FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Jim Matson]

A banged up Wheaton needs to pull out a win this Saturday in Elmhurst.  We'll have to see what the "final" injury news is on the Thunder, but they'll need the whole team to continue their quest for the post-season.

I do know that Ittersagen is fine and should only need the cast on for at about 3 more weeks...but with Pete's attitude , that's a definite +/- 2 weeks!

[Tailgater]

Unless Augie wins out, a highly improbable possibility given the fact that they will be playing a superior NCC team next week, they will finish with a non-winning season for the first time since 1978, when they went 4-5 the year prior to Coach Reade's arrival in Rock Island. This year's team is certainly the worst at Augie, since I started following the team in the 80s.
If Jim Barnes expects to continue his tenure at Augie, it may be time to modernize the offense and actually consider using the forward pass other than in desparation situations.

For Augie fans the CCIW basetball season cannot start to soon.

Thanks for answering my question.

[Tailgater]

Augie looked like they were going to get the ball back with a bad snap on Carthage's punt attempt when the roughing the kicker penalty was called.  I'm not an expert on the rules, but once the kicker fumbled the ball and started to run I thought there wasn't a penalty for roughing the kicker? 

I agree augiedogie. Maybe someone can educate us? 2 minutes left in the game and a 5 point lead, it appeared Carthage would give the ball back to Augie around mid-field with 1 time-out remaining. The punt snap certainly skipped, slid and rolled forcing Donovan Moore to scoop and scramble for his life trying to find a place to get a kick off. He did get a kick off cleanly and was simultaneously tackled. The officials did take time to confer and ruled roughing the kicker? This resulted in a first down for the Red Men which allowed them to run out the clock. This one play certainly isn't the reason Augie lost this game (turnovers did them in), but it would have made the final 2 minutes a little more intense than it already was.

OK, The best info I can find on the roughing the kicker rule is from the NCAA rules which read as follows:

VI. Kicker A1, in a scrimmage kick formation, moves laterally two or
three steps to recover a faulty snap, or recovers a snap that went
over his head and then kicks the ball. He is contacted by B2 in
an unsuccessful attempt to block the kick. RULING: A1 does
not automatically lose his protection in either case. A1 is entitled
to protection as in any other kicking situation. When it becomes
obvious that A1 intends to kick (in a normal punting position),
defensive players must avoid him.

I also talked with officials I know and they say it was the correct call.  It doesn't matter if the kicker intended to run or not, or that the ball hit the ground, when Moore kicked the ball he had "protection" and when he was tackled immediately after the kick the ruling is roughing the kicker.

Now I guess one can argue was it a normal punting position?  He stopped to kick it so I would think yes.  Bottom line is I don't think that cost Augie the game, I think the turnovers did.

Nice detailed explanation Carthage Fan. I've come to expect accurate official rulings from you. Thanks for the education. +K

[Mugsy]

An MCL sprain also makes Norris questionable in the punting game, even if he can return to quarterbacking.  The freshman Matthew Griffiths showed that he can punt pretty well tonight against North Park.  But it still is another question mark for the Thunder heading into the rest of the CCIW season.

I have to point out the blocked punt was in large part due to Matthew Griffiths, as he took at least 1 step too many to get the punt off.  Also if you look at the boxscore, Wheaton only averaged 27 yards a punt.  Not very good and a huge drop off from Norris.

[usee]

For Augie fans the CCIW basetball season cannot start to soon.

It seems terribly strange to hear an Augustana fan anxious to get football season out of the way in anticipation of baskeball and at the same time, Illinois Wesleyan fans looking for a football championship in a year in which the basketball team is going to struggle.  So I had to do a little research on CCIW.org...

In 61 complete seasons of College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (previously "College Conference of Illinois") play, there have only been 4 seasons in which Illinois Wesleyan's football team finished with a better league record than Augustana AND Augustana finished higher in the basketball standings:

1977-78
Football: IWU 6-2, Augie 4-4
Basketball: Augie 12-4, IWU 11-5

1979-80
Football: IWU 6-2, Augie 5-3
Basketball: Augie 13-3, IWU 11-5

1980-81
Football: IWU 6-2, Augie 5-3
Basketball: Augie 15-1, IWU 11-5

1992-93
Football: IWU 7-0, Augie 6-1
Basketball: Augie 12-2, IWU 9-5


This year will almost certainly be the 5th.

WOW. that's some good work Q. Thanks for this research. I would have guessed it was closer to 10-15 seasons but it sure makes sense over the years.

[usee]

An MCL sprain also makes Norris questionable in the punting game, even if he can return to quarterbacking.  The freshman Matthew Griffiths showed that he can punt pretty well tonight against North Park.  But it still is another question mark for the Thunder heading into the rest of the CCIW season.

I have to point out the blocked punt was in large part due to Matthew Griffiths, as he took at least 1 step too many to get the punt off.  Also if you look at the boxscore, Wheaton only averaged 27 yards a punt.  Not very good and a huge drop off from Norris.

Well said Mugsy. It doesn't matter whose fault it is, if a punt goes 3 yards and the opponent takes over on your 30 yd line you are going to be in trouble.

[Mugsy]

Well said Mugsy. It doesn't matter whose fault it is, if a punt goes 3 yards and the opponent takes over on your 30 yd line you are going to be in trouble.

usee, apologies on posting almost verbatim what you did over on the NCAC board regarding the level of injuries on the Wheaton team.  I didn't read your post before I responded to a Wabash poster.

[usee]

Well said Mugsy. It doesn't matter whose fault it is, if a punt goes 3 yards and the opponent takes over on your 30 yd line you are going to be in trouble.

usee, apologies on posting almost verbatim what you did over on the NCAC board regarding the level of injuries on the Wheaton team.  I didn't read your post before I responded to a Wabash poster.

no need for apologies. you can steal my stuff anytime as long as i can continue to steal yours. 

[byitisee]

An MCL sprain also makes Norris questionable in the punting game, even if he can return to quarterbacking.  The freshman Matthew Griffiths showed that he can punt pretty well tonight against North Park.  But it still is another question mark for the Thunder heading into the rest of the CCIW season.

I have to point out the blocked punt was in large part due to Matthew Griffiths, as he took at least 1 step too many to get the punt off.  Also if you look at the boxscore, Wheaton only averaged 27 yards a punt.  Not very good and a huge drop off from Norris.

Well said Mugsy. It doesn't matter whose fault it is, if a punt goes 3 yards and the opponent takes over on your 30 yd line you are going to be in trouble.

The first punt was blocked that always hurts a punters average.  If you take out that punt, which it must be pointed out was his first collegiate punt.  He had a 39.5 yard average per punt.  On the second punt of the game he saved the long snapper by snatching a ball off the ground and barely got the punt away.


Also, as far as what Swider said in the Insider.  I think I would know since I did the interview.  And thank you for reaffirming to everyone exactly why Norris did not play this week.  It was an MCL sprain on the final offensive drive of the game against Augustana.

Also, the Thunder have another senior quarterback that could have played in the game, in Ric Radcliffe.  Other than that though, I don't know who else the Thunder have at quarterback.

[Mugsy]

The first punt was blocked that always hurts a punters average.  If you take out that punt, which it must be pointed out was his first collegiate punt.  He had a 39.5 yard average per punt.  On the second punt of the game he saved the long snapper by snatching a ball off the ground and barely got the punt away.

I'm fully aware that a blocked punt will hurt a punters average.     My point is that it was blocked because he took an extra step.  Yes it was probably his first collegiate punt.  Should I not be concerned then?

[Mugsy]

Wheaton moves up to #5 in the latest poll, though with starting a 3rd string QB, and a 3rd string DT, along with a plethora of 2nd teamers due to injuries, I doubt they are even a top 15 team.

Hopefully they'll heal up quickly and be healthy for once.

[redman04]

Redman04 and Tailgater, congrats on the W.  That was a much needed victory.  It will be interesting to see what happens over the next three CCIW games.

What's the download on the game?

Thanks but I didn't do anything! 

[Pat Coleman]

Wheaton moves up to #5 in the latest poll, though with starting a 3rd string QB, and a 3rd string DT, along with a plethora of 2nd teamers due to injuries, I doubt they are even a top 15 team.

This may be true, but they keep winning and I would be hard-pressed to say Central (cardiac kids), St. John Fisher (lost to Hartwick), Washington and Jefferson (opponents' win% .318) is any better.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wheaton moves up to #5 in the latest poll, though with starting a 3rd string QB, and a 3rd string DT, along with a plethora of 2nd teamers due to injuries, I doubt they are even a top 15 team.

This may be true, but they keep winning and I would be hard-pressed to say Central (cardiac kids), St. John Fisher (lost to Hartwick), Washington and Jefferson (opponents' win% .318) is any better.

Besides, Mugsy, with the CCIW having gone invisible in the poll (aside from NCC's paltry 9 points), don't go running down our representative!  That's the job of us fans of the other schools!

[usee]

Wheaton moves up to #5 in the latest poll, though with starting a 3rd string QB, and a 3rd string DT, along with a plethora of 2nd teamers due to injuries, I doubt they are even a top 15 team.

This may be true, but they keep winning and I would be hard-pressed to say Central (cardiac kids), St. John Fisher (lost to Hartwick), Washington and Jefferson (opponents' win% .318) is any better.

The voters are running out of teams to put there. and with 2 vs 3 this weekend (also 1 v 12) it doesn't get any easier for the voters.