FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[redman04]

Just a heads up...

Over the next week or so I will be putting together 2 or 3 options on how to run the weekly CCIW Pick-Em's pool this year.  For those interested, we can vote on which option sounds like it will be the most interesting and fair.  Obviously I will be open to suggestions as well.

Mugsy


Thanks for running this again!  It is always fun!
My suggestion would be do it like you did last year.  I believe you used the confidence pool format?   

[Redmen96]

I agree.  Last years format worked well and I am all for it.

Hello Joe Bear

[Tailgater]

I know it is trivial, but does any one know what the new Carthage helmet will look like?  I loved the old logo and since we have not played any games yet there is not much to talk about yet!

The new logo has a white shield with red & black shadow around the edge and the red "C" with black outline centered in the shield. Looks OK, but not nearly as attarctive as the feathers.

[RedmenFB44]

Carthage will always be the REDMEN to me

redmen04 or anyone else, do you have a pic of the new logo on the Carthage helmets?

GO REDMEN!!!

[matblake]

Would it be strange to say, this early, that it's a must win game for both programs?

I don't think so at all.  Elmhurst is trying to make that push into the top of the CCIW.  Carthage has some questions on both sides of the ball.  Add to the fact of still having to play perhaps one of the most evenly balanced CCIW slates in recent history and it's not so hard to see this game is very important to both programs.

Matblake-Every CCIW game is huge. To say that the Carthage vs. Elmhurst game isnt a big deal is non-sense. Every game will be a test and in this conference anything can happen!

Perhaps I am missing something here FB44 but I thought I was saying that Carthage v Elmhurst was huge.  Tailgater asked if it was strange to think this early that Carthage v Elmhurst was a must win.  I thought that I was replying that I didn't think it was crazy.  Of course I know that every CCIW game is going to be a battle.  Sorry gang if I didn't make my thoughts clear!

[79jaybird]

"It will always be the REDMEN to me"
Redmenfb44-- I agree with you.  I still think of Carthage as the REDMEN.  Similiarly, still think of Comiskey Park as Comiskey (and I'm a Cubs fan )
It is shame that in this day and age, mascots and terms are getting changed because somebody's feathers get ruffled the wrong way. Oh well,  we can still think and call them the REDMEN.

[Comet 14]

Augie6- I fully realize that a head coach can not be responsible for hands on coaching of 120 plus football players. I do however know that of the 10 plus head coaches we talked to that all but 1 knew exactly how many players were on his roster and also had a philosophy of how many players he needed to be succesfull. Wether that be 100 or 140. I also know that very few freshman get much playing time if any. But I totally disagree with the last statement you made. If a program does not have enough assistents to coach the entire roster of 120 players to be better players than they have too many players. I would be interested to know what # posters think is the ideal # of players to carry on a roster?

[footballfan413]

"I would be interested to know what # posters think is the ideal # of players to carry on a roster?"

I'll wade in on this and may bring a different perspective than CCIW fans since my affiliation is the WIAC and they have a 100 man roster limit. In my opinion, 100 is a healthy, workable number.  They travel 60, have plenty of players for the scout team and are able to develop young players as necessary.  Practice can be more easily organized with drills and reps for all. Not to mention that it provides a better player/coach ratio.   Better players can view the limited roster as a plus and I know several who have shied away from conferences such as the CCIW because of the large number of players on the roster.  I do understand the D-3 philosophy of the academic-athlete and participation should be as open as possible to all but "no-cut" college football seems like an oxymoron to me........   Again, just my opinion and my reasons.  I am sure we are all more comfortable with whatever system we know the best.

[footballfan413]

Oh, and along with my 2 cents......+karma for all!!

[matblake]

I don't think there should be a roster max.  If someone is willing to be on a team and never sniff playing time that is their decision.  I think that there should be roster minimums though.  That is just as difficult though as how the "magic number" should be defined.  

[footballfan413]

I do understand and appreciate that perspective but don't you think that if a roster is overblown, say 150 or more, there can't help but be a negative affect on the main playing core of the team?  Alot of mouths to feed, so to speak, so everyone gets a little less.

[79jaybird]

To thow my 2 cents into the equation:

I think roster maximums should be 99.  I know I don't like seeing kids with hearts of gold, having to share jerseys with somebody.  I.E.  there are 2 #10's but this #10 is playing today... situation.  There are 99 jerseys, thus when you have 99 players, you are set.
I think the # of coaches is the determinant for # of players.  Let's be honest, there are some coaches who don't know how to coach and/or relate to the players.  Usually you see 4-5 coaches who are the masterminds, know how to implement and trouble shoot the systems, and are the ones the players really learn from. Then there are 5-6 coaches that are the guinea pigs just relaying messages from the big shots to the players.
In a utopia, I think ideally you want 75-90 players and maybe 5-7 coaches.  Still the bottom line, is the players have to play the game, and the players make the differences on the field.

[Comet 14]

79jaybird- I agree. I think 99 is a good #. I think you can field the same competetive team at 99 as you can at 120. I would also like to know if you know Elmhurst's J.V. schedule yet?

[79jaybird]

Comet14-- No I haven't heard anything about the JV games yet.  I will be seeing Coach Journell a week from Friday (prior to the Saturday game vs. Benedictine) and will ask him then.  When I played, we had 4 JV games.  Usually they play North Central, Concordia-Chicago, and Wheaton (the local schools) but I haven't heard whom they play in recent years.  Hope you Son is enjoying the early practices in a Bluejay uniform.

[Mugsy]

I don't think there should be a roster max.  If someone is willing to be on a team and never sniff playing time that is their decision.  I think that there should be roster minimums though.  That is just as difficult though as how the "magic number" should be defined.  

I'd agree. 

I can think of 2 teammates from my years at Wheaton who had little chance of ever seeing the playing field, other than in extreme blowouts or for a few plays on "Senior Day."  Yet these 2 were more passionate about Wheaton football or their experience than some starters.  They worked their backsides off at every practice as members of the scout offense or defense.  I have the utmost respect for what these guys gave to the team, despite the fact it never would appear in the boxscore of a game.

This is a significant element to the success of a team - to have a motivated, energetic scout team to give a good view of the opponent.  The larger the roster, the better chance you'll have a higher level of talent on your scout teams.

Plus... who is to say that the 125th player on a team as a freshman might not blossom into a player who makes an impact as special teams player as a junior or senior, or becomes a very important 2nd team player as a senior who needs to fill-in when a starter is injured.

I look at my personal experience.  As a freshman, I was a 5'-9", 165-170lb outside linebacker.  I was outweighed by every other linebacker by at least 20 lbs.  During my freshman year I finally hit my "growth spurt" and gained close to 20 lbs. and dropped my 40 time by 4 tenths of a second.  Now granted I was recruited based on some semblance of potential ability...  but I went from a scrawny 18 year old to a 2 year starter by the time I graduated.  I don't think I'm close to a corner case...

I would guess many who have played D3 football can recall someone who matured late, worked their backside off and made significant contributions to the team by the time they were seniors.