FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCF]

Totally off topic but since we have two weeks to kick-off, here's a somewhat sad story. Yesterday my "baby" started her senior yr. of high school, which means another family tradition fas come to an end . My last "first day of school"pictue on the front porch. Enjoy every day Jaybird, your daughters will grow up in what will seem like a blink of an eye. OK, back to football. Am going to try and catch the Hope-NPU game just to see what the new coach brings to the table.

[AndOne]

Is that the game in which NPU Hopes it can come up with a victory?    

[NCF]

Is that the game in which NPU Hopes it can come up with a victory?    

Good one AndOne:) You're so "Pun-ny"

[Mr. Ypsi]

Is that the game in which NPU Hopes it can come up with a victory?    

Actually, NPU has a winning record (19-17) in non-conference games since their last conference victory.

Since Hope has never beaten IWU in their (5 so far) annual meetings, I guess they 'Hoped' that scheduling NPU would keep them from total futility against the CCIW (last year it worked, as they otherwise lost to IWU AND Millikin).  I do not have much grasp on this year's match-up; Hope is feeling pretty good about their incoming class, but NPU has the new coach and, especially, the new coach's sons.  With the advent of the Conways, this looks like the best chance in years for a conference win - except it may keep them from sneaking up on anyone: NO ONE wants to be the first Viking victim of the 21st century, so they may actually get with their coach's mantra of 'always respect the opponent' (which, no doubt, some players previously did not).

[79jaybird]

NCF- I can imagine it being a tear jerker.  Have they chosen a college?  Time flies when you're having fun.  Like NPU, before Elmhurst's recent rise in conference play,  the non-conference (Benedictine, Ripon, Concordia, etc.) were usually W's for Elmhurst, and then they struggled once CCIW competition began.   I think this is an attest to just how strong a conference the CCIW is.

[NCF]

NCF- I can imagine it being a tear jerker.  Have they chosen a college?  Time flies when you're having fun.  Like NPU, before Elmhurst's recent rise in conference play,  the non-conference (Benedictine, Ripon, Concordia, etc.) were usually W's for Elmhurst, and then they struggled once CCIW competition began.   I think this is an attest to just how strong a conference the CCIW is.

Not quite, she wants to go to Purdue, but also look at the possibility of heading out East. But we (her oldest sister who is a Purdue alum and I) are trying to convince her to attend our local JUCO, because with her ACT, grades and dual credit courses she could finish in 1 1/2 yrs. Her h.s. counselor told her she could qualify for enough scholarships to attend for almost nothing. Less debt is a good thing.

[Langhorst_Ghost]

Bluejays Season preview is up: http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/news/2013/8/13/FB_0813130445.aspx?path=football

So is the 2013 Roster: http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/roster.aspx?path=football

Largest roster the program has ever fielded - locker room space will be tight this fall (a good problem to have, i suppose).  Extremely geographically diverse.  17 seniors in the mix, and over 50 first year kids.

Live scrimmage set for this Saturday night v. Lakeland at Langhorst.

Go Jays.

[79jaybird]

NCF-Very cool Ironically, I was given A/P Credit to Purdue but (in the end) wanted to stay closer to home for personal reasons.  Love the campus. 

Winning definitely opens doors and good to see Elmhurst getting some attention from new students.  We saw this with NC 10 years ago.  I would love to see a comparison of the local IHSA Pool choosing the perimeter schools (IWU, AC mostly) in the 1970's-1990's, compared to the '00 '10 of this same pool choosing NC/WC/EC even Carthage not that far away.  I bet there would show more players choosing the local schools.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park's roster is up.

NPU has 84 players as of now, 39 of whom are returnees. There are 18 seniors -- a very large group by North Park football standards -- and 13 returning starters. Mike Conway and his new staff were able to bring in 29 freshmen, not a bad number considering the coaching turnover, as well as a number of transfers.

Lots of seniors = good. I think 18 seniors is pretty good by most dIII standards. Good luck to NPU this year.
(Just curiously, how many frosh does NPU usually bring in?)

NPU usually brings in 40-45 new freshmen every year. Last year there were only 34 frosh, which was a factor in Scott Pethtel's ouster.

Since Hope has never beaten IWU in their (5 so far) annual meetings, I guess they 'Hoped' that scheduling NPU would keep them from total futility against the CCIW (last year it worked, as they otherwise lost to IWU AND Millikin).  I do not have much grasp on this year's match-up; Hope is feeling pretty good about their incoming class, but NPU has the new coach and, especially, the new coach's sons.  With the advent of the Conways, this looks like the best chance in years for a conference win - except it may keep them from sneaking up on anyone: NO ONE wants to be the first Viking victim of the 21st century, so they may actually get with their coach's mantra of 'always respect the opponent' (which, no doubt, some players previously did not).

This does not "look like the best chance in years for a conference win" by any means, Chuck. As I said a couple of weeks ago, I do not foresee NPU getting a CCIW win this season. The Conway brothers will be invaluable additions, but two players do not a team make. As I said, nobody would love to see the Vikings snap that stupid streak more than yours truly, but they simply don't have the CCIW-level speed among their returnees at most positions to hang with any of their seven league rivals for sixty minutes. Expectations are, and should be, modest. I want to see the Vikings close some of the gap in terms of scoring margin against their seven CCIW opponents, in stark contrast to last season's slide backwards in that department.

In other words, you gotta learn to walk before you can run.

I don't think that any coaches in this league take an opponent lightly enough to let that opponent "sneak up" on them, but if there's any team against whom they'll ease up on the gas pedal, it's North Park. And rightly so.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg, I doubt any coach ever takes any opponent lightly, but I also believe players sometimes do (despite the constant exhortations of said coaches).  I'll still hold out hope that the Vikings can break the streak this season (and go 3-0 non-con), but at least I hope you are correct about cutting the scoring margins.

Having an Earlham or Caltech is NOT good for the CCIW.

Hope has given IWU a surprising degree of trouble (except for 2011 when we won 35-0; the other four games have been decided by 3, 3, 4, and 10 points), even in years when we were good and they were not.  With apologies to the friends I've made from Hope, may the Vikings show them that thoughts of victory are 'hope'less.

[oldnuthin]

Wheaton coaches rocking new unis. Now i know the Genesis of all the long hair at Wheaton.

https://twitter.com/Wheaton_Thunder/status/370781919094394880/photo/1

[oldnuthin]

60 new recruits for Millikin this year. I believe the offense will be very good with most of the o line returning and 2 very good running backs. It will be interesting to see how the new QB fills in for the record setting Matt Holmes. That will be the key to the offense really clicking this year.

  On defense replacing the back three DBs who graduated, will be very tough. The Millikin D was very good against the pass last year, Hibben had less the 60 yards receiving against MU if my memory is correct. Stopping Veling was a tough task for the front seven though. With 2 returning LBs, and a more experienced line, that will hopefully address that question. A scrimmage against a pass happy Eureka  team this Saturday will shed some light on how the new DBs are progressing.

  The rebuilding of the program continues. A couple of young coaches left, but the new coaches are just as enthusiastic. They need to get the commitment from their recruits that, IWU gets. 31 returning seniors lends itself to depth, leadership and a program identity in my opinion.

[matblake]

A scrimmage against a pass happy Eureka  team this Saturday will shed some light on how the new DBs are progressing.

IMO you won't learn anything new about your DB's in that scrimmage.  They'll get their reps, but they shouldn't have any issues with Eureka. 

[79jaybird]

Old-Nuthin- that is a great photo!  Looks like both Mike & Jeff could fit right in with this year's group. 

[oldnuthin]

A scrimmage against a pass happy Eureka  team this Saturday will shed some light on how the new DBs are progressing.

IMO you won't learn anything new about your DB's in that scrimmage.  They'll get their reps, but they shouldn't have any issues with Eureka.

Agreed, more interested in seeing technique and cohesion then anything else. Jacob Alvis, the lone returning back, should help with the calls and provide a leadership role.