FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

I think there is only 1 clear favorite and that is at the top. I think slots 2-7 could be any team.   

No way!!  Wheaton will be in this thing!  Weenies have a lot coming back.  How do you feel Millikin could actually compete?  New QB or not, he can't do it alone!  NCC has all of the pressure on them this year.  Wheaties are a solid program and fill in positions with upperclassmen, not freshmen!  THAT is the key to winning in the CCIW.  NCC is now doing the same thing and that is why they are winning now.  IWU used to do that and were successful during those times.  I never count out Carthage either as they always have a way of having a say in the race.  Elmhurst has to take a huge step forward this year to get into the mix and it is possible, but I still think they are another couple of recruiting classes away if they get the right kids.  I still say it's NCC and Wheaton followed by 3-6, in no particular order: Carthage, Elmhurst, Augie, IWU and then Millikin and Kedzie-Foster U.

[usee]

I think NCC would have to have some serious injuries or other problems to lose any games prior to the playoffs. I think Wheaton can be competitive with the Cardinals and if everything falls the right way could eke out a win but the game is in Naperville this year.

I think Wheaton is going to be pretty good with the additions and changes they have made but they have a tough road. Carthage has a lot of talent coming back (10 of 11 on offense), IWU returns most of their offensive and defensive lines and Augie has to replace a qb but has some key players back including 4 of 5 on the OLine. they are the next best teams in my mind. Elmhurst is in a gap year and its possible they are in the mix depending on how they have filled the holes. I wouldn't count out Tim Lester.

Millikin may be on the rebound, we will see how competitive they are this year in the league games but, while there are signs the winds have shifted in decatur, we will need a year or two of evidence before I come to that conclusion. NPU is in a prove it to me year. There has been a lot of talk about what Scott P has done and if any of its true we should start seeing some of the fruits this year. I expect that we will but you don't turn around a bunch of decades of losing in a few years.

[Neverwas]

I see this NCC team as the most dominant CCIW team in, at least, the last 10 years.  They are loaded all over the field.  I would be surprised if they have a conference game within 10 points.  Wheaton had a dominant CCIW team in 2002 but I think NCC is still better.

I am hopeful Wheaton can make a quick turn around on both sides of the ball with the changes they are going through.  I think competing in Naperville is going to be tough and I could see them dropping at least one more game (possibly Bethel in MN to start the season).

Augie seems to always be tougher than everyone expects and playing in Rock Island is no fun either.  I see them in 2nd or 3rd depending on the Wheaton game.

As for the rest, I don't really know, except North Park just doesn't seem to be able to get over the hump.  It seems over the last few years they haven't really been competitive.  2004 they almost beat Carthage, a team that made it to the regional final if I am not mistaken.  What are some other recent close calls for the Vikings in CCIW play?

[zorbadagreek]

Kedzie/Foster U. almost beat Milikin in 05. My friends son was a member of that team and they shouldve won that one. Dont see them getting over the hump with the loss of OC and player turnover.

[usee]

I see this NCC team as the most dominant CCIW team in, at least, the last 10 years.  They are loaded all over the field.  I would be surprised if they have a conference game within 10 points.  Wheaton had a dominant CCIW team in 2002 but I think NCC is still better.

I am hopeful Wheaton can make a quick turn around on both sides of the ball with the changes they are going through.  I think competing in Naperville is going to be tough and I could see them dropping at least one more game (possibly Bethel in MN to start the season).

Augie seems to always be tougher than everyone expects and playing in Rock Island is no fun either.  I see them in 2nd or 3rd depending on the Wheaton game.

As for the rest, I don't really know, except North Park just doesn't seem to be able to get over the hump.  It seems over the last few years they haven't really been competitive.  2004 they almost beat Carthage, a team that made it to the regional final if I am not mistaken.  What are some other recent close calls for the Vikings in CCIW play?

I am not ready to crown them with this title just yet. I don't see NCC losing during the season but they didn't lose last season either and were ranked #2 for most of the year. The most dominant teams play great defense and while NCC has the best defensive player in the conference and perhaps in the nation on their team, this group of Cardinal players hasn't played what can be considered dominant defense yet. Wheaton got to Alliance in 02 on the back of a great group of defensive players and one the best offenses they have ever had. IWU may have had the most dominant defense in the last 10 years on their 2000 team but an inconsistent offense did them in and their loss to Wheaton kept them from a deep playoff run. IF this NCC team wants tobe considered as the most dominant in X years they will have to run the table playing great defense and put up a good show in Alliance deep into a playoff run.

[Gregory Sager]

As for the rest, I don't really know, except North Park just doesn't seem to be able to get over the hump.  It seems over the last few years they haven't really been competitive.  2004 they almost beat Carthage, a team that made it to the regional final if I am not mistaken.  What are some other recent close calls for the Vikings in CCIW play?

NPU came pretty close to beating Illinois Wesleyan a couple of seasons ago.

Look, I've said this a million times: It's all about retention. You can't compete if you're playing freshmen at half or more of the starting positions on your team, and every year since time immemorial North Park has failed to retain a sufficient number of players from the year before in order to keep the incoming freshmen off the field and at the bottom of the depth chart. Every year the team has to start over from scratch. Every year the team is outmanned physically and in terms of experience. It's a vicious cycle, and the only way to break it is to keep most of each class intact from the time they step on campus as freshmen to the time they cross the stage in the gym and get their sheepskins. Last year's senior class consisted of three players. The year before the Vikings had four seniors. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what the problem is.

The coaches won't know for sure exactly how many returnees they'll have until camp starts up in August, but at this point all indications are that Scott Pethtel is going to have a very large core of returnees for the 2009 season, much larger than anyone from NPU is used to seeing. That's not necessarily going to translate into CCIW wins, but it should make the team a lot more competitive. USee is right; this is a prove-it year for Pethtel. I'm not going to go out on a limb or anything, but I think that there's a solid chance that the Vikings will pick up a win in CCIW play, and they should be competitive in more games than they were last year.

Joe Davis's absence isn't going to make a difference. It all comes down to who and how many come back in August for another season.

[usee]

I think Joe Davis's absence will certainly make a difference. Anytime you change coaches you lose continuity. But I agree the impact at NPU will be mitigated because other factors (retention) are far more important and the improvement you seek will come mainly from that.

[Gregory Sager]

I think Joe Davis's absence will certainly make a difference. Anytime you change coaches you lose continuity. But I agree the impact at NPU will be mitigated because other factors (retention) are far more important and the improvement you seek will come mainly from that.

From what I hear from inside the program, Joe is not going to be missed. However, I concede that this may be spin. Everyone, be they fans, players, or coaches, always wants to put a good face on a coaching change.

[matblake]

As far as North Central goes, you just can't predict what is going to happen.  2007 was supposed to be Wheaton's year.  Studebaker, Ulrich, McKinney, a number of offensive linemen, the d. line transfer from Air Force (can't remember his name).  They all go down to injuries and suddenly the makeup of the season is completely different.  Add in the other factors like a drop in run production and you have a completely different year.  While I agree that the Cardinals are the front runners, I really get uncomfortable when people start making predictions about things that need to be evaluated after the season is complete.

[usee]

Matblake,

You bring up a great point. Wheaton in 2007 was everybit as loaded as NCC is going into this year and The Thunder didn't even make the playoffs, finishing 3rd in the conference.

On your other point, don't make me remind you that these boards are about predictions, opinions and prognostications. There won't be any waiting until the end of the season to make thorough evaluations of everything from Thorne's playcalling, Norm's recruiting, Swider's haircut, and Jaybird's play by play. It's open season on these boards for all things D3 football.  8)

[matblake]

On your other point, don't make me remind you that these boards are about predictions, opinions and prognostications. There won't be any waiting until the end of the season to make thorough evaluations of everything from Thorne's playcalling, Norm's recruiting, Swider's haircut, and Jaybird's play by play. It's open season on these boards for all things D3 football.  8)

But aren't you really reminding me by asking that I not make you remind me?  Kind of like that song called Ironic about things that are actually not ironic. 

I agree with you completely.  Go ahead and predict and opine away, it's all part of the fun!

[Neverwas]

I see this NCC team as the most dominant CCIW team in, at least, the last 10 years.  They are loaded all over the field.  I would be surprised if they have a conference game within 10 points.  Wheaton had a dominant CCIW team in 2002 but I think NCC is still better.

I am hopeful Wheaton can make a quick turn around on both sides of the ball with the changes they are going through.  I think competing in Naperville is going to be tough and I could see them dropping at least one more game (possibly Bethel in MN to start the season).

Augie seems to always be tougher than everyone expects and playing in Rock Island is no fun either.  I see them in 2nd or 3rd depending on the Wheaton game.

As for the rest, I don't really know, except North Park just doesn't seem to be able to get over the hump.  It seems over the last few years they haven't really been competitive.  2004 they almost beat Carthage, a team that made it to the regional final if I am not mistaken.  What are some other recent close calls for the Vikings in CCIW play?

I am not ready to crown them with this title just yet. I don't see NCC losing during the season but they didn't lose last season either and were ranked #2 for most of the year. The most dominant teams play great defense and while NCC has the best defensive player in the conference and perhaps in the nation on their team, this group of Cardinal players hasn't played what can be considered dominant defense yet. Wheaton got to Alliance in 02 on the back of a great group of defensive players and one the best offenses they have ever had. IWU may have had the most dominant defense in the last 10 years on their 2000 team but an inconsistent offense did them in and their loss to Wheaton kept them from a deep playoff run. IF this NCC team wants tobe considered as the most dominant in X years they will have to run the table playing great defense and put up a good show in Alliance deep into a playoff run.

Sorry to have misled you.  I meant the comment as in they have the possibility to get there but since the season has not started....they are not there yet.  Since NCC only had two games in the CCIW decided by less than 10 points, I think they have a pretty good shot of improving upon last years results.  Obviously this doesn't take into account injuries but I believe the hype is deserved just like the 2007 Wheaton team.

As for being dominant...I don't think success against MUC is necessary.  In my opinion this is a comparison against CCIW schools and, unfortunately, no one has really put up a good show in Alliance.

[Neverwas]

What is the outlook for Augie this year?  Any one have some insight?

Will they move further from their old offense and more exclusively into the spread offense?  Any word who will play QB next year?

[Viking Mike]

Yeah....... does anyone close to the program have some tidbits on how Augie is preparing for the year?
What can we expect from the Vikings this year?  Looking at Coach's recruits, it looks like he has a solid class coming in.
Who will be taking snaps from center?  Who will be our premier back and receivers?

Those that ignore the Vikings in the conference race are foolish.

I agree that North Central has to be favored, and Wheaton is strong as well, but the Vikings are not in the second tier that some here have suggested.  As always, I expect Augie to challenge for the conference title again this year.  13 starters return with 4 of 5 returning on the line,  a few talented backs are back,  and a majority of the defense returns as well.  Most of the questions may fall on the quarterback.  Barnes has recruited some quality men to fill this spot but not sure who coach has his eye on to lead the Vikes.  I believe McGough (sp?) was back up last year and did a good job.  he has some size and seemed to run well.  He also had a nice touch throwing the ball.

Augie plays Carthage, IWU,  Elmhurst and North Central at Ericson Field this year.
Wheaton is their toughest road game (likely) with North Park and Millikin also coming on the road.

I'm looking forward to a great season this year.  Only hoping that Augie can find a way to win all 3 conference games this year (Coe, Greenville, UWP) and give themselves a better chance to get into the playoffs.

Go Vikings!!!!!!

[FormerCard]

[/quote]

I am not ready to crown them with this title just yet. I don't see NCC losing during the season but they didn't lose last season either and were ranked #2 for most of the year. The most dominant teams play great defense and while NCC has the best defensive player in the conference and perhaps in the nation on their team, this group of Cardinal players hasn't played what can be considered dominant defense yet. Wheaton got to Alliance in 02 on the back of a great group of defensive players and one the best offenses they have ever had. IWU may have had the most dominant defense in the last 10 years on their 2000 team but an inconsistent offense did them in and their loss to Wheaton kept them from a deep playoff run. IF this NCC team wants tobe considered as the most dominant in X years they will have to run the table playing great defense and put up a good show in Alliance deep into a playoff run.
[/quote]


You want to crown them, then crown their asses!
gotta love Dennis Green

I think if you are fan of D3football, you have to see the Cardinals play this year...they will be fun to watch and #40 will have a great highlight film at the end of year.   But as everyone said, you have to hope that the Cards can stay healthy along with the rest of the CCIW.