FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

rank the cciw head coaches (all great coaches), my opinion based on prestige and where I believe the cciw is headed.
1. Swider
2. Thorne
3. Barnes
4. Rucks
5. Neibhur
6. Journell
7. Esch

where's the love for the new guy at north park? how bad is it when you don't even rank #8 out of 8??

[79jaybird]

"What upgrades have been made to the Elmhurst Coaching Staff"  Jay Alum, I was referring to Roach ( Def. Coord.)  leaving, Krohn getting promoted to AD, Lester ( although I liked Tim's ambitious play calls), That was the old regime.  Journell was brought it, Lizak, Kryzkowski, etc.  These are all coaches that weren't here when I was playing at Elmhurst.

[redman04]

rank the cciw head coaches (all great coaches), my opinion based on prestige and where I believe the cciw is headed.
1. Swider
2. Thorne
3. Barnes
4. Rucks
5. Neibhur
6. Journell
7. Esch

My list
1. Swider
2. Thorne
3. Rucks
4. Barnes
5. Esch
6. Journell
7. Neibhur

It is tough to put Esch at the bottom.  Even though he is a jerk his record is pretty good and he has had some dominate teams.

Rucks is kind of a homer pick, but when you consider that carthage won 2 games in three years before he got there is a sign of doing something right.  Same thing with Thorne, although NCC was not in complete despair when he got there.  Barnes took over a program that had been successful already, not that maintaining that success is an easy thing. Journell and Neibhur both very good coaches and do not like putting them at the bottom, but someone has to go there.

As for the new guy at NPU lets see what he can do, if he wins 5 games this year then he would be in the top 3 IMO.

[jay alum]

jaybid, just want to help you get your facts straight. Kryzkowski and Nichols have been there for 6 years and Lizak has been there for almost a decade. Lester was an outstanding coordinator and is now the qb coach at w.michigan , he left elmhurst because he took a d2 head coach job.

[zorbadagreek]

I think the coaches in the CCIW are all great guys. Based on accomplishments heres how id rank them and why:
1. Barnes 
2. Swider 
3. Esch
4. Rucks 
5. Thorne 
6. Journell
7. Neibhur
8. NP 
Again this is my opinion, Im basing it on overall accomplishment in the conference, not this past season 8)

[formerd3db]

jay alum:
I think jaybird is a little older than you think, and knows a little something about Elmhurst fb.   Lester indeed took a DII job at St. Joseph's, IN before going on to WMU.  He helped get St. Joe back on track, but too bad for them that he only stayed one year there; good for WMU.

Anyway, what years were you at Elmhurst and what was your take about the program and where it is now?  Thanks.

[jay alum]

frmr3db-played at elm 00-04. your right jaybird does know his ec football. I have a bit different perspective on things considering i have been in the program as opposed to being an outside source. coming from the defensive side of the ball, it wasnt much of a transition. Nichols and kryzkowski where fulltime with krohn and now with journell, both outstanding football coaches. I believe elm will be very solid the next couple of years.

[augiedogie]

Quote from: jay alum on Yesterday at 06:05:37 PM
rank the cciw head coaches (all great coaches), my opinion based on prestige and where I believe the cciw is headed.
1. Swider
2. Thorne
3. Barnes
4. Rucks
5. Neibhur
6. Journell
7. Esch

My List is close to the same although I would put Barnes ahead of Thorne simply for the fact that Barnes has won a championship and Thorne hasn't. Anybody to go through the tough schedule undefeated (like Swider has done a couple of times and Barnes this year) deserves to be at the top of the list. To see him 3rd and 4th down on the list is surprising because other than Carthage's split title the champs have normally been either Wheaton or Augie.

1. Swider
2. Barnes
3. Rucks
4. Thorne
5. Neibhur
6. Journell
7. Esch

[augiedogie]

Augie doesn't play Central next year (according to Central's website). Also,  Augie goes to UW-P next season on the 23rd. Other than that, hopefully they will post the schedule sometime soon. 

[formerd3db]

jayalum:
Thanks for the follow-up.  It does appear from what you, jaybird and others have shared/mentioned that EC has a solid foundation and is headed in a good direction.  Hopefully, they'll be able to take it to the next level for their program.  It does take time, but for alums like yourself, it is exciting to see those aspects occur at one's alma mater, especially after those occasional "down periods".  Always enjoyed taking in an EC game when I was in the Chicago area "way back when" - a nice atmosphere.  I'm sure it is even nicer with the more recent stadium and field renovations/improvements.  Thanks again, and see you around the boards.

[79jaybird]

Hey guys, how are you.  It's been a difficult week as I lost a dear friend that my family has known for 60 years, which makes football and sports take a back seat.
JayAlum I played 1999 was my last year playing at Elmhurst, before going in the booth in 2000.  I'm sure I called your name a few times making tackles and/or sacks. 
My last year Nichols was the Secondary Coach, Roach was the D. Coordinator and Grazzini D-line.  Looking at my team pictures Kryzkowksi wasn't on the coaching staff. 
Anyway, Elmhurst has laid the foundation by promoting Krohn to AD and establishing a coaching staff that is determined to "rectify" the problems experienced in the 90's post Hoffmann/Beck era.
Formerd3db (TH)  how are you doing buddy?  I am anxious for the season to begin (as I'm sure most of us on this board are).
I look at a few (small) things that add to the football atmosphere that are present now, and were not present during the 90's skid.
1) After each home win the team gathers in front of their stands and sings the fight song to their fans.  Something simple, yet it is a sign that people are proud of their program.
2)Every game is broadcast and more games are televised on local cable tv.  Prior to us broadcasting, nobody really cared when the team played or how they were doing. Now I hear people tuning in ( even if it's just to hear the score), but they know when, where, and whom they're playing.
3) New field, new logo on the helmet, and new uniforms-  All apart of establishing an identity.  When I played we just had the numbers like Alabama.  Traditional, but some people focused on that number which created isolation.
There are many other issues which took place and/or still need to take place for Elmhurst to join the top tier consistently. 
6-4, 4-6, 6-4  the last 3 years.  Prior to this the last time EC had 3 straight 4 or more win seasons in a row was 1983-1985 which was the tail end of Beck and beginning of Hoffmann.
83- 7-2 6-2
84- 6-3 5-3
85- 7-2 6-2
90's era  2  three win seasons, so I think Journell and the current players are on the right track.

[formerd3db]

jaybird:
I am doing fine - thanks and hope you are as well.  Indeed, sometimes those "little things" such as some of which you mention do make a difference for a program. It's all attitude as well, as everyone here (including former players) already know and would concur no doubt.  Anyway, hope your other project is coming along too.

[formerd3db]

jaybird:
BTW, I almost forgot.  My condolences for the loss of your family friend.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and them.  Always, that is a tough situation to go through for anyone.  Keep the Faith, though.

[matblake]

jaybird, sorry for your loss.  Hope both you, your family, and your friend's family are doing ok. 

I believe that the IWU coach's last name is spelled Eash. 

[79jaybird]

Thank you Matt/former/ others... each day I get better, but it's one of those tough moments of life.
Yes Stormin Norman at IWU is Eash.  There is a player who spells his name Esch, but the Coach spells it Eash.
While we are on the subject of polls, which school would you say has the greatest home field advantage for football?
Take into account fans, features ( pep band, cheerleaders, etc.), Stadium, etc.
I think I would put this at
1) Augie/Wheaton
2) IWU
3)NC
4) Carthage
5) Elmhurst
6) Millikin
7) North Park
What do you all think?