FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[shepherd]

My heart-felt congrats to Coach Swider and the entire staff, all the Wheaton players, especially you seniors.

Nearly everyone, including myself, counted you out after the Elmhurst game. You guys played your hearts out and were one game away from playing for a National Championship.  You gave it your all against yet another brutally talented, well-coached Mount Union team.

Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of at all!!!  I can't tell you how proud I am of the Wheaton program.  Keep it up.  One of these years we will break on through.

Remember... it took over 12 years to finally breakthrough the Augie hurdle.

Mugsy your right on with your post.  What a great effort by the whole team.  I know Kmick had all those yards, but most of them came from sweeps and off tackle breaking to the sideline.  I thought the D-line did a good job stuffing up the middle with a few exceptions.  Kmicks so quick getting to the sideline and they do a good job blocking the linebackers.  This defensive line is not very physical but they played as a unit all year.  I'm really proud of the program the players and the coaches.  This is my favorite Wheaton team.   Maybe not the most talented but they had a big heart and I love the way they play as a team.  This has a lot to do with the coaching staff stressing team play.  Especially the offesensive and defensive lines.  This definitely bodes well for the future of Wheaton football.  Thanks for the awesome season.

[skunks_sidekick]

Congratulations to Wheaton on a great run in the play-offs.  It was a bummer to hear your stud RB was not able to go today.  Norris is the real deal.  I could not BELIEVE how many times he kept getting back up after taking brutal hits, and kept on slinging it. 

Whitewater....hmmm......I think I have heard of that team.....

[Mugsy]

Congratulations to Wheaton on a great run in the play-offs.  It was a bummer to hear your stud RB was not able to go today.  Norris is the real deal.  I could not BELIEVE how many times he kept getting back up after taking brutal hits, and kept on slinging it. 

Whitewater....hmmm......I think I have heard of that team.....

Thanks for the thoughts.  Norris is a tough, talented QB.   What is more impressive to me is that he was not at all tentative or fearful.  After receiving a concussion on a 4th and 3 with under 5 minutes against Franklin last week, the fact he played at all this week is amazing.  But then to show no ill affects or play scared in the pocket, quite remarkable and go's to show just how tough he is.  I'm thankful we get to watch him for another year.

We get to enjoy Rocky Gingg for another 2 years!

[DIIIinVA]

Looking ahead: what key parts does Wheaton lose from this year's team and how does the depth look behind them?

[Mugsy]

Looking ahead: what key parts does Wheaton lose from this year's team and how does the depth look behind them?

Without doing an exhaustive, detailed report, Wheaton has a solid core of the offensive unit returning, but with some key loses.

Wheaton returns the following starters or key contributors:
WR's: Ellis, Hindman, Antal
TE: Berttucci
OL: Carpenter, Dipzinski
RB: Gingg
QB: Norris

I'm sure I'm missing a few others... I think 3 of 5 OL are returning.

Key losses on offense:
WR: Pokorny
OL: Wenger, Scott
K: Ellingsen

Wheaton's defense has it's work cut out for 2009.  I count no less than 9 starters graduating.  Yikes.

Wheaton returns the following starters or key contributors on defense:
CB: Tyler Langs
S: Hollett
DT: Theobald, O'Neil

There may be a few other contributors, but no other starters...

Key losses on the defensive unit:
CB: Ittersagen
S: Woodward
LB: Pagh, Ryan, McKinney
DE, DT: Roszkowiak, Root, Reyes, Kuenzle, Theisen

Overall... a lot to replace on defense.

[Mugsy]

Some more disgusting stats about MUC from sportsline.com:

Mount Union has outscored opponents 791-126 this season and has college football's best overall record since 1990 at 244-11-1.

Upon further investigation... I'm not sure where they are getting their information from.  Looking at the Mount Union website, cumulative stats indicates Mount Union scored 652 points while allowing 105.

At least Wheaton can take solice in scoring nearly a quarter of the points score against MUC in 14 games.

[74mucsae]

Wheaton Team and Fans....  You have a great team and if it were not for a few dropped passes would definitely been a closer game.  Hold your heads high, you played the toughest against MUC all season....

Now you have to root for MUC next week.....  Go NATE!

[HScoach]

Congrats to Wheaton on a great season and a fine effort today.  Norris played very well, stood in the pocket and kept getting up even though he took a beating.  Game would have been closer at half if his receivers would have helped him out.

You easily had the best offense we've seen this year.  It's clear you warranted the Pool C bid and represented the North Region well.

Hope to see you in Alliance next season.

[Crutches McGee 87]

Congrats to the Thunder on a great season!   You represented the CCIW well and truly are class acts.  I can't wait to play you guys again next year!  On to basketball season!!!

[SaintsFAN]

much like hscoach said... it was a pleasure calling the game for d3football today.  Sean Norris is an exceptional QB... he was getting peppered pretty handily all day.  He didn't fold when his receivers weren't cooperating fully and led his team to the drives in the 2nd half.  I was very impressed with him.  You have a good one at QB... NCC-Wheaton is going to be a helluva game next season. 

More impressive was Swider (i'm assuming he decided to play Bradley at the end) putting the back up QB in for the 4th Quarter and then after he threw a TD pass... he had him come off the field to an ovation.  Mike Swider is the epitome of class and if I had any boys, I'd no doubt send them to him to play football. 

Keep your heads up, Wheaton fans... you guys represented the North Region well. 

USee, very nice meeting you today.  Sorry we couldn't spend more time visiting with one another.  There will be another day.

[HScoach]

Usee:  was nice meeting you today.   Your boys played hard and have nothing to be ashamed of.  I know Coach Kehres has a TON of respect for Coach Swider and his program.  It was clear watching LK and Swider talk on the field before the game that they're friends and highly respect what each other has accomplished.

[Jim Matson]

Congrats to the Thunder and Coach Swider on a great season.  To make it all the way to the semis is impressive and a new experience for the program.  And based on how we all felt after the Elmhurst loss, I think we would have been surprised with any talk of Mount Union this season. 

Great season Pete!!  Your folks are proud of you and so are we!

Looking forward to Usee's game report.

[skunk]

Congratulations Wheaton Thunder on producing another fine, talented football team. Your players left it all out on the field today. Your coach, team and fans all exude class.

[Mugsy]

A couple of interesting stats, which ultimately don't mean a whole bunch:

Prior to todays game:
1. TD passes allowed by MUC: 7
     Today: 3

2. Average yards per game allowed: 168.6
     Today: 346

3. Points per game: 6.2
     Today: 24

4. Yards passing per game: 123.45
     Today: 256

5. Yards rushing per game: 45.2
    Today: 90

And yet Wheaton still lost by 21... Yikes.

[runyr]

Congratulations to Wheaton, the best scoring offense Mount Union faced all year.  The whole team and coaches should be proud.  Wheaton football is definitely one class act.  Best wishes to you and yours!  8)