FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mugsy]

Wheaton's game this week against UW-Platteville has me just a bit unsteady.  UW-Platteville is a real up and coming team.  They obviously have a lot of talent returning this year and the game is in Wisconsin.

Extending the 27 game regular season non-conference win streak will be seriously challenged this week.  Later tonight I plan to investigate a bit more concisely where the challenges seem to exist for Wheaton this week.

Agreed. I was thinking about the Wheaton - UWP game this morning. That's going to be a good game. Probably a lot better game than most people realize. I'd say Wheaton probably has the edge simply from knowing how to win important and close games. But UWP is definitely on the rise.

And could you add any more qualifiers to this win streak: 27 game regular season non-conference win streak 

Yup there are a mouthful of qualifiers.  On this board you sometimes need to be very, very specific, or else someone will point it out to you.  If I just indicated non-conference win steak, then someone would likely post "what about the playoffs?" 

Still... not losing a non-conference game since 2002 is impressive, even if a number of them have come against less talented teams. 

Every year there is at least one non-conference foe that represents a game Wheaton would be considered either an underdog or could easily lose.

[matblake]

Wheaton's game this week against UW-Platteville has me just a bit unsteady.  UW-Platteville is a real up and coming team.  They obviously have a lot of talent returning this year and the game is in Wisconsin.

Extending the 27 game regular season non-conference win streak will be seriously challenged this week.  Later tonight I plan to investigate a bit more concisely where the challenges seem to exist for Wheaton this week.

Agreed. I was thinking about the Wheaton - UWP game this morning. That's going to be a good game. Probably a lot better game than most people realize. I'd say Wheaton probably has the edge simply from knowing how to win important and close games. But UWP is definitely on the rise.

And could you add any more qualifiers to this win streak: 27 game regular season non-conference win streak 

Yup there are a mouthful of qualifiers.  On this board you sometimes need to be very, very specific, or else someone will point it out to you.  If I just indicated non-conference win steak, then someone would likely post "what about the playoffs?" 

Still... not losing a non-conference game since 2002 is impressive, even if a number of them have come against less talented teams. 

Every year there is at least one non-conference foe that represents a game Wheaton would be considered either an underdog or could easily lose.

I'm pretty excited for this match-up.  Traveling to a hostile environment is always a good barometer, especially on the offensive side of the ball.  Add that to last year's outcome, a tale of two halves, and it promises to be a great one. 

[02 Warhawk]

Wheaton's game this week against UW-Platteville has me just a bit unsteady.  UW-Platteville is a real up and coming team.  They obviously have a lot of talent returning this year and the game is in Wisconsin.

Extending the 27 game regular season non-conference win streak will be seriously challenged this week.  Later tonight I plan to investigate a bit more concisely where the challenges seem to exist for Wheaton this week.

For starters, in two games, UWP has yet to give up a touchdown. Including a solid 28-3 win at Stevens Point last week. Point did start out the year ranked, but have fallen off with the Platteville loss. Personally I think Point is a bit overrated (11 points in two games - no TDs)...ouch.

[NCF]

So I'm flying into Blo-No tomorrow and looking forward to catching my first IWU game in a few years on Saturday.  Particularly excited to see all the changes to the field.  That being said, while I understand all of the economic/maintenance arguments for having the FieldTurf, I will always prefer football on real grass.  Maybe this means I am now officially a generation removed, but the idea of playing football with no grass stains on my uniform is just......weird.  What's next - Augie starts throwing the football?

My son's high school has a grass field and he would rather play on grass, so you aren't the only one who feels that way.

I'm all for grass, but only if the school's willing to invest the time and money into making it a quality playing surface. At Bethel, they have a top notch grounds crew dedicated to the football field and it shows. It's a great surface and yes, you do get grass stains!

If you have a field that is used by multiple teams, however, artificial is the way to go. When soccer and/or area high schools are sharing the field, you've simply got to go this route to ensure that the field holds up. And if you aren't willing to invest the time to keep the grass field playable (and it takes a tone of time, energy and expertise, especially late in the year) you owe it to your team and your opponents to get something akin to field turf. Their's nothing worse than playing on a grass field that is more like a pasture than a football field. And I've had that experience on several occasions in college.

My son's high school field is used by football only and only on game days. They practice on another field and have to bring in portable lights later in the season.

[hazzben]

So I'm flying into Blo-No tomorrow and looking forward to catching my first IWU game in a few years on Saturday.  Particularly excited to see all the changes to the field.  That being said, while I understand all of the economic/maintenance arguments for having the FieldTurf, I will always prefer football on real grass.  Maybe this means I am now officially a generation removed, but the idea of playing football with no grass stains on my uniform is just......weird.  What's next - Augie starts throwing the football?

My son's high school has a grass field and he would rather play on grass, so you aren't the only one who feels that way.

I'm all for grass, but only if the school's willing to invest the time and money into making it a quality playing surface. At Bethel, they have a top notch grounds crew dedicated to the football field and it shows. It's a great surface and yes, you do get grass stains!

If you have a field that is used by multiple teams, however, artificial is the way to go. When soccer and/or area high schools are sharing the field, you've simply got to go this route to ensure that the field holds up. And if you aren't willing to invest the time to keep the grass field playable (and it takes a tone of time, energy and expertise, especially late in the year) you owe it to your team and your opponents to get something akin to field turf. Their's nothing worse than playing on a grass field that is more like a pasture than a football field. And I've had that experience on several occasions in college.

My son's high school field is used by football only and only on game days. They practice on another field and have to bring in portable lights later in the season.

Sounds like a great setup.

[hazzben]

Still... not losing a non-conference game since 2002 is impressive, even if a number of them have come against less talented teams. 

No question about it. There can't be many schools on that list. I just wanted to give you a hard time.

[Mugsy]

Still... not losing a non-conference game since 2002 is impressive, even if a number of them have come against less talented teams. 

No question about it. There can't be many schools on that list. I just wanted to give you a hard time.

yup... understood.

[Always.A.Titan]

IWU's usual midweek article.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/article_b7daf942-df38-11e0-9a92-001cc4c03286.html

[Titan Q]

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/sports/7681879-419/aurora-faces-tough-test-at-illinois-wesleyan.html


"This may be the best team he's (IWU head coach Norm Eash) had," AU head coach Rich Duncan said.


Kind of a strange comment.

[AndOne]

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/sports/7681879-419/aurora-faces-tough-test-at-illinois-wesleyan.html


"This may be the best team he's (IWU head coach Norm Eash) had," AU head coach Rich Duncan said.


Kind of a strange comment.

Perhaps not so strange for a couple of reasons:

1. Duncan is obviously engaging in some pre-game psychological gamesmanship. If I'm the underdog, why not heap great praise on my opponent and maybe get them to relax a bit and take a win for granted. Fairly standard operating procedure within the coaching ranks.
2. Perhaps it is the best team Eash has had. In 24 years, Eash's teams have only 2 outright conference championships. In both 1992 and 1996 Eash led his team to a 10-1 overall record, and 7-0 conference record. This season they were picked to finish 3rd in the conference but if they can "upset" North Central and Wheaton, this year's team may very well go down as Eash's best, especially considering NCC and WC being expected to be so strong, the competition this season could be tougher than what Wesleyan faced in their aforementioned CCIW championship seasons. Accordingly, the Titans could finish 2nd this year and conceivibly have a better team than in their championship seasons. 

[matblake]

As if we didn't know, AndOne is hardcore.  2:21 Central time.  That's devotion, or insomnia.........   

[Kovo]

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/sports/7681879-419/aurora-faces-tough-test-at-illinois-wesleyan.html


"This may be the best team he's (IWU head coach Norm Eash) had," AU head coach Rich Duncan said.


Kind of a strange comment.

Perhaps not so strange for a couple of reasons:

1. Duncan is obviously engaging in some pre-game psychological gamesmanship. If I'm the underdog, why not heap great praise on my opponent and maybe get them to relax a bit and take a win for granted. Fairly standard operating procedure within the coaching ranks.
2. Perhaps it is the best team Eash has had. In 24 years, Eash's teams have only 2 outright conference championships. In both 1992 and 1996 Eash led his team to a 10-1 overall record, and 7-0 conference record. This season they were picked to finish 3rd in the conference but if they can "upset" North Central and Wheaton, this year's team may very well go down as Eash's best, especially considering NCC and WC being expected to be so strong, the competition this season could be tougher than what Wesleyan faced in their aforementioned CCIW championship seasons. Accordingly, the Titans could finish 2nd this year and conceivibly have a better team than in their championship seasons.

Of course, this is why (while I love all football), I can't wait until CCIW plays begins.  Ultimately, you measure yourself against the teams in you conference.  There are some real interesting matchups and story lines out there.  And, while I look forward to the NC vs. Olivet game this weekend, I treasure the week in week out competition of our league, and look forward to seeing how good IWU is, whether Augie can turn it around, whether NPU's improvement will show up in league play, whether NC's defense (sans Matt Wenger) will be better than the 61 points in two games that they have allowed etc. etc. etc.

[Always.A.Titan]

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/sports/7681879-419/aurora-faces-tough-test-at-illinois-wesleyan.html


"This may be the best team he's (IWU head coach Norm Eash) had," AU head coach Rich Duncan said.


Kind of a strange comment.

Perhaps not so strange for a couple of reasons:

1. Duncan is obviously engaging in some pre-game psychological gamesmanship. If I'm the underdog, why not heap great praise on my opponent and maybe get them to relax a bit and take a win for granted. Fairly standard operating procedure within the coaching ranks.
2. Perhaps it is the best team Eash has had. In 24 years, Eash's teams have only 2 outright conference championships. In both 1992 and 1996 Eash led his team to a 10-1 overall record, and 7-0 conference record. This season they were picked to finish 3rd in the conference but if they can "upset" North Central and Wheaton, this year's team may very well go down as Eash's best, especially considering NCC and WC being expected to be so strong, the competition this season could be tougher than what Wesleyan faced in their aforementioned CCIW championship seasons. Accordingly, the Titans could finish 2nd this year and conceivibly have a better team than in their championship seasons.

Don't forget that 2009 team with 92 and 96. Although the title wasn't outright, it was still one of 3 10 win seasons for Coach Eash. That group was also picked 4th that year in the preseason poll after NCC, Wheaton, and Augie.

As for the CCIW competition, I believe it is stronger now than it has ever been. The days of the Big 4, Little 4 are long gone, and I think that each conference game has the chance to be competitive and that there are no teams that you can overlook in the conference. From my personal experience, IWU nearly lost to NPU a few years back when that bunch shared the title in 07, not to mention losing to Millikin in 09 on homecoming. If you want to look at a national scope, look at what the CCIW does in the playoffs the past couple of years.

And I like to think AndOne was up practicing tailgating for the weekend. It is important to have that perfect Thursday practice before the Saturday game.

[NCF]

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/sports/7681879-419/aurora-faces-tough-test-at-illinois-wesleyan.html


"This may be the best team he's (IWU head coach Norm Eash) had," AU head coach Rich Duncan said.


Kind of a strange comment.

Perhaps not so strange for a couple of reasons:

1. Duncan is obviously engaging in some pre-game psychological gamesmanship. If I'm the underdog, why not heap great praise on my opponent and maybe get them to relax a bit and take a win for granted. Fairly standard operating procedure within the coaching ranks.
2. Perhaps it is the best team Eash has had. In 24 years, Eash's teams have only 2 outright conference championships. In both 1992 and 1996 Eash led his team to a 10-1 overall record, and 7-0 conference record. This season they were picked to finish 3rd in the conference but if they can "upset" North Central and Wheaton, this year's team may very well go down as Eash's best, especially considering NCC and WC being expected to be so strong, the competition this season could be tougher than what Wesleyan faced in their aforementioned CCIW championship seasons. Accordingly, the Titans could finish 2nd this year and conceivibly have a better team than in their championship seasons.

Of course, this is why (while I love all football), I can't wait until CCIW plays begins.  Ultimately, you measure yourself against the teams in you conference.  There are some real interesting matchups and story lines out there.  And, while I look forward to the NC vs. Olivet game this weekend, I treasure the week in week out competition of our league, and look forward to seeing how good IWU is, whether Augie can turn it around, whether NPU's improvement will show up in league play, whether NC's defense (sans Matt Wenger) will be better than the 61 points in two games that they have allowed etc. etc. etc.

The defense (NC) is looking for a big game this week. The penalties (and turn overs) need to get cleaned up as they get ready for the CCIW if they want to make a play-off appearance this season.

[AndOne]

Gentlemen--

Thank all of you for your concern. For those of us either young chronologically or in spirit, at 2:21, the night is still young. After all, the bars don't close until 2:00! 

Mat--I believe its called signing on, entering most or all of your post, falling asleep in the recliner, and hitting "enter" upon waking up. 

Kovo--All excellent points!

Always--As I'm sure you'll agree, there are only a very few activities more fun than tailgating. And practice certainly does make perfect!   
And, you're right about your 2009 team.

New--The Cards definitely must cut down on the penalties, especially the stupid ones. Mental preparation must match the physical for any championship team.