FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

Very unfortunate situation. I wish he hadn't been tossed. Here's what I think happened: You have replay in these final couple games that you never have in D3 prior to that. The rules are absolutely clear, you can't lead with your head no matter the situation, to initiate contact. He hit him with the crown of his helmet. It didn't look intentional, the QB was a runner, it was a very normal play and this would never get called in 99% of D3 games. But with replay, it seems to me the officials hands are tied and they have to call it.

[wally_wabash]

And Congratulations to Ethan Greenfield for being named the Gagliardi winner. Greenfield has great vision and incredible footwork and foot speed to go along with pure strength, power and a low center of gravity. That said,  I think this award should be shared with that offensive line as that was one of the most dominant groups I have seen in D3 and that's the reason Greenfield won the award. He was often not touched until he was 6+ yds deep into the opponents territory. Jeske Maples, Alex Knaperek, Jarod Thornton, Will Ebert and Sam Pryor are all deserving of equal credit in the award.

Knowing Ethan, I bet he'd agree with you. I remember giving his MVP in the 2019 stagg to the o line. In fact, his entire speech was "thank you but I can't accept this because it belongs to the offensive line."

Lots of this in my piece on the site today.  And it's not just Ethan- it's everybody.  From the players to Coach Spencer, this mindset is in the blood of Cardinal football.

Their success at running between the tackles had been hit and miss for much of the game and Mount was obviously going to load up the box.  This was pretty much guaranteed to be an All American WR in single coverage.  I don't mind those odds at all.

This was my thought also- that getting three yards there was going to be tough (though I wouldn't have minded seeing Greenfield vs. the UMU front 7 for three yards and a natty on the line).  Mount Union got picked off in a similar spot against Wartburg, but I think Spencer calls that play knowing he's going to get Hardy singled up and then you trust Lehnen to throw it in a not dangerous spot.  Hardy made an unbelievable play to haul that thing in.  The responsibility on that play though is really on Lehnen- try for 7, yes.  Risk the 3, absolutely not.  Complete or incomplete, Lehnen did what he was asked to do there. 

[Next Man Up]

It's going to be interesting to see what effect winning this year's Stagg Bowl, and even more so two of the last three, will have on NCC recruiting. And not just the wins themselves, but the mindset and familial atmosphere principles that are stressed and valued within the program.

[hazzben]

Very unfortunate situation. I wish he hadn't been tossed. Here's what I think happened: You have replay in these final couple games that you never have in D3 prior to that. The rules are absolutely clear, you can't lead with your head no matter the situation, to initiate contact. He hit him with the crown of his helmet. It didn't look intentional, the QB was a runner, it was a very normal play and this would never get called in 99% of D3 games. But with replay, it seems to me the officials hands are tied and they have to call it.

I think part of the issue is that (if memory serves) they had an ACC Replay official in the booth. Bringing in FBS officials for the final 4 sounds great on paper. But these rules get applied differently all year in D3, because there is no replay. Players adjust to how they're applied. It's a bit like moving the goal posts on them, in the most important games of the year. I understand wanting to get TD's and catches and all those other plays correct in the biggest games. But the official is making a judgment call, and IMO it has to be blatant and with intent, to DQ a kid in the Stagg. The hit looked worse than it was, because he was getting hit by 3 guys simultaneously.This rule is also very biased in application against the D (the rule in general isn't a bad idea). I think I've seen one time, ever, where they called a RB for targeting. But ball carriers lower their heads and lead with the crown all the time. It's just the defenders that aren't given the same leniency. Granted the QB didn't lower his head in this instance...I'll stop my defender biased rant now. 

[WRMUalum13]

Great job North Central on achieving the highest Massey Rating I can ever remember seeing for a D3 team. Massey Ratings has a feature on their website where they have a ranking of every team in the NCAA from every division. Currently North Central is #163 (Mount Union is #212) which puts the Cardinals above Jackson State in the FCS who were ranked top 10 a few weeks ago. Also ranks NCC above a few FBS teams (Charlotte, New Mexico, Akron and Florida International).

https://masseyratings.com/cf2022/ncaa/ratings

Okay not QUITE the outlier that I thought, looks like the D3 national champ usually ends up somewhere in the 160s, UMU 2008 was 166 and UMU 2015 was 164... But I think 163 is the best I've seen.

NCC is also ranked above every single D2 school except for 4 of them.

[cardinaldad]

Check this out! "If it wasn't for a hold"........
https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/college/football/2022/12/22/mount-union-football-team-2023-roster-stagg-bowl-national-championship-geoff-dartt/69738452007/

[cardinaldad]

UMU could possibly have some key players return if they choose to. Read the article above!

[BillyRayJimBob]

Great job North Central on achieving the highest Massey Rating I can ever remember seeing for a D3 team. Massey Ratings has a feature on their website where they have a ranking of every team in the NCAA from every division. Currently North Central is #163 (Mount Union is #212) which puts the Cardinals above Jackson State in the FCS who were ranked top 10 a few weeks ago. Also ranks NCC above a few FBS teams (Charlotte, New Mexico, Akron and Florida International).

https://masseyratings.com/cf2022/ncaa/ratings

Okay not QUITE the outlier that I thought, looks like the D3 national champ usually ends up somewhere in the 160s, UMU 2008 was 166 and UMU 2015 was 164... But I think 163 is the best I've seen.

NCC is also ranked above every single D2 school except for 4 of them.

From a poster on the OAC board:

https://masseyratings.com/cf/5199

Mount was ranked 144 in '97, 151 in '03, 156 in '07, 162 in '06 and 163 in '02.

[WRMUalum13]

Great job North Central on achieving the highest Massey Rating I can ever remember seeing for a D3 team. Massey Ratings has a feature on their website where they have a ranking of every team in the NCAA from every division. Currently North Central is #163 (Mount Union is #212) which puts the Cardinals above Jackson State in the FCS who were ranked top 10 a few weeks ago. Also ranks NCC above a few FBS teams (Charlotte, New Mexico, Akron and Florida International).

https://masseyratings.com/cf2022/ncaa/ratings

Okay not QUITE the outlier that I thought, looks like the D3 national champ usually ends up somewhere in the 160s, UMU 2008 was 166 and UMU 2015 was 164... But I think 163 is the best I've seen.

NCC is also ranked above every single D2 school except for 4 of them.

From a poster on the OAC board:

https://masseyratings.com/cf/5199

Mount was ranked 144 in '97, 151 in '03, 156 in '07, 162 in '06 and 163 in '02.

Yeah he was a bit more thorough than me... to be fair I said it was the best rank  "I" had seen lol

[devildog29]

Congrats to another former Titan Mike Murray as the new head football coach at Elmhurst University. 

[WUPHF]

NCC is also ranked above every single D2 school except for 4 of them.

I watched two Division II football games this year and selfishly, I would love to see North Central plays those teams.

[USee]

Congrats to another former Titan Mike Murray as the new head football coach at Elmhurst University.

I like this hire. Mike knows the CCIW as well as anyone and he is defensive minded. I have heard mixed opinions on his personality, though I have personally never met him. I know his defenses caused a lot of pain in the CCIW over many years (IWU and NCC).  If he can get players (a big if) I think he will do a good job. Very solid football mind.

[WRMUalum13]

NCC is also ranked above every single D2 school except for 4 of them.

I watched two Division II football games this year and selfishly, I would love to see North Central plays those teams.

There's definitely good and bad teams at every level. In 2013 Wesley beat an FCS team.

[WUPHF]

True! I should have said I watched two relatively good Division II games including a postseason bowl game and I would love to see North Central play those teams.

[SpartanHouse4]

Congrats to another former Titan Mike Murray as the new head football coach at Elmhurst University.

I like this hire. Mike knows the CCIW as well as anyone and he is defensive minded. I have heard mixed opinions on his personality, though I have personally never met him. I know his defenses caused a lot of pain in the CCIW over many years (IWU and NCC).  If he can get players (a big if) I think he will do a good job. Very solid football mind.

I do think it was pretty strange for him to leave NCC for Robert Morris when he did.