Min. Games - you need 9 games to qualify for the NCAA DIII play-offs.  My guess is that Eureka is moving to 9 games due to squad size and travel.  Plus, I think their HC was at U of Chicago last, they played 9 games there too with a squad size of 50-60.  Make sense to have 2 bye if you are playing with a small squad.   

I was at the CUC - EC game - mostly walking around.  I want to correct some errors.  First, hats off to CUC and the best played come I have seen from them in years.  Two, the EC coaches were not fighting at half-time.  It appeared to me that the HC was not pleased with the OC on a trick play that failed before half.  In fact I heard the HC say "I am very angry right now please get away before I say something I don't mean."  Sounds like a pretty respectful coach to me.  The EC player that was ejected was speaking to the HC after the game and it appeared that the player was not excited about his punishment, nor were his parents.  I am guessing a suspension is coming.   Additionally, I saw the EC coaching staff actually kneel and pray after the game.  I think they need to pray for the helath of their team, which appeared, young, small, and over-match compared to CUC.  I am not defending their cheapness, EC had three personal fouls, but CUC had two.  These were my intrpetations of the game.  CUC is starting to improve, look for them to pull an upset or two, esspecially at home.  Go IBFC.

The CUW / NC game should be a great match up.  CUW runs a very similar offense to Augie, but definately throws the ball better.  In my opinion CUW and Lakeland would very much hold their own in the CCIW.  The key to the game is the same whenever to contrasting offensive schemes match up.  Whoever controls the ball will win.   If CUW rushes the ball and keeps NC's offense off the field; CUW wins.  If NC can maintain field position (needed to beat a unbalanced wing-t option attack- like CUW/Augie) and mix it up enough to consistanly move the sticks; NC wins.

These two schools carry their respective conference banners into battle.  Should be a great, hard hitting game.  It is the game to watch in the area - two play-off type teams early in the season.  Doesn't get any better than that.

While I am happy for the progress CUC has made the past months, in fact all IBFC teams have seemed to improve although the opening weekend did no show it in wins; I think the U of C is going to beat up on CUC.  UC just has too many weapons.  They won their last five games and most of their starters and their back-ups are back on offense.  Plus, their defense is always stout.  I wish CUC the best of luck, but UC is NOT Blackburn.   This game gets out of hand by the 3rd QTR.

Thanks Grover -

Here are my predictions for 2006

CUW
Lakeland
Aurora
Greenville
MacMurray
Benedictine
CURF
Eureka

I do believe there willl be plenty of upsets.  The top two are not as far ahead of the pack as last year.  Greenville, Mac, and Ben. will all be stronger than last year.  EC and CURF will also be better, but both are a couple of good recruiting classes away from be consistantly competitive in any conference.  With 4 teams with 2nd HC's and CURF with a HC in his first things should be interesting.  I do think EC will improve greatly, their coach is basically in his first year in 05, July hire last summer.  According to their website the facilites are improving. 

On a different note heard the IBFC is using 7 officials this year.  Helps passing teams, there is a lot of contact between middle routes and defenders in the confr.  I think it will hurt teams like Ben. due to how active their MLB is.  Cooper has always coached those guys to be tough on middle routes, expect more flags and more coaches acting out of character.

In repsonse to Eureka College - Grover1728 - you are misinformed.  First, EC coaching staff and players wanted to play; their associate AD (also head athletic trainer) made the call to forfeit the game.  He did so for two reasons.  One - he had witnessed a person struck by lightning and did not want to re-live the experience.  The storm that day had plenty of lightning and the radar showed that the cell was not leaving anytime soon.  In fact as the EC bus left the CUW campus that day at 4 PM it was still storming and already too dark to complete the game.  Two - EC entered the game with 32 healthy players.  The HC suspended one player for throwing his helment, which I witnessed and support the HC's decision.  The AD/HT had deemed two more players unfit to play.  That is 29 EC players -  playing on a rain-drench field, in the dark, and the outcome of the game is already decided.  I feel for the CUW players that did not get to play that day, but as a parent I certainly understand the AD/HT's decision to error on the side of caution.  Also, EC did play the next week.  They went to the University of Chicago with 28 players dressed.  Many played both ways that day - esspecially along the O-line-D-Line.  Chicago won 55-7, but there was no quit in the EC players or the staff.  EC actually installed the wing-t due to the shortage of available players.  So I would not question EC's staff or players until you have walk in their shoes.

Best of luck to all the IBFC teams in the last two years of the conference.