FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[formerd3db]

Interesting discussion guys, re: the new synthetic turfs.  We've discussed the same at various times in the past as well over on our MIAA board as have our colleagues on some of the other boards.

One minor clarification:  the new "Astroturf" is nothing like the old Astroturf.  That old "stuff" is as has been described and in this current era, would be very dangerous.  The new version is actually called AstroPlay and is like FieldTurf.

Also, while I realize that many people love the natural turf for various reasons, having the practice fields utilizing the new style turf while having one's actual stadium playing field in natural grass as Titan Q has mentioned, is not a good idea.  Two different playing surfaces is one of the main causes of injuries, particularly "shin splints"; thus, the fields should be all the same.  While it might be fun to hear the opponents complain in the middle of the season, it is not an amusing situation when people end up spraining or fracturing ankles as well as concusions because of the huge craters, divot holes and large sod pieces flipped up and lyiing around that make the field look like a war zone mine field (or a gopher field out west) - believe me, I've seen this happen.  In addition, the problem with having grass for many of our small colleges is that they just don't have the manpower or $ to properly maintain a natural turf and that also can lead to injuries and dangerous situations.  In past years, I know of some colleges where the actual coaching staffs have had to do the mowing, lining, painting, of the fields and that is really not the ideal situation or in reality, feasible.  Yet, if that is olnly what a particular school can afford, then they have to do what best fits their situation.  However, once your stadium is renovated, the cost of the field will more than pay for itself in the long run; plus, more student-athletes/sports can utilize it.  Just my $0.02 cents worth.

[Gregory Sager]

FieldTurf at IWU...
http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/article_d608013a-49ec-11e0-a91d-001cc4c03286.html

I'm trying to think...does this leave Millikin as the lone CCIW field left with natural grass?

... and if Millikin someday installs FieldTurf would they retain the extreme crown on the field?

I don't know.  I would think the turf would be able to handle many different field set-ups including the massive crown in Decatur, but maybe something to do with drainage or some safety type issue would get in the way? 

No idea if FieldTurf installation differs in any way than the old AstroTurf, but when we would occasionally practice at ISU back in the day on their old school turf, their field had a considerable crown. 

AstroTurf was essentially little more than a carpet laid atop a concrete base. FieldTurf consists of individual silicone grass blades integrated into a crumb rubber infill atop a polypropylene base, which has a lot more "give" to it than does hard concrete and has a foot-feel not much different than your basic grass/soil feel. FieldTurf is thus dramatically safer and causes less wear-and-tear on an athlete's knees, ankles, and back than did AstroTurf. It also drains much better, since polypropylene is a lot more permeable than concrete, which means that crowning for drainage purposes isn't really necessary.

Astroturf and Field Turf are companies that provide infilled synthetic turf systems that are commonly used on fields today.  The blades are actually made of a polyethylene fiber and tufted and secured by a layer of urethane.

The crumb rubber does offer substantially more resiliency than the old knitted nylon products that people refer to as "astroturf", however, the base is not made of polypropylene, but a permeable stone. The only problem with these fields in relation to grass is the heat that is generated and stored in these fields during the heat of summer.

A crown is still very much necessary on these fields but at significantly less pitch than what was required of the older systems.

The base is polypropylene, as described here on the FieldTurf website. The blades are polyethylene fiber, but they're coated by silicone.

FieldTurf does retain a lot of heat during the summer. Your feet can get pretty hot just walking across it at the end of a summer day. However, that was also the case with the old AstroTurf; I can remember how they used to keep a thermometer on the field at old Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and the field temp would be something like 15 to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature (which, it being St. Louis in the summer, was plenty hot enough).

[oldnuthin]

article regarding the coaching searches at Millikin. Some interesting reading I thought.


http://www.herald-review.com/sports/college/article_bc2961f8-4ba6-11e0-b241-001cc4c002e0.html

[Gregory Sager]

Good article, oldnuthin. Thanks for the link.

I hope Joe's having some fun with this down in Millikin. This is a great opportunity for him to both change the declining athletics culture at Millikin and to put his own personal stamp on the MU athletics legacy.

[matblake]

IMO this is definitely a glass is half full situation at Millikin.  Getting a chance at a head coaching gig doesn't come along every day.  On top of that, to be able to say that you were the beginning of the turnaround is a big attraction to people who like challenges.  There are definitely challenges for whomever gets this job.  However, with the right guy you can do it.  If you think where both Wheaton and North Central were in the 70's and early 80's you would probably have laughed if you said that someday they would be tops in the CCIW.  Millikin has a lot to offer its students and that includes athletics. 

[oldnuthin]

IMO this is definitely a glass is half full situation at Millikin.  Getting a chance at a head coaching gig doesn't come along every day.  On top of that, to be able to say that you were the beginning of the turnaround is a big attraction to people who like challenges.  There are definitely challenges for whomever gets this job.  However, with the right guy you can do it.  If you think where both Wheaton and North Central were in the 70's and early 80's you would probably have laughed if you said that someday they would be tops in the CCIW.  Millikin has a lot to offer its students and that includes athletics. 

I agree, I think the football team has some really good talent coming back this year. Their defense was very young and inconsistent last year. In the final game they held Wheaton  to field goals twice inside the 25 early on. I am not saying they are the 85 bears, but i think it is something that can be built upon. I remember they lost their starting DE to a misconduct penalty, and their starting d-tackle to a concussion fairly early in that game. After that, the run yards really piled up. I  just believe if you can do it once, you can do it again. consistency will help make them more competitive.

[matblake]

In the final game they held Wheaton  to field goals twice inside the 25 early on. I am not saying they are the 85 bears, but i think it is something that can be built upon.

When your program is in transition or building mode, you do have to look at things to build upon.  On the other hand, Wheaton consistently had trouble scoring in the red zone in 2010.   Wheaton was 7th in the CCIW in red zone offense.   Not trying to burst your bubble, but just trying to be realistic.  Millikin has some things to build on, but they still have a ways to go too.  You have been honest about that oldnuthin.  Kudos. 

[Kovo]

My take on Millikin, having played on some of those real bad NCC football teams in the early 80s, is that  the key to success will be whether the administration (the President and Board of Trustees) is comitted to winning.  If they are serious about winning, and willing to come up with the funds needed,  there is no doubt Millikin will be back in the mix for titles.

If they simply say they want to win, and hope for the best--it will be tough.  Let's face it, until NCC built the new stadium, training facilities and hired full time coaches we had no shot (but did have some epic battles with North Park and Illinois Benedictine in my day).

I wish MU well.  The CCIW is better off with a strong presence in Central Illinois.

[Always.A.Titan]

The CCIW is better off with a strong presence in Central Illinois.

Some would say that there is a strong presence in Central Illinois. 

It would be nice to see Millikin get back on track though. It sounds like the administration is committed, at least verbally, to taking the right steps to get things going in the right direction. Hopefully they hire a coach who has the passion and energy for division 3 and the ability to change the attitude and focus of the program to competing at the top of the conference.

In other news, IWU Women's Bball plays at home in the Final 4 tonight taking on Wash U. Good Luck to them tonight and tomorrow

[ncc_fan]

Anyone have an update about Wenger's performance at Northwestern's pro day? 

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Anyone have an update about Wenger's performance at Northwestern's pro day? 

Yes I am interested in hearing about him...

[Kovo]

According to Chicago Breaking Sports, Wenger "impressed the scouts" by running  4.58 in the 40 while weighing in at 233 lbs at NW's pro day.

There is also some video on youtube of his workout.

[ncc_fan]

According to Chicago Breaking Sports, Wenger "impressed the scouts" by running  4.58 in the 40 while weighing in at 233 lbs at NW's pro day.

There is also some video on youtube of his workout.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uMe70Jl3yM

[Kovo]

Always--  No offense to IWU intended.  You  guys are a great presence in Central Illinois.  My comment really is directed to the southern half of the state, and particularly the Springfield area that MU used to own, back in the day.

Let's keep the top players at CCIW schools, and everyone will be stronger and forced to be better.

[robertgoulet]

According to Chicago Breaking Sports, Wenger "impressed the scouts" by running  4.58 in the 40 while weighing in at 233 lbs at NW's pro day.

There is also some video on youtube of his workout.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uMe70Jl3yM

Stats from the NW pro day (compared to the big time LBs that were at the 2011 NFL Combine):

Height                5'10"
Weight               233 lbs
Vertical               34.5" (would have ranked 9th among LBs at NFL combine)
Broad Jump        10'5" (would have tied for 2nd)
Bench (225lbs)   23 reps (tied for 9th)
40 yd dash         4.56, 4.58 (4.56 would tie for 3rd, 4.58 would be 4th)
Shuttle               4.14 (5th)
3 Cone               6.79 (3rd)


Damn impressive measurables put up by Matt.

One thing that jumps out from the video is that he apparently also worked out as a FB, as they had him catching passes out of the backfield. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he was a very good RB in high school at Dakota.

Also, one would have to wonder if some team may try to slot him in at SS since he is a little on the small side to play LB.