FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

The Penn Atlantic video stream is great...much better than just listening.

[Titan Q]

Final...

UW-Whitewater 45
Illinois Wesleyan 7


All Warhawks in the second half, as they outscored the Titans 28-0.  Whitewater was just bigger, faster, and stronger at almost every position on the field.  IWU couldn't run the ball at all in this game, and couldn't stop the Warhawks from running.  UW-W's stud RB picked up 6-7 yard chunks at will it seemed.

In 7 CCIW games, IWU allowed 81.3 rushing yards per game...today Whitewater had 236.  In CCIW play, the Titans rushed for 151.9 per game...today the Titans rushed for 30, and almost all of those came in the final minutes of the game.  Those numbers tell you all you need to know about UW-Whitewater vs the CCIW.  But I guess they do the same thing within the WIAC, which is a great league.

I just can't envision a CCIW team ever being to able to recruit the level of talent and depth that Whitewater and Mount Union have at every position.  Even a 100% healthy North Central this year, or a 100% healthy Wheaton from Studebaker's senior year...there just seems to be a huge gap there that the top of the CCIW will never be able to close.  

Great season, Titans.  It was a lot of fun following the games from afar...so many exciting games and huge plays late.  A big "thank you" to a special group of seniors who helped get the program back on the map.

[KitchenSink]

IWU battled the whole game.  You guys should be proud of your team.  Also, kudos to the fans - nice turnout and very vocal.

The defense just got worn down in the 2nd half.  Cheers, guys - a fine team.

[Pat Coleman]

I just can't envision a CCIW team ever being to able to recruit the level of talent and depth that Whitewater and Mount Union have at every position.  Even a 100% healthy North Central this year, or a 100% healthy Wheaton from Studebaker's senior year...there just seems to be a huge gap there that the top of the CCIW will never be able to close.  

Perhaps, but who knows? CCIW teams have no roster limits, while the WIAC limits teams to 100 players.

[maripp2002]

I wanted to say tough loss to a great team from' IWU this week. Part of me is glad it was IWU up there and part of me wishes it could have been Wabash taking that beating. Given last weeks game I think it is fair to say Wabash would have faired about as well.

The IWU Titans had a great season, beating my alma-mater in the playoffs, winning the CCIW, and playing UWW as tough as anyone did all season. Congratulations on a phenomenal season and a bright future for next year. Every season my regards for the great teams and fans of the CCIW grows. Good luck to all the teams next year!

[oldnuthin]

I just can't envision a CCIW team ever being to able to recruit the level of talent and depth that Whitewater and Mount Union have at every position.  Even a 100% healthy North Central this year, or a 100% healthy Wheaton from Studebaker's senior year...there just seems to be a huge gap there that the top of the CCIW will never be able to close.  

Perhaps, but who knows? CCIW teams have no roster limits, while the WIAC limits teams to 100 players.

i am inclined to agree with you Q. so much stronger and faster, especially on the the Whitewater D. Pat i don't think that that roster limit is exactly an impediment to this program with the amount of kids that due try out, you can take the best 100 out of how many that try out? i have been told the number is quite large. And if i remember the titan roster correctly it is 105 with a more selective academic standard. congrats to the Titans for a very hard fought game and good luck o their seniors, they really have turned things around their in the last four years.

[dad of a titan]

To all:
It's been a fun ride.... I am really going to miss the Saturdays filled with good fun, good people and great football.  D3 football has proven to be loaded with excitement at a level where the football is still pure...all about the kids and the sport of football... Looking forward to keeping tabs on the CCIW in the future because I will truly be a life-long fan..

[oldnuthin]

To all:
It's been a fun ride.... I am really going to miss the Saturdays filled with good fun, good people and great football.  D3 football has proven to be loaded with excitement at a level where the football is still pure...all about the kids and the sport of football... Looking forward to keeping tabs on the CCIW in the future because I will truly be a life-long fan..

Congrats to you and your son, Steve.

[wheels81]

Nice mention of Andy's big start week.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/kan/blogs

Mount or whitewater title to win

[BoBo]

I just can't envision a CCIW team ever being to able to recruit the level of talent and depth that Whitewater and Mount Union have at every position.  Even a 100% healthy North Central this year, or a 100% healthy Wheaton from Studebaker's senior year...there just seems to be a huge gap there that the top of the CCIW will never be able to close.  

Perhaps, but who knows? CCIW teams have no roster limits, while the WIAC limits teams to 100 players.

i am inclined to agree with you Q. so much stronger and faster, especially on the the Whitewater D. Pat i don't think that that roster limit is exactly an impediment to this program with the amount of kids that due try out, you can take the best 100 out of how many that try out? i have been told the number is quite large. And if i remember the titan roster correctly it is 105 with a more selective academic standard. congrats to the Titans for a very hard fought game and good luck o their seniors, they really have turned things around their in the last four years.

You can't overlook the 5 extra weeks of practice both Mount and Whitewater get as a result of their deep playoff runs in their success. Not only do the younger players get to play in 5 extra games, but all that practice time adds up too. A player who puts in the time in the offseason will see the fruits of their labor during the season.

I echo the comments of k-Sink and Titan Q. They're right on.  Whitewater's just too big, strong, and fast. Congrats to the Titans and their fans on a conference championship and 1st round playoff win.

[wab64]

Congratulations to the titans for a fine game--you represented the IWCC and the non-Whitewaters of d3 well. Us Bash people are happy to stay with the titans. The int and ensuing score could have wiped out a team without the courage of IWU. The LGs in 2007 racked up 3 turnovers in their first 3 possessions and it was 21-0. It was hard to come back with 8 inches of sleet on the turf.
   I read a note of chagrin,about trying to reach the level of UWW and MU. I have no answers having seen Wabash lose to both in the round of eight. Maybe the NCAA could create a Division 2.5, consisting of Mount Union and Whitewater who could play NAIA and d2 schools until week 12 when they would play for the championship. Perhaps we could add the Stagg Bowl winner and runnerup from d3 the previous year to make it a round of four.
   If we are looking at a fifth year of UWW v MU. it is ridiculous. Why pick 30 other teams and spend bags of money on traveling around the country to participate in what has become a foregone conclusion. I hpoe that Wittenberg, Wesley, St Thomas or Linfield can prove me wrong.

[oldnuthin]

I just can't envision a CCIW team ever being to able to recruit the level of talent and depth that Whitewater and Mount Union have at every position.  Even a 100% healthy North Central this year, or a 100% healthy Wheaton from Studebaker's senior year...there just seems to be a huge gap there that the top of the CCIW will never be able to close.  

Perhaps, but who knows? CCIW teams have no roster limits, while the WIAC limits teams to 100 players.

i am inclined to agree with you Q. so much stronger and faster, especially on the the Whitewater D. Pat i don't think that that roster limit is exactly an impediment to this program with the amount of kids that due try out, you can take the best 100 out of how many that try out? i have been told the number is quite large. And if i remember the titan roster correctly it is 105 with a more selective academic standard. congrats to the Titans for a very hard fought game and good luck o their seniors, they really have turned things around their in the last four years.

You can't overlook the 5 extra weeks of practice both Mount and Whitewater get as a result of their deep playoff runs in their success. Not only do the younger players get to play in 5 extra games, but all that practice time adds up too. A player who puts in the time in the offseason will see the fruits of their labor during the season.

I echo the comments of k-Sink and Titan Q. They're right on.  Whitewater's just too big, strong, and fast. Congrats to the Titans and their fans on a conference championship and 1st round playoff win.

Great point Bobo. Success breeds Success on many levels, recruiting, extra practice time etc. I do have a question though, do the extra games contribute extra injuries or fatigue on some level?

[Titan Q]

I just can't envision a CCIW team ever being to able to recruit the level of talent and depth that Whitewater and Mount Union have at every position.  Even a 100% healthy North Central this year, or a 100% healthy Wheaton from Studebaker's senior year...there just seems to be a huge gap there that the top of the CCIW will never be able to close.  

Perhaps, but who knows? CCIW teams have no roster limits, while the WIAC limits teams to 100 players.

I don't think roster limits are much of a factor, Pat.  For a school like IWU to build what a UW-Whitewater has, it would have to drastically change a) its total cost, and b) its academic selectivity.  Basketball is much easier - you find 3 studs and a few roles players and you can be a Top 10 team.  Football is such a numbers game - sure IWU does not have a roster limit, but it is absolutely impossible for a school like IWU to get the kind of talent Whitewater does from 1 through about 30.

In football, it's just apples and oranges.

[maripp2002]

I posted about something similar to this on the NCAC board a while ago. I tend to agree that a lot of times its difficult to play with teams like MUC and UWW. I always think of the old Pitt Panther teams that had 200 guys on their roster when they won the national title.

In the case of D3, all of the guys that are on MUC and UWW rosters beyond the second team could still probably be- at worst - role players on some other d3 teams and probably more likely starters and studs. In many ways when teams pile up huge rosters it becomes a "As long as they don't play for them...its ok if they never play for us". Because football is such a team sport many guys would rather have a ring every year than start for more than one year.

IMHO, the fairest way to do things would be to have roster limits. MUC could field two full 70-80 man rosters. This would help alleviate small numbers in certain schools and help spread the wealth. In the cases of some of the SUNY and Wisconsin schools it also helps alleviate the difference in cost. I think if you see that happen you still see the MUC's and UWW's win but just not in the crazy ways it happens now.

In all fairness, I will say that to some extent this post is a bit of "sour grapes" on my part. I have the utmost respect for MUC and UWW and they have done nothing but win with grace and class in these last few years, and most certainly have earned their victories. Still, it would be nice for a someone else to have a moment in the sun. Because, after all, teams from outside of the OAC and WIAC play and work just as hard as MUC and UWW.

[bleedpurple]

Congratulations to IWU on a great season. They are a great team and showed a champion's heart today! Great following by IWU fans, too. I hope all of you enjoyed your experience at "The Perk". I know you will have a ton of memories from this team this year. I will be watching and rooting for IWU once the CCIW 2010 season begins. They definitely won the respect of UWW and their followers today.