FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

ONU / NCC should be a good one.

Bethel has no business being ranked #5.  They were very senior dominated and their entire offense graduated with QB Ben Wetzell.  If Wheaton doesn't win by 14+ I'll be shocked.

I don't know about 14+ but I don't think the Bethel/wheaton ranking spread is that big.

Overall I agree with the rankings to the best of my knowledge, which is limited. I like the process and the seriousness with which most of the voters take it. I think the accuracy has been borne out over the years as well.

It will be fun to see these "preaseason" matchups with Bethel/Wheaton and NCC/ONU. CCIW #1 and 2 against 2 top rated teams from top conferences. Great D3 football.

[Mr. Ypsi]

While we're still in off-season mode (mostly), a history question.  To gear up for fb, I was scanning the CCIW record book, and found something intriguing:

Paul Zaeske (NPU, though I'd assume NPC then) received passes for 325 yards against Augie in 1968 (all-time conference best).  The same season he caught for 250 yards (6th best all-time) and scored 48 points (all-time record, any position, by two TDs) against NCC.  His 1968 season is the second-best ever in yardage (though, since he is the only receiver with two games in the top ten, that still seems a bit disappointing), but he is not in the top ten scoring seasons (even though #10 is only 86, meaning he scored less than 38 points the entire rest of the season), nor is he in the top ten career stats for either yardage or scoring.

Neither the CCIW or NPU sites have yielded any further information.  I know Dennis would know, but seems to rarely come to this site.  Anyone?  Was PZ a two-game wonder?  Injured?  A transfer playing less than 4 seasons?  Seems an interesting situation (to me, at least) - anyone know the story?

[usee]

Taking a shot at a pre season CCIW prediction based on what I know here is the way I would call it right now.

1. Wheaton 6-1
2. NCC 6-1
3. Augie 4-3
4. IWU 4-3
5. Elmhurst 3-4
6. Carthage 3-4
7. Millikin 2-5
8. NPU 0-7

I have put  a premium on consistency and Wheaton clearly has the most coming back with coaches and players.

Wheaton: their top rated scoring defense will be better. there are not 2 better corners in the league than Ittersagen and Langs. If Mckinney returns in force this defense could be dominant with most of the defensive front back. Offensively they have weapons with Pokorny, Norris, Hershey, Gingg and a few young guys. Offensive line is their only question but the return of coach Walt Whitehead will give this group the added secret sauce they have needed.

NCC: I would have considered putting NCC at the top if Lester hadn't left. If Weinke runs the 3-3-5 they will challenge but a switch back to a conventional 4-3 will put a lot of pressure on an inexperienced defensive line. Wenger is a stud but the other 2 lb's they lost were awfully good. secondary returns enough experience to be very solid. This team is loaded on offense with Fanthorpe, Sulo, Llavic and the other returning wr's. If they can fill the holes on the OLine they could easily repeat as conf champs.

Augie: defending the wing t was always a challenge for teams on 1 weeks practice. now they are a spread team? does anyone really fear the augie spread more than NCC"S?? I think defensive coordinators are salivating at preparing for a more conventional Augie offense. Their defense was very solid last year and I would expect it to be the strength of this team. The big change in offense will be the handicap for this team in my view.

IWU: they won with defense last year and the losses will be very tough to replace. Their offense, while flashy and boasting the best WR in the conference was still 6th of 8 teams. With a talented but young running back and an inconsistent Ladd they will be better on offense but not enough to compensate for their dominant defense. Their defense should still be very good with 2 great linebackers and Holmberg at end. If they can replace the senior experience they lost on defense and if their offense can be consistent and make significant strides, this team could again surprise some people.

Elmhurst: I actually upticked them when they got Lester. I think he knows what he is doing on both sides of the ball and his enthusiasm and previous experience at Elmhurst and in the CCIW will make Elmhurst dangerous in future years. This is a transition year for them in my view.

Carthage: both coordinators gone, 3 of their best players and leaders gone. Those are hits below the water line in my view. This will set the Redmen back a year or two. That said, Rucks is a magician and who knows what he has cooking behind the curtain in Kenosha.

Millkin: The leagues most dramatic fall continues. Neibhur is one of the best coaches in the league and hopefully a new AD will help right the ship but not this year. Kormalinik, LB Sam Jordan, and DB Stefan Edwards will be bright spots in a talent pool that is void of quality numbers in Decatur.

NPU: no Kelvyn West or Chris Durr = no conference wins in my book. I think NPU closes the gap in every game again but are still a year away from their first conf win.

There you go. Have at it. agree or disagree. its open season as reporting date is days away. Are you ready for some football?


{edited for stupidity}

[burly]

1. Wheaton 7-1
2. NCC 7-1
3. Augie 5-3
4. IWU 4-4
5. Elmhurst 4-4
6. Carthage 3-5
7. Millikin 2-6
8. NPU 0-8

Unless we have added another team to the conference, I think there are only 7 CCIW games.  Kidding.

Mr. Sager, what do you think of that goose egg after #8?  Is this the year?

[Gotberg]

While we're still in off-season mode (mostly), a history question.  To gear up for fb, I was scanning the CCIW record book, and found something intriguing:

Paul Zaeske (NPU, though I'd assume NPC then) received passes for 325 yards against Augie in 1968 (all-time conference best).  The same season he caught for 250 yards (6th best all-time) and scored 48 points (all-time record, any position, by two TDs) against NCC.  His 1968 season is the second-best ever in yardage (though, since he is the only receiver with two games in the top ten, that still seems a bit disappointing), but he is not in the top ten scoring seasons (even though #10 is only 86, meaning he scored less than 38 points the entire rest of the season), nor is he in the top ten career stats for either yardage or scoring.

Neither the CCIW or NPU sites have yielded any further information.  I know Dennis would know, but seems to rarely come to this site.  Anyone?  Was PZ a two-game wonder?  Injured?  A transfer playing less than 4 seasons?  Seems an interesting situation (to me, at least) - anyone know the story?

I am not sure the specifics of PZ's NP career, but can answer your question about whether he was a 2 game wonder.  He did play the 69-70 season for the Houston Oilers, so I'm confident he had a good season, if not more than 1 good year at NP.

Edit:  He may have played 2 seasons for the Oilers.  69 and 70.  Click the Vikes in the Pros link listed on the following page link: 
http://www.northpark.edu/npuvikings/sport.cfm?pageCall=2

[Gregory Sager]

I am not sure the specifics of PZ's NP career, but can answer your question about whether he was a 2 game wonder.  He did play the 69-70 season for the Houston Oilers, so I'm confident he had a good season, if not more than 1 good year at NP.

Edit:  He may have played 2 seasons for the Oilers.  69 and 70.  Click the Vikes in the Pros link listed on the following page link: 
http://www.northpark.edu/npuvikings/sport.cfm?pageCall=2

I can't answer the specifics of your question about Paul Zaeske's scoring during the '68 season, Chuck, but as Gotberg said he was no two-game wonder. NPU oldsters have told me on more than one occasion what a tremendous athlete Zaeske was; if I'm not mistaken, he was also a starter alongside Greg Crawford and Jim Carroll on NPC's '68-'69 basketball team that won the CCIW championship.

But you're right to direct your question to Dennis. He's the man in the know as far as Paul Zaeske is concerned.

[Gregory Sager]

1. Wheaton 7-1
2. NCC 7-1
3. Augie 5-3
4. IWU 4-4
5. Elmhurst 4-4
6. Carthage 3-5
7. Millikin 2-6
8. NPU 0-8

Unless we have added another team to the conference, I think there are only 7 CCIW games.  Kidding.

Mr. Sager, what do you think of that goose egg after #8?  Is this the year?

I'd say no. My read is that North Park will not get off the schneid this season. I think that usee is right that the Vikings will make incremental progress in terms of making CCIW games closer, just as they did last season, and I think that the talent on the O-line -- the biggest obstacle among many between NPU and gridiron competence over the years -- will be noticeably improved. Shelby Wood will be an improved QB as well. But I think that we will have to wait one final season before NPU ends that odious conference losing streak.

On the other hand, I do think that NPU will improve upon its recent one-win-only trend in non-conference games. The Vikings came very close to beating Rose-Hulman and Benedictine last season, both of whom will show up at the corner of Foster and Albany as NPU home opponents this season, and Carroll strikes me as a beatable team (even though the game is up in Waukesha).

Of course, there is nobody who would more dearly like to see me proven wrong about an 0-7 CCIW mark for NPU in 2008 than I would myself. I will eagerly and enthusiastically post a mea culpa as soon as I get to a computer in the event of a Vikings CCIW upset win.

[matblake]

Since I know basically nothing about Millikin (other than how I hate the drive down there  ).  How much do you think Elmhurst, North Central, and Carthage's upturn is contributing to the Big Blue's lack of CCIW wins lately?  Could the fact that those 3 are more competitive be taking away some of the recruits that would have formerly headed downstate to Millikin?  I've listed the records since 99 below to see if things are trending that way.

1999:  Mill 5-2  Car 4-3  NC 2-5 Elm 1-6
2000:  Mill 6-1  NC 3-4   Car1-6 Elm 1-6
01:  Mill 5-2  Car 3-4  NC 2-5 Elm 1-6
02:  Mill 4-3  NC 4-3 Car 3-4 Elm 1-6
03:  Mill 4-3  NC 4-3 Elm 3-4 Car 1-6
04:  Car 6-1 NC 4-3 Mill 4-3 Elm 1-6
05:  NC 6-1 Car 4-3 Elm 3-4 Mill 2-5
06: NC 6-1 Car 3-4 Elm 3-4 Mill 2-5
07: NC 6-1 Car 4-3 Elm 3-4 Mill 1-6

[matblake]

The CCIW preseason poll has been released: http://www.cciw.org/fall_football/2008preseasonfbpoll.php

As far as first place votes go we know that Coach Thorne voted for Wheaton since he couldn't vote for North Central and no other teams received first place votes.  My guess is that the other first place vote for Wheaton came from Coach Lester.  He couldn't vote for Elmhurst, and having left North Central so recently he might not have wanted to have an appearance of impropriety.  Any other thoughts? 

[79jaybird]

I think Usee's assessment is fairly accurate.  I would put IWU at 5-3 over Augie at 4-4 though.  IWU surprised everybody last year and I don't think they will have THAT much of a drop to this season.
For Elmhurst, this is a BIG transition year.  Not only do they have a new coach, a new Offensive Coordinator, but they lost 18 seniors from last year, most of them started.  Elmhurst needs some of the underclassmen to step up and pick up where the others left off.  (6-4) has been the mark the last few years.  With the CCIW rising and getting more competitive, I think for Elmhurst to fall back to CCIW records of 1-6, 2-5, etc.  would be very bad. 

Matblake- Good point and I have thought about that for a few years now.  When the CCIW was a big 4 (AC/W/IWU/MU)/little 4   those schools were able to grasp the cream of the crop in recruiting.  People wanted to go away and join winning teams.  Nowadays, the rise of Carthage, North Central, and Elmhurst picking up steam,  recruits don't have to go as far to play for winning ball clubs.

[Gregory Sager]

Since I know basically nothing about Millikin (other than how I hate the drive down there  ).

That's all? And after all the efforts that this room has made to educate readers as to the Millikin campus's proximity to college bars in nearby downstate cities?

Man, you Wheaton guys are slow learners.

[Mugsy]

Since I know basically nothing about Millikin (other than how I hate the drive down there  ).

That's all? And after all the efforts that this room has made to educate readers as to the Millikin campus's proximity to college bars in nearby downstate cities?

Man, you Wheaton guys are slow learners.

I believe matblake is being modest. 

From years past he clearly knows the real origin of every CCIW mascot - including the Big Blue.  Prior to each game against Wheaton he produces a wealth of valueable knowledge that I'm proud to say I work into my everyday conversations.   

[matblake]

Since I know basically nothing about Millikin (other than how I hate the drive down there  ).

That's all? And after all the efforts that this room has made to educate readers as to the Millikin campus's proximity to college bars in nearby downstate cities?

Man, you Wheaton guys are slow learners.

I believe matblake is being modest. 

From years past he clearly knows the real origin of every CCIW mascot - including the Big Blue.  Prior to each game against Wheaton he produces a wealth of valueable knowledge that I'm proud to say I work into my everyday conversations.   

Actually, since I have never been to any bars in Decatur, I assumed that guy knew what he was talking about, and just took it for granted that they all suck and that Decatur had no worthwhile places to drink, since that is the most important decision as far as where to attend school and play football.      But, perhaps I'm a bad example because given my schools reputation scavenger hunts, visits to the library, and sharing a coke with 2 straws are living on the wild side. 

[Gregory Sager]

I believe matblake is being modest. 

From years past he clearly knows the real origin of every CCIW mascot - including the Big Blue.  Prior to each game against Wheaton he produces a wealth of valueable knowledge that I'm proud to say I work into my everyday conversations.   

The great part about something like that is that you can completely make it all up and nobody will ever know the difference. F'rinstance, I once told someone at a MU @ NPU basketball game that Millikin was called the Big Blue because downstate livestock magnate and school founder James Millikin got the multi-million-dollar beef concession to IBM's company cafeterias.

Dunno what the real reason is, but I'd like to see someone top that.

But, perhaps I'm a bad example because given my schools reputation scavenger hunts, visits to the library, and sharing a coke with 2 straws are living on the wild side.

I used to work with a Wheaton alumna who told me that when she was a student she once shared a Coke with one straw. Didn't violate the pledge or anything, but her parents did get a stern letter from the dean.

[Mugsy]

I used to work with a Wheaton alumna who told me that when she was a student she once shared a Coke with one straw. Didn't violate the pledge or anything, but her parents did get a stern letter from the dean.

Was she put on double secret probation?

"Fat, sharing a Coke with one straw, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."