FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mugsy]

While Andy Studebaker has been listed as 1st team OLB with the Chiefs, not unexpectedly he is under extreme competition from other OLB's.

LB Cameron Sheffield: Lost all of last season after suffering a freighting neck injury in the preseason, Sheffield has rebounded in impressive fashion. He's shown many of the same traits that had the Chiefs coaching staff were excited about before last year's injury.

Haley said he thought that Sheffield "showed up" in Baltimore.

There's been a discerning eye on Sheffield this preseason as he responds from the injury that took away his rookie season. As he's being tested more and more throughout camp, the outside linebacker appears to be responding well.

LB Justin Houston: The rookie out of Georgia was impossible to miss with 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble against Baltimore. Aside from those big plays, Haley was impressed with Houston's overall performance as well.

Houston was the last rookie to report to camp, but appears to be catching up quickly. However, after Sunday's practice, Houston said he feels that he still has a long way to go.

"I'm expecting more out of myself," Houston said. "You can always get better. There were still mistakes out there that I need to correct and I've got work to do. I'm a long ways from where I want to be."

Houston would likely have been a 1st round pick if not for some "personal/character" issues, so clearly he is very talented.  Sheffield was a likely candidate to replace Vrabel, if not for a serious neck injury.

[CardinalAlum]

Is anyone planning to do a CCIW Pickems this season?  I've already got about a dozen entrants on the MIAA Pickems, and haven't the inclination to do both.

I'd like a shot at defending my upset victory last year!

I'm taking a sabbatical from being the administrator of the Pick-Em's contest.  While it isn't necessarily a huge task, I have done it for the last 5 or 6 years and the time adds up.  With the kids getting busier, I'm trying to simplify my commitments outside of the home.  Plus it wouldn't hurt to have some new perspective on running the contest.

Sounds like a great opportunity for one of the young guys on here to take control!    . Wash'd?? 

[emma17]

Great D3 Kickoff article especially for NCC fans, "The Recipe to End the Purple Reign". 

[matblake]

Don't know if this is old news but Wheaton now has a mascot.  Personally, I'm hoping that I'm dreaming and can at some point wake up.  I can't decide if it is better or worse than some lightning shaped character named "Bolty."

[matblake]

Great D3 Kickoff article especially for NCC fans, "The Recipe to End the Purple Reign". 

Agreed.  If you haven't bought Kickoff, please consider doing so.  Not only is the content top of the line, it helps support this site. 

[HoosierRedMan]

Don't know if this is old news but Wheaton now has a mascot.  Personally, I'm hoping that I'm dreaming and can at some point wake up.  I can't decide if it is better or worse than some lightning shaped character named "Bolty."

Well it looks like "Torchy" will have some company in the mascot department.

Does it take two students to make the new Wheaton mascot move?  

[matblake]

Does it take two students to make the new Wheaton mascot move?   

Sounds like the beginning of a joke. 

[matblake]

Article about Wheaton player Robert Ramsay http://www.fredericksburgstandard.com/articles/2011/08/19/sports/05sports.txt

[bluejay4ever]

Hello all! I am new to the board and played at Elmhurst a while ago. I have followed this for many years and have always enjoyed the interaction on the great CCIW football seasons. I also feel that the mighty EC may have been a little under represented. I warn you all now, I am a math guy so do not expect any poetry out of my writing. Go Jays and I look forward to the season!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Does it take two students to make the new Wheaton mascot move?   

Sounds like the beginning of a joke. 

Or a new twist on a whole genre: "How many Wheaton students does it take to ..."

[Gregory Sager]

Don't know if this is old news but Wheaton now has a mascot.  Personally, I'm hoping that I'm dreaming and can at some point wake up.

Bwahahahahahaha! [wipes tear from eye] Oh, man, this is priceless! Wheaton has adopted Dumbo's little brother as a mascot! I can already picture the Carlson Crazies quoting from Horton Hears the Who at NPU vs Wheaton basketball and soccer games. I wonder if this mascot is going to sound like Ray Romano when it speaks?

Well it looks like "Torchy" will have some company in the mascot department.

To be fair, Wheaton's silly new prehistoric pachyderm still takes a backseat to Torchy in the Goofiest-Looking Mascot department, Midwestern D3 Colleges division.

[bluejay4ever]

I hear a freshman has to walk behind it with a shovel!

[Gregory Sager]

I hear a freshman has to walk behind it with a shovel!

LOL!

[Mugsy]

Don't know if this is old news but Wheaton now has a mascot.  Personally, I'm hoping that I'm dreaming and can at some point wake up.  I can't decide if it is better or worse than some lightning shaped character named "Bolty."

You gotta be kiddn' me!    

In addition to being called "a Wheatie", which drives me mad, I will now need to endure jokes about the mascot.  

While there is a well thought out story behind the mascot and the name, most of those who are not affliated with the college will likely link the "Thunder" and how it is associated with a mastodon by "what happens when you feed a mastodon 25 lbs of peanuts?" THUNDER!!!  

Interesting side note: Since the time I attended Wheaton as a student and the present (20+ years), I have NEVER heard of the "Mastodon March".

Wheaton College's annual Mastodon March is one of the College's most established Student Orientation traditions.

Huh?

"For a while now, the Wheaton community has been craving a rallying point—a mascot for someone to lead the charge of our athletics, of our events, and our social get togethers," says 2011 graduate Ryan Buchanan, who, as student body president, led student government's participation in Tor's creation. "Tor is now that rallying point, and also something that embodies the community nature that Wheaton has."

Rallying point? Seriously?  Sounds like someone who needs to spend more time outside the library.  Perhaps I could rent Tor for social events like my children's birthdays.   

[Mugsy]

Don't know if this is old news but Wheaton now has a mascot.  Personally, I'm hoping that I'm dreaming and can at some point wake up.  I can't decide if it is better or worse than some lightning shaped character named "Bolty."

Well it looks like "Torchy" will have some company in the mascot department.

Does it take two students to make the new Wheaton mascot move?  

I still think Torchy (aka "Syndrome") played a signficant role in a annimated movie.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-rYvgEzwPjI/TSyzGTKLDaI/AAAAAAAAARE/MwDM3O_rR88/s1600/syndrome.jpg

http://www.carthage.edu/assets/photologue/photos/cache/13351_535224858447_51603043_31698189_5503773_n_display.jpg