FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

Took a look at St Johns.  They look decent.  Could be a good game.

First of all, what a bummer for Wheaton not getting in.  If Carnegie Mellon could properly take a knee, I have to think Wheaton is in and one of the top teams would've been in for a heck of a first round game. Secondly, I know you have more than "they look decent" in you and hope you'll go into more depth as the week goes on.  All the best!

I think UW-La Crosse goes before Wheaton, for what it's worth.

[Gregory Sager]

I am new at this. This will be my first ever post on the forum.  I went to Augustana College in the early 80's and saw a dynasty starting to take shape.  Coach Reade's squads were winning national championships 4 years in a row.  Believe me, nothing gets better than that.  Now, since Coach Cushman was hired until the present, the football program goes into a serious decline.  In fact, Coach Cushman's first year ended with their first losing season since 1978, a 33 year run.  They haven't had a winning season since.  Coach Bell has NOT been able to fix the problem.  I agree with all of the past forum members posting about the state of Augustana football,but one thing that was not mentioned. The Augustana defense.  They say offense wins games and defense wins championships. I truly believe that.  These past 7 years under Cushman & Bell have all of the defenses rank in the top 10 in Augustana history.  This year's defense would be the equivalent of a meeting between Dean 'Wermer and the Delta frat, with Dean Wermer saying:  "Mr. 'Blutarsky, zero point zero".  This year's Augustana defense was the worst in school history.  Most points given up, worst scoring % on opponents drives, worst 3rd down rate, worst turnover margin and the list goes on including 3 blowout losses (Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton).  Unfortunately,the same assistant coaches were still in place ALL 3 of Coach Bell's years.  This 7 year stretch by Cushman & Bell produced the most losses in that span in school history. I am not even comparing this to other teams in the CCIW.  Just on Augie's history.  In order to get better on the field, you MUST FIX THE PROBLEM!!!  This current coaching staff, head coach included, needed to address this during their games they played.  As an alum, it makes me sick to my stomach to see this kind of football being played.  I hope that some Augustana administrators as well as personnel in the athletic department read this article which shows, not just me, but SEVERAL Augie alumni feel about the direction of our football program.  I want each administrator and employee of Augustana College to care about this program and to do the absolute right thing to correct the decline of the football program, ONCE AND FOR ALL.

Welcome to the Board.  I'm always glad to see more posters.

And, while everything you say may be true, it is equally true that nothing lasts forever.  While you were at Augie in the early 80's lifting championship trophies, I was at NCC during that time getting the stuffing knocked out of me by those teams.

Yep. I echo your welcome to robertthebruce50, but he needs to know that the older non-Augie posters who were around during Augie's heyday aren't the least bit sorry to see Augie get some of the ol' what-goes-around-comes-around, and may actually be enjoying a touch of schadenfreude at Augustana's gridiron ineptitude. I like to think that every smile on the face of a North Park supporter at the end of the game in Rock Island two weeks ago erased the cleat-mark scars from the chest of a random former North Park defensive player that he'd gotten in an encounter with Bob Reade's Wing-T offense.

The world has changed my Viking friend, from recruiting to media to the fact we are on the internet posting about D3 football.  Sure Augie, can be relevant once again.  But the 80's along with Big hair, new wave music, Miami Vice and Augie winning every year are long gone.

This. If I can make my peace with the idea that North Park will never again string together national titles in basketball like popcorn on a Christmas tree, then he and the rest of the Augustana oldtimers can do the same with football.

As with NCC, the change starts at the top.  You need a committed President, a smart AD and lots of luck.

Those are important parts -- and you left out decent facilities and an at-least-neutral school environment with regard to location, admissions, and campus mission fit with football -- but what you really need, far more than anything else, is a head coach who knows how to recruit and how to assemble a good staff. Your school could be primed in every other way, but without a head coach who has the vision and the talent to build a program, you'll forever be all dressed up with no place to go.

I am new at this. This will be my first ever post on the forum.  I went to Augustana College in the early 80's and saw a dynasty starting to take shape.  Coach Reade's squads were winning national championships 4 years in a row.  Believe me, nothing gets better than that.  Now, since Coach Cushman was hired until the present, the football program goes into a serious decline.  In fact, Coach Cushman's first year ended with their first losing season since 1978, a 33 year run.  They haven't had a winning season since.  Coach Bell has NOT been able to fix the problem.  I agree with all of the past forum members posting about the state of Augustana football,but one thing that was not mentioned. The Augustana defense.  They say offense wins games and defense wins championships. I truly believe that.  These past 7 years under Cushman & Bell have all of the defenses rank in the top 10 in Augustana history.  This year's defense would be the equivalent of a meeting between Dean 'Wermer and the Delta frat, with Dean Wermer saying:  "Mr. 'Blutarsky, zero point zero".  This year's Augustana defense was the worst in school history.  Most points given up, worst scoring % on opponents drives, worst 3rd down rate, worst turnover margin and the list goes on including 3 blowout losses (Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton).  Unfortunately,the same assistant coaches were still in place ALL 3 of Coach Bell's years.  This 7 year stretch by Cushman & Bell produced the most losses in that span in school history. I am not even comparing this to other teams in the CCIW.  Just on Augie's history.  In order to get better on the field, you MUST FIX THE PROBLEM!!!  This current coaching staff, head coach included, needed to address this during their games they played.  As an alum, it makes me sick to my stomach to see this kind of football being played.  I hope that some Augustana administrators as well as personnel in the athletic department read this article which shows, not just me, but SEVERAL Augie alumni feel about the direction of our football program.  I want each administrator and employee of Augustana College to care about this program and to do the absolute right thing to correct the decline of the football program, ONCE AND FOR ALL.

Welcome to the Board.  I'm always glad to see more posters.

And, while everything you say may be true, it is equally true that nothing lasts forever.  While you were at Augie in the early 80's lifting championship trophies, I was at NCC during that time getting the stuffing knocked out of me by those teams.  The world has changed my Viking friend, from recruiting to media to the fact we are on the internet posting about D3 football.  Sure Augie, can be relevant once again.  But the 80's along with Big hair, new wave music, Miami Vice and Augie winning every year are long gone.

As with NCC, the change starts at the top.  You need a committed President, a smart AD and lots of luck.

And lets not forget the role money/funding plays.
Specifically, with regard to Augie, we've been hearing rumblings here on the boards for some time with regard to the fact that over the past several years, the AC administration has decreased expenditures over most, if not all, of the athletic spectrum while increasing the amount spent on academic programs, salaries, scholarships, etc.

As a (retired) college educator, I applaud that they've gotten their priorities straight!

As a sports fan, geez, Augie, get your priorities straight!

Chuck, Mark is talking about an unsubstantiated rumor. We have yet to see any documented proof that this is the case at Augustana.

[Gregory Sager]

Took a look at St Johns.  They look decent.  Could be a good game.

First of all, what a bummer for Wheaton not getting in.  If Carnegie Mellon could properly take a knee, I have to think Wheaton is in and one of the top teams would've been in for a heck of a first round game. Secondly, I know you have more than "they look decent" in you and hope you'll go into more depth as the week goes on.  All the best!

I think UW-La Crosse goes before Wheaton, for what it's worth.

UWL or no UWL, Wheaton can't pin the blame for not getting selected on Carnegie Mellon. The blame lies squarely in the mirror if you're Wheaton. Losing two games -- two conference games in which it was favored, no less -- is what left Wheaton hanging off the edge of the cliff in the first place.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yeah, Greg, I knew that was just rumors about Augie's financial decisions, but couldn't resist the one-liners!

Also agree about Wheaton's fate, with both you and Pat.

Especially costly was the Millikin loss, since Wheaton would have won the tie-breaker for AQ in an NCC-IWU-Wheaton tie.

[sjusection105]

Took a look at St Johns.  They look decent.  Could be a good game.

Solid team defense. smallish but very quick front 7. Above average group of DBs.
Solid QB. Shifty RB. Wide ranging receiving corps. Starting TE injured last week, questionable for this week.
Mix & match OL, none will Wow you, but effective as a unit.

Solid kicking & punting. Return specialists have the ability to break one at anytime.

Loss to St. Thomas September 23rd 20-17 at Target Field in front of 33.5K fans. NCAA D3 attendance record. Home games routinely draw 10K fans. The bright lights don't bother the guys.

[Gregory Sager]

Yeah, Greg, I knew that was just rumors about Augie's financial decisions, but couldn't resist the one-liners!

Also agree about Wheaton's fate, with both you and Pat.

Especially costly was the Millikin loss, since Wheaton would have won the tie-breaker for AQ in an NCC-IWU-Wheaton tie.

Not really any more costly than the other one was. Had Wheaton defeated Illinois Wesleyan and lost to Millikin, it would've had the tiebreaker for AQ over North Central.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yeah, Greg, I knew that was just rumors about Augie's financial decisions, but couldn't resist the one-liners!

Also agree about Wheaton's fate, with both you and Pat.

Especially costly was the Millikin loss, since Wheaton would have won the tie-breaker for AQ in an NCC-IWU-Wheaton tie.

Not really any more costly than the other one was. Had Wheaton defeated Illinois Wesleyan and lost to Millikin, it would've had the tiebreaker for AQ over North Central.

Yeah, I knew that too - but you're trying to make me think about giving up our share of the title!

[AO]

Loss to St. Thomas September 23rd 20-17 at Target Field in front of 33.5K fans. NCAA D3 attendance record. Home games routinely draw 10K fans. The bright lights don't bother the guys.

You forgot to mention it was a "road" game.  Johnnies are proven road warriors, SJU 49 NCC 17

[CardinalAlum]

Took a look at St Johns.  They look decent.  Could be a good game.

First of all, what a bummer for Wheaton not getting in.  If Carnegie Mellon could properly take a knee, I have to think Wheaton is in and one of the top teams would've been in for a heck of a first round game. Secondly, I know you have more than "they look decent" in you and hope you'll go into more depth as the week goes on.  All the best!

I think UW-La Crosse goes before Wheaton, for what it's worth.

It looked like a toss up and thought maybe the NCC win would help.

[CardinalAlum]

Loss to St. Thomas September 23rd 20-17 at Target Field in front of 33.5K fans. NCAA D3 attendance record. Home games routinely draw 10K fans. The bright lights don't bother the guys.

You forgot to mention it was a "road" game.  Johnnies are proven road warriors, SJU 49 NCC 17

Don't quite see SJU scoring 49 or holding NCC to 17.   Expecting a great and tight game. 

[Kovo]

Loss to St. Thomas September 23rd 20-17 at Target Field in front of 33.5K fans. NCAA D3 attendance record. Home games routinely draw 10K fans. The bright lights don't bother the guys.

You forgot to mention it was a "road" game.  Johnnies are proven road warriors, SJU 49 NCC 17

Wow.  Picking it to be the worst defeat for NCC in 15 years.  Pretty bold.  I'll take the 32 at home---thank you very much.

[thunderdog]

Forget the 32 points, I'll take NCC on the proportionate money line for the outright win...

[OzJohnnie]

Loss to St. Thomas September 23rd 20-17 at Target Field in front of 33.5K fans. NCAA D3 attendance record. Home games routinely draw 10K fans. The bright lights don't bother the guys.

You forgot to mention it was a "road" game.  Johnnies are proven road warriors, SJU 49 NCC 17

Don't quite see SJU scoring 49 or holding NCC to 17.   Expecting a great and tight game. 

I agree. The Johnnies will hold NCC to 10. 24-10 in a tight game. From the Johnnie's perspective.

[DuffMan]

FYI, AO's not even a Johnnie.  He's a UMAC wannabe. 

[DuffMan]

Congrats to NCC on another playoff berth.  It's hard to believe that this will be the first meeting between SJU and NCC!

To expand on sjusection105's summary of the J's:

The defense is smallish and fast.  They fly to the ball well and gang tackle.  The secondary is good.  The d-line is good, but being on the smaller side, they can be a bit susceptible to a powerful run game.  Brinker is one to watch there.  He will garner a lot of attention from opposing o-lines.  The linebackers are generally pretty solid.  They've battled some youth there, but they have been eliminating some of the mental mistakes that go along with that recently.

The offense is hit or miss.  When they're on, look out, but they have struggled at times this year to maintain drives.  Mental mistakes have killed some of those drives (false starts, holding).    They're very dangerous, though, and can score from anywhere.  QB Erdmann started his career at Penn State but transferred to SJU last year.  He's got a laser-guided cannon.  He's not much of a threat on the ground, though.  Feature RB Kruger is a slasher.  They try to use him as a power back too much, and I wish they wouldn't.  He hits the hole hard and is fast, but he's not going to break a lot of tackles.  The receiving corps is very good.  Evan Clark is likely the fastest kid you'll see, and he makes some superhuman plays.  He'll draw a lot of attention.  Harrington and Gillach compliment him nicely.  It was mentioned that the J's TE went down last week.  It didn't look good from my perspective, but there are two other TE's (Streit and Batch) who have played extensively and are big targets (6'5" and 6'7" respectively).   The o-line was a weakness.  They've improved as the season goes on, but I think they'll struggle if NCC blitzes them a lot.  You may see another QB come into the game.

Special teams have been good.  The placekicker is quite good.  Kick returners are excellent.  The punter hasn't overly impressed me, but last week, he pinned Concordia inside their 6 yard line 3 times in a row, so my opinion of him may be changing. 

What can we expect from NCC?