FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Tailgater]

And Wallick only gained 51 yards on 18 carries against Carthage for a 2.8 per carry average. So he has not caused problems for everybody.

[cardinal20]

I think we'll see NCC's Mario Smith before the playoffs. He wants to get back on that field since it is his last year. Might even see him this week.

[nccfan1]

I've noticed a lot of the posts on this board insinuate that NCC'S defense has suffered because of injuries to the secondary.  I have
seen every game that they have played and can tell you that they are deeper in the secondary than anywhere else on the team.  If you look at the defensive stats prior to the injuries and after, you will find little difference. If fact the secondary has what might be the most impressive defensive stat in the conference, interceptions (20).  Teams have had less success throwing the ball in terms of yards per completion than they had prior to the loss of secondary starters.  It is my opinion that the defense is most vulnerable against the run up the middle.  I think the stats will bear this out. 

[usee]

take a look at the north region committee. these are the folks that vote for the regional rankings.

Jim Collins, Capital University, cochair
Dick Kaiser, Defiance College, cochair
Jeff Gabrielson, Concordia University (Wisconsin)
Dean Kreps, Hope College
Mike Leonard, Franklin College
Mike Schmitz, College of Wooster
Mike Swider, Wheaton College (Illinois)
Regis Scafe, John Carroll University

I think maybe coach swider had something to say about ncc being #1. also, swider and mike leanord from franklin are good friends.  

[nccfan1]

I recall that early in the season, when NCC was starting to be touted as a quality team, posters said that when they beat someone then they will be given their proper accolades.  Well they beat Wheaton, Carthage, and everyone else they faced and yet the tone has not changed. As they have moved up the rankings all I have heard is why they don't deserve the rank. Also it has been posted that Augustana is "clearly" in the drivers seat when it comes to winning the conference.  Now I agree that an Augustana, NCC, finish to the conference is a very viable scenario.  To say that Augustana is "cleary" the favorite is ridiculous.  One loss takes them out of the picture.  They have a very difficult road ahead. They still have not only to beat NCC at home but Wheaton on the road.  So given these facts, the only team who clearly has the upper hand is NCC.  Because a school has dominated in the past has nothing to do with what is going on now.     

[Redmen96]

I hate to say it and so does everyone else.  NCCFAN you are right with no losses at all NCC is in the driver seat.  And they should be.  And they will be unless someone hands them a loss.

[sica-sica]

nccfan1,
            And Augie has to beat a good elmhurst team today.NCC`s defense has had ijuries on the line,linebackers and secondary, and they still won.As posted earlier in the year,good teams win in spite of injuries,they have.

[augiedogie]

nccfan1:
If Augie wins today and next week against NCC the Wheaton game is irrelevant.  That is one reason why they are in the drivers seat. Not everybody has said that Augie is in the drivers seat/NCC hasn't been getting the respect they deserve. If you look back at previous posts, there are multiple Augie fans that have given NCC the respect they deserve for a good portion of the season. Augie is a tough place to come in and win a game unless your name is Wheaton, and that is why I believe that Augie is the favorite to win the conference. NCC fans have been saying they are suspect to the run, and that will be the difference in the game. As for the secondary, Augie doesn't have quite as many int's, but they are up there as well. This was a secondary that gave up quite a bit of yards last yeat (4 straight 300+ yard games passing).  The D has turned it around and I don't seem them losing in conference to Elmhurst today.

[augiedogie]

NCCfan1:
Don't forget that NCC has to face a difficult Milikin team today as well. They have had your number in the last couple of years, and will you be able to shut down Wallick today? You said it yourself that NCC is suspect to the run in the middle.

[usee]

nccfan-how is ncc not getting respect? they are ranked #1 in the region. the only team the past 7 or 8 yrs to hold that spot is Mt Union. ncc is now ranked in the top 10. who has said they don't deserve the rank? you want ridiculous, your statement is ridiculous. last year carthage wasnt even in the top 25 until week 9.

the reason augie is in the drivers seat is simple, they play elmhurst and ncc at home. if they win those two games they are the AQ. ncc has won some big games but haven't beaten anyone good prior to elmhurst on the road. the last conference team  besides wheaton to beat augie in rock island was IWU in 2000. go win there and you are in the drivers seat. I thought last year that augie was in the best position by virtue of a home game v wheaton at the end.

augie is also playing better defense than ncc. they won at carthage and shut down wallick at millikin. those wins are more impressive than ncc's barnburners v wheaton and carthage.

i think both these teams are top 15 caliber, similar to wheaton and carthage last year. if they both play well down the stretch we are likely to get 2 teams in the playoff field. It would be great to have a #1 seed here in the cciw!

[dansand]

nccfan1,

As for as my two cents on the favorite goes, I have no problem with the Cardinals being considered the favorite. They've played great this year and they did pound Augie last year. It doesn't really matter what any of us think anyway. It's going to have to be settled on the field.

[sica-sica]

NCC by 14 today.

[NCC_alum62]

I have been reading multiple posts from the different guys out there from different schools and they have been respecting NCC...the only recent guy mad about it is thunderdog so I would say we get plenty of respect form the members of this board and the coaches around the region.

What NCC needs to do is continue to earn that respect with a win over a Millikin team that I think is better than thier 4-3 record and is very physical.  I think NCC can do it.

We have all posted about it and I agree NCC needs to shore up its run defense if they hope to beat Augie...yes last year we played great, but this is not last year, its this year and its gunna be a heck of a game.

I hope NCC keeps its #1 seed, they can do it if they play to thier potential and play thier best every week, they have proven they can win down the stretch and in the fourth quarter, much respect to all the CCIW teams this year its one heck of a conference.

[NCC_alum62]

Pics for today:

Augie over Elmhurst
NCC over Millikin
IWU over NP
Wheaton over Carthage

home teams sweep the day

[nccfan1]

Question, Augiedogie you say that if Augustana beats NCC then the Wheaton game doesn't matter. Is that true?  A 8-2 augie would win the conference over a 9-1 NCC?  I thought the first tie breaker is wins and losses, the second is head to head competition. I could very well be wrong, but that was my understanding.  Usee, you say that augies defeat of Carthage & Millikin was more impressive than NCC defeating Wheaton & Carthage. How so?  Augie put up 7 points against Carthage and beat a very suspect Milikin.  While NCC tacked up big numbers against both Wheaton & Carthage.  You may call them "barnburners" but that is NCC's game, they score quickly and often.  Prediction, NCC by 21 today