FB: Midwest Conference

[hickory_cornhusker]

Lots of teams can still get a share of the MWC title but only St. Norbert and Illinois College are in the running for a playoff berth.

IC can't tie just SNC because someone has to win the GC-CU game creating a three way tie and causing them to go to conference quarters led which would give SNC the playoff spot unless Carroll can lead all day and SNC doesn't lead at all. And of Ripon and/or Monmouth were to win Carroll would be out before the second tie breaker.

[SNCOLDAD]

To all with the best wishes IF SNC WINS SATURDAY, I thank you. And believe me, the way the MWC has been this year, I am not taking anything for granted. GBPUCKFAN, come on. Have some faith. If SNC should get the bid there are a lot of possibilities. Maybe even a home game!   (well, home for me)   

Right now all I care about is a conference championship that is not shared. Sorry if that sounds selfish but that is what I hope we can do. For the first time in a number of weeks we control our own destiny.

And it is unfortunate that others outside of the conference will say it was a down year for the better teams in the MWC. We will say it was an up year with more equality. None of that matters this week.

So the big questions still need to be answered:

Illinois College at Beloit
Grinnell at Carroll
Monmouth at Knox
Ripon at Lawrence
Lake Forwst at St. Norbert

Pick your winners.... Pick your Game of the Week..... Pick your upset


But never look past this Saturday. In the MWC that is very dangerous.   


GO GREEN KNIGHTS

[The Roop]

blu can't make the trip to Beloit so I'm resigned to making the Turkey Bowl the GOTW.

When is the last time a team beat Monmouth and St. Norbert and didn't make the playoffs ??

[scottie]

43% chance of a ScottieSightingtm on Saturday for the GOTW.

[gbpuckfan]

To all with the best wishes IF SNC WINS SATURDAY, I thank you. And believe me, the way the MWC has been this year, I am not taking anything for granted. GBPUCKFAN, come on. Have some faith. If SNC should get the bid there are a lot of possibilities. Maybe even a home game!   (well, home for me) 

Ok, Ok ... I am fairly confident SNC will beat Lake Forest. Not trying to jinx anything, but the way the offense has played the last month, I am feeling good about that.

Perhaps the others are right about the regional breakdown and SNC will avoid UWW or a MIAC team. SNC can certainly play better than they did against the Tommies and maybe a rematch would be advantageous - even if there's a road trip.

[blu thru n thru]

I'm still kinda the new guy here, so my opinion should be weighed accordingly.  I am getting the general impression, from many of the posts, that it almost doesn't matter who wins the MWC.  It's a foregone "One & done".  I am not so naïve that I don't get that we're considered overmatched in the first round.  But there is a reason they play the game.  This missive isn't about  "Hey!  We have a chance!".  My thrust here is directed, not so much in raising the national impression of the MWC, but to celebrate and promote the increased level of competition and overall play of the teams within it.  It's an iron sharpens iron kinda thing...  Now, how do we keep it going?  To me, and not meaning any criticism toward any of the insights shared previously, all the talk about the "committee's perception" is missing the point.  If, week in/week out, we face tougher in-conference competition, our teams become better competition outside the conference.  Over time, we will be less concerned with our placement (who we play and where), and simply better prepared to play, and ultimately beat, whomever we face.  It would appear, perhaps from my limited historical perspective, that we are seeing that increase in the level of play and competition within the conference.  And that's all we should care about. 

The improved level of play and competition brings better players into the conference.  Obviously with that, comes a higher level of play and the reoccurring cycle for improvement.  With tighter, longer lasting, conference races, comes more interest in the conference.  We'll never be well served by a conference with an undefeated Gulliver and a cast of Lilliputians.  It brings greater respect for the conference and it's winner.  Have I drank too much of the Kool-Aide, here?  Perhaps.  (For the record, the Kool-Aide is Blue.)  What we (the conference and fans) need to do is place the burden on our lower tier programs to commit the resources to, and raise the performance expectation of, their football programs.  Oh, and my omission of the other athletic programs was not an accident.  We all know that football pays the freight . 

So C'mon Larry, Knox and LF... Step it up!  Meantime, SNC, don't concede anything.  Wherever you go, and whoever you play, go kick some a$$!  If you do manage to pull off a "miracle", it will be the perfect springboard for everything laid out above.  If not, celebrate your perseverance, accomplishment, and a well deserved MWC Championship.  Meantime, everyone needs to get ready for IC's march to next year's MWC championship.  Where we'll finally be sending a man in to do a man's job!  

It's been a fun year.  This board has made my first season in the MWC more than I could have ever anticipated.   Good luck SNC!  Hopefully, all your players are wearing their "WWICD" bracelets.  Roop, sorry I can't make it this weekend.  I love ya' man, but even being there to see your face when the Blueboy Nation plants their flag on the 50 at Strong Field, ain't worth $734.00...  

[The Roop]

It's not worth $734 to see them get beat like they owe me money; I'll say that.

As you learn more about DIII football you will realize how brutal the region is. Historically the MWC has not been been up to par but the bar is pretty high in these parts. It happens in that other sport, basketball, too.

[blu thru n thru]

As you learn more about DIII football you will realize how brutal the region is. Historically the MWC has not been been up to par but the bar is pretty high in these parts. It happens in that other sport, basketball, too.

Agreed.  Three points:  1) Knowing what I am talking about has never been a requirement for me to speak on a subject.    2) None of what you said takes away from my central point. 3) Other sport?  Basketball?  Huh?  Perhaps you can help me with that whole "If a tree falls in the forest, and no one's around" dilema?

[The Roop]

Basketball is played with dice and horseshoes. You roll the dice and simultaneously throw a shoe. The object of the game is to cause an odd roll of the dice by having the shoe strike them. Can be in mid air but grounded is preferred.

[The Roop]

Another variant involves hand grenades but the BATF frowns upon me discussing it online.

[blu thru n thru]

Another variant involves hand grenades but the BATF frowns upon me discussing it online.

Sir, you really should have your own blog.  You are such a great resource on so many things.  Crappy rib recipes in crock pots, chili with noodles and kidney beans, all things cheese, and now, hybrid sports.  Where do you find the time? 

Hey, I've got this reoccurring itch on my...  Nevermind, this really probably isn't the place for that...

[02 Warhawk]

DIII Fan Poll is now available.

[The Roop]

Actually I do have my own blog. Damned if I can remember the log in though as it has been a while. Roopsville.blogspot.com Most of the material is dated but is still funny as all get out. Socialized (1AA) football and Bigfoot have been discussed. Some of the posts may look unusual as I had to remove some pics to clear out my flickr account at one time. Can't remember that log in either.

Guess the short term memory issues of hepatic encephalopathy are real. Quit testing me for cancer I say. I don't have cirrhosis or hepatitis so maybe my anemia is causing it. How about working on that one for crying out loud. I don't dislike the medical community but cancer is the fashionable diagnosis these days; just as AIDS was 10 years ago.

Spare ribs in a crock pot with saurkraut is not crappy sir. I challenge you to a duel. Ice fishing at 20 paces. 1st crappie wins. (You might call them white perch in TX)

PS. The itch will go away in time but that's what you get for staying in Joliet.

[blu thru n thru]

Ice fishing at 20 paces. 

PS. The itch will go away in time but that's what you get for staying in Joliet.

Ice fishing?  Why fish for it?  My freezer makes it automatically.  I have plenty...

As for the itch, you may be on to something...

[The Roop]

Southern folk..........................

Can't make good ribs or chili and are obviously clueless about ice fishing.