FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

As for the game,  NCC absolutely dominated the first half and could have had at least another seven but for an INT in the end zone in the first drive of 2Q.  NCC definitely took their foot off the gas in the 3Q with VERY conservative play-calling (all QB draws, Greenfield runs up the middle, or swing passes to the TE behind the LOS).  This, coupled with some (ahem) interesting and very timely calls by the officials, allowed Wheaton to gain momentum and continue drives that were clearly over. 

Both teams had some first half miscues that could have affected the score at intermission. You can't be seriously suggesting the Cardinals got some home cooking from their own refs??

In the end, I thought all of the NCC and WC fans were treated to a fantastic hard-fought game on both sides of the ball.  WC came out fighting in the 3Q to make the contest a bit more exciting and NCC proved their National Championship-caliber mettle by orchestrating two nice long scoring drives in the 4Q that effectively put the game out of reach.  Hope both teams have success the rest of the way and am keeping my fingers crossed that we will see two CCIW teams in the playoffs.

At this point if there are 2 CCIW teams in the playoffs one of them is likely to be the Bears in St Louis. I agree with Sager that, while they have yet to play a consequential opponent, their experience and quality of play looks and smells like a contender in the CCIW. It wouldn't shock me at all to see WashU in the playoffs come November.

[cciwman]

See that the new Top 25 poll is out and, not surprisingly, NCC did not pick up any points after defeating a Top 10 opponent by two touchdowns.  Meanwhile, UWW picked up 11 points after their 3 point win over a similarly ranked opponent.  Love to watch how quick the pollsters are to throw points at MIAC and WIAC teams (St. Johns, UWW, etc.), but aren't so quick when Mount, UMHB, or NCC pick up big wins.  Frankly, I am surprised that St. Johns didn't jump over an "outsider" like Trinity!!

And the #1 ranked Cardinals are now preparing to travel to Mount Union again this year for the third year in a row.  Get your tickets now and that Canton hotel room.  You know the NCAA is excited to do it again!!
Man -- you gotta be kidding me. There are only THIRTEEN points left for North Central to pick up, and you're complaining that they only have 97.9% of the maximum points a team can have?

Pat, that is exactly what I thought when I saw UWW pick up 11 pts points after a 3 point win this week on the heels of a 14 pt win over a 2-2 and unranked Berry team (that just got defeated by the same spread by an unranked Birmingham-Southern team).  I don't really care if NCC is ranked 1st or 4th at this point, but I would like to understand how the Cardinals would have a 13 point delta (to 625 pts) on seven ballots.  I question the rationality of those votes!  I also would like to understand how 11 points went to UWW instead of a very good Mount team.  It will all shake out in the end, but it would be worthwhile if there were a bit more transparency in the D3football Top 25 polls.

Well, when you are done with the hyperbole and want to have a serious conversation, let us know. We talk about the poll quite a bit on the podcast and have done some breakdowns of the top teams and we will do so this week, plus we do even more for our Patreon subscribers, but seriously, there's plenty of rational thought being done by pollsters who put UMHB and UWW ahead of North Central considering whom each have played in 2022.

Listen every week, but should become a Patreon subscriber.  As I said, it all shakes out in the end and there are rarely issues with the final polls.  I realize this is an inexact science with lots of moving part, and I appreciate all that you and the D3football team have done for the sport over the years.  Perhaps the Patreon subscription will give me more of the clarity I am seeking.

[lmitzel]

As for the game,  NCC absolutely dominated the first half and could have had at least another seven but for an INT in the end zone in the first drive of 2Q.  NCC definitely took their foot off the gas in the 3Q with VERY conservative play-calling (all QB draws, Greenfield runs up the middle, or swing passes to the TE behind the LOS).  This, coupled with some (ahem) interesting and very timely calls by the officials, allowed Wheaton to gain momentum and continue drives that were clearly over. 

Both teams had some first half miscues that could have affected the score at intermission. You can't be seriously suggesting the Cardinals got some home cooking from their own refs??

I'm assuming he's mainly referring to the back to back penalties that helped set up that last Wheaton score. In real time I thought the DPI was clean and not the right call, but it's not a hill I'm willing to die on. The face mask I thought was legit though.

In the end, I thought all of the NCC and WC fans were treated to a fantastic hard-fought game on both sides of the ball.  WC came out fighting in the 3Q to make the contest a bit more exciting and NCC proved their National Championship-caliber mettle by orchestrating two nice long scoring drives in the 4Q that effectively put the game out of reach.  Hope both teams have success the rest of the way and am keeping my fingers crossed that we will see two CCIW teams in the playoffs.

At this point if there are 2 CCIW teams in the playoffs one of them is likely to be the Bears in St Louis. I agree with Sager that, while they have yet to play a consequential opponent, their experience and quality of play looks and smells like a contender in the CCIW. It wouldn't shock me at all to see WashU in the playoffs come November.

I'll be interested to see how WashU does when NCC and Wheaton come calling. A split probably gets them in, right?

[Gregory Sager]

As for the game,  NCC absolutely dominated the first half and could have had at least another seven but for an INT in the end zone in the first drive of 2Q.  NCC definitely took their foot off the gas in the 3Q with VERY conservative play-calling (all QB draws, Greenfield runs up the middle, or swing passes to the TE behind the LOS).  This, coupled with some (ahem) interesting and very timely calls by the officials, allowed Wheaton to gain momentum and continue drives that were clearly over. 

Both teams had some first half miscues that could have affected the score at intermission. You can't be seriously suggesting the Cardinals got some home cooking from their own refs??

I'm not sure where either of you are going with this discussion of the refs, but, for the record here, the officiating crews for all CCIW football games (non-conference as well as conference) are assigned under the aegis of the CCIW's coordinator of football officials, Bill Carollo, who heads up a consortium of football official assignment pools called the Midwest Football Officials' Alliance that includes the Big Ten as well as the CCIW and the WIAC. (Carollo should be a familiar name to anyone who watches football, as he was an NFL referee for twenty years and thus had his name consistently mentioned on air during national telecasts; in fact, he reffed a couple of Super Bowls.) Carollo's assistants who directly handle CCIW, WIAC, MWC, and NACC officiating assignments are Tom Fiedler and Tom Stapleton.

Long story short, there is no such thing as "their own refs" (or either home cooking or anti-home cooking) in CCIW football. I think you probably both know that, but it bears repeating. And I also figured that this is an opportune moment to inform everyone who reads this board exactly how officiating crews are assigned for CCIW games and who is assigning them.

[CardinalAlum]

As for the game,  NCC absolutely dominated the first half and could have had at least another seven but for an INT in the end zone in the first drive of 2Q.  NCC definitely took their foot off the gas in the 3Q with VERY conservative play-calling (all QB draws, Greenfield runs up the middle, or swing passes to the TE behind the LOS).  This, coupled with some (ahem) interesting and very timely calls by the officials, allowed Wheaton to gain momentum and continue drives that were clearly over. 

Both teams had some first half miscues that could have affected the score at intermission. You can't be seriously suggesting the Cardinals got some home cooking from their own refs??

I'm not sure where either of you are going with this discussion of the refs, but, for the record here, the officiating crews for all CCIW football games (non-conference as well as conference) are assigned under the aegis of the CCIW's coordinator of football officials, Bill Carollo, who heads up a consortium of football official assignment pools called the Midwest Football Officials' Alliance that includes the Big Ten as well as the CCIW and the WIAC. (Carollo should be a familiar name to anyone who watches football, as he was an NFL referee for twenty years and thus had his name consistently mentioned on air during national telecasts; in fact, he reffed a couple of Super Bowls.) Carollo's assistants who directly handle CCIW, WIAC, MWC, and NACC officiating assignments are Tom Fiedler and Tom Stapleton.

Long story short, there is no such thing as "their own refs" (or either home cooking or anti-home cooking) in CCIW football. I think you probably both know that, but it bears repeating. And I also figured that this is an opportune moment to inform everyone who reads this board exactly how officiating crews are assigned for CCIW games and who is assigning them.

Thank you for that explanation on something I never was aware of how the process worked!

[Thunderdome21]

I'll be interested to see how WashU does when NCC and Wheaton come calling. A split probably gets them in, right?

Let's first see how they do against some CCIW middle-tier teams (IWU, Augustana). Up until now, WashU has played the easiest part of its schedule. The teams they've played have a combined record of 4-12, whereas teams Wheaton's played have a combined record of 13-3. 

[matblake]

In the end, I thought all of the NCC and WC fans were treated to a fantastic hard-fought game on both sides of the ball.  WC came out fighting in the 3Q to make the contest a bit more exciting and NCC proved their National Championship-caliber mettle by orchestrating two nice long scoring drives in the 4Q that effectively put the game out of reach.  Hope both teams have success the rest of the way and am keeping my fingers crossed that we will see two CCIW teams in the playoffs.

At this point if there are 2 CCIW teams in the playoffs one of them is likely to be the Bears in St Louis. I agree with Sager that, while they have yet to play a consequential opponent, their experience and quality of play looks and smells like a contender in the CCIW. It wouldn't shock me at all to see WashU in the playoffs come November.

Agreed. I think their offensive weapons are capable of giving both Wheaton and North Central all they can handle. 

[USee]

I'll be interested to see how WashU does when NCC and Wheaton come calling. A split probably gets them in, right?

Let's first see how they do against some CCIW middle-tier teams (IWU, Augustana). Up until now, WashU has played the easiest part of its schedule. The teams they've played have a combined record of 4-12, whereas teams Wheaton's played have a combined record of 13-3.

Well that is indeed the question. I think Sager (and I) are simply saying "don't discount the Bears" simply because they haven't played anyone. They are looking the part of CCIW contender. They have 26 seniors including 9 returning starters on an offense that was pretty good last year including a veteran, all conference QB and their 4 top pass catchers, 4 of their 5 OL returning and 6 starters on defense. After completing 64% of his passes with 27 TD's and 5 INTs last year, QB Matt Rush has completed 72% with 16 TD's and 2 INTS through 4 games so far. They easily handled their CCIW schedule last year outside of the top 2 in going 7-4 with a loss to . They get Wheaton and NCC in St Louis this year. They haven't played anyone yet but don't let that fool you. I am not sure they have the firepower to topple NCC but there isn't a lot of separation between WashU and Wheaton. My eyes tell me this team is good. 9-1 wouldn't surprise me one bit.

[Gregory Sager]

Congrats to NPU's Juan Nieves for winning his second straight CCIW Special Teams POW award!

[D3FLETCH]

See that the new Top 25 poll is out and, not surprisingly, NCC did not pick up any points after defeating a Top 10 opponent by two touchdowns.  Meanwhile, UWW picked up 11 points after their 3 point win over a similarly ranked opponent.  Love to watch how quick the pollsters are to throw points at MIAC and WIAC teams (St. Johns, UWW, etc.), but aren't so quick when Mount, UMHB, or NCC pick up big wins.  Frankly, I am surprised that St. Johns didn't jump over an "outsider" like Trinity!!

Man -- you gotta be kidding me. There are only THIRTEEN points left for North Central to pick up, and you're complaining that they only have 97.9% of the maximum points a team can have?

Pat, that is exactly what I thought when I saw UWW pick up 11 pts points after a 3 point win this week on the heels of a 14 pt win over a 2-2 and unranked Berry team (that just got defeated by the same spread by an unranked Birmingham-Southern team).  I don't really care if NCC is ranked 1st or 4th at this point, but I would like to understand how the Cardinals would have a 13 point delta (to 625 pts) on seven ballots.  I question the rationality of those votes!  I also would like to understand how 11 points went to UWW instead of a very good Mount team.  It will all shake out in the end, but it would be worthwhile if there were a bit more transparency in the D3football Top 25 polls.

Well, when you are done with the hyperbole and want to have a serious conversation, let us know. We talk about the poll quite a bit on the podcast and have done some breakdowns of the top teams and we will do so this week, plus we do even more for our Patreon subscribers, but seriously, there's plenty of rational thought being done by pollsters who put UMHB and UWW ahead of North Central considering whom each have played in 2022.

Awesome podcast on "polls." Hopefully posters take note.

[Next Man Up]

To those NCC fans that chose to relieve themselves in the Wheaton locker room, on the players personal items... stay classy!

Well gee, after a little investigating, it turns out that the Wheaties locker room was NOT used as a urination station either by anyone associated with NCC or not.
The locker room is secured by two security personnel, and the door is locked with a key card necessary for entry.

[WUPHF]

Well gee, after a little investigating, it turns out that the Wheaties locker room was NOT used as a urination station either by anyone associated with NCC or not.
The locker room is secured by two security personnel, and the door is locked with a key card necessary for entry.

I figured this was a hoax of a story from the beginning.

[Gregory Sager]

Well gee, after a little investigating, it turns out that the Wheaties locker room was NOT used as a urination station either by anyone associated with NCC or not.
The locker room is secured by two security personnel, and the door is locked with a key card necessary for entry.

I figured this was a hoax of a story from the beginning.

Given the seriousness of the accusation -- and it was definitely presented here as an accusation rather than as speculation:

To those NCC fans that chose to relieve themselves in the Wheaton locker room, on the players personal items... stay classy!

... I think that Thunderdog owes us an explanation as to his source behind this accusation, and why he found that source and/or the details so compelling as to make such an accusation in this public forum.

If this isn't a hoax, then let's hear from some of the victims and/or witnesses. But if this is indeed a hoax, then Thunderdog is in violation of the Terms of Service of this website. At the least, if I had been the person who had pointed my finger and wrongfully accused people associated with a particular school of this disgusting act of vandalism as though it was an established fact, I would feel compelled to apologize for it.

But that's me.

[lmitzel]

To those NCC fans that chose to relieve themselves in the Wheaton locker room, on the players personal items... stay classy!

Well gee, after a little investigating, it turns out that the Wheaties locker room was NOT used as a urination station either by anyone associated with NCC or not.
The locker room is secured by two security personnel, and the door is locked with a key card necessary for entry.

This was a part, I guess thinking about it, didn't really make sense with the story. I would have figured there'd be some sort of security involved, though a lapse wouldn't be impossible. But the combination of those things...

... I think that Thunderdog owes us an explanation as to his source behind this accusation, and why he found that source and/or the details so compelling as to make such an accusation in this public forum.

If this isn't a hoax, then let's hear from some of the victims and/or witnesses. But if this is indeed a hoax, then Thunderdog is in violation of the Terms of Service of this website. At the least, if I had been the person who had pointed my finger and wrongfully accused people associated with a particular school of this disgusting act of vandalism as though it was an established fact, I would feel compelled to apologize for it.

But that's me.

I'm feeling similar. This is one of the best rivalries in D3, and I felt like I had a little letdown from the victory high in the wake of the claim, but for it to turn out to likely be a hoax...

[Nitzermania]

My son plays for Wheaton, he vows that the locker room was definitely used by more than one person as a toilet, that there were "pools" of urine throughout one of the rooms and that the whole locker room smelled awful.  This occurred during the 1st half, so it was encountered by the team at halftime.  It was assumed (no certainty of course) that this had been done by some of the NCC alumni screaming obscenities at the team as they went in at halftime.  Anyway, my son would say that someone urinating all over the locker room is NOT a hoax.