FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

IMO,

Who is the favorite?  I would say Wheaton right now.
Who is the darkhorse?  I think Elmhurst and Millikin are
Serious Questions to resolve?  I think every team has a question or two that needs to be addressed as we move along
Who is the spoiler?  I think IWU and North Park are.  Both of these schools I see winning a game or two that nobody thinks they will.
Biggest surprise?  North Central losing to CUW.  I think the Cardinals have to rebound with some big wins in the CCIW schedule.

[redman04]

Thanks Joe Bear.   Oh bye the way that 4 feet on the floor rule is easy to get by according to you and Fonger and your radio show about Johnny and I if you have a sheep.

With all the sheep in your room, 4 feet was not an issue.  I am guessing that 16 feet on the floor was the problem.  

Sorry I had to make just one more tastless Joke.

Good questions Mugsy

Based on the first 3 weeks of the season, has anyone changed their opinion on who they picked to win the CCIW?  Augie

Or who the favorite is?  Augie/Wheaties

Or who the dark-horse is? Carthage

What is surprising to this point? NP they won a game!

Which teams still have some serious questions going into CCIW schedule?  Millikin/ IWU

[Comet 14]

I think the favorite to win is wheaton. They are the toughest team without a loss yet. Dark horse- since Elmhurst has qb issues I say Carthage. My surprise to this point is that Augie and NC are both going to go into conference play with at least one loss.

[Mugsy]

Based on the first 3 weeks of the season, has anyone changed their opinion on who they picked to win the CCIW?

Or who the favorite is? 
Or who the dark-horse is?
What is surprising to this point?
Which teams still have some serious questions going into CCIW schedule?

My original pick to win the CCIW remains the same given the "homer" factor - Wheaton.  Based on play to this point, I'd have to say Wheaton has crept more into the favorite picture with NCC and Augie slippin' a bit.

My original dark-horse was Millikin, but I'd have to add Carthage given the 3-0 start (provided their offense starts to show a bit more).  IWU could have an impact here as well...

Biggest and most obvious surprises... the NCC loss to CUW and Augie loss to BW.  I expected improvement on Wheaton's defense, but not to the level I've seen thus far.  It'll be interesting to see how the defense fairs against top CCIW competition though.

Toughest break so far... Elmhurst losing QB Chris Kudyba for the season.

The biggest questions in my mind are:
1) Will Carthage have enough offense to make a serious run for the title?  
2) Can Augie's relatively green O-Line jell to live up to preseason expectations?
3) Will North Park make enough strides under new head coach to break the 0-conference streak?  (I'm guess not until next year)

[TitanBacker]

I'd say the favorite is still Wheaton.  They have the target on their back because of good play so far.  Their first real test is this weekend.

Dark horse is Millikin...I haven't heard much from Decatur but i have a hunch.

Big surprise is NCC losing to CUW (as previously stated) and also Augie's choice to throw the ball more often.  Mugsy, do you think that has to do with the inexperienced O line?

Serious Questions:
How well will Elmhurst do without their starting QB?
Will NCC pick it up after an upset loss or will they fold?
Will IWU's offense become more consistent?  If so, I foresee big things.
IS Carthage as strong as we may think?

The playing surface should be o.k but the wet ball will be hard to handle. The team that hold onto the ball will have a huge advantage.

As far as playing surface, in my experience the Astroplay (field turf) surface tends to get slippery as it gets wet.  I really didn't like that and probably never will like the surface.  In grass you can still get a good bite with cleats when it's dry or wet.  Also, what's more fun than a dirty and muddy uniform? 

In addition, i know some teams change football types for different conditions.  Some will change to rubber footballs instead of leather for a better grip. 

[Comet 14]

I think the rubber footballs are even slicker than leather once they get wet, although they are much easier to dry off. Our local high school has a bag of some drying compound they use on leather balls when it rains. It seems to work pretty good.

[Mugsy]

also Augie's choice to throw the ball more often.  Mugsy, do you think that has to do with the inexperienced O line?

Augie faithful and former players will have more insight into this than I.  My perception is that there could be an element of keeping the defense honest and off balance by throwing a bit more.  This could help less experienced linemen gain an edge in run blocking by forcing d-linemen to respect the fact it could be a run or pass.  

Having never been a linemen nor being intimiately familiar with the Augie blocking schemes and techniques, I'm not sure how much of an advantage this would provide.

I do know that last year was a bit atypical in the extremely limited number of passes, even by Augie's standards.  This was in part due to their incredible strength in running the ball (and Roe's inability to hit the broadside of a barn from 20 yards).  It is hard not to increase number and percentage of passes when last year Augie only passed the ball 33 times for the ENTIRE YEAR.  They do have a new QB this year whom Augie posters have mention has a much better arm and should be more effective.  Some posters in the off season did mentioned Augie might be opening it up a bit more this year.

That said... historically when Augie's wing-t is clicking on all cylinders and they have a very strong, experienced offensive line, they just dare you to stop the run.  They don't care about the number of passes.  That is exactly the way it was when I played in the mid to late 80's during Augie's national championship run.  We knew the exact play they were running due to studying tendencies, formations, etc... Ask the Augie players, they didn't care that we knew.  It was a straight out challenge - "go ahead... stop us."  For 65-70 plays a game, we'd do a decent job of stopping the run.  Ultimately they'd adjust their blocking schemes, we'd miss a tackle or two and the next thing you knew you were down a TD or two.  Problem is... Augie hasn't been as dominant as they were back then and/or the rest of the CCIW has improved significantly.

Yes Augie is passing a bit more this year so far, but I doubt it will represent more than 10 attempts a game for the year.  As Augie's running game gets more and more on track, the pass will remain a "keep them honest" play and if the QB is effective... a potential quick score opportunity.  The only other scenario which would not bode well for Augie, is if the running attack doesn't get on track like it typically does and they find themselves behind in big games.  Obviously there may be a few more passing plays in that case, but not like other teams that fall behind.  Augie never abandons the run...

[zorbadagreek]

Wheaton has been looking good, but i will stick with Auggie as conference champ.
Auggie
Wheaton
North Central
Carthage
Elmuhurst
Milikin
North Park
Wesleyan
No big surprises here!!

[TitanBacker]

Mugsy-

Thanks for the in depth analysis.  Much appreciated! 

Wheaton has been looking good, but i will stick with Auggie as conference champ.
Auggie
Wheaton
North Central
Carthage
Elmuhurst
Milikin
North Park
Wesleyan
No big surprises here!!

Wesleyan below North Park?    Even if you HATE IWU that's tough to fathom.  What gives?

[wheels81]

Im sorry I couldn't figure out how to pull quotes and paste but I'll keep trrying...
To debate the point that "Hope will be the first real test for Wheaton this year...."
I would have agreed if the opponents were like last year Greenville and GA.  but Albion and Washington I believe are on the same par as Hope and I think the first real test wheaton will run into will be at Millikin. 
Maybe the test will be the weather issue but Hope doesn't scare me as much as they did 2 years ago when they had a prolific passing offense, and Wheaton still won. 

[wheels81]

I'd say the favorite is still Wheaton.  They have the target on their back because of good play so far.  Their first real test is this weekend.
Ok i just pasted and copied from Titan backer.

[diehardfan]

But you're still not going to keep me from chuckling over the fact that I probably get along with a higher percentage of former Wheatie females than do you. It's just too rich to let it go. I'm sure that you understand my puerile need to take delight in such things. 

I honestly don't have any idea what you're talking about. My half dozen or so closest friends are Wheaton females despite living no where near any of them. There are dozens more I would have loved to stay in touch with, but it just isn't feasible to stay in touch with everyone in the entire school. Stop translating your general bitterness about life onto my statements.

Also, what's more fun than a dirty and muddy uniform? 

Seriously. There's something about the crazy sloppyness about snow or rain on grass that makes it "the ultimate football game" ... I dunno, I understand that turf has to be much nicer to play on. It just seems like there's something missing when the field isn't grass. That and I totally used to lie on the McCully fifty yard at night looking at the stars contemplating my life and other nonsense... I actually haven't seen the "new" field yet, but every turf surface I've ever seen makes it look like that would be super uncomfortable! Anyhow, the Hope game sounds like it's going to be super fun!

[diehardfan]

also Augie's choice to throw the ball more often.  Mugsy, do you think that has to do with the inexperienced O line?

Augie faithful and former players will have more insight into this than I.  My perception is that there could be an element of keeping the defense honest and off balance by throwing a bit more.  This could help less experienced linemen gain an edge in run blocking by forcing d-linemen to respect the fact it could be a run or pass.  

Having never been a linemen nor being intimiately familiar with the Augie blocking schemes and techniques, I'm not sure how much of an advantage this would provide.

I do know that last year was a bit atypical in the extremely limited number of passes, even by Augie's standards.  This was in part due to their incredible strength in running the ball (and Roe's inability to hit the broadside of a barn from 20 yards).  It is hard not to increase number and percentage of passes when last year Augie only passed the ball 33 times for the ENTIRE YEAR.  They do have a new QB this year whom Augie posters have mention has a much better arm and should be more effective.  Some posters in the off season did mentioned Augie might be opening it up a bit more this year.

That said... historically when Augie's wing-t is clicking on all cylinders and they have a very strong, experienced offensive line, they just dare you to stop the run.  They don't care about the number of passes.  That is exactly the way it was when I played in the mid to late 80's during Augie's national championship run.  We knew the exact play they were running due to studying tendencies, formations, etc... Ask the Augie players, they didn't care that we knew.  It was a straight out challenge - "go ahead... stop us."  For 65-70 plays a game, we'd do a decent job of stopping the run.  Ultimately they'd adjust their blocking schemes, we'd miss a tackle or two and the next thing you knew you were down a TD or two.  Problem is... Augie hasn't been as dominant as they were back then and/or the rest of the CCIW has improved significantly.

Yes Augie is passing a bit more this year so far, but I doubt it will represent more than 10 attempts a game for the year.  As Augie's running game gets more and more on track, the pass will remain a "keep them honest" play and if the QB is effective... a potential quick score opportunity.  The only other scenario which would not bode well for Augie, is if the running attack doesn't get on track like it typically does and they find themselves behind in big games.  Obviously there may be a few more passing plays in that case, but not like other teams that fall behind.  Augie never abandons the run...

This is why Mugsy has the signature tag that he does. 

[Mugsy]

Seriously. There's something about the crazy sloppyness about snow or rain on grass that makes it "the ultimate football game" ... I dunno, I understand that turf has to be much nicer to play on. It just seems like there's something missing when the field isn't grass. That and I totally used to lie on the McCully fifty yard at night looking at the stars contemplating my life and other nonsense... I actually haven't seen the "new" field yet, but every turf surface I've ever seen makes it look like that would be super uncomfortable!

Diehard,

Actually the new turf is quite nice and while it wouldn't be as comfortable as real grass, it is in no way like the "ole" fashion turf that was glorified miniture golf carpet. 

The new turf surface is quite spongy and closely simulates the feel of real grass from a walking, running, falling down, etc..., but with the durability and drainage that far exceeds natural grass. 

Now I can't say it is as comfortable lying at the 50 yard line, looking at the stars and contemplating life as on real grass since I have not done so on either surface, but I don't think you'd experience a noticeable difference.

[CardinalAlum]

People wonder why the NCC baseball program sucks so bad! 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060922players-suspended,1,629314.story?coll=chi-news-hed