Quote from: NCC2010 on July 20, 2026, 12:09:31 PMPreseason Top 25 poll posted https://www.d3football.com/top25/2026/preseason

1v2 and 3v5 week 1, pretty awesome start to the season!

I wonder how much the poll voters considered NCC's loss of Donovan McNeal prior to their voting the Cardinals the pre-season #1? 🤔 🤗

Quote from: PauldingLightUP on July 01, 2026, 02:19:25 PMHappy new year and to absolutely no surprise Matt Lewis is now an assist at IWU according to his bio.

Matt Lewis is currently listed in the official IWU Faculty/Staff Directory as a Part Time Assistant Coach in the Athletics Department.
He was said to have been in attendance at the annual Riverside-Brookfield HS Summer Shootout that took place June 12-14.

Also, strictly rumor as I can't confirm this at all, I've been told by sources affiliated with teams in both the ARC and WIAC that they believe that while Coach Lewis is officially listed as a part-time coach in the Directory, IWU has found or is looking for some unofficial "duties" (e.g., special projects/assignments) that could effectively make him somewhat more than part-time.
This is understandable as Coach Lewis has established an enviable record of success in his prior position(s). Why would an institution not take advantage of the talents/abilities he might contribute to the organization's success?

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on July 21, 2026, 02:52:27 PM

Quote from: PauldingLightUP on July 20, 2026, 10:28:08 PMI *think* with the new exhibition rules the announced exhibition of NMU at UWSP October 24 will be an actual game open to the public?

Can anyone (Ryan, Pat) confirm?

Exhibitions are all up to the schools, I believe.  If you're doing a scrimmage (which, I think, can be three halves and doesn't have to follow all the official game rules) that has to be closed door.  I'm ignorant if the WIAC has their own specific rules governing these games.  As far as I know, there's no NCAA rule that would make exhibitions private.

Every scrimmage I've seen does indeed follow this protocol. The first two halves are basically regulation, often with the projected starters playing most of the first half, and with the second five or any regular rotation players playing most of the second. The third "half," often referred to as the JV half, is mainly for those players who are likely going to be outside the regular rotation. Many of these guys will not dress for varsity games those that do (players 11-15) will likely see only very minimal action during the season. I've see coaches agree on both 20 and 10 minute "3rd halves," sometimes with a running clock for either time period.
I'm sure others have observes the same.

Quote from: D3fanboy on July 20, 2026, 05:03:34 PM

Quote from: NCC2010 on July 20, 2026, 12:09:31 PMPreseason Top 25 poll posted https://www.d3football.com/top25/2026/preseason

1v2 and 3v5 week 1, pretty awesome start to the season!

If only one of those would move to a night game on a hot Labor Day weekend.  What a schedule!

With the high degree of probability of temps minimally being in the area of 75, and the fairly high chance of 90 degree weather, the first two games of each season would ideally be scheduled at night.

With specific regard to early season games at NCC in Naperville, I can personally attest to the fact that they can be brutally sizzling even on a 75-80 degree day let alone one with even higher temps. Beyond high temps alone, humidity can, of course, play a role. And this is compounded by the fact that the home stands at NCC face WEST, and there is absolutely no shade anywhere near the seating area. Sit there, facing directly into the sun, for 2 and a half or 3 hours even on a 75-80 degree day and hat or no hat, your brain is going to feel like it has just emerged from an oven and is ready to explode. And this is to say nothing about the danger the players face playing in oppressive conditions.

However, when the visiting team faces a 7 hour bus ride home, night games are basically impractical. And not a lot of D3 schools have the financial wherewithal to pay for hotel rooms for an entire football team and its coaching staff. So there often isn't much of a realistic chance to offer players and fans some relief when it comes to early season games, especially if they might be great early season non-conference matchups like Wheaton/Mount and NCC/Bethel. ☹️

Well, there's probably at least as much chance that you're right as opposed to wrong  .  And, if Allen has indeed left the nest, Williams would certainly seem next in line to assume the starting RB position. I'd guess Zeb Rashid (432 yards, 7.0 YPC, 4 TDs) would likely slot in as the #2 RB.

Former North Central player Shea Cupples, who spent last year as the Head Assistant at Lake Forest, has migrated back to the CCIW and is now one of four assistant coaches at Millikin.
Seems like a rather curious move to go from top assistant to a regular assistant. Perhaps MU's pay rate for regular assistants is higher than LF's is for their head spot? 🤔  🤗

The loss of McNeal is a HUGE one for the Cardinals. He undoubtedly would have been the favorite to lead the conference rushing as he did last year, raking up more than twice as many yards as the second place finisher.

As far as NCC's starter at RB this year it seems like Sean Allen would merit serious consideration. Last season he gained 546 yards, averaging 5.1 YPC, and scored 8 TDs.
Very solid contributor Jordan Williams had  345 yards, averaging 4.8 YPC, with 2 TDs.

I had the same thoughts about Mr. Cobb just recently boarding the Vikings ship. However, if the NPU AD chooses to stay in house there really isn't an alternative. It just seems like there should be someone out there who has at least some limited head coaching experience or a head assistant with several successful years at that level who's ready to move up even if initially under an interim basis.

Quote from: petemcb on July 13, 2026, 09:17:52 AMHas anyone heard anything about whether recently-returned-to-the-fold Asst. Coach TJ Cobb might be given an "Interim" Head Coach title or has North Park announced any kind of an open job search?

The NPU site states A national search for new leadership will begin promptly.
But besides the problem actually finding a new head coach there naturally exists the possibility some returning players might choose to leave. Also, some committed recruits who were only very recently recruited by the now departed head coach and as yet have no association with the school might reconsider their commitment(s). As such, a school will often elevate an assistant to interim head coach for the upcoming season in order to preserve continuity for the current roster. If NPU elects to go this route it seems TJ would certainly be the guy.

Quote from: Greek Tragedy on July 06, 2026, 11:18:03 AMWith a quick glance, I didn't see it posted here, but PauldingLightUp posted on the WIAC board that ex-UW-Oshkosh head coach, Matt Lewis, is now listed as an assistant coach at IWU according to his bio.

I believe his wife is now a IWU employee so if it's true it wouldn't be that surprising. However, he's not yet listed on the IWU 🏀 site. If true, he'd be their fifth asst coach. Also, it would be interesting to know if he would he be considered a volunteer, or full-time or part-time. Given his background, would he be the Head Assistant?

Quote from: PauldingLightUP on July 01, 2026, 05:14:01 PM

Quote from: GusD on July 01, 2026, 04:39:53 PM

Quote from: GusD on April 24, 2026, 08:03:08 PMIt hasn't been posted yet, and probably won't be for sometime, but a little birdie whispered in my ear that NCC (or possibly Naperville University by then  ) will play the following non-conf schedule next season;

11/11 @ Aurora
11/17 vs Hope
11/20 @ Webster
11/21 @ Westminster
11/24 vs Benedictine
12/16 @ Wis. Lutheran
12/20 vs Pacific Lutheran
1/1 - 1/2 UMHB + 1 other @ UMHB

So trips to Missouri and Texas.

Quote from: PauldingLightUP on July 01, 2026, 03:07:02 PMNorth Central schedule is posted. Non cons at Aurora, at Hope, at Webster, n Westminster, at Wisconsin Lutheran, vs Pacific Lutheran, at UMHB, n McMurray. That only 8, still room for one more.

https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2026-2027

As reported back on April 24th the NCC's other non-con game will be 11/24 vs Benedictine.
You can pencil in games versus Aurora and Benedictine every year.
The NCC & BU gyms are only 2.9 miles apart on Chicago (in Naperville)/Maple (in Lisle) Avenue.

Thanks. I the BenU game on Eagles site. Not sure why it's not on Cardinals site. Probably just forgotten by SID.

Quote from: Patrick Coleman on July 01, 2026, 05:56:18 PMI see it on the North Central site.

It wasn't on the NCC site when I posted at 3:39 or when PauldingLightUP posted at 4:14 so NCC must have just coincidentally added it to their schedule in the 42 minutes between 4:14 and when Patrick was able to see it at 4:56. What were the chances? 🤗

Quote from: GusD on April 24, 2026, 08:03:08 PMIt hasn't been posted yet, and probably won't be for sometime, but a little birdie whispered in my ear that NCC (or possibly Naperville University by then  ) will play the following non-conf schedule next season;

11/11 @ Aurora
11/17 vs Hope
11/20 @ Webster
11/21 @ Westminster
11/24 vs Benedictine
12/16 @ Wis. Lutheran
12/20 vs Pacific Lutheran
1/1 - 1/2 UMHB + 1 other @ UMHB

So trips to Missouri and Texas.

Quote from: PauldingLightUP on July 01, 2026, 03:07:02 PMNorth Central schedule is posted. Non cons at Aurora, at Hope, at Webster, n Westminster, at Wisconsin Lutheran, vs Pacific Lutheran, at UMHB, n McMurray. That only 8, still room for one more.

https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2026-2027

As reported back on April 24th the NCC's other non-con game will be 11/24 vs Benedictine.
You can pencil in games versus Aurora and Benedictine every year.
The NCC & BU gyms are only 2.9 miles apart on Chicago (in Naperville)/Maple (in Lisle) Avenue.

Among the brightest of NCC's many stars over the last several years, Shane Dierking '14/M'16, a D3Football.com First Team All-American, and current Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator, and D3Football.com First Team All-American, and Gagliardi Award winner, Broc Rutter'20, will be inducted into the North Central College Athletic Hall of Fame in conjunction with Homecoming activities on October 10th.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 24, 2026, 11:48:25 AM

Quote from: GusD on June 23, 2026, 09:35:45 PMNCC's new 🏀 GA for the next two seasons is Nathan Valentine who began his career at IWU before transferring to Lawrence where he played the last two years.

A former Titan on the North Central coaching staff? Something tells me that the two of you aren't going to have the warmest of relationships, even though he'll be wearing a Cardinals polo and will be two or three seats away from Vince Kmiec on the NCC bench.

Por favor, Señor Sager. Green has long been my favorite color. 

In conjunction with this year's Homecoming activities, former North Central Head Coach Todd Raridon will be inducted into the NCC Athletic Hall of Fame on October 10th.

Coming to North Central after compiling a 269-125 record at Nebraska Wesleyan, Raridon posted a 312-160 record in Naperville. In the process he won CCIW Championships in 2011, 2012, and 2020, CCIW Tournament Championships in 2006, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2019, and took the Cardinals to the D3 National Tournament in 2006, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, including advancing to the Final Four in 2013.