FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[markerickson]

The second Williams at RB for Elmhurst is finally a senior.  He'll be challenged mightily without those returning lineman, and hopefully another brother will not follow.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

I will be attending the Wheaton Wabash scrimmage this weekend...Does anyone have the time???...am assuming either noon or 1pm but would rather be able to be on time...have been attending since 2005...

Love it as it great for both teams...

Really hoping to see Wheaton with an impact this year...
You guys a seem to have a great deal to be excited about this season...

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS

[wheels81]

Looks like a 1 p.m. start for wabash/wheaton scrimmage

[USee]

I am a little concerned about some of the hype around Wheaton this season. I believe they will be good and have a chance to be very good. But last year no one thought anything of them and they played with a chip on their shoulder. This year 2 teams from our own conference have a chip on their shoulder and have placed a target on Wheaton's back. North Central is motivated by missing the playoffs by a FG at McCully Stadium. IWU feels like lightning struck them 5x last year and is clearly working with a grudge against anyone who has written them off. Wheaton, while losing in disappointing fashion, doesn't have a perceptible edge to me. It doesn't mean they don't have one or won't play like they have one. But they achieved a lot last year and, as the business writer Jim Collins says, "Good is the enemy of Great". When you have a good season, great season's are harder to achieve.

Wabash comes to town with an edge in my view. They clearly don't like how they showed up in Janesville to end their year and want people to know they are ready to join the upper echelon. Hopefully this is perfect timing for a wake up call for the Thunder.

[wally_wabash]

IWU feels like lightning struck them 5x last year and is clearly working with a grudge against anyone who has written them off.

*raises hand

Wabash comes to town with an edge in my view. They clearly don't like how they showed up in Janesville to end their year and want people to know they are ready to join the upper echelon. Hopefully this is perfect timing for a wake up call for the Thunder.

There's no edge on Saturday.  They'll sort of keep a score, but nobody wins anything this weekend.  I just hope both sides can get some good work in and walk away with healthy two-deeps.  We're talkin' 'bout practice. 

[USee]

Wally,

I thought "Wabash Always fights"? So they won't try hard in a scrimmage? I know, you didn't say that. But I didn't say anyone would win anything either. The point is, Wabash has a bigger goal in mind and this is one of the steps. I like the mojo they will bring to town. While ER will be smart about it, I like scrimmaging a team that is going into a season with something to prove. I am hoping the intensity that is the Wabash identity is the wake up call. Kind of like JJ Watt in practice on "Hard Knocks".

[matblake]

Additions to the CCIW Camp Tour
#3 Millikin
#4 Carthage
http://www.cciw.org/news/2015/8/27/FB_0827153039.aspx

[wally_wabash]

There's definitely some value in the exercise (even though both sides have paid significant prices over the years).  It's just hard to compare it to a game situation.  There's no real prep or schemes or film study involved.  Mostly just a chance to get into full, live contact (the sense I get is that a lot of teams continue to dial down the amount of contact in practice) against first-string players of pretty equal ability.  Wabash will play hard Saturday, no doubt, but I don't expect the top line guys to play a whole lot.  Maybe a few series.  There's an important game in Virginia in week 1 and Wabash definitely needs those guys available for that trip. 

[Neverwas]

It's just hard to compare it to a game situation. 

I don't totally disagree with you, Wally, but as a former player, I looked forward to the Wabash scrimmage.  It was always pretty close to full game conditions and both teams always wanted to "win." For Wheaton, it was often a better test than the scheduled non-con games.  And for a lot of guys, it was your last shot to prove you deserved a spot before the season started. 

I agree with USee - I hope Wabash brings it.  We were always made aware by the coaches if we didn't in the film room the following week.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Looks like a 1 p.m. start for wabash/wheaton scrimmage

Thank you for the reply...

[matblake]

CCIW Camp Tour Updated again:
Augustana and Elmhurst added
http://www.cciw.org/news/2015/8/28/FB_0828152030.aspx

[USee]

Thoughts from the Scrimmage today at Wheaton (v. Wabash--I will post my thoughts on Bash on the NCAC board)

First some overall observations:
-It started in a downpour. There were puddles on the field, which is very rare with fieldturf. (Think Bethel game from 2008). This made it quite hard on both teams to operate offensively.
-The QB's for both sides wore red jersey's and were "off limits". Another inhibiting factor because the referees were extremely quick with the whistle on both sides and both teams employ a running QB at times.
-There appeared to be no significant injuries for either team and it was a spirited scrimmage
-They played it like a real game with 4 quarters but a running clock most of the time.
-The Wheaton starters (and subs who will play) played the entire first half and the first series or two in the second half
-The Wabash starters on defense played 4 series which was the entire first quarter
-The Wabash starters on offense played the whole first half and into the first series or two in the second half.
-There was a 25 play series for each team's young players after the 4 quarters were over. Each offense was on the field at the same time with their backs to each other starting on the +30 yd line.
-There were close to 1,000 penalty flags thrown by the officials.

Regarding the actual playing of the scrimmage:
-The "score" was 1's v 1's Wheaton 6 Wabash 0. The lone score in the first half came after a shanked punt by Wabash gave the ball to the Thunder at the Wabash 35. JP11 directed the team down to the 3 yd line and they scored when 6-6 Luke Thorson outjumped 5-9 Delon Pettiford in the corner for a TD. The extra point was snapped to about midfield and covered by the Wheaton Kicker.
-Wheaton's defense played exceptionally well. Wabash had 1 first down at halftime. Mason Zurek only had about 4 carries (+9-10 yds total and their only 1st down) and Wheaton's defensive front was a handful for the LG's to block
-The Thunder O-line had similar problems with the Bash front 7 and got stuffed 2x on 4th and 1 during the scrimmage by a swarming D.
-Wheaton's defense had a number of sacks and after fumbling the ball to Wabash on their first offensive play, they came up with an INT on 3rd and 12 to give the ball back to the O.
-Wabash scored on about a 45 yd run by Tyler Downing in the 2's v 2's section and the converted extra point made it 7-0 for Wabash. Wheaton came back and their 2nd team Offense scored with :02 seconds on the clock on a 4th and goal from the 2 on a fade route from QB Curtis McWilliams to a WR who I did not see the number. The ball was briefly bobbled and may have actually been incomplete but the back judge ruled TD. Extra point was good.
-Except for the final drive, The Wabash 2nd team defense dominated play and generated more negative yards than the Wheaton O had positive yards. I lost count of the sacks and holding penalties.
-Sola Olateju (#23) was the starting RB for the Thunder. He has great potential and might be one of the fastest players on the field but if he can't hold on to the ball, he won't have much of an impact. 2 fumbles today largely because he runs upright and takes big hits. Very hard to tackle in the open field. Kind of similar to Oshayne Brown from NCC

Overall impressions:
-I was very impressed with Wheaton's speed and depth. This is the best quality roster I have ever seen at Wheaton from top to bottom. The young players on special teams are incredibly athletic and when a substitute comes in, there is little let down. They play a lot of players with that first group and they are all talented. A lot to be excited about in Wheaton this year. Wabash is going to be really good. Their defense is, once again, the real deal. They play hard and gang tackle the football. These are two top 10 quality teams. I am still really in disbelief from the quality of talent on the Wheaton roster. If they come together, this could be a special season.

I think Wabash will be tough to beat as well. It would be great for these teams to meet again in December. Would be a great atmoshpere. Wabash is an extremely classy program and the benefit these two teams get from this is really outstanding.
First game is at Coe next week.

[matblake]

Thanks USee. Seems like there is a lot to be excited about. Very detailed description. Thanks for your work!

[wally_wabash]

-The "score" was 1's v 1's Wheaton 6 Wabash 0. The lone score in the first half came after a shanked punt by Wabash gave the ball to the Thunder at the Wabash 35. JP11 directed the team down to the 3 yd line and they scored when 6-6 Luke Thorson outjumped 5-9 Delon Pettiford in the corner for a TD. The extra point was snapped to about midfield and covered by the Wheaton Kicker.

Delon got Jake Kumerow in his last game, now Thorson today, and he'll probably spend most of next weekend covering 6-5 Michael May.  He'll be happy to see this string of redwoods come to an end.   

[thunderdog]

Thanks for sharing USee. Somewhat surprised to hear that Sola Olateju 23 entered the scrimmage as the #1 RB. Can't say I saw enough of him in the games last year to have much of an opinion, but it's always exciting to see which players have a great off-season and come back ready to compete for the starting gig. Starter or not, he needs to hold onto the ball if he wants to continue seeing carries.

Definitely don't like to hear about the PAT snap that flew over the holder's head. That needs to get fixed like yesterday.

Bring on Coe!

Roll Thunder