FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[oldnuthin]

Not sure what any of this means in terms of the 2010 season, but for what it's worth, returning all-conference players...

(Offense/Defense/Specialists)

Illinois Wesleyan: 6 (2/4/0)
Millikin: 6 (3/3/0)
North Central: 6 (3/3/0)
Elmhurst: 4 (1/3/0)
Carthage: 3 (2/1/0)
Wheaton: 3 (2/1/0)
North Park: 2 (0/1/1)
Augustana: 1 (1/0/0)

http://www.cciw.org/fall_football/09_fballconf.htm

A couple things it may mean: first it means IWU won the conference this year and got the most all conference players elected. I think you also have to look at who these players are that are coming back. As Oldnuthin notes NCC gets Wenger and Derek Sulo back as well as a healthy Champion. Wheaton also returns Tyler Langs and a healthy Rocky Gingg (both 2008 ALL CCIW players). I also believe Freddy Ellis will return for the Thunder. IWU returns Brien Rooney who was pretty good down the stretch as well. If I was handicapping next years CCIW race based on who is coming back overall I would say:

North Central
Wheaton
IWU
Millikin
Augie
Carthage
Elmhurst
NPU

That said I think Elmhurst has done a nice job recruiting and if there are other underclassmen like Scottie Williams RB and Jon Janus DB then Elmhurst will surprise some people. One thing is certain, the CCIW won't be any easier from top to bottom and the non conference opponents will have a hard time beating many of these teams.

Usee, why the big drop for Carthage? are they losing alot of seniors? appreciate the Millikin bump though

[usee]

OldN-

I view the departure of Merchut and Koenamen, along with 3 of the 5 starting OL as a big negative. They also lose 4 of their best defensive players (Annes, Busse, Williams, Graves) from an average defense. I think Evan Jones will be the best qb in the conference next year by a margin but he needs help. Fortney and Radke are good defensive players but guys like Mussleman, Schultz and Mike Koenamen along with RB Seigler will need to make dramatic improvements in production if Carthage is going to replicate their 7-3 record from this year.

Millikin returns the 6 core ALL CCIW players but also several other excellent younger players (10 offensive and 7 defensive starters return) and could easily improve on their 6-4 record next year.

[oldnuthin]

OldN-

I view the departure of Merchut and Koenamen, along with 3 of the 5 starting OL as a big negative. They also lose 4 of their best defensive players (Annes, Busse, Williams, Graves) from an average defense. I think Evan Jones will be the best qb in the conference next year by a margin but he needs help. Fortney and Radke are good defensive players but guys like Mussleman, Schultz and Mike Koenamen along with RB Seigler will need to make dramatic improvements in production if Carthage is going to replicate their 7-3 record from this year.

Millikin returns the 6 core ALL CCIW players but also several other excellent younger players (10 offensive and 7 defensive starters return) and could easily improve on their 6-4 record next year.

did not realize that Carthage was losing that much. I know there are high hopes in Decatur for next year with that many returning starters. I am hopeful that Hockaday can give Evans a run for his money with a season under his belt but that remains to be seen.

[Tailgater]

Just an FYI, Cary-Grove #1 seed plays Providence Catholic #2 seed in the 6A championship game in Champaign on Saturday at 1.  CG is appearing in their 2nd final after losing to Libertyville 13-3 in 2004 and of course Provi is going for their 10th State title and their first appearance in the final since they won #9 in 2004.

CG has scored 546 points and only allowed 111 with 6 shutouts and runs the option about as good as you can.  Provi's opponents had records of 56 and 25 with 7 going to the playoffs, has a stud RB and great experience in Champaign.

This will be a very good high school football game.  My son and I will be there cheering on CG but have very good friends who will cheer for Provi....neutral tailgating is in order.

Other game of note 7A Glendard West and WWS the only other #1 and #2 seed final.  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This is off CCIW chat, but I need to respond. Providence is lucky to be in the 6A final game. Oswego had them beat in the second round and gave the game away in overtime. Oswego twice inside the 5 during regulation came away with zero points. Once on a bad spot after a 4th down and inches and once on a bad coaching decision with an early opportunity to score should have kicked a field goal, but instead went for a TD and didn't convert. Final 16-10 in overtime.

Glenbard West is my old high school. Wheaton Warrenville South used to be Wheaton Central back in the day and this has been an old neighboring town rivalry. Expect I-55 to be jammed with Wheaton & Glen Ellyn folks heading to the game Saturday. I plan on attending. Should be the best game of the IHSA finals.

[Tailgater]

OldN-

I view the departure of Merchut and Koenamen, along with 3 of the 5 starting OL as a big negative. They also lose 4 of their best defensive players (Annes, Busse, Williams, Graves) from an average defense. I think Evan Jones will be the best qb in the conference next year by a margin but he needs help. Fortney and Radke are good defensive players but guys like Mussleman, Schultz and Mike Koenamen along with RB Seigler will need to make dramatic improvements in production if Carthage is going to replicate their 7-3 record from this year.

Millikin returns the 6 core ALL CCIW players but also several other excellent younger players (10 offensive and 7 defensive starters return) and could easily improve on their 6-4 record next year.

It's a good thing they play the games to truly answer these conjectures. 

[79jaybird]

Hope you all have a great thanksgiving and safe travels to all.
We are hosting our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, so if you hear about a major fire in Glen Ellyn,  it's probably us in the kitchen.

Good luck to IWU, hope they can make it two for two.

[bleedpurple]

Congrats to Blaine Westemeyer and all of the 2009 Gagliardi Trophy finalists.

[dad of a titan]

Game time yet ??

[Titan Q]

Game time yet ??

Not quite...but we're getting there.

Might want to make sure #80 doesn't load up on Thanksgiving leftovers today.  Gotta get that Tryptophan out of his system!

[Titan Q]

I told a friend of mine a few days ago that the IWU/UW-Whitewater line is Warhawks -24.  The average of the Triple Take predictions is 26...

Ryan's take: UW-Whitewater 38, Illinois Wesleyan 14
Keith's take: UW-Whitewater 49, Illinois Wesleyan 21
Pat's take: UW-Whitewater 38, Illinois Wesleyan 13

http://www.d3football.com/dailydose/2009/11/27/triple-take-round-2-a-close-eye-on-the-road/


Whitewater's smallest margin of victory this year is 24...

at Dickinson St.  W, 38-3     
Midland Lutheran  W, 58-0     
Puget Sound   W, 42-7     
UW-Platteville   W, 35-3     
UW-Eau Claire   W, 38-14     
UW-Stout   W, 38-3     
UW-River Falls   W, 38-14     
UW-Stevens Point   W, 41-12     
UW-Oshkosh   W, 40-7     
UW-La Crosse   W, 58-21     
Lakeland  W, 70-7     


The Titans need to find a way to withstand that initial Whitewater blow, then settle in and make a few things happen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pGoHSz6rw

[usee]

I think Q has it right. For me, iIts hard to get a feel for this IWU team and their chances tomorrow. On paper I think they are a 3 TD underdog.Honestly I have a hard time reconciling the Titan team that held NCC's running game in check witht the team that gave up 176 yds on the ground to Wheaton. IWU has the recipe to succed in the playoffs--SR. Led team, strong and atletic up front on both sides, and balanced offense with a defense that doesn't give up big plays.

If both teams play well UWW wins by the spread. If iWu falters, it could get ugly but if UWW doesn't play well or falters a little, this is a dangerous IWU team.... 

[BoBo]

UWW hasn't had a bad quarter since early in the 1st in last years Stagg when they couldn't catch up to Shorts. I hope it's a competitive game today, but I'm not betting on it.

[Titan Q]

An article on IWU WR Jack Scalcucci from the Daily Herald...

http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=340266

"We are the underdogs this week, but we have been the underdogs this entire season," Scalcucci said. "So this position of no one believing in us besides ourselves is something that we are used to and almost welcome. No matter what happens this week I think it's going to be a great game. They are a great team but I think we have a great team as well."

A couple articles from the Pantagraph this week...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_d6175ffe-da2b-11de-ac9e-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_daec751a-dbbf-11de-a75f-001cc4c03286.html

[wabco]

Good luck Titans ... play well.

[Titan Q]

Halftime...

UW-Whitewater 17
Illinois Wesleyan 7


A very frustrating deficit, as Whitewater's first TD came after a Kraig Ladd INT that gave the Warhawks the ball on the IWU 7.  And then IWU had a TD erased due to a holding penalty...with the holding taking place a good 25 feet from the play (the Titans would have scored regardless).  The right call, but frustrating.  And then Whitewater gets the ball with :45 seconds in the half and marches down for a 46-yard FG.

IWU is fighting.