IN THE BOOKS

Senior guard Melissa Gorski (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) permanently etched her name into the Fighting Scots record books the first week of December, becoming only the seventh woman in the history of the basketball program to score 1,000 points.

“She’s worked very hard over her four years to become more of an offensive threat,” said Melissa Bittner of her star player, who averaged over 12 ppg as a freshman. “She came from a great program at Buffalo Grove. You could see as a freshman she had that scoring potential and came in with solid fundamentals.”

Gorski’s historic basket at Ripon came as most of the 5-foot-9 wing player’s points have over her four years – slashing and scoring in the paint. Needing just 11 points going into the game, Gorski put in the magic shot midway through the second half.

“She’s a great penetrator,” said Bittner. “‘Mitt’ is probably one of the best penetrators in the Midwest Conference.”

That style of play has resulted in Gorski making a team-leading 47 trips to the foul line this season where she has knocked down 77 percent of her free throws. She also leads the team with a 15.1 scoring average and has averaged just over 13 ppg for her career.

“She is probably one of the best all-around players our program has ever seen,” said Bittner.

The coach should know. Bittner is the third-leading scorer in Fighting Scots history, pouring in 1,318 points. At her current pace, Gorski could wind up just behind her coach in total points. Bittner also has the career free throw mark, something Gorski is also chasing.

“‘Mitt’ can score, she’s a top defender and a great rebounder for a guard,” praised Bittner. “She’s led the team in assists and she’s ranked in the top ten of the conference in nearly every category. She’s just a solid all-around player.”

Gorski’s total value to the Scots is evidenced not by her scoring, rebounding or free throw stats, but by the amount of time she spends on the court. The senior averages nearly 36 minutes per game this season and more than 31 minutes for her career.

“She rarely leaves the court,” reported Bittner. “That says something about her ability.”

OPEN FOR DEBATE

When the 2005 football team ran to a 10-0 regular season, it opened the debate of which team was the best in the history of Monmouth College football. Was it the undefeated 1906 team, the 9-0 conference champion 1972 squad, or the 2005 playoff team?

The 2008 team threw their hat into the ring with a 10-0 regular season, a conference title and a two-game stay in the NCAA Playoffs. While the Scoop doesn’t believe in comparative scores, we thought it would be interesting to throw a few facts and stats your way.

Did you know: Bill Reichow was the coach of the 1972 team and a Coach Bell can lay claim to the other three regular season undefeated teams?

Hey, wait a minute, sure Steve Bell coached the last TWO unbeaten teams, but he wasn’t even BORN in 1906, so how could he have coached the 1906 team?

You might want to re-read that line. We said “A” Coach Bell – as in 1906’s Clifford Bell. This Coach Bell compiled a two-year mark of 18-1.

In order to simplify the comparison process, we can eliminate the 1906 team from any statistical debate due to the lack of stats available from the early days of MC football.

For the sake of argument, let’s begin with the two NCAA Playoff teams. Both teams received the conference’s automatic berth as the league champion, so they’re even in that category. We’ll assume 2008 has a leg up on the 2005 team by virtue of recording Monmouth’s first playoff win. That’s not to say ’08 was better than the ’05 team. They were just more successful in terms of advancing in the postseason. Some members of the ’05 team are also members of the ’08 team, so we’ll avoid drawing a direct comparison on this one.

Even Coach Bell refused to answer the question: “Which team is better, ’08 or ’05?”

“They’re two different teams,” said Bell in an interview earlier this season, avoiding any comparison.

The ’08 squad did build on the foundation laid by the teams that came before them, including the 2005 squad. The 2008 team also had the advantage of playing at home, along with the coaching staff’s experience of having been in the playoffs before. Both those factors made it a bit easier to prepare for the postseason.

Perhaps the most interesting comparison for alums is the ’72 team and the ’08 team. Scots Scoop did the research and it’s pretty close.

Here’s your side-by-side comparison:

                                                         1972                                       2008

All-Conference
1^st team                                                7                                   8
2^nd team                                               4                                   6
Total All-Conference                              11                                 14          
*Note – there was no Honorable Mention All-Conference team in 1972 so the Scoop did not count the five players named HM in 2008.

Common Opponents/Results:
Grinnell                                           W 63-7                              W 69-0
Lawrence                                         W 48-7                              W 47-2
Knox                                               W 21-12                            W 56-10
Ripon                                              W 40-30                            W 38-35

Total Points Scored/Average               172/43.0                           210/52.5
Total Points Allowed/Average               56/14.0                           52.5/11.75
Difference                                         + 29.0                               + 40.75

All Games (9 in 1972, 12 in 2008):
Total Points Scored/Average                281/31.2                          561/46.8
Total Points Allowed/Average                 88/9.7                            171/14.2
Difference                                          + 21.5                              + 32.6

Yardage Per Game/National Rankings: *we’re using each team’s best defensive stats only (rush vs. pass)
Total Offense                                   431.7/5^th                             460.58/7^th
Scoring                                             36.4/5^th                              46.75/1^st
*Rushing Defense                              80.4/9th                                - -
*Passing Defense                                    - -                                84.17/2^nd

We told you it was pretty close. Keep in mind the game has changed over the last 30 years. Offenses have changed and teams are throwing more. Rules have changed. There’s more emphasis on diet, strength and conditioning. Pads are lighter and stronger. The list goes on.

Scots Scoop knows you want a decision on which team was better – 2008 or 1972?

Of course, the ’72 guys with All-Conference first-teamers Tom Kratochvil, Grant Minor, Dave Brinker, Dennis Plummer, Steve Pinkus, Jim Smith and Steve Rueckert along with Hall of Famer Chuck Goehl could really get after it, but then again, so could the 2008 edition.

Well, we fed the statistics, style of play for the era, average size of players, strength of schedule, rules and intangibles into our “official” Scots Scoop computer and came up with a couple of answers.

1)   1) It’s impossible to truly compare these teams to determine which was actually better in their prime. The 2008 team earned an NCAA Playoff berth. The 1972 team did not. Many believe the ’72 squad was deserving of a berth, although at that time the NCAA didn’t take 32 teams to the postseason as they do today and the conference did not earn an automatic playoff berth as is the case today. The team’s absence in the playoffs that year is still a hot topic of debate. Had the ’72 team received a berth, they may have very well laid this debate to rest.

2)   2)  If the two teams WERE TO PLAY TODAY – Scots Scoop thinks the 2008 team would win.

WHAT?!

How can the Scoop declare a winner?

Before the ’72 team thinks we’re slighting them, remember the ’72 team is now in their 50s and the ’08 team is still in their teens and early 20s – we DID say “Play today.”

But seriously, folks…

Comparisons are always open for debate, so let’s just say all four unbeaten teams were great in their own right – and deservedly so.

A NEW TREND

During the football team’s playoff games, Scots Scoop noticed something, well…unusual.

The Scots, who implemented a no-huddle offense a year ago, faced back-to-back playoff teams also using the no-huddle. For Aurora University to use the no-huddle offense wasn’t exactly a surprise, but Wartburg? An Iowa Conference school? When we think of Wartburg, the image of the traditional huddle offense comes to mind. What gives?

“A lot of teams today are using some form of the no-huddle,” said Steve Bell. “There are a variety of reasons to use that system. Basically, it comes down to what your philosophy is in terms of why you’re no-huddling. Are you trying to speed up the game, or are you playing a chess match trying to counter what the defense is showing.”

So, why do the Scots no-huddle? Is Bell a chess prodigy? Or is it because the Scots have a gun-slinging quarterback? Or maybe they’re just trying to make it difficult for the stats crew to keep up?

“There were two reasons,” said Bell – and they were none of the above. “It was different and the huddle is a waste of time.”

What? The huddle is a waste of time? Wonder what Vince Lombardi would think of that?

“Teams waste 20 seconds in the huddle waiting for a play to come in,” claims Bell. “We want to control the tempo of the game. Many times we’ll snap the ball with 30 seconds left on the play clock. We’re doing the same things we’ve done in the past. We’re just doing them quicker.”

Offensive line coach Dave Ragone couldn’t agree more.

“It gives us 20 more snaps a game,” said Ragone. “In the traditional huddle offense you get about 70 snaps. We want to be up around 90 snaps per game.”

The numbers lead some credence to the coaches’ theory. During Bell’s first two seasons, the Scots ran an average of 69 offensive plays using the traditional huddle offense. Over the last two years of the no-huddle, the Scots have increased that to 76 offensive plays per game. In the first year of the new system the Scots ran an average of 73 plays, upping that number to 79 this season. It would appear the Scots are well on their way to approaching the 90 snaps per game goal.

The no-huddle can impact teams in a couple of ways – the speed of the game and the strategy of offensive and defensive play calling.

The Scots employ the tempo based system trying to speed up the game, putting more pressure on the defense with more snaps and less time to make defensive alignment and personnel changes. It doesn’t look as frantic as a true hurry up offense, but it does keep you on your toes.

The other option is the pre-snap/peek no-huddle. Teams – such as Wartburg – line up to get a look at the defensive alignment, then get a call from the sidelines and THEN run the play. Basically, those teams audible on every play and the tempo of the game is similar to that of the traditional huddle offense.

“That type wants to call plays based off what the defense shows,” said Bell. “It makes the defensive coordinator’s job more difficult in not showing his hand too early. The defense has to disguise their look. It’s really a chess match.”

Going against the Scots no-huddle every day in practice has its advantages for chess master – uh, we mean – defensive coordinator Chad Braun.

“The up tempo style is the most difficult one,” claimed Braun of facing the Scots’ own up tempo system. “We’ve got to get our call in very quickly and the players have to line up. Plus, you have to see what personnel the offense is bringing in. Going against Coach Bell’s offense is difficult because you have to show your hand right away and stick with it. We didn’t face any no-huddles this year as quick as ours.”

Braun gets a bit of a break facing the pre-snap no-huddles.

“The slower no-huddles want to figure out what coverage you’re in,” explained Braun. “It’s kind of a chess match. When their offense checks, we check too. I tell our guys it’s sort of like poker – we’ll show our hand, but maybe play a different hand after they make their play call. Going against our offense all week gives us a chance to identify some problem areas and fix them.”

Geez, this sounds like too much brainwork for the Scots Scoop. Has anyone ever considered just going back to the old days of “Three yards and a cloud of dust?”

It seems as though this no-huddle might force defenses into changing the type of athlete they’re putting on the field, right?  

“The no-huddle hasn’t changed the defensive personnel, really” said Braun. “The defense has changed, but not because of the no-huddle. It’s changed because more teams are spreading defenses out more. They’re trying to create mismatches, so defensively, you try to put similar athletes on the field to match the offense.”

As more teams continue to switch to the no-huddle, fans coming to next year’s Scots’ games may want begin some off season training. The Scoop suggests some eye and neck exercises.

TIDBITS

As the Division III National football champion is crowned at the Stagg Bowl this weekend, Scots Scoop puts a wrap on the 2008 season with the Fighting Scots.

This year’s team will go down in history as one of the most prolific offensive units to ever take the field at Monmouth. The Scots set or tied 71 – count ‘em, 71 – team and individual records this season.

Monmouth’s 46.75 points per game average is the top mark in the nation, leading Mt. Union by a mere .18 of a point. The Purple Raiders would have to score at least 50 points against defending champion UW-Whitewater Saturday in order to take the season scoring throne from the Scots.

Care to guess who the Scoop is cheering for this weekend?

The Scots offensive unit also set the high water marks for wins (11), yards per game (460.8) and touchdowns (78).

While the offense gets plenty of ink, it should be noted the defense set their share of new records, led by Marc Artozqui’s single season tackle record (121). Monmouth can also boast the nation’s No. 2 pass efficiency defense. Defensive coordinator Chad Braun is quick to credit the offense with the defensive success.

“We see one of the best passing offenses in the nation every day,” said Braun of practicing against the potent offense. “Going against that every day allows us to spot our mistakes and get them fixed for game day. It definitely makes us better as a defense.”

The Scots took advantage of opponent’s mistakes to rank second in the nation in turnover margin, averaging 1.75 takeaways a game – slightly behind first round playoff opponent Aurora at 1.82.

Monmouth enters the 2009 season with at least one milestone within immediate reach. They’re just one win away from No. 500 in the 117-year history of the program and they could reach that mark on a brand new synthetic turf field.

Scots Scoop thinks neither item was on the minds of the founders of the football program when they took the field against Knox in that inaugural game back in 1888.

TOP TEN

As 2008 winds down, Scots Scoop presents its version of the Top Ten athletic events at Monmouth College in 2008.

10)   Men’s basketball coach Mark Vershaw picks up his first career coaching victory, a 68-67 win over Lake Forest on Jan. 8 at Glennie Gym

9)      Ashley Yeast becomes school’s first 3-time ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V second teamer

8)      Softball – The Scots qualified for the Midwest Conference Tournament for first time since 2004…Sarah Christensen became the first Monmouth pitcher to earn the Pitcher of the Year award and John Goddard is named MWC Coach of the Year in his inaugural season

7)      Basketball’s Melissa Gorski’s 15 points at Ripon makes her only seventh woman in MC history to score 1,000 points

6)      Ashley Yeast sets the school rebounding record with 1,008 boards, surpassing Roger Sander’s 939

 5)     Roger Haynes becomes the 21st Athletic Director in MC history, replacing Terry Glasgow who retired after 30 years on the job

4)      The women’s cross country team wins their first conference team title in school history, 5 are named all-conference

3)      Pole Vaulter Jonny Henkins wins both the indoor and outdoor national pole vault titles, making him the first 2-time national champion at Monmouth

2)      Football – How can you separate all the milestones this season produced? We couldn’t. Football gets a new stadium and press box…records second 10-0 regular season and wins MWC title, making the NCAA playoffs for the second time since 2005... awarded a home playoff game in 1st Round and defeats Aurora 42-13 for Scots’ first football playoff win…team ranked No. 14 by AFCA in the final poll…Alex Tanney named MWC Offensive Player of the Year, Steve Bell is Coach of the Year

1)      Men’s track team takes 2nd in nation at NCAA National Indoor Track Championships

WEBCASTS RETURN     

A reminder for fans not able to attend Fighting Scots basketball games in person may watch the action on their computer by logging on to www.midwestconference.tv for live action with video and audio. The free feeds begin with the women hosting Illinois College on Monday, Jan. 5. Pregame is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Scots Scoop will be taking the next two weeks off to enjoy the holidays, unwrap gifts and eat WAY too much holiday food.

Here’s hoping you enjoy a happy and safe holiday season. Scots Scoop will return on Jan. 8.

THE WEEK AHEAD

All teams are off until Dec. 30.

Tues., Dec. 30
Women’s Basketball – hosts Cornell, 2:00 pm

Mon., Jan. 5
Women’s Basketball – hosts Illinois College, 7:00 pm 

Wed., Jan. 7
Men’s Basketball – hosts Illinois College, 7:30 pm

 SCOTSIVATIONAL

“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much”. - Mother Teresa