Quote from: Pat Coleman on December 18, 2025, 10:31:36 AM

Quote from: emma17 on December 17, 2025, 10:15:05 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on December 17, 2025, 09:43:41 PMEven more old school -- they ran the wishbone, right?

I believe you are correct. They were great at it.

They were. I played high school baseball with Adam Kowles, who was the quarterback for their run in the mid-1990s. Adam played catcher and I played outfield and second base.

I played against some very good UWRF teams in the 1990s. Those wishbone teams were often at the top of the rushing lists, regardless of division. One wrinkle--they did a lot of it out a no-huddle offense--that was uncharacteristic of option teams. They weren't up-tempo, but they wouldn't huddle. So you couldn't substitute, and their long drives would just tire out defenses even more. They were ahead of their time. They also ran a defense with an inverted DT that was a yard deeper off the ball than their other d-linemen. It gave them more stunting and looping options. They didn't always have the deepest roster, but they were so good at what they did.

Quote from: emma17 on October 08, 2025, 06:19:00 PMUSee and Pat,
My point specifically about UWO and no film was "it's reasonable to assume they would have been better prepared for what NCC brought". I stand by that statement.

I think you are both saying - no matter how much preparation UWO had, they were getting a beating. I agree UWO is losing that game most every time. As for the point differential remaining the same (I'm going with 45-7 since I assume UWO's last TD was backups) I have a hard time swallowing that pill. Film isn't just about identifying scheme, as you know, it's about game planning strengths and weaknesses of specific players, which comes from film study.

Who knows in the end. 

I've followed the WIAC since I played in it as the WSUC. I've followed the CCIW closely the last 5 years since my son played and now coaches in the league.

The problem here is North Central's defense. It is elite. Oshkosh's first score came on a blocked punt that they recovered inside the five. North Central will (and has) clean that up. I'm not sure this NC offense is as good (yet) as they have been in the past, but the defense might be better than ever. They just held a potent Wheaton team to 148 yards of total offense (-2 rushing). Wheaton would compete in the WIAC. North Central didn't even have to do anything special to beat Wheaton 35-0. North Central ran for 279 yards and completed 15 of 16 passes. It was a ho-hum performance. They easily could've hung 50+ on Wheaton. The talk on the CCIW message board is that NC is using the regular season to just ramp up for the postseason. CCIW teams know they don't have a chance. I'd like to think the best the WIAC has to offer has a legit chance at beating NC, but I'm not sure. Weather, turnovers, injuries, etc play a part in football and NC will have to navigate all of those things. Nobody in the CCIW will give them a game. They won their semi-final last year 66-0. They likely won't get tested until deep into the playoffs. Will a WIAC team still be around then? 

Quote from: Gregory Sager on October 05, 2025, 11:26:07 AM

Quote from: USee on October 05, 2025, 09:27:05 AMSecond, I wasn't wrong. This is a Wheaton team that can beat almost any team outside of the top 2-3. That's just how good North Central is.

We have to acknowledge the fact that, for the second time in CCIW football history, we are in a period in which the reigning dominant program is so far beyond the rest of the league that its CCIW schedule is really nothing more than incidental. It's basically prep work for the playoffs.

I just began following the CCIW very closely when my son joined the conference a few years ago. How does the league close the gap on NCC? When I played in the WIAC in the early/mid 1990s, UWLAX was the dominant team. They won 2 national titles in the 90s, but the conference was able to compete with them. They had a tie and a one-point win one of those title years, and a couple close calls the other title year. When UWW was going to 6 straight Stagg Bowls, the conference still provided competitive games. Whitewater even lost conference games during that stretch. The WIAC is better top-to-bottom than the CCIW, but how does the conference catch up? Is it solely about recruiting, facilities, commitment to winning? Is it about waiting for a regime change at NCC? How can the rest of the league close the gap?

I have followed D3 football closely since I began playing at UW-Oshkosh in the mid-1990s. I've followed the WIAC (it was the WSUC when I played) for the past 30 years, but three years ago I became the most ardent North Park fan outside of the esteemed Greg Sager when my son transferred into the program (I already had a daughter playing tennis at NPU, so this gave me two reasons to spend a lot of time on campus). I've kept my distance when posting, because I never wanted to be critical of the players and coaches in the program I rooted so hard for. Now that my son's playing career is over, I just wanted to say thank you to Kyle Rooker and the NPU staff for a great three seasons. I've seen the last 30 NPU games in person, and the development of this program has been a joy to watch. What coach Rooker has done to develop a competitive program in this conference can't be understated. I can attest that those players in the locker room wanted to win one of their last three games more than anything to get to that 6-win plateau. But the fact that the program feels there is unfinished business after consecutive 5-win seasons shows just how far this team has come. In 2022, NPU needed a late TD against Elmhurst to avoid a winless season. Since that point, the Vikings have beaten every team in the conference not named North Central, Wheaton, and WashU (and they had the Bears on the ropes). In 2022, the team didn't believe they could win. Now they do, and that is a testament to Coach Rooker and his staff. This year's team trailed in the 4th quarter in NINE games. But they believed. Late comebacks against Ripon, Augie, Carroll, and IWU only happen when a team believes in themselves and the coaching staff. They lost some close games (Elmhurst, Carthage, and WashU) that they could've won and those games sting, but that's why you play the games. Lesser teams would've folded after the Elmhurst loss. But this team came back to win at Augie in OT and beat Carroll in comeback fashion. After a tough loss to North Central, this team came back from a two-score deficit to IWU and rallied to win. After a devastating loss  to Carthage, this team played maybe its best game of the season against WashU. This team was resilient and it is a testament to the culture that has been built at NPU. The seniors will be missed! But they have done something at North Park that shouldn't be overlooked. They have made Saturdays matter at the corner of Kedzie and Foster. There will be continued growing pains as this program tries to take the leap from competitive to contending. But what has transpired at North Park has been amazing, and I'm a fan for life.

Wasn't there a rule that a conference had to have a certain number of teams to get an AQ? Northwestern of the UMAC won 7 games but only beat 5 teams. They played and beat two of those teams twice. WIAC (and some CCIW) teams are always going to struggle with finding out of conference games. Seems like allowing teams to beat the same team more than once isn't a great use of the data either.

The Wheaton team I saw yesterday was not the same team I saw play Oshkosh in week 1. That is the problem with a model that just uses data to pick the field. Wheaton was incorporating a band new offensive line and quarterback early in the season. They were hitting on all cylinders yesterday. This team would've been a tough out in the NCAA playoffs.

Quote from: cardinal773 on August 17, 2024, 06:17:51 PMDoes anyone know how the 2024 NCC O-line is shaping up?  I feel like Jerod Thornton is going to be almost impossible to replace. Fortier was really good too.

Any word on some of the new kids on campus?

The Cardinals return two all-american offensive lineman and they prioritize the position in recruiting every year. This is a luxury most teams just don't have and what sets NCC apart. Something tells me they will be just fine. 

Quote from: emma17 on November 22, 2023, 02:14:24 PM
Have any of you WIAC folk had the chance to see Wheaton play?
I had them on one of three screens Saturday- so I caught what I could.
I was especially interested to see Thorson given the incredible 0 int to 30+ TD's.
He definitely throws a nice ball and makes plays, big challenge.
I did see four, (I assume this may trigger a debate), dropped interceptions, plus he threw an interception. Certainly all QB's need the luck of butter-fingered defenders, but I feel UWW won't be so generous.

Weeks is good all around, w excellent open field moves.

I've seen Wheaton play twice. Once in their opener against Oshkosh and once in their finale against North Park. They are good, and they would compete in the WIAC. Generally speaking, they are better on the offensive side of the ball. The offensive line is good enough to play in the WIAC and the QB is really accurate. They have a running back that is special in the run and pass game. I haven't seen Whitewater play, but Wheaton has moved the ball well on everybody except North Central. I was surprised to see Wheaton win the LOS against Oshkosh as much as they did on both sides of the ball, especially because it was Wheaton's first game and Oshkosh had played already. That being said, I don't think the Wheaton defense is special. First off, North Central ran all over them. As did Augie. North Park was able to consistently move the ball as well. The North Park team is much improved, but I didn't think NPU would have as much success as they did, especially because Wheaton had to impress the committee on the last weekend of the season. North Park put up 26 points (it should've been 31), passed for 271 yards, and ran the ball effectively. I'd probably pick North Central over any WIAC team, but Wheaton just isn't in North Central's class. Wheaton might score some points, but I just don't see them stopping the UWW run game. As long as UWW doesn't turn the ball over, I think they win by two scores.

One thing that can't be overstated as to why the gap increases for North Central is the amount of practice and game reps that they get. I remember when I was young and there weren't as many bowl games, D1 coaches always used to say making a bowl was so important because you got to practice an extra month and those reps are invaluable. Look at Mount and Whitewater when they were making Stagg runs to play each other every year. They got 5 extra weeks of practice and games compared to others in their conference year after year. North Central has more talent than anybody in the CCIW, and it isn't close. Add to it that they get 5 more weeks of practice to hone their skills, work on timing, get more cohesive as an offensive line, etc. Other CCIW players will be home enjoying Thanksgiving and Christmas while North Central will likely be getting extra practice and game reps for the next 5 weeks. This doesn't only help the starters. The ascending players get to compete against the best D3 players in the country and get better every week. The good teams earn the right to continue to play, but it does provide a tremendous advantage in the development of 18-22 year olds and it does make it harder for lesser teams to close the gap. If a team makes two consecutive Stagg Bowls, they get 10 extra weeks of practice and game reps. That's an extra "season" for those players to develop.

As the regular season enters the final week, I'm wondering if North Park's five wins garners Coach Rooker with CCIW Coach of the Year honors? If Augie beats North Central, I'm sure the award goes to Coach Bell. I know the award often goes to the conference winner. However, North Central is supposed to do what they are doing. The Augie season is a good one, but they have been a perennial power in the past. North Park was picked last in the preseason poll. They have beaten 4 teams that they lost to last season, and they have captured 4 conference wins. They could finish as high as fifth in the conference. They have won the most games in program history since 1968. I'm biased and I've seen the improvement and hard work from the players and coaches at NPU. I've only been a CCIW guy for the last two seasons, but I'm impressed with what Coach Rooker has accomplished.

Quote from: badgerwarhawk on August 09, 2020, 01:47:42 PM

Quote from: emma17 on August 07, 2020, 10:15:27 AM

Quote from: UWO Titan 78 on August 06, 2020, 08:11:16 PM

Quote from: emma17 on August 06, 2020, 02:25:35 PM
Talking with a work mate he told me his two high school kids are transferring from their IL high school to the IN high school where the family has a lake house. They both play football. The decision wasn't purely football based as they really aren't doing well with online classes, however, one is a senior and he now gets the benefit of a football season to play.

I saw an article that WI schools near Lake Geneva are seeing an increase of IL students transferring, it didn't mention high schoolers or football though.

He starts on the offensive line for an Illinois power, but he's hoping to get a scholarship as a long snapper. He feels he needs to play this fall in order to do that.

An article in the paper today said an Illinois player was transferring to Florida to play, where his parents have a vacation home. The article stated that IHSA rules would allow the kid to move with his family to Florida and play there in the Fall and move back with his family and play in Illinois in the Spring. I'm not sure of the rule, but that is a lot of football.

Wow, now that's making lemonade out of lemons.

Is this some 5 star recruit or some kid who'll end up playing a lower level?  FWIW, I think his parents are insane.

Quote from: emma17 on August 06, 2020, 02:25:35 PM
Talking with a work mate he told me his two high school kids are transferring from their IL high school to the IN high school where the family has a lake house. They both play football. The decision wasn't purely football based as they really aren't doing well with online classes, however, one is a senior and he now gets the benefit of a football season to play.

I saw an article that WI schools near Lake Geneva are seeing an increase of IL students transferring, it didn't mention high schoolers or football though.

An article in the paper today said an Illinois player was transferring to Florida to play, where his parents have a vacation home. The article stated that IHSA rules would allow the kid to move with his family to Florida and play there in the Fall and move back with his family and play in Illinois in the Spring. I'm not sure of the rule, but that is a lot of football.

Quote from: bleedpurple on August 03, 2020, 01:54:21 PM

Quote from: WW on August 01, 2020, 06:48:15 PM

Quote from: bleedpurple on August 01, 2020, 07:39:20 AM
It looks like there is a silver lining amongst the craziness of this football "season" for at least one student-athlete. Apparently Evan Lewandowski will be able to participate with the team this fall and still fulfill the "sit out" requirement imposed by the WIAC.

https://wkow.com/2020/07/30/evan-lewandowskis-unpredictable-road-to-uw-whitewater/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_DanPlutchak

Should be an interesting QB situation there in 2021 if Meylor and Oles each choose to pursue remaining eligibility

And there are a couple of pretty prolific freshman expected to join the mix as well. It will be a talented room, that's for sure.

I'd expect nothing less in Candyland.

Quote from: bleedpurple on July 06, 2020, 12:47:00 PM
It's official. Former UW-LaCrosse QB Evan Lewandowski is headed to UW-W.

No idea where he stacks up with all we have, but the dude can sling it!

History repeats itself (somewhat). When I was being recruited to UW-O, the Titans had a prolific QB named Dennis Bogacz. When I showed up in the fall, I realized he had transferred to Whitewater. He made the right choice. He won a WSUC title (that is what it was when I played), and I think he's in the Warhawk Hall of Fame.

I was watching my Rolling Meadows Mustangs in the IHSA semi-finals get hammered by a Nazareth team that looked like a college squad, so I missed the Titans game. I am at a loss for how this program loses two playoff games after having big leads in both. I don't really know what to think. I wouldn't trade Coach Cerroni and his staff for anybody, so I will just live with it and be proud of what this team did this season. I didn't think this team would contend for a National title, so I'm happy with a conference title and some playoff experience for this young squad. Now I just have to figure out what I think about these parochial high schools that can recruit players and give scholarships.