FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

As for player of the year and all conference honors, there are going to be some tough decisions.

I could see a co-POY on offense with Scottie Williams and Jordan Roberts. Could also be Mark Hiben, it really depends on who Swider nominates but both are worthy.

Defensively, you have to look at a guy like Josh Mitchell or Joey Michals. Those guys have been pretty consistent all year. I can't think of any other super standouts on defense.

For offensive all conference honors, there are going to be some serious battles. Defensively, the choices seem more obvious

[NCF]

I don't think next weeks results are a foregone conclusion. IWU @ Elmhurst is pretty close to a pickem game for me. Elmhurst's defense is really bad and IWU has been shell-shocked since the last minute of the Wheaton game. I do not expect Eash and company to lay down for Elmhurst and beating the Titans, who have a good defense, will not be easy. It would not surprise me at all if IWU wins.

Augie is also playing their best ball of the season. They are clearly a much different team than the one that lost to Wheaton 49-7 in Rock Island. They nearly beat Elmhurst @Langhorst and beat up on IWU in Bloomington. I would not want to be the Cardinals playing in Rock Island this week. I have to think NCC is favored but Augustana's defense is the 3rd ranked CCIW defense behind Wheaon and NCC right now. This game is not a layup for North Central either.

Wheaton vs North Park is obviously a much easier path but NPU played them very tough last year before finally succumbing to the Thunder.

While I don't think it will be easy, I think Elmhurst wins! If they are not pumped up for this one-and it's at home, they don't deserve a play-off bid.IWU will not lay down but I see Elmhurst in control. NC @ Augie will be close for awhile, but I think NC pulls away and wears down the Augie D. Wheaton should have no problem with NPU.

[NCF]

As for player of the year and all conference honors, there are going to be some tough decisions.

I could see a co-POY on offense with Scottie Williams and Jordan Roberts. Could also be Mark Hiben, it really depends on who Swider nominates but both are worthy.

Defensively, you have to look at a guy like Josh Mitchell or Joey Michals. Those guys have been pretty consistent all year. I can't think of any other super standouts on defense.

For offensive all conference honors, there are going to be some serious battles. Defensively, the choices seem more obvious

I also thought about a co-POY of the year with Williams/Kukoc or Roberts all worthy of the honor. Defensively, I do like those picks as well, but  Think it might come down to what happens next week.

[Mugsy]

As for player of the year and all conference honors, there are going to be some tough decisions.

I could see a co-POY on offense with Scottie Williams and Jordan Roberts. Could also be Mark Hiben, it really depends on who Swider nominates but both are worthy.

Defensively, you have to look at a guy like Josh Mitchell or Joey Michals. Those guys have been pretty consistent all year. I can't think of any other super standouts on defense.

For offensive all conference honors, there are going to be some serious battles. Defensively, the choices seem more obvious

I also thought about a co-POY of the year with Williams/Kukoc or Roberts all worthy of the honor. Defensively, I do like those picks as well, but  Think it might come down to what happens next week.

Until Saturday's game I would have included Kukoc on the short list, but Roberts and Williams have separated themselves from the pack in terms of making major impacts, including the big games.  I could see it going to either one.

It is really weird that there isn't a defensive player who stands out.

[cciwfootballfan]

I understand the prevent defence at the end of the Wheaton win. NCC had just scored on a long pass. If NCC scored again on a long pass, a recovered onside kick and another long pass would tie the score. NCC had been successfully working the Wheaton 2nd team corner all game, as Wheaton's 1st team corner was sitting out the game due to an injury. Perhaps the win was more important. Wheaton's second string corner still did an admirable job as a replacement as he had several big hits.

[bluejay4ever]

New top 25 out and the Jays come in at number 20! Another great milestone achieved this year! So proud of the program

[ncc58]

I think everyone on Wheaton (the players and the coaching staff) knew what the tiebreaker situation was. If you go back to 2006, NCC needed to beat Augie for a 3-way tie, and needed to win by 25 or 26 to gain the tiebreaker edge (NCC won 27-0). Everyone on the NCC side of the field knew what was needed.

Back to Saturday. It was a 14 point game. If Wheaton has a disastrous play, who knows what could happen. NCC could score on an interception or fumble. Then, it's a one TD game, the onside kick comes into play, and NCC would have a chance. Wheaton needed to seal the win, and then go to the last weekend still with a chance.

[wheatie barefooter]

I think everyone on Wheaton (the players and the coaching staff) knew what the tiebreaker situation was. If you go back to 2006, NCC needed to beat Augie for a 3-way tie, and needed to win by 25 or 26 to gain the tiebreaker edge (NCC won 27-0). Everyone on the NCC side of the field knew what was needed.

Back to Saturday. It was a 14 point game. If Wheaton has a disastrous play, who knows what could happen. NCC could score on an interception or fumble. Then, it's a one TD game, the onside kick comes into play, and NCC would have a chance. Wheaton needed to seal the win, and then go to the last weekend still with a chance.

Although I completely understand your logic, we all are familiar with a team going for 2 at the end of the game to WIN IT!  Similarly, Wheaton had that opportunity on that 4th and goal to go up by 21 and not only win the game but make the AQ a real possibility.  Going up by 17, while it may seal the game, doesn't address the AQ situation.  They had a chance for the knockout blow (just like the team going for 2) and they chose the conservative play, the FG attempt.  Again, there is no intent on my part to disparage the Wheaton coaching staff but rather my preference would've been to throw that knockout blow!!

Here's hoping to something funky happening this next weekend so that Wheaton can get into the playoffs. 

[wheatie barefooter]

I think everyone on Wheaton (the players and the coaching staff) knew what the tiebreaker situation was. If you go back to 2006, NCC needed to beat Augie for a 3-way tie, and needed to win by 25 or 26 to gain the tiebreaker edge (NCC won 27-0). Everyone on the NCC side of the field knew what was needed.

Back to Saturday. It was a 14 point game. If Wheaton has a disastrous play, who knows what could happen. NCC could score on an interception or fumble. Then, it's a one TD game, the onside kick comes into play, and NCC would have a chance. Wheaton needed to seal the win, and then go to the last weekend still with a chance.

Although I completely understand your logic, we all are familiar with a team going for 2 at the end of the game to WIN IT!  Similarly, Wheaton had that opportunity on that 4th and goal to go up by 21 and not only win the game but make the AQ a real possibility.  Going up by 17, while it may seal the game, doesn't address the AQ situation.  They had a chance for the knockout blow (just like the team going for 2) and they chose the conservative play, the FG attempt.  Again, there is no intent on my part to disparage the Wheaton coaching staff but rather my preference would've been to throw that knockout blow!!

Here's hoping to something funky happening this next weekend so that Wheaton can get into the playoffs.

AND ... can't that disastrous play occur on the FG attempt?  Blocked and returned for a TD?  Gotta go for the knockout blow, IMO.

[NCF]

I think everyone on Wheaton (the players and the coaching staff) knew what the tiebreaker situation was. If you go back to 2006, NCC needed to beat Augie for a 3-way tie, and needed to win by 25 or 26 to gain the tiebreaker edge (NCC won 27-0). Everyone on the NCC side of the field knew what was needed.

Back to Saturday. It was a 14 point game. If Wheaton has a disastrous play, who knows what could happen. NCC could score on an interception or fumble. Then, it's a one TD game, the onside kick comes into play, and NCC would have a chance. Wheaton needed to seal the win, and then go to the last weekend still with a chance.

Although I completely understand your logic, we all are familiar with a team going for 2 at the end of the game to WIN IT!  Similarly, Wheaton had that opportunity on that 4th and goal to go up by 21 and not only win the game but make the AQ a real possibility.  Going up by 17, while it may seal the game, doesn't address the AQ situation.  They had a chance for the knockout blow (just like the team going for 2) and they chose the conservative play, the FG attempt.  Again, there is no intent on my part to disparage the Wheaton coaching staff but rather my preference would've been to throw that knockout blow!!

Here's hoping to something funky happening this next weekend so that Wheaton can get into the playoffs.

Here's hoping that nothing funky happens and Elmhurst and NC get the wins.

[AndOne]

I don't think next weeks results are a foregone conclusion. IWU @ Elmhurst is pretty close to a pickem game for me. Elmhurst's defense is really bad and IWU has been shell-shocked since the last minute of the Wheaton game. I do not expect Eash and company to lay down for Elmhurst and beating the Titans, who have a good defense, will not be easy. It would not surprise me at all if IWU wins.

Augie is also playing their best ball of the season. They are clearly a much different team than the one that lost to Wheaton 49-7 in Rock Island. They nearly beat Elmhurst @Langhorst and beat up on IWU in Bloomington. I would not want to be the Cardinals playing in Rock Island this week. I have to think NCC is favored but Augustana's defense is the 3rd ranked CCIW defense behind Wheaon and NCC right now. This game is not a layup for North Central either.

Wheaton vs North Park is obviously a much easier path but NPU played them very tough last year before finally succumbing to the Thunder.

USee----

With all due respect, the total loss of Gallik, and near total loss of Stinde (he was listed as a starter Sat, but had no carries or catches) has reduced IWU to a mere shadow of the powerful squad they were prior to the 29 second mark of their game with Wheaton. Elmhurst is having their best run for a long, long time, has home field advantage, and has a hunger for some playoff football. Accordingly, I sense this will be a pick 'em game as you said, only if Elmhurst totally screws up.

Concerning Augie/NCC, Augie has definitely shown improvement of late, but when you say AC nearly beat EC at EC, you need to remember what NCC did to EC. And, as far as Augie downing IWU, indeed they did, But, it was under the circumstances delineated above and, as such, could have been expected. Not only does NCC still have its QB and top runner, but I believe they'll have a fairly big chip on their collective shoulder following Saturday's debacle.

[cardinaldad]

     Hats off to the Thunder. While I was not at the game, I was getting updates and was able to listen for a while. All I kept hearing is how the Cardinal defense had no answer for the Wheaton passing game. When will a Cardinal defense be able to defend the pass in the big games. No one has mentioned it, but I will. A few years ago, that was the knock on former D Coordinator Bill Wienke. While he put out GREAT defenses that would come out and smack you, there were those big games where we couldn't stop the pass. Move Rick Ponx over to the defensive side of the ball and we have the same situation. Big games and we don't adjust when getting killed by the pass.....we have no answer.
     GREAT game planning by the Wheaton coaches and GREAT effort by the players. It sounded pretty much like it was total domination.
     Speaking of Bill Wienke, he coached at York H.S. for a couple of years and put together some pretty good defenses while the team made the playoffs. York gets a new head coach this year and decides not to retain Wienke. I believe all but one team scores over 40 points on the Dukes this year as they go 0'fer. Where is Wienke now? Glenbard West. We ALL know what they are doing! Good for him!!!

[cardinaldad]

I don't think next weeks results are a foregone conclusion. IWU @ Elmhurst is pretty close to a pickem game for me. Elmhurst's defense is really bad and IWU has been shell-shocked since the last minute of the Wheaton game. I do not expect Eash and company to lay down for Elmhurst and beating the Titans, who have a good defense, will not be easy. It would not surprise me at all if IWU wins.

Augie is also playing their best ball of the season. They are clearly a much different team than the one that lost to Wheaton 49-7 in Rock Island. They nearly beat Elmhurst @Langhorst and beat up on IWU in Bloomington. I would not want to be the Cardinals playing in Rock Island this week. I have to think NCC is favored but Augustana's defense is the 3rd ranked CCIW defense behind Wheaon and NCC right now. This game is not a layup for North Central either.

Wheaton vs North Park is obviously a much easier path but NPU played them very tough last year before finally succumbing to the Thunder.

USee----

With all due respect, the total loss of Gallik, and near total loss of Stinde (he was listed as a starter Sat, but had no carries or catches) has reduced IWU to a mere shadow of the powerful squad they were prior to the 29 second mark of their game with Wheaton. Elmhurst is having their best run for a long, long time, has home field advantage, and has a hunger for some playoff football. Accordingly, I sense this will be a pick 'em game as you said, only if Elmhurst totally screws up.

Concerning Augie/NCC, Augie has definitely shown improvement of late, but when you say AC nearly beat EC at EC, you need to remember what NCC did to EC. And, as far as Augie downing IWU, indeed they did, But, it was under the circumstances delineated above and, as such, could have been expected. Not only does NCC still have its QB and top runner, but I believe they'll have a fairly big chip on their collective shoulder following Saturday's debacle.

Agreed. I don'y think I would want to be Augie next Saturday. History shows what the Cards are capable of after a disappointing loss. Go get'em Cards!

[cardinaldad]

     One more thing..........hats off to the Jays. No way did I ever think that they would be contending for a share of the Conference title with one week to go! Maybe it's time for more Jay fans to start drinking some blue Kool-aide! An interesting last week indeed!

[USee]

AndOne,

You have stated well the company line.  The conventional wisdom is Elmhurst has more to play for and IWU suddenly sucks. And if I had told you last week the boards would be dominated this week with talk about why Wheaton didn't win by 20 instead of 14 pts you would have reported me to the moderator.  I believe I was the first one to mention Elmhurst as a playoff contender on here as well. I just don't think IWU is nearly as bad as they have played these past 2 weeks.  They played the Wheaton game without Stinde so the only difference is Gallik.  Now that is a huge difference but I don't believe it's a 52-0 difference.  And anyone who thinks the Titans won't be motivated doesn't follow Norm Eash very closely.  A win that keeps NCC out of the playoffs would be mighty tasty indeed for Eash who has more than a casual rivalry with fellow IWU alum Thorne. 

The match ups in this game are quite favorable to IWU.  The Elmhurst defense is exactly what a struggling Titan offense needs.  And the IWU defense is much better than they have played the last 3 weeks.  I say this game goes down to the wire.

As for Augie v NCC I wouldn't count on the Augie v Elmhurst differential as an advantage. That didn't work too well last Saturday.