FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

If it's Tombstone you want, it's Tombstone you'll get...

Johnny Tyler: Is something on your mind?
Wyatt Earp: Just want to let you know you're sittin' in my chair.
Johnny Tyler: Is that a fact?
Wyatt Earp: Yeah, it's a fact.
Johnny Tyler: Well, for a man who don't go heeled you run your mouth kind of reckless, don't you?
Wyatt Earp: No need to go heeled to get the bulge on a tub like you.
Johnny Tyler: Is that a fact?
Wyatt Earp: Mm-hmm. That's a fact. [Johnny Tyler stands up.]
Johnny Tyler: Well, I'm real scared.
Wyatt Earp: Damn right, you're scared. I can see that in your eyes. [Wyatt walks up to Johnny as Johnny reaches for his gun.]
Johnny Tyler: All right now.
Wyatt Earp: Go ahead. Go ahead, skin it. Skin that smoke wagon and see what happens.
Johnny Tyler: Listen, mister, I-I'm gettin' awful tired of your-- [Wyatt slaps Johnny hard in the face.]
Wyatt Earp: I'm gettin' awful tired of your gas. Now jerk that pistol and go to work. [Johnny doesn't do anything and Wyatt slaps him in the face again.]
Wyatt Earp: I said throw down, boy. [Wyatt slaps Johnny harder and when Johnny turns to look at Wyatt his mouth is bleeding.]
Wyatt Earp: You gonna do somethin' or just stand there and bleed? [Johnny still doesn't do anything.]
Wyatt Earp: No? I didn't think so.

That is one of my favorite scenes from the movie. Well done.

I still like my clip...."You called down the Thunder well now you got it!...."

[Jim Matson]

Does anyone know if Studebaker got any minutes in today's Chief's game?  I didn't see him mentioned on the stat sheets.

[New Tradition]

Now, I don't know if he had a legitimate gripe or not.  The fact that nobody on this board has mentioned them yet is either a testament that they did not happen or that y'all are very good sportsmen.  But, the broadcasters certainly have a lot to learn in some regards.

The kid who was calling the game was known as the "angry" broadcaster when I was there.  Didn't usually have much positive to say about anything.  At this point he probably has the most seniority out of anyone in the sports dept., and is probably Sports Director for the station.  As far as the officials go, the Cards haven't gotten ANY calls since the start of the '06 season, and I didn't think that they got hosed any worse on Saturday than they have for the last few years.

[usee]

The cards haven't gooten ANY calls since the 06 season?

That's one of the most ridiculous things I have seen on here in a while.

Good thing you are just kidding.

[burly]

Wheaton Coach Mike Swider was seen at the press conference yesterday with this message for Franklin Coach Mike Leonard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynKoZD-sFi4

Was that Swider or J.R. Bishop?  Any chance Bishop comes out of retirement from the beaches of the sunshine state to watch his beloved Thunder play his alma mater in the freezing tundra?

[shepherd]

Can one of the NCC fans give a low down on the Franklin team as you have seen them a couple of times?  
Type of passing plays mostly short or long etc..
Running game
Defense aggressive blitzing etc...
Thanks

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Can one of the NCC fans give a low down on the Franklin team as you have seen them a couple of times?  
Type of passing plays mostly short or long etc..
Running game
Defense aggressive blitzing etc...
Thanks

Pretty much all of the above depending on the situation.  They run run five wide and sometimes line up with 1-2 running backs (but they sometimes catch passes) Rupp calls his own plays and will run 5-10 times a game (sometimes by design, sometimes as thats all that is there)

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Thunderdog- I agree with you.  I was listening to WONC for awhile and they proved to me again, why WONC is not a "quality" broadcast.  How can you rip your own coaching staff like that?  Especially, when you're in the second round of the playoffs?  Unreal.  Even if you feel that Thorne is not doing well and/or calling a correct play,  you leave those personal attacks OFF THE AIR.

Not just the coaches, but the officials too.  Early in the game, one guy said, "I don't like to complain about the officials," (or something to that effect).  Then he ripped the officials the rest of the game for what he perceived to be late hits and pass interference penalties that went uncalled.

Now, I don't know if he had a legitimate gripe or not.  The fact that nobody on this board has mentioned them yet is either a testament that they did not happen or that y'all are very good sportsmen.  But, the broadcasters certainly have a lot to learn in some regards.

Frpm my perspective the officials were slow to call ticky tack stuff on both teams.  NCC got to quasi-hold more than what you would expect but FC got by with some physical play.  FC did get called for a couple of hard pops on the QB  (one late in the 2nd that helped NCC continue a drive and move into scoring position). FC's fault and should have been called.  Number 72 on NCC got called twice for holding.  Not a lot of un-called penalties on either team that I could see.  Officials appeared to be veteran crew and let everyone play (only called the obvious)

[CardinalAlum]

I thought the officials did a very good job.  They changed a pass completion for Franklin to an incomplete pass once, which I thought was wrong.  He clearly caught the pass in question.  They let the teams play, but kept control.  I really hope that no NCC posters are going to blame the officials.  We schemed poorly defensively, we quit running the football in the 2nd half and had some key injuries.  That's why we lost.

As far as tailgating, Franklin showed up with the most impressive tailgating that I have seen, Carthage included!!  Sorry Carthage guys.  It really was something!

[New Tradition]

we quit running the football in the 2nd half and had some key injuries. 

Anybody have any insight as to why NCC ran Maleck as opposed to Rossberg when Sulo went down?  Butchy does an AWESOME job whenever he is in.  He's exciting to watch and runs incredibly hard.  I don't understand why he isn't in to spell Sulo more, or why he isn't given more of a workload when Sulo is injured like he was last year...

[usee]

Usee:   I had a heck of a time setting the spread on Franklin/Wheaton.  Both are playing much better than I expected when the pairings came out.  Obviously Franklin has had a much tougher path to the regional finals than Wheaton did, and therefore gets the benefit of the doubt on the spread.  Plus they're at home.

HSC,

Did you take into account their common opponent? Trine beat Franklin by 3pts @ Trine (30-27) and Wheaton beat Trine @ Trine by 14. (14-0).
8)

[Mugsy]

Mugsy:
If they get that far, do you think that Wheaton could pull it off?

Umm...  "they get that far..."  I assume you mean beat MUC?

I should point out that I am so uneasy answering this question at this point that I almost ignored the post.     To much that needs to happen before even considering this.  But you asked...

First of all (and I know you understand this) Wheaton has their 3rd straight road playoff game against a very, very hot Franklin team with one of the best QB's in D3.  Furthermore they have a defense that probably does not receive the recognition it deserves.  I can gurantee you Coach Swider and the rest of the coaching staff will not be looking ahead one bit. 

So assuming Wheaton is able to get past Franklin... Could Wheaton pull it off?  Yes of course, but it would take the perfect game.  No stupid penalities, no turnovers, a couple of MUC turnovers, etc...  My heart says yes they could.  My mind tells me that it is a tall, tall order and not likely.  Wheaton has given it's best shot 5 times and has not come closer than 27-6 in 2004 or 42-21 in 2002.  Looking at the play-by-play and overall stats, the 2002 game was closer.  Regardless... still a 21 point loss.  Problem is I don't see the 2008 Wheaton team as being better than the 2002, 2003 or 2004 Wheaton teams.  I'm probably putting myself in the Wheaton coaching staff's doghouse for saying it, but it would be a long-shot.  I'm behind them 100% and will not stop pulling for them with everything I have.

You never know... Wheaton was left for dead after unexpectedly losing the Elmhurst game (and losing bad).  They were the last team into the playoffs and are coming off their best play of the year against Wabash.  I know the coaching staff and players would give it everything they have and fight to last second.  At this point I'm not putting anything past this team.  Virtually no one had them in the quarterfinals this year, that's for sure.

Ok... enough "what if's".   

The fact Franklin plays on grass and their field is probably a bit "stressed" at this point in the season, field position and conditions will probably factor in big.  My initial thoughts without researching too much tells me this could help Wheaton.  The battle on the line of scrimmage will decide the game, but I like Gingg in a 'mudder'.  Plus I've never put a lot of confidence in an offensive attack that is primarily through the air when you get into the time of year with horrible weather and field conditions.  Of course it doesn't look like Franklin has been slowed at all through the air in any home game recently.  I don't have the stats handy, but I don't think there have been many champions that have not had a reasonable running attack.  I believe Franklin averages 134 yards rushing per game, which isn't horrible by any means, but I don't think Franklin can win via the run.

I just got back from a long weekend in Wisconsin, so I haven't had a chance to research and support my thoughts adequately.  When I get the chance over the next few days, I'll try to support my thoughts above more appropriately.

[usee]

Here is a post by KMack from the ATN board but it has some interesting quotes from some Franklin fans.

These are reposted from the Dose, but usually stuff gets lost there after a new post goes up. i.e. no one reads the Triple Take comments after the Game Day thread is up.

Met a lot of good folks when I visited with the Franklin crowd at Otterbein. Wouldn't be surprised if these guys were among them.

Franklin had great fans, for sure, so these posts are not their best representatives. But since they stay with the theme on the ATN board lately:

D3Keith Says:
November 29th, 2008 at 9:07 pm e

I'm kicking myself for having no [g]uts on Franklin. I definitely almost made that pick, but I was one of the first to be really impressed with North Central too. I had a feeeling Franklin would be in the game and would go score-for-score with NC, but I didn't forsee the Griz W.

Felt that W&J would matchup with Millsaps for a while too, but definitely didn't foresee the running game exposing the Majors so much ... nice win there.

Keith 5-3 (missed with North Central, Wesley and Millsaps)
Ryan 5-3 (missed with North Central, Wesley and Millsaps)
Pat 4-4 (missed with Willamette, North Central, Curry and Millsaps)

AndrewChrz 5-3 (missed with North Central, Wesley and Millsaps)
UMHBFAN 5-3 (missed with Monmouth, Wabash and Curry)
bleedpurple 5-3 (missed with Wabash, Wesley and Millsaps)

Everyone hit some, no one hit 'em all ... UMHB fan was almost going to give you props for going out on a limb, but you basically took everyone the experts didn't take and still ended up 5-3.

We all did better than the NCAA committee:

Higher seeds 3-5 (missed with North Central, Millsaps, Willamette, Monmouth, Wabash)

GRIZ82 Says:
November 30th, 2008 at 12:24 am e

Well, I tried to tell ya......
Goodnite, Wheaton.......

Oh yeah, I forgot....

Nice classless fans for NC....you might be able to steal stuff from our tailgate during the second half, while we were kicking your over rated behinds...but

We will fly our flag when we want, and where we want, and today, the blue and gold flies in Naperville.

grizfan4 Says:
November 30th, 2008 at 11:38 am e

Please D3.com guys ... pick Wheaton this week !! You've written Franklin off every week ... don't change now !! Side note - at least North central had some fans show up — Otterbein should never host a game again after their over-confident fans didn't even show up in round 1 !!

D3Keith Says:
November 30th, 2008 at 7:10 pm e

:roll eyes:

There's a big difference between not picking a team and writing them off. I wrote a very complimentary feature about Franklin and was very impressed with their play against Otterbein; Just so happens I was very impressed with North Central too. It was a toss-up for me, but you gotta pick someone if you actually man up and make picks.

First-round sites are rewards for the teams that earn them (in the selection committee's eyes) and fan attendance has nothing to do with it, nor should it. Otterbein has a huge grandstand that made their home crowd look smaller than it was, and doesn't have a very lengthy history of being good in football, so an average-sized crowd is understandable and doesn't really indicate overconfidence. I'm sure it was very similar when Franklin first started its rise.

Pretty sure I'll be picking Franklin this week, sorry to disappoint. 

Also,
Just for the record, the rest of us who have no stake in the fight regard accusations of "classless" fans with a grain of salt. A) it usually takes two to tango and B) one man's classlessness is another man's 'what's wrong with that?'

Your post doesn't exactly reek of class either.

Also,
I'll never understand why people think calling another team overrated is an insult. If North Central was overrated, that means it really wasn't that great of an accomplishment for Franklin to beat them.

Nice one!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Usee:   I had a heck of a time setting the spread on Franklin/Wheaton.  Both are playing much better than I expected when the pairings came out.  Obviously Franklin has had a much tougher path to the regional finals than Wheaton did, and therefore gets the benefit of the doubt on the spread.  Plus they're at home.

HSC,

Did you take into account their common opponent? Trine beat Franklin by 3pts @ Trine (30-27) and Wheaton beat Trine @ Trine by 14. (14-0).
8)

I realize you had your tongue in your cheek, but just in case others were unaware:

The OTHER common opponent: NCC 44, Wheaton 21 AT Wheaton; Franklin 38, NCC 28 AT NCC.

Everyone should bet their farms on Franklin!  (Cuz I need some farms - go Thunder. )

[wheels81]

What it takes only a quarterfinal bid to get the Mad Swede out of hiding?  
thot you'd wait til at least final 4.

My favorite quote from "Tombstone"

Doc Holiday: "I'm your huckleberry"

Fav. scene:  Doc Holiday spinning the tin cup in the saloon