As disappointed as the North Central College players were Saturday afternoon, they have a lot to be optimistic about.

The second-ranked Cardinals (11-1) lost 38-28 to Franklin College in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs Saturday, marking the third time they've failed to reach the national quarterfinals in as many tries.

But as running back Dominic Sulo pointed out postgame, the Cardinals' recent run of success isn't likely to end too soon.

"I think there is lots of optimism for next year," said Sulo, one of three juniors who are co-captains. "We know who we have coming back and we're a confident group. I think we're ready to step it up even more now. There's only room to improve."

NCC had only six seniors -- three on offense, three on defense -- listed as starters on their depth chart for Saturday's game.

We admit the "Anchorman" reference is a bit stale but it's hard to resist with the reports coming out of the Aztecs program. The San Diego Union-Tribune has been all over the Chuck Long story, which goes something like this:

-Last month Long, a Wheaton North graduate, was assured by athletic director Jeff Schemmel that he would remain in control as San Diego State coach through at least the 2009 season.
-Schemmel approaches Long before Saturday's season finale. After a 42-21 victory over UNLV, Long declines to comment on whether he'll return as coach.
-Meanwhile private donors had been gathering funds for weeks to buy out the final two years of Long's five-year contract at an ultimate cost of about $1.4 million.
-The firing of Long - an ex-Oklahoma assistant and a former NFL quarterback who nearly won the Heisman Trophy at Iowa - is announced on Sunday after a 2-10 season and a 9-27 record across three seasons.
-Now comes the awkward part about how Long will get his money. He probably won't find as much as an assistant. And if Long takes another job, he forfeits any remaining salary from the university. This from Union-Tribune staff writer Brent Schrotenboer:

"Long's firing is technically a 'reassignment' for the remainder of his contract. Similarly, former Aztecs football coach Denny Stolz was reassigned to become golf coach after being fired after the 1988 season, with three years left on his contract. It's the school's way of still getting something for its money, at least in principle. Long's predecessor, Tom Craft, also technically was "reassigned" after his firing in 2005, with one season left on his deal. SDSU officials said he worked as a liaison between the school and former players and coaches."

Halfway across the country, it's not our place to say whether Long deserved to be fired. According to the Union-Tribune's coverage, there were off-the-field issues beyond wins and losses. While Long had begun to fix the academic mess he inherited, ticket sales were sagging along with the alumni's perception of the program. Certainly, it seems like there are better things to do with your money in the middle of a global financial crisis than buy out the coach of a low-to-mid-major football program. But what most struck us was that at first glance what seemed like a unique story is actually standard operating procedure in college football's silly season.

Larry McKeon will return for a 27th season at Naperville North, the school's head football coach said Tuesday. The Huskies are in their final days as reigning Class 8A champions - by Saturday night either Maine South or Hinsdale Central will be crowned in their place. Before all those reporters descend upon Champaign, it seemed like a good time to ask McKeon about the future.

"Yeah, I'm back," McKeon said with a laugh over the phone. "I'll be here, how 'bout you?"

Under McKeon's direction, North has made 12 consecutive playoff appearances, and qualified for the postseason in 22 of the past 23 seasons. According to IHSA records, after a 10-1 season his overall record at North is 226-67, which translates into a .771 winning percentage.

In about six months Nick Mlady will graduate as the program's all-time leading rusher. It will have to replace nearly all of its skill-position players and rebuild its offensive line. But that doesn't necessarily mean you should discount the double-wing system or this DuPage Valley Conference power. North's last losing season (4-5) was in 1983, or McKeon's first year with the Huskies.

-Last season several key Naperville North basketball players were still involved with a football state championship run by the time Thanksgiving tournaments rolled around. In their absence, the Huskies started slow on the way to an 11-16 finish.

The Huskies won't be double-booked this November. But basketball coach Mark Lindo - a regular presence at the Harshbarger-Welzel Field press box - didn't seem jealous or conflicted about the football program's success.

"We certainly wish they would've been playing, and I mean that. It was a nice problem to have, last year for example," Lindo said recently. "To be able to have your whole team there (will) certainly - I hope - benefit us. I don't think we really got started last year until the middle of December. We had a hole to dig (out of) already.

"I think right now we're right on schedule."

-The Glenbard North basketball program is expected to welcome back 6-foot-6-inch forward Evan Watkins, a Northwestern quarterback recruit.

Naperville North senior running back Nick Mlady, who is scheduled to visit Harvard this weekend, has been selected to the Chicago Sun-Times all-area team. In helping Mlady break Chris Brown's career rushing record, North offensive linemen Jake Baratz and Alex Helms earned special mention.

North defensive lineman Tim Weidenbacher, Neuqua Valley wide receiver Josh Schaffer and Waubonsie Valley kicker Mitch Ewald were also recognized on the special mention list.

LISLE - Check back soon for real-time updates from Benedictine University.

Following in line with the DVC and ESCC, the UEC all-conference team was also released this week. Neuqua Valley placed six on the squad, while Waubonsie Valley landed four players.

MVP honors went to running back Wes Allen of St. Charles East, and linebacker Kyle Zelinsky of Bartlett. You can read more about them here.

Neuqua's and Waubonsie's representatives are as follows:

The East Suburban Catholic Conference has released its honor roll, which can be found here.

Benet seniors Mike Vanchieri (defensive back), Victor Sadauskas (defensive lineman) and Dan Schroeder (offensive lineman) earned all-ESCC recognition.

Marist - which will travel to Benedictine University for a second-round playoff game against Naperville North Friday night - placed eight players on the team. Here are the individual awards:

Most Valuable Player: Tyler Hudetz, Joliet Catholic
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Mike Taylor, Carmel Catholic
Most Valuable Offensive Lineman: Patrick Lyons, Carmel Catholic
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Joshua Mander, Joliet Catholic
Most Valuable Defensive Lineman: Nabal Jefferson, Marist
Coach of the Year: Pat Dunne, Marist; Mark Zavagnin, St. Joseph

Naperville North swept through the DuPage Valley Conference undefeated, so it was no surprise when three Huskies received individual honors in the afterglow of a 9-0 regular season.

Senior running back Nick Mlady was named the DVC's offensive team captain, while senior Alex Helms was voted outstanding offensive lineman for opening so many of those holes.

On the other side of the ball, North senior Tim Weidenbacher was recognized as the conference's outstanding defensive lineman. Wheaton Warrenville South senior linebacker Pat Dansdill was selected as the defensive team captain.

The entire team is listed below:

Let's pay homage to Waubonsie Valley and Naperville Central while looking forward to Naperville North.