FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Most likely Top 25 team to get upset

Ryan's take: No. 11 North Central. Yes, I know one of my colleagues picked on North Central last week, too, but when you play in a conference as good as the CCIW, every week will be treacherous. A 3-1 opponent like Millikin that played Illinois Wesleyan to the bone will be no exception.

That's 2 weeks in a row!  Here's hoping for the same result.  Also, (and not that I'm complaining about such a high compliment to the conference) isn't the recent buzz about how the CCIW has weakened?

I was thinking the same thing. As long as we keep on winning-please pick us every week

I just looked at the North Central schedule to see which team the folks at D3football.com were going to pick to upset the Cardinals next week ... looks like it will be North Park, losers of 58 straight CCIW games after today.  I can't wait to read the commentary that goes with that pick!

I have never had any intent to pick against North Central. I've left that to Ryan and Keith.

Perhaps you should have a chat with the lads, during which you can impart some wisdom and thus help them avoid such atrocious errors in judgement in the future.   

[Mugsy]

We are seeing some exceptionally good QB play thus far in the season. The numbers below are way above normal for our league and put these three QB's among the top 15 nationally at all levels of the NCAA. If you think back to some of the great QB's in the CCIW the highest efficiency rating has been about 155% in the last 10 years. (Kam Kniss was 154% in 2005, Tim Brylka from Millikin in 200 was a 168%). Those are some really good TD/INT ratios.

PASS EFFICIENCY    Team Cl  G Att Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds TD  Eff.
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Roberts, Jordan WHEA SR  5 120  92   1  76.7 1065 16 193.5
2. Holmes, Matt... MILL   SR  5 108  73   3  67.6 1005 13 179.9
3. Gallik, Rob....    IWU   JR  5 135  93   5  68.9 1181 13 166.7

If you saw my post just prior to yours, Roberts is actually at nearly 90% completions and 236 efficiency in CCIW play.  Absurd!  Holmes and Gallik are putting up amazing numbers and are carrying their offenses.  Stellar QB play.

Some may be sick of posts like this, but these are crazy stats for a QB who missed all of 2011 due to a blown ACL before the season even started.  Against Augie he played only 1 1/2 quarters.  Against Carthage today, he played just a bit over 2 quarters.

PASS EFFICIENCY    Team   Cl  G Att Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds TD  Eff.
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Roberts, Jordan   WHEA SR  2  46  41   0   89.1  527  7 235.6

Nearly 90% completed passes, 527 yards and 7 TD's in under 4 quarters.  For the season Roberts has a 77% completion rate and 16 TD's passing with only 1 INT.

[cardinaldad]

      What has happened to Cardinal Nation? For many tears we traveled really, really well. It looked as if there was a sparse crowd there today.   

If you were looking at the visiting stands, you saw about one-half to a little less of Cardinal Nation. We filled up the home stands on south end from the 30 yard line to the goal on that end. The visitor stands are awful because you are so low and it is hard to see over the players on that side. They graciously gave us room in their home stands (even though homecoming).

I would like to point out that MU's first team did have a nice drive on their first possession against our first-team defense and number 25 was a beast running the ball. Those of us in the stands were glad they stopped running him for a while. In the first half he average 8.3 yards a carry against us. This is a much improved MU team over previous years, they made a lot of silly fouls and turnovers against an NCC team that doesn't need help, but will gladly take it.

nccfac - Thanks for the clarification. I feel a lot better now. You are right about  #25. We was a beast! And, I agree that they are much improved. However, NCC lost some discipline during this game and created some bone head penalties also. They can't afford that against better opponents.

[iwu70]

Agree with the comments about top QB play.  Really some great performances, excellent numbers.   Gallik is having another superb season as a junior so far, looking very sharp, staying within his skill set and his system.  Titans receivers are playing very well, with a very deep, talented group.  Word has it here that Musselman is back from injury -- played a bit at NP.  And, that Joe Musso will be back, healthy again from his shoulder injury, for the Carthage game next weekend at IWU's Homecoming.  IWU running game could surely improve . . . and the backs in addition to, back ups for Stinde need to step it up somewhat.  Not so good that NP held the Titans to such a low rushing number.  But, at 44-7, one should not complain, heh?  Now things get alot tougher, first with Carthage, then the two big showdown games following and away @WC and @NCC. 

I expect MU to bounce back and to play everyone tough the rest of the CCIW slate.

IWU70

[shepherd]

Why isn't Jordan Roberts considered a Junior with him being out the entire season last year?

[USee]

Why isn't Jordan Roberts considered a Junior with him being out the entire season last year?

He is a junior for eligibility.  Pretty sure he is a senior academically.

[AndOne]

Why isn't Jordan Roberts considered a Junior with him being out the entire season last year?

I assume he is a senior as far as his earned credits and academic standing goes. Having missed last year, he would be a junior eligibility wise. I believe some schools list by academic standing, and some by eligibility.

Should he maintain current progress to his BA, and graduate in the spring, he would only be able to use his remaining year of eligibility if he continues in graduate school at Wheaton next year.

[AndOne]

Wheaton fans........

How is playing time determined between Meador and Roberts? Is there a set starter? Do they alternate?
You seldom see a team with 2 such capable QBs. Nice problem for the coach to have.

[izzy stradlin]

Wheaton fans........

How is playing time determined between Meador and Roberts? Is there a set starter? Do they alternate?
You seldom see a team with 2 such capable QBs. Nice problem for the coach to have.

When both healthy, they alternate quarters.   The way Roberts is playing, though, this looks to be coming to an end. 

[Mugsy]

Wheaton fans........

How is playing time determined between Meador and Roberts? Is there a set starter? Do they alternate?
You seldom see a team with 2 such capable QBs. Nice problem for the coach to have.

When both healthy, they alternate quarters.   The way Roberts is playing, though, this looks to be coming to an end.

Thus far Meador has been playing 1st and 3rd quarters, while Roberts has the 2nd and 4th.  However last 3 games have not been close, so Roberts has been getting the 2nd quarter and just a bit of the 4th.

As "izzy" points out however, Roberts played the 2nd and 3rd quarters on Saturday.  Not sure if Meador was injured or if the the fact Roberts completed 17 straight passes resulted in Coach Swider staying with the hot hand.  (likely the later...  )

[Titan Q]

Why isn't Jordan Roberts considered a Junior with him being out the entire season last year?

It's Division III...you can't really assume a kid is going to spend another $40,000 just to play football.

[Mugsy]

Why isn't Jordan Roberts considered a Junior with him being out the entire season last year?

It's Division III...you can't really assume a kid is going to spend another $40,000 just to play football.

Wouldn't it "only" be $20,000 since it would be an additional semester, not a year?  Not that it changes the point...

[Mr. Ypsi]

Jeez - beating up on NPU has really been devalued, as IWU falls from 13 to 14!

(Just kidding.  They actually gained 20 points, but Platteville passed them by pounding LaCrosse - you know, the guys who beat NCC.  With UWL now 2-3, that result is beginning to look almost as much an anomaly as 2-4 Buff St over UWW. )

[izzy stradlin]

Why isn't Jordan Roberts considered a Junior with him being out the entire season last year?

It's Division III...you can't really assume a kid is going to spend another $40,000 just to play football.

Wouldn't it "only" be $20,000 since it would be an additional semester, not a year?  Not that it changes the point...

Football is quite different than basketball (or other winter sports) in terms of what it takes financially to play a fifth year.  In the recent past, football players could get by as a part-time student in their 9th academic semester, paying only per credit hour for 1 class, given that they will earn the credits required to graduate during that semester.  I don't believe that a student has to have graduated in 4 years to earn a 5th.  In division I and II you must complete 80% of your degree requirement prior to your 5th year.  Division III doesn't clarify what qualifies as adequate progress toward a degree but leaves it up the the institution.   Now I am not 100% up on recent rules, so anyone is free to correct me...  here are the links that I don't have time to read through right now:

Brief NCAA D3 release on eligibility:
http://cometsports.utdallas.edu/custompages/MISC/ORIENTATION/NCAA%20Regulations.pdf

Full D3 bylaws:
http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/D312.pdf


I know at least at Wheaton, pretty much every football player (that gets playing time) who has had the option of a fifth year because of injury has taken it just as Garrett Meador has this year.   Basketball is another story. Guys like Aaron Garriott and Joel Kolmodin have opted against a 5th year.   

[NCF]

Why isn't Jordan Roberts considered a Junior with him being out the entire season last year?

It's Division III…you can't really assume a kid is going to spend another $40,000 just to play football.

Wouldn't it "only" be $20,000 since it would be an additional semester, not a year?  Not that it changes the point...

Football is quite different than basketball (or other winter sports) in terms of what it takes financially to play a fifth year.  In the recent past, football players could get by as a part-time student in their 9th academic semester, paying only per credit hour for 1 class, given that they will earn the credits required to graduate during that semester.  I don't believe that a student has to have graduated in 4 years to earn a 5th.  In division I and II you must complete 80% of your degree requirement prior to your 5th year.  Division III doesn't clarify what qualifies as adequate progress toward a degree but leaves it up the the institution.   Now I am not 100% up on recent rules, so anyone is free to correct me...  here are the links that I don't have time to read through right now:

Brief NCAA D3 release on eligibility:
http://cometsports.utdallas.edu/custompages/MISC/ORIENTATION/NCAA%20Regulations.pdf

Full D3 bylaws:
http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/D312.pdf


I know at least at Wheaton, pretty much every football player (that gets playing time) who has had the option of a fifth year because of injury has taken it just as Garrett Meador has this year.   Basketball is another story. Guys like Aaron Garriott and Joel Kolmodin have opted against a 5th year.

If you're a grad student, you only need to take one class. Still an expensive option for many students. With NC being on trimesters, football would "only" cost 1/3rd of a year.