FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[matblake]

Coppage is elite. Simply put. That's not taking anything away from the serious skills of UWW's O-line.

If I had to pick the elite DIII backs of the last 15 or so years (taking into consideration the talent around them) my list would include, in no particular order:

L Coppage
N Kmic
C Moore
RJ Bowers
J Beaver
T Sutton
A Moriarty
T Arcidiacono
M Kacmarynski
P Porta
F Jackson

Some of these guys were brilliant players on brilliant teams that got loads of much deserved national attention. Others were brilliant players with solid, but not brilliant supporting casts and less national exposure. The latter were often the focal point of those offenses and opponents had the luxury of scheming to stop only one truly great player. Some were brilliant players with very average O-lines that affected their statistical awe factor.

My 2¢, which is certainly limited by geography to an extent.

Who would you add?

Since you said or so I would add Pedro Arruza.  His senior year would have been 16 years ago (1995).

[hazzben]

Coppage is elite. Simply put. That's not taking anything away from the serious skills of UWW's O-line.

If I had to pick the elite DIII backs of the last 15 or so years (taking into consideration the talent around them) my list would include, in no particular order:

L Coppage
N Kmic
C Moore
RJ Bowers
J Beaver
T Sutton
A Moriarty
T Arcidiacono
M Kacmarynski
P Porta
F Jackson

Some of these guys were brilliant players on brilliant teams that got loads of much deserved national attention. Others were brilliant players with solid, but not brilliant supporting casts and less national exposure. The latter were often the focal point of those offenses and opponents had the luxury of scheming to stop only one truly great player. Some were brilliant players with very average O-lines that affected their statistical awe factor.

My 2¢, which is certainly limited by geography to an extent.

Who would you add?

Since you said or so I would add Pedro Arruza.  His senior year would have been 16 years ago (1995).

Works for me.

[hazzben]

Any word on if Wenger has gotten any free agent sniffs from the NFL in the last few days?

[devildog29]

Any word on if Wenger has gotten any free agent sniffs from the NFL in the last few days?

With the shortened preseason, I imagine it will be even harder than usual for someone to "come out of nowhere" so to speak and make a roster as an UFA this year.  However, it does lay the groundwork for gettng some exposure and getting into a camp next year, possibly using this year for the UFL or AFL, etc. 

[HoosierRedMan]

I see where the annual coaches chat is set for August 4th. 

Teams should be reporting in the next few weeks.  Carthage reports on August 12th.

Football is in the air.

[robertgoulet]

Any word on if Wenger has gotten any free agent sniffs from the NFL in the last few days?

With the shortened preseason, I imagine it will be even harder than usual for someone to "come out of nowhere" so to speak and make a roster as an UFA this year.  However, it does lay the groundwork for gettng some exposure and getting into a camp next year, possibly using this year for the UFL or AFL, etc. 

Wenger signed with the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL a few weeks ago (can't recall the date, but I posted about it if someone decides they want to dig back a few pages).

He has not signed on to go to any NFL camps as of today.

[Mugsy]

Interview of Andy Studebaker from Chiefs camp.  Quite a different year for him with Vrabel's retirement.  Andy now seen as a veteran...

http://www.kcchiefs.com/media-center/videos/Training-Camp-1-on-1-with-Andy-Studebaker/52d8a500-0544-4a6b-8911-24c2f794be89

[Kovo]

Good luck to Stuebaker.  I would love to see him have a break out year.

Has a CCIW player ever been selected to the Pro Bowl or played in a Super Bowl?

[CardinalAlum]

Good luck to Stuebaker.  I would love to see him have a break out year.

Has a CCIW player ever been selected to the Pro Bowl or played in a Super Bowl?

Ken Anderson, Augie grad.   Cincinnati Bengals.

[hazzben]

Good luck to Stuebaker.  I would love to see him have a break out year.

Has a CCIW player ever been selected to the Pro Bowl or played in a Super Bowl?

Ken Anderson, Augie grad.   Cincinnati Bengals.

London Flecher's another DIII alumnus who's played in the Pro Bowl, any others that people know of?

[02 Warhawk]

Good luck to Stuebaker.  I would love to see him have a break out year.

Has a CCIW player ever been selected to the Pro Bowl or played in a Super Bowl?

Ken Anderson, Augie grad.   Cincinnati Bengals.

London Flecher's another DIII alumnus who's played in the Pro Bowl, any others that people know of?

UWW's Matt Turk was a Pro Bowl punter.

[02 Warhawk]

Stagg,

I agree that Elmhurst's O should be very good this year, and Williams will be a major part of the success.

However, I see Coppage as an elite runner, who only lacks the size (but not the skills) of a top D1 back.  I threw out the Dudek name because I think Coppage could be that good with any decent O-line play.  However, we are in a different media era, and I can't see a D3 back finishing in the top 10 of Heisman voting (like Dudek) ever again.

We'll see just that this season. UWW lost 4 of 5 starters (including two All-Americans) from last year's team. So, time will tell if Coppage can put up good numbers behind a completely different o-line.

My guess is he'll still be an All-American after this season is over. But he's probably not going to put up the numbers he did the past two seasons.

[HoosierRedMan]

Just to spark a little discussion and to beat the coaches with their predicted finish in the league this year.

1. North Central:  I just think they have to much retruning talent.
2. Wheaton:  The have maybe the best QB in the league with a stout D.
3. Elmhurst:  Their running game should keep games close.
4. Augustana:  Year two under the "new" system, they could come out on top.
5. Carthage:  The offense can score, can their defense stop anyone?
6. Illinois Wesleyan: Solid team, can score points, what about their defense?
7. Millikin: New coach, they have talent, could be a surprise.
8. North Park:  Will the streak end this year?

I know I went out on a limb with North Central, but what the heck.

[dansand]

The CCIW coaches' interactive online chat is this morning.

10:00-10:30:
Patrick Etherton, Millikin
Scott Pethtel, North Park
Mike Swider, Wheaton   
Jeff Thorne, North Central

10:35-11:05
Tim Rucks, Carthage
Tim Lester, Elmhurst
Norm Eash, IWU
Jeff Lindmark, Augustana

http://www.cciw.org/sports/2011/7/7/FB_0707112325.aspx?id=690

[badgerwarhawk]

Stagg,

I agree that Elmhurst's O should be very good this year, and Williams will be a major part of the success.

However, I see Coppage as an elite runner, who only lacks the size (but not the skills) of a top D1 back.  I threw out the Dudek name because I think Coppage could be that good with any decent O-line play.  However, we are in a different media era, and I can't see a D3 back finishing in the top 10 of Heisman voting (like Dudek) ever again.

We'll see just that this season. UWW lost 4 of 5 starters (including two All-Americans) from last year's team. So, time will tell if Coppage can put up good numbers behind a completely different o-line.

My guess is he'll still be an All-American after this season is over. But he's probably not going to put up the numbers he did the past two seasons.

Coppage was on several D1 program's radar until an injury his senior season put him in stealth mode.  His unfortunate injury was WHITEWATER's good fortune.  I look for him to have a big year.