FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Augie6]

Washedup,

Don't think you will take too much flak for your awards picks as it could very well turn out that way.  I agree that Kniss should win OPOY without much of a challenge.  Although Radtke is a great player and had a very good year, NCC's defense did not play as expected this year with almost every starter returning.  I think this will hurt him.  Based on the vast improvement of Augie's D and his leading the country in INT's, I would have to go with Anthony for DPOY.  Although Thorne is a fantastic coach, I think Barnes will win the COY in a walk.  He took a team that was picked to finish in the middle of the CCIW (in a year where the conference was, IMO, as strong as its ever been) and went undefeated.  He also was able to accomplish this despite having to re-organize his coaching staff/duties shortly before the season began. 

[Ric]

Just to share my opinion on the OAC playoff teams for your information --

usee I might be wrong but I don't believe Capital lost a dominant defensive player, you might be thinking of Trusnik from ONU, who might be the best defensive lineman in D3 but was lost for the year early in the season.

At any rate, to share what I know about CAP -- they are the fastest defense Mount Union saw this year.  And they are, IMO, the best team Mount Union played.  Yes, I know Mount lost to Ohio Northern, but I think Mount played better against CAP than they did ONU and I thought CAP would beat ONU which they did at ONU. 

Offensively CAP is a very good passing team.  They have a great QB, some very good, quick WR, and good backs that feed off the pass.  I understand (but don't know for sure) that North Central also is a good passing team, so weather conditions could hurt both teams equally?

Defensively CAP is the fastest team Mount played.  They are very fast, and they have big time playmakers at certain positions so a key to this game will be turnovers.  CAP can create them and they could cause trouble.  I have no idea who will win because I haven't seen North Central but I can say CAP is good, and if North Central wins it will be against a very, very good team.

As far as Mount, in looking at their potential road to Salem, ie the North and East brackets, I think, and this is based on past years teams I have seen only, I think Augie is the type of team that would be my favorite to knock them off.  Not saying that will happen, I actually think Mount is better than last years team despite what a lot of Mount fans, that don't remember a regular season loss and can't get over this years, have been glooming about.

Anyway I echo what usee said I am looking forward to the next few weeks, it should really be fun!

[usee]

ric-thanks for your insights, as always informative. it will be a great battle in naperville from the sounds of it. (i was thinking of trusnick--thx for clarifying). the only defense ncc has faced that is possibly in the same league as cap is carthage. ric, you saw them last year and i think they were better this year on defense but had injuries that hurt them down the stretch.

i am familiar w rocky pentello (sp--cap qb) via literature over the past couple years. he is a veteran qb and will challenge ncc for certain. ncc is a very good team but will have to play extremely well to beat them.

you may not have seen but according to some folks on other boards that shall remain nameless, a wing-t team like augie is not capable of getting to the next level so you shouldn't worry too much about augie i alliance in a couple weeks. 

[formerd3db]

Ric and usee:

I agree with you (regarding an initial general overview of the playoffs).  I have the feelinig that there will be some really fun and interesting match-ups in this year's playoffs, perhaps more than in recent years.  While everyone obviously hopes their respective team wins, from the general fans' perspective, some close, hard-fought games would be exciting to see as opposed to some of the blow-outs that have occurred.   Not that the latter won't happen in some cases, because they will.

[wolfie75]

I haven't seen it here, but Robin Cooper resigned as head coach at NPU in the team huddle after the game yesterday at NCC.  So 'long coach.

[jdean]

Usee:
I've seen the posts from senile--I've also seen Augie in prior playoffs. They scare the heck out of me. Mount has a very good defense, but its based on speed. They played one team that runs and runs and ignores the pass--Muskingum. Hardly in the same league as Augie. It should be one heck of a game, assuming both teams win this Saturday.

[augiedogie]

Washedupcard:

For POY picks. I agree that Kniss should be OPOY, but I strongly believe that Anthony will be DPOY. He had 11 Int's a FF and a TD. This is the same secondary that gave up almost 1400 yards the last 3 games of the '04 season. Anthony shut down every #1 WR they faced this season. I believe Anthony also lead the nation in INT's. As noted a week earlier by Usee, if Augie doesn't win at Wheaton Thorne is COY, but to go through a tough CCIW schedule 7-0 I believe Barnes should be the winner.  NCC was predicted at the top for a good reason going 7-3 the past 2 seasons and with the team they returned they lived up to what they were capable of doing. Augie out performed all expectations because only 1 coach thought they would win conference. Does anybody know when the awards come out?

[augievike93]

Oops, maybe the out-of-state guy should cease answering driving-time questions!  I forgot there even WAS an I-88 (didn't exist when I lived there!), but have a sister near RI, so just figured the I-80 time from straight south of Wheaton to RI, then guessed the surface-street times.

I-88 is there, but has 30+ miles underconstruction between Sterling/Rock Falls and the DeKalb.  I would advise going the I-80 route if you can.   The road construciton adds about 45 minutes on to the trip.  IT IS HEAVILY SPEED TRAPPED and the limit is only 45 mph on one lane.

[CardinalAlum]

Kniss, Anthony, and Barnes are my choices for the respective awards.  Kniss is the easy choice, there are no other serious candidates here.  Anthony has been impressive, not saying that Radtke hasn't, but Anthony leading the nation in INT's puts him over the top.  Barnes wins the COY award in my eyes based on what augiedogie said.  NCC was picked to win and Augie wasn't.  Individual awards are nice, but I'd take about 5 wins in the playoffs over any of those awards!    Should be a great game this weekend in Naperville.  I'm hoping the weather doesn't become a factor.  For all you Capital fans, the downtown Naperville area has some great restaurants and bars within a couple of blocks of the stadium.

[79jaybird]

First, I want to congratulate the CCIW on an exciting, emotionally draining, year and to Augie for grinding out another record breaking title. 
Second, I'm happy that we were able to get 2 teams in for the 2nd straight year.  I'm excited that a home game will be played in Naperville, b/c I would have had trouble making the game in Rock Island.
3rd-Congrats to Eric Luna breaking George Musso's record for the all time rushing lead in Elmhurst history.
Now about the Elmhurst Carthage game.
What a sloppy ugly game in both the play and the weather.  For awhile I thought it was going to snow in the 2nd half! 
Carthage was a little stronger than Elmhurst and proved it late.  The unfortunate thing is that the Bluejays turnovers killed us, and Kudyba wasn't as sharp as he has been in the past.  Having said this, that's a credit to Carthage and in particular, Pelkowski.  Pelkowski seemed to be all over the place.
6-4, 4-6, and now 6-4 so you can start to see the Bluejays ship getting steered in the right direction.  Had we beat Carthage, we would have tied for 3rd which would have been their best finish in a long time.  The entire defense returns.  The MAJOR losses are Luna, Brogan, and Evans.  3 playmakers lost to graduation. 
NC will have their hands full with Capital.  I think the difference is going to be Holden and their running game.  Looking forward to the game Saturday.

[matblake]

Congrats to Augustana and North Central!  2 teams for the CCIW again.  Congrats to all the players this year.  A well fought, heads held high type of season.  Although this season shook out a little different than what people expected, it sure was a fun ride.  Lakeland appears to be the premier of the IBFC this year.  Augie better not get too confident remembering what almost happened to Wooster last year in the first round  against the IBFC.  Remember that the Scots had a premier running attack with Sutton.  Although, the Vikings run a different offense than Wooster, it is important to take a lesson from last years near upset and not take anything for granted.

[matblake]

I wish I could be in Naperville this weekend.  My guess is that this might be a game to be remembered for a long time.  Capital should be an excellent game for the Cardinals.  Both strong teams that are looking to continue the good name for their respective conferences. 

[Redmen96]

Mugsy
In case you don't read the other board, do you want to do a pick ems for the playoffs?  Same format confidence.

[Mugsy]

Mugsy
In case you don't read the other board, do you want to do a pick ems for the playoffs?  Same format confidence.

My initial thought was not too have a pick-em's for the playoffs, because Pat & Co. do a playoff "pick-em's" or pool for everyone each year.  I'd assume they will be announcing this on the home page of D3Football sometime within the next few days.  If there are enough people interested in our own pool, I'd do it, but it be redundant to the D3Football pool.

That said... it looks like other boards are holding their own playoff pools.

[vikes35]

I have to agree with the Kniss, Anthony, Barnes for repsective yearly individual awards. I am positive that I saw Kniss' worst game against the Vikings and he still was able to makes things happen and work his way out of jams. Scary thing for the CCIW is that he is returning next year. Anthony has to be a shoe in for the DPOY because of the INT's and his ability to shut down one half of the field for most offenses. In the Wheaton game I saw very few attempts to his side of the field, and with 3 INTs it is understandable why. He was dominant from game one and has earned this honor. As many have mentioned already there is pretty much one reason and one reason alone that Barnes is coach of the year (He went 7-0 in one of the toughest conferences in the nation). We all, for the most part, thought that each team in the CCIW would have a loss, and Augie going undefeated wrapped up the Barnes pick. Also, winning a conference when picked 4th doesn't hurt either. It was a successful year for all 3 and they are most deserving of the awards.