FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

Confusing but helpful in that if your opponent played weak teams to get to its nice record, that would be reflected in the OOWP.

[usee]

For the games this weekend I can't see anything but a blowout for Augie/Millikin and IWU/NPU.

Wheaton @Carthage: this is the enigma bowl. Which team will show up? The Wheaton team that turned it over 6 times in losing to Elmhurst or the one that ran the ball for 200+ yds down at Augie? The Carthage team that beat IWU in bloomington and took NCC to the wire in Naperville or the one that got blown out at home vs Augustana? Turnovers will rule the day. He who turns it over least wins. I can't see Carthage running very effectively and w Evan Jones only using halft the field perhaps he will be limited as well. Wheaton must show they can handle pressure. You can be sure Carthage will blitz early and often.

The North Central/Elmhurst game is intriguing due to the different undercurrent with Lester and his staff taking on his former boss, etc. On paper this game really shouldn't be close and its good to see North Central getting a few bodies back in action as they prepare for a post season run (mcintosh at WR played last week.) Elmhurst is going to have to figure out how to disrupt Cardinal offense and even more importantly score some points. I have a hard time figuring out where the Elmhurst points are going to come from in this game. I think NCC is much better up front on both sides of the ball and their special teams are dramatically better than Elmhurst's. That said I thought many similar things prior to Wheaton/Elmhurst. The biggest advantage the Bluejays have going for them is the fact the game is at Langhorst field.

[FormerCard]

Here's my two cents about Lester (sp?)

Taking a team that has been tough but just not getting a few big game wins is a good first step.  However, since this is Lester's first season at the helm of Elmhurst....these are all not his guys.  In fact, my calander skills might be off a little, but pretty sure Lester didn't even come into the Elmhurst picture until late in recruiting this year.  If that is the case, he might not be playing with close to any of his guys. 

Don't get me wrong, he did a hell of a job at NCC last year with that defense.  And he deserves credit for coming over and making his kids play the way that he is.  But coming in and taking an already tough team to get that first big victory (the first step of getting over the hump) is really only half of the battle.  The second half of the battle is recruiting.  I mean would you just pay a repair man just for taking apart your troubled appliance? No of course you wouldn't.

Thorne, on the other hand has won three (should have been four) straight with his own guys.  I just don't see how that doesn't speak volumes.

You make a very good point about recruiting.
I remember lobbying for NCC a few years ago and a few people said that until we beat a good team (Augie/Wheaton) on the road, we cannot be considered a "Top 4" team.   

North Central will not be a top 4 team until they win 5... no 6 CCIW Championships in a row.   

Unfortunately they are loaded enough to make 4 a serious possibility. 

You mean...Fortunately   

You are right Mugsy, it is hard to imagine NCC losing steam going into next year, however I  know how vital a good QB can be in this league and Carthage, IWU, and Wheaton all return GOOD underclassman quarterbacks....That being said...Fanthorpe will also be back, and hopefully riding the momentum of a championship run!  (Fingers crossed and hoping)

[washdupcard]

KNOCK ON WOOD RIGHT NOW!

[FormerCard]

KNOCK ON WOOD RIGHT NOW!

Knocking as we speak!  not just that fake stuff either...real Red Oak.

[Tailgater]

Carthage Fan:
I've been trying to send you an email with tailgate recipes for the CFPG cookbook, but keep getting mail failure notices. Has your email address changed? Send me an email so I can correct my address for you and if you dare a cell phone # would be useful for future contact.

[burly]

Redman04... what's the bet?  You want to bet the Carthage vs. Wheaton game or wait until next week for the OSU vs. Michigan game?   

Or, we could go best out of 3:
11/15 - Carthage vs. wheaton
11/22 - OSU vs. Michigan
12/6 - Alabama vs. Florida

You pick.  But, there have to be points involved this time.  And, what's the price to pay if you lose?  Wanna play for the profile name again?

[Carthage Fan]

Carthage Fan:
I've been trying to send you an email with tailgate recipes for the CFPG cookbook, but keep getting mail failure notices. Has your email address changed? Send me an email so I can correct my address for you and if you dare a cell phone # would be useful for future contact.

"Houston, we've had a problem"  I installed a new hard drive and DVD/CD burner because I was running out of storage space and got a bluescreen of death everytime I tried to burn a CD.  Bluescreen has been fixed but my Office 2007 did not make it onto the new drive and disappeared off the old drive, yet it still appears in the add/remove programs.  I cannot unistall or reinstall it as I keep getting error messages!  Registry entries are gone and the startup has ~'s in the string. 

I looked at calling Microsoft...$295! So, I am looking at the dreaded reinstall of Windows XP.  If anyone has any better ideas let me know.  I have thought about the Geek Squad but not sure I want to pay $199 for them to tell me the same thing.

I will email you later.  Dress warm for Saturday!

[FormerCard]

Good article on Carthage QB Evan Jones in Around the Midwest

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/midwest/2008/The+new+face+of+Carthage+football

[New Tradition]

The biggest advantage the Bluejays have going for them is the fact the game is at Langhorst field.

I think another huge advatage that Elmhurst has is that the Cardinals are going to have to change their entire audible system since Lester knows it...

[79jaybird]

That's a good point NT.  I think John Thorne knows Tim Lester just as much as Tim Lester knows John Thorne, which is why I think it boils down to the players and not the coaching staff.  Who's going to make the play and execute? 

Are you coming to the game?  I will be at Fitz's after the game probably catching up with CardinalAlum.

[Tailgater]

Good article on Carthage QB Evan Jones in Around the Midwest

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/midwest/2008/The+new+face+of+Carthage+football

There is another young Red Men QB/WR who can be even more dangerous to defenses on the field than Jones. Chris Schulz is a sophomore (red shirt freshmen) who has found himself starting at a WR spot and returning kicks this season. The Coaching staff moved the former All-State QB to receiver simply to get his athleticism on the field. He has blazing speed, which makes him more mobile than Jones, and is a good decision maker under pressure. He has been used from the WR position to carry the football on end around plays, throw the football on WR options as well as being one of several targets in the spread offense for Jones to utilize. As the season has progressed Schulz has seen more and more time behind center in shot-gun formation taking snaps and operating the offense as the QB. There will certainly be a battle next season for the QB position up in Kenosha, A nice problem for Coach Rucks and Coach Peebles to have.

[redman04]

Redman04... what's the bet?  You want to bet the Carthage vs. Wheaton game or wait until next week for the OSU vs. Michigan game?   

Or, we could go best out of 3:
11/15 - Carthage vs. wheaton
11/22 - OSU vs. Michigan
12/6 - Alabama vs. Florida

You pick.  But, there have to be points involved this time.  And, what's the price to pay if you lose?  Wanna play for the profile name again?

I like Best outta 3!  Profile Naming rights works for me!
How about the Masters of the Board name the Spreads?

[redman04]

For the games this weekend I can't see anything but a blowout for Augie/Millikin and IWU/NPU.

Wheaton @Carthage: this is the enigma bowl. Which team will show up? The Wheaton team that turned it over 6 times in losing to Elmhurst or the one that ran the ball for 200+ yds down at Augie? The Carthage team that beat IWU in bloomington and took NCC to the wire in Naperville or the one that got blown out at home vs Augustana? Turnovers will rule the day. He who turns it over least wins. I can't see Carthage running very effectively and w Evan Jones only using halft the field perhaps he will be limited as well. Wheaton must show they can handle pressure. You can be sure Carthage will blitz early and often.

This should be called the Turnover Bowl...Who ever has less should win!! 

[New Tradition]

That's a good point NT.  I think John Thorne knows Tim Lester just as much as Tim Lester knows John Thorne, which is why I think it boils down to the players and not the coaching staff.  Who's going to make the play and execute? 

Are you coming to the game?  I will be at Fitz's after the game probably catching up with CardinalAlum.

I'll be at the game for sure, and I'll try and make an appearance at Fitz's.  Looking forward to it, JB!