FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[matblake]

Heard about some Wisconsin prep players headed CCIW's direction:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=603775

Here are Steve Brusky's stats from last year according to JSOnline.  According to the link in the quote, he's headed to North Park.  http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/prep/stats/player.asp?id=18892

I think that his last name is funny, considering he went school in Milwaukee.

I believe NPU has recruited Brusky to play on the defensive side of the ball.  OLB or SS

Good call lakeshore.  The roster of Milwaukee Pius has him listed as RB/LB
http://www.netwurx.net/~mutz/football/varros.htm

[WLCALUM83]

+k, matblake!

[CardinalAlum]

The player with a dislocated finger??  None only than Coach Swider.  At least half of the Wheaton coaches suited up for the game as well.  I remember Coach Swider getting on us to "get your head across on the tackle", "wrap up" and "put your face on his chest" when attempting to tackle the behemoth fullback.  To his credit (especially since he was a QB at Wheaton in his playing days), Coach Swider comes in as a DB and promptly applies a near perfect form tackle on the FB.  Perfect in form, but the result... he got completely run over, at which point he dislocated his finger.  As if he didn't already have the respect of everyone, that cement it... though we teased him about it.

It wasn't fair.....his hair got in the way!!!  How did he get a helmet on with all of that hair??  I'm picturing the Wheaton version of Troy Polamalu!!   8)  Great story, Mugsy!  That gave me a good laugh.

[redman04]

We had a funny feeling that we were going to win in Italy when every member of the opposing team lit up a cigarette as they tied on their cleats and chugged a beer at halftime!   

One other experience this reminds me of... and I'm not making any of this up.

My freshman year at Wheaton, we had a JV game against Joliet Correctional.  That's right, you read it correctly.  We played a JV football game IN PRISON!!!   Not quite like "The Longest Yard", but there were some similarities.

Anyway... we are warming up for the game and when prison team comes out.  They were massive and intimidating to say the least (other than their uniforms - red helmets, purple jersey and gray pants).  Clearly these guys did nothing all day other than lift weights.   We were already on edge having entered the prison through a myriad of gates and armed guards, along with walking through a build where all the prisoners were whistling, whooping it up and screaming "We got you now! We got you now!"

I was thinking, we're gonna die.  That was of course until they took 2 warm up laps around the field at a very slow jog, followed by half the team bent over breathing hard and the other half asking "where are our smokes".  Needless to say conditioning wasn't any where on their radar.

While they were clearly physical and there were some massive hits, they were on their best behavior.  Anything cheap or unsportsmanlike and I'm sure they would lose their privilege to play.  The game ended up a complete white wash.  I think we ended up winning 40 something to 6.

Couple of other interesting notes:
1. One of the endzones was only 6 yards deep as it butt right up to the prison wall.  The goal posts where painted onto the wall.  During the first extra point our kicker launched the ball over the prison wall, at which point one of the prison players exclaimed... "I'll get that!"  A good laugh for every one.

2. The fullback for the prison team was 6' 3", 260lbs and his body fat % was probably less than 7 or 8%.  He was put together.  He knocked out 2 of our defensive players - one with a concussion, one with a dislocated finger.  The player with a dislocated finger??  None only than Coach Swider.  At least half of the Wheaton coaches suited up for the game as well.  I remember Coach Swider getting on us to "get your head across on the tackle", "wrap up" and "put your face on his chest" when attempting to tackle the behemoth fullback.  To his credit (especially since he was a QB at Wheaton in his playing days), Coach Swider comes in as a DB and promptly applies a near perfect form tackle on the FB.  Perfect in form, but the result... he got completely run over, at which point he dislocated his finger.  As if he didn't already have the respect of everyone, that cement it... though we teased him about it.

That might be the best story i've read on this page! 

+K

[NCC_alum62]

Gotta love those JV vs Prison Team football stories...I think we've all had one if not two of those in our lifetime

I think that takes some balls to schedule that JV game...are folks from wheaton allowed to say that?  I'm just razzin

[DIIIinVA]

CardinalAlum:

You are right about Swider and the hair!  He had it when I was there in '89-'93, and word was that he had it back in his days as a QB for Wheaton (he always lamented that he couldn't go back and do it over again and be a DB instead of a wussy QB).  Supposedly he cut quite a figure as an undergrad QB on the conservative Wheaton campus with that hair and his motorcycle, which he would ride around with his football helmet on in lieu of a motorcycle helmet.

I wasn't there to witness it so can't swear that story about the motorcycle and football helmet is true, but I've heard it enough times that I think it probably is.  If it's not true it should be.

Mugsy, that story about the trip to the prison team was still circulating a few years later when I showed up on campus.

[football2007]

Question:  My son as a freshman reports to football camp at Carthage on Aug. 13th.  His friend that is going to Elmhurst reports Aug. 1st.  Why the difference,  why would Carthage start almost 2 weeks later.  Seems like they would all start at the same time.  Is practice time set by the schools or NCAA.

[CardinalAlum]

Question:  My son as a freshman reports to football camp at Carthage on Aug. 13th.  His friend that is going to Elmhurst reports Aug. 1st.  Why the difference,  why would Carthage start almost 2 weeks later.  Seems like they would all start at the same time.  Is practice time set by the schools or NCAA.

FB07,

Both Carthage and Elmhurst have their first game on 9/1.  8/13 sounds about right.  I doubt Elmhurst is reporting on 8/1.  Jaybird?  I believe reporting dates depend on the date of your first game.

[79jaybird]

The Bluejays that ARE going to Italy are leaving here shortly.  That is only about 1/3-1/2 of the team.  I haven't heard anything "different" but I know the last few years they have reported August 7-13 in that range.  August 1 seems a bit early.  I know when I played we had 2 weeks "left" of our Summer Vacation (on 8/1)  prior to reporting for two-a-days.

Mike Swider told me back in August of last year that his hair is "his thing" and nobody (not even his wife & kids) is going to influence him with hair matters.  IMO, I think Swider's hair is his "trademark".  Like Landry's hat, or Jon Thompson's towel on his shoulder, etc. 

What a great recruiting tool to drive around with a Wheaton helmet!  (If this is true) 

[79jaybird]

Football 2007 What high school did your Son (and his friend) attend?  I think they made good choices choosing EC and CAR  and hope both of them are successful in the CCIW.

[CardinalAlum]

Football 2007 What high school did your Son (and his friend) attend?  I think they made good choices choosing EC and CAR  and hope both of them are successful in the CCIW.

Personally, I think there were better choices!   

[football2007]

My son is graduating today from Driscoll Catholic High School.  He is excited about graduating but sad about leaving DC.  He said he will never forget walking out on the field at U of I every year for state.  His friend from Driscoll just choose Carthage as well, so they will room together.

[79jaybird]

Football 2007,  yes I agree that Driscoll has a great legacy in IHSA Football.  I believe they are 4A?  I know I always seem to see their game on Thanksgiving Weekend at U of I with the chrome domes. 
The key for Carthage here in 2007 is staying healthy.  I know the Redmen have a great group returning and can beat anybody here in 2007, if (and that's a big IF) they can stay off the injury list.  They were hampered by injuries last year and by year's end- had some people playing positions they never thought they would be playing.

CardinalAlum-- hehe    I guess when you say "better choices"  North Park and Wheaton would be better? 

[football2007]

Why all the injuries at Carthage, anyone know???

[football2007]

North Park tried to recruit heavily at DC.  Coaches were in there a lot talking about the new facilities.  There is one DC player going to North Park.  My son talked about their
D1 looking weight room for quite a while, said it was very impressive