FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[matblake]

I would say that the schools outside of the Chicago area would have the greatest homefield advantage.  Having to travel to the outposts of the CCIW (by outpost I mean location-wise, not strength of team wise) from Chicago aren't the most exciting of trips. 

I do like that flame thing that they have burning at IWU.  I have only been to Carthage's stadium once and it was so cold and windy that I can't be a good judge.  Haven't been to North Park's new digs.  At one Millikin game I was at, a guy parachuted in with the game ball.  Elmhurst is like any stadium I have ever been at.  I do like the fact that Wheaton's concession stand is under the bleachers.  Haven't been to North Central since they re-did it for the Chicago Fire.  I always remember there wasn't enough parking.  As for Augustana, looking forward to the game always got me in good spirits.

[vikes35]

I would say that in terms of hardest road game to win it would have to be at Augie, whichs make what Wheaton did on 03 and 04 very special. The atmosphere is noramlly very loud for a small school and it is always a long ride to get there. The other thing that we have is 3 tall buildings that surround our stadium and kind of enhance the noise. It has always been something to come into Augie and win a game, and because of that I would have to rank it as number one.  Wheaton and NCC both have both had very nice crowds for the games I have been at too, so I would say that they can affect the game. 


mat,

Come on those 2+ hours of cornfields have to be fun, I know I enjoy coming home from school with such a boring drive. 

[matblake]

vikes35,
See reply #1165 on page 78.  Please apply my statement to the trip from Chicagoland out to Rock Island.  Also see gryfalia's reply on page 79 reply #1184.

[jay alum]

Hardest places to play. In terms of facilities available for road teams, travel, and crowd atmosphere.
1. Augustana
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. Carthage
5. NCC
6. Millikin
7. NPU

[zorbadagreek]

Are there any coaches in the CCIW who may be on the hotseat for the upcoming season???

[matblake]

zorba,  I think the head coaching positions in the CCIW are relatively stable this year.  Wheaton, Augie, North Central, and Carthage have all had recent success.  Millikin and IWU have been decent enough recently (last 6 years) to be stable in the D3 coaching ranks.  North Park just got a new coach so I doubt they would be looking to get rid of him before they even play a game.  The Elmhurst website says that Coach Journell is entering his second year, so even if he was starting his third year he would have more time. 

[79jaybird]

Journell is beginning his 3rd year.  He went 4-6 and last year 6-4.
While I think Norm Eash at IWU is still in a "comfort zone".. I think that if he doesn't get IWU back into the upper half of the conference, I think people are going to start questioning him.  Early 90's and during the John Munch era, IWU was right up there.  Lately, there hasn't been much to cheer about down in the Green Nation.
For me, Augie was tough because the bus ride was always uncomfortable, you tried to catch some sleep on the bus, but the adrenaline didn't allow you to enter the sleep state, and then you get to the Stadium and realize it's time to play.
My first time at Augie we lost 22-0 in a rain soaked monsoon.  All I recall from that game is looking across at the Quad Cities Industrial Complex, thinking I have to come back here for  a conf. game.
Wheaton was tough soley based upon the fact that they were a tough team with great players. That and my first trip to Wheaton was the year after our 22-16 upset, so they were fueled by the revenge factor.

[vikes35]

jaybird,

This isnt meant to be picky but if you were looking at the QCIC doesn't that mean that you were looking away from the game. Augie is on the side that can clearly see that ugly building, but I can understand the concern. You wouldn't think that would be anything but a building, but we can really use that building to our advantage because it really does bring extra noise into the stadium.  I have to say though that it is a hidious background to an overall great campus.

[redman04]

I always thought that Augie was the by far toughest place to play, especially coming from Carthage.   Some friends of mine that played on rival teams have told me that they thought Carthage was the second toughest place to play because of the weather and volatile fans. (Augie being the first)


Question to the Augie nation how many home losses since 1980, I would guess it is by far the lowest in the CCIW.

[redman04]

Also I do not think that Augie was a tough place to play just because of the distance, we went to St. Olaf and Martin Luther I believe both were over 6 hours away on a bus,  Augie was much, much tougher. 

There was much more to it than just the bus ride

[79jaybird]

Vikes35,  hehe yes the QCIC is behind the visitors stands.  After a play running off the field to our sidelines I saw that bldg in the background.
Carthage wasn't tough for me, because I thought of it as a Bears/Packers rivalry game.  That, and I have family in Silver Lake, WI ( Western Kenosha Co.), so I had family in attendance.
Question to those who may know--  I was watching the Chicago Rush game last Sunday and Benedictine Alumnus Bob McMillen broke the record for ( I believe) most yards in the AFL.  However, the following rush he lost 8 yards.  So what happens now?  Did or did he not get credit for breaking the record at this game?  How did that unfold?

[vikes35]

jaybird,

Makes sense, just wanted to make sure.  That is one hidious building though, and now they have painted it gray and it looks even worse.

Redman04,

I agree that the distance isnt the only problem, I believe it is more the competitve game that is upcoming and the loud crowd and the drive together, it is alot of factors that make that game tough for anyone that has to play it.  The equalized for all the Chicagoland teams is that every road game for the outlying schools is a trip whereas the Chi. schools do get some short road drives.  I do agree that because of the awkwardness of where Carthage is any road game has to be rough, but the love of football is what keeps the D3 athlete going and it is nice to see that boring bus trips dont keep the players from giving their all.

[dansand]

I always thought that Augie was the by far toughest place to play, especially coming from Carthage.   Some friends of mine that played on rival teams have told me that they thought Carthage was the second toughest place to play because of the weather and volatile fans. (Augie being the first)


Question to the Augie nation how many home losses since 1980, I would guess it is by far the lowest in the CCIW.

115-14 (.891) at home from 1981-2005. That's 106-14 at Ericson Field and 9-0 at Rock Island Public Schools Stadium, where they played some playoff games during the '80's.

[79jaybird]

Vikes35, I have wondered how come Augustana doesn't ask the owner(s) of the QCIC Bldg.  if they could paint some Augie related materials on the building.  Maybe the Augie helmet, or Go Augustana, or Rock Island supports the Vikings, etc.?  Anything Augustana would be better than the old, rotting, eyesore that is there now.

[dansand]

Vikes35, I have wondered how come Augustana doesn't ask the owner(s) of the QCIC Bldg.  if they could paint some Augie related materials on the building.  Maybe the Augie helmet, or Go Augustana, or Rock Island supports the Vikings, etc.?  Anything Augustana would be better than the old, rotting, eyesore that is there now.

Jaybird,

As an old rotting eyesore, I'm offended by that.