FB: Midwest Conference

[basil991]

New to this board, new to the conference, and new to this level of the game. Can someone give me a quick lesson on this conference? I see most of the board seems to be about two or three teams. Is there really a great disparity between the top and the bottom or can all the teams compete with each other?

[The Roop]

The short answer is yes, the MWC is top heavy. And is generally below the radar on the national scene; although that is changing.

Whomever is playing Beloit is always the game of the week.

[gbpuckfan]

New to this board, new to the conference, and new to this level of the game. Can someone give me a quick lesson on this conference? I see most of the board seems to be about two or three teams. Is there really a great disparity between the top and the bottom or can all the teams compete with each other?

St. Norbert has dominated in recent years, though SNC stumbled last year and Monmouth had a very good team.

The problems in terms of national profile, include:

- Non conference record, especially against power schools and conferences, isn't very good. I can't remember the last time a MWC school beat a WIAC team, for example. SNC's win against #17 Wartburg last week was helpful - but we need more of these.

- Since the league has gotten an automatic bid, the conference has won a playoff game in just two seasons, IIRC. SNC in 03, and Monmouth last year, which thankfully won. That lack of success makes it hard for national observers to take the conference seriously in terms of the strength of the top teams.

- The bottom teams just aren't very good. Lawrence, for example, is a very good school - but it's a very good music school with a total enrollment about about 1,100. It's had success in other sports, but struggles with the sheer numbers needed to succeed in football. Can they beat Monmouth? We'll find out tomorrow. One person I know at LU said he hopes they stay within 30 points...

I think the top teams can compete with the best around the region - but need to have more success in actually winning games (ie SNC's playoff loss at home to Eau Claire in '07 was damaging in this regard).

Realitistically, I think it's a 2-to-3 horse race this year, with Monmouth the champ and favorite until someone knocks them off, SNC hoping to get back to form, with Ripon trying to crack the top 2. (For the last 6 years, one of those two have won the title, and since 99, SNC has won/shared the title 8 times.)

[Pat Coleman]

Welcome to the board. I would say the MWC is indeed pretty top-heavy right now. Roop is a big Beloit fan so don't let him mislead you.

I hope you're a fan of one of the other seven and that you won't be silent.

[SNCOLDAD]

Welcome 991. And yes, please do not be silent. Overall we are a pretty good group here. But watch out for The Roop.   

What brings you to this board? Give usa a little insight but not too much.   

The conference is very top heavy in football. I have been here for 2 full seasons now and attended all but one of St Norbert games in those 2 years. I have to admit there were more blowouts than close games.

Cheer for who you like and respect those that don't.   

And One Other Thing:

GO GREEN KNIGHTS

[basil991]

Thanks for the welcome, we just made the jump from high school to college. I have a feeling its going to be quite an adjustment.  I will try to add something of value to the other LFC posts.  Looking forward to getting to see the other teams. We made the rounds of most of the conference schools before we made our decision and was very impressed with the committment of the coaches and players.

Saw AU v LFC last week. neither team showed strong offense and would definately give the nod to LFC D. Even though they lost there was a lot of positives there. O line needs to get better but the D should keep them several games.  What will the Ripon v LFC game look like, I'm getting the sense that Ripon is top tier.

[MWCfan787]

Here's my best Ripon capsule for you Basil:

To my eye watching all of Monmouth's games last yr and according to the records Ripon was the 2nd best team in the conf. last yr.  I remember last year half way through the 4th quarter of the Monm. - Rip game thinking "this is it...we beat norbert this yr and now ripon gonna sneak up and take the conf. from us."  Scots made a great comeback though being 2 scores down w/ 5 min to play.

Ripon's defense was really dominate last year holding St. Norbert to just 7 pts.  That was supposed to be their bright spot this year as I think they returned 7 starters on that side of the ball, but their first game against UW-Oshkosh didn't look too promising.  Lost 40-16 after last yrs game being 13-12 with Ripon opting to go for 2 to try and win and not converting.

Don't know much about Oshkosh though other than they hail from the mighty WIAC, but if they finish 1st or 2nd in their conf. that puts em as a top 10 in the nation team and could maybe make Ripon's loss look a little better.

Ripon lost alot on offense though, this game vs. lfc should be a low scoring affair and your forresters are still a definite underdog in this one despite their strong wk 1 showing.

[scottie]

Hey Mav.  Sorry to have missed you.  My employer made me hang out with a bunch of big dudes in dark suits and sunglasses.  Evidently, I had to be protected in case there was actually a Duhawk.     (I was up on the terrace next to the press box most of the game.)

Welcome 991.  I think you are the ONLY LFC poster, so your contributions will be appreciated.  Just listen to The Roop, and you'll be fine. 


"I t ' s  n o  f u n - b e i n g  a n  i l l e g a l  e m o t i c o n !"                8)               

[MWCalum]

To be honest that Ripon game is misleading.. for example it was 13-9 at halftime, and it was pretty obvious ripon was the better team in the 1st half.. they missed a couple opportunites which could have put them ahead but thats the game.. they won the TOP battle by 30 seconds but thats misleading as well as Ripon's D was on the field the entire 3rd quarter.. They tried a sneak pooch kick thing(awful idea) to start the half, osh got the ball at the Ripon 45 and scored then the redhawks fumbled the snap or the qb dropped the ball as it looked from the bleachers and they scored and momentum was squarely on the side of the Titans for the rest of the game even though Ripon put together an 8 minute scoring drive in the 4th to save face a little bit I really think this was just one of those games where things go right for a team and not for the other but thats football..

whew, that was way too long... To be honest, as much as I hate to say it but I think its pretty much SNC and MC as the game of the year.. but everyone thought that last year and look what happened.. cant wait for this weekend.. Ill be in Lake Forest and where hopefully Ripon can figure some stuff out and put up some points.. I know they were embarrassed with how they played last year after scoring td's on the first 2 possessions then only beating the Foresters 14-3..

[The Roop]

The key to post season success is getting the home games and the way to do that is with a perfect season; unless the west coast gets three teams in but I'm not getting into that scenario just yet. Right now only 4 candidates remain and that will change as Monmouth squares off against Lawrence. Since Lawrence has had an extra week off they've had plenty of time to implement my 5-6 defense that I described a few pages back. If they do it right I doubt Monmouth will even move the chains.

So that will leave Lawrence, Beloit and St. Norbert (if they can get by Grinnell) as the MWC front runners.

[scottie]

Penn Atlantic is giving my account and/or computer a little attitude today, so I may not catch any of the Lawrence upset.

Boom, it just kicked in!  Looks like there is "ample space" in the stands....

MC 14-0 after first quarter.  

MC 35-0 with 10:00 remaining in the 2nd quarter.  The Viking kick-return is getting a good workout, and the refs keep using that greasy ball when LU is on offense.

[The Roop]

Thanks for the update scottie. I ordered games just fine this morning but can't get past the log in now that I want to watch.

[scottie]

The Roop:  It turned on for me when I went back to the Windows Media Player screen and just hit the Play button.  I was getting error messges on the other screen, but it ended up being fine.  (p.s. Tanney just heaved a 54 yard TD pass and it is 49 - 0 just before half.  The announcer said that Tanney needs one more TD pass to tie Rob Purlee's career mark.  I'd be surprised if he is in much, if at all, in the second half.)

[gbpuckfan]

St. Norbert - wearing all white on the road ! - was leading Monmouth 7-3 at halftime.

I've since left home so no more updates for awhile...

[MWCfan787]

actually they were leading Grinnell 7-3 at halftime........which I have no I idea what's going on with that

C'MON! St. Norbert!