FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[raiderguy]

Just as a heads up ...ESPNU is broadcasting the replay of both playoff games. On Wednsday at 1 pm for Mount vs  North Central, then on Thusday at 1 pm they are showing the WW and MHB game.  So get those DVR's cranked up!

[footballfan413]

Got to watch the game yesterday and I can't say enough about your 2013 NCC Cardinals.  They were, every bit, Mounts equal, going toe to toe with them and the game and score reflected it.  Losing by one point, just heartbreaking, but their performance, on a national stage, spoke volumes and proved they have arrived and should be counted with the elite of D-3 football.  A huge congrats to the NCC players, staff and fans on a stellar showing yesterday!  Your future looks very bright.   

[Kovo]

Got to watch the game yesterday and I can't say enough about your 2013 NCC Cardinals.  They were, every bit, Mounts equal, going toe to toe with them and the game and score reflected it.  Losing by one point, just heartbreaking, but their performance, on a national stage, spoke volumes and proved they have arrived and should be counted with the elite of D-3 football.  A huge congrats to the NCC players, staff and fans on a stellar showing yesterday!  Your future looks very bright.   

[mr_mom]

Congrats to NCC on a great year and a great game! 

If you can't smell respect, look at the spread on my Pick-Em.  The OAC players can almost always be expected to pick UMU no matter what I set the spread.  But not yesterday.

You have a stud QB.  And a Sunday-watching wide-out.  Cannot wait until next year.

Cheers!  Mom!

[NCCAlum48]

What a fun game to watch!

Congrats, NCC, on a fantastic season and a fantastic effort today.

I will direct this one at you Gregory-----maybe you can appreciate it.

But at the turn of the century, I told my old teammate (a long time board toller who declines to post). that if we could win one CCIW title I could someday die happy.  That was coming off another 2 win or so season.  I never could have dreamed NC having this success.  I have enjoyed every minute of this run.  So while many of the Cardinal faithful are down tonight, I am not.  The guys represented themselves and the CCIW well.  Will we ever get over the mountain?  I don't know and I don't care.  Every game is a thrill for me.

Special props to AD Jim Miller, my teammate and roommate at NC.  A true Cardinal who loves NC more than anyone.  It is no coincidence that we went to the final four in football and basketball in the same year under his direction.  I could bore all off you with all the sacrifices he and his family have made for the institution, but I won't.  I will simply say Thank You, Jim (I know you read the board), for everything.

And thank you to all the CCIW posters sent the warm wishes to NC.  Let's keep it going as a league, and compete at the highest levels.

Great post, Kovo.  You hit the nail on the head with your thoughts on Coach Miller.  Every guy I know that played (or wrestled) for Coach Miller thinks the world of him. 

There was a good group of football alums at the Lantern on Saturday.  The place was going nuts.  Despite the loss, the faithful was proud and joyous about how far the program has come since we all strapped it up. 

I can't say enough about this team.  What a bunch of competitors.  I can't wait for next season.  Go Cards!!

[kiko]

Random thoughts coming out of Saturday's game:

1. This sort of goes without saying, but wow is UMU a great team.  They are on a completely different level from anyone the Cardinals have faced this year.  Congrats to the Purple Raiders on having what it took to earn the victory.

2. I'm incredibly proud of the effort the Cards put forth.  Others have said it more eloquently, but they were every bit UMU's equal, and the Purple Raiders needed a Herculean effort by their all-world QB to escape.

3. I loved how well Cardinal Nation traveled.  Alliance is not exactly the next county over, but the Cardinals were well-represented in body and voice.

4. I will echo a bit of what Kovo said a couple of pages back.  If you'd told me a dozen years ago that we would go toe-to-toe with Mount Union, I'd have asked what happened to their program.  I am thrilled at the way the program has continued to grow stronger and stronger.

5. My favorite moment of the game was actually one that ended up having zero bearing on the game.  The Cards trailed 20-16 in the waning seconds of the first half, and forced UMU to turn the ball over on downs.  NCC took over at their own 17 with 48 seconds left.  There are any number of schools who, given the field conditions and time remaining, would have simply taken a knee or run the ball into the middle of the line, and been pretty happy in knowing they'd hung close with the Machine for 30 minutes.  Instead, the Cards put the pedal to the floor and tried to go down the field.  I loved the we-don't-care-who-you-are-we-will-keep-coming-at-you message it sent.  There was some talk before the game about the Mount mystique affecting the Cardinals at the outset of the game; if you will pardon the analogy, there was no yellow snow on the North Central sideline on Saturday.  They basically walked up to Mount and punched them in the nose from the opening kickoff, and kept punching for the next three-plus hours.  Incredible heart and determination.

6. I know we can't join the conversation until we beat a purple team, but we proved this weekend that we definitely belong in the same room as the D3 elites.

7. I knew the Cards were the usual North Central good this year, but it became clear to me around Week 10 that this was a really special team.  Not because of the two big road wins that sealed the conference title, but because I realized how experienced and senior-dominated this team was.  This was a special group of seniors, and that showed up big time on Saturday.

8.  To the seniors, thank you for four outstanding years, and best of luck in wherever life takes you.  You will walk out with:
- A 27-1 record in conference play, and four conference titles
- Three Bell victories in four years
- Seven playoff victories, including wins in each of your four years
- The deepest advance into the playoffs in the school's history, and then three years later, an even deeper advance.
- An incredible experience to draw upon for inspiration and leadership lessons in the years ahead, and
- A lifetime of friendships and memories

9. To the returning players, you were also a big part of getting the program to this point.  Thanks for your efforts this season -- and now it's your turn to uphold and extend the tradition.

[Kovo]

What a fun game to watch!

Congrats, NCC, on a fantastic season and a fantastic effort today.

I will direct this one at you Gregory-----maybe you can appreciate it.

But at the turn of the century, I told my old teammate (a long time board toller who declines to post). that if we could win one CCIW title I could someday die happy.  That was coming off another 2 win or so season.  I never could have dreamed NC having this success.  I have enjoyed every minute of this run.  So while many of the Cardinal faithful are down tonight, I am not.  The guys represented themselves and the CCIW well.  Will we ever get over the mountain?  I don't know and I don't care.  Every game is a thrill for me.

Special props to AD Jim Miller, my teammate and roommate at NC.  A true Cardinal who loves NC more than anyone.  It is no coincidence that we went to the final four in football and basketball in the same year under his direction.  I could bore all off you with all the sacrifices he and his family have made for the institution, but I won't.  I will simply say Thank You, Jim (I know you read the board), for everything.

And thank you to all the CCIW posters sent the warm wishes to NC.  Let's keep it going as a league, and compete at the highest levels.

Great post, Kovo.  You hit the nail on the head with your thoughts on Coach Miller.  Every guy I know that played (or wrestled) for Coach Miller thinks the world of him. 

There was a good group of football alums at the Lantern on Saturday.  The place was going nuts.  Despite the loss, the faithful was proud and joyous about how far the program has come since we all strapped it up. 

I can't say enough about this team.  What a bunch of competitors.  I can't wait for next season.  Go Cards!!

Good reminder 48.  NC's wrestling program was actually worse than the football program at one point, and was on the verge of being dropped by the school for lack of interest and to cut costs.  Jim took over, turned it around, won a CCIW title, and after 16 years turned it over in great shape (all the while, coaching football, teaching a class and working in admissions).  Never forget that there are key individuals behind the success.  One reason I feel positive about going forward.

[rscl70]

I have to say I'm impressed North Central.  With your team, of course, they left no doubt they deserved to be there.  With how well you traveled, yep, not many fan bases would have made that trip in the numbers you did with the weather conditions that were forecast. But I'm also impressed with what I've read here since the game.

None of the usual "We was robbed" stuff, no "A Mount fan looked at me cross-eyed so they're all a bunch of classless SOB's."  Just positive reflections on your season, your team and the game.    You represent your school well.  If you are examples of the majority of NCC grads and fans, then I would have to say that had I a child looking for a college, a trip to North Central would be in order. (After several trips to Mount Union, of course.  )

+K to all of you.  Hope we meet again.

[cardinaldad]

I'm very, very proud of you Cards! You played your hearts out on Saturday!

As far as rebuiding, reloading or whatever you want to call it, I have been involved with Cardinal football for over 10 years. Each year we ask ourselves, how are we going to replace so and so (Kniss, Radtke, Wenger, Fanthorpe, Sulo, Hare, Holden, Spencer, etc., etc., etc.)? And we do each time! And it must be with better players because the team is doing better. More and more individual records and team records are being broken. When we think there can't be a better replacement, there is. We have to believe the the Cards are in GREAT hands and that the future is bright. And, this year, again, has to be GREAT for recruiting! I believe the Cards are going to be around for awhile.

Was not able to make the trip to Ohio. Did anyone take up the invite for wings? Was it a good time? Wwre the wings good? Mmmmmmmm! Wish I could have been there!

Raider fans, thanks for all the kind words!

[NCF]

I'm very, very proud of you Cards! You played your hearts out on Saturday!

As far as rebuiding, reloading or whatever you want to call it, I have been involved with Cardinal football for over 10 years. Each year we ask ourselves, how are we going to replace so and so (Kniss, Radtke, Wenger, Fanthorpe, Sulo, Hare, Holden, Spencer, etc., etc., etc.)? And we do each time! And it must be with better players because the team is doing better. More and more individual records and team records are being broken. When we think there can't be a better replacement, there is. We have to believe the the Cards are in GREAT hands and that the future is bright. And, this year, again, has to be GREAT for recruiting! I believe the Cards are going to be around for awhile.

Was not able to make the trip to Ohio. Did anyone take up the invite for wings? Was it a good time? Wwre the wings good? Mmmmmmmm! Wish I could have been there!

Raider fans, thanks for all the kind words!

The plan was to get there in time for wings, but couldn't get there Friday night. I I was lucky to get to the game 15 minutes before kick-off. Great game!

[Green Jello Shots]

Congrats to NCC's Stanek and IWU's Worley for making the Coaches' All-American Team: http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=2432

[badgerwarhawk]

Great effort, disappointed to see it come up just short.

[AndOne]

Random thoughts coming out of Saturday's game:

7. I knew the Cards were the usual North Central good this year, but it became clear to me around Week 10 that this was a really special team.  Not because of the two big road wins that sealed the conference title, but because I realized how experienced and senior-dominated this team was.  This was a special group of seniors, and that showed up big time on Saturday.

8.  To the seniors, thank you for four outstanding years, and best of luck in wherever life takes you.  You will walk out with:
- A 27-1 record in conference play, and four conference titles
- Three Bell victories in four years
- Seven playoff victories, including wins in each of your four years
- The deepest advance into the playoffs in the school's history, and then three years later, an even deeper advance.
- An incredible experience to draw upon for inspiration and leadership lessons in the years ahead, and
- A lifetime of friendships and memories

7. I think one reason the Cardinals were as strong as they are is because of the level of competition provided by teams like Wheaton and Wesleyan, and the other CCIW teams who may not be as strong overall as WC and IWU, but who have individuals whose stars shine very brightly.

8. This year's NCC seniors form a class who won 44 of the 50 games they played over the past four years, and who were part of the Cardinals' first two advancements past the second round of the playoffs.
They need to be very proud of a job exceptionally well done on their watch.

[AndOne]

Congrats to NCC's Stanek and IWU's Worley for making the Coaches' All-American Team: http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=2432

CONGRATS TO NORTH CENTRAL QB SPENCER STANEK WHO HAS BEEN NAMED A 2013 ALL-AMERICAN BY THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION. 

http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/sports/fbl_ncc-NAP-11222013:article

I was unable to find the entire team list anywhere.

OLD news Green Jello Shots.     

[Green Jello Shots]

Congrats to NCC's Stanek and IWU's Worley for making the Coaches' All-American Team: http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=2432

CONGRATS TO NORTH CENTRAL QB SPENCER STANEK WHO HAS BEEN NAMED A 2013 ALL-AMERICAN BY THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION. 

http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/sports/fbl_ncc-NAP-11222013:article

I was unable to find the entire team list anywhere.

OLD news Green Jello Shots.     

They jumped the gun. The team was officially announced today.