FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

According to the Trib article to which I linked, it appears that Beebe was looking at getting back into coaching, and that college coaching was something that appealed to him. With the youngest of his kids going off to school next year, he and his wife will be empty-nesters -- and he's still pretty young at 53. I wonder if this move by AU wasn't so much a statement of dissatisfaction with Rick Ponx as it was an attempt to get a high-profile head coach for a school that isn't exactly a household name, even in the western suburbs where it's located.

[robertgoulet]

Not much drama in Naperville, as NCC is up 38-0 over Hanover at half.

Bethel is up 35-0 at half, so it's probably safe to say we are looking at a rematch of the 2013 ice bowl semifinal. Hoping for the same outcome for NCC.

[thunderdog]

Not much drama in Naperville, as NCC is up 38-0 over Hanover at half.

Bethel is up 35-0 at half, so it's probably safe to say we are looking at a rematch of the 2013 ice bowl semifinal. Hoping for the same outcome for NCC.

I watched a good chunk of that 2013 game. How cold was it? From what I recall, it was somewhere in the vicinity of -10 to -20... does that sound right? I also remember thinking that BU really looked as if they had no interest in dealing with the elements whereas NCC looked unbothered by it... that sure is cold though

[ncc_fan]

The box score reported a temperature of -4 F and a 10 mph wind.  That yields a -21 F wind chill.  But it was much warmer at the NCC watch party at Bar Louie in Naperville.

[iwu70]

NCC having no trouble today.   It was 52-0 right?  Yes, looks like NCC - Bethel repeat.

at Bethel?

'70

[CardinalAlum]

NCC having no trouble today.   It was 52-0 right?  Yes, looks like NCC - Bethel repeat.

at Bethel?

'70

Correct.  52-0.  NCAA will determine home game and advise tomorrow.   .  Hanover was overmatched. 

[robertgoulet]

NCC having no trouble today.   It was 52-0 right?  Yes, looks like NCC - Bethel repeat.

at Bethel?

'70

Based on the layout of the bracket I'd assumed NCC would host. We shall see!

[bleedpurple]

Not much drama in Naperville, as NCC is up 38-0 over Hanover at half.

Bethel is up 35-0 at half, so it's probably safe to say we are looking at a rematch of the 2013 ice bowl semifinal. Hoping for the same outcome for NCC.

I'm guessing it wasn't a semi-final given the team who showed up to get bludgeoned by UW-W in the Stagg Bowl that year was Mount Union.

[kiko]

Early afternoon: Paced by a 1-2 finish from a pair of seniors, the men's cross country team wins its 19th national championship, and third in a row, by outpacing runner-up Wash U 43-110.

Mid-afternoon: Football team tops Hanover 52-0 to move into the second round.

Early evening: Men's basketball team opens its campaign with a 68-57 victory over the Student Princes of Heidelberg.

Pretty good day for North Central on the athletic front.

[nccfac]

at Bethel?

'70

Based on the layout of the bracket I'd assumed NCC would host. We shall see!
[/quote]

Updated bracket shows it in Naperville. And the 2013 game with Bethel was  a quarter final, NCC lost the semifinal game to Mount Union 41 - 40.

[Patrick Coleman]

Our bracket has the home sites on it. The NCAA won't do that to theirs until tomorrow.

[CardinalAlum]

NCC will officially host Bethel at Noon on Saturday. 

[kiko]

NCC will officially host Bethel at Noon on Saturday.

From my POV, this will be the most important game the Cardinals play all season, irrespective of how far they do/don't advance in the playoffs.  (No disrespect intended to the folks in Wheaton or Bloomington.)

North Central is 10-1 in opening round games in the Thorne era, but only 2-7 in the second round:

2006, Away - Capital 41, North Central 13
2007, Away - Whitewater 59, North Central 28
2008, Home - Franklin 38, North Central 28
2010, Home - North Central 28, Ohio Northern 9
2011, Away - Wabash 29, North Central 28
2012, Away - Linfield 30, North Central 14
2013, Home - North Central 52, Platteville 24
2016, Home - Wheaton 31, North Central 14
2017, Away - Oshkosh 42, North Central 21

The Cardinals have proven they can consistently win in the opening round... the competition clearly gets better in a hurry in round two in this part of the country, but it's not always purple in quality.  The program has come so far in this era from what it once was, and there is more talent up and down the roster than even 5-6 years ago.  Bethel will be a handful, but this is a great opportunity for the program to start taking that next step up the ladder on a consistent basis.

[iwu70]

Good luck to NCC vs. Bethel on Saturday.

I was actually hoping the game was at Bethel as I'm in MSP then for Thanksgiving with family and could have attended.  Too bad.

Make some noise for the CCIW.  Very deserving of another home game. 

IWU'70

[HScoach]

NCC will officially host Bethel at Noon on Saturday.

From my POV, this will be the most important game the Cardinals play all season, irrespective of how far they do/don't advance in the playoffs.  (No disrespect intended to the folks in Wheaton or Bloomington.)

North Central is 10-1 in opening round games in the Thorne era, but only 2-7 in the second round:

2006, Away - Capital 41, North Central 13
2007, Away - Whitewater 59, North Central 28
2008, Home - Franklin 38, North Central 28
2010, Home - North Central 28, Ohio Northern 9
2011, Away - Wabash 29, North Central 28
2012, Away - Linfield 30, North Central 14
2013, Home - North Central 52, Platteville 24
2016, Home - Wheaton 31, North Central 14
2017, Away - Oshkosh 42, North Central 21

The Cardinals have proven they can consistently win in the opening round... the competition clearly gets better in a hurry in round two in this part of the country, but it's not always purple in quality.  The program has come so far in this era from what it once was, and there is more talent up and down the roster than even 5-6 years ago.  Bethel will be a handful, but this is a great opportunity for the program to start taking that next step up the ladder on a consistent basis.

Interesting, and quite educational.   I would have guessed NCC to be more successful than that, though I must admit it's mainly due to my respect for Wheaton and the CCIW as a whole.  Also surprising that most of those L weren't that competitive.