FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[lakeshore]

I love all the recruiting talk on here...its very obvious why the CCIW is one of the premiere football conferences in the country with the caliber of recruits the schools are obtaining.  I have heard numerous IL HS coaches say when they have a player that gets overlooked by bigger schools they immediately turn him on to the CCIW. 

With that said I would like to initiate a little buzz on here by ranking the toughest stadiums to play in the conference (IMHO of course!)

1.  Carthage's Art Keller Field - when they pack it out it can be boisterous and with many beverages being consumed the fans can get a little volatile towards visiting teams which makes it tough.  As with many other stadiums if its empty its not the same.

2.  Wheaton's McCully Stadium - with the Metra train cruising by, the huge jumbotron peering over the field and the glow of the Billy Graham center lighting up the turf Wheaton's home is a tough place to win.  This may be the toughest.  Website says Wheaton is 42-4 at home since 2000.  That's amazing.

3.  IWU's Wilder Field - The grass never seems to be in good condition here and the visitors have to dress under the stadium in a leeky old bathroom.  Plus the band is big and loud.

4.  NCC's Benedetti-Wehrle Stadium - The sheer size of the home bleachers is imposing (although never full) and the Cardinals recent run of championships makes opponents always the underdog.

5.  Millikin's Lindsey Field - I put this about Augie's because of the good old hump or crown in the grass field and the nasty smell of the rubber plant lingering in the air.  Student support has been down however but hopefully Neibur has it turned around.

6.  Augie's Ericson Field - the baby blue track is always weird to see and knowing the tradition and history Augie has on their home turf is tough to overcome.  Plus Rock ISland is a long haul from all the CCIW schools.

7.  Elmhurst's Langhorst Field - probably a bit underated here as I alwasy enjoy games here.  I love the dorms and campus buildings that are built right on top of the field and they have a huge grill cooking next to the home bleachers where you can see the smoke hovering and smell the tasty burgers cooking.

8.  NPU's Holmgren Complex - the lack of visitor bleachers, visitor locker rooms and NPU's lack of success place this stadium last.

[Gregory Sager]

I love all the recruiting talk on here...its very obvious why the CCIW is one of the premiere football conferences in the country with the caliber of recruits the schools are obtaining.  I have heard numerous IL HS coaches say when they have a player that gets overlooked by bigger schools they immediately turn him on to the CCIW.

[snip]

With that said I would like to initiate a little buzz on here by ranking the toughest stadiums to play in the conference (IMHO of course!)
8.  NPU's Holmgren Complex - the lack of visitor bleachers, visitor locker rooms and NPU's lack of success place this stadium last.

I don't follow your logic here, Lakeshore. Wouldn't the lack of visitor bleachers and the fact that the visitor's locker room is two city blocks away (yes, there is a visitor's locker room at North Park, folks -- there just isn't one at the football field) make NPU's Hedstrand Field a tougher place to play as a visitor, much as having to change in the leaky bathroom at IWU's Wilder Field is considered to be an impediment by visiting teams?

[formerd3db]

Some randon/general "follow-up" thoughts to the stadium discussion:

Hasn't IWU's stadium/field been in use since 1896 or so as I recall?  Since it is such an historic place, wouldn't it be nice if they did some renovations to the stadium while keeping its historic character and perhaps adding the new synthetic turf?

Agree with you about Elmhurst's stadium - neat place.  Same goes for Wheaton - I always enjoyed playing there.

NPU should put in some visitor's lockers there - that would be nice.  Regardless, it certainly is a tremendous improvement from what they had before the stadium and field renovations there.

[Red Reign]

I love all the recruiting talk on here...its very obvious why the CCIW is one of the premiere football conferences in the country with the caliber of recruits the schools are obtaining.  I have heard numerous IL HS coaches say when they have a player that gets overlooked by bigger schools they immediately turn him on to the CCIW. 

With that said I would like to initiate a little buzz on here by ranking the toughest stadiums to play in the conference (IMHO of course!)

1.  Carthage's Art Keller Field - when they pack it out it can be boisterous and with many beverages being consumed the fans can get a little volatile towards visiting teams which makes it tough.  As with many other stadiums if its empty its not the same.

2.  Wheaton's McCully Stadium - with the Metra train cruising by, the huge jumbotron peering over the field and the glow of the Billy Graham center lighting up the turf Wheaton's home is a tough place to win.  This may be the toughest.  Website says Wheaton is 42-4 at home since 2000.  That's amazing.

3.  IWU's Wilder Field - The grass never seems to be in good condition here and the visitors have to dress under the stadium in a leeky old bathroom.  Plus the band is big and loud.

4.  NCC's Benedetti-Wehrle Stadium - The sheer size of the home bleachers is imposing (although never full) and the Cardinals recent run of championships makes opponents always the underdog.

5.  Millikin's Lindsey Field - I put this about Augie's because of the good old hump or crown in the grass field and the nasty smell of the rubber plant lingering in the air.  Student support has been down however but hopefully Neibur has it turned around.

6.  Augie's Ericson Field - the baby blue track is always weird to see and knowing the tradition and history Augie has on their home turf is tough to overcome.  Plus Rock ISland is a long haul from all the CCIW schools.

7.  Elmhurst's Langhorst Field - probably a bit underated here as I alwasy enjoy games here.  I love the dorms and campus buildings that are built right on top of the field and they have a huge grill cooking next to the home bleachers where you can see the smoke hovering and smell the tasty burgers cooking.

8.  NPU's Holmgren Complex - the lack of visitor bleachers, visitor locker rooms and NPU's lack of success place this stadium last.

Great discussion! I'll put in my top three as a NCC Alum:

1. Millikin's Lindsey Field- Always a tough road trip. Playing on the crowned field that always seems wet was never a road favorite. The grass field and surroundings were always a tough place to play.

2. NPU's Holmgren Complex- Walking two city blocks in full gear is terrible. Not to mention the traffic on the way there that is alway frustrating. The fans sit right on top of your head on the sideline, there is no place to go during half time so your stuck off to the side by a river. Dispute, NPU's record they always play NCC tough for a scary first half.

3. Wheaton's McCully Stadium - Although only 20 mins away, McCully Stadium is always packed for the rivalry. Brass Bell implications and usually a top seed in the cciw hunt make the game a big one. The home bleachers packed and train the rolls in periodically through out the game make this place a tough loud place to play.

[lakeshore]

I love all the recruiting talk on here...its very obvious why the CCIW is one of the premiere football conferences in the country with the caliber of recruits the schools are obtaining.  I have heard numerous IL HS coaches say when they have a player that gets overlooked by bigger schools they immediately turn him on to the CCIW.

[snip]

With that said I would like to initiate a little buzz on here by ranking the toughest stadiums to play in the conference (IMHO of course!)
8.  NPU's Holmgren Complex - the lack of visitor bleachers, visitor locker rooms and NPU's lack of success place this stadium last.

I don't follow your logic here, Lakeshore. Wouldn't the lack of visitor bleachers and the fact that the visitor's locker room is two city blocks away (yes, there is a visitor's locker room at North Park, folks -- there just isn't one at the football field) make NPU's Hedstrand Field a tougher place to play as a visitor, much as having to change in the leaky bathroom at IWU's Wilder Field is considered to be an impediment by visiting teams?

I love all the recruiting talk on here...its very obvious why the CCIW is one of the premiere football conferences in the country with the caliber of recruits the schools are obtaining.  I have heard numerous IL HS coaches say when they have a player that gets overlooked by bigger schools they immediately turn him on to the CCIW. 

With that said I would like to initiate a little buzz on here by ranking the toughest stadiums to play in the conference (IMHO of course!)

1.  Carthage's Art Keller Field - when they pack it out it can be boisterous and with many beverages being consumed the fans can get a little volatile towards visiting teams which makes it tough.  As with many other stadiums if its empty its not the same.

2.  Wheaton's McCully Stadium - with the Metra train cruising by, the huge jumbotron peering over the field and the glow of the Billy Graham center lighting up the turf Wheaton's home is a tough place to win.  This may be the toughest.  Website says Wheaton is 42-4 at home since 2000.  That's amazing.

3.  IWU's Wilder Field - The grass never seems to be in good condition here and the visitors have to dress under the stadium in a leeky old bathroom.  Plus the band is big and loud.

4.  NCC's Benedetti-Wehrle Stadium - The sheer size of the home bleachers is imposing (although never full) and the Cardinals recent run of championships makes opponents always the underdog.

5.  Millikin's Lindsey Field - I put this about Augie's because of the good old hump or crown in the grass field and the nasty smell of the rubber plant lingering in the air.  Student support has been down however but hopefully Neibur has it turned around.

6.  Augie's Ericson Field - the baby blue track is always weird to see and knowing the tradition and history Augie has on their home turf is tough to overcome.  Plus Rock ISland is a long haul from all the CCIW schools.

7.  Elmhurst's Langhorst Field - probably a bit underated here as I alwasy enjoy games here.  I love the dorms and campus buildings that are built right on top of the field and they have a huge grill cooking next to the home bleachers where you can see the smoke hovering and smell the tasty burgers cooking.

8.  NPU's Holmgren Complex - the lack of visitor bleachers, visitor locker rooms and NPU's lack of success place this stadium last.

Great discussion! I'll put in my top three as a NCC Alum:

1. Millikin's Lindsey Field- Always a tough road trip. Playing on the crowned field that always seems wet was never a road favorite. The grass field and surroundings were always a tough place to play.

2. NPU's Holmgren Complex- Walking two city blocks in full gear is terrible. Not to mention the traffic on the way there that is alway frustrating. The fans sit right on top of your head on the sideline, there is no place to go during half time so your stuck off to the side by a river. Dispute, NPU's record they always play NCC tough for a scary first half.

3. Wheaton's McCully Stadium - Although only 20 mins away, McCully Stadium is always packed for the rivalry. Brass Bell implications and usually a top seed in the cciw hunt make the game a big one. The home bleachers packed and train the rolls in periodically through out the game make this place a tough loud place to play.

touche

[AndOne]

Not sure if it has been mentioned here or not, but Jordan Tassio is transferring from Western Illinois to North Central.

Tassio quarterbacked Naperville North to the 2007 state football championship. In doing so, he completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,550 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing 117 times for 720 yards and 17 TDs. He was the DuPage Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and was named by Rivals.com as Illinois Offensive Player of the Year. He will also play baseball for the Cardinals.

[oldnuthin]

Not sure if it has been mentioned here or not, but Jordan Tassio is transferring from Western Illinois to North Central.

Tassio quarterbacked Naperville North to the 2007 state football championship. In doing so, he completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,550 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing 117 times for 720 yards and 17 TDs. He was the DuPage Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and was named by Rivals.com as Illinois Offensive Player of the Year. He will also play baseball for the Cardinals.

Mentioned it over a month ago! where you been?!?!?

[New Tradition]

Not sure if it has been mentioned here or not, but Jordan Tassio is transferring from Western Illinois to North Central.

Tassio quarterbacked Naperville North to the 2007 state football championship. In doing so, he completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,550 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing 117 times for 720 yards and 17 TDs. He was the DuPage Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and was named by Rivals.com as Illinois Offensive Player of the Year. He will also play baseball for the Cardinals.

Mentioned it over a month ago! where you been?!?!?

As I recall, it was hinted at, but never confirmed.

[oldnuthin]

Not sure if it has been mentioned here or not, but Jordan Tassio is transferring from Western Illinois to North Central.

Tassio quarterbacked Naperville North to the 2007 state football championship. In doing so, he completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,550 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing 117 times for 720 yards and 17 TDs. He was the DuPage Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and was named by Rivals.com as Illinois Offensive Player of the Year. He will also play baseball for the Cardinals.

Mentioned it over a month ago! where you been?!?!?

As I recall, it was hinted at, but never confirmed.

As i recall, it was wait and see if he shows up in august

[New Tradition]

Not sure if it has been mentioned here or not, but Jordan Tassio is transferring from Western Illinois to North Central.

Tassio quarterbacked Naperville North to the 2007 state football championship. In doing so, he completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,550 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing 117 times for 720 yards and 17 TDs. He was the DuPage Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and was named by Rivals.com as Illinois Offensive Player of the Year. He will also play baseball for the Cardinals.

Mentioned it over a month ago! where you been?!?!?

As I recall, it was hinted at, but never confirmed.

As i recall, it was wait and see if he shows up in august

As I recall, I recall that as well. You are correct, sir!

[Gregory Sager]

NPU should put in some visitor's lockers there - that would be nice.

It's always easy to spend someone else's money, isn't it? Tell you what, if you'd like to send a directed gift to my alma mater, I'm quite sure that NPU would be more than happy to accept it.

Seriously, though, Holmgren Athletic Complex is not built on land that North Park University owns. The land is owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; NPU has a long-term lease on the land, but the ownership issue plays a role in any structural modifications done to the site. Beyond that, the fact that the site is bordered on two sides by the North Shore Channel and the North Branch of the Chicago River -- and they're close by no matter where you stand in the complex, since it's a pretty small site -- means that state and federal agencies have a lot to say about any possible construction done on the site as well.

Most importantly, there really isn't any space left at Holmgren Athletic Complex for a locker room. The fieldhouse used to be utilized by the Vikings as their locker room, but it was too small and cramped even for the forty to fifty players who used to suit up for the Park in the old days. Now it's just used as a locker room by the officials of the various sports that are played at HAC.

Besides, if anybody's gonna get a new locker room at North Park, it's gonna be the Vikings rather than their guests.

[New Tradition]

NCC excluded, from both, I've come up with 2 lists.  First list is coolest stadiums and second is places that are tough to play.

1.   Wilder Field – this whole campus is gorgeous, stadium included.  I really like how the bleachers wrap around the place and give it a bowl type feel, and the torch is a neat tradition.  I seriously considered attending Wesleyan just because of how beautiful the campus is.
2.   McCulley – Jumbotron, beautiful playing surface, good sound system
3.   Langhorst – I love the mature trees around Elmhurst and the buildings that frame the stadium
4.   Art Keller – would score more points if it weren't so cold!
5.   Lindsey – It has a bad case of being in Decatur, good enough reason to knock it down the list a few pegs.
6.   Ericson – nothing blows me away about this place
7.   Holmgren – a nice place, but nothing particularly impressive about it

1.   Lindsey – after a long bus ride, lost a couple of close ones to Millikin in '03 and '04.  The rubber plant and cemetery behind it are pretty disquieting. 
2.   Art Keller – reasons aforementioned.
3.   McCulley – Wheaton's fan base is loyal, tough, and always turns out for the brass bell game.
4.   Holmgren – the walk sucks.
5.   Ericson – nothing spectacular about it, but the people who occupy it have always defended it well.
6.   Wilder –while the campus is beautiful, I never found it particularly intimidating.
7.   Langhorst – never had an issue playing here, although the first game I ever saw here was a game in 2001 between NCC and Elmhurst when Coach Krohn was recruiting me.  Before they put the artificial surface on here, this place was a dust bowl!  I would not have liked to play on that surface at all.

[79jaybird]

Elmhurst in their 10 yr plan (which as we all know is fueled by philantrophy) is going to move the football field adjacent to the CNW RR tracks, build up a 3 story parking garage, and created a second "quad" on the campus.  The current football field will become the center mall area.  I know it is the 10-year model, but I think it will be closer to 15-20 year plan.  Hope it does happen sooner than later.

[Gregory Sager]

... and when it does, anyone taking the Metra to or from Geneva on a Saturday could conceivably get a glimpse of not one but two CCIW football games.

[formerd3db]

GS:
That is very true, however, unfortunately, all our (i.e. my wife and my) spare $ went to Hope for our two daughters education and donations there and we'll still be paying paying for that for awhile yet, even though the last one graduated last year!   So, unfortunately, no $ left to help your NPU out!

Seriously though, thanks for the further info about NPU's stadium and Athletic Complex.  It is still good that they have what they have - and many other DIII schools would love to have what NPU has.  So, indeed, we all should be thankful for "what we got"!

Jaybird:
I recall you mentioning about Elmhurst's long range plan in the past.  The only disappointing thing about that to me is that they will be changing the historic location and setting somewhat.  IMO, it would be nice to renovate and try to work the new Quads around that.  As New Tradition stated, the surrounding buildings give it a neat "feel" for both players and fans.

New Tradition:
Indeed, having that "bowl" feeling like Wilder has as you describe is neat.  Hope's old stadium was that same type of set up and feel (i.e. the one we played at way back in my day ).