FB: Midwest Conference

[SNCOLDAD]

As a rookie on here, I am learning a lot about D III and the MWC. I agree that the raod would have to go through Whitewater. I can only hope that it maybe could be the 2nd game instead of the first. As far as the polls go, I have no idea who favors what conferences in what polls. The end all is that they are just that....polls. I am sure I will learn a lot more in the weeks to come. Thanks for your guidance through this learning period.

[papa90]

I was at the LF-MC game this past weekend.  Monmouth didn't play well but beat up on the Forestors pretty bad.  2 observations

1. The Lake Forest cheering section was horrible, i understand that it was fall break, but I swear their were more dogs there than forestor fans

2. #7 for the Forestors is a man among boys.  Might be the best wide reciever I have seen the MWC in 9 years. 

Go MC!  Beat the Blue Boys this weekend. 

[SNCOLDAD]

papa90,
Couldn't agree more on the dogs at Lake Forest. When I went there to see a game I could not believe how many dogs were in the grass, up in the stands, all over. Probably some sort of agreement to get the land donated or something.

[mwcSNC]

I was at the LF-MC game this past weekend.  Monmouth didn't play well but beat up on the Forestors pretty bad.  2 observations

1. The Lake Forest cheering section was horrible, i understand that it was fall break, but I swear their were more dogs there than forestor fans

2. #7 for the Forestors is a man among boys.  Might be the best wide reciever I have seen the MWC in 9 years. 

Go MC!  Beat the Blue Boys this weekend. 

Papa

That is a pretty bold statement to make especially since there has been a number of great receivers in the past 10 years.  How has he done in other games... I added the stats from the SNC game, the only game I personally saw him play, and the numbers are not impresssive.  I just think there might be some better receivers out there that deserve alittle credit also.  Obviously, me being the SNC fan that I am, would have to say that Judd OConnell is not to shabby himeslf.

Receiving        No.  Yds   TD Long
-----------------------------------
WillChristensen 4   30    0   23
Dan Carter        3   31    0   11
Pat Jarvis          2   20    0   15
Tom Cirone       1    3    0     3
Totals...           10   84    0   23

Below are also the stats from the midwest conference site.  For the sake of brevity... i only copied over the top 5 in each category.

RECEPTIONS/GAME       Team  Cl  G  Rec  Yds TD Avg/C Rec/G
----------------------------------------------------------
WillChristensen.....  LFC   SO  6   39  383  1   9.8  6.50
Kyle Wantland.......  MC    SO  7   44  481  2  10.9  6.29
Judd O'Connell......  SNC   SR  7   41  772 11  18.8  5.86
  Bobby Gibbs.........  MC    JR  7   39  376  1   9.6  5.57
Dan Carter..........  LFC   SO  7   38  574  8  15.1  5.43


RECEIVE YDS/GAME      Team  Cl  G  Rec  Yds TD Avg/C Yds/G
----------------------------------------------------------
Judd O'Connell......  SNC   SR  7   41  772 11  18.8 110.3
Dan Carter..........    LFC   SO  7   38  574  8  15.1  82.0
Michael Jennings....  IC    SO  7   31  508  6  16.4  72.6
Kyle Wantland.......  MC    SO  7   44  481  2  10.9  68.7
Joe Reed.................  IC    SR  7   29  470  4  16.2  67.1


Again, im not saying the kid isnt good.... but there are others out there.  If you dig further in the last couple years, youll find more.

[Maverick]

One would think that with a line in a signature about "kidding each other with no disrespect", that might happen sometimes.  But there's always a sense of disrespect in those posts when it comes to the MWC.  I understand if someone wants respect then you gotta earn it...but the MWC always gets dogged, sometimes worthy of that and other times definitely not worthy of it.

ritz - Thanks for the comments!  It would appear things are going well as usual at SJU.  Would love to see another playoff game up there sometime (the atmosphere is one of a kind, obviously!), but unfortunately it's not gonna happen for the Scots this year.  Things are ok at MC this year, but will get better with time for some of the youthful players.

[ritz72]

As a rookie on here, I am learning a lot about D III and the MWC. I agree that the raod would have to go through Whitewater. I can only hope that it maybe could be the 2nd game instead of the first. As far as the polls go, I have no idea who favors what conferences in what polls. The end all is that they are just that....polls. I am sure I will learn a lot more in the weeks to come. Thanks for your guidance through this learning period.

That would mean, more than likely, a 4 seed which sadly will not happen at present time for a team from the MWC.  Plus, with travel distance being a factor, even if SNC would be that high, they would more than likely play UWW in the 1st round anyway.

[ritz72]

One would think that with a line in a signature about "kidding each other with no disrespect", that might happen sometimes.  But there's always a sense of disrespect in those posts when it comes to the MWC.  I understand if someone wants respect then you gotta earn it...but the MWC always gets dogged, sometimes worthy of that and other times definitely not worthy of it.

ritz - Thanks for the comments!  It would appear things are going well as usual at SJU.  Would love to see another playoff game up there sometime (the atmosphere is one of a kind, obviously!), but unfortunately it's not gonna happen for the Scots this year.  Things are ok at MC this year, but will get better with time for some of the youthful players.

Things are going alright, but we need to improve our overall game to be competitive in the post season!  It's Johnnie/Tommie week, so if any of you MWC posters want to read some off-color posts and jokes regarding St. Thomas (refered to as USTD on the MIAC board) climb aboard!!

[Pat Coleman]

One would think that with a line in a signature about "kidding each other with no disrespect", that might happen sometimes.  But there's always a sense of disrespect in those posts when it comes to the MWC.  I understand if someone wants respect then you gotta earn it...but the MWC always gets dogged, sometimes worthy of that and other times definitely not worthy of it.

I think all I did was state the facts. If you are reading something more into it, you may have a personal bias to confront.

[fightintitan2006]

Pat,

I have put some thought into this post and I have to respectively disagree with your previous post about the AFCA. I don't think the AFCA loves those particular conferences, I think they love undefeated teams and due to the balance of power in those leagues, they tend to produce undefeated teams who climb their rankings accordingly. Neither your website or the AFCA's rankings are truly reflective of the Top 25 teams in the country...really no rankings are...a true top 25 would likely have to contain four to 6 teams from the WIAC in the same fashion one could make the argument that as many as 10 SEC teams belong in the DI top 25.

I would also disagree with your assessment that winning playoff games is a prerequisite for national poll respect. There are legitimately only a handful of teams in the country every year who can defeat the conference champion from the WIAC and to a lesser extent the MIAC. The west region is also arguably the toughest top to bottom in the country and thus, the MWC champ will for the foreseeable future find itself facing these teams in the first round of the playoffs and losing.

In my mind, St. Norbert having the ability to lead UW-LAX 23-10 in the fourth quarter of a playoff game or Monmouth playing Wartburg tough on the road with a freshman quarterback are much more important statements to the improvement of the league then defeating Concordia or Hope in the first round of the playoffs ever would be.

I know how trivial and unscientific comparing scores can be, but...
*In 2001, St. Norbert lost to St. John's 27-20 in 1st round...SJU defeated Pacific 
  Lutheran by 25 points in semifinals.
* In 2003, SNC loses by 25, SJU wins by 28 in the semis.
* Hell, Whitewater followed a 42 pointer over SNC last year with a 37-point win in the
   semis.

Its in imperfect system, but it does show that the MWC champ could have likely competed with some of these teams and conferences who reached the semifinals, and the teams and conferences those schools beat along the way....yet those teams making it to the semis to get beat down get two playoff wins on your frontpage tally and the MWC gets none, another reason I am not sure the argument holds much weight.

As I said, no disrespect intended, just looking to get some discussion started.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat,

I have put some thought into this post and I have to respectively disagree with your previous post about the AFCA. I don't think the AFCA loves those particular conferences, I think they love undefeated teams and due to the balance of power in those leagues, they tend to produce undefeated teams who climb their rankings accordingly.

Well, this may be a potato/po-tah-to discussion. Strength of schedule is the issue -- it seems to have much less impact on the AFCA voters than it does on ours.

I know we provide a large amount of info to our voters. We've had some voters move from one poll to the other and those who have talked about the difference have said they get much more information from us. Which makes sense, I mean, we maintain schedules and results for teams and we have the ability to spit out a report that is helpful.

[mwcfbdad]

Fightintitan,
I agree with your last post .The MWC is in a catch 22.In order to get respect we have to win playoff game but we always have to play the top teams so our playoff record looks bad.
You seem to be very knowledgeable about  D-3 football.Did you play?

[ritz72]

Pat,

I have put some thought into this post and I have to respectively disagree with your previous post about the AFCA. I don't think the AFCA loves those particular conferences, I think they love undefeated teams and due to the balance of power in those leagues, they tend to produce undefeated teams who climb their rankings accordingly. Neither your website or the AFCA's rankings are truly reflective of the Top 25 teams in the country...really no rankings are...a true top 25 would likely have to contain four to 6 teams from the WIAC in the same fashion one could make the argument that as many as 10 SEC teams belong in the DI top 25.

I would also disagree with your assessment that winning playoff games is a prerequisite for national poll respect. There are legitimately only a handful of teams in the country every year who can defeat the conference champion from the WIAC and to a lesser extent the MIAC. The west region is also arguably the toughest top to bottom in the country and thus, the MWC champ will for the foreseeable future find itself facing these teams in the first round of the playoffs and losing.

In my mind, St. Norbert having the ability to lead UW-LAX 23-10 in the fourth quarter of a playoff game or Monmouth playing Wartburg tough on the road with a freshman quarterback are much more important statements to the improvement of the league then defeating Concordia or Hope in the first round of the playoffs ever would be.

I know how trivial and unscientific comparing scores can be, but...
*In 2001, St. Norbert lost to St. John's 27-20 in 1st round...SJU defeated Pacific 
  Lutheran by 25 points in semifinals.
* In 2003, SNC loses by 25, SJU wins by 28 in the semis.
* Hell, Whitewater followed a 42 pointer over SNC last year with a 37-point win in the
   semis.

Its in imperfect system, but it does show that the MWC champ could have likely competed with some of these teams and conferences who reached the semifinals, and the teams and conferences those schools beat along the way....yet those teams making it to the semis to get beat down get two playoff wins on your frontpage tally and the MWC gets none, another reason I am not sure the argument holds much weight.

As I said, no disrespect intended, just looking to get some discussion started.

You had a pretty good thing going until these statements.. The "We lost by ____ and then the next guy lost by ______" so we are as good as they are" rationale is bunk...sorry

[The Roop]

You had a pretty good thing going until these statements.. The "We lost by ____ and then the next guy lost by ______" so we are as good as they are" rationale is bunk...sorry

Yeah, it kinda says they still would have lost to the same team, only in a different round if the bracket was changed.

Prediction............... St. Norbert"S" a lot, Beloit, not quite as many. Weather permitting I should make it but win lose or draw it will be Curlys Pub for lunch/dinner afterwards. Since it's my birthday weekend (sort of) I get to pick. So my Bears fan mother will be dragged into Lambeau Field, kicking and screaming if necessary. LOL.

[CCAlum23]

Havent been on here in a few days! First of all I want to Congrats to St. Norbert on clinching the title.  Do I personally think they were the best team?  Definately not!!!  Carroll was much more impressive and beat them in every category!  But that doesnt matter anymore!

Well this weeks picks!

Ripon at Grinnell - Ripon will run all over Grinnell!  Ripon wins 42-10

Knox at Lake Forest - Lake Forest will improve to .500 in the midwest with a win over a hurting praire fire! LFC wins 28-7

Illinois College at Monmouth - Monmouth will win, but Joe Reed is an athlete so dont take IC lightly!  Monmouth wins 35-14

Beloit at #RV/18 St. Norbert - 1:30 p.m. - This is going to be ugly! St. Norbert starters will be out after the 1st quarter! Will Judd O'Connell go over 1000 yards receiving??  St. Norbert will win 52-7

Carroll at Lawrence - Carroll will continue to take out there frustrations on not beating St.Norbert!!!!!!  This one is all Carroll!  Carroll dominated LU last year and expect the same thing again!  Crocker is 55 yards away from 1000 yards and he already has 13 tds!  Rogers had a great game last week and expect another great performance!  Gould is still playing tough and is in the top 5 in D3 for catches for tight ends!  and Carroll's Defense is soo tough!  It always has been in recent years and will continue to be!  

Good luck to all and for seniors out there you have 2 games left make them count! Because when its all done you will miss it!
 

[The Roop]

Based on the regional rankings here are some "possible" first round match ups.

#7 Bethel @ #1 UW-Whitewater
#6 Redlands @ #4 Occidental (Sorry folks, it's simple geography)
#5 St. Norbert @ #3 Central
#9 Linfield @ #2 St. Thomas

#8 Wartburg gets bumped out due to Linfield being an AQ. Somebody from the west coast will have to travel but this bracket would still preserve a proper 1 vs. 4/2 vs. 3 seeding in the second round.