As Langhorst Ghost pointed out, NCC's defense has only given up 12 TD's in 7 CCIW games, and makes up over half of the All-CCIW first team defense, so teams will definitely struggle to score.

UWP will be a tough out if NCC can't get pressure- maybe a chance to redeeem the Wabash nightmare.  But, I can't see UWP having success stopping NCC's offense.  Even in a shootout I don't see UWP prevailing.  IMO NCC will score points faster than UWP. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Question:
I guess this is the time each year I get on my NCC is the real deal kick.  Is there reason to believe this year will be different (as in reaching the Stagg Bowl) than previous playoff runs?

I'd love to have a Mt. Union vs. NCC semifinal this year. 

No offense to IWU, I am assuming the head to head result is a true reflection of the difference in the two teams.

Alas, it probably is (though the final score is a bit misleading).  While I thought (despite my green glasses) that NCC was a little bit better the whole way, early in the 4th it was still anybody's game.  A big Titan gain (28 yards, IIRC) was wiped out by a holding call, followed immediately by an illegal block - suddenly it was 1st and 31 on our own 11!  Desperation then set in, and Rob Gallik threw his only 2 INTs of the day.  Hence the margin got rather out of hand, but, overall, I retain some hope that a rematch could end differently.  NCC was admittedly the better team that day, but NOT 46-17 better (despite that lyin' scoreboard ).

It would be an uphill battle to beat (presumably) Bethel on the road to even get a rematch, but totally discount IWU's chances at your peril!

Now watch - I've probably jinxed them into losing at home to Wartburg!

[Stagg Again!!]

Question:
I guess this is the time each year I get on my NCC is the real deal kick.  Is there reason to believe this year will be different (as in reaching the Stagg Bowl) than previous playoff runs?

I'd love to have a Mt. Union vs. NCC semifinal this year. 

No offense to IWU, I am assuming the head to head result is a true reflection of the difference in the two teams.

Assuming top seeds win, Plattville and Bethel will be tough ones.  Provided NCC doesn't fumble the ball (I don't mention interceptions as Stanek has only thrown 1 all season against 32 touchdowns while completing passes at close to a 75% clip), and stays balanced on offense with their committee of running backs, I like NCC's chances to make it out of the bracket and over to Alliance.  Defensively, we don't have a DOMINANT linebacker (a la Radke, Wenger, Michals), but Slezak (a CCIW DPOY candidate despite having just moved to LB this season) has filled the role nicely, and has the support of an excellent line and secondary.  As Langhorst Ghost pointed out, NCC's defense has only given up 12 TD's in 7 CCIW games, and makes up over half of the All-CCIW first team defense, so teams will definitely struggle to score.

UWP will be a tough out if NCC can't get pressure- maybe a chance to redeeem the Wabash nightmare.  But, I can't see UWP having success stopping NCC's offense.  Even in a shootout I don't see UWP prevailing.  IMO NCC will score points faster than UWP.

I do believe that, should NCC get past Albion this weekend, they will be well prepared for whatever UWP may have to offer.  The Cardinal coaches and players have had to tangle with Wheaton (Meador and Roberts), Carthage (Jones), Franklin (Rupp), Redlands (Hurst), and Wabash (Burke -- unconscious in the 2nd half) over the past five to seven years.  Execution, of course, is a completely different matter.

[wally_wabash]

I've got North Central winning that region, although there are two very tough choices there.  Platteville proved themselves quite a bit with the win at Oshkosh to get in.  Oshkosh is no joke...that's a tremendous result especially with all of the pressure that comes along with an elimination game.  I've elected to give NCC the home field nod there.  I do expect a fantastic game though. 

Then in the regional final I've also picked North Central over Bethel.  I think that game is a total toss up and with a December 7 game in Arden Hills, you have no idea how the elements will come into play. 

It's an interesting region for sure.  Definitely open for North Central to break through a new barrier and take their shot at the really big time. 

[02 Warhawk]

I've got North Central winning that region, although there are two very tough choices there.  Platteville proved themselves quite a bit with the win at Oshkosh to get in.  Oshkosh is no joke...that's a tremendous result especially with all of the pressure that comes along with an elimination game.  I've elected to give NCC the home field nod there.  I do expect a fantastic game though. 

Then in the regional final I've also picked North Central over Bethel.  I think that game is a total toss up and with a December 7 game in Arden Hills, you have no idea how the elements will come into play. 

It's an interesting region for sure.  Definitely open for North Central to break through a new barrier and take their shot at the really big time.

I've been hearing a lot of this. I thought I was being sneaky by picking NCC over Bethel, but it appears more people are picking NCC that game than not.

I actually have NCC getting to the Stagg Bowl.

[robertgoulet]

I've got North Central winning that region, although there are two very tough choices there.  Platteville proved themselves quite a bit with the win at Oshkosh to get in.  Oshkosh is no joke...that's a tremendous result especially with all of the pressure that comes along with an elimination game.  I've elected to give NCC the home field nod there.  I do expect a fantastic game though. 

Then in the regional final I've also picked North Central over Bethel.  I think that game is a total toss up and with a December 7 game in Arden Hills, you have no idea how the elements will come into play. 

It's an interesting region for sure.  Definitely open for North Central to break through a new barrier and take their shot at the really big time.

I've been hearing a lot of this. I thought I was being sneaky by picking NCC over Bethel, but it appears more people are picking NCC that game than not.

I actually have NCC getting to the Stagg Bowl.

Take it back!!! (So do I, but I'm a homer so I can do things like that without upsetting the ways of the cosmos!)

[Titan Q]

Article on the Titans as they prepare for Wartburg...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-veterans-look-to-erase-taste-from-first-round-loss/article_c7af63c4-5233-11e3-b3ef-001a4bcf887a.html