FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kiko]

2012: both North Central and Elmhurst won their first-round game, and both then gave respectable showings in second round losses (30-14 to Linfield and 24-17 to St. Thomas, both on the road).  Wheaton, who might have been the best of that triumvirate, stayed home because of their early-season gag job against Albion.

The Albion loss was bad, but it didn't kill Wheaton last year.  Wheaton didn't make the playoffs because they channeled a Wizard of Oz performance in the final two minutes of their game against North Central.  The CCIW tiebreaker in a three-way tie, assuming head-to-head cannot break the tie, is +/- in games among the tied teams.  The three games in question were North Central's 44-10 win over Elmhurst, the Jays' 35-30 win over Wheaton, and the Wheaties' 35-21 win at North Central.  But the end of that latter game was quite illuminating.   North Central scored with just over two minutes left, which gave them a +20 point differential and left Wheaton at +9.  Wheaton got the ball back with plenty of time for a hurry-up drive in a situation where a touchdown would move them into a position where they have the tiebreaker advantage.  Instead, they ran the ball three straight times to end the game.

I do not know if we saw the Scarecrow, and Wheaton didn't grasp the opportunity in front of them, or if we saw the Cowardly Lion and they knew where they stood but elected to stand down, unwilling to risk losing a share of the conference championship at the expense of a potential playoff berth despite a late-game two-touchdown lead.  One explanation reflects poorly on the coaching staff's preparation and situation awareness and the other reflects poorly on the trust they had in their team's ability to execute.  Regardless of how well they would or would not have fared, Wheaton was not in the playoffs last year in part because they chose not to aim for that target.

That's an interesting view. The fact remains if Wheaton had defeated Albion last year they would have been in the playoffs as a 2 loss team was taken and Wheaton would have been a 1 loss team. Not much of an argument there. The rest of your point is valid as they did not manage the tie breaker vs NCC, which has been beaten like a dead horse in here so I won't re-tread.

No question that, had Wheaton beat Albion, they would have received a Pool C bid.  I'm not arguing that.  But even with this not in dispute, the first part of my point still stands -- that loss didn't kill Wheaton's playoff hopes.  With 2:30 left in their win over North Central, Wheaton was very much alive, and was in a Pool A position.  The subsequent events and mystifying coaching decisions took the Wheaties from Pool A to the sidelines.

[kiko]

Also, Trine in 2008 is absolute not a "should have beaten". Trine would have beaten most of the playoff field that year (and if you notice they did beat Franklin--whom you list as a middle--who beat NCC). I also think you can ask UWW fans what they think of the Trine program from their experience. Not a "should have beaten team" by any stretch. I could make the same argument for Coe in 2010 but I will not split hairs on that one.

Kiko, thanks for all this analysis and the arguments, makes the board much more enjoyable to participate in.

I think that good teams should expect to beat the winners of conferences that compile 2-10 records over the course of a decade, regardless of whether a particular year's winner happens to be stronger than usual.  (And, Wheaton did in fact beat that team.  I suspect it would have been a disappointment to emerge with any other result.)

Trine did beat Franklin.  "Should beat" doesn't mean "guaranteed to beat".  That outcome reflects as much on Franklin as it does on Trine.

[AndOne]

Lots of current back and forth with regard to the relative strength/success of various conference teams over the recent past few years. Some comments tinged with whatever flavor of kool-aid the poster drinks, some not.

Much of the talk has centered on North Central, the team which has either won the CCIW championship outright or shared it over the past 7 seasons. 

THIS year, all the teams besides Carthage and North Central have already made their season debut with all teams but Millikin probably having the result anticipated by the majority of fans/posters.

Not sure how many will agree, but it appears that NCC might have the toughest opener of the conference schools. They play on the road against Wisconsin-LaCrosse, a team which beat them last year, and which was ranked #47 by Kickoff. More so than any other conference team, the outcome of this game may shed some light on just how good this year's Cardinal squad will be. Going on the road--at least 5 hours in a bus--to face likely the toughest opening game opponent of any conference team, should provide a decent barometer as to the quality of THIS year's NCC team. The incentive for victory is certainly there, both in terms of meeting expectations, and with regard to a little payback for last year's defeat which went a long way to forcing the Cardinals to take two long plane rides come playoff time.

[Gregory Sager]

Since the so-called power conferences to whom the CCIW either does or does not correspond have been named in this conversation as the WIAC, the OAC, and the MIAC, I thought I'd do a breakdown of how the four conferences have fared in non-con play in the 14 seasons that d3football.com has archived, 1999 thru 2012.

(I have removed all of the head-to-head non-conference games among conference rivals, so that these numbers reflect true non-conference results.)

season	CCIW	WIAC	OAC	MIAC
2012	19-9	13-11	10-6	21-4
2011	19-8	15-6	11-4	15-7
2010	25-4	17-12	12-5	17-6
2009	21-5	23-6	10-5	17-5
2008	23-7	19-10	12-4	16-3
2007	17-9	22-8	10-6	19-5
2006	17-11	20-10	13-3	16-6
2005	22-5	18-10	13-3	13-8
2004	20-9	18-6	8-5	11-8
2003	21-7	17-8	10-6	15-8
2002	16-9	14-10	12-4	9-13
2001	16-9	14-8	12-2	7-7
2000	19-6	13-12	11-3	7-8
1999	12-6	8-18	8-6	8-4
TOTAL	267-104	231-135	156-62	191-92
WIN%	.720	.631	.716	.675

Here's the playoff totals for the four leagues during that span:

OAC	62-11 (.849)
WIAC	39-12 (.765)
MIAC	39-21 (.650)
CCIW	23-21 (.522)

[AndOne]

Naperville Sun article on the 2013 football Cardinals:

Among the featured points are lots of senior leadership, depth at running back, strength of O and D lines, and inexperience of the linebacking corps. 

http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/sports/fbl_ncc-NAP-09132013:article.

[Naperick]

Best of luck to the Cardinals tomorrow.  They owe LaCrosse!

[iwu70]

NCC looks as strong, experienced and deep as ever.  I stand by my earlier comments -- they are the favorite for the CCIW crown until someone knocks them off.  Let's hope they take a loss Saturday. 

IWU70

[Mr. Ypsi]

NCC looks as strong, experienced and deep as ever.  I stand by my earlier comments -- they are the favorite for the CCIW crown until someone knocks them off.  Let's hope they take a loss Saturday. 

IWU70

NO!  I always root for CCIW reams against 'infidels'!

Let's get 'em in the conference season.

[iwu70]

Ypsi, I hear you my friend, but I just don't want NCC building up any confidence for the CCIW season.  WC and NCC are going to be tough this year.  At least we have NPU at Homecoming.  Are you going to the Alma game today?  Should be an easy win for our Titans, I would think.  Alma got clobbered by Heidelburg last week.

Can you make it for Homecoming -- October 11-13 -- special sessions to honor Paul Bushnell this year.  Class newsletter coming to you from Steve B in a few days.  I know Nygren, Hankins, Franz, and Burrichter are coming -- perhaps others, especially the townies.  I'll be there.

GO TITANS!

IWU70

[Titan Q]

A few articles leading up to the IWU @ Alma game...

http://www.themorningsun.com/sports/20130913/alma-college-opens-home-season-with-illinois-wesleyan

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-football-looks-to-limit-flags-at-alma/article_31981de2-1cbc-11e3-a828-001a4bcf887a.html

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/titans-jones-takes-success-and-kidding-in-stride/article_0d406cbe-1b28-11e3-a126-001a4bcf887a.html?comment_form=true

[HScoach]

On this debate about the strength of the CCIW, I don't have the time this morning to go back thru 20 years of numbers but I can say the following with 100% conviction as a Mount guy:

Other than the WIAC, no conference has more respect in Alliance than the CCIW and their teams have more consistently given Mount a tougher time in the playoffs.  And at the top of that charge is Wheaton which was always one of best coached opponents we would face.   Unlike so many others, Wheaton made Mount beat them, opposed to pissing down their leg when Mount made a play.

[Langhorst_Ghost]

EC takes it's Blue Collar Mentality to Angola this afternoon in what should be a decent road test for the 21st ranked Bluejays.  Trine plays a pretty physical brand of football and fields a more athletic set of skilled players than what the DuHawks bussed to Langhorst on opening night.  Thunder hang their hat on a stout run defense. while EC built this program pounding the rock (300+ yards on 50+ carries last Thursday).

Trine is 28-2 at home over the past 6 years, Elmhurst is 29-1 in non-conference play over the past decade...something's gotta give.

No Bluejay broadcast today, but you can hear the Thunder's call here: http://www.trine.edu/athletics/

Happy College Football Saturday to all and good luck to all the CCIW teams this week!

[Mr. Ypsi]

So far, IWU is totally laying an egg in Alma: at halftime, Alma 3, IWU 0!!

After his magnificent passing last week, Gallik has started 2 for 9 (26 yards) with THREE interceptions!   The Titans better figure out what's wrong at halftime or this could be the worst loss in many years.

To give an idea of the futility so far, just before the half the Titans had a 1st and goal at the Alma 2 - and couldn't score.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Order has been restored to the universe: with 1 minute remaining in the 3rd, it is IWU 17, Alma 3.

Unlike at the end of the 1st half, when IWU had 1st and goal this time, T. J. Stinde promptly ran it in for the TD.  When that was negated by a penalty, he did it again on the very next play.  And Gallik is now looking more like last week - he's 5 for 7 in the 2nd half (and all receptions have been by HIS teammates ).

[CardinalAlum]

Cards up 21-10 up in LaCrosse.  3 minutes left in the half. Stanek has had a very effective half so far running and throwing the football.