There are two incoming freshman who played both ways in HS and QB (both played QB). From their hudl tapes they are great athletes but would need to improve as passers to be CCIW caliber QB's. I could see them going with a young athletic freshman QB if the O-line does not seem stable and they need someone to run around all year, but the SR Lombardo has 19 career starts and I would imagine it will be his job to lose. Lombardo has struggled mightily behind bad offensive lines for his first two years as the starting QB. He is listed at 6ft but is more like 5'10 and has been very inaccurate under pressure. He has a great arm and when everything is perfect around him, he can sling it, but those moments have been far and few between. I have been hoping we would have found another young QB during the last 3 years but every year it seems they have been unable to bring in a freshman QB capable of taking over. I do not know the numbers exactly, but Lombardo has taken a beating and gets hit ALOT. Maybe he will look differently with more help around him but at this point in his career I think he is what he is. With that said, I know this team is not the worst team in CCIW. I think they will be motivated by the Pre-season CCIW rankings (might be first time ever Millikin was predicted last). They will not finish last, and I think they can finish as high as 5th.

Dear Men,

News from Decatur. Football season is upon us and the winds of change are blowing in central Illinois! For the first time in over 5 years there is hope in Decatur! As everyone knows, Millikin suffered only there 2nd ever winless season since 1907. I believe in Coach Hall and although he has gotten off to a 4-16 start to his Millikin tenure, this will be by far the most talented team he has had so far. He finally has enough of his own players in the building and has now had 3 years to establish his culture. They were very young last year but did lose their 1st team ALL-AMERICAN Perkins on the D-line. Millikin now has 52 freshmen on the roster and after over a week of watching film, I am pleased to say that this is the most talented class in a long time. Out of 52 freshmen, 40 had hudl highlight tapes and 25 were players that definitely have the potential to be starters in a year or two. With that said 6-7 of these players may start day 1 and are physically ready to play in the CCIW. Millikin has some special skill position players that can be difference makers day 1 on campus. Hall went heavy in Texas and Louisiana and signed Mutiple players who played at large high schools in Texas where it was hard for me to tell the difference between high school teams and D3 teams. I think this Millikin team will get better as the season goes on and will find a way to win 4-5 games. On paper, this team should be much improved, and I hope to see good things from the young Freshman class.

Cheers,
Go BIG BLUE

Hey Everyone,

NEWS FROM DECATUR: Exciting time of year and can't wait for CCIW football to be be back in a few weeks. Even more exciting is the fact that Millikin has signed their LARGEST CLASS EVER (67 Freshman) which does not even include the 8 transfers they now have on campus as well. This will be one of the largest teams (if not the largest) in school history and its coming on the brink of a new 6-million-dollar weight room/locker room begging construction in the spring. It seems Millikin is not content with being left behind in a conference where the top teams are quickly widening the gap between the bottom of the conference. I think the Big Blue will have all the motivation in the world this fall as they were picked 8th in the pre-season coaching polls.

Plain and simple I think this is the 4th best team in the CCIW and I would bet they finish no worse than 5th considering the array of talent coming into Decatur this fall. The QB play last year was poor and with a competition taking place for the starting QB role it will be interesting to see who wins that job. Millikin brought in the most OL/DL in school history and I believe with 3 starters back on the OL they will be able to find 2 missing pieces amongst the freshman/tranfers now garnering the Blue and white in central Illinois. There are a lot of question marks as not alot of info has come out of Decatur but on paper the Big Blue are poised to rejuvenate a program that has struggled to keep a standing roster of 80+. As of right now Millikin now has 120+ men on the roster which should create an atmosphere of competition and growth as Coach Hall begins his era running the ship for the Big Blue.  Although i still do not think Millikin is ready to challenge NC/Wheaton I do think they have an opportunity to win every other game on the schedule. I think a successful season for the big blue would be 6-4 but I am not ruling out an 8-2 season with a trip to the Bowl game in November. Nevertheless, if Coach Hall can succeed where the previous 2 Millikin coaches have failed (retaining players) then I believe this ca be the start of something special in Decatur for years to come. Cheers to a new season, I will have a post put together to preview the week 1 matchup vs Greenville but I expect this to be an exciting year where new faces begin to make their mark on Millikin's rich football history.

Enter, BIGBLUE BEN lol! I have been following along for a few years and mainly only post on the CCIW football page since I am a football alumni but I also root for the Basketball team and watch alot of their games. The Wheaton game was a thing a beauty and as a longtime Milli BBall supporters I think we were all waiting for Wheaton to snap out of it and it just never happened. Millikin proved the real parity in the CCIW this year and after seeing Millikin's ceiling against Wheaton, I think the boys shouldn't resign their  Title hopes just yet... Although the double OT loss @NCC hurts, we seem to be hitting our stride at the perfect time.


Wesleyan  (6-1) 13-2
Elmhurst   (4-2)   12-3
NNC          (4-2) 9-5
Millikin   (5-3) 10-7
Wheaton   (5-3)   13-4
North Park   (3-4)   7-7
Augustana   (3-5)   8-9
Carthage   1-5   8-7
Carroll   1-7   5-12

Big Blue next 4 games: I think MU can win all 4 of these games, if so it would set up a a 14-7 (9-3) red hot MU team hosting IWU @ the GRIZ. If Wheaton can beat Elmhurst tomorrow and then Elmhurst beats IWU then my dream of this game being for 1st place may not just be a fantasy. Dont want to get ahead of ourselves bc every game is a grind in the CCIW but just a bigger picture view of how MU is 100% in the mix when they play like they did the other night (More impressive bc MU was missing best big man, ankle sprain for Wheaton game).

@Augustana
@Carthage
@NNC
Carrol

Quote from: TrueGreen on October 22, 2021, 10:42:52 AM

Quote from: USee on October 22, 2021, 09:33:04 AM
HansenRatings has the following for this weekend:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KNIFuxVLu4y0s-1ggD-WASCC4RXUEao-qkWqOYfiEOM/edit#gid=1727317062

IWU @ NCC -51.2
Elmhurst @ NPU -7.4
WashU @ Millikin +19.2
Carthage @ Wheaton -31.2
Carroll @ Augie -3.5

Mark my words. Wash U is walking into a bar fight, they just dont know it yet. Millikin will play lose, they have nothing to lose. On top of that they should be getting a couple starters back from injuries and if Wash U has one weakness its the run game. Millikin's D-line matches up really well with Wash U and I think Millikin forces some turnovers and creates some tackles for loss. If Wash U gets Millikin in alot of 3rd and longs then thats when their D is at their best, rushing the pass. The longer Millikin keeps it close Saturday, the more I would turn into that one. Millikin is an up and down team, they could score 30 tonight or 0. But I like to think that they will play their most complete game and put up some points. Millikin did hold Wesleyan to 14 points and may have started to figure some thing out on Defense. Hoping for a nice home crowd, would go as far as a guantee that Milikin covers the +19 and with that said, I think they punch Wash U in the mouth and win 28-27. "I believe we can win" and Im going out on a limb bc Wash U is a very sound solid team, however, I guess I just believe when Millikin is at their peak (which has been sporatic to say the least) can put up yards against anybody. Wash is a better team on paper but if Millikin plays their A+ game and Wash U is at all hesistant, then there going to be dancing in Decatur tonight.

Go Big Blue!!!

I think these are again pretty accurate. Wash U still would get a little more love from me (at least 3 TD spread), but picking Augie and NP at home is solid. I am hoping (maybe beyond hope) that the Titans don't lose by more than 7 TDs! (But I'm sure that NCC is looking to get that number)

Sorry I am late, did not want to miss my chance at the Green Norm Pinata Fiesta. The IWU/Millikin rivalry runs very deep in Decatur, the rivalry saw some droughts in the 2010's simply bc it was no longer a big game and beating NC /Wheaton became Wesleyan's big game every year. The trash talking was always at another level and it was always a chippy game since the old story of the rivalries origin goes that Millikin's only 3 seasons not playing football since there onset in the early 1900's except during WW2. If you look in the record books youll notice that IWU played all 3 seasons and since then the Millikin Men have never respected the Green Weenies who dodged the draft.


Its a bad blood game. Wesleyan has always been the "preppy" "cocky" old money in Bloomington while Millikin has always viewed themselves as a the blue collar, harding working which I believe is true. Blooimgton (city) Decatur (farmers, factor workers). Obviously, the hostility isn't anything uncivil but when it comes to sports, thats just way people around there feel.

Just in my 4 years, I saw 4 ejections (not including targeting calls) for (punches, fights, middle finger to the crowds, spit in the face, etc).Millikin however during those years was not too far behind those Wesleyan teams and that game was still the most important game home or away. It still is, without a doubt, still our Rivalry game whether Wesleyan wants to consider it one is up to them. But maybe it will just take need to take Millikin throwing a party on their field as they did in the spring. It was a massive release of all the frustration/failures of past teams failing against the Green Weans.

There is nothing I would like to see more than Millikin send Norm to the retirement homes with one last (long overdue/well earned) butt kicking. AND if the Big Blue can beat a very good Carthage team (I think they are better than Wash U) then Millikin will walk into the Wesleyan game riding high 4-1 (4-0). If Wesleyan cannot manage to escape against Elmhurst then they should not be expecting a win until  October 30, 2021 vs North Park. It would be a site to see but im pulling for the claimed 0-10 season for IWU. Best case scenario now is 2-8, which I would also welcome with open arms.  Every other CCIW team I will pull for in non conference and playoffs barring one.... Bloom Tech.

I hope everyone gets their "pound of flesh" from Norm this year on his way out. What goes around comes around Norm.

Alright fellas, if its okay with everyone else, I want to talk about a big (yes I know its not the Bell game) CCIW ballgame.

Millikin vs Carrol @Frank M. Lindsay Field

This should turn out to be a great competitive contest that is highlighted by the cool connection of Carrol's Coach Buda and Coach Dan Gritti. Buda flurished at Millikin for 3 years 2 of which he spent shattering the offensive record books with nicco stepina. His offense has had success everywhere he has went and if he is ever able to steal recruits from the other WI conference then I think he can scheme with the best in the country. With that said, I think Millikin will have there hands full with a team that is also coming off a big win last week (upset IWU).

I excpect Millikin's offense to be improved from last week and continue to move the ball with a balanced run/pass combo. Millikin's strength is there O-line (have not given up a sack this year) along with there AA WR Colton Lockwood requiring so much of the attention that it opens up the rest of Millikin's talented young WR's. Millikin offense has only been stopped this year when they shoot themselves in the foot. Finally getting to play at home should help them play more relaxed and hopefully turnover free football.


Defensively, Millikin has the advantage on the line of scrimmage and on top of that, Carrol lacks a mobile QB which will allow Gritti to dial up a variety of blitzes/stunts. Carrol's air raid is scary when they are clicking. They have big bodied WR's which will have a big advantage on Millikin's undersized corners. With that said, I think Millikin will create tackles for loss/sacks and will be able to get off the field when ot counts Saturday.

Special teams,
No surprise Coach Gritti leads the CCIW in blocks through 2 games.
-Week 1 (Blocked punt for TD)
-Week 2 (blocked opening punt/blocked game winning field 25 yard field goal)
-Well see if we can one against Carrol but for nothing else, teams having to waste practice time prepping extra for PUNT is point for Millikin.

Turnovers have plagued the Big Blue but I think they find their groove playing at home for first time in really 2 years; Millikin plays their most complete game so far and wins a close shootout at home. Millikin 34-Carroll 29

Expect a great game up @Wheaton. I believe Wheaton's D-line to be the better of the two, however, I think NC has a slight advantage in the skill position department. Wheatons key to success will be scoring first and playing with the lead. If NC finds them selves in 3rd and 8-12 and Wheaton's pass rushers can peal their ears back and get after a freshman QB then I think its going to be a long day for NC. In the end though, I think NC wins in a close one 28-23.

As for the Millikin @ Augy Matchup.

I expect to see Millikin to be shot out of a cannon when they take the field and will play with a chip on their shoulder. Although Greenville was a much stronger team than history shows, it was a wake up call to the Big Blue that you cannnot take any team for granite. Unlucky for Augy there is no way to "fake" or manufacture desperation. With that said, I think Millikin comes out and plays like a team refusing to lose again while Augy plays like a team hoping to win. There is an old saying that goes, "always fear a man who has nothing to lose" and I think that saying holds true Saturday and Millikin plays harder for longer and wins decisively.

Millikin 34. Augustana 21

Thats great to hear all around! Congrats again to NC, it was well deserved.

I'm not ready to abandon my 3rd place prediction for the Big Blue just yet USee. If they lose to Augy on 9/18 I will press the panic button but for Augies sake I do not want to hang on the Greenville loss too much..... IF Augy loses to Millikin, it may help the Vikings confidence to think of Greenville as a playoff team.

Quote from: Next Man Up on September 06, 2021, 12:55:05 AM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on September 06, 2021, 12:30:12 AM

Quote from: BIG BLUE BEN on September 05, 2021, 09:35:20 AMIf there is a silver lining, its that Greenville has the best team I have seen in the last 7-8 years

Seriously? Just how much football do you watch, anyway?

He must have meant its the best Greenville team he has seen in the last 7-8 years. No???

Sorry for the confusion, let me clarify. This looked like the best "Greenville" team I have seen since 2013 when they upset Millikin in Decatur to open that season as well. I would bet money that Greenville team will win their conference and go to the playoffs. I think Greenville could have beaten any of the #4-#9 teams CCIW Saturday if any of them were unfortunate enough to find themselves in a mud bowl monsoon dog fight against that Greenville team.

Quote from: CardinalAlum on September 04, 2021, 10:46:45 PM
Curious if the new Blue followers have any insight on the loss to Greenville?  That one is a head scratcher.

.


To be honest, I was shocked yesterday with Greenville finding a way to come back and upset Millikin in the rain. For the starters, Greenville was just straight up better than anyone expected. If there is a silver lining, its that Greenville has the best team I have seen in the last 7-8 years and they were playing in front of a packed out crowd. Add in one of the worst D3 football fields in the country, 6 hours of rain before and during the game, creating a mud bowl. Milikin lost 2 fumbles, one as they were about to score on 1st and goal. The other recovered by Greenville inside Millikins 20 yard line. To make matters worse Cal threw 2 picks, both of which were going in to score. It was a perfect storm with Millikin playing the worst I have seen them in the Gritti Era, mixed with Greenville having a solid team that probally goes 9-1 and wins Conference results in what will be a soul searching 2 weeks for this team.

With that said, this is a bad loss for Millikin no matter how good Greenville is. We came in over confident and played poorly. I still think Millikin can and will go win there next 5 games and make things interesting but I would be lying if I wasnt very concerned with my early predictions.

Millikin's offense will be hard to stop as they were just as good as advertised. Throwing for over 300, scoring 33 points all with having 4 turnovers in the rain was encouraging if anything.....They just need to protect the ball, if we only have one turnover we win by 21.

The defense is what failed them in the second half of this one. As Millikin got weaker, Greenville ran harder. The secondary was lost all day, couldnt seem to figure out Greenville's 3 passing concepts along with not stop the tight ends or the middle of the field. Greenville lived up and down the hashes all day and Millikin kept running cover 2/4 and was not learning their lesson. I am confident Millikin will look like a new team after the bye and think they find a way to win a close one @augy on 9/18.

Quote from: HAMBO on August 29, 2021, 10:32:01 PM
I agree but Millikin's backup QB is a freshman which may be unique.

Take this with a grain of salt but I am hearing that one of Millikin's freshman QB's is said to have a very unique lively arm that has people excited. If the rumors are even slightly true and a freshman has come in and pushed a 5th year returning starter to the brink for the job... then it sounds like Millikin is going to be in good hands regardless of who wins the starts moving forward. With that said, if its close, tie goes to the 5th year and I believe Cal will look like a veteran starting QB in the CCIW this year. Cal is an old school type of QB, a true leader of the team, great student and a competitor who will do anything to win and doesn't care about his stats. Look for the freshman QB to get some time if Millikin does what they should and blows out Greenville College Week 1. Should be a fun day to watch alot of young new faces play in there first college game. ALOT of freshman on this team (for Millikin standards in last decade) hopefully there are a few more ALL TIMERS in this class.

In honor of the great Nicco Stepina, please check out his CCIW record setting Junior season below and his career highlight tape. GAME WEEK BABY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkdshDYN6cc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEHi_kAHlFU

Quote from: USee on August 06, 2021, 01:05:41 PM
Millikin just posted their 2021 roster (sans freshmen) and it has just 39 players. They had almost 60 eligible to return this fall from their 2020 roster and closer to 70 from their 2019 roster. Hope it's not a sign of the times.

Millikin's Roster (before freshmen are added) has 3 WR, 2 RB's and 1 QB.

Millikin Update: USEE got me nervous but I have confirmed that Millikin is returning all 22 starters from last year's team (Very close group of Seniors and they all made it work so they could make a run at a CCIW title). Would not pay to much attention to the roster bc Millikins is never correct even when the season starts lol. With that sais, this team is well aware that this is going to be Millikin's best team since 2017.
On top of that they also get back RB #6 Severado. Who missed all of the 2020 season for eligibility. He is only 5'6 but rushed for an impressive 4.7YPC (143carries|678 yards|5TDS and has apparently been in the gym over the last 2 years preparing for this moment.

Team Preview
Can you all hear it? If you listen closely, down in Decatur you can hear the winds of change beginning to pick up rapidly! As I am sure we all are, I couldn't be happier for CCIW football filled Saturdays and just everything that comes with a new season no matter who we root for. Although the last 2 years have been strange to say the least, I do not expect the talent/play to drop off whatsoever because of the lack of games in recent months. With that said, I actually expect many of the teams to be deeper and more experienced due to the large # of 5th year seniors.  In what came as a pleasant surprise to me, Millikin is returning all seniors from last years team. Returning 22 starters from a team that got to see dozens of pratics along with 3 CCIW games. Millikin showed they can run the ball and rumor is they have added several freshman/transfer OL that have day 1 talent. A 5th year starting QB who returns ALL American Coltoon Lockwood along with 2 other WR's that are poised for potential ALL conference seasons (#7 nutel/#4 ). Iv said it before and Ill say it again, NOBODY has blocked more punts (and its not even close) than Coach Dan Gritti of Millikin in the CCIW since his arrival in 2016 adding 3 more blocked punts (and 2 TDs) this spring.I dont want to open a fresh wound but ill just reference the Wesleyan game in Decatur this past spring. The Millikin Srs are a very tight class and they will create a special belief almost the underclassman that will win them close games next year. I'll say this, I don't think there is another coach in the conference that wants to be in a tight game against Millikin since  Gritti's arrival in 2016. COACH GRITTI IS 12-2 in one possession games (includes upset Wheaton, Wesleyan, Augy, Wash U) (Losses Wash U 49-42; Carthage 53-50).
- Coach Gritti 24-19 (4 seasons) Achievements (beaten everyone except NC) (UPSET #13 Wheaton/Ended 10yr losing streak to IWU, Beat Augy & IWU in same season for first time since 2001/Is 2-1 vs Wash U)

Offense Returning starters 11 (Expect a top 3 QB statically in CCIW)
QB- Cal Porhte
- Started 13 games and has improved each step of the way. Expect the see the best version of himself this fall. Great decision maker, will stand in the pocket and takes hit to deliver good ball but also possesses a slightly above average ability to escape/move the pocket. Inaccuracy, was a big area for improvement for Porthe but this is a kid who is totally invested in leading.preparing this team to compete at a championship level. Expect to see an even more confident and accurate Cal this year entering the second season in the new Offensive scheme bolstered by his entire receiving core and O-line. (Not mentioning freshman/transfers that I am sure will be in the mix.
RB- Return on Severado/solid freshman that got quality experience in Spring.


WR- Expect to see a top 3 WR unit in CCIW
ALL- American Colton Lockwood- no introduction needed
#7 Nutal
#4 ROEDL
#82 Cooper (5th year 30+ starts)

Oline- expect an experienced above CCIW average unit. I think it will be a top 4 OLines in the CCIW. All 5 starters returning and at least 2 transfers that will make an impact right away.




Defense
Starters returning 11

Top 3 Dline
Gritti's best Dline he's ever had, they will lead CCIW in sacks AND tackles for a loss.

- [ ] They will have their most size ever up front along with having the most speed at the same time. Gritti's D lines are most effective when they are 7-8 man deep. Barring any unforeseen injuriees, this will be the deepest most talented Dline in a long long time in Decatur. There is confirmation on a transfer DT 6'3 280LB stud who will start day 1... who could prove to be a huge problem for anyone planning on running inside zone. Inside and outside zone as a hole has proven to be ineffective against Gritti's constantly stunting Dline. Now that Gritti finally gets to field an experienced talented D sense I expect them to be a top 3 overall Defense who gives up a lot of yards but not a lot of points bc they force a lot of TO and create tackles for loss. I also expect the passing defense to be much improved but still the weakness of the Defense if we had to chose a unit.
- [ ] The LB core will be an All conference 5th year along with 2 other backer who combine for 30 career starts. Depth at LB is something to focus on but if they can stay healthy they will be fringe second team ALL conference guys.



Kicking- It appears Gritti finally signed a true kicker/punter. A kid who kicked in HS at a good program, great leg and is only playing football (kicking and punting) great news. Hopefully he can kick lol.


Prediction: Millikin 8-2 3rd place gets a bid to Bowl Game!


The biggest difference this year, opposed to 2017 will be that the Defense will highlight this group. 

Hello Everyone! Long time follower, finally pulled the trigger and made an account so we can have someone to defend the Big Blue around here lol (I appreciate the guys who have posted about Millikin in the past). I will try to be the "Millikin" guy in here providing updates, insight and stats from Millikin games.

Millikin WR (2013-2016):
Although I went 11-29 in my college career, I was fortunate enough to play my Senior Year with first year Coach Dan Gritti, along with getting the chance to play 2 seasons with record shattering QB "Nicco Stepina" who will be a legend in Decatur for many years to come. It brings me pride to think that we started turning the ship my senior year when we beat Augy for the first time in our careers and won 3 CCIW games for the first time in like 4 years. I think Coach Gritti is the perfect man for this job, and I look forward towards seeing what they can do in 2020.

2020 Millikin Preview:
Coach Gritti is master when it comes to small details, and although the Defense has been towards the bottom of the league in total D, they have been in or around the top 25 nationally in Sacks/tackles for loss every year Gritti has been there (without a single 1st team ALL CCIW D-lineman). Gritti himself coaches the D-Line which is very rare for a HC. Gritti uses unorthodox stunts on the D-line (almost every play) that have proven to give even the Top teams in the CCIW trouble. 2020 will also be the first season where every player on the team was recruited by Gritti & staff, so I think you will see vintage Gritti team: fast/athletic/undersized, great special teams/ explosive offensively with a bend but don't break style of defense that looks for to make teams nickel and dime them up the field in hopes of forcing a TO). With that said, they will be undersized defensively (per usual) but very experienced and sound. I expect Millikin to improve their Defensive statistics dramatically, especially run defense.
(Link to Gritti's Stunts) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4-9Y5wOT5o&t=2129s

Gritti's prep/practice time devoted to special teams is truly "special" and correct me if I am wrong but since Gritti's arrival in 2016, nobody had blocked more punts than Millikin (12) in the CCIW. With the talent he is working with probably ranked (5th-6th) in the conference, he has showed again and again that regardless of talent, he will have Millikin ready to play on Saturdays.
•   Blocked Punts
o   2016- 5 (6th nationally/1st in CCIW)
o   2017- 2 (22nd nationally/3rd in CCIW)
o   2018- 1 (80th nationally/tied for 2nd in CCIW)
o   2019- 4 (4th nationally/1st in CCIW)

The Defense will be the key for Millikin this season, and I think you will see Millikin's best Defense in the last 5 years in 2020. The big question is, can the offense led by Senior Cal Porhte keep up the scoring we have been used to in recent years thanks to the contributions of Nicco Stepina and Jordan Smith... This 2020 class is apparently, "the most talented class in the Gritti era".

Congrats to NCC on the Title! HUGE for the CCIW no matter who your a fan of. It is going to help everyone recruiting kids to "come play against the best". The CCIW has had and I believe continues to be the SEC of D3, and year in and year out it has at least 3 teams capable of making a deep run in the playoffs. If the selection committee chose the best 32 teams in the country every year, I think the CCIW would have 3-4 teams in the dance each year.

Hope we get football this year fellas, stay safe out there.

GO BIG BLUE
God Bless!