FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[skunks_sidekick]

RG & FC....thanks for the info! 

I believe I have decided for him to attend the camp.  He is all geeked up about going, and I think the experience should be a good one. 

Thanks again.....

[79jaybird]

Hey CardinalAlum.  Happy New Year and best wishes for a great 2009 to you and your fam.
Obviously, Benedictine and Chicago are not toughies, but I was looking at it from a home/away standpoint.  EC has only 4 home games this year, rather rare as it usually evens out 5 home/away. 
A person at Benedictine told me NC is (or already has) going to stop playing North Central. Is this true?

[79jaybird]

Skunks,  what I usually tell people who have a son/daughter thinking about playing at a CCIW school is,   you cannot go wrong with any of the 8 selections.  They are esteemed schools with great athletic programs and most of all YOU HAVE FUN.
Course you could make a wise decision and wear navy blue and white 

[New Tradition]

A person at Benedictine told me NC is (or already has) going to stop playing North Central. Is this true?

JB,
I had heard this as well.   I do know that the North Central coaching staff has been looking for a little more strength in their non-conference schedule for a few years now.  If NCC does drop BU, both of my alma maters will no longer be playing their traditional opening games (although NCC will have opened up with Ohio Northern for the 2008 and 2009 seasons).  Glenbard North will no longer be playing Bartlett as it has for the last decade, and will open instead at Oak Park River Forest on a Saturday afternoon.

[79jaybird]

Hey G,  hope you are doing well. 

I have asked/urged/inquired EC coaches and personnel why we continue to play Benedictine who is obviously not as strong a foe as what the CCIW has to offer.  The response I get is "It's a good rivalry, close and both sides don't have to travel far to make the game."  And though I don't agree with this answer, I let it go there.

Similarly, when I was at Prospect we played Lake Zurich all 4 years opening day.  Then I graduate and they have been playing DG N opening day lately.  When I was at Elmhurst we opened up against Ripon.  I would love to see the non conference be Ripon, Olivet, Chicago or teams a little stronger.

[Gregory Sager]

Skunks,  what I usually tell people who have a son/daughter thinking about playing at a CCIW school is,   you cannot go wrong with any of the 8 selections.  They are esteemed schools with great athletic programs and most of all YOU HAVE FUN.
Course you could make a wise decision and wear navy blue and white 

Yeah, I'm sure that Millikin could use his kid.

Hey G,  hope you are doing well. 

I have asked/urged/inquired EC coaches and personnel why we continue to play Benedictine who is obviously not as strong a foe as what the CCIW has to offer.  The response I get is "It's a good rivalry, close and both sides don't have to travel far to make the game."  And though I don't agree with this answer, I let it go there.

There's no doubt that strength of schedule should be a primary consideration when it comes to non-conference scheduling. However, it's not the only consideration. Geographic proximity is a legitimate consideration as well, particularly for football. Transporting an entire football team is not a cheap endeavor. Another consideration is availability. There may be more desirable potential opponents than Benedictine out there for Elmhurst, but those opponents might not be willing to play the 'jays for whatever reason, or they might not be willing to commit to a two-year (or longer) contract with the 'jays, or they might not have open dates in common with EC.

[formerd3db]

Skunks,  what I usually tell people who have a son/daughter thinking about playing at a CCIW school is,   you cannot go wrong with any of the 8 selections.  They are esteemed schools with great athletic programs and most of all YOU HAVE FUN.
Course you could make a wise decision and wear navy blue and white 

Yeah, I'm sure that Millikin could use his kid.

Hey G,  hope you are doing well. 

I have asked/urged/inquired EC coaches and personnel why we continue to play Benedictine who is obviously not as strong a foe as what the CCIW has to offer.  The response I get is "It's a good rivalry, close and both sides don't have to travel far to make the game."  And though I don't agree with this answer, I let it go there.

There's no doubt that strength of schedule should be a primary consideration when it comes to non-conference scheduling. However, it's not the only consideration. Geographic proximity is a legitimate consideration as well, particularly for football. Transporting an entire football team is not a cheap endeavor. Another consideration is availability. There may be more desirable potential opponents than Benedictine out there for Elmhurst, but those opponents might not be willing to play the 'jays for whatever reason, or they might not be willing to commit to a two-year (or longer) contract with the 'jays, or they might not have open dates in common with EC.

jaybird and GS:

First, hey jaybird, where have you been you "turkey" (oops!, just kidding ) haven't heard from your for awhile, although my own schedule has been "out of control" as well.  I hope that 2009 has treated you well so far.

Anyway, both of you guys have good points in that both traditional rivalries and overall travel expenses are important and necessary issues in planning future football schedules.  In these tough economic times, our DIII colleges really have to look at the latter parameters and I guess that we all should be thankful that at least we have our football programs (in view of the Principia and Blackburn implosions).  It is a difficult decision to make and balance between the two as you both well point out.  In one aspect, it is more difficult for schools to have their programs get "to the next level/tier" in relation to being able to advance further in the national playoffs on a consistent basis if they don't upgrade their non-conference competition.  Yet, that can conflict with these traditional rivalries.  Schools also have been cutting back on travel as you mention and playing a school that will not require an overnight motel expense often "trumps" engaging in contracts with schools that have more talented players in their program for the current era.  I know of several schools that have had to make that choice, even some that have chosen to make only one long distance trip then per season.

It all comes down then to a school having to make their choice; $ or keeping a longtime collegiate rival and/or perhaps less competition in relation to elevating one's program or even the rankings that might go into that consideration for the playoff seeding (i.e. SOS, etc.)  Not always an easy choice, but...that's just the way it is today as we all know.   Again, if it came down to those economic factors that would potentially determine whether or not my program would be able to continue, you know what the obvious (hopefully ) choice would be.

Talk to you guys later.

[formerd3db]

GS:  I trust your are doing well also in 2009 so far.

[CardinalAlum]

Great recruiting news for NCC fans!!

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/sports/highschools/1421735,4_2_JO10_JCASIGN_S1.article

This kid is the real deal!!  I have seen him play 3 or 4 times and he is a horse.  He is perfect to come in and give Sulo a break and then be the man for 3 years after that!!  The QB from Lincoln Way East is pretty solid as well.   Shaping up as one of the best recruiting classes I have seen at NCC!!

[matblake]

Great recruiting news for NCC fans!!

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/sports/highschools/1421735,4_2_JO10_JCASIGN_S1.article

This kid is the real deal!!  I have seen him play 3 or 4 times and he is a horse.  He is perfect to come in and give Sulo a break and then be the man for 3 years after that!!  The QB from Lincoln Way East is pretty solid as well.   Shaping up as one of the best recruiting classes I have seen at NCC!!

As a fan of the conference:  Good catch North Central.
As a Wheaton fan:   Dang it!   

[robertgoulet]

Great recruiting news for NCC fans!!

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/sports/highschools/1421735,4_2_JO10_JCASIGN_S1.article

This kid is the real deal!!  I have seen him play 3 or 4 times and he is a horse.  He is perfect to come in and give Sulo a break and then be the man for 3 years after that!!  The QB from Lincoln Way East is pretty solid as well.   Shaping up as one of the best recruiting classes I have seen at NCC!!

Very nice! Anyone know how the QB compares to how Fanthorpe was coming out of high school?

[CardinalAlum]

As a fan of the conference:  Good catch North Central.
As a Wheaton fan:   Dang it!   

You guys did pretty well with the QB from Aurora Christian.  I did hear that Augie got a nice RB from Fremd as well.  Where oh where is Irish, he could probably fill us in on that one!

[robertgoulet]

Elmhurst commit, per the Daily Herald:

Kissack to Elmhurst: Dundee-Crown quarterback Logan Kissack will continue his career at Elmhurst College under second-year coach Tim Lester.

Kissack visited the campus three weeks ago, took a tour and made his commitment at the end of the visit.

"I liked the location," Kissack said. "It's close to the city, and there are a lot of opportunities to do internships there.

"Head coach Tim Lester played quarterback at Western Michigan. He's all about his offense, so that was a huge thing for me. I think I'll have a good opportunity to play, maybe not right away in my freshman year, but once I get a grasp as to what they do offensively there will be an opportunity to play. I'm excited."

Kissack is part of Lester's first recruiting class. The senior plans to major in computer science and minor in business with the aim of becoming an IT specialist for a large company.

Kissack, who holds a 3.7 grade-point average in honors courses at Dundee-Crown, received a partial academic scholarship.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Speedskater Nancy Swider-Peltz (Wheaton IL) was in 'Faces in the Crowd' in this week's Sports Illustrated - Mike Swider's daughter, perhaps?

[izzy stradlin]

Speedskater Nancy Swider-Peltz (Wheaton IL) was in 'Faces in the Crowd' in this week's Sports Illustrated - Mike Swider's daughter, perhaps?

Actually, she is Mike Swider's niece and D-line coach Jeff Peltz's daughter.  I believe she is a junior or senior at Wheaton this year.       Coach Peltz married Coach Swider's sister.