FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Filo Langkilde is most definitely back. I'm not sure why Mark thinks he isn't. Perhaps he was looking in the wrong place on the online roster, since Filo's got a new number this year, #5.

Conway to Childress.  Conway to Conway.

You forgot Conway to Burton. Anthony Burton caught 36 passes for 460 yards and two touchdowns last season. He's an outstanding athlete with great burst, and he's a veteran. I think he's going to have a big senior year and will help take some of the defensive focus off of Dakota Conway and Devin Childress. You also forgot Conway to Hood. Cody Hood wasn't in school last year, but as a freshman two years ago he had a 71-yard touchdown catch at Augustana and a 53-yard touchdown catch at Millikin. He'll help stretch the field for T.D. Conway. I think that more is expected from sophomores Mark Ojomu and Denton Delgado (who missed most of last season after breaking his leg at Alma), and there's some freshman WRs whom the coaches like as well.

the Vikings have a huge gap running the pigskin.  My troglodyte mind thinks you have to run the ball, not just as a gesture, to allow the D time to rest.

NPU should definitely have a better running game this year than the Vikes had in 2014, because: a) the offensive line, which returns four starters, should definitely be better; and b) the RB corps is deeper and more talented, albeit less experienced. Aside from senior Langkilde, who is the big banger among the North Park RBs, there's three incoming freshmen running backs upon whom Mike Conway is very high: Alfred Soboyejo IV, a Las Vegas product whose parents were both D1 scholarship sprinters; Matthew Chapp, a local kid from Riverside-Brookfield HS; and Uluao Letuli, who, like Langkilde, is one of the Samoan contingent, and who may have the best upside of all the RB candidates but is coming off of an injury. John Wilkinson, who missed all of last season due to a leg injury suffered in the preseason scrimmage against Olivet Nazarene, is back as well. The coaching staff was very high on him last season, and if he's fully recovered he'll be in the mix at RB, too.

And North Park has never had depth on D.

That's true, and I'm certainly not making any promises in that category for this season, either. But the Vikings have some nice pieces on that side of the ball, too. Hunter Corrigan, who was really solid as a junior, is poised to have a great senior season at DE. Mark Mamola and Austin Regel have big shoes to fill beside Corrigan on the DL, replacing two outstanding graduates in Matt Leibforth and Trevor Forker, but the coaching staff feels that they're up to the challenge. The Vikings have experience at the LB spots, and I think that Chaun Maiava has a chance to be one of the CCIW's breakout stars on defense. In the secondary, there are six returnees who saw playing time last season, and Mike Conway is really excited about one of the new Floridians, Frantz Dorcely, who could contribute right away. All in all, though, I think that the defense has more question marks than the offense.

NPU had media day on Saturday, in which the Vikings broke out their new road uniforms. There are 96 players on the roster, so (at least initially) the team is about twice the size of what Mike Conway inherited when he took over two and a half years ago. Mike is pretty excited about this incoming freshman class, and the sentiment seems to be that it's deeper and has more potential standouts than last year's freshmen class -- and last year's freshman class was the best that North Park's had in decades. There's only eleven seniors on the roster, so this is still a very young team.

Expectations are high everywhere, of course, since preseason is the time of year when every coach raves about his team and every fan dreams about a season that improves upon last year (unless you're a fan of Purple One or Purple Two, of course, in which case you're dreaming about the same old, same old). North Park is certainly no exception, and therefore there's no point to me hyping this team in terms of where it could finish. But the feeling at Foster & Kedzie is that, even with a tougher schedule than last season's, the Park expects a significant improvement over 2014.

[matblake]

Andy Studebaker signs with Tennessee.
http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Sign-LB-Andy-Studebaker-Waive-WR-Clyde-Gates/dbcfa3f6-1975-41a5-9f92-d441fd488242

[Mugsy]

Wheaton 2015 Roster:

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2015/8/17/FB_0817155324.aspx

[AndOne]

Current 2015 North Central Cardinals football roster:

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?roster=258&path=football

However, in light of the following, I'm questioning whether or not the above list won't be subject to some changes/additions in the short term. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/sports/2015/5/5/FB_05052015.aspx?path=football

[kiko]

Current 2015 North Central Cardinals football roster:

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?roster=258&path=football

However, in light of the following, I'm questioning whether or not the above list won't be subject to some changes/additions in the short term. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/sports/2015/5/5/FB_05052015.aspx?path=football

I count 62 names on that list... wish it listed height and weight, so we could count linemen and better understand if the Cardinals are also hoarding guards... 

(Yes, I know... wrong board...)

[bleedpurple]

Expectations are high everywhere, of course, since preseason is the time of year when every coach raves about his team and every fan dreams about a season that improves upon last year (unless you're a fan of Purple One or Purple Two, of course, in which case you're dreaming about the same old, same old). North Park is certainly no exception, and therefore there's no point to me hyping this team in terms of where it could finish. But the feeling at Foster & Kedzie is that, even with a tougher schedule than last season's, the Park expects a significant improvement over 2014.

As far as UW-W is concerned, I don't believe this to be true except for our Nervous Nellie fans (you know who you are!).  Those involved with the program and, I believe most fans, are looking forward to improvement.  Coach Bullis addressed this very issue when a program supporter suggested there is no room for improvement:

"Can't get any better? That is so foreign to how we think.  Every single day is getting better.  That's what every day is, that's what life is, an opportunity to get better." - UW-W Head Coach Kevin Bullis.

[USee]

Expectations are high everywhere, of course, since preseason is the time of year when every coach raves about his team and every fan dreams about a season that improves upon last year (unless you're a fan of Purple One or Purple Two, of course, in which case you're dreaming about the same old, same old). North Park is certainly no exception, and therefore there's no point to me hyping this team in terms of where it could finish. But the feeling at Foster & Kedzie is that, even with a tougher schedule than last season's, the Park expects a significant improvement over 2014.

As far as UW-W is concerned, I don't believe this to be true except for our Nervous Nellie fans (you know who you are!).  Those involved with the program and, I believe most fans, are looking forward to improvement.  Coach Bullis addressed this very issue when a program supporter suggested there is no room for improvement:

"Can't get any better? That is so foreign to how we think.  Every single day is getting better.  That's what every day is, that's what life is, an opportunity to get better." - UW-W Head Coach Kevin Bullis.

A sign of the apocalypse: North Park and UWW football mentioned in the same post. 

[Gregory Sager]

Current 2015 North Central Cardinals football roster:

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?roster=258&path=football

However, in light of the following, I'm questioning whether or not the above list won't be subject to some changes/additions in the short term. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/sports/2015/5/5/FB_05052015.aspx?path=football

I count 62 names on that list... wish it listed height and weight, so we could count linemen and better understand if the Cardinals are also hoarding guards... 

Expectations are high everywhere, of course, since preseason is the time of year when every coach raves about his team and every fan dreams about a season that improves upon last year (unless you're a fan of Purple One or Purple Two, of course, in which case you're dreaming about the same old, same old). North Park is certainly no exception, and therefore there's no point to me hyping this team in terms of where it could finish. But the feeling at Foster & Kedzie is that, even with a tougher schedule than last season's, the Park expects a significant improvement over 2014.

As far as UW-W is concerned, I don't believe this to be true except for our Nervous Nellie fans (you know who you are!).  Those involved with the program and, I believe most fans, are looking forward to improvement.  Coach Bullis addressed this very issue when a program supporter suggested there is no room for improvement:

"Can't get any better? That is so foreign to how we think.  Every single day is getting better.  That's what every day is, that's what life is, an opportunity to get better." - UW-W Head Coach Kevin Bullis.

A sign of the apocalypse: North Park and UWW football mentioned in the same post. 

Some apocalypses are more pleasant than others.

[wally_wabash]

Expectations are high everywhere, of course, since preseason is the time of year when every coach raves about his team and every fan dreams about a season that improves upon last year (unless you're a fan of Purple One or Purple Two, of course, in which case you're dreaming about the same old, same old). North Park is certainly no exception, and therefore there's no point to me hyping this team in terms of where it could finish. But the feeling at Foster & Kedzie is that, even with a tougher schedule than last season's, the Park expects a significant improvement over 2014.

As far as UW-W is concerned, I don't believe this to be true except for our Nervous Nellie fans (you know who you are!).  Those involved with the program and, I believe most fans, are looking forward to improvement.  Coach Bullis addressed this very issue when a program supporter suggested there is no room for improvement:

"Can't get any better? That is so foreign to how we think.  Every single day is getting better.  That's what every day is, that's what life is, an opportunity to get better." - UW-W Head Coach Kevin Bullis.

I think there's a difference between the motivational, life coachisms about getting better every day (which is fine- I'm not poo-pooing that) and the notion that there's not room for improvement.  You can't go 16-0.  There's not another trophy to win past the NCAA Championship.  I think both things can be true. 

[Captain_Joe08]

Current 2015 North Central Cardinals football roster:

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?roster=258&path=football

However, in light of the following, I'm questioning whether or not the above list won't be subject to some changes/additions in the short term. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/sports/2015/5/5/FB_05052015.aspx?path=football

I count 62 names on that list... wish it listed height and weight, so we could count linemen and better understand if the Cardinals are also hoarding guards... 

Expectations are high everywhere, of course, since preseason is the time of year when every coach raves about his team and every fan dreams about a season that improves upon last year (unless you're a fan of Purple One or Purple Two, of course, in which case you're dreaming about the same old, same old). North Park is certainly no exception, and therefore there's no point to me hyping this team in terms of where it could finish. But the feeling at Foster & Kedzie is that, even with a tougher schedule than last season's, the Park expects a significant improvement over 2014.

As far as UW-W is concerned, I don't believe this to be true except for our Nervous Nellie fans (you know who you are!).  Those involved with the program and, I believe most fans, are looking forward to improvement.  Coach Bullis addressed this very issue when a program supporter suggested there is no room for improvement:

"Can't get any better? That is so foreign to how we think.  Every single day is getting better.  That's what every day is, that's what life is, an opportunity to get better." - UW-W Head Coach Kevin Bullis.

A sign of the apocalypse: North Park and UWW football mentioned in the same post. 

Some apocalypses are more pleasant than others.

I can't imagine what will happen when the NACC finally wins a playoff game.

[badgerwarhawk]

I can't imagine what will happen when the NACC finally wins a playoff game.

The team will advance to the second round. 

[thunderdog]

To say I'm excited about the upcoming season would be an understatement. Couple of questions for my fellow Wheaton fans. First, just noticed that Keegan Kemp is not on the roster. He was only a JR last year and an obvious huge playmaker for the team... Any word on if he transferred? Decided not to play? Etc. That's a big loss IMO. Second, besides Kemp, were there any other players that were expected to return that didn't? Third, are there any newcomers or underclassmen that are ready to compete for a starting position or regular playing time? The 3 freshmen that stood out to me (on video) were Spielman (DT), Frazier (SB), and Watson (RB). Just wondering what players, other than the returning starters, are ready to take their game to that next level and become a consistent contributors?

[USee]

To say I'm excited about the upcoming season would be an understatement. Couple of questions for my fellow Wheaton fans. First, just noticed that Keegan Kemp is not on the roster. He was only a JR last year and an obvious huge playmaker for the team... Any word on if he transferred? Decided not to play? Etc. That's a big loss IMO. Second, besides Kemp, were there any other players that were expected to return that didn't? Third, are there any newcomers or underclassmen that are ready to compete for a starting position or regular playing time? The 3 freshmen that stood out to me (on video) were Spielman (DT), Frazier (SB), and Watson (RB). Just wondering what players, other than the returning starters, are ready to take their game to that next level and become a consistent contributors?

The only thing I can add is that Spielman is a soph, he transferred from Toledo. I don't know anything about the newcomers yet. I am hoping to make it to the Wabash scrimmage this coming weekend (assuming they still scrimmage Wabash).

[wally_wabash]

To say I'm excited about the upcoming season would be an understatement. Couple of questions for my fellow Wheaton fans. First, just noticed that Keegan Kemp is not on the roster. He was only a JR last year and an obvious huge playmaker for the team... Any word on if he transferred? Decided not to play? Etc. That's a big loss IMO. Second, besides Kemp, were there any other players that were expected to return that didn't? Third, are there any newcomers or underclassmen that are ready to compete for a starting position or regular playing time? The 3 freshmen that stood out to me (on video) were Spielman (DT), Frazier (SB), and Watson (RB). Just wondering what players, other than the returning starters, are ready to take their game to that next level and become a consistent contributors?

The only thing I can add is that Spielman is a soph, he transferred from Toledo. I don't know anything about the newcomers yet. I am hoping to make it to the Wabash scrimmage this coming weekend (assuming they still scrimmage Wabash).

They do.

[BashDad]

If anyone cares to PERISCOPE ( https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/periscope/id972909677?mt=8 ) the Wabash/Wheaton scrimmage, I would be forever grateful.