FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Son of Tailgater]

I noticed on the top 25 that came out this week that North Central was ranked 14th and Ohio Northern was ranked 16th. I am not trying to start a discussion regarding NCC's/ ON 's performance thus far or rank but wanted to discuss more how rankings were decided. Let me explain:

Ohio Northern beat NCC but lost to #1 Mount Union (3-0) and #18 Otterbien (3-0). While Ohio Northern is 1-2 they have losses to teams in the top 20 with a combined record of 6-0.

NCC lost to Ohio Northern but beat both Benedictine (1-2) and Olivet (0-4). With a combined record of 1-6.

Regardless of the talent of all of these teams combined wouldn't it more more sense to have Ohio Northern ranked above NCC based on their opponents and the outcome of the head to head match-up?

Once again, I am not trying to put down either team but it was a good example of why I am sometimes confused on how the top 25 gets decided.

[Son of Tailgater]

It looks like a very interesting first week of conference play (except, probably, for Wheaton @ NPU):

(2-1) NCC @ (3-0) Millikin - is Millikin really for real, or will this still be as one-sided as I suspect?

(3-0) Elmhurst @ (2-1) Augie - substitute Elmhurst for Millikin, and see above.

(3-0) IWU @ (3-0) Carthage - even aside from my green blood, this is the one I'm most intrigued by.  I have a feeling that one of these teams will emerge as a spoiler, perhaps even a full-fledged contender, I just have no clue which one.

Mr. Ypsi,

I was thinking the exact same thing. I have a feeling Millikin is for real this year. They have picked up some talent (QB from Maroa) and could be a conference championship contender in the near future. I do not think it will be this year yet and that NCC is starting to run into the same form as last year and will take care of business in Decatur.

I am still on the fence with Augie. The loss to Coe in week 1 had me really puzzled. Then again, it was week 1 and maybe they just weren't gelling as a team. I am also not sure that Elmhurst has played a really tough opponent this year with Benedictine, Olivet and Chicago. Augie is also at home so I have to give the advantage to Augie in this one.

I agree with you on the IWU/ Carthage game. I have no clue how this one will play out but I feel that IWU is much improved this year. IWU has impressed me with their blow out wins over Aurora and Alma. They played Hope close but it looks like every has thus far as well. Carthage and IWU have scored both 110 points and 123 points in their first 3 games alone. I am looking for a high scoring homecoming contest in Kenosha this weekend.

[devildog29]

Anybody watching Mt. Union product Garzon catching passes from Eli?
   

Nope, but I did see him catching passes from Peyton.   

[Mugsy]

CCIW players of the week:

Offense: Evan Jones, QB - Carthage
Jones, a junior quarterback from Grayslake, Ill., and Grayslake High School, completed 28-of-41 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns in the Red Men's 34-24 win at NCAA Division I-FCS Valparaiso on Saturday. He also punted twice in the second half and placed both kicks on the Crusaders' one-yard line. Jones is an exercise and sport science majo

Defense: Randy Wright, LB - Elmhurst
Wright, a junior linebacker from Bellwood, Ill., and Fenwick High School, led the Elmhurst defense in a 31-6 win at the University of Chicago on Saturday. Wright amassed a team-leading 12 tackles, including eight solo stops in the victory. He added 2.5 tackles for loss including, 1.5 quarterback sacks. Wright is a business administration major.

Special Teams: Tyler Lomnicki, PK/Punter - Elmhurst
Lomnicki, a senior kicker/punter from Elmhurst, Ill., and York High School, had a solid performance in the Bluejays' win at Chicago. He converted all four of his extra-point attempts and booted a 35-yard field goal in his only attempt. He also averaged 44.0 yards per punt while punting four times, including a 52-yard punt. Lomnicki is an exercise science major.

[Tailgater]

CCIW players of the week:

Offense: Evan Jones, QB - Carthage
Jones, a junior quarterback from Grayslake, Ill., and Grayslake High School, completed 28-of-41 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns in the Red Men's 34-24 win at NCAA Division I-FCS Valparaiso on Saturday. He also punted twice in the second half and placed both kicks on the Crusaders' one-yard line. Jones is an exercise and sport science majo

Defense: Randy Wright, LB - Elmhurst
Wright, a junior linebacker from Bellwood, Ill., and Fenwick High School, led the Elmhurst defense in a 31-6 win at the University of Chicago on Saturday. Wright amassed a team-leading 12 tackles, including eight solo stops in the victory. He added 2.5 tackles for loss including, 1.5 quarterback sacks. Wright is a business administration major.

Special Teams: Tyler Lomnicki, PK/Punter - Elmhurst
Lomnicki, a senior kicker/punter from Elmhurst, Ill., and York High School, had a solid performance in the Bluejays' win at Chicago. He converted all four of his extra-point attempts and booted a 35-yard field goal in his only attempt. He also averaged 44.0 yards per punt while punting four times, including a 52-yard punt. Lomnicki is an exercise science major.

Two weeks in a row for Evan Jones. Hope he keeps up the high performance level against IWU this weekend.

[New Tradition]

Two weeks in a row for Evan Jones. Hope he keeps up the high performance level against IWU this weekend.

That makes 2 of us, as I picked him in the CCIW pick 'em Wild Card question. 

[Son of Tailgater]

Mugsy, you were right.....a pretty quiet board for it being the first week of CCIW play.....I wonder what is going on?

[Mugsy]

Mugsy, you were right.....a pretty quiet board for it being the first week of CCIW play.....I wonder what is going on?

Well for one... some of the primary posters over the years who would drive topics of conversation have been seen briefly lurking, but not heard from much.  USee for Wheaton, CardinalAlum for NCC come to mind.

There has been very, very little from the Augie nation thus far.  Jaybird is recently married and expecting a family so he has undergone "a change in priorities."   

There are far fewer people posting with their thoughts, insights and questions on the CCIW board than in past years.  I'm not sure why, but I don't think it is isolated solely to this board.  It makes me wonder if there aren't other factors involved?  The economy resulting in people focusing their time on more critical tasks (less leisure)? 

Not sure I want to ask Pat the general question as to whether or not there has been a dropoff in traffic to D3Football compared to previous years?

I dunno... hopefully things will pickup soon.  The past few Saturdays I feel like "I'm talking to myself" on the in-game updates board.   

[oldnuthin]

Mugsy, you were right.....a pretty quiet board for it being the first week of CCIW play.....I wonder what is going on?

Well for one... some of the primary posters over the years who would drive topics of conversation have been seen briefly lurking, but not heard from much.  USee for Wheaton, CardinalAlum for NCC come to mind.

There has been very, very little from the Augie nation thus far.  Jaybird is recently married and expecting a family so he has undergone "a change in priorities."   

There are far fewer people posting with their thoughts, insights and questions on the CCIW board than in past years.  I'm not sure why, but I don't think it is isolated solely to this board.  It makes me wonder if there aren't other factors involved?  The economy resulting in people focusing their time on more critical tasks (less leisure)? 

Not sure I want to ask Pat the general question as to whether or not there has been a dropoff in traffic to D3Football compared to previous years?

I dunno... hopefully things will pickup soon.  The past few Saturdays I feel like "I'm talking to myself" on the in-game updates board.   

I would love to add more but being new to the board Im still trying to figure it all out. I have not seen any other millikin posters on the board, and seeing as my nephew is JV I don't get alot info about the varsity. Maybe I should go back and read all of last years posts to get an idea as to waht is relevant to add. I do enjoy adding to the in game updates though.

[Mugsy]

Mugsy, you were right.....a pretty quiet board for it being the first week of CCIW play.....I wonder what is going on?

Well for one... some of the primary posters over the years who would drive topics of conversation have been seen briefly lurking, but not heard from much.  USee for Wheaton, CardinalAlum for NCC come to mind.

There has been very, very little from the Augie nation thus far.  Jaybird is recently married and expecting a family so he has undergone "a change in priorities."   

There are far fewer people posting with their thoughts, insights and questions on the CCIW board than in past years.  I'm not sure why, but I don't think it is isolated solely to this board.  It makes me wonder if there aren't other factors involved?  The economy resulting in people focusing their time on more critical tasks (less leisure)? 

Not sure I want to ask Pat the general question as to whether or not there has been a dropoff in traffic to D3Football compared to previous years?

I dunno... hopefully things will pickup soon.  The past few Saturdays I feel like "I'm talking to myself" on the in-game updates board.   

I would love to add more but being new to the board Im still trying to figure it all out. I have not seen any other millikin posters on the board, and seeing as my nephew is JV I don't get alot info about the varsity. Maybe I should go back and read all of last years posts to get an idea as to waht is relevant to add. I do enjoy adding to the in game updates though.

Any posts about Millikin are more than welcome.  Things have been very quiet from Millikin for several years now.  Any input from you will be more than we've received in past years.  I appreciate what you've added this the board.

[Viking Mike]

Glad to be posting again from Augie Nation........................................

I have seen the Vikes twice this year.... against Coe and Platteville.

The game in Cedar Rapids was very disappointing as the defense played great but the offense struggled to move the ball.  A botched field goal attempt on the 5 yard line cost the Vikings in a game they should have won.  The Platteville game again featured an opportunistic defense and improved special teams play.  The Vikes also seem to be getting their offense moving with the emergence of quarterback David Lee.

Like most of Coach Barnes teams, I expect this team to continue to improve and become a much better team in Oct and Nov.

The Elmhurst game in Rock Island is a tough one to predict.  The Bluejays have a tough defense but have not played the competition Augie has.  With cool weather and rain anticipated on Sat, I expect a low scoring game controlled by the defenses.   Something in the 17-14 range?


Go AUGIE!!!!!!!!

[matblake]

Hey all,
I'm guilty of the drop off in participation.  Things are tight at work right now, so I don't have as much down time as in previous years.  I do enjoy checking in to the boards.  Anyone know why the Thunder/East Vikings game starts at 2 PM?  Just seems different to me, but I haven't really paid attention to North Park start times before, maybe they all start at 2. Carthage v IWU should be a burner.  I'm going to go with Carthage because of the home field advantage, not very confident though. 

[Son of Tailgater]

Mugsy, you were right.....a pretty quiet board for it being the first week of CCIW play.....I wonder what is going on?

Well for one... some of the primary posters over the years who would drive topics of conversation have been seen briefly lurking, but not heard from much.  USee for Wheaton, CardinalAlum for NCC come to mind.

There has been very, very little from the Augie nation thus far.  Jaybird is recently married and expecting a family so he has undergone "a change in priorities."   

There are far fewer people posting with their thoughts, insights and questions on the CCIW board than in past years.  I'm not sure why, but I don't think it is isolated solely to this board.  It makes me wonder if there aren't other factors involved?  The economy resulting in people focusing their time on more critical tasks (less leisure)? 

Not sure I want to ask Pat the general question as to whether or not there has been a dropoff in traffic to D3Football compared to previous years?

I dunno... hopefully things will pickup soon.  The past few Saturdays I feel like "I'm talking to myself" on the in-game updates board.   

I would love to add more but being new to the board Im still trying to figure it all out. I have not seen any other millikin posters on the board, and seeing as my nephew is JV I don't get alot info about the varsity. Maybe I should go back and read all of last years posts to get an idea as to waht is relevant to add. I do enjoy adding to the in game updates though.

I agree with Mugsy in that ANYTHING from Millikin posters would be a great added value to this board. I have been particularly interested in them this year as they have been putting up some pretty big numbers on the scoreboard early on.

[Son of Tailgater]

Glad to be posting again from Augie Nation........................................

I have seen the Vikes twice this year.... against Coe and Platteville.

The game in Cedar Rapids was very disappointing as the defense played great but the offense struggled to move the ball.  A botched field goal attempt on the 5 yard line cost the Vikings in a game they should have won.  The Platteville game again featured an opportunistic defense and improved special teams play.  The Vikes also seem to be getting their offense moving with the emergence of quarterback David Lee.

Like most of Coach Barnes teams, I expect this team to continue to improve and become a much better team in Oct and Nov.

The Elmhurst game in Rock Island is a tough one to predict.  The Bluejays have a tough defense but have not played the competition Augie has.  With cool weather and rain anticipated on Sat, I expect a low scoring game controlled by the defenses.   Something in the 17-14 range?


Go AUGIE!!!!!!!!

I would also expect Augie to control most of the clock as they always have. This could wear out the Elmhurst defense especially being early on in the season.

[Pat Coleman]

Mugsy, you were right.....a pretty quiet board for it being the first week of CCIW play.....I wonder what is going on?

Well for one... some of the primary posters over the years who would drive topics of conversation have been seen briefly lurking, but not heard from much.  USee for Wheaton, CardinalAlum for NCC come to mind.

There has been very, very little from the Augie nation thus far.  Jaybird is recently married and expecting a family so he has undergone "a change in priorities."   

There are far fewer people posting with their thoughts, insights and questions on the CCIW board than in past years.  I'm not sure why, but I don't think it is isolated solely to this board.  It makes me wonder if there aren't other factors involved?  The economy resulting in people focusing their time on more critical tasks (less leisure)? 

Not sure I want to ask Pat the general question as to whether or not there has been a dropoff in traffic to D3Football compared to previous years?

I dunno... hopefully things will pickup soon.  The past few Saturdays I feel like "I'm talking to myself" on the in-game updates board.   

Traffic has been just steady, neither up nor down, so far this year. We used to see significant growth, though, from year to year, so even holding steady is troubling.

I have one significant thought in mind as to how this happens -- back in the day, you know, up until about 18 months ago, when all of the schools' athletics web sites were homegrown, SIDs had control over where everything was placed and we had links to D3football.com from many schools.

But lately, the two major templated companies have moved in and taken a bunch of that market away. Schools have less control over how they link to us and since it wasn't in the default setup, many aren't linking to us at all anymore. We are trying to rectify that situation by sending out emails when we notice that schools no longer link to us, but to be honest, a link buried on a "Related links" page has a lot less impact than a logo right on the football main page.