FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[ncc58]

Congrats to North Central on the chip! (even if it is only a share)

I'm sure the guys would LOVE to see CUW again. A couple players told me a few weeks ago that they felt they would have been undefeated had they played a scrimmage in the preseason. That CUW loss really left a bad taste in their mouths.

Let's go CARDS!

I don't think CUW was their only loss. I also don't think a scrimmage would have helped them go undefeated.

I agree with usee. You can't change what has happened. And, we've discussed here how NCC suffered a number of injuries in training camp to defensive linemen. Had they played a scrimmage, more injuries may have occurred. The biggest thing is that NCC probably didn't expect to be playing a team that would go 10-0. And didn't realize how fired up a IBC team would be to play a CCIW team.

[cardinaldad]

A few thoughts on the NCC/Carthage game:

1. What was Thorne thinking calling that fake punt?
2. Carthage played very well. IMO they "out hit" the Cards. Many big hits.
3. Carthage's #2- Brandon Fox can bring a load. Too bad his game was 
    marred with the late hit.
4. Carthage's #43 - Hernandez is a fine football player. Too bad he just didn't play.
    Too much extra-curricular shoving and things after the whistle. He could have
    and should have been flagged several times.
5. A classless Carthage woman fan came up to the Cards prayer time on the field
    and yelled at them that it was too bad that they didn't win the game...the
    refs won it for them.
6. Great to see each team help each other up......sometimes.
7. Great to see the Carthage players congratulate the Cards on the field before
    the final horn. Classy!
8. THANK YOU AUGIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to Wheaton. I hope both teams go deep. I wonder when we'll meet again? We'll find out tomorrow!

GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   

[ncc58]

A few thoughts on the NCC/Carthage game:

1. What was Thorne thinking calling that fake punt?
2. Carthage played very well. IMO they "out hit" the Cards. Many big hits.
3. Carthage's #2- Brandon Fox can bring a load. Too bad his game was 
    marred with the late hit.
4. Carthage's #43 - Hernandez is a fine football player. Too bad he just didn't play.
    Too much extra-curricular shoving and things after the whistle. He could have
    and should have been flagged several times.
5. A classless Carthage woman fan came up to the Cards prayer time on the field
    and yelled at them that it was too bad that they didn't win the game...the
    refs won it for them.
6. Great to see each team help each other up......sometimes.
7. Great to see the Carthage players congratulate the Cards on the field before
    the final horn. Classy!
8. THANK YOU AUGIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to Wheaton. I hope both teams go deep. I wonder when we'll meet again? We'll find out tomorrow!

GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   

Nice comments.

I thought a fake punt would work against the Carthage punt defense scheme, but that didn't seem to be the time. It might have worked if the punter/passer actually threw the ball.

I thought Carthage hit harder than any team I've seen. It was impressive. I also thought there was a lot of talking going on out there. Evidence was the unsportsmanlike penalty on NCC after their first TD and their personal foul on one of the extra points.

I'd also be interested in which calls were "bad calls." I've seen that crew before, and like any crew we've seen doing CCIW games, they are not the best. But I thought they made the correct calls, as they tried to control the game. There were 4 key calls that went Carthage, but I thought all were correct. The late hit on NCC's 3rd possession by Brandon Fox, the two pass interference calls, and the second late hit by Fox on Kniss on the sideline. The first pass interference call seemed obvious -- when the receiver goes down making a cut and the defender is on top of him ... On the second pass interference, Carthage seemed not to argue the call but that the ball was uncatchable. On the second late hit by Fox, I thought Kniss may have already been out of bounds when Fox hit him.

[Jim Matson]

Congrats to Wheaton for yet another CCIW championship in the fine sport of football.  Congrats too to Augie for their 21st title.  And congrats to North Central for their first title in 40 years!  Coach Thorne is the real deal and will have a positive impact at North Central for years to come.

No Pick-em title for this year.  But I wasn't afraid to go for 2 to win!

Wheaton will be at home this weekend.  Maybe a rematch with Mount St. Joseph?

[devildog29]

Usee, I apologize if that's not what you were meaning, but if you notice, Chuck thought the same thing too when he replied all coaches would say the same thing and should be fired if they didn't.  I know our thoughts are not always communicated accurately when dealing with a computer that doesn't have the ability to communicate the feeling or emphasis behind words we type.  I guess I would just ask you to explain why you think saying the team can win the game if they play a complete game is "classic Norm."  Why is it specific to him?  Wouldn't coach Swider or Rucks or Thorne or anyone say the same thing?  I guess that's why I took it negatively because it seemed like in that context that Norm was doing or saying something that only he would do, which is why it seemed personal to me.  So again, I apologize and we'll call it water under the bridge.

As for being on the hot seat, I'm not around Bloomington anymore, but I would find it hard to believe he would be on any hot seat.  He's an alum, which is always very important at IWU.  Additionally, as far as I'm aware, he has a very good relationship with Dennie Bridges (the AD) and I'm pretty sure he's supported by some rather influential alumni (I'm pretty positive he was fraternity brothers with Jack Sikma at IWU).  He's been there 20 years and he's won around 2/3 of his games as coach there.  I don't think Dennie's going to start up the Bobby Bowden or JoePa watch after a few down years.  Norm loves IWU and bleeds green maybe even more than the late coach Horenberger.  I don't see him getting fired, but hey, I've been wrong before.

[BVHawk]

Congrats to North Central for making the playoffs and best of luck!

[BVHawk]

What are Wheaton's chances of making a Pool C bid?

[Tailgater]

Before I potentially go off on any negative tirades..... I want to first and foremost congratulate NCC for capturing a share of the CCIW title. They played hard today and when the final second ticked off the clock they had outscored Carthage. The success over a season wins championships not how or why a team wins any single game. NCC has had a successful 2006 champaign and has certainly earned the honor of CCIW Co-Champ.

Also congratulations to Wheaton and Augustana for also sharing in a piece of the CCIW championship. Tri champs this season is no surprise. The conference has established a lot of capable programs and parity will certainly continue in future years. Many of the CCIW schools have reached a level where they can compete with anybody in the conference week after week. I think this will make for many unpredictable and exciting seasons looking forward.

[Tailgater]

Now that I have seen all the CCIW teams play this year, there is no question in my mind that Wheaton is certainly the best over-all team in the conference. I must say I was not that impressed with NCC today nor some of the decisions made by their Coaching staff. Example: 0-0 score, middle half of the first quarter, NCC is deep in their own territory, 4th and long, the punter standing on his own 5-10 yard line, they haven't moved the ball at all in the first two possesions and you Fake punt? Are you trying to give away a Championship? Fortunately for NCC, Carthage bobbled a shot-gun snap which backed them up enough to prevent a first down and they had to settle for only 3 points. Decisions like that in the play-offs may lead you to one and done.

While I'll be rooting for NCC and Wheaton, if they get a pool C bid, I strongly feel Wheaton will be the conference representative that will/could advance the furthest in the NCAA playoffs.

[robertgoulet]

Congrats to North Central on the chip! (even if it is only a share)

I'm sure the guys would LOVE to see CUW again. A couple players told me a few weeks ago that they felt they would have been undefeated had they played a scrimmage in the preseason. That CUW loss really left a bad taste in their mouths.

Let's go CARDS!

I don't think CUW was their only loss. I also don't think a scrimmage would have helped them go undefeated.

I realize that that wasn't their only loss. I was just stating what I was told by a few of their players. They want Concordia again.

[cardinaldad]

A few thoughts on the NCC/Carthage game:

1. What was Thorne thinking calling that fake punt?
2. Carthage played very well. IMO they "out hit" the Cards. Many big hits.
3. Carthage's #2- Brandon Fox can bring a load. Too bad his game was 
    marred with the late hit.
4. Carthage's #43 - Hernandez is a fine football player. Too bad he just didn't play.
    Too much extra-curricular shoving and things after the whistle. He could have
    and should have been flagged several times.
5. A classless Carthage woman fan came up to the Cards prayer time on the field
    and yelled at them that it was too bad that they didn't win the game...the
    refs won it for them.
6. Great to see each team help each other up......sometimes.
7. Great to see the Carthage players congratulate the Cards on the field before
    the final horn. Classy!
8. THANK YOU AUGIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to Wheaton. I hope both teams go deep. I wonder when we'll meet again? We'll find out tomorrow!

GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   

Nice comments.

I thought a fake punt would work against the Carthage punt defense scheme, but that didn't seem to be the time. It might have worked if the punter/passer actually threw the ball.

I thought Carthage hit harder than any team I've seen. It was impressive. I also thought there was a lot of talking going on out there. Evidence was the unsportsmanlike penalty on NCC after their first TD and their personal foul on one of the extra points.

I'd also be interested in which calls were "bad calls." I've seen that crew before, and like any crew we've seen doing CCIW games, they are not the best. But I thought they made the correct calls, as they tried to control the game. There were 4 key calls that went Carthage, but I thought all were correct. The late hit on NCC's 3rd possession by Brandon Fox, the two pass interference calls, and the second late hit by Fox on Kniss on the sideline. The first pass interference call seemed obvious -- when the receiver goes down making a cut and the defender is on top of him ... On the second pass interference, Carthage seemed not to argue the call but that the ball was uncatchable. On the second late hit by Fox, I thought Kniss may have already been out of bounds when Fox hit him.

Thanks, midwestfb. However, my nice comments got karma taken away from me. Not that I care, but I find it amusing that some people are so sensitive on this board. I've had karma taken away from me the past month or so for mild comments. It's a wonder that any one has positive karma here. Maybe  the husband of the woman that yelled at the Cards during their prayer after the game is posting and took it away! lol

[Tailgater]

I've read a lot of references to questionable calls by the officiating crew. This is a polite way for one to agree the officiating was bad particularly if you are an NCC backer. This crew was outright aweful! Forget about flagging Carthage for delay of game with 7 seconds on the play clock or marching off 10 yards on a defensive holding call (did the 5 yard  and automatic first down rule change?). Virtually every scoring drive NCC had was aided and/or prolonged in some way by a no call for blatant holding by a lineman tackling a defender right in front of the Referee (on multiple occasions) or interference calls which as earlier discribed were questionable. The late hit call late in the 4th quarter put on Kniss on the NCC sideline was a mystery from our side of the field. I'll get a better idea of legitamacy when I see some video from that field side angle. The penalty yardage resulted in a first down instead of a punt. Carthage trailed by only 3 at the time. The final scoring pass for NCC was an outstanding one hand catch by the NCC reciever (Studamen).... the other hand was still recoiling after pushing off the defender so it wasn't available to help secure the ball. I will stop here as it is aggravating to recall the numerous calls which didn't go my team's way. Bottom line... officiating good or bad is part of the game. You need to suck it up and deal with it. Carthage did all they could to overcome the officiating mistakes, but NCC outlasted them and thus was the victor.

[usee]

Congrats to North Central on the chip! (even if it is only a share)

I'm sure the guys would LOVE to see CUW again. A couple players told me a few weeks ago that they felt they would have been undefeated had they played a scrimmage in the preseason. That CUW loss really left a bad taste in their mouths.

Let's go CARDS!

I don't think CUW was their only loss. I also don't think a scrimmage would have helped them go undefeated.

I realize that that wasn't their only loss. I was just stating what I was told by a few of their players. They want Concordia again.

No, what you said was that a few players said they would be undefeated if they had played a scrimmage. I said I don't think a scrimmage would have changed the outcome vs wheaton.

[Tailgater]

Carthage had 37 rushing attempts for 100 net yards --- it sure seemed like they had more yards than that. They were hurting NCC through the game with their option. But Carthage was just 8 for 16 passing and 67 yards. NCC had 115 net rushing yards and 374 yards total.

I agree. I was stuned to see the stats from this game. I thought the teams appeared to be fairly even with yardage like time of possesion was.  Sure fooled me.   I think NCC's passing yards are a little decieving. Many short passing routes which should have been stopped for minimal yardage turned into longer plays because of poor open field tackling by the Carthage DBs. I'd like to see what the total was for yards gained after the catch.

[usee]

I've read a lot of references to questionable calls by the officiating crew. This is a polite way for one to agree the officiating was bad particularly if you are an NCC backer. This crew was outright aweful! Forget about flagging Carthage for delay of game with 7 seconds on the play clock or marching off 10 yards on a defensive holding call (did the 5 yard  and automatic first down rule change?). Virtually every scoring drive NCC had was aided and/or prolonged in some way by a no call for blatant holding by a lineman tackling a defender right in front of the Referee (on multiple occasions) or interference calls which as earlier discribed were questionable. The late hit call late in the 4th quarter put on Kniss on the NCC sideline was a mystery from our side of the field. I'll get a better idea of legitamacy when I see some video from that field side angle. The penalty yardage resulted in a first down instead of a punt. Carthage trailed by only 3 at the time. The final scoring pass for NCC was an outstanding one hand catch by the NCC reciever (Studamen).... the other hand was still recoiling after pushing off the defender so it wasn't available to help secure the ball. I will stop here as it is aggravating to recall the numerous calls which didn't go my team's way. Bottom line... officiating good or bad is part of the game. You need to suck it up and deal with it. Carthage did all they could to overcome the officiating mistakes, but NCC outlasted them and thus was the victor.

I was at this game and saw the "late" hit on kniss and was acutally standing in the endzone right in front of studeman on the td pass. while i agree the officiating was bad i will also say this post is simply sour grapes. Bad officiating happens and I have never seen it biased one way. I thought the late hit on Kniss was a horrible call but I too was on the carthage sideline. i began to walk out but stopped in the endzone as kniss audibled to the play where studeman made the catch. it was a much better throw than it was a catch. it looked to me like the db hooked his arm more than he pushed. either way it was clearly a no call and a great throw.

the officiating was bad both ways. the only unfortunate call was the late hit that would have been 4th and 2 but ended up extending the drive. It didn't look blatantly wrong but it sure was questionable.