Quote from: Mugsy on August 26, 2011, 10:40:52 PM

Quote from: Go Thunder on August 26, 2011, 09:14:35 PM
I was looking at some you tube videos of Wheaton Freshmen.  I was very impressed with Luke Thorsons (FR 6'6" 186lbs) hands.  Every catch seems to be a play of the week.  Not sure of his speed.   Jordon Roberts needs some tall guys to throw to with his throwing style.  I hope one of the two tall Wide receivers gets some playing time.  The other being Mark Hiben (FR 6'4" 197lbs)

Luke Thorson #8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_1pVRMGw0E&feature=related
Look at any of the other games on you tube and you will see what I mean.

Luke is the son of Chad Thorson, 2 or 3 time All-American MLB for Wheaton in 87-90'.  Chad played in the Senior Bowl in 90', signed a free agent contract with the Giant's and play a year or two for the Birmingham Fire.  Chad was the last player cut from the 90' Giants.  The other LB's on that Giant's team were familar to most people who watch the NFL - Lawerence Taylor, Harry Carson, and Carl Banks.  Not a bad core of linebackers, and Chad almost made the team.  I'm sure CardinalAlum can share how much fun it was to block Chad.

http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/29/sports/giants-keep-morris-for-now-but-waive-thorson.html

Luke's older brother, Hunter, will likely see reasonable time at TE this season (6'6" 240lbs).  Look for both Thorson's to make a serious impact for Wheaton during the next 3-4 years.  They are both taller than their father and will likely be bigger as well - Chad was a very big MLB (6'2" 250lbs).  Btw... Chad had a 40 time somewhere between 4.5 and 4.6, so Luke and Hunter have the genetics for size and speed.

Mark Hiben played on some very, very good Glenbard West football teams (state champion and runner-up).  Look for him to be a player.

Wheaton has another freshman TE who is 6'6" or 6'7".  I don't recall a taller team at Wheaton.  That many tall receivers could create some serious match-up challenges for CCIW defenses.

I didn't realize that Chad had sons at Wheaton!  Holy cow, that makes me feel old.  But it's exciting that we'll be hearing/reading the name Thorson in connection with the Thunder again.  I was a freshman Chad's senior year and still remember being in awe of him both on the field and in the weight room.  Super nice guy, though.  Those Wheaton teams of that late-80's era had some talent on them, didn't they?  Thorson, Parish, McGowen, Richie, Aycock, Frazier . . . it's a wonder anyone ever scored on that D.

Mugsy, what was behind that comment about the injury bug?

Thought some on here might be interested: Wheaton alum Neal Neathery ('93) has been hired by Larry Coker as D Coordinator for the new football program Coker is building at UT San Antonio.


http://www.kens5.com/community/blogs/featured-blogs/DAVID-FLORES-Drake-coachs-hiring-at-UTSA-comes-as-no-surprise-87838837.html


http://www.goutsa.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13100&ATCLID=204909456

On a football related topic, it looks like the Jags liked what they saw from Ittersagen in the mini camp.  I don't have a subscription to the Jags Scout.com site, but the lead-in looks positive:

http://jac.scout.com/a.z?s=119&p=2&c=864140&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fjac.scout.com%2f2%2f864140.html

Great explanation, GS.  Also very fair, IMO.  The NP impressions of Wheaton do contain at least grain of truth - and more than a grain in some cases.  Especially historically but even currently as well.  On the "service" side of things though, when I was there just over 1/3 of the student body was voluntarily involved in the CSC, or "Christian Service Counsel" which committed a person to give 1 afternoon or evening a week to some type of community service - helping the homeless, tutoring kids in the inner city of Chicago, prison visitation, soup kitchen etc.  Still others were involved in similar ministries through their churches.  The overall volunteerism for such things (on a regular basis, not just once or twice a semester) was a lot higher in my experience than it is on most campuses.  So the impression of "they don't care about the rest of the world out there in the cushy suburbs" wasn't universally true. 

I'm glad you distinguished between the impressions of Wheaton as "fundamentalist" vs. the real fundamentalism of a Liberty U or Bob Jones (which thinks Liberty is too liberal).  It's a little disorienting at times to be caught in the crosshairs from both sides.  NP folks may rightly roll their eyes at some of Wheaton's conservative evangelical baggage.  But when I decided to attend Wheaton I had some adult Baptist friends warn me against going to that bastion of liberalism which would surely lead me away from true faith.  According to them I'd be "safer" at a school that was avowedly secular rather than go to one that still wore the Christian label but which had long since abandoned its roots!   

My mother in law attended a Covenant church for a while (actually my wife and I were married in it) and I really liked what I learned of the denomination.  NP also hired one of my favorite bloggers, NT prof Scot McKnight, away from Trinity.  So they are pretty cool in my book.

Sorry for using space on this topic but since it's offseason and the board has otherwise been averaging just a post or three per day, I figured it would be ok to explore what was behind GS's comment.  Hope nobody minds.

GS, I'm curious about the institutional dislike of Wheaton by NP folks.  How is it different - other than being closer geographically - from the dislike or resentment of Wheaton by many other schools with similar missions? 

Faculty poaching?  Theological differences?  Perceived Wheaton arrogance?  Single-denomination affiliation vs. broadly evangelical affiliation?  Dislike born from institutional similarity - or dissimilarity?  Is it of such a sensitive nature that you can't spell it out beyond "it's an institutional thing"?  Maybe I'm denser than average.  Maybe if I knew more about North Park as an institution and how it differs from Wheaton the answer would be obvious. But I can't figure out what you're saying the source of this longstanding, non-athletically related animosity is.  I'm not trying to argue - just curious.  When you find out someone doesn't like you, you at least want to know why.

Gregory Sager, I spent 4 years at Wheaton and have been a proud alum for 15+, and I can honestly say I had no idea that there was Wheaton resentment at North Park, or the perception of a rivalry.  Zip.  Zero.  None.  Coming from VA to Wheaton, I had never even heard of NP.  I think I was a Jr or Sr in college before I learned NP was Christian-affiliated in any way.  I guess that lends credence to your observation that "the Wheaties are barely aware of NPU's existence."  Or maybe I was just particularly clueless.  Since graduating I have found out from alums of other schools that there is institutional Wheaton resentment at Taylor, Gordon, Liberty U, Westmont, Cedarville, Covenant, Bethel, Calvin, Moody and a few others.  So I shouldn't be surprised at having to add North Park to the list. ;-)

The one time I can recall Wheaton getting worked up for a football game vs. NP was in 1990, when Viking QB John Love was getting a lot of (deserved) national attention and putting up some gaudy stats.  The D got worked up into a frenzy wanting to stop Love and hold him below his averages, and from what I recall did a pretty good job of it.  The background music for the Wheaton vs. North Park portion of Wheaton's 1990 season highlight video is The Call's "Let the Day Begin" (prominently featuring the lyrics "Here's to you, my little [L]ove"), and shows every Wheaton sack and INT in the 50-10 win. 

Hmmm, maybe I can see where some of the resentment comes from after all.

Quote from: robertgoulet on January 31, 2009, 11:57:59 AM

Quote from: DIIIinVA on January 30, 2009, 10:48:29 AM
I understand that Wheaton recently received a commitment from an excellent QB prospect.  Can anyone confirm?

This work for you?

http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=268568&src=290

Sweet, thanks for the link!  I wasn't 100% sure it was supposed to be common knowledge yet, so didn't mention his name.  This guy was being looked at by a lot of big time D-1 programs after his soph and into his jr season, visited ND a bunch as well as many others, etc. but never grew quite as big or developed quite the arm strength that the major D-1's wanted to see.  Still, it' quite a coup for Wheaton to get him over some of the offers and walkon opportunites he did have.  Sounds like a great fit for Wheaton overall too, not just on the football field.

I understand that Wheaton recently received a commitment from an excellent QB prospect.  Can anyone confirm?

Any CCIW folks coming down to VA for the Stagg Bowl?  I'll be there, probably wearing an old Wheaton practice jersey over  my sweatshirt.  Just call me Uncle Rico . . .

Looking ahead: what key parts does Wheaton lose from this year's team and how does the depth look behind them?

Congrats to Mt. Union for once again ending my alma mater's run in the playoffs.  Maybe one of these days we'll get you, but today showed once again that we have some work to do before that can happen.

Great play by the OL, QB and Kmic.  The D also came up with stops when it needed to - almost predictably when things got tight and it was a key down, your guys just whipped someone and came up with a big sack, etc.  As usual, you guys answered almost every score and made your opponent pay for just about every mistake.  Another clinic in winning football.  Living near Salem, VA I've gotten used to seeing your team play in the Stagg Bowl (I've only missed a couple since 1996).  Looking forward to seeing you down here again next weekend.

Congratulations to the Thunder for a great season and for bouncing back after a couple of tough losses to make the most of the opportunity given by an at-large berth.  Who expected an at-large Wheaton team with 2 CCIW losses to advance further in the DIII playoffs than any previous Crusader/Thunder team in history? 

Way to leave it all out on the field.  A team of lesser character wouldn't have gotten back off the mat swinging the way you guys did after getting down early today in Alliance.  Mt. Union is used to seeing teams just wither and die when they jump up on them early in the game, and you kept on coming hard.  The Mt. Union announcers even commented on what heart the Thunder team was showing, saying "they just keep on coming."  There are a lot of alums, parents and fans who are proud of what you accomplished this season.

Quote from: Mugsy on December 13, 2008, 02:33:54 PM

Quote from: DIIIinVA on December 13, 2008, 02:25:07 PM

Quote from: Mugsy on December 13, 2008, 02:18:01 PM

Wheaton drive stalls... close but no cigar.  Then MUC drives down for a TD in less than 2 minutes and only 5 plays.

Like a broken record... how many TD drives does MUC have against Wheaton that finish in under 2 minutes and less than 6-7 plays in 6 games.  I'd put the over under at 25.

Mugsy, it's frustrating as heck to watch.  But having seen all of Mt. Union's Stagg Bowl appearances since 1996 in person, this is par for the course for them from what I've seen - not just against Wheaton.  Not in every Stagg Bowl of course, but I've seen them do pretty much the same thing to a bunch of very good, previously undefeated teams while playing for a championship.

Still, if Wheaton had avoided the self inflicted mistakes (fumble, dropped passes) this game would carry a more respectable score.  

I hear you... MUC offensive line TOTALLY dominated Wheaton.  Until Wheaton front seven can stack up against MUC, I'm afraid this type of game will continue to be the norm.

MUC does this to virtually everyone else... no knock on Wheaton.  Just shows how unique MUC is...

MUC 2nd team offense drives right down the field, but fumbles into the endzone.  Under 2 minutes left.

Maybe a Wheaton defensive front made up of D Parrish, Jeff Frazier, D. Massey (sp?) and Andy Studebaker, with Chad Thorson at MLB would stand a chance.

Every year Wheaton has a few of those guys on the team.  Mt. Union seems to have them 2-deep at almost every position.

Ittersagen still making a play - the strip down inside the 5 yard line for a touchback.

Quote from: Mugsy on December 13, 2008, 02:18:01 PM

Wheaton drive stalls... close but no cigar.  Then MUC drives down for a TD in less than 2 minutes and only 5 plays.

Like a broken record... how many TD drives does MUC have against Wheaton that finish in under 2 minutes and less than 6-7 plays in 6 games.  I'd put the over under at 25.

Mugsy, it's frustrating as heck to watch.  But having seen all of Mt. Union's Stagg Bowl appearances since 1996 in person, this is par for the course for them from what I've seen - not just against Wheaton.  Not in every Stagg Bowl of course, but I've seen them do pretty much the same thing to a bunch of very good, previously undefeated teams while playing for a championship.

Still, if Wheaton had avoided the self inflicted mistakes (fumble, dropped passes) this game would carry a more respectable score.