FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Langhorst_Ghost]

EC gets it done again.  Certainly not one that the EC faithful will want to frame and hang over the mantle, but a win's a win - and the 'Jays move to 7-1.  Vikes played with good effort, and i give them credit for battling, but the talent gap is between the two programs is incredibly wide - even on a down day for the EC Offense, the 'Jays were just too much.

'Jays continue to control their own destiny as there are 6 other coaching staffs in the CCIW that would switch spots in the standings with Coach Letser and his crew if given the chance.  EC guarantees another winning record in conference play with their 4th CCIW victory and will look to tie the school record for total wins in a season (8) next week in Kenosha.

Big boost for the D Saturday to right the ship and build some confidence moving forward with a shut-out.  Granted, NPU was last in the CCIW in most offensive categories, but the 'Jays hold the Vikes to 100 yards less than their season average and take the ball away 3 more times (that's +16 turnover margin for the year if you are scoring at home).  2nd teamers and youngsters carried most of the 4th quarter for the 'Jays on D and held their own - that's certainly a positive sign.

To be noted, and a topic that has not really been recognized by those outside of the program thus far this season, is the resolve of the EC Defense.  While it's easy to see the box score and make assumptions, the reality is that the 'Jays have been banged up all year long on D.  For all the injury excuses made for Wheaton and Wesleyan over the course of the season, few have noticed the training room trips for the 'Jays.  5 fall camp starters have been out for the better part of the season, and only 6 defensive players have started all 8 games.  The defensive line has been decimated, and the coaching staff has had to convert two or three offensive lineman into regular D-line contributors - learning on the fly (in fact, All-Region OG, Stamos, was on the field at nose for the last drive of the Wheaton game).  With a combination of freshmen, offensive defectors, and a few steady regulars, the D has battled through.  Proud of those guys.

It's a Great Day to be a Jay!

[USee]

Q,  thanks for ruining my morning.  Since misery loves company, I can only remind you that Wheaton swept your Titans in Bball last year.  Now I know what the Israelites felt like for 2 weeks while preparing for battle against the dominant Philistines.  Completely hopeless!

[USee]

In seriousness I have to concur that anything closer than 2 TDS would be a moral victory for the Thunder.  It's hard to see a scenario with a positive outcome. 

[CardinalAlum]

Ding. Ding. Ding.

It's going to be fun to watch the Thunder ring that bell again.

That's great!  You let me know the day the Thunder wants to come to NCC to see it and I will personally give them the tour of the Stadium, then down to the coaches offices where the Bell will be!    

[CardinalAlum]

In seriousness I have to concur that anything closer than 2 TDS would be a moral victory for the Thunder.  It's hard to see a scenario with a positive outcome.

USee,

I have all the respect in the world for Coach Swider's ability to get a team ready.  Cards have to be ready for anything.   

[Titan Q]

Q,  thanks for ruining my morning.  Since misery loves company, I can only remind you that Wheaton swept your Titans in Bball last year.  Now I know what the Israelites felt like for 2 weeks while preparing for battle against the dominant Philistines.  Completely hopeless!

I'm glad to be part of your morning, USee.

In terms of CCIW basketball in 2011-12, here is a picture of coach Rose cutting the nets down on the way to Salem, VA: http://www.iwusports.com/images/2012/3/10/rp_primary__3MD0649.jpg

Just in case you'd like to add to your CCIW scrapbook.

Good luck Saturday!

[USee]

Q,  after we beat you twice we can then live vicariously through you in Salem.  When you don't win, you can rationalize anything

NaperAlum,  the Thunder will most certainly be prepared.  I don't doubt IWU and Elmhurst were prepared too.  Steve Spurrier was a pretty good head coach when he coached at Duke. We just didn't know it until he went to Florida.  When you have better players, plays usually work a lot better.

[Titan Q]

Since misery loves company, I can only remind you that Wheaton swept your Titans in Bball last year. 

PS  Your definition of "sweep" is somewhat sketchy...

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2012/HTML/iwmbb12.htm

[USee]

Since misery loves company, I can only remind you that Wheaton swept your Titans in Bball last year. 

PS  Your definition of "sweep" is somewhat sketchy...

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2012/HTML/iwmbb12.htm

I have never let the facts get in the way of a compelling story.

[AndOne]

Looking towards the Wheaton @ North Central game...

When you consider that Wheaton has played extremely tight games with IWU and Elmhurst (splitting those two games), while North Central has defeated IWU 52-0 and Elmhurst 44-10, there just isn't much reason to think that Wheaton has a great shot to win this game.  I do realize it's an intense rivalry, but here are the results of that intense rivalry the last four years:

2011 - North Central 33 Wheaton 7 (Naperville)
2010 - North Central 28 Wheaton 6 (Wheaton)
2009 - North Central 27 Wheaton 7 (Naperville)
2008 - North Central 44 Wheaton 21 (Wheaton)

North Central has now won 21 consecutive CCIW games by 14+ points -- they are completely in a league of their own.  If Wheaton is going to win Saturday in Naperville it will have to be in an enormous upset.

Early line: Wheaton +18.5

So no Wheaton players know what its like to ring the bell. A condition that almost certainly will continue.

With the demolishing of Wesleyan, NCC's 10th win over the Weenies in their last 11 meetings, the Cardinals extended several streaks:
* 19th straight home CCIW win.
* 21 consecutive CCIW wins by 14+ points.
* 20 consecutive conference wins by 20+ points.

[iwu4ever]

Maybe the Thunder can fight to keep Coach Thorne from moving past Coach Swider in this list of Legends in CCIW History

CCIW Longest unbeaten streaks:
61 - Augie: Bob Reade (1980-88)
29 - Carthage: Art Kellar (1968-72)

21 - Wheaton: Mike Swider (2001-2004)
21 - North Central: John Thorne (2009-present)

18 - IWU: Don Larson (1963-66)
18 – Wheaton: Harve Chrouser (1954-57)
18 – Wheaton: Harve Chrouser (1957-59)
16 - Millikin: Carl Poelker (1988-90)
15 - Augie: Bob Reade (1992-94)
13 - Cartahge: Art Keller (1961-63)

[NCF]

Maybe the Thunder can fight to keep Coach Thorne from moving past Coach Swider in this list of Legends in CCIW History

CCIW Longest unbeaten streaks:
61 - Augie: Bob Reade (1980-88)
29 - Carthage: Art Kellar (1968-72)

21 - Wheaton: Mike Swider (2001-2004)
21 - North Central: John Thorne (2009-present)

18 - IWU: Don Larson (1963-66)
18 – Wheaton: Harve Chrouser (1954-57)
18 – Wheaton: Harve Chrouser (1957-59)
16 - Millikin: Carl Poelker (1988-90)
15 - Augie: Bob Reade (1992-94)
13 - Cartahge: Art Keller (1961-63)

.....but will anyone top Reade, that's impressive!

[formerd3db]

newcard:
Congrats on the team's win yesterday.  Impressive, perhaps surprising to some regarding the score.

[NCF]

newcard:
Congrats on the team's win yesterday.  Impressive, perhaps surprising to some regarding the score.

Thanks former-it was a great day. I'll pm you in the morning with some details! I thought the game would be closer.

[Langhorst_Ghost]

D3Football.com's latest Top 25 is out...what a joke.

Wheaton moves into the #24 spot with two losses while EC is left on the outside looking in, peeking up from the "others receiving votes category".  With all due respect to the Wheaton faithful out there, this is a reputation vote and lazy one at that.

This shouldn't be that complicated...in fact, let's take the names out of this just to illustrate how incredibly ridiculous this situation is...

TEAM A has ONE loss (at the hands of the #7 team in the Nation).  TEAM A defeats TEAM B head to head.

TEAM B has TWO losses, including one to TEAM A.

Anyone with a calculator and a sliver of common sense can figure this one out - Seems pretty straight forward to me.