NCAA Football,

CUW has a very effective scheme even though they do not throw the ball that often.  But if they want to be a factor when the playoffs roll around, they will have to do both.  If they run into a team that can shut down the run game, they have to be able to put the ball in the air.  Still a greta scheme for their talent.
Lakeland has a lot of holes to fill but they have a great head coach who knows how to win. They play good defense and are always physically tough.  Lakeland will be tough to beat home and away.
Greenville had a great year but I am not sold on them yet. If they could string two good years in a row together, they may be on to something. They have a great LB who orchestrates their defense.
Aurora I thought underachieved last year.  I think they will be a much improved ball club this year.  They always are tough to beat. Still a team adapting to new coaching styles.

This year several teams have the chance to win it.  In my mind their is no clear cut favorite.

Genius,

If vision and breaking tackles are your criteria, then that sounds a lot like Ereg to me.

I also think that you will be very impressed with what Mac does defensively this year.  They have a couple of very impressive defensive players coming in this year that should really help them out.  On the offensive side of the ball,I think Mac will throw the ball a lot more this year as well as grind it out with Ereg. Mac has a great weapon in Martin and another reciever new to the mix this year that really open the field up for Martin.  The O-Line will be much improved.

My picks
Offensive scheme - CUW

Defensive - Mac

Genius,

If majority numbers does not make me correct (like you siad) and Ereg being the leading returning rusher does not make me correct  what makes you correct on picking Gillespie? You have to understand Ereg is not a homerun type of back (you already said that) so of course he is not leading in YPG.

So you pick Gillespie based on the facts that  he is "shifty", was second string and has "enough speed to finnish the run".  Nice credentials!!! I think Ereg's credentials are better. But we are just beating a dead horse here. I have no problem with someone disagreeing with me,  I just don't see what you are basing your decision off of. All I want to know is WHAT IS YOUR CRITERIA? 

I agree with you on the statement that you never disrespected Ereg, its just constructive crticism from your point of view. Erdman I refuse to even comment on.  The back-up RB from Mac is a good one but his time will come.

Quote from: sotha sil on May 15, 2006, 02:38:19 PM
All this mac talk reminds me of the past few years of mac talk. A lot of hype and then a fall out during the season. But, maybe this year will be different.

But, when Aaron Gillespie leads the conference in rushing and makes a push at player of the year, I am pretty sure it will be the o-line did it for him. Ereg's good but I never hear our D complain about playing him. I love hearing the whole put Ereg on CUW and let him play with that o-line. We would love another solid back up for A.G so come on over.

I am glad you have faith in A.G. but if Ereg played for CUW, A.G. would be looking to transfer to CURF so he could get some carries!!  Besides A.G. is used to backing up a  great running back (Mills) so the transition of Ereg to CUW would go smooth.  A.G. would know his role!!  Don'y worry about the Highlanders they will be fine.  I hope everyone doubts them this year.  Go MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Quote from: NCAA Football on May 11, 2006, 08:56:39 PM
I have to agree with you Reeno 10. Ereg has done it each year with a mediocre oline. He has been in the top of the conference, so I would take Ereg over the two CUW backs anyday. He can wear defenses down with his hard nose running style, which can also control the pace of the game. It will be interesting to see what happens next year.

What will happen next year is simple.  Mac will return to the top of the conference (where they belong) and Ereg will have another great year.  Schmidtke will return to his old form and Martin will catch over 60 balls.  Year two of the 3-4 defense will show tremendous improvement and Pirolo will dominate and have a good chance of becoming an All-American.  Mac has a great coaching staff and they laid the foundation for the future last year.  You will see a much improved Highlander team in 2006!!!!!!!!!

Quote from: falcsfb on May 12, 2006, 11:47:35 AM
I agree that Ereg is good but I beleive it was the CUW defense that wore him down the last couple years. As for picking one I'll take all three Thunder and Lightning and Lightning.

well he can't block and run for himself at the same time.  When he does make contact with defenders they usually feel it more than he does.

Genius,

I guess i am not the only one who feels that way.  Ereg is the best RB,  Mac will be much inproved and the conference will return to a 4-way battle for the top spot (Mac,CUW,Lakeland and AU). Can't wait for the season to begin.  Highlanders keep working hard.  Get back to the top of the conference!!!!!

Genius,

I guess if you like the misdirection style of football then the CUW guys would be great choice. I personally like the running backs that grind it out. To me they wear down a team more and that is more important than the occaisonal long run you might get from a elusive RB. Its all about the style of the game that you like. Besides Ereg has enough speed to get the job done.  He is not the fastest RB in the conference but like you said "fast enough" to get the job done. So I will say "I would rather face the scat backs from CUW than Ereg."

As for your comments on retention, All schools in this conference deal with retention issues.  Kids transfer in and out.  As well as flunk out in "ALL" schools.
Like I said in an earlier post, Mac has continually raised their acdemic bar for the past 3 to 4 years. If kids do not make the grades they have to go somewhere else. That is a good thing for Mac.  So if it means they loose some players then they loose some players. 
You make it sound as if Mac is the only school having these problems.  You remember 2-time Conference Player of The Year Cedric Simmons from CUW,  why didn't he finnish his senior year?  The list can go on and on. (especially at CUW)  That is just an example.  This happens to every team, every year.
By the way, the recruits are skill positions and Linemen.  And its not sources telling me this info, its myself and the group of coaches we worked with to get these kids to Mac. So it is not hear-say.   

So you don't deny the fact that you never made your teams travel list.!!!!! J/K

If you say that I am bias then you definetly are too. Especially if you think that both backs from CUW are better than Ereg. 

To say my predictions about Mac are bias is incorrect because I did not even pick them to win the conference.  I picked them to finnish at the top.  I have information about some recruits that are heading up to Mac. I know from that information that they will make Mac a much better team. Trust me!!!  So that is what I base my facts on. 

Here's a hint:  These recruits were all-state in a state that produces nothing but Division I prospects. Now that is good Information to base my predictions on.

Genius,
I am not backing off my dominance statement, just stating that no matter what stats you throw up here to try and prove your point, your team does not have more IBFC crowns than Mac. So your team must be middle of the road as well.  Regardless if those titles occured before your nutz dropped or not.
I only bring up the past so that you understand the history of the conference.  Thats all.  To say Mac will only beat CURF and Eureka shows that you must not have made your teams travel list at all last year to watch any of these schools in the conference play. Now I know where your anger is coming from. I am sure you had a good JV team though? Maybe this year your name will make that list.  Lets just let the season play it self out.  Obviously this is not Division I where we do not have a good Idea of who is coming back to who's team and who got recruited until August rolls around. Just make sure you stay posting when you have to eat your words. And I'll make sure that I'll do the same.

Genius.

That is still one more conference crown than anybody else has (besides AU).  Thats two playoff trips.  2001 lost in the last 14 seconds on a touchdown pass.  2002 got beat bad by Wabash.  Mac has come closer than any other team to winning a playoff game. 

Once again it does not matter how many conference wins you have if those wins do not take you to the playoffs. 

Great job on beating Curf and Eureka every year!!!
Let me know when you have two crowns!!!!

Ereg began his career at Western Mchigan and then transferred to Mac.  He was listed as a senior academically but not athletically. This will be is senior year in athletics.

I agree with the statement that you need a good oline and d-line to be succesfull. Because back in 2001 and 2002 when Mac was stomping a mudhole throughout the IBFC, we had the biggest and strongest Lines in the conference. So dont bash any team because this conference always goes in cycles.  When I played in the IBFC Lakeland was middle of the road and so was CUW.  The only teams fighting for the conference title every year was Mac and Aurora. Check the history. Who has more playoff appearances?  Aurora is first and then Mac. So all of you young bucks bashing Mac and not giving Aurora respect, check your IBFC hisotry and see who dominated when you were poppin zits in high school.  Lakeland and Cuw only enjoyed conference success the last three years.  Wow big deal!!!!!

who was that linemen that CUW had during the 2004 season from Utah.  Wasn't he a player coach?

Quote from: falcsfb on May 03, 2006, 10:51:13 AM
How do some of these people keep finding eligibility. Are they handing out red-shirt seasons for playing on a crappy team?

You would have to ask the CUW athletic director about that.

Quote from: maddog8 on May 03, 2006, 02:10:31 AM
IBFC-Alum, Actually Mac has two highly rated coaches from Saginaw Valley one of the best D-II programs in the country, so BANK on the fact they know their stuff, again Mac's ONLY problem I see is there attitude as a TEAM, listen to their coaches and play physical like they can and LOOK OUT IBFC because they will be BACK.

Sure I know who Auggie is, they let a QB with a broken Fibula, throw for unbelievable yrd and 2 TD.s in the second half. and again woulda, coulda shoulda I know but had Ryan been healthy and able to run and play his game. NO DOUBT Lakeland would have won that game. How does a kid throw for 183 yrds and 2 TD's with a broken leg IN ONE HALF. Sure I know Auggie!

Kitty call Maddog today!!!! I need to bark at you!!!!!!

Lakeland does put 11 guys on the field like eveyone else don't they?  No doubt that Ryan had a great IDIVIDUAL!!!!! effort but football is a team game.  Ryan would have had to thrown 3 more touchdowns to keep up with the points Lakelands defense was giving up that day. But what is in the past is in the past and thats that. I agree with you on the Mac situation 100%.  If their attitude changes (which it will) Mac will be BACK.