FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

1)  Wheaton
2)  Augie
3/4/5/6 NC/IWU/EC/Car (somewhere in this schuffle)
7) Millikin
8) North Park  is my general prediction at this point in the fury.  As I said before, Wheaton has all their important marbles back and ready to go, Augie has McGinnis back who single handedly won 3 games for Augie last year, and then the rest of the CCIW will be looking to establish consistency.

MatBlake-- "If Sulo can't get going, then the poor QB..."  Are you automatically assuming Kniss' successor will be poor and of poor quality    I mean, give the kid a chance.  Certainly it is hard to replace the shoes of an All-American, but it's only April and we haven't seen _____ perform yet.

[matblake]

MatBlake-- "If Sulo can't get going, then the poor QB..."  Are you automatically assuming Kniss' successor will be poor and of poor quality    I mean, give the kid a chance.  Certainly it is hard to replace the shoes of an All-American, but it's only April and we haven't seen _____ perform yet.

Yes, we haven't seen _______ play for NC yet.   Of course, I am not assuming that the successor will be of poor quality.  Kniss was a special player.  Any time that you follow a caliber of player at Kniss' level, it is a hard thing to live up to.  I was just trying to point out that I believe the running game is key to the Cardinals success this year.  If the running game goes nowhere then I believe that it won't matter who the quarterback is, he will have major trouble. 

[79jaybird]

Matblake,  you are right and your last point is precisely why I think NC won't be as good as they were the last 2 years.  Kniss' greatest asset (IMO) was his ability to make others better and recognize situations.    Now without Kniss, NC is relying heavily on Sulo's shoulders, which are still "young" shoulders.  The game we called up in Milwaukee vs. CUW  Sulo was dynamic and showed great signs that he can be a leader.
This is partly why I also think Elmhurst has a bunch of ??'s also.  When you lose 3-4 talents on defense,  they are hard to replace.

[football2007]

Phil Pedi was the "Kniss" of Driscoll.  Can't wait to see how he does at Elmhurst.  Will also be interesting to see how Driscoll does without him.

[NCC_alum62]

1)  Wheaton
2)  Augie
3/4/5/6 NC/IWU/EC/Car (somewhere in this schuffle)
7) Millikin
8) North Park  is my general prediction at this point in the fury.  As I said before, Wheaton has all their important marbles back and ready to go, Augie has McGinnis back who single handedly won 3 games for Augie last year, and then the rest of the CCIW will be looking to establish consistency.

with the recent games between Auggie and NCC I have to pick the Cardinals over the Vikings this year.  NCC has really figured out/schemed the Auggie O well the past few years.

I also disagree with putting NCC in the "shuffle"  the biggest question mark for NCC going in is the QB (granted its a big question) but I have to believe the coaches have recruited a quality kid to fill the role and the talent around him is going to be very good.  He has a big strong and talented O-line returning with a ton of experience, he has an all conference RB and good returning recievers.  I see them as a top two finisher next year and if the QB and WR's can gel in spring ball and summer 7 on 7 and come into the fall camps hungry they can win the title outright.  We get Wheaton at home this year so its going to be fierce.

Millikin and IWU are the dark horses this year they are either going to come together and win some big games or falter and have back to back dismal seasons. Carthage has huge questions to answer up front, Elmhurst has a defense that lost so much talent (and even with that talent had problems) I see a big shuffle in the 3-5 between these four with the a possible tie for a spot. NPU may win a conference game and make one of these four the obvious number 7.

[CardinalAlum]

Phil Pedi was the "Kniss" of Driscoll.  Can't wait to see how he does at Elmhurst.  Will also be interesting to see how Driscoll does without him.

Seeing as Kudyba is returning this year, it may be a couple of years before you see Pedi.  You might wait before you throw Pedi's name around with Kniss.

[football2007]

All that was meant by my comment was that Pedi had that success at his HS.  I stated can't wait to see him at college.  Did not say this year or even next.  No disrespect meant to any current players coming back.  Is the current Elmhurst QB going to be a junior or senior? 

[matblake]

Phil Pedi was the "Kniss" of Driscoll.  Can't wait to see how he does at Elmhurst.  Will also be interesting to see how Driscoll does without him.

Seeing as Kudyba is returning this year, it may be a couple of years before you see Pedi.  You might wait before you throw Pedi's name around with Kniss.

Also, i've found that oftentimes players switch positions or become more specialized upon entering college.  Their talents may be more suited to a different position or side of the ball based on the system that the college is running.  

[football2007]

I'm sure it will be a big change for this first time college parent and player too.  Can't wait till it starts.

[Titanwatcher]

Phil Pedi was the "Kniss" of Driscoll.  Can't wait to see how he does at Elmhurst.  Will also be interesting to see how Driscoll does without him.

As much as it pains me to agree with Alum, It will be a big step up in competition for Pedi. He won't be seeing the likes of St. Ed's, ACC, or Marmion on a regular basis.

[CardinalAlum]

Is the current Elmhurst QB going to be a junior or senior? 

I believe he will be a junior.  He was injured last year, but had a great start to his career.

As much as it pains me to agree with Alum,...    

ahhh, can you feel the love? 

[CardinalAlum]

As much as it pains me to agree with Alum, It will be a big step up in competition for Pedi. He won't be seeing the likes of St. Ed's, ACC, or Marmion on a regular basis.

TW,

You might not believe this, but I'm on your side, to a certain extent, as a semi-Montini fan. 

[Titanwatcher]

As much as it pains me to agree with Alum, It will be a big step up in competition for Pedi. He won't be seeing the likes of St. Ed's, ACC, or Marmion on a regular basis.

TW,

You might not believe this, but I'm on your side, to a certain extent, as a semi-Montini fan. 

I am not sure what a semi-montini fan is; but its always nice to have a former cardinal on your side.What years did you play?

[CardinalAlum]

As much as it pains me to agree with Alum, It will be a big step up in competition for Pedi. He won't be seeing the likes of St. Ed's, ACC, or Marmion on a regular basis.

TW,

You might not believe this, but I'm on your side, to a certain extent, as a semi-Montini fan. 

I am not sure what a semi-montini fan is; but its always nice to have a former cardinal on your side.What years did you play?

Having some very close friends who are Montini grads, plus the head wrestling coach there, makes me a "semi-Montini fan!" 

I played at NCC from 86 to 89.

[Titanwatcher]

I had heard that NCC tried to hire Boo to coach their wrestling team. Have some relative that graduated from NCC. current circumstances dictate that I follow I IWU. Coached youth football with a former QB , who now coaches at Montini. still have 2 kids there so i guess that makes me a full Montini fan.