FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCF]

Here is an article on my IWU classmate Rob Zvonar, the head coach at Lincoln-Way East...

http://www.csnchicago.com/preps/news/Zvonar-builds-a-powerhouse-at-Lincoln-Wa?blockID=792289&feedID=629


Rob seems like a great candidate to replace Norm Eash someday.  I have no idea if he'd be interested, but seems like a perfect fit.

Norm only turned 59 last month*, so I assume 'someday' is not imminent - or do you know something the rest of us don't?

(By John Gagliardi standards, he's still got 3-4 decades to go! )

But agree that Zvonar seems a good candidate - if he lives long enough!

*It is a disturbing sign of age when the 'forever' football coach at one's alma mater is over five years younger than oneself!   (Though he still has seven years to go to catch up to the football coach when I was there - Don Larson.  Yes, folks, IWU has had only 2 HCs for the last 59 years.)

He's only 59!

[iwu70]

Yes, pretty amazing longevity and consistency for the IWU football head coaching spot.  Remember Swede very well.  -- Swede, Keck, Horenberger and Bridges . . . the big four at IWU athletics for many a decade.  Only Bridges still alive, going strong. 

Q, thanks for the piece on your classmate.  Seems a very good fit for IWU at some point in future. 

Glad to see he's a Monticello HS grad, the pride of the Sages --I graduated from Monticello HS in '66 myself!  Small world.

Hope the TITANS have a strong outing this weekend vs. NCC.   Yes, as everyone has indicated, it will be a very tough matchup, esp. after all the Titan injurires . . . but I'm still hopeful that it will be closer than last year's game.  Ypsi, you may be right, but I prefer to keep my green-tinted glasses on for the time being. 


IWU70

[NCF]

Yes, pretty amazing longevity and consistency for the IWU football head coaching spot.  Remember Swede very well.  -- Swede, Keck, Horenberger and Bridges . . . the big four at IWU athletics for many a decade.  Only Bridges still alive, going strong. 

Q, thanks for the piece on your classmate.  Seems a very good fit for IWU at some point in future. 

Glad to see he's a Monticello HS grad, the pride of the Sages --I graduated from Monticello HS in '66 myself!  Small world.

Hope the TITANS have a strong outing this weekend vs. NCC.   Yes, as everyone has indicated, it will be a very tough matchup, esp. after all the Titan injurires . . . but I'm still hopeful that it will be closer than last year's game.  Ypsi, you may be right, but I prefer to keep my green-tinted glasses on for the time being. 


IWU70

I hope it's a good game as well, just not too close

[Mugsy]

 "Tale of the Tape" - Wheaton vs. Millikin

Records:
   Wheaton:        5-2, 3-1
   Millikin:            3-4, 0-4

Stats from CCIW games only.

Statistical Category	Wheaton	Millikin	Comment
Offense Scoring	40.2	27.8
Defense Scoring	21.2	36.2
Off Pass Efficiency	175.1	150.5	Wheaton #1 in CCIW
Off Pass Completion %	68.2	64.6
Off Pass YPG	376.2	248.0	Wheaton #1 in CCIW
Off Pass TD's	15	11
Off INT's	4	4
Def Pass Efficiency	110.5	141.3
Def Pass Completion %	50.0	67.6	Wheaton #1 in CCIW, Millikin 7th
Def Pass YPG	165.5	186.8
Pass TD's Allowed	5	7
Def INT's	4	2
Kick Return Ave	24.2	17.9
Punt Return Ave	6.2	10.0
Punting Net	35.0	32.0	Wheaton 7 punts, Millikin 15
Turnover Margin	0	-4
Off Rush YPG	169.2	161.5
Off Yards Per Carry	4.3	4.1
Off Rush TD's	5	5
Def Rush YPG	142.0	206.5
Def Yards Per Carry	3.9	4.7
Def Rush TD's Allowed	6	12
Total Offense	545.5	409.5	Wheaton #1 in CCIW
Total Defense	307.5	393.2
Sacks By	7	3
Sacks Allowed	14	11	Wheaton: 157 pass attempts, Millikin: 130
1st Downs	108	85	Wheaton #1 in CCIW
1st Downs Allowed	65	95	Millikin #8 in CCIW
Penalty YPG	62.5	81.0	Millikin #8 in CCIW
Red Zone Offense	68.4	61.9	Wheaton 9 TDs, 4 FG's : Millikin 11 TDs, 2 FG's
Red Zone Defense	69.2	76.2
Off 3rd Down Conv %	54.4	37.0	Wheaton #1 in CCIW
Opp 3rd Down Conv %	19.6	47.4
Field Goals	5 of 7	2 of 5
PAT's	20 of 20	9 of 12
Time of Pos	32:45	27:35	Wheaton #1 in CCIW, Millikin #8

[USee]

Here are the CCIW standings with 3 weeks to go:

School             Conf   Overall
North Central      4-0     6-1
Elmhurst             3-1    6-1
Illinois Wesleyan  3-1     6-1
Wheaton            3-1    5-2
Augustana          2-2    3-4
Carthage            1-3    3-4
Millikin                0-4    3-4
North Park           0-4    1-6

For the 4 contenders their remaining games are:

NCC: v IWU, v Wheaton, @Augie.
Elmhurst: v NPU, @Carthage, v IWU
Wheaton: v Millikin, @ NCC, v NPU
IWU: @NCC, v Augie, @ Elmhurst

Playoff scenarios based on the last 3 week results:

NCC: if they win out they are the AQ. They have no chance at pool C.
Elmhurst: If they win out they are a lock for Pool C. Only way they win the AQ is if NCC loses twice
Wheaton: If they win out and IWU beats Elmhurst they are the AQ. If IWU loses to Elmhurst, that creates a 3 way tie for the title and it would come down to point differential. Wheaton has to beat NCC by 20 pts in that scenario. (NCC: +34, -20 = +14, Elmhurst:-34, +5 = -29, Wheaton: -5, +20 = +15). They have no shot at pool C.
IWU: If they win out and Wheaton loses to NCC they are the AQ. If they win out and Wheaton beats NCC they are a pool C lock at 9-1 (Wheaton would win the AQ in this scenario).

While there are other variations to these (this analysis assumes all these teams win the games that aren't against each other), I think this covers the most likely scenarios. As far as a CCIW team making it with 2-losses, I just don't think that is at all realistic since UWW will be sitting atop the board as the 1st 2 loss team considered and the chances of two 2 loss teams getting in are zero in my opinion. Let me know if I missed something.

[New Tradition]

Here are the CCIW standings with 3 weeks to go:

School             Conf   Overall
North Central      4-0     6-1
Elmhurst             3-1    6-1
Illinois Wesleyan  3-1     6-1
Wheaton            3-1    5-2
Augustana          2-2    3-4
Carthage            1-3    3-4
Millikin                0-4    3-4
North Park           0-4    1-6

For the 4 contenders their remaining games are:

NCC: v IWU, v Wheaton, @Augie.
Elmhurst: v NPU, @Carthage, v IWU
Wheaton: v Millikin, @ NCC, v NPU
IWU: @NCC, v Augie, @ Elmhurst

Playoff scenarios based on the last 3 week results:

NCC: if they win out they are the AQ. They have no chance at pool C.
Elmhurst: If they win out they are a lock for Pool C. Only way they win the AQ is if NCC loses twice
Wheaton: If they win out and IWU beats Elmhurst they are the AQ. If IWU loses to Elmhurst, that creates a 3 way tie for the title and it would come down to point differential. Wheaton has to beat NCC by 20 pts in that scenario. (NCC: +34, -20 = +14, Elmhurst:-34, +5 = -29, Wheaton: -5, +20 = +15). They have no shot at pool C.
IWU: If they win out and Wheaton loses to NCC they are the AQ. If they win out and Wheaton beats NCC they are a pool C lock at 9-1 (Wheaton would win the AQ in this scenario).

While there are other variations to these (this analysis assumes all these teams win the games that aren't against each other), I think this covers the most likely scenarios. As far as a CCIW team making it with 2-losses, I just don't think that is at all realistic since UWW will be sitting atop the board as the 1st 2 loss team considered and the chances of two 2 loss teams getting in are zero in my opinion. Let me know if I missed something.

This is a fantastic analysis!  Thanks, Usee!

[NCF]

Here are the CCIW standings with 3 weeks to go:

School             Conf   Overall
North Central      4-0     6-1
Elmhurst             3-1    6-1
Illinois Wesleyan  3-1     6-1
Wheaton            3-1    5-2
Augustana          2-2    3-4
Carthage            1-3    3-4
Millikin                0-4    3-4
North Park           0-4    1-6

For the 4 contenders their remaining games are:

NCC: v IWU, v Wheaton, @Augie.
Elmhurst: v NPU, @Carthage, v IWU
Wheaton: v Millikin, @ NCC, v NPU
IWU: @NCC, v Augie, @ Elmhurst

Playoff scenarios based on the last 3 week results:

NCC: if they win out they are the AQ. They have no chance at pool C.
Elmhurst: If they win out they are a lock for Pool C. Only way they win the AQ is if NCC loses twice
Wheaton: If they win out and IWU beats Elmhurst they are the AQ. If IWU loses to Elmhurst, that creates a 3 way tie for the title and it would come down to point differential. Wheaton has to beat NCC by 20 pts in that scenario. (NCC: +34, -20 = +14, Elmhurst:-34, +5 = -29, Wheaton: -5, +20 = +15). They have no shot at pool C.
IWU: If they win out and Wheaton loses to NCC they are the AQ. If they win out and Wheaton beats NCC they are a pool C lock at 9-1 (Wheaton would win the AQ in this scenario).

While there are other variations to these (this analysis assumes all these teams win the games that aren't against each other), I think this covers the most likely scenarios. As far as a CCIW team making it with 2-losses, I just don't think that is at all realistic since UWW will be sitting atop the board as the 1st 2 loss team considered and the chances of two 2 loss teams getting in are zero in my opinion. Let me know if I missed something.

No two loss CCIW team will get in(unless they get the AQ). NC has only one option- WIN OUT.

[wally_wabash]

While there are other variations to these (this analysis assumes all these teams win the games that aren't against each other), I think this covers the most likely scenarios. As far as a CCIW team making it with 2-losses, I just don't think that is at all realistic since UWW will be sitting atop the board as the 1st 2 loss team considered and the chances of two 2 loss teams getting in are zero in my opinion. Let me know if I missed something.

Whitewater is almost certainly not at the top of the group of 2-loss teams at the moment.  Not without some creative application of the criteria or some flat out make believe. 

If Wheaton got a win over North Central but not by 20, they would almost certainly have a better at-large résumé with 2-losses than Whitewater will.  In addition to Wheaton, other teams that I believe grade out better than Whitewater are: Pacific Lutheran, Whitworth, St. John Fisher, Alfred, RPI, and Louisiana College. 

That said, there are still a lot of teams between Wheaton and a Pool C bid.  Whitewater just isn't one of them. 

[USee]

While there are other variations to these (this analysis assumes all these teams win the games that aren't against each other), I think this covers the most likely scenarios. As far as a CCIW team making it with 2-losses, I just don't think that is at all realistic since UWW will be sitting atop the board as the 1st 2 loss team considered and the chances of two 2 loss teams getting in are zero in my opinion. Let me know if I missed something.

Whitewater is almost certainly not at the top of the group of 2-loss teams at the moment.  Not without some creative application of the criteria or some flat out make believe. 

If Wheaton got a win over North Central but not by 20, they would almost certainly have a better at-large résumé with 2-losses than Whitewater will.  In addition to Wheaton, other teams that I believe grade out better than Whitewater are: Pacific Lutheran, Whitworth, St. John Fisher, Alfred, RPI, and Louisiana College. 

That said, there are still a lot of teams between Wheaton and a Pool C bid.  Whitewater just isn't one of them.

That's fair. I haven't been in the weeds on Pool C so I certainly trust your analysis. I was simply using UWW as a proxy for 2-loss teams ahead of any CCIW 2-loss teams. Usually only 1 (if any) 2-loss teams get in and I just don't think that will be a CCIW team with the relatively weaker SOS we have compared to years past. Thanks Wally.

[ncc58]

I hope it's a good game as well, just not too close

I'm looking for a blowout on NCC Homecoming Weekend.

Since the first game loss, NCC has known their own sure path to the playoffs was to win out and grab the AQ.

IWU was the last team to keep NCC out of the playoffs - I'm sure that hasn't been forgotten.

The last time that NCC faced a backup QB was against Wabash. That game didn't turn out too well. That hasn't been forgotten. I expect strong performances from Michals, Mitchell, and Dierking.

The offense has become more balanced. The game last week basically stayed under the radar, but Stanek had a solid game. Most of his passes were right on. His receivers dropped a couple easy balls, and Carthage defenders make nice plays on a few other passes. Tassio threw the only interception, the only NCC turnover. NCC has been workmanlike, taking care of the opponents on their schedule (since week 1) with little difficulty.

[iwu70]

Still no word here locally on which QB Norm will go with.  Sounds like they might be considering some combinations, utilizing the strengths of the various prospects under consideration.  Seems Bolden may stay in the D secondary, perhaps run some wildcat, . . . and the other QBs, who are bigger and stronger of arm, might be under center more.  IMHO.  Seems Stinde is a "game time" decision, with an injured shoulder from last week's game.  Jones the likely backup.  No word on other injuries, to linebackers or others.  I'd expect the Titans to be really ready to play, angry about letting the WC game get away with just 4+ minutes to play.  I'm still of the view that this game may be closer than some chatsters here have been speculating. 

GO TITANS!!!  Nothing really to lose . . . everyone's gotta win out (including NCC) to really be in consideration for the post-season.

IWU70

[Pat Coleman]

A two-loss Whitewater would have an advantage over a two-loss North Central based on common opponents, with Whitewater having beaten La Crosse. Obviously, that's only part of the equation but that's one thing UWW would have going for it.

[NCF]

I hope it's a good game as well, just not too close

I'm looking for a blowout on NCC Homecoming Weekend.

Since the first game loss, NCC has known their own sure path to the playoffs was to win out and grab the AQ.

IWU was the last team to keep NCC out of the playoffs - I'm sure that hasn't been forgotten.

The last time that NCC faced a backup QB was against Wabash. That game didn't turn out too well. That hasn't been forgotten. I expect strong performances from Michals, Mitchell, and Dierking.

The offense has become more balanced. The game last week basically stayed under the radar, but Stanek had a solid game. Most of his passes were right on. His receivers dropped a couple easy balls, and Carthage defenders make nice plays on a few other passes. Tassio threw the only interception, the only NCC turnover. NCC has been workmanlike, taking care of the opponents on their schedule (since week 1) with little difficulty.

You've pretty much nailed it. Expecting the Cards to take care of business, one game at a time.

[CardinalAlum]

Still no word here locally on which QB Norm will go with.  Sounds like they might be considering some combinations, utilizing the strengths of the various prospects under consideration.  Seems Bolden may stay in the D secondary, perhaps run some wildcat, . . . and the other QBs, who are bigger and stronger of arm, might be under center more.  IMHO.  Seems Stinde is a "game time" decision, with an injured shoulder from last week's game.  Jones the likely backup.  No word on other injuries, to linebackers or others.  I'd expect the Titans to be really ready to play, angry about letting the WC game get away with just 4+ minutes to play.  I'm still of the view that this game may be closer than some chatsters here have been speculating. 

GO TITANS!!!  Nothing really to lose . . . everyone's gotta win out (including NCC) to really be in consideration for the post-season.

IWU70

I'm sure Norm will stay pretty quiet on who his QB will be.  Why would he tip his hat?  Cards are preparing for both possibilities. 

[HoosierRedMan]

It has been a very long time since Carthage won a game in Rock Island.  It goes back to 1970 when Art Keller was still coach, and 42 years is a heck of a long time.  There was a 7-7 tie in 1974, but since then Augie beats Carthage when they play in Rock Island.

Last year Carthage gave it away and you have to wonder if the long streak is in the back of the boys minds.  Coach Rucks won't be on the sidelines and I wonder how the team will play?  Will the RedMen win one for Coach Rucks?