FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[matblake]

Maybe I'm just an alarmist, but with the conference season looming, something needs to change or their string of 27 consecutive winning season could be in jeopardy. It's hard to say that about a team that went undefeated in the conference last year.

Wow, that's quite a statement Dan.  The conference season can bring a lot of surprises so I'm not ready to count the Vikes out yet.  However, both losses seem to baffling.  You said that McGinnis ran the same offense at Alleman, maybe he is just adjusting to the jump up in play?  We tend to focus on the offense of Augie due to its unique nature in today's pass happy offenses.  How is the defense playing in your opinion?  The key to last years success was a better defense than in recent years, IMO.

[Pat Coleman]

Augie's loss is a real eye-opener. Last week's home loss was disappointing, but it was to a very solid program (30-some consecutive winning seasons before last year) from far and away the best conference in D3.

Platteville is in the best conference in D-III but it does not have a streak of winning seasons.

Past records
1999: (5-5, 3-4 WIAC)
2000: (2-8, 1-6 WIAC)
2001: (4-6, 3-4 WIAC)
2002: (2-7, 1-6 WIAC)
2003: (3-7, 1-6 WIAC)
2004: (6-4, 3-4 WIAC)
2005: (1-9, 0-7 WIAC)
2006: (2-1, 0-0 WIAC)

[dansand]

Augie's loss is a real eye-opener. Last week's home loss was disappointing, but it was to a very solid program (30-some consecutive winning seasons before last year) from far and away the best conference in D3.

Platteville is in the best conference in D-III but it does not have a streak of winning seasons.

Past records
1999: (5-5, 3-4 WIAC)
2000: (2-8, 1-6 WIAC)
2001: (4-6, 3-4 WIAC)
2002: (2-7, 1-6 WIAC)
2003: (3-7, 1-6 WIAC)
2004: (6-4, 3-4 WIAC)
2005: (1-9, 0-7 WIAC)
2006: (2-1, 0-0 WIAC)

No, Pat, I was referring to Baldwin-Wallace and the OAC. Sorry if I wasn't very clear.

[79jaybird]

Looking at all of these responses from this week's games, I can't help but think that the CCIW conf. race is wide open for the taking.  All 8 teams (well, at least 7)  have a shot at this title because nobody stands out as being "elite" to the other 7 teams.
This may seem obvious, but the team that is able to win most/all of their ROAD games I think will be in good shape.  As always, winning on the road is difficult.
CCIW time has finally arrived!  Now we can talk about the "real season" and start throwing sticks and stones at each other for meaningful games.    Course, CardinalAlum always throws stones at me.  hehe  
In regards to the officials-- I thought the MIAA crew that officiated the Elmhurst/Olivet game was very good.  There were some pass interference calls that went against EC  that I think in a closer game ( was 33-10 at the time) may not have been called.  There was contact but the ball was clearly uncatchable.  Overall, I was pleased with our officiating crew.

[79jaybird]

One other point I wanted to make is about North Park and Coaching.  Give Scott Pethtel a chance guys!  I agree this year is going to be tough for North Park, but you have to give Pethtel a chance to get HIS recruits in and let his program/ coaching style sink into with the players.  As Elmhurst and North Central have experienced,  it takes 2-4 years for a program to turn the corner into a contender.  John Thorne's first year wasn't what NC has going for them right now. and Tom Journell's first year isn't what the Jays have/could have this year either.  Case in point,  give the NPU coaching staff a chance.

[Pat Coleman]

Ahh, sorry, should never post without caffeine.

WIAC is the best conference in D-III, though -- you should agree, having just lost to last year's last-place team.

[dansand]

Maybe I'm just an alarmist, but with the conference season looming, something needs to change or their string of 27 consecutive winning season could be in jeopardy. It's hard to say that about a team that went undefeated in the conference last year.

Wow, that's quite a statement Dan.  The conference season can bring a lot of surprises so I'm not ready to count the Vikes out yet.  However, both losses seem to baffling.  You said that McGinnis ran the same offense at Alleman, maybe he is just adjusting to the jump up in play?  We tend to focus on the offense of Augie due to its unique nature in today's pass happy offenses.  How is the defense playing in your opinion?  The key to last years success was a better defense than in recent years, IMO.

Believe me, I hope I'm wrong (growing up a Cubs and Bears fan has made me a little pessimistic when it comes to my sports teams). But realistically, I think Platteville would be a middle-of-the-pack team in the CCIW and they apparently handled Augie pretty well. That doesn't bode well for the CCIW portion of the schedule.

Since I haven't seen them play this year my comments are based on listening to webcasts and looking at box scores. While that's not the best method of evaluation, their problems running the ball are pretty obvious.

It's tough to say how their defense is playing, not only since I haven't seen them play, but because I don't think MacMurray and Baldwin-Wallace are considered especially good offensive teams. I know Platteville has a veteran quarterback and I think are considered to have a pretty good passing attack. It looks like the Vikes' defense struggled in the first half giving up big passing plays, but improved in the second half.

[NuTS]

Pat,

I agree with you 100% that the WIAC is the best conference in DIII.  The question is do they belong in DIII?!

[Pat Coleman]

They don't give athletic scholarships, so I'm sure they belong.

And if they don't belong, does Rochester Tech belong? Does NYU belong? Does Wash U? Does Ithaca? Does Carnegie Mellon? They all have large enrollments too.

[mr_b]

One other point I wanted to make is about North Park and Coaching.  Give Scott Pethtel a chance guys!  I agree this year is going to be tough for North Park, but you have to give Pethtel a chance to get HIS recruits in and let his program/ coaching style sink into with the players.  As Elmhurst and North Central have experienced,  it takes 2-4 years for a program to turn the corner into a contender.  John Thorne's first year wasn't what NC has going for them right now. and Tom Journell's first year isn't what the Jays have/could have this year either.  Case in point,  give the NPU coaching staff a chance.

Thanks for the posting, 79jaybird.   Any new coaching staff needs time to implement a new philosophy and scheme as well as to recruit players who are good fits for the new program.  We can't fairly judge a new staff until they've had a few seasons, let alone three whole games, to show what they are capable of.  I, for one, am very impressed with the way Coach Pethtel handles every aspect of the position, both on and off the field.  I wish him the best in the very competitive CCIW.

[mr_b]

They don't give athletic scholarships, so I'm sure they belong.

And if they don't belong, does Rochester Tech belong? Does NYU belong? Does Wash U? Does Ithaca? Does Carnegie Mellon? They all have large enrollments too.

Another dimension to consider is that the WIAC schools are public, hence lower tuition rates to start with.  Athletic scholarships would most likely play a smaller role in offsetting in-state tuition rates at WIAC schools.  It makes it harder for schools like Carthage, Ripon, Lakeland, etc. to compete with Wisconsin student-athletes.

[Pat Coleman]

Sure, but 20-25% of Division III is public schools. It's not like it's just nine schools in Wisconsin.

[mr_b]

Sure, but 20-25% of Division III is public schools. It's not like it's just nine schools in Wisconsin.

Thanks for the info.  I didn't realize that the figure was that high.

[robertgoulet]

good to see North Central take care of business......anyone go to the game? any insight? thoughts?


also, GO BEARS!!!


BEAR DOWN!

[formerd3db]

matblake:
No problem.  I didn't take the meaning of your post as a "bashing Hope" one.  Indeed, Hope showed some signs of promise, and had they caught those passes, the game might have been a little closer.  However, as we've discussed, Hope did not play well enough to win - Wheaton was clearly a more dominant and is a better team.  Anyway, thanks for the well-wishes for the rest of the season and again same to your Wheaton team.  If they don't have a let down like ND (and then MSU yesterday) not to forget mentioning staying healthy, they should cruise and bruise the CCIW and then into the playoffs based on what they shown so far.