FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

I am not so sure it's a stretch at all. We are obviously both biased toward our teams. My point is I didn't see anything wrong with Swider's comments then and I don't see anything wrong with Eash's comments now.

If I were making an argument (this is not my opinion, I am playing devil's advocate here), I see Swider giving IWU credit. I didn't see Coach Eash say anything about NCC"s effort. I am not sure you can have it both ways. Eash saying "We didn't do what we did the first 6 games" certainly downplay's the fact that NCC created most of that underperformance doesn't it?

Separately, I posted some thoughts on the Pool C board about the CCIW situation. I think that discussion will only be relevant for another 13 days.

Here is actual video/audio from both...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u142P9geY5s

http://wjbc.com/illinois-wesleyan-football-shutout-in-homecoming-loss/

I just don't think those are similar statements really.

Regarding giving credit, the first thing Eash said was:  "Well first of all, North Central is a great football team."

[NCF]

I am not so sure it's a stretch at all. We are obviously both biased toward our teams. My point is I didn't see anything wrong with Swider's comments then and I don't see anything wrong with Eash's comments now.

If I were making an argument (this is not my opinion, I am playing devil's advocate here), I see Swider giving IWU credit. I didn't see Coach Eash say anything about NCC"s effort. I am not sure you can have it both ways. Eash saying "We didn't do what we did the first 6 games" certainly downplay's the fact that NCC created most of that underperformance doesn't it?

Separately, I posted some thoughts on the Pool C board about the CCIW situation. I think that discussion will only be relevant for another 13 days.

everyone is biased toward their team. iwu couldn't do what they did in the first six weeks is mainly because the nc defense wouldn't let them. i thought iwu did a great job of adjusting in the 2nd half to prevent nc's offense from scoring but they couldn't stop nc from gringing it out on the ground and controlling the clock. the pick 6 put the game out of reach and the nc defense is just getting a little better every week. as big a win as yesterday was, the cards have three more wins to earn and then focus on the play-offs. great job  cardinals- you're really starting to play some outstanding football in all three phases of the game!

[USee]

Q,

I didn't mean to beat a dead horse and I'll let you have the last word on this as I won't bring it up again. but I wasn't online when this originally went down. Again, I wouldn't have made an issue out of either coach's comments. I am addressing the issue of Swider's comments being described as "misleading".  The IWU/Wheaton game was hotly contested and you could point to 1,2 or 3 plays that may have changed the outcome. His comments were a reflection of the closeness of the game. The IWU/NCC game wasn't a difference of 3 plays. I don't think you could change 1,2 or 3 plays and change the outcome of that game. IWU and Wheaton are pretty comparable, NCC is on a different level. By your argument Eash's comments weren't any more misleading than Swider's. On the link you provided, Eash says:

".....people are going to say 'Why did they beat you so bad?'...we didn't make plays, if we had made plays it would have been a lot closer game".

I don't think its at all fair to characterize Swider's comments as misleading and then say Eash's comments were not. I don't have an issue with either coach's comments and both coach's deserve the benefit of the doubt as a reflection of the reputation and credibility they have created with over 25 yrs of experience in this league.

[Titan Q]

Q,

I didn't mean to beat a dead horse and I'll let you have the last word on this as I won't bring it up again. but I wasn't online when this originally went down. Again, I wouldn't have made an issue out of either coach's comments. I am addressing the issue of Swider's comments being described as "misleading".  The IWU/Wheaton game was hotly contested and you could point to 1,2 or 3 plays that may have changed the outcome. His comments were a reflection of the closeness of the game. The IWU/NCC game wasn't a difference of 3 plays. I don't think you could change 1,2 or 3 plays and change the outcome of that game. IWU and Wheaton are pretty comparable, NCC is on a different level. By your argument Eash's comments weren't any more misleading than Swider's. On the link you provided, Eash says:

".....people are going to say 'Why did they beat you so bad?'...we didn't make plays, if we had made plays it would have been a lot closer game".

I don't think its at all fair to characterize Swider's comments as misleading and then say Eash's comments were not. I don't have an issue with either coach's comments and both coach's deserve the benefit of the doubt as a reflection of the reputation and credibility they have created with over 25 yrs of experience in this league.

Bottom line, just make sure your boys go beat North Central, would you?!

[Titan Q]

http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/sports/8361424-419/north-central-records-another-road-shutout.html

"The first time they'd been shutout here in 21 years. That's pretty good," Cardinals' head coach John Thorne said. "I think we've won something like 14 in a row in conference by 20 or more."


I just looked it up - it's actually 12 in a row (CCIW wins by 20+).  That is a crazy stat considering the CCIW is a strong league. 

[lakeshore]

Not sure if anyone is in NCC's class this year in the north region other than UMU.  They still have Wheaton left though....

"It was a long night," admitted Carthage coach Tim Rucks, "and it was not good.  We got it taken to us by a good football team, and I wasn't surprised by that.  Wheaton is very well coached and very well disciplined, and they go about the game the right way.  They're very dynamic on offense, and they take advantage of what you throw out there defensively. "

It has gone relatively unnoticed but Garrett Meador is quietly putting up numbers to be strongly considered as the OPOY in the CCIW.  Correct me if I'm wrong but he was the #2 QB heading into the season.  18 tds to only 4 ints and his 3rd 300 yard game of the year completing 71% of his throws for an offense clearly not running the ball like they did in '10.  It will be interesting to see who finishes stronger, Meador or Scottie Williams.

[Mugsy]

Not sure if anyone is in NCC's class this year in the north region other than UMU.  They still have Wheaton left though....

"It was a long night," admitted Carthage coach Tim Rucks, "and it was not good.  We got it taken to us by a good football team, and I wasn't surprised by that.  Wheaton is very well coached and very well disciplined, and they go about the game the right way.  They're very dynamic on offense, and they take advantage of what you throw out there defensively. "

It has gone relatively unnoticed but Garrett Meador is quietly putting up numbers to be strongly considered as the OPOY in the CCIW.  Correct me if I'm wrong but he was the #2 QB heading into the season.  18 tds to only 4 ints and his 3rd 300 yard game of the year completing 71% of his throws for an offense clearly not running the ball like they did in '10.  It will be interesting to see who finishes stronger, Meador or Scottie Williams.

I was thinking the exact same thing last night.  Meador entered the season as the #2 QB, but was thrust into the starting role due to Jordan Roberts ACL injury.

Last year Meador showed signs to brillant QB play, but would then force a pass resulting in a costly turnover.  He has halted that tendency this year. 18 to 4 TD to INT ratio is outstanding.  What is both impressive and disconcerting about his performance is that, as "lakeshore" pointed out, Wheaton's rushing attack has not been up to standards at all and the OL was a serious question coming into the season.  To complete over 65% of your passes without a balanced attack and an inexperienced line makes him a legitimate candidate for OPOY, IMO.  What has help Meador is having multiple targets to go to (Sr. & Captain Teddy Watkins - 41 catches for 490 yards, Fr. Mark Hiben - 28 catches for 443 yards, Sr. Justin Zellar - 27 catches for 348 yards).

While Wheaton is averaging nearly 150 yards a game rushing on the season, they are only averaging 94 yards a game since the conference schedule started.  That will spell trouble against NCC, who will "pin their ears back" and come after the QB (without having to blitz). Years where Wheaton has not had a strong rushing attack, they have not made the playoffs.

Top candidates for OPOY at this point seem to be Scottie Williams, Garrett Meador, Nick Kukuc and Rob Gallik.  If NCC didn't spread out carries across 5-6 different RB's, Nick Kukuc would definitely be a front runner.  NCC has two RB's with over 500 yards rushing and another with nearly 400 yards.  Kukuc is averaging 8.1 yards per carry.  Williams is on a team that isn't in contention (player of year awards often go to teams in contention).


RUSHING            Team  Cl  G  Att  Yds   Avg TD Long Yds/G
-----------------------------------------------------------
1. Williams, Scott ELMH JR  7  153 1013   6.6  7   61   144.7
2. Kukuc, Nick.... NCC   JR  7   72  583    8.1  5   37     83.3
4. Tassio, Jordan. NCC  JR  7   91  557    6.1  4   80     79.6
9. Boettcher, Mike NCC SR  7   40  377    9.4  6   48     53.9

However, CCIW games only show significant improvements for both Williams and Kukuc:

RUSHING            Team  Cl  G  Att  Yds   Avg TD Long Yds/G
-----------------------------------------------------------
1. Williams, Scott ELMH JR  4  103  791   7.7  5   61   197.8
2. Kukuc, Nick....  NCC  JR  4   54  439   8.1  2   37    109.8

Meadors numbers are better than Gallik's (particularly TD/INT ratio:

PASSING AVG/GAME   Team   Cl  G   Att Cmp  Int  Pct.  Yds TD Avg/G
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Meador, Garrett     WHEA  SR  7   230 150   4  65.2 1852 18 264.6
2. Gallik, Rob....           IWU  SO  7   206 130   8  63.1 1591 10 227.3

For conference games, it leans even further towards Meador, particularly since Gallik has more INT's than TD's:

PASSING AVG/GAME   Team Cl  G Att Cmp  Int  Pct.  Yds TD Avg/G
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Meador, Garrett    WHEA SR  4 142  91    2  64.1 1119  9 279.8
2. Gallik, Rob....         IWU  SO  4 130  78    6  60.0  932  4 233.0

Matt Holmes from Millikin does have more yardage than anyone, but only 48% passing isn't great:

TOTAL OFFENSE      Team Cl  G Rush Pass Plays Total Yds/G
---------------------------------------------------------
1. Holmes, Matt...     MILL JR  4  394  782   196  1176 294.0
2. Meador, Garrett  WHEA SR  4  -14 1119   156  1105 276.2
3. Gallik, Rob....       IWU  SO  4   74  932   160  1006 251.5

Another consideration (though not likely) could be Teddy Watkins, as he leads the conference in receiving and is 2nd in total yard from scrimmage due to a 27 yard per kick return average (averaging nearly 35 yards a return over the past 3 weeks).

If (and a big, big IF), Wheaton upsets NCC, it would be Meador's award, since it'll take a huge game from him to make it happen.

[USee]

Q,  Before yesterday's game I was thinking if NCC beat IWU then IWU would root for Wheaton to beat NCC. I am not sure you want Wheaton to beat NCC now. If IWU wins out they are clearly a lock for pool C. There is not scenario now for IWU to win the AQ (unless NCC loses 2x). The point differential is set for IWU and that's the tiebreaker. So IWU's only chance at the post season is Pool C and they don't want a 1 win Wheaton clouding that mix (though it's not likely to happen for a number of reasons).

So IWU is basically free to root for or against anyone they want Nov 5th because I don't think it matters and it's slightly better if Wheaton is out of the picture.

[Mugsy]

Q,  Before yesterday's game I was thinking if NCC beat IWU then IWU would root for Wheaton to beat NCC. I am not sure you want Wheaton to beat NCC now. If IWU wins out they are clearly a lock for pool C. There is not scenario now for IWU to win the AQ (unless NCC loses 2x). The point differential is set for IWU and that's the tiebreaker. So IWU's only chance at the post season is Pool C and they don't want a 1 win Wheaton clouding that mix (though it's not likely to happen for a number of reasons).

So IWU is basically free to root for or against anyone they want Nov 5th because I don't think it matters and it's slightly better if Wheaton is out of the picture.

I completely agree, which is why the IWU game stings more than anything. 

Until other teams in CCIW can elevate their play to NCC (or have freak upset), it is the team that runs the remainder of the CCIW slate and has an unblemished non-conference result that has a solid chance at pool C considerations.  Wheaton has one chance at the playoffs - a huge upset on Nov. 5th, take care of business in the other two games, and then couple of upsets over 1 loss teams wouldn't hurt either.  Otherwise it is a very solid 8-2 season, but watching the playoffs from home.

[izzy stradlin]

If I'm IWU there is no question I am rooting for Wheaton because I want a conference title.   For me that is the number 1 goal every year. 

[Titan Q]

If I'm IWU there is no question I am rooting for Wheaton because I want a conference title.   For me that is the number 1 goal every year.

Absolutely - that is why I will be rooting for Wheaton in that game.  (With the head-to-head win over Wheaton, I'm confident IWU has the edge in a 1-loss Pool C scenario.) 

[Augie6]

First post ever:   A comment on NCC's ranking with UWW/Mount Union.   I believe it's time for the playoffs to be set up so that NCC shows up in the same half of the brackets as Mt Union instead of UWW.  Comments ?

Why?

[shepherd]

First post ever:   A comment on NCC's ranking with UWW/Mount Union.   I believe it's time for the playoffs to be set up so that NCC shows up in the same half of the brackets as Mt Union instead of UWW.  Comments ?

Why?

Exactly Why the drive is seven hours one way and the drive home after a butt whooping last forever.  Most teams in the playoffs rush under 50yds against Mount and get a buck something in passing.  As Mike North says I'm not sayen I'm just sayen.

[AndOne]

If I'm IWU there is no question I am rooting for Wheaton because I want a conference title.   For me that is the number 1 goal every year.

Izzy----

Please correct me if 'm wrong, but don't you mean you want a share of the conference title?
I don't believe you can have a conference title unless you win more games in the conference than anyone else. 

[shepherd]

New week 8 ratings are out Illinois Wesleyan drops from 15 to 24 Wheaton goes from 16 to 13. North Central stays at 6.  I don't know how North Central can move up from there before the playoffs if the top six win out.