FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[dallas]

I tip my hat to the NCC players and coaching staff.  For a while there, NCC completely outplayed UWW and I was convinced that they were going to take the lead.  At no point during the game, besides the last few minutes, was I comfortable with the score.  From a yardage standpoint it was neck and neck throughout.  Again, very impressive today fellas. 

Congrats on a great season!   

[Jim Matson]

Congrats to the Cards on a great season!

[CardinalAlum]

I can't believe the score ended up the way it did, but UWW really pounced on the NCC mistakes!  Beaver is the real deal!  I'm not completely sold on the UWW defense, but they are physical up front!  Cards should be proud of the effort to get back in the game after being down 21-0.   Hopefully the experience of playing this type of game, helps us down the line.  I really feel that NCC will be back next year as the team to beat in the CCIW!  With Fanthorpe and Sulo back on offense along with Macintosh, Welch and Hlavac at WR's, the Cards should be solid on O.  Defensively, Wenger, Sulo, Schneiderbauer and Venier is a pretty good nucleus to come back with as well.  The best part is most of those guys are only sophomores or younger!  I hate to be sitting here talking about next year, but the future Cards will hopefully keep this momentum going to the off-season.  Recruiting should receive a serious boost with another playoff appearance and back to back conference co-champions.

[Mugsy]

Congrats to NCC on a great season and representing the CCIW very well.  I agree NCC will be a favorite to win it in 08'... though they do have to travel to McCully Field.   

BTW: in a completely unrelated topic, the Wheaton women's soccer team won their 3rd national championship in 4 years today.  They have won 45 games in a row and 97 of their last 103 games!  Impressive no matter what sport you play, no matter what the level...  An amazing accomplishment.

[FormerCard]

Pat,
When I log into my pickems, not all of my picks show up, it leaves some out in the bottom of each bracket..anything I can do or does the program just have a glitch?

[usee]

Congrats to NCC on a great season and representing the CCIW very well.  I agree NCC will be a favorite to win it in 08'... though they do have to travel to McCully Field.   

I am not convinced they are the THE favorite. there are some teams with some pretty good players coming back. IWU returns their entire offense save dunlop and their center. Wheaton will return 9 starters on defense most likely including ittersagen and between 6-7 starters on offense. Carthage had a lot of young players playing this year and NPU has most of its players returning. There will be some great battles in 08.

[CardinalAlum]

Wheaton will return 9 starters on defense most likely including ittersagen and between 6-7 starters on offense. Carthage had a lot of young players playing this year and NPU has most of its players returning. There will be some great battles in 08.

Most likely?  Explain that one if you can please. 

Believe me, I know that IWU and Wheaton will be good.  I just look at the impact players that NCC returns as opposed to Wheaton and IWU.  Replacing a player like Dunlop won't be easy!  Studebaker, I will gladly pay for his graduation gown!  I know we really didn't see him much this year, but he was one of those special talents  that rarely come into a program!  He will be talked about like a Bishop, Query, Bothe, Bisaillon, Weber, guys that dominated play in the conference during their time.  I really would have loved to see what a healthy Wheaton team could have done in the playoffs this year!

[usee]

Sorry. "Most likely" was a reference to the possibility of gewtting mike mckinney back at linebacker, which I have heard could happen. He is definately an impact player and will be as good as any lb in the conference. As you mention wheaton played the whole conference schedule save millikin without studebaker.

[FormerCard]

I think that alot of teams will be bringing back some solid players.
With that obvious statement    being said,  North Central will probably be the preseason #1 in the CCIW polls.  After watching the Cardinals against Whitewater, it becomes VERY apparent that to compete against the the upper echelon in D3 football, we need to continue to bring bigger lineman into the program. 
Whitewater had a very large offensive line with Big, strong corners and safeties on the defensive side of the ball.  NC made some good plays but missed some opportunities and made some key turnovers.
With a back like Beaver not getting touched till the second level, it is difficult to stop him with safeties and corners the size of ours.  Plus the kid has breakaway speed and thighs the size of basketballs.
It was a great year for NC, but there is still alot of work to do to reach the level of Whitewater and of course, Mount Union.
I was very impressed and proud of the effort the Cardinals put forth.

Any idea when the All-American teams will be released?  How many besides the mighty D3football.com all-american team are there?

[formerd3db]

I think that alot of teams will be bringing back some solid players.
With that obvious statement    being said,  North Central will probably be the preseason #1 in the CCIW polls.  After watching the Cardinals against Whitewater, it becomes VERY apparent that to compete against the the upper echelon in D3 football, we need to continue to bring bigger lineman into the program. 
Whitewater had a very large offensive line with Big, strong corners and safeties on the defensive side of the ball.  NC made some good plays but missed some opportunities and made some key turnovers.
With a back like Beaver not getting touched till the second level, it is difficult to stop him with safeties and corners the size of ours.  Plus the kid has breakaway speed and thighs the size of basketballs.
It was a great year for NC, but there is still alot of work to do to reach the level of Whitewater and of course, Mount Union.
I was very impressed and proud of the effort the Cardinals put forth.

Any idea when the All-American teams will be released?  How many besides the mighty D3football.com all-american team are there?

FormerCard:
From a general standpoint, I agree with you.  IMO, that has been one of the problems faced by Hope, and for that matter, most of the MIAA teams.  In recent years (say 10-15), I've noticed that when some of our teams had huge linemen, they had small skilled position players and vice versa in other years, which ended up that "they - the teams - couldn't quite put it all together".  I've thought that if one of these years, when one of our teams is able to recruit a group with both increased size, it just might be the "breakout" year.  On the other hand, that is not to say that small players are not good.  We've witnessed for many years in the MIAA that some of the small sized skilled players are among the best; hardest hitters, stamina, and good speed, quickness, etc., despite their size.  Yet, big offensive and defensive linemen do help (if they are not slow)!   The one aspect here in Michigan, though, is that the latter are oft going to the DII schools now as there are more opportunities.

[Mugsy]

Congrats to NCC on a great season and representing the CCIW very well.  I agree NCC will be a favorite to win it in 08'... though they do have to travel to McCully Field.   

I am not convinced they are the THE favorite. there are some teams with some pretty good players coming back. IWU returns their entire offense save dunlop and their center. Wheaton will return 9 starters on defense most likely including ittersagen and between 6-7 starters on offense. Carthage had a lot of young players playing this year and NPU has most of its players returning. There will be some great battles in 08.

Just to confirm... I didn't say "THE" favorite.  I said "A" favorite.

[cardinalpride]

Congrats to NCC on a great season and representing the CCIW very well.  I agree NCC will be a favorite to win it in 08'... though they do have to travel to McCully Field.   

I am not convinced they are the THE favorite. there are some teams with some pretty good players coming back. IWU returns their entire offense save dunlop and their center. Wheaton will return 9 starters on defense most likely including ittersagen and between 6-7 starters on offense. Carthage had a lot of young players playing this year and NPU has most of its players returning. There will be some great battles in 08.

Usee,
Seriously, why would you mention NPU in any discussion that talks about "a/the" favorite to win a CCIW championship in football?  They haven't won a conference game since the Clinton administration.  No offense to any NPU alums.

[cardinalpride]

Sorry. "Most likely" was a reference to the possibility of gewtting mike mckinney back at linebacker, which I have heard could happen. He is definately an impact player and will be as good as any lb in the conference. As you mention wheaton played the whole conference schedule save millikin without studebaker.

And they will again next season....

[usee]

Congrats to NCC on a great season and representing the CCIW very well.  I agree NCC will be a favorite to win it in 08'... though they do have to travel to McCully Field.   

I am not convinced they are the THE favorite. there are some teams with some pretty good players coming back. IWU returns their entire offense save dunlop and their center. Wheaton will return 9 starters on defense most likely including ittersagen and between 6-7 starters on offense. Carthage had a lot of young players playing this year and NPU has most of its players returning. There will be some great battles in 08.

Usee,
Seriously, why would you mention NPU in any discussion that talks about "a/the" favorite to win a CCIW championship in football?  They haven't won a conference game since the Clinton administration.  No offense to any NPU alums.

You are right. I thought about removing them after I posted it but left it as is. I mixed 2 arguements into one. on the one hand I was trying to explain the serious contenders for a championship and on the other I was attempting to bring up the improvement of the conference top to bottom. Thanks for helping me clarify my point. 

[footballfan413]

Congrats to NCC on a great showing against the Hawks on Saturday.  They gave them all they could handle for awhile.  Very impressed with your young QB.  Your fans traveled very well.  Enjoyed the company of many of them at the tailgate and several showed a lot of class in wishing the Hawks well afterwards.  Congrats on a great season.  The Cards and their fans should be very proud!  Enjoyed the talk during the week with you all.  As was pointed out to me by someone, the CCIW/WIAC match-up convo was a lot better than the usual trash talk that tends to show up.  Good luck to your team next season.