FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCF]

I must disagree with some of your statments here, stating that BU is not a good football team and focuses only on Johhny and Lockton. 435 yards compared to 147, 80 of which was from one drive.The BU defense is filled with great players. Limiting an option offense to under 100 yards. And 435 yards of offense split pretty evenly between passing and rushing. Don;t get me wrong Lockton and Borsellino are amazing players .. thats why there both All Americans on a couple different lists, but they are a good team.

Irisheagle, I know that you're a Benedictine fan and I know that this is an unpleasant truth for you to have to read, but in fact Benedictine is really not very good. NPU, unfortunately (from my point of view), is worse -- or at least the Vikings were worse last night, which is all that really matters. Holding NPU to such a paltry offensive performance is really no big deal, because it's not as though NPU burned up the turf on Hope last week, either ... the same Hope that got creamed by Millikin this week, and Millikin's not a major player in this league, either.

The option is a solid offensive philosophy for a school that has some inherent football recruiting problems (i.e., NPU), and I believe that Scott Pethtel made a great choice by going that route. I strongly believe that he can make it work eventually ... or, at least, he can come as close as anyone is likely to come in terms of making it work at North Park. But an offense with which opponents are unfamiliar is not a substitute for good, solid, fundamentally sound play. And NPU offered none of that last night. Absolutely none. Of the six turnovers, all but one -- the Porter fumble on the kickoff return -- were NPU muffs rather than BU takeaways.

IMO the only reason North park was in the game is because of a fumble in the endzone, a kick return to the 10 yard line. That is 14 points that should not have been on the board.

I went over that in my previous post, which you don't seem to have read too closely. I talked about how many bullets NPU dodged in order to stay in the game. But in the end, the Vikings self-destructed. One ridiculous turnover after another ... kudos to Benedictine for being in the right place to take advantage of those mistakes, but NPU handed the Bennies the game on a silver platter.

Both teams made alot of mistakes, 6 turnovers from NP which typically just turned into failed redzone attempts from BU.

Benedictine scored ten points off of NPU turnovers in the fourth quarter. Benedictine won the game by eight points. Do the math.

(Also, North Park's final chance to tie the game in the last three minutes and change was aborted on a fumbled punt.)

BU also had around 100 yards in penalties

Yes, because Benedictine is not a very good football team, which is my whole point. NPU gave the ball away six times, almost all of them the result of Vikings miscues. And yet Benedictine won by only eight points in a game that wasn't decided until the waning minutes. What does that tell you about the Eagles in terms of their relative place in the D3 football universe?

and I can only recall 1 penalty being called against NP.

The biggest play of the game, the fumbled punt with 3:08 remaining, turned on a penalty flag which those of us in the press box were convinced was going to be an interference call on BU for hitting the punt returner before he'd touched the ball. Instead, the penalty was called on NPU. So the penalty bug certainly didn't miss biting North Park last night.

I do give alot of credit to the Viking players though for not giving up, when it seemed to be all over they got that long kickoff and just like that made it a one score game with a couple min. left.

NPU did a nice job of trying to fight through all of those mistakes. The defense made a number of tough stops, and Weinstein's kick return to set up the Broadway touchdown run was a huge lift. But extending credit to a team for not giving up is hollow and meaningless. It's the sports-fan equivalent of one of those blue ribbons you give to a kid for participating in something. The Vikings played a horrible, horrible game last night, and they need to seriously get on the stick and start working harder to turn things around, because they've spent two weeks now cutting their own throats. It's hard enough to win football games just having to contend with an opponent that's trying as hard as it can to beat you. It's that much harder when you also have to contend with an ER's worth of your own self-inflicted wounds.

I am not saying BU is a CCIW calliber team becasue there not Wheaton showed that, but they are a good football team that is getting better and I believe could beat out a couple of teams in the CCIW. But good luck to everyones teams this year hopefully NP can break there streak this year.

The Eagles are not a good team. I'm sorry, but that's the bottom line. And I take no pleasure in saying that, because it only makes NPU look worse.

That pretty much sums up that entire conference and yet they get an AQ. The best 32 teams should be rewarded with a tournament bid. But, unfortunately, that will never happen.

[NCF]

Irish---

The fact is that Benedictine is a good football team, BUT only in a bad conference. Overall, as Greg Sager indicated, they are NOT a very good team. Since becoming a member of the NATHC in 2008, their record from 2008-2011 within the conference is 22-6. However, in non-conference games within that same time frame, they are only 3-11. The Benedictine-NPU game was an exercise matching perhaps the best team in a weaker conference with the worst team in a very strong conference. And the "good" team beat the "bad" team by only 8 points. Not exactly a strong statement by an (overall) good team.

Thank you, Mark. Yes, that is precisely my point. Whether it's because he's a BU fan or because he's been watching a steady diet of NAthCon football -- or both -- Irish is apparently deluded in his view of what constitutes a good football team. Is BU good by NAthCon standards? Probably; we'll see as the season wears on. Was BU good the last two years by NAthCon standards? Sure was; the Eagles won the league title both times. Were they good by overall D3 football standards? Well, you tell me, Irish. Your Eagles lost both years to an NPU program that hasn't won a CCIW game in over a decade. And the Eagles lost their playoff games by scores of 57-10 and 47-7. And, as Mark indicates, last year's Eagles seniors only went 3-11 in non-conference play for their careers.

So, no, Benedictine is not a good football team by overall D3 standards, which are the only standards that really interest anyone who reads the CCIW football room. The Eagles are the prettiest woman in the nursing home, the tastiest chocolate in a box of Ex-Lax, and the best downhill skier in Libya.

Always like to start my day with a good laugh. Thanks

[79jaybird]

Bluejay4ever/L-Ghost-

As others have chimed in with me,  it's nice Elmhurst picked up a home win yes, agreed.  However, to think Elmhurst is suddenly playoff caliber, or 1 of the top 3 teams in the CCIW (presently), is premature because they have yet to prove themselves against A) A currently playoff positioned team and B) the incumbent 1, 2, 3, etc. of the CCIW.  Namely NC/IWU/Wheaton (in any particular order). 

IMO- Right now it's still too early to really gauge where the CCIW is going to pan out, but an arbitrary view would be
1) NC
2) IWU
3) WHEATON (injuries and health is going to make WC a 3 or 4)
4) Carthage/EC
5) rest of the conference

Again, this is just going by the 1 game I have seen thus far, and some stats in the paper/net.

[79jaybird]

Benedictine is a great school academically and many of their facilities are high class,  however their fb team is not very good at the moment.  There is a reason teams like EC & NC are no longer playing them.  Reasons from both schools.  A dominant NATHC team would be middle to lower end of the pack in the CCIW.

[NCF]

Bluejay4ever/L-Ghost-

As others have chimed in with me,  it's nice Elmhurst picked up a home win yes, agreed.  However, to think Elmhurst is suddenly playoff caliber, or 1 of the top 3 teams in the CCIW (presently), is premature because they have yet to prove themselves against A) A currently playoff positioned team and B) the incumbent 1, 2, 3, etc. of the CCIW.  Namely NC/IWU/Wheaton (in any particular order). 

IMO- Right now it's still too early to really gauge where the CCIW is going to pan out, but an arbitrary view would be
1) NC
2) IWU
3) WHEATON (injuries and health is going to make WC a 3 or 4)
4) Carthage/EC
5) rest of the conference

Again, this is just going by the 1 game I have seen thus far, and some stats in the paper/net.

We'll find out in just a few weeks! This could be a wild CCIW season. Looking forward to every minute of it. Good luck to every team playing this week-end!

[Son of Tailgater]

Benedictine is a great school academically and many of their facilities are high class,  however their fb team is not very good at the moment.  There is a reason teams like EC & NC are no longer playing them.  Reasons from both schools.  A dominant NATHC team would be middle to lower end of the pack in the CCIW.

Carthage had also dropped Benedictine from their schedule back in 2005. It was convenient for travel home/ away but the games never proved to be competitive enough and would turn into a JV game. In 2005 I remember being up 42-0 or something at half time and being more tired walking back and forth to the field house (which was about .5 miles away) at halftime than I was in the first half since our scoring drives were 5-10 plays each. Starters wouldn't play much of the second half.

[Son of Tailgater]

Does anybody have any insight or information about Wartburg? The Wartburg @ Carthage game looks like it could be the game of the week and I know Wartburg is always a playoff contender from the IIAC. The fact that Wartburg beat MacMurry 73-0 isn't impressive but that the following week they hosted #15 Bethel and were blanked 21-0 leaves a few questions to be answered.

I am impressed that Carthage is increasing their SOS in non conference games and am glad to see games such as Adrian, Wartburg now on the schedule. Lakeland is never an easy game either even though Carthage has had their number since my freshman year in 2003.

Looking ahead...weeks 6,7,8 (Wheaton,IWU,NCC) for Carthage this year will be a huge test. If they can take care of business this week at home and then home against Lakeland & NPU they should be strong headed into the meat of the conference.

[New Tradition]

3 CCIW teams ranked and another receiving votes.

NCC - 13
IWU - 16
Wheaton - 19

Elmhurst has 5 votes. 

Jaybird,
With what has been going on early in the season here, I'm actually gonna start to drink the blue kool-aid myself, a little.  Granted, some crazy things have happened in the non-conferece schedule, but from everything I've read, Elmhurst has looked pretty impressive.  I'd love to see em knock off Wheaton (better yet, Wesleyan, though I don't think that will happen...sounds like the Weenies have got a fantastic team this year, much as I hate to say it) and jump into the #3 position in the conference.  The only problem is, Wheaton has an entire month to sort out any issues they had last Saturday, which I'm sure they will.  Elmhurst will have to bring their A-game, but it's certainly doable.

[NCF]

Does anybody have any insight or information about Wartburg? The Wartburg @ Carthage game looks like it could be the game of the week and I know Wartburg is always a playoff contender from the IIAC. The fact that Wartburg beat MacMurry 73-0 isn't impressive but that the following week they hosted #15 Bethel and were blanked 21-0 leaves a few questions to be answered.

I am impressed that Carthage is increasing their SOS in non conference games and am glad to see games such as Adrian, Wartburg now on the schedule. Lakeland is never an easy game either even though Carthage has had their number since my freshman year in 2003.

Looking ahead...weeks 6,7,8 (Wheaton,IWU,NCC) for Carthage this year will be a huge test. If they can take care of business this week at home and then home against Lakeland & NPU they should be strong headed into the meat of the conference.

I was thinking the same thing about the Carthage/Wartburg game. Was going to ask the same question on their board. This is the only pick I'm still unsure of.

[hazzben]

Does anybody have any insight or information about Wartburg? The Wartburg @ Carthage game looks like it could be the game of the week and I know Wartburg is always a playoff contender from the IIAC. The fact that Wartburg beat MacMurry 73-0 isn't impressive but that the following week they hosted #15 Bethel and were blanked 21-0 leaves a few questions to be answered.

I am impressed that Carthage is increasing their SOS in non conference games and am glad to see games such as Adrian, Wartburg now on the schedule. Lakeland is never an easy game either even though Carthage has had their number since my freshman year in 2003.

Looking ahead...weeks 6,7,8 (Wheaton,IWU,NCC) for Carthage this year will be a huge test. If they can take care of business this week at home and then home against Lakeland & NPU they should be strong headed into the meat of the conference.

Bethel fan here.

Wartburg is a solid squad. There D was tough, especially against the run. They've got some good skill position players. Biggest problem right now is probably their true freshman QB. I think he'll actually be pretty good, but Bethel exposed his inexperience. They got pressure on him and got some picks in key situations.

THey are always well coached. They could definitely still make a run for the IIAC's pool A. At this point no one in the IIAC will be in Pool C consideration given what happened to them in non-con.

[kiko]

3 CCIW teams ranked and another receiving votes.

NCC - 13
IWU - 16
Wheaton - 19

Elmhurst has 5 votes. 

Carthage also received 7 votes.

[New Tradition]

3 CCIW teams ranked and another receiving votes.

NCC - 13
IWU - 16
Wheaton - 19

Elmhurst has 5 votes. 

Carthage also received 7 votes.

So they did!  I totally missed that.  Thanks for pointing that out.  +k...lets get you into the black karma-wise.

[kiko]

He lost me here:

I am not saying BU is a CCIW calliber team becasue there not Wheaton showed that, but they are a good football team that is getting better and I believe could beat out a couple of teams in the CCIW.

If I am making an honest assessment, I would classify the CCIW as an upper-middle-class conference in football.  Better than most, but absent deeper playoff runs on a more consistent basis, certainly not in the league of the elites.  If being a good team means you're beating just a couple of CCIW teams, you are clearly defining 'good' much differently than I am...

[kiko]

+k...lets get you into the black karma-wise.

I just think of it as being under par...

[79jaybird]

"CCIW absent deeper runs in the playoffs..."  I guess the entire 80's with 4 Nat'l Championships in Rock Island was forgotten about

Yes, in the 90's and 00's there have been only a few deep playoff runs,  but c'mon the CCIW is one of the best conferences to have history and stamina in the playoffs.