On the 98 yard TD, Green threw deep to Ombogo, just like I designed.

NPU's head coach landed 47 freshmen for the fall 2021 season. Four academic years later, in spring 2025, I believe only 11 (23%) graduated. I never previously crunched graduation numbers, but I know NPC/U has always had its football roster heavily consist of freshmen and sophomores. Rooker's 2025 team is no different with a roster that  comprises approximately 26% of juniors and seniors.  This is not the path to "keep momentum going," per the NPU press release, following a 5-5 season.

Stellar WR Jereme Ombogo graduated (one year of eligibility left) with High Honors while performing extremely well in track.
https://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2025/1/28/ombogo-tabbed-as-csc-academic-all-american-first-for-npu-football-since-1987.aspx  This season's QB must learn quickly to throw the ball deep to Ombogo, a sprinter.  And not just once per half.

Three teams below North Park in the coaches' poll?!  NPU lost a great pair of linebackers and its four-year starting QB.

I've seen a whole lotta Julian, but not one who is 6'8".

North Park announced its transfer class on X. Former Carthage big man Julian Campbell; Jerome Smith (LA Tech); Jalen Houston (IU NW); Tyvin Garrison (Lincoln U); Lazario Cornish (Spoon River CC); Rasmus Westerlund (Calumet CC); Katrell Weekley (Roosevelt U); Raz Orbach (College of Canyons); Joe Kone (John Melvin U); and Matt Neal (Kennedy King CC).  Five are listed between 6'5" and 6'8".  Is Mr. Campbell really 6'8"?

I searched only one player's history - Orbach. Born in Israel, then to CA where he averaged 10ppg as a 6'3" guard who shot under 25% and under 50% from beyond the arc and within, respectively.  First team AC last year as a sophomore.

I've known about IMG and LL in IN for over a decade.  The MN Gophers have had kids come from IMG where they focused on football while earning a diploma.  (I think Maria Sharipova landed at IMG after the family left Russia.) Abdel Nader from my local HS went to LL after graduation. Spent a year there, then played at NIU and Iowa State.  Nader played for the Celtics for at least three years, and then hung around the nba for a couple more years.  I assumed his LL "gap" year helped him improve academics.  Silly me.   

What the hell is Victory Rock?  Originally thought it would be a charter school, but I did not see an academic component.  https://www.vrpbasketball.com/  Gap year landing sport to improve one's basketball skills?  If so, why not just go to college and play jv?  Maybe more than one of NP's incoming freshmen will stick around to earn a degree.

I wonder to what extent international students will opt against playing in the US, whether immigration's analysis of social activity and/or media posts will influence ability to study and compete in America, or if the landscape remains the same.

McCarrell won 295 and 284 games at North Park and Mankato State (D2-MN), respectively.  I wonder how many games he won in the bldg now known on campus as Hamming Hall, and maybe? into the years of Bosko's college playing days.

I do not believe NPC competed off-campus for home games on a regulation-sized court.

https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2025/06/scb-hof-announcement  Viking HC Dan McCarrell will be inducted into the HOF in October in Florida.  Very surprised he has not already entered!

Bo Ryan too.  What takes this committee so long?

Elite Wesleyan G Shane Regan also headed to U of C.

The semifinals and finals saw a total of 47 runs scored in 54 innings.  Congratulations, #2 North Central.

Society too often stigmatizes the decision to attend a community college.  Given the cost of D3 schools*, I'd like to see more student athletes use two years of cc/juco eligibility, earn undergrad credits, save the family money, and then transfer instead of the portal route more than once.

Wisconsin has a great postsecondary educational model w/ D3 public schools that includes reciprocity with Minnesota.

Vetter could elevate his visibility, play overseas, establish his name in xx country/region, and then open a cars.com base of operation across the pond after his playing years.

The portal impacts all levels and sports, including a heavy reliance at North Park. Just curious, does Vetter from nat'l champ Trinity bite on a scholly at a level or two above three?

A week or two ago the NYT had a lengthy article about Grinnell's system.  Discussed father and son, the philosophy, and the scoring records.  If I recall correctly, the article said Grinnell had not been to the tourney since 2004, but did not mention opponent or outcome.  I vaguely recalled IWU badly stuffed Grinnell and thought it was a tourney game.

In 2001, IWU pounded Grinnell 132-91 in the first round.  Did anyone witness that game?  Recollections?  Here is the box score: 
https://sun.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2001/030101m.htm  Oddly, Laban Cross netted only four points on three shots!

Tourney time!