FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

Can anyone think of a stronger year for CCIW QBs?

1.  Fanthorpe - NCC
2.  Norris - WC
3.  Wood - NPU
4.  Ladd - IWU
5.  Jones - CC

2008 average = 2,451 yards, 25 tds

IMO these QB's could start for any D3 in the country and are among the best in the nation.  Elmhurst, Augie and Millikin all with QB question marks in '09 however I believe Dicken started all 10 games for MU last year and returns.

Pretty bold statement!!  How many teams have you actually seen outside of the CCIW? 

In (partial) defense of lakeshore, that IS a pretty impressive collective of returning qb's (must be high on the list of all-time CCIW returnees). 

However, to say they could start for any d3 in the country would be saying they are THE 5 best - after all, if ANY other qb cracks the top 5, these guys wouldn't (all) start for that team!  Rather a wild overstatement (which I will retract if the CCIW sweeps every AA qb slot! ), but I can understand the sentiment.

[raiderguy]

Can anyone think of a stronger year for CCIW QBs?

1.  Fanthorpe - NCC
2.  Norris - WC
3.  Wood - NPU
4.  Ladd - IWU
5.  Jones - CC

2008 average = 2,451 yards, 25 tds

IMO these QB's could start for any D3 in the country and are among the best in the nation.  Elmhurst, Augie and Millikin all with QB question marks in '09 however I believe Dicken started all 10 games for MU last year and returns.

I am going to check the video tape but I am not sure Mr. Norris would start for the Raiders even this coming year when they need a new QB.

[usee]

Although I disagree with Lakeshore's statement as a generality, with all due respect Mr Raiderguy, I'll take a pass on your ability to evaluate QB's.

[lakeshore]

Although I disagree with Lakeshore's statement as a generality, with all due respect Mr Raiderguy, I'll take a pass on your ability to evaluate QB's.

alright the board awakens!  Somewhat of a partial statement being a fan of the CCIW as well as basing the thought partially on statistics alone.  These QB's are putting up solid numbers in arguably one of the top 3 conferences in the country. 

[FormerCard]

Although I disagree with Lakeshore's statement as a generality, with all due respect Mr Raiderguy, I'll take a pass on your ability to evaluate QB's.

I will second you there.   I think Norris surrounded by that line and backfield would probably lead the Raiders to a championship...but if Fanthorpe were the OB, the point spread would be higher

[HScoach]

I'd gladly take Norris as the Raider QB this season. 

Want to trade him for a D-lineman?  We have more than can see the field.

[raiderguy]

Although I disagree with Lakeshore's statement as a generality, with all due respect Mr Raiderguy, I'll take a pass on your ability to evaluate QB's.

After checking the video tape and other resources I will have a dose of crow, a small one but a dose. I would say Fanthorp would be a candidate to start for the Raiders. Norris would be able to compete for the job but he would have a tougher time since he is on par with our returning back-up and our returning QB may have a tough time keeping his job if LK decides to move Cecil Shorts III back to his original position as a QB.

Wood,  with a 112.77 passer rating is not even in the top 100 QB's in D3. Ladd and Jones at 34 & 44 would be a stretch to replace what we have.

[Titan Q]

Article about a kid heading to IWU...

http://www.southtownstar.com/sports/highschools/1672320,071809sptparkercarroll.article

[usee]

I don't pretend to know who Mt Union has coming up at QB. What I do know is that Sean Norris is about as talented a qb as division 3 will usually see. He has a strong arm and is very mobile. He is going to have a great year. Aaron Fanthorpe is probably a better runner and a was a better decision maker than Norris the last two seasons. Norris really came on in the playoffs and I believe is in position to be an elite qb this year. I think with Norris' playoff experience there isn't a lot of difference  between Fanthorpe and Norris going into this year.

As for Ladd and Jones, they are two different players. Jones is an up and comer. He needs to throw less interceptions and make better decisions. But another year in the same system will generally provide that. He will likely put up some egregious numbers this year but for him to become All Conference or All American, he will have to lead his team to victory in the big games. Ladd didn't make a step forward in my view last year. He had good skill guys around him and he didnt' step up his game relative to his Sophomore campaign. I think he played baseball in the spring and that can certainly have an impact, missing spring practice and not working out as much as the team but no doubt the Europe trip will help him. Ladd strikes me as an above average D3 Qb but hasn't shown much in terms of big drives in big games or dominating performances. In fact his numbers have declined late in the season which isn't a good sign.

Shelby Wood plays on an awful team but he is capable of starting for most teams in D3. He is a very talented QB with very little around him.

I would rank the CCIW QB's Like this:

1. Fanthorpe
2. Norris
3. Wood
4. Jones
5. Ladd

I think any of the top 3 LK would love to coach as a Raider this year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Article about a kid heading to IWU...

http://www.southtownstar.com/sports/highschools/1672320,071809sptparkercarroll.article

Every state numbers differently - is 6A a big school or a little school?

Any predictions about this kid contributing early?  (Or is your insider info limited to basketball?)

[orsky]

There are 8 classes for football in Illinois and 8A is the largest, so 6A would be at the upper end of school size.  Their enrollment is slightly over 1500.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Thanks.  Michigan numbers the reverse, with 1 being the biggest schools.  We just went from 4 to 8 divisions a couple of years ago.  Probably more accurately, but weirdly, they recalibrate after the fall enrollment counts (near the end of fb season), so teams 'on the bubble' (by size and/or record) don't even know which division they'll be in.

[WahooThunder]

The Wheaton season preview is now up: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2009/7/17/FB_Season_Preview.aspx

[HScoach]

Norris impressed me a ton with his toughness and attitude last year against Mount.  He had the crap beat out of him by a Mount pass rush that completely owned the line of scrimmage and he kept standing in the pocket trying to make a play.  I've seen more talented QB's (Rocky Pentello at Capital) get happy feet with a lot less pressure and hits than Norris was taking.

His receivers also dropped two sure 3rd & long conversion passes in the early going and a TD bounced off a receiver's face mask in the end zone right before halftime and he kept his composure.  If his receivers could have caught the ball to start the game I think we'd have had a shootout the entire game like we had in the 2nd half.  If the Wheaton receivers make the easy catches on 3rd down the 31-10 deficit at halftime could have been something a lot more hopefull like 31-21.

Wheaton had no answer for the Mount offense (especially Kmic and Petruziello) so they wouldn't have won, but I could easily see a scenario where that game could have ended up something like 54-38 if Wheaton wouldn't have blown so many offensive chances in the first half.

I have no idea what Fanthorpe is capable of as I've never seen him play, but I can honestly say that I'd be very satisfied with Sean Norris under center for the Raiders this fall based on what I saw out of him against Mount in the semi's.  If Norris can play that well against the Raider pressure without his 1st team RB, just imagine what he'd be capable of playing behind Mount's O-line with 4 starters back and throwing to Cecil Shorts, Vince Petruziello and AJ Claycomb!

In my less than humble opinion, the only thing standing the way of a return trip to Salem VA this winter for Mount is the question mark at QB.  The rest of the team is absolutely loaded.

Sure we can't work out some kind of pre-season trade to get Norris in Alliance?

[usee]

You may get Norris in Alliance but hopefully not til December