FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

Pat,

Did anyone ask the UWL coach about his decision to defer the opening kickoff after winning the toss?

[Pat Coleman]

No, that question didn't come up. Even if it had occurred to me, it would probably have seemed strange to ask about the opening coin toss in a game with 96 points scored.

[cardinaldad]

Obviously you are watching. In my decades of following Cardinal football, this has to be the worst television broadcast I have ever seen. Commercials during play, way homer broadcasters, and no replay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the NCAA require replays to host a playoff game? I know that the NCAA has a lot requirements for the playoffs and even more to host. This color guy needs some help!!

No. Nothing is required to host a playoff game, not even a broadcast, actually.

Thanks for clarifying, Pat!

[USee]

No, that question didn't come up. Even if it had occurred to me, it would probably have seemed strange to ask about the opening coin toss in a game with 96 points scored.

I was thinking its a very relevant question. On the pregame interview LAX coach said they needed 4-5 stops and had to score on every possession. Seems to me he understood the idea of taking the lead so I found it peculiar he didn't take the ball at the start of the game, given NCC has scored on their opening possession in every game this year I believe. Taking the ball and going ahead 7-0 seems like a big deal in a game like that. Obviously the other school of thought is the "2 for 1" opportunity to end the half with a score and then get the ball to start the second half.

For all the "NCC survived" talk the reality is UWL never had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead in the second half. They were always trying to narrow a 2 score lead to 1 score. I Never felt like the game was in jeopardy.

[emma17]

 
-Regarding "UWL never had a chance to score and take lead in second half", we have a saying in our home. If a team is one score away from being one score away, the game is in jeopardy.

-I don't know the official answer from UWL as to why they would defer, but I know why I would. Specific to this opponent, I want the first possession of the second half because I believe it takes a quarter or so to get accustomed to NCC's offensive game. To me, there's nothing wrong w accepting the extreme likelihood NCC will score on their first possession- accept that as an opportunity for the defense to get their game speed aligned. By the time the second half started, I think the UWL players were as confident as they could be they'd compete w NCC.

[robertgoulet]

-Regarding "UWL never had a chance to score and take lead in second half", we have a saying in our home. If a team is one score away from being one score away, the game is in jeopardy.

-I don't know the official answer from UWL as to why they would defer, but I know why I would. Specific to this opponent, I want the first possession of the second half because I believe it takes a quarter or so to get accustomed to NCC's offensive game. To me, there's nothing wrong w accepting the extreme likelihood NCC will score on their first possession- accept that as an opportunity for the defense to get their game speed aligned. By the time the second half started, I think the UWL players were as confident as they could be they'd compete w NCC.

I am an always defer guy. Don't care who the opponent is I want that 2nd half kickoff.

[New Tradition]

-Regarding "UWL never had a chance to score and take lead in second half", we have a saying in our home. If a team is one score away from being one score away, the game is in jeopardy.

-I don't know the official answer from UWL as to why they would defer, but I know why I would. Specific to this opponent, I want the first possession of the second half because I believe it takes a quarter or so to get accustomed to NCC's offensive game. To me, there's nothing wrong w accepting the extreme likelihood NCC will score on their first possession- accept that as an opportunity for the defense to get their game speed aligned. By the time the second half started, I think the UWL players were as confident as they could be they'd compete w NCC.

I am an always defer guy. Don't care who the opponent is I want that 2nd half kickoff.

I know I've explained my thoughts on the air several times, but I like getting the ball in the second half also. I think the psychological impact is greater. If your opponent scores on the first possession—it's a long game. Lots of time to make that up. But if you're down at halftime and ALSO have to give them the ball after half, that's a tough mental hill to climb. If down and getting the ball after half, there's a good degree of optimism.

[USee]

Look, in almost every case I would defer if i won the toss. The opportunity to manage your end of half possession to possibly go 2 for one is a huge advantage. But If there is an argument to take the ball vs defer I am not sure there could be a more clear case than UWL. Start the game vs the top rated offense in D3 history against a very average defense or your own highly rated offense, that needs to score to keep the game close? Psycological impact? Speed of the game? How about just spotting NCC  7 pts and starting the game from there? I might rather put 7 on the board and make them chase every possession in this case.

In any case, I was thinking about that decision most of the game and wondered why the UWL coach made the decision. Given his pregame comments about the need for his offense to score and keep up and for his defense to get 4-5 stops, I was interested in his thinking on this.

This weekend, if I'm Wartburg, I probably revert to defer because of the strength of your defense. Wartburg has to feel like their defense can compete against NCC's offense better than anyone has all season. And that's probably accurate.  Not sure it's enough, but this is definitely the biggest challenge the NCC offense will face all season (and visa versa). Strength on strength.

[CardinalAlum]

Look, in almost every case I would defer if i won the toss. The opportunity to manage your end of half possession to possibly go 2 for one is a huge advantage. But If there is an argument to take the ball vs defer I am not sure there could be a more clear case than UWL. Start the game vs the top rated offense in D3 history against a very average defense or your own highly rated offense, that needs to score to keep the game close? Psycological impact? Speed of the game? How about just spotting NCC  7 pts and starting the game from there? I might rather put 7 on the board and make them chase every possession in this case.

I any case, I was thinking about that decision most of the game and wondered why the UWL coach made the decision. Given his pregame comments about the need for his offense to score and keep up and for his defense to get 4-5 stops, I was interested in his thinking on this.

This weekend, if I'm Wartburg, I probably revert to defer because of the strength of your defense. Wartburg has to feel like their defense can compete against NCC's offense better than anyone has all season. And that's probably accurate.  Not sure it's enough, but this is definitely the biggest challenge the NCC offense will face all season (and visa versa). Strength on strength.

And everything here is what prompted my initial question. USee is spot on with the logic! Mostly because he agrees with me! 

[NCC2010]

Look, in almost every case I would defer if i won the toss. The opportunity to manage your end of half possession to possibly go 2 for one is a huge advantage. But If there is an argument to take the ball vs defer I am not sure there could be a more clear case than UWL. Start the game vs the top rated offense in D3 history against a very average defense or your own highly rated offense, that needs to score to keep the game close? Psycological impact? Speed of the game? How about just spotting NCC  7 pts and starting the game from there? I might rather put 7 on the board and make them chase every possession in this case.

I any case, I was thinking about that decision most of the game and wondered why the UWL coach made the decision. Given his pregame comments about the need for his offense to score and keep up and for his defense to get 4-5 stops, I was interested in his thinking on this.

This weekend, if I'm Wartburg, I probably revert to defer because of the strength of your defense. Wartburg has to feel like their defense can compete against NCC's offense better than anyone has all season. And that's probably accurate.  Not sure it's enough, but this is definitely the biggest challenge the NCC offense will face all season (and visa versa). Strength on strength.

And everything here is what prompted my initial question. USee is spot on with the logic! Mostly because he agrees with me! 

North Central always takes the ball when they win the coin toss.  NCC has started with the ball every game this year with the exception of Carthage and Belhaven, those 2 won the coin toss and elected to receive.  last year only 2 games where the other team started with the ball, North Park and Augie.  As a NCC fan i have also wondered when a good team will decide to receive on the kickoff, as NCC basically hasnt had to play from behind at all in the past 4 seasons other than 2021 Stagg bowl and 2019 Wheaton regular season game.  i agree in principle most teams deferring is the right call, as starting the ball with the 2nd half is an advantage, but with the way NCC plays, they start most games with a 7-0 lead and that puts tremendous pressure on the opposing offense to feel like they have to "keep up", which can lead to mistakes.  Agree though that it is very unlikely Wartburg would elect to receive this weekend just based on how good their defense is. i believe their coach even said in the post game presser they prefer to defer so their D can hopefully force a 3 and out and setup the offense with good field position to start the game.

[USee]

If nothing else, we will all be very interested in the coin toss this weekend at Wartburg!

[robertgoulet]

Another wrinkle in the danger of the opposing team taking the ball first is the quick-strike ability of NCC's offense around halftime. Normally you give a team 1-2 minutes left in the 2nd quarter to drive 70-80 yds and you're relatively safe from them getting a TD. You give NCC the ball back with any time left and you very well may have just given them 2 unanswered scores. They've really got a Steph Curry offense. Score from anywhere at any time.

[emma17]

Like my uncle used to say, that's why there's 31 flavors.
I see nothing about the decision to defer that backfired or didn't work for UWL. Nobody on the planet expected NCC to be shut out or shut down. Yes, NCC scored on their opening possession- how much did it hurt UWL? They came right back and the game was 7-7. But for a great and highly unusual play at the goal line, UWL would have had the lead. UWL scored on their opening second half drive.

There were many plays that had significantly greater impact on the game than the decision to defer.

[USee]

Learning a lot about your family in this discussion Emma!

[hazzben]

I won't retype what I said on the ARC board. But Wartburg is a really intriguing matchup. They are hype-disciplined and experienced and just know how to make plays. For a team to beat NCC, they'll need to be flawless. Wart is probably the most capable team of that type of game in the field. I don't think they're the most explosive team NCC could have faced, but they are the definition of complementary and balanced. Really intrigued if they can give NCC a game into the 4th. UWL was in it, but as was stated, they never were within a score where the game felt in doubt. I'd guess that's what we see again this weekend, smart money is still on NCC. But if Wart can stay close, they've shown they can win a game that needs a whole bunch of people to make plays down the wire. I'm excited to see it play out!