FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

All this talk about NC injuries, Wheaton decline?  nope.

It was IWU playing tough and hard nose, and getting great senior leadership.  IMO, the Titans have earned their spot by executing at the right time. 

Every team suffers injuries and the Cards certainly have had their fair share, but it is still 11 on 11 each week.

[iwu4ever]

Well, Well, Well...I take a football season off and randomly come back to check up on the CCIW and its fricken chaos.  I wonder about my Cardinals if they didn't have all the injuries...shocked by IWU rising from the ashes...and wondering if Wheaton is starting or in the midst of a decline.

Speaking of injured Cardinals...is there a chance or talk of any of the seniors being eligible or wanting to return for a "2nd" senior year. I think you can get a medical redshirt with a season ending injury.

[Son of Tailgater]

On a completely random and unrelated topic:

I think every sports fan should see a professional hockey game in Canada. I saw the Minnesota Wild @ Toronto Maple Leafs last night and it was quite a production. Very much like an NFL type atmosphere, eh. 

[robertgoulet]

Well, Well, Well...I take a football season off and randomly come back to check up on the CCIW and its fricken chaos.  I wonder about my Cardinals if they didn't have all the injuries...shocked by IWU rising from the ashes...and wondering if Wheaton is starting or in the midst of a decline.

Speaking of injured Cardinals...is there a chance or talk of any of the seniors being eligible or wanting to return for a "2nd" senior year. I think you can get a medical redshirt with a season ending injury.

I believe both Wenger and Sulo (DB, not RB) are both red-shirting. RB Sulo and (I believe) Champion had played too many games to red shirt.

[robertgoulet]

And, NCC has no chance of getting a Pool C bid. Losing to ONU and then playing two weak non-conference doesn't build a strong case. If a two loss team gets in, it will come from the OAC not the CCIW.

I have felt the same thing in the past about our chances at a 2nd CCIW team getting in, but the committee can surprise you. i'm holding out hope.

[oldnuthin]

A great solution for toppling Mount Union
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/11/name-those-who-want-see-sanford-gone/

[Gregory Sager]

A great solution for toppling Mount Union
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/11/name-those-who-want-see-sanford-gone/

That's a very well-written article, and not just because it includes the chuckle-inducing line, "Put that in your Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and smoke it." The writer is very respectful of Kehres's accomplishments, and (unlike a lot of sportswriters) genuinely seems to approve of D3's unpretentious approach to athletics.

The comments section, though, proves just how misunderstood D3 athletics really is by sports fandom at large. Witness the UNLV fan who said:

The thing that I worry about is does he know how to recruit or does he know anybody that knows how to recruit. There are no scholorships in Div. III and therefore no recruitment.

The ignorance and misinformation regarding D3 is pandemic.

[Neverwas]

Well, Well, Well...I take a football season off and randomly come back to check up on the CCIW and its fricken chaos.  I wonder about my Cardinals if they didn't have all the injuries...shocked by IWU rising from the ashes...and wondering if Wheaton is starting or in the midst of a decline.

This is an interesting question about Wheaton.  If you look over the last few years they are a top tier team in the CCIW but have suffered 2 losses in conference the last 3 years.  2007 was a "what if year" with tons of talent/injuries (very similar to NCC this year).  2008 was a 2 loss CCIW team that got into the playoffs based on past performance and an undefeated NCC team.  2009 had a chance to win the conference and came up just a few plays short.

Wheaton lot 4 CCIW games in the first five years of this decade with two undefeated seasons.  So, by comparison, Wheaton could be on the decline.  It is hard to replace the calibur of players they had earlier in the decade and also recent players who have made it to the NFL...they just don't come around that often. 

I also believe the conference has become more competitive.  As was mentioned earlier, the emergence of NCC has made things much more difficult for Augie and Wheaton.  Also, IWU has become more competitive than they were just a few years ago sharing two titles in 3 years.  Let's hope MU is on the way up as well. 

I still think Wheaton is a great football program, one that can compete for a CCIW title each year, but is not quite what they were from 2000-2004 and maybe even 06-07.  Wheaton's fall (or trip-up) has been less pronounced that Augie's, in my opinion.

[SaintsFAN]

A great solution for toppling Mount Union
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/11/name-those-who-want-see-sanford-gone/

That's a very well-written article, and not just because it includes the chuckle-inducing line, "Put that in your Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and smoke it." The writer is very respectful of Kehres's accomplishments, and (unlike a lot of sportswriters) genuinely seems to approve of D3's unpretentious approach to athletics.

The comments section, though, proves just how misunderstood D3 athletics really is by sports fandom at large. Witness the UNLV fan who said:

The thing that I worry about is does he know how to recruit or does he know anybody that knows how to recruit. There are no scholorships in Div. III and therefore no recruitment.

The ignorance and misinformation regarding D3 is pandemic.

During Cincinnati's loss to Va Tech last year in the Orange Bowl, I got into an argument with a girl at the bar who said Pike was a terrible QB.  After telling her to calm down, that the defense from Va Tech was playing really well and that Pike was in fact, a good QB.... she said "well its not like you ever played college football"

I responded that I did and had started QB and then said where I had played.  She laughed and said "thats not real college football".  After explaining to her that it was and asking her where she went to HS... the QB they had in HS -- who she said was awesome in HS--- actually wasn't very good and quit at my school during 2-a-days. 

Even after that example, she said D3 sux...  I realized she was a moron and told her she better start visiting the salad bar more often.

--some will never "get it"   *sigh*

[oldnuthin]

A great solution for toppling Mount Union
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/11/name-those-who-want-see-sanford-gone/

That's a very well-written article, and not just because it includes the chuckle-inducing line, "Put that in your Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and smoke it." The writer is very respectful of Kehres's accomplishments, and (unlike a lot of sportswriters) genuinely seems to approve of D3's unpretentious approach to athletics.

The comments section, though, proves just how misunderstood D3 athletics really is by sports fandom at large. Witness the UNLV fan who said:

The thing that I worry about is does he know how to recruit or does he know anybody that knows how to recruit. There are no scholorships in Div. III and therefore no recruitment.

The ignorance and misinformation regarding D3 is pandemic.

During Cincinnati's loss to Va Tech last year in the Orange Bowl, I got into an argument with a girl at the bar who said Pike was a terrible QB.  After telling her to calm down, that the defense from Va Tech was playing really well and that Pike was in fact, a good QB.... she said "well its not like you ever played college football"

I responded that I did and had started QB and then said where I had played.  She laughed and said "thats not real college football".  After explaining to her that it was and asking her where she went to HS... the QB they had in HS -- who she said was awesome in HS--- actually wasn't very good and quit at my school during 2-a-days.  

Even after that example, she said D3 sux...  I realized she was a moron and told her she better start visiting the salad bar more often.

--some will never "get it"   *sigh*

You mean like this? the first part anyway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzznDfa-F9s

[Titan Q]

An article on the Titans, including an update on Kraig Ladd's status...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_279c9bba-cf2c-11de-9786-001cc4c002e0.html

[paularmerding]

RE: Wheaton players in the NFL--Kansas City's team website reports that OLB Mike Vrabel is hurt and Andrew Studebaker will replace him vs. Oakland this Sunday.  4 PM EST on CBS.

[thunder38]

I don't know that Wheaton's declining as much as the CCIW has become deeper.  I'll even throw this against the wall and see if it sticks but in cases this has been an overachieving Wheaton club.  If you look at where the Thunder were at the beginning of the season I'm sure they would've been more than happy with their record at this point.  If you remember this is a defense that started ten new faces this year and changed defensive schemes in the offseason.  This is still an extremely young defense that has gotten better week by week and is going to be the anchor of this team next year.  Jordan Roberts is an extremely capable fill-in for Norris at QB and the emergence of Charlie Velling this year gives the Thunder two very different looks in the backfield and can really help to put pressure on a defensive scheme when you have to plan against a power back like Gingg and a speed back like Velling.  While it may look like the Thunder are on the decline by missing the playoffs this year, this may just be a retooling season for the Thunder.

[New Tradition]

Even after that example, she said D3 sux...  I realized she was a moron and told her she better start visiting the salad bar more often.

--some will never "get it"   *sigh*

HAHAHA K+

This reminds me very much of Tucker Max's I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (soon to be released as a movie as well, I understand).

[ncc58]

Wheaton has an excellent recruiting program, which includes alums throughout the country that can direct Christian student athletes to Wheaton. Wheaton also has excellent coaching, probably the best overall staff in the CCIW (if not the region).

Wheaton is not in decline.