FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Neverwas]

I agree USee 2007 seven would be the best on paper. 2004 offense may have been the best. Chupp Musso Sinclair Granberg (statistically better than 2004).

If I am Wheaton...this is the best possible draw. MIAA champ and a much friendlier than usualsecond round opponent.  Just don't lose focus before bell week #2. 

[Neverwas]

and by 2004 I meant 2003... I guess I a little excited Wheaton is at the dance.

[SaintsFAN]

OAC pick 'em line:

thomas more +31.5

ouch.  lots of high spreads on there, especially in the east --where all the games are double digits.  

Thanks for the info, CardinalAlum.  I have some friends and family in Chicago, I'm going to try to get out of work on Friday and make it a weekend.  Sounds like the Wenger should be a treat to watch.  Hopefully the Saints pinpoint a weakness and are able to turn this thing into a barnburner --it potentially could be fun to see the teams try to impose their will on eachother.  I had the misfortune of being a member of the 1996 and 1997 team that played Illinois Wesleyan (96 against Lon Erickson's IWU), a couple staff members also were a part of this and Coach Hilvert was DC for Mount St Joe when they played Wheaton in the playoffs-- I can tell you that our program and fans have great respect for the CCIW.  Especially an undefeated conference champ.

About the game... you will know TMC is not playing well if they are turning the ball over.  The interception total for NCC is pretty damned impressive... and our QB has been careful with the ball.  Something has to give..

[Mugsy]

Reflecting on the cards 10-0 regular season, it made me think of the greatest CCIW of all time in recent years (post auggie mid-80's)...


I have narrowed it down to 4 teams:

03' Wheaton

04' Carthage

05' Auggie

05' NCC

Personally, I would love a 03' Wheaton/04' Carthage fantasy match-up....

just something to ponder...

I'd say best teams since 2000.  I know in the 90's there are a ton of great Millikin, Wesleyan, and Augie teams.  I'm sure someone who has been around D3 for longer than I have would know a lot more about them.

If you want to pick a Wheaton team from the last ten years, in their two year stretch without a conference loss, the 2002 team was quite a bit stronger than 2003.

Their conference schedule in 2002:
*ELMHURST COLLEGE....... 62-7  W   
*at Millikin............ 39-20 W   
*CARTHAGE............... 36-6  W   
*at Illinois Wesleyan... 35-21 W   
*NORTH CENTRAL.......... 41-7  W   
*at North Park.......... 68-12 W   
*AUGUSTANA VIKINGS...... 38-14 W   

They did have a  16-23 hiccup in week one against Alma, but they made up for that with a 42-14 victory in the playoffs over that same Alma team.    The 2003 team made it deeper into the playoffs (due to getting Mount in a later round) but didn't have close to the dominanting  performance in CCIW play the '02 team did.

The best team Wheaton has ever had was in August of 2007.....but I digress. The best one that actuallyfnished a season was definitely the 2002 team. they gave Mt Union the best game of any Wheaton team. The next best Wheaton team was the 1995 team. they were loaded too. Best NCC team I have seen was Kam Kniss, Radtke, Holden and company. This year's team has a chance to better that.

The best Wheaton team was obviously 1988.   

I preferred 1987 by a large margin!!!

LOL... why did I know that was coming?

[HScoach]

SaintsFAN:  I hated to set it at +31.5 on your boys , but I've seen enough of your conference over the years to believe the best of the CCIW will completely dominate the line of scrimamge.  And with it the game.

[SaintsFAN]

no sweat, hscoach. 

I've seen the CCIW in action back in the mid 90's... I agree with that general description.  Hopefully TMC's veteran offensive line plays out of their minds... because if they get our RBs into space, I like our chances of breaking off some runs..  BUT, we have to find a way to either block or TRICK the defensive line of NCC.

[usee]

If you can keep Matt Wenger from getting 15+ tackles you have a chance. Hasn't happened so far but good luck.

[SaintsFAN]

Thats incredible... how do you gameplan for a linebacker that has a nose for the ball like that? 

[Mugsy]

Thats incredible... how do you gameplan for a linebacker that has a nose for the ball like that? 

Lets not forget he leads the team in interceptions as well - at 5.  The guy is all over the field causing chaos where ever he goes.

With North Central as a primary rival, it pains me to accept that they beat us this year.  As a former D3 LB, I can't help but marvel at Wenger's ability.  He is a stud LB to be sure.

Scary part is that he is only a junior.  Should be a serious contender for D3Football DPOY in 09'...

[usee]

Thats incredible... how do you gameplan for a linebacker that has a nose for the ball like that? 

quick kick? 

[robertgoulet]

Thats incredible... how do you gameplan for a linebacker that has a nose for the ball like that? 

quick kick? 

Three words:

Statue
of
Liberty

[usee]

If you want to beat Wheaton look at this years stats:

In 2 losses they gave up 9 sacks and turned it over 10 times.
In 8 wins they gave up 4 sacks and turned it over 11 times.

[DIIIinVA]

Wow, just logged in and found out Wheaton made it into the playoffs as an at-large with an 8-2 record!  Is that new respect for the CCIW from the powers that be?  I thought conventional wisdom was that a CCIW team with 2 conference losses would never get an at-large berth. 

Good luck to both Wheaton and NCC!

[79jaybird]

Mugsy- I agree with you that if Elmhurst finished 8-2, 5-2 in a dead tie with Wheaton the committee would have given Elmhurst a long look and if they were to pick a 2nd CCIW team, would have given the nod to EC based on head to head. 
So now all eyes focus on NC and W and and I think both have the capabilities to get to the big game in VA.  (4) teams from IL made the playoffs NC, W, Monmouth, and Aurora.  Great to see good football teams from IL getting into post season.

[CardinalAlum]

So now all eyes focus on NC and W and and I think both have the capabilities to get to the big game in VA.  

Well......I think you should take a good hard look at the potential semi final game for the North region winner before you start bringing VA. into the conversation!!