FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

North Central is pretty good. Also, there is a pack of Mount Union fans at the game.

Tough one for the Titans. Disappointing that we can't put together a whole game. 1/2 versus NCC and 1/4 vs Wheaton is not going to get it done. Hats off to Norm on a great game plan. Sometimes scheme isn't enough.

That's a nice attempt at spin, giving your team credit for a fourth-quarter "win" for scoring a single touchdown against Wheaton's backups -- as if that somehow equates to any one of the 28-0, 20-0, and 24-0 pastings your team was handed in the first three quarters.

Take it from somebody who's had a lot of experience at seeing his team absorb huge losses on the gridiron: Trying to spin some sort of a positive outcome when your team gets its butt whipped just makes you look foolish. Didn't it soak in for you that this entire board was laughing at your coach and your sports information department for the spin job in the headline of IWU's gamer two weeks ago?

Face the facts, man. Your team got its butt whipped two weeks ago, and it got its butt whipped today. That's it, end of story, no spin. Just take your loss without dispensing look-on-the-bright-side propaganda and move on to next week.

I don't get why this is such a hard lesson for the Green people to learn ... but I think we can all sense who sets the tone for that sort of mentality down there in Bloomington.

Tough one for the Titans. Disappointing that we can't put together a whole game. 1/2 versus NCC and 1/4 vs Wheaton is not going to get it done. Hats off to Norm on a great game plan. Sometimes scheme isn't enough....

A great game plan indeed 🤗. But, sometimes 7 points just aren't quite enough, and some adjustments need to be made 🤔.

Who won the coin toss?

ROTFL!

If we aren't "allowed" to spin the results of our favorite CCIW team it would make for a very boring discussion board. IWU has played some of the best periods of football against the conference juggernauts. Not sure why I would overlook that fact. I believe in Norm, IWU, and the bible (In that order). "Hail, Hail the gangs all here"

Seems to me that if you lose to a team 72-7, the only proper takeaway, rather than 'they're not 72-7 better than us', is 'we're really happy that we don't have to play them again'.

Shame on you for trying to make it a very boring discussion board, kiko!

[SpartanHouse]

Sorry if this question has already been answered but is the pool C bid up to the committee to make or is solely based on the computers?

If Chicago ends up 9-1 with a higher SOS over Wheaton, are they in ahead of Wheaton? No way right?

This is assuming LF still wins the conference and gets the AQ bid.

[lmitzel]

Sorry if this question has already been answered but is the pool C bid up to the committee to make or is solely based on the computers?

If Chicago ends up 9-1 with a higher SOS over Wheaton, are they in ahead of Wheaton? No way right?

This is assuming LF still wins the conference and gets the AQ bid.

It'll be up to the committee. I'll be interested to see how the next regional rankings shake out.

[SpartanHouse]

Sorry if this question has already been answered but is the pool C bid up to the committee to make or is solely based on the computers?

If Chicago ends up 9-1 with a higher SOS over Wheaton, are they in ahead of Wheaton? No way right?

This is assuming LF still wins the conference and gets the AQ bid.

It'll be up to the committee. I'll be interested to see how the next regional rankings shake out.

Would be criminal if two MWC teams make it and not Wheaton. Committe won't let this happen

[D3FLETCH]

Sorry if this question has already been answered but is the pool C bid up to the committee to make or is solely based on the computers?

If Chicago ends up 9-1 with a higher SOS over Wheaton, are they in ahead of Wheaton? No way right?

This is assuming LF still wins the conference and gets the AQ bid.

It'll be up to the committee. I'll be interested to see how the next regional rankings shake out.

Would be criminal if two MWC teams make it and not Wheaton. Committe won't let this happen

Is Jim Catanzaro still on committee? 

[D3FLETCH]

North Central is pretty good. Also, there is a pack of Mount Union fans at the game.

Tough one for the Titans. Disappointing that we can't put together a whole game. 1/2 versus NCC and 1/4 vs Wheaton is not going to get it done. Hats off to Norm on a great game plan. Sometimes scheme isn't enough.

That's a nice attempt at spin, giving your team credit for a fourth-quarter "win" for scoring a single touchdown against Wheaton's backups -- as if that somehow equates to any one of the 28-0, 20-0, and 24-0 pastings your team was handed in the first three quarters.

Take it from somebody who's had a lot of experience at seeing his team absorb huge losses on the gridiron: Trying to spin some sort of a positive outcome when your team gets its butt whipped just makes you look foolish. Didn't it soak in for you that this entire board was laughing at your coach and your sports information department for the spin job in the headline of IWU's gamer two weeks ago?

Face the facts, man. Your team got its butt whipped two weeks ago, and it got its butt whipped today. That's it, end of story, no spin. Just take your loss without dispensing look-on-the-bright-side propaganda and move on to next week.

I don't get why this is such a hard lesson for the Green people to learn ... but I think we can all sense who sets the tone for that sort of mentality down there in Bloomington.

Tough one for the Titans. Disappointing that we can't put together a whole game. 1/2 versus NCC and 1/4 vs Wheaton is not going to get it done. Hats off to Norm on a great game plan. Sometimes scheme isn't enough....

A great game plan indeed 🤗. But, sometimes 7 points just aren't quite enough, and some adjustments need to be made 🤔.

Who won the coin toss?

ROTFL!

If we aren't "allowed" to spin the results of our favorite CCIW team it would make for a very boring discussion board. IWU has played some of the best periods of football against the conference juggernauts. Not sure why I would overlook that fact. I believe in Norm, IWU, and the bible (In that order). "Hail, Hail the gangs all here"

Seems to me that if you lose to a team 72-7, the only proper takeaway, rather than 'they're not 72-7 better than us', is 'we're really happy that we don't have to play them again'.

Shame on you for trying to make it a very boring discussion board, kiko!

Hard to hate on Norm's success if you are not at a school named North Central or Wheaton.

[Gregory Sager]

I don't "hate on Norm's success." I don't hate Norm, either, for that matter. I simply don't think much of the way that he interacts with people outside of the green bubble.

[Thunderdome21]

Wheaton overall team speed looked amazing compared to the first few weeks.  Defense instead of just barely missing a sack or tackle is making what they were just missing in the first few weeks.  Jack Hibon again lead blocking on the outside sweeps.  Forget the score its all about the overall team speed being back to what is was the previous season if not faster in some cases now.  Luke Anthony moving much better and throwing some nice spirals.  Whatever it is its improving and starting to get back to his old self.  Wheaton is better than the first few weeks the downside so is NCC's freshman QB who is so fundamentally sound for a freshman.  He can freeze a defense on fake hand-offs like today were the rb was running to the out side while Lehnen, the qb was running the opposite holding the ball so long in the rbs pocket you couldn't tell if he was going to hand off run or pass it.  He is able to control the actions of the defense by were he looks on passes and all the other little things he does while being a great athlete. 
Wheaton fans should feel pretty good supposing they make and are in the playoffs.  Wheaton is looking like Wheaton again.

Wheaton's special teams was also outstanding today, as they have the last 5 games. Jalen Shaffer blocked two more punts and was an inch from blocking a third, which caused IWU's punter to Shank a 20 or so yarder giving them a short field in all of these special team plays.  These 3 special team plays contributed to 21 of the first 35 points that Wheaton scored in the first 24 minutes of the game.  Wheaton leads all of D-3 with 7 punt blocks 5 of which were blocked by Shaffer (who is cousins with Giovanni Weeks) The punt return team of Wheaton are all Jrs and 4th, 5th, and 6th year Srs, most of which are the 2nd string defense and backup RBs-all of them very athletic and just as capable as Shaffer in punt blocking. 

[WW]

Sorry if this question has already been answered but is the pool C bid up to the committee to make or is solely based on the computers?

If Chicago ends up 9-1 with a higher SOS over Wheaton, are they in ahead of Wheaton? No way right?

This is assuming LF still wins the conference and gets the AQ bid.

It'll be up to the committee. I'll be interested to see how the next regional rankings shake out.

Would be criminal if two MWC teams make it and not Wheaton. Committe won't let this happen

It would be on Wheaton for scheduling a puppy in their only NC opportunity. Chicago did better. Committee probably won't let it happen, because Wheaton...

[USee]

Sorry if this question has already been answered but is the pool C bid up to the committee to make or is solely based on the computers?

If Chicago ends up 9-1 with a higher SOS over Wheaton, are they in ahead of Wheaton? No way right?

This is assuming LF still wins the conference and gets the AQ bid.

It'll be up to the committee. I'll be interested to see how the next regional rankings shake out.

Would be criminal if two MWC teams make it and not Wheaton. Committe won't let this happen

It would be on Wheaton for scheduling a puppy in their only NC opportunity. Chicago did better. Committee probably won't let it happen, because Wheaton...

This is old and tired refrain WW. Keep hoping. The criteria won't be kind to either team this week and the criteria you choose to ignore is the stuff the committee puts a lot of stock into. Doesn't mean either team will make it. If Chicago is somehow ranked ahead of Wheaton in the region, I would bet all the corn in Manito no one from Region 5 gets a pool C.

Scheduling issues (that are quite different for Wheaton than they are for Chicago) aside, the main reason Wheaton doesn't rank higher is because of the poor performance of the rest of the league. If WashU, etc, were better and the CCIW had a 7-2 team they would most certainly be ranked and the Thunder would be in fine shape.

[USee]

Wheaton overall team speed looked amazing compared to the first few weeks.  Defense instead of just barely missing a sack or tackle is making what they were just missing in the first few weeks.  Jack Hibon again lead blocking on the outside sweeps.  Forget the score its all about the overall team speed being back to what is was the previous season if not faster in some cases now.  Luke Anthony moving much better and throwing some nice spirals.  Whatever it is its improving and starting to get back to his old self.  Wheaton is better than the first few weeks the downside so is NCC's freshman QB who is so fundamentally sound for a freshman.  He can freeze a defense on fake hand-offs like today were the rb was running to the out side while Lehnen, the qb was running the opposite holding the ball so long in the rbs pocket you couldn't tell if he was going to hand off run or pass it.  He is able to control the actions of the defense by were he looks on passes and all the other little things he does while being a great athlete. 
Wheaton fans should feel pretty good supposing they make and are in the playoffs.  Wheaton is looking like Wheaton again.

Wheaton's special teams was also outstanding today, as they have the last 5 games. Jalen Shaffer blocked two more punts and was an inch from blocking a third, which caused IWU's punter to Shank a 20 or so yarder giving them a short field in all of these special team plays.  These 3 special team plays contributed to 21 of the first 35 points that Wheaton scored in the first 24 minutes of the game.  Wheaton leads all of D-3 with 7 punt blocks 5 of which were blocked by Shaffer (who is cousins with Giovanni Weeks) The punt return team of Wheaton are all Jrs and 4th, 5th, and 6th year Srs, most of which are the 2nd string defense and backup RBs-all of them very athletic and just as capable as Shaffer in punt blocking.

Wheaton's special teams is one of the areas they have improved tremendously during the course of the season. In the first 3 games it was almost an abomination with various special teams miscues. This past weekend it was absolutely an area of strength. In addition to the blocked punts, the punt return game and kickoff coverage have been exceptional.

Wheaton has also vastly improved in their play in the secondary on defense. Their DB's are playing with a lot more confidence and experience and beginning to make plays that make you pay attentiona. Egbert has 3 pick sixes this year. Gammichia and Groteleuschen are tackling and attacking the LOS against the run, and Shafley has even improved his cover skills immensely. While I still don't think we are well suited in bump and run man against good QB/WR combos, we are much, much better than at any point this year. All very encouraging.

[WW]

Sorry if this question has already been answered but is the pool C bid up to the committee to make or is solely based on the computers?

If Chicago ends up 9-1 with a higher SOS over Wheaton, are they in ahead of Wheaton? No way right?

This is assuming LF still wins the conference and gets the AQ bid.

It'll be up to the committee. I'll be interested to see how the next regional rankings shake out.

Would be criminal if two MWC teams make it and not Wheaton. Committe won't let this happen

It would be on Wheaton for scheduling a puppy in their only NC opportunity. Chicago did better. Committee probably won't let it happen, because Wheaton...

This is old and tired refrain WW. Keep hoping. The criteria won't be kind to either team this week and the criteria you choose to ignore is the stuff the committee puts a lot of stock into. Doesn't mean either team will make it. If Chicago is somehow ranked ahead of Wheaton in the region, I would bet all the corn in Manito no one from Region 5 gets a pool C.

Scheduling issues (that are quite different for Wheaton than they are for Chicago) aside, the main reason Wheaton doesn't rank higher is because of the poor performance of the rest of the league. If WashU, etc, were better and the CCIW had a 7-2 team they would most certainly be ranked and the Thunder would be in fine shape.

Pay attention, USee. I'm ignoring nothing, and often making the point that in this particular case, the RR and common opponent criteria aren't clear differentiators (and I have acknowledged the qualitative differences in each team's win over their single common opponent, WashU). (Heck, RR considerations might even favor Chicago by tomorrow). The SOS differential is now tracking to be .050, given Northwestern's COVID cancellation of a very winnable game vs. Crown. That's hard to ignore.

Uh, yes, the poor performance of the rest of the league. Otherwise known as SOS. CCIW was 4-6 in non-conference play. I am aware of this. And if WashU were better, they'd have beaten Chicago, could be RR, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. But they're not.

As for a successful pool C candidacy for either, a few dominoes will have to fall, particularly in MIAC and WIAC, to bring clarity to that discussion.

[USee]

Hmmmm. You constant digs, condescension and mockery make it clear where your heart lies. I get it. We'll see how this plays out.

[WW]

Hmmmm. You constant digs, condescension and mockery make it clear where your heart lies. I get it. We'll see how this plays out.

I seriously have no idea what the aytch you're talking about. If having a take that isn't completely aligned with yours qualifies by your definition as any of the above, so be it.

[USee]

Hmmmm. You constant digs, condescension and mockery make it clear where your heart lies. I get it. We'll see how this plays out.

I seriously have no idea what the aytch you're talking about. If having a take that isn't completely aligned with yours qualifies by your definition as any of the above, so be it.

I have no problem with your take, agreeable or not. I have been following these Pool C deliberations every year for a couple decades so have a pretty good feel how it works. Others (Wally, Pat, etc) know more details. The reality is Wheaton should be very worried about being in the field based on the measurable criteria, despite being clearly one of the top 5-6 teams in the country. Being a top team has nothing to do with "Being Wheaton" which has been much more of a bad thing for reputation historically than a good thing, it simply has to do with what they have done on the field over the past 2 seasons. I realize another reality: that doesn't matter based on the current criteria. But there is room for the committee to "do the right thing" circa Mt Union in 2016, North Central in 2019 and get one of the clearly best teams in the field. I have no idea if that happens or not and wouldn't be surprised with any result.

Another reality is UChicago, has probably no chance as a pool C candidate, even IF they are the top Region 5 team based on the measurable criteria.

So if you can leave your "Pay attention" comments at the door and debate the facts, no problem.