FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[cciwfootballfan]

WFMP - The Wheaton Football Ministry Partnership travelled again over last week's spring break for the 17th consecutive year partnering alongside former Wheaton Football players who work and serve as missionaries.  83 members of the current team with 8 former players as leaders served in 5 different locations. Several coaches participated in this trip, as well. Havana, Cuba; Capetown, South Africa; Palo Alto, Dominican Republic; Hate de Yaque, Dominican Rep.; and Selma, Alabama. These football players prepare for this opportunity to serve all year. Coach Jeff Peltz, defensive line coach and spiritual coordinator, spearheads this effort.

[matblake]

Here's the WFMP homepage from the Wheaton website if you're looking for more info:
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/2015/1/15/WFMP_home.aspx?id=387

[robertgoulet]

Can't give out any names as of yet, but I am hearing from people close to NCC program that they are VERY excited about the recruiting class they've got lined up.

[ncc_fan]

NCC fills out its non-conference schedule  with another NAIA school  , Webber International University. 

[USee]

Hmmmm. That's going from one extreme (Wesley) to the other (a game that "won't" count). Keeps them in the regular discussion for Pool C examples though.

[matblake]

Even though the game "doesn't count" I always wonder if a 9-1 all D3 schedule beats out a 8-1 D3 1-0 NAIA team schedule if all the other criteria are equal.

[wally_wabash]

Even though the game "doesn't count" I always wonder if a 9-1 all D3 schedule beats out a 8-1 D3 1-0 NAIA team schedule if all the other criteria are equal.

After years of looking at things like this, I really don't think it's possible to answer this question in the "in general" kind of way you're asking it.  I've come to learn that every year is unique and the at-large wind blows a slightly different direction every year. 

[AndOne]

NCC fills out its non-conference schedule  with another NAIA school  , Webber International University.

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but why can't NCC find 2 NCAA D3 schools to play? 
Between WI, IA, IL, IN, & MI, there are a multitude of D3s.

[sigma one]

Scheduling can be a tough sell, and particularly for a high-quality team.  If a school gets behind the curve (and this can happen for any number of reasons), the difficulty increases substantially.  Other teams' schedules begin to fill up, and many teams just will not want to take a beating in an early game.  Then again, other very good teams may not want to take a chance of losing a game when the margin for making the playoffs is so razor thin.  Taking all the variables--open dates, quality of opponent, perhaps home and home requirements, etc.--into account, it's entirely possible that a team can get stuck. 
     As one example, one I am aware of close up, several years ago Wabash was struggling to find an opening-week opponent.  So much so, that they were searching for a game no matter where they would have to travel.  Fortunately, some team dropped Hanover, and Wabash was able to make the connection for a home/home series.  Otherwise, and this is no kidding, the LGs faced the dismal possibility of having a nine-game schedule for at least a year.  More than one team was up front, saying we are just not ready to face you. 
     Summary:  it takes two to tango.

[bleedpurple]

NCC fills out its non-conference schedule  with another NAIA school  , Webber International University.

OK, there has to be a way to work this out. Webber is located in Babson Park, FL. They are scheduled to make the 18.5 hour drive (or likely fly) to Naperville for a game September 10th.

On the same day, Bellhaven, from Jackson, MS, is scheduled to play at UW-W (an 11.5 hour drive).

INSTEAD, HOW ABOUT:

NCC agrees to host UW-W (and agrees to visit UW-W in 2017). The two southern teams work out a September 10th game. NCC keeps their 5 home games. Lots of travel expenses are saved between the southern schools. UW-W gives up a home game, but still has 5 this year. Both UW-W and NCC have a competitive game locked in for 2017.

Why not?

[sigma one]

bleedpurple, great research on this.  Solves all the travel problems.  Let's see if they bite.  NCC and Whitewater:  Do the teams want to face one another?  Just as importantly:  Is there the interest/courage/creativity to make such an arrangement?     +k

[wally_wabash]

NCC fills out its non-conference schedule  with another NAIA school  , Webber International University.

OK, there has to be a way to work this out. Webber is located in Babson Park, FL. They are scheduled to make the 18.5 hour drive (or likely fly) to Naperville for a game September 10th.

On the same day, Bellhaven, from Jackson, MS, is scheduled to play at UW-W (an 11.5 hour drive).

INSTEAD, HOW ABOUT:

NCC agrees to host UW-W (and agrees to visit UW-W in 2017). The two southern teams work out a September 10th game. NCC keeps their 5 home games. Lots of travel expenses are saved between the southern schools. UW-W gives up a home game, but still has 5 this year. Both UW-W and NCC have a competitive game locked in for 2017.

Why not?

It's not a bad idea, but you're also talking about the team that just last season got bit harder by aggressive scheduling than anybody has probably ever in the AQ era.  I'd have to think that North Central would be a bit tentative about playing this kind of all-risk-little-reward kind of game.  I'm not saying that North Central as a program is afraid of such a game, just that the game doesn't make a lot of sense to play and the reasons why are (or at least should be) more apparent to North Central than anybody else. 

[Patrick Coleman]

North Central isn't the only team having trouble in the CCIW. Sometimes when conference alignments change it causes a little disruption in terms of non-conference scheduling. Illinois Wesleyan had only nine games on the schedule at last check and Wheaton just this week added Kalamazoo as a 10th game. (Coincidentally, Kzoo thought it was playing Augustana, but Augustana was full.)

[sigma one]

The potential negative consequences for NCC (and for UWW as well) are what I had in mind when I talked about the teams' desire to alter what exists.  And also what I was getting at when I mentioned the courage to try such a switch.

[bleedpurple]

The potential negative consequences for NCC (and for UWW as well) are what I had in mind when I talked about the teams' desire to alter what exists.  And also what I was getting at when I mentioned the courage to try such a switch.

It's true. There is risk for both sides. But sometimes risk pays off. Last year notwithstanding, are the Whitewater and NCC programs more focused on getting a #1 seed (Or even "Top 2" in UW-W's case) or making the playoffs?  Without a doubt, the loser of the game has to take care of business and win their conference. But the winner could be positioning themselves for a prime seed in the playoffs.

And if I could go so low as to mention the actual mission of an athletic program, would not the experience of the student-athletes on both NCC and UW-W be significantly greater on September 10th if the switch occurred? The players on the southern teams may benefit from a more competitive game as well.

I'm not suggesting any of this provides a strong enough argument to offset the risk Wally outlines.  It's just frustrating because of all the great games that never were because of that risk.