FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[formerd3db]

Good comments Gregory and I share your opinion on that.  I wish we had more posting on our MIAA board as well, however, I don't understand why the lack of same.  Of course, we have never had the participation that you and your colleagues have had on your board, however, it is disappointing that most of our veteran past MIAA posters have left also.  We continue to fall well behind in the number of posts as compared to other boards and I suspect that sometime in the future, we will ascend (or perhaps the better word would be  descend  ) to being last in that category.  I'm not sure if some of our posters have quit (or at least taken a hiatus from) posting since our league overall has not been as competitive as it once was years ago, or if they have moved on to other interests, perhaps some who no longer have someone at the school, or perhaps just too busy with other family and/or business aspects, or perhaps they simply have lost interest period.

I noticed one poster on another board had similarly mentioned (although it was in relation to a somewhat slightly different topic but tangent) that even some former DIIIer's (although not a huge number in what I know from my own observation/experience) seem to just lose their interest in DIII after their own careers are done and move on to the bigger football divisions as far as following the sport.  Regardless, it would be nice to have more participating on our MIAA board, but I find it disappointing that we don't.  I may be guilty of some of this myself since I do not post as much as I have in the past.  Anyway, appreciated your "take" on this topic and that of HoosierRedMan also.  Good to see that he has followed the big "C" even after his son's playing days are done.

[CardinalAlum]

It's a compliment, although I'm puzzled as to why the old-guard Carthage fans haven't returned yet. The turnaround of the Red Men has been very impressive, and it didn't just start with this current iteration of the program; Carthage really came on at the end of last year.

If someone had posted in a d3boards.com room for years without his team having any breakthrough success, until he finally gave up posting once the team dropped to the lower reaches of the standings, why would he prolong his absence once the team began a dramatic and successful turnaround? Are the old Carthage posters worried that they'll be called out as fair-weather fans? I wouldn't call them that, because they posted during a lot of seasons in which the Red Men went 4-3 or 3-4 in the league and clearly weren't a top-level outfit.

I guess that what I'm trying to say is that this room, like all d3boards.com rooms, is at its best when it gets broad representation from most or all of the fanbases of the league in question. I don't expect to see any Carroll fans posting here in the near future, but it's a little strange that you're the only Carthage poster at the moment.

Let the record show I suffered through some of the lean years at NCC when we were still trying to break into the "big 4".      I give you regular guys credit for sticking with your boys through the years, good and bad!

[Mugsy]

NCC has the horses at WR to handle this kind of pressure but Broc Rutter hasn't seen a steady diet of it for 4 quarters. And playing in Kenosha is no picnic by the lake.

Especially in early November!  The coldest I have ever been in my entire life was the last game of the year at Carthage my freshman year.  I was only on special teams.  The weather was HORRIBLE.  32 degrees and sleeting.  It was a low scoring game so I would only get in on a few plays, stone cold!  I remember walking into the showers, cranking on the hot water will full equipment on to warm up.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Good comments Gregory and I share your opinion on that.  I wish we had more posting on our MIAA board as well, however, I don't understand why the lack of same.  Of course, we have never had the participation that you and your colleagues have had on your board, however, it is disappointing that most of our veteran past MIAA posters have left also.  We continue to fall well behind in the number of posts as compared to other boards and I suspect that sometime in the future, we will ascend (or perhaps the better word would be  descend  ) to being last in that category.  I'm not sure if some of our posters have quit (or at least taken a hiatus from) posting since our league overall has not been as competitive as it once was years ago, or if they have moved on to other interests, perhaps some who no longer have someone at the school, or perhaps just too busy with other family and/or business aspects, or perhaps they simply have lost interest period.

I noticed one poster on another board had similarly mentioned (although it was in relation to a somewhat slightly different topic but tangent) that even some former DIIIer's (although not a huge number in what I know from my own observation/experience) seem to just lose their interest in DIII after their own careers are done and move on to the bigger football divisions as far as following the sport.  Regardless, it would be nice to have more participating on our MIAA board, but I find it disappointing that we don't.  I may be guilty of some of this myself since I do not post as much as I have in the past.  Anyway, appreciated your "take" on this topic and that of HoosierRedMan also.  Good to see that he has followed the big "C" even after his son's playing days are done.

Since the MIAA hoops board is totally dominated by Hope and Calvin posters (with SOME from SOME other schools), I wonder if Calvin adding football would change the dynamic?  Not personally knowing any of the Calvin regulars on the hoops board, I have no idea of their interest in football, especially since Calvin would presumably be quite bad for the first few years (unless they totally jump-start like UMHB did ).

It was good to see a couple of sflzman posts, so I know Zach has not entirely disappeared - surprised he hasn't posted more often with the fast start of Alma this year.  And where are the Trine and Olivet posters?!!  (Though, come to think of it, aside from a rare appearance by the Olivet SID, ARE there any Olivet posters?)

[79jaybird]

Agree Greg- 

I also agree that we haven't heard from the great posters
-Irish 21
-Tailgater
-Son of Tailgater

and some of the Redmen nation that could actually contribute valid information, not just cheerlead.

[thunderdog]

I'm very intrigued by the IWU @ Carthage game this weekend:

Since my default mindset is to always look at games from a "what's best for Wheaton" perspective, I'm begrudgingly forced to root for the Greenies in this one...

I think these are 2 teams are very evenly matched overall with, according to my eye test, Carthage having the stronger D and IWU having more weapons on O. The conference stats say otherwise, that IWU has the better D and that Carthage has the better O, but ever since #7 Brandon Bauer took over at QB, the IWU's offense has been humming nicely. I wouldn't be surprised to see him (Bauer) hold onto the starting gig (over Jack Warner) for the forseeable future... I did notice that it looks like Carthage may have made a change at QB from the SR #9 Olles to the SOPH #5 Kyle Friberg. Friberg lead the Carthage offense to 449 yards of total offense and 37 points against a solid (yet unspectacular) Elmhurst defense last week. That could make things more interesting as I thought Carthage's biggest hole was at QB.

As much as I'd like to see Carthage win this one, I must reluctantly say... "... go...(ggrrrr)... weenies..."

[Gregory Sager]

As much as I'd like to see Carthage win this one, I must reluctantly say... "... go...(ggrrrr)... weenies..."

Statements of this type on d3boards.com are usually accompanied by certain vows regarding personal hygiene. For example:

Saturday "to do" list:

1. Cheer for Green Weenies
2. Wash out mouth with soap
3. Shower

[Mugsy]

As much as I'd like to see Carthage win this one, I must reluctantly say... "... go...(ggrrrr)... weenies..."

Whew... that must of been hard to say.

[thunderdog]

LOL, Greg & Mugsy... yes, I was just able to stop dry heaving (right now), but I fully expect another episode shortly...

[kiko]

As much as I'd like to see Carthage win this one, I must reluctantly say... "... go...(ggrrrr)... weenies..."

Statements of this type on d3boards.com are usually accompanied by certain vows regarding personal hygiene. For example:

Saturday "to do" list:

1. Cheer for Green Weenies
2. Wash out mouth with soap
3. Shower

I can't speak for NCC Fan, but it would not surprise me to see a post in the next day or two saying something to the effect of "still can't get that foul taste out of my mouth"... 

[USee]

  The Wee ton tackles couldn't block our ends.  Not to further knock the refs, but on third down Wee ton completes a long pass that led to a touchdown in the third quarter, should have been called back.  The referee standing not 5 yards away and doesn't call the  right tackle for a huge holding (he was beat so bad he had to grab and pull our end back from getting a clear shot at the QB).  The player turns and look at ref and he just shrugs?? The defensive line coach was ticked and kept asking the ref why he didn't throw flag.

Not to beat a dead horse but I just had the chance to watch the highlights from this game and included in the package on NCC's website is the long TD pass by Bowers in the 3rd quarter (at about the 3:50 mark of the highlight reel). Wheaton didn't do a great job throughout the game protecting the QB but on this play I'll let people judge the block by Wheaton's right tackle (Ben Pettway #77) on their own.

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/index.aspx?path=football

[USee]

I watched a lot of the first half in Kenosha. IWU is really struggling against the Carthage defense. Except for a 56 yd TD run by MSG they haven't done much. Carthage with 208 yds at half and IWU with 132

[USee]

I have seen every team in the league play this year and I have yet to see a back as good as Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore. I think he is one of the better RB's in the country. He didn't do much against NCC and Wheaton but he had little help against two great teams. Carthage has a top 25 rushing defense and he has carried IWU in the first half.

[Gregory Sager]

Halftime scores:

@ Carthage 14, Illinois Wesleyan 7
North Central 35, @ Augustana 0
Millikin 13, @ Carroll 7

[Gregory Sager]

Illinois Wesleyan 19, Carthage 14
North Central 42, Augustana 21
Millikin 22, Carroll 10

All of the visiting teams won this afternoon. I'd love it if that trend continued into this evening, but, of course, I'm hardly going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.