FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I agree that the swing pass gets blown up a lot. NPU's certainly had its fair share of one- or two- or three-yard losses with that play. But the Vikings have also broken some big gains with it as well. It's all a matter of getting Kadarius Daniels the ball in space, because when he has the ball with room to maneuver he is dynamite with the fuse lit.

There's no need to throw out the play. It just needs to be used judiciously. It's no longer the bread-and-butter play when Daniels is in the game (he's lined up as a traditional wideout more the past two weeks than he has as a motion RB, and the touchdown he scored against Carroll was on a conventional pass route in which he had lined up as a WR).

North Park rarely throws to a tight end, because North Park rarely has a tight end. NPU tends instead to put the players who could be considered for the TE spot (Sean Burke, Beck Davis, and James Herron) in the H-back spot.

[kiko]

Not much mention of this last week on here but John Thorne went into the NCC HOF.  Kind of a big deal and well-deserved.

Here is a nice little interview with him:
http://www.nctv17.com/cardinal-corner-conversation-with-john-thorne/

I enjoyed the interview and John Thorne is probably the opposing coach I respect the most all-time in any CCIW sport.  I really like what he said about academics and changing the football culture at NCC in that regard.  Plus I forgot that he was a Chemistry teacher in high school (my undergrad major).

Also, I took notice the part around 3:10 onward were he talks about his son and why he was a great quarterback and why NCC has had such great quarterbacks like Rutter, Kniss, Fanthorpe, Stanek----they all have "great vision".    Not great speed or a great arms, but great vision to see the defense, pass rush, secondary (it's easy to know where your offense is).   Wheaton coaches, you might want to listen to the old coach there.

This was great -- thanks for sharing it.  I am whatever the opposite of an insider to the program would be, so it was illuminating to hear Coach Thorne speak about changing the culture in the classroom.

And, this was the first time I heard his perspective of the game against Mount.  I managed to capture the ESPN feed from that game and have been known to watch it on a long haul plane ride.  Blizzard bowls are must-see teevee for me, and I am hard-pressed to name a more compelling game that I've seen at any level of football.

(BTW, if anyone wants a copy of this, pm me.)

[nccfac]

As a professor at the college, it did not take long after John's arrival, as the new football coach, to see a difference in the student-athletes in the classroom. Players sat in the first or second row and sat up straight and took their hats off. If they didn't, other players would remind them (like Kam Kniss did in my class). They greet the professor when they enter and say goodbye when they leave. What I've noticed is the best player are most often the best students. Some earning player of the year award nationally, either defensive or offensive, are also graduating with high honors or more. The students who last four years in the program are amongst the best students we have on campus. One recent grad, a defensive player of the year for D3, won the NCAA post-graduate award, now while working full time, he is getting his MBA at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago in Finance in their evening program. The success these players show on the field and their discipline for the game directly relates to their success off of the field. Most importantly John and now Jeff have never forgotten why the students are here, to get a great education. To get your picture on the hallway, where the coaches offices are, depends solely on one's GPA.  I am a proud backer of our Cardinal football program because I know their priorities are in the right place.

[USee]

Pat did his mock bracket on the front page

www.d3football.com

NCC fans better hope that's not the way it falls. He currently has NCC playing St Johns, UWO, Mt Union, then UWW all to face MHB in the Stagg. That's a tough road. Wheaton would play Monmouth and then travel to Whitewater in round 2. The winner would likely face Linfield.

Wally Wabash did his version of the matchups on the Pool C board. It's more reasonable for NCC but he doesn't have UWP in the tournament and Pat does. That simple change makes a much different bracket.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat did his mock bracket on the front page

www.d3football.com

NCC fans better hope that's not the way it falls. He currently has NCC playing St Johns, UWO, Mt Union, then UWW all to face MHB in the Stagg. That's a tough road. Wheaton would play Monmouth and then travel to Whitewater in round 2. The winner would likely face Linfield.

Wally Wabash did his version of the matchups on the Pool C board. It's more reasonable for NCC but he doesn't have UWP in the tournament and Pat does. That simple change makes a much different bracket.

I originally had that pair of matchups in the St. Thomas bracket instead. Not sure that would have been much better. Tough roads in this part of the country.

[Stagg Again!!]

Did someone say Stagg?  I agree with USee here (I don't know if I've ever said that!) ... this would be a rough road for a top 6 NCC team.  I know it is no easy task to put together one of these brackets (especially with the mysterious and irregularly applied limitations on travel distance applied by the NCAA), but I would be surprised to see the NCAA drop 3 of the top six teams into one bracket.  I also would be surprised if the NCAA were to "punish" MUC with such a difficult path.  I look forward to seeing the revised version after MUC defeats JC and the rest of the top 6 win out.  As always, thank you for your efforts Pat; they are much appreciated.

[Kovo]

Did someone say Stagg?  I agree with USee here (I don't know if I've ever said that!) ... this would be a rough road for a top 6 NCC team.  I know it is no easy task to put together one of these brackets (especially with the mysterious and irregularly applied limitations on travel distance applied by the NCAA), but I would be surprised to see the NCAA drop 3 of the top six teams into one bracket.  I also would be surprised if the NCAA were to "punish" MUC with such a difficult path.  I look forward to seeing the revised version after MUC defeats JC and the rest of the top 6 win out.  As always, thank you for your efforts Pat; they are much appreciated.

Stagg-----glad to see that you have resurfaced (softball season must have ended).  I look forward to your brilliant playoff analysis. 

[Stagg Again!!]

Softball never ends Kovo!  Daughters each play 75 travel games per year plus now the high school schedule.  Older daughter has campus visit scheduled for 11/20... getting DI and top shelf DIII interest as her offensive stats are off the charts.  Now that fallball has ended, I am looking forward to seeing this young NCC team in the playoffs.  Hope to see you up for a game or two as the Cardinals make their run.

[Stagg Again!!]

Keeping my eye on on the JC v. MUC.  What happens to the bracket projection if an 8-1 JC upends or plays a close game against MUC?  Does NCC become the #1 seed in the North with home field thru to the semis? Or do we see two midwestern West Region teams getting top seeds in the bracket?

[USee]

depends on Alfred result. If they win they are undefeated and the brackets need a 1 seed for an eastern oriented pod.

[Augie6]

Wow, Mt. Union goes down 31-28 to John Carroll.  Should make the seeding really interesting. 

[robertgoulet]

ends their 24-year conference champ & 112 straight regular season win streaks

[Stagg Again!!]

Now keeping my eye on the UWW game.  When was the last time UWW and MUC lost in the same weekend?

[robertgoulet]

Keeping my eye on on the JC v. MUC.  What happens to the bracket projection if an 8-1 JC upends or plays a close game against MUC?  Does NCC become the #1 seed in the North with home field thru to the semis? Or do we see two midwestern West Region teams getting top seeds in the bracket?

I'd have to think NCC'd only chance at a 1 is somehow getting that East #1 (assuming UWW and UST don't lose). Alfred is not a very strong 1 but we know the NCAA and it's aversion to travel.

[USee]

NCC is too far away to be a 1 for east. MUC or JCU go east  probably and we get UWW as 1 seed is my guess. NCC will be 2 seed w UWW. Wheaton probably goes west as a 3 or 4.