FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mr_b]

On the plus side, this marks the first season ever that North Park has finished ahead of Illinois Wesleyan in the CCIW football standings (they were tied for second at 5-2 apiece in 1968). May it become the first iteration of an equally long tradition in NPU's favor!

Would that make it the new norm?

[Ccrfer]

I don't know, man.  Luke had a good day in Rock Island.  There's still hope.

DLo also had a day, 4 TDS - 1 passing - 1 rushing- 2 receiving

Decisions decisions

[CardinalAlum]

Happy the conference gets two teams in! Wheaton got a nice draw in the first round. Gotta beat them at some point if you want to win it all. Mount Union will breeze to the finals.

[Cardinal773]

Re: Player of the week.  Forgot about D-Lo.  For sure he should be OPOW!

Re:
Bracket.  Is it just me or does the right-hand side look like a cakewalk compared to the left?  Also I've got a bad feeling they're going to make NCC travel some before the Stagg Bowl.

[robertgoulet]

Certainly looks like NCC will be traveling should they make it past round 2. What a rough draw. #2 to a 1 loss team in what looks like the toughest quadrant on the toughest side.

I understand the NCAA seemingly has an impossible job due to the cost of financing the travel but my goodness.

[New Tradition]

Certainly looks like NCC will be traveling should they make it past round 2. What a rough draw. #2 to a 1 loss team in what looks like the toughest quadrant on the toughest side.

I understand the NCAA seemingly has an impossible job due to the cost of financing the travel but my goodness.

Eh. I don't entirely trust the structure of the bracket re: seeds. Wouldn't be surprised to see them change that come week 3. In the past, most recent championship has been THE most important criteria. I'd be shocked if they ignored it completely.

[USee]

Certainly looks like NCC will be traveling should they make it past round 2. What a rough draw. #2 to a 1 loss team in what looks like the toughest quadrant on the toughest side.

I understand the NCAA seemingly has an impossible job due to the cost of financing the travel but my goodness.

Eh. I don't entirely trust the structure of the bracket re: seeds. Wouldn't be surprised to see them change that come week 3. In the past, most recent championship has been THE most important criteria. I'd be shocked if they ignored it completely.

It doesn't matter. There isn't a team in NCC's quadrant (or their side of the bracket save Wartburg maybe) that can slow down this NCC offense. They are gonna average 50+ against this bracket. The big question is if they can play enough defense when they finally do face a good defensive front.

[robertgoulet]

Certainly looks like NCC will be traveling should they make it past round 2. What a rough draw. #2 to a 1 loss team in what looks like the toughest quadrant on the toughest side.

I understand the NCAA seemingly has an impossible job due to the cost of financing the travel but my goodness.

Eh. I don't entirely trust the structure of the bracket re: seeds. Wouldn't be surprised to see them change that come week 3. In the past, most recent championship has been THE most important criteria. I'd be shocked if they ignored it completely.

It doesn't matter. There isn't a team in NCC's quadrant (or their side of the bracket save Wartburg maybe) that can slow down this NCC offense. They are gonna average 50+ against this bracket. The big question is if they can play enough defense when they finally do face a good defensive front.

Curious as to where you'd rate this NCC offense vs their offenses of the past.

[Gregory Sager]

On the plus side, this marks the first season ever that North Park has finished ahead of Illinois Wesleyan in the CCIW football standings (they were tied for second at 5-2 apiece in 1968). May it become the first iteration of an equally long tradition in NPU's favor!

Would that make it the new norm?

[lmitzel]

Certainly looks like NCC will be traveling should they make it past round 2. What a rough draw. #2 to a 1 loss team in what looks like the toughest quadrant on the toughest side.

I understand the NCAA seemingly has an impossible job due to the cost of financing the travel but my goodness.

Eh. I don't entirely trust the structure of the bracket re: seeds. Wouldn't be surprised to see them change that come week 3. In the past, most recent championship has been THE most important criteria. I'd be shocked if they ignored it completely.

It doesn't matter. There isn't a team in NCC's quadrant (or their side of the bracket save Wartburg maybe) that can slow down this NCC offense. They are gonna average 50+ against this bracket. The big question is if they can play enough defense when they finally do face a good defensive front.

Curious as to where you'd rate this NCC offense vs their offenses of the past.

I know this wasn't directed at me, but there's a stat I've seen floating around the past couple days (that others have been watching for about a month).

Luke Lehnen incompletions in 2023: 35
Luke Lehnen touchdown passes in 2023: 34

Through the regular season, Lehnen would have the most efficient passing season in NCAA history... by a lot.

[USee]

Certainly looks like NCC will be traveling should they make it past round 2. What a rough draw. #2 to a 1 loss team in what looks like the toughest quadrant on the toughest side.

I understand the NCAA seemingly has an impossible job due to the cost of financing the travel but my goodness.

Eh. I don't entirely trust the structure of the bracket re: seeds. Wouldn't be surprised to see them change that come week 3. In the past, most recent championship has been THE most important criteria. I'd be shocked if they ignored it completely.

It doesn't matter. There isn't a team in NCC's quadrant (or their side of the bracket save Wartburg maybe) that can slow down this NCC offense. They are gonna average 50+ against this bracket. The big question is if they can play enough defense when they finally do face a good defensive front.

Curious as to where you'd rate this NCC offense vs their offenses of the past.

Might be the best ever. They don't have Greenfield and we won't know how good these RB'S really are until they see a DL that can compete with this OL. That might be Wartburg or not until Mt Union.

[Mugsy]

Another QB quietly having an outstanding season is Ben Thorson. 70% completions, 30 passing TDs, 0 INTs.

[CardinalAlum]

Another QB quietly having an outstanding season is Ben Thorson. 70% completions, 30 passing TDs, 0 INTs.

I used to know a Mugsy...

[Cardinal773]

And now for some fun with rankings...

Imagine a world where the D3Football.com rankings meant everything to everyone.  Let's also say that, according to the most recent rankings, "others receiving votes" were ranked.   #26 DePauw; #27 Coe; #28 Carnegie Mellon, etc.  Let's also say that everyone not receiving a vote is tied at #40.  IF that's the case, here's are your average rankings in the eight corners of the bracket:

TOP LEFT UP                                                 TOP RIGHT UP
Average rank: 20.75                                      Average rank: 20.25
Top team (#4 LAX) vs. avg. rank of 26.3         Top team (#2 UMU) vs. avg. rank of 26.3

TOP LEFT DOWN                                            TOP RIGHT DOWN
Average rank: 15.5                                        Average rank: 13
Top team (#1 NCC) vs. avg. rank of 20.3         Top team (#9 SUSQ) vs. avg. rank of 14.3



LOWER LEFT UP                                             LOWER RIGHT UP
Average rank: 25.75                                      Average rank: 23.5
Top team (#3 WART) vs. avg. rank of 33.3      Top team (#7 JHU) vs. avg. rank of 29

LOWER LEFT DOWN                                       LOWER RIGHT DOWN
Average rank: 20.75                                      Average rank: 26.75
Top team (#5 UWW) vs. avg. rank of 25.3       Top team (#8 RM) vs. avg. rank of 33

[NCC2010]

Just had to give my 2 cents on the bracket as someone who was directly affected by the last time the committee made an undefeated defending champ travel in the playoffs...i played in that game against UWW in 2010 and it still bothers me to this day that we had to play them that early in the tournament, when we easily could've been in another quad and been the first NCC to make the semis or even the championship (we finished 3rd overall in the D3football poll).  We also could've just been the 2 seed and played at the Perk, which i would've preferred as i got to play there in 2007 and think its one of the best D3 stadiums there is.  i regularly read these boards when i was playing and still remember how mad the UWW posters were (rightfully so) and how there would be a "triple monkey stomping" in Naperville when UWW came to town.  I thought the secondary criteria they came up with after that season would prevent this from happening again, but here we are.

mostly just feel for the other teams/kids who will have their careers end a game or two earlier than they should due to the committee applying the criteria with blinders on (both Texas schools, UWL, possibly NCC as well). 

to look at it from a positive standpoint, if NCC is able to do what the 2010 UWW team did and run the gauntlet it will be a legacy defining performance.  UWW made that run in the heart of their 3 peat (Levell Coppage, what a stud) and i regard that team/run of seasons as some of the best ever in D3. Hoping NCC can do exactly what that UWW 2010 team did and prove they are the best team in the division on the field. 

sorry i know this post just comes off as me whining about an imperfect process, (because i am lol) but truly thought it would not happen again nor that NCC would be involved/affected by it again.