FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Let me guess.......hmmm......they are going to add pizza to the home game menu?? they are switching to white cleats from black?? Maybe they are going to start putting a coach in the pressbox?? free happy meals from Mcdonalds at halftime for the visiting team? wait, I got it.....North Park has decided to give visiting teams free metra passes to get from the field to the locker room? great idea.

There's now a Metra line that runs from NPU's football field to the locker room? This is what I get for moving out of the 'hood -- all these new improvements take place without my knowledge.

I'm a little at a loss to understand why Metra (Chicagoland's suburban light rail service) would put in a rail line for those two blocks, since it's in the city and a CTA el line would therefore be much more apt ... but, then again, local government makes less and less sense around here every day.

Hopefully Mr. Donte won't get into too much trouble.

I hear that Scott Pethtel's going to make Donte race against that new Metra train on Foster Avenue during practice.

[Mugsy]

Just got done reading Elmhurst preview off there web site. Sounds like a lot of potential for a break out year.

Comet14,

Word of caution:
I'm not saying Elmhurst can't have a break out year, but previews are always worded optimistically.

[Mugsy]

Going back to 1999, only 2 years have had 4 teams receiving first place votes... 2005 and 2006.

I'd be curious as to which coach selected Millikin to win the conference.

mugsy, i wouldnt be surprised if swider voted for millikin. wallick has destroyed our thunder, they have a solid core returning and swider is a big neibhur fan. I am certain he wouldn't vote for ncc.

Yeah, I kinda doubt Swider would give pre-season love to NCC.

[formerd3db]

Speaking of Whittier, they are considered the unknown sleeper team in the SCIAC that can can easily make the leap from poor to very good at any time.  Carthage will have their hands full.

if i am not mistaken whittier boasts BJ Hammer as its head coach who is in his first year, succeeding former wabash HC Greg Carlson. Hammer was a studly Dlineman at wabash a few years back. had a brother who wasn't too shabby there either.

usee:

Whittier's website indeed relates bios of both Hammers.  Head Coach BJ's brother Blair is the line coach there and both have been at Whittier the past 3-4 years as the bios relate.  Great stadium they have and a neat fb history (Nixon, etc.) as you can read on their site.  I was surprised, however, to see they only play 9 games (similar to Menlo and some of the NWC teams).  Anyway, good luck to Wheaton this season (except against us!   BTW, will you be up at our place for the H/W game?  If so, HOPEfully, we'll get the chance to meet in person this year.  Wishing you an enjoyable remainder of the summer.

[Mugsy]

I like that NP are underdogs cuz we got a big surprise for everyone this year. 8)

Let me guess.......hmmm......they are going to add pizza to the home game menu?? they are switching to white cleats from black?? Maybe they are going to start putting a coach in the pressbox?? free happy meals from Mcdonalds at halftime for the visiting team? wait, I got it.....North Park has decided to give visiting teams free metra passes to get from the field to the locker room? great idea.

......ok i give up. the suspense is killing me....whats the big surprise?

by the way, donte, say hi to len vandenbos from all us wheaton fans. he is a great coach and a good man and he probably doesn't want you posting on this board.

usee,

No hint of sarcasm here, is there?    This post had me laughing out loud.

Incidentally, NP putting a coach in the pressbox doesn't directly translate to more success.  Before Wheaton built it's new pressbox in the early 90's, the old pressbox did not have the level of privacy it has now.  It was basically a wide open area with 2 tiny rooms for coaches with plywood walls.

Anyway... while playing NP in 1992 (I think), one of the NP offensive coaches was screaming the next play into his headset to the point where everyone in the pressbox could hear him.  "RUN THE SCREEN, RUN THE SCREEN..."  On 2 separate occassions during the first quarter, to maintain any semblance of integrity as an opposing defensive coach, I went over and informed him that he was basically telling the world what play they were running next.

Despite several warnings, he continued to "give away the playbook" on occassion throughout the game.

[formerd3db]

Mugsy:

That is an amusing "pressbox story".  I recall during my coaching stint a few years back that during one game, I was coaching in the press box.  The opposing teams radio announcers were in the booth next to ours, and despite the glass and drywall barriers, you could still hear quite clearly what people in each booth (and, unfortunately, even a couple booths down the way) were saying.  Anyway, one of our other assistant coaches accidentally let out one of those "not so nice" expletives during the course of one play that was not going in our favor and much to our embarrassment and surprise, it was heard all over Indiana on the opposing team's broadcast.  Some raised eyebrows, and "oops" expressions  from all in the pressbox ensued - needless to say, that didn't happen again (I think !!!).  Point being, one always has to be carefull whether in the pressbox or on the sideline - need to set the example.   Provides for some amusing stories though.

[79jaybird]

Looks like most people have picked NC/W/Augie/EC  (in any order)  as the top 4. There have been some wild entries also..  I would be shocked if Augie wins 2,3, or 4 games.
Formerd3db--that is a funny story.  Similarly, our area in the pressbox is right next to the Coach's Booth.  Frequently, we hear some of the animated lines that go right into our mouthpiece/ear muffs.

[matblake]

I guess I just don't get where Elmhurst is getting all the love.  I definitely don't think that they will be an easy game, but I guess that to me they just haven't proven themselves yet.  I believe that we will get to see where Elmhurst is really at Oct 7 and Oct 14 as they face Augie and North Central right in a row.  Not to discount Carthage, but as rivals the game is usually tight and intense no matter the levels of the team.

The scary thing is, my words sound eerily similar to the talk about North Central several seasons ago.

[79jaybird]

Let me clarify something to avoid confusion.... When I said that; "I would be shocked if  Augie wins 2, 3, or 4 games... I meant that I think they will do no worse than 5-5.

[usee]

I'm a little at a loss to understand why Metra (Chicagoland's suburban light rail service) would put in a rail line for those two blocks, since it's in the city and a CTA el line would therefore be much more apt ... but, then again, local government makes less and less sense around here every day.

just 2 blocks?? I've heard it described as at least 3 metra stops.

[Gray Fox]

Speaking of Whittier, they are considered the unknown sleeper team in the SCIAC that can can easily make the leap from poor to very good at any time.  Carthage will have their hands full.

if i am not mistaken whittier boasts BJ Hammer as its head coach who is in his first year, succeeding former wabash HC Greg Carlson. Hammer was a studly Dlineman at wabash a few years back. had a brother who wasn't too shabby there either.

usee:

Whittier's website indeed relates bios of both Hammers.  Head Coach BJ's brother Blair is the line coach there and both have been at Whittier the past 3-4 years as the bios relate.  Great stadium they have and a neat fb history (Nixon, etc.) as you can read on their site.  I was surprised, however, to see they only play 9 games (similar to Menlo and some of the NWC teams). 

All the SCIAC teams play only nine games.  You are correct about the Whittier history and big wooden stadium.  Their web site has greatly improved over the last couple of years.  It used to be the worst in the SCIAC.

[Augie6]

Can't wait for the season to start.  Here are my picks for the 2006 season.

Augie           6-1
NCC             6-1
Wheaton     4-3
Carthage     4-3
Elmhurst      3-4
Millikin          3-4
IWU             2-5
NP                0-7

[formerd3db]

jaybird:
I know what you mean!  BTW, hope your pressbox is air conditioned!  Some of those are not and, at least, at the beginning of the season, that can be not comfortable.  I am on vacation up at the cottage this week, so tryinig to "do nothing" before the fb duties start.  Anyway, your books will be mailed this week from here.  I hope all is well your way.  Hopefully, the extreme hot weather will not return when camps open up next week for all the teams.  Best of luck to Elmhurst.

[usee]

Can't wait for the season to start.  Here are my picks for the 2006 season.

Augie           6-1
NCC             6-1
Wheaton     4-3
Carthage     4-3
Elmhurst      3-4
Millikin          3-4
IWU             2-5
NP                0-7

I need 10 game records, not just conference.

[matblake]

BTW, hope your pressbox is air conditioned!  Some of those are not and, at least, at the beginning of the season, that can be not comfortable. 

At the games at the end of the season sitting in the stands in your parka, hat and gloves, it is interesting to remember that at the beginning of the season you could wear shorts to a game.

My senior year at Wheaton there was a game at Elmhurst in the snow and cold.  Fortunately, it stopped snowing and the sun came out. Nonetheless, my friend who admittedly wasn't into sports but wanted to go to the game  buckled after a quarter and headed into Elmhurst's campus to find some heat.  He somehow talked his way into a free meal at some cafeteria or diner.