FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[oldnuthin]

Old-Nuthin- that is a great photo!  Looks like both Mike & Jeff could fit right in with this year's group. 

Whereas I would look more like the old Chicago Bear, Noah Jackson, without the ability to pull.

[79jaybird]

I bet Jeff could still sack many of the QB's in the D-III realm today.       

[NCF]

Wheaton coaches rocking new unis. Now i know the Genesis of all the long hair at Wheaton.

https://twitter.com/Wheaton_Thunder/status/370781919094394880/photo/1

Looks like evryone is getting the same style of new uni's this year-just in different colors.

[thunder38]

Here's the reveal video and player reaction both to the video and to Coach Swider and Coach Peltz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzXAA_dthNQ&feature=player_embedded

So far that I've seen it's been featured on Football Scoop, Yahoo Sports, D3Football and most hilariously Barstool Sports

[NCF]

Enough already with the lame uni reveal videos-please stop! I haven't seen one good one yet and it seems as if every team that got new uni's this year thinks they have to make a youtube video.Zzzzzzzzzzzz. Lots of keeping up with the Jonses going on this season.

[Langhorst_Ghost]

Here's the reveal video and player reaction both to the video and to Coach Swider and Coach Peltz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzXAA_dthNQ&feature=player_embedded

So far that I've seen it's been featured on Football Scoop, Yahoo Sports, D3Football and most hilariously Barstool Sports

Enough already with the lame uni reveal videos-please stop! I haven't seen one good one yet and it seems as if every team that got new uni's this year thinks they have to make a youtube video.Zzzzzzzzzzzz. Lots of keeping up with the Jonses going on this season.

I Love it.  I am all Jays all the time, but even an EC loyalist like me has to give Swider and the fellas props - this is pretty cool, and a lot of fun. 

NCF - keep in mind, it's about what this generation of kids think is cool, not what parents or alums think is cool - and new uni promos are a big deal to these players AND, maybe more importantly, to recruits and prospective players.  Generating a buzz around a program matters and this is what catches this generation of kids' attention (and winning, of course  ).

[NCF]

Here's the reveal video and player reaction both to the video and to Coach Swider and Coach Peltz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzXAA_dthNQ&feature=player_embedded

So far that I've seen it's been featured on Football Scoop, Yahoo Sports, D3Football and most hilariously Barstool Sports

Enough already with the lame uni reveal videos-please stop! I haven't seen one good one yet and it seems as if every team that got new uni's this year thinks they have to make a youtube video.Zzzzzzzzzzzz. Lots of keeping up with the Jonses going on this season.

I Love it.  I am all Jays all the time, but even an EC loyalist like me has to give Swider and the fellas props - this is pretty cool, and a lot of fun. 

NCF - keep in mind, it's about what this generation of kids think is cool, not what parents or alums think is cool - and new uni promos are a big deal to these players AND, maybe more importantly, to recruits and prospective players.  Generating a buzz around a program matters and this is what catches this generation of kids' attention (and winning, of course  ).

[79jaybird]

IMO- While new uniforms, helmet, emblems, etc. are nice to look at and the (current) players/staff might like them.  It makes me appreciate the simple, longstanding, traditionals (i.e. Bears, Packers, Augie for many years, etc. or the numbers (ala Alabama) that L-ghost, Bluejay4ever, and I had)

[Langhorst_Ghost]

Thought i'd take a shot at presenting my take on the upcoming season for EC - highlighting both the strengths and challenges as the Jays begin the defense of their conference co-championship

Strengths
Coaching Continuity:  Despite the loss of Lester, the coaching staff remains largely intact.  Coach Adam carries over the recruiting philosophy and the workman-like "Blue Collar Mentality" approach that built this team's foundation.  New OC Kyle Derickson (also promoted from within) carries over much of the offensive system and verbiage Lester implemented back in '08, flattening the learning curve for his young offense.

Quiet Confidence:  The mentality at EC has evolved - this generation of Jays no longer hopes for success, they expect to win.  No player on the current roster has ever endured a losing football season over the course of his college career at EC, and these seniors have won 13 CCIW games in 3 years (quite a progression from a decade earlier).  Coming off a 9-1 regular season in one of the country's best leagues, a road playoff victory over a previously unbeaten top-15 team, and pushing the National runner-up to the limit in St. Paul, these Jays believe.

Identity and Approach:  The faces may have changed on offense, but the game plan hasn't – the Jays will "pound the rock" with their zone running scheme and play-action through their pistol attack.  The graduation of the Gagliardi winner and three of the five up front won't change the approach.  The O-Line is deep and sturdy and the stable of backs is talented and explosive.  Commitment to a physical ground game will help take the pressure off a developing QB and control the clock and the pace of the game.  On D, the ball-hawking mentality that forced 27 takeaways last year remains a priority and will give the young offense opportunities, and along with a veteran secondary, should help to equalize the high-octane offenses in the league.

Challenges
Schedule:  While 2012 featured 6 home dates (including the big wins vs. the Thunder and the Greenies), the Jays' 2013 slate is flipped, featuring 6 road tests.  McCully and Tucci have been bad news for the Bluejays for decades and Rock Island is always a tough trip.  After kicking off the D3 season under the lights September 5th at home, the Jays won't host again until October (homecoming vs. the Cards).

Rising Competition:  CCIW foes NCC and Wheaton begin the year ranked in the Top 25, and one could make a very strong case for a healthy IWU squad to be in the mix, as well.  Millikin's and Augie's arrows seem to be pointed up, and the new HBCs in Kenosha and Albany Park bring new attitudes and new challenges.  If EC is to successfully defend its share of the conference crown from 2012, they will have earned it and then some...in one of the Nation's most competitive leagues.

Leadership:  The Jays will not only need to find a way to replace 13 starters on the field (including eight All-Conference players, 3 All-Americans, and a 4-year starter at quarterback), the defending co-champs must fill the void left in the locker room as well.  While some impact players do return, the rising upperclassmen and untested youngsters will need to mature quickly and develop into the emotional leaders that drive the pace of practice and set the level of expectations in the film room and on the field.

Looking forward to another great season of CCIW football!

[79jaybird]

L-Ghost makes some good points.  I think one other challenge that Elmhurst will face is the question- Can Elmhurst stay in the top 3 contention or was 2012 just a 1 hit wonder?  Will they just be another Dante Washington Carthage scenario? Can Elmhurst sustain a level of play that will make them be in the hunt? 

I think the graduation loss of key, skilled athletes is one major hurdle for Elmhurst this year.
The positives is that it is a new year and the players can make their own slate.  Many of them were able to get their feet wet in post season and can lead the youngsters by example.   

[markerickson]

LG:  I'll be the first to say you've been sipping too much blue kool-aid.

[bluejay4ever]

I don't think his post was one sided at all as I think he pointed out many challenges that EC has to overcome. I believe this league is so well balanced that besides creating opportunities how those 3 or 4 breaks during a game go as well as injuries will really tell the story at the end of the year on who is on top. Each team will have to overcome adversity and how they do that will determine the conference co-champs once again.....

Jaybird...although I like the traditional helmets and uniforms ours were terrible. The numbers were so small on our helmets we looked like a pop warner team. Not too mention they had a thick texture which made them pop off. Being a DT, after every game they needed to be replaced. I could not agree more that today's generation cares more about the look on the field then ever. Thank the boo yahhh network for that.

Order of prediction of finish based upon the recent history..

1.   EC 8-2, 5-2
1.   Wheaton 8-2, 5-2
1.   IWU 8-2, 5-2
1.   Augie 7-3, 5-2
1.  North Central 7-3, 5-2
6.  Carthage 6-4 3-4
6.    Millikin 6-4 3-4
8.    NP 2-8, 0-7

Elmhurst gets automatic bid because I am writing this.

Clear Minds...Full Hearts

[79jaybird]

Agreed Bluejay4ever- I remember my 7 was half chopped off and the 9 looked more like a 1 so yes our numbers were pretty bad.  However, Coach K didn't have a lot of resources (on many levels) to work with that Journell, Lester, and now Adam have available.

[USee]

I don't think his post was one sided at all as I think he pointed out many challenges that EC has to overcome. I believe this league is so well balanced that besides creating opportunities how those 3 or 4 breaks during a game go as well as injuries will really tell the story at the end of the year on who is on top. Each team will have to overcome adversity and how they do that will determine the conference co-champs once again.....

Jaybird...although I like the traditional helmets and uniforms ours were terrible. The numbers were so small on our helmets we looked like a pop warner team. Not too mention they had a thick texture which made them pop off. Being a DT, after every game they needed to be replaced. I could not agree more that today's generation cares more about the look on the field then ever. Thank the boo yahhh network for that.

Order of prediction of finish based upon the recent history..

1.   EC 8-2, 5-2
1.   Wheaton 8-2, 5-2
1.   IWU 8-2, 5-2
1.   Augie 7-3, 5-2
1.  North Central 7-3, 5-2
6.  Carthage 6-4 3-4
6.    Millikin 6-4 3-4
8.    NP 2-8, 0-7

Elmhurst gets automatic bid because I am writing this.

Clear Minds...Full Hearts

You may want to run the math on your predictions. I think there are 28 possible wins and 28 possible losses in the CCIW schedule. Someone has to lose and someone has to win each game. 

[Pat Coleman]

Rookie mistake! Our predicted standings don't have that issue.

Kickoff 2013 is live!

I feel like this is our best Kickoff yet: We made a nice transition to the PrestoSports platform for Kickoff last year and this year we've taken that knowledge and tweaked it. Plus we got some new writers involved and really made sure our continuing writers elevated their game. And ours.

This is the only time we ask you guys for money for anything, as I'm sure you realize. It's more than 300 pages of Division III preseason football knowledge and it's the only place you can get all this stuff: Our previews, our rankings, our predictions, Keith's analysis, the whole 10 yards. http://www.d3football.com/notables/2013/08/get-kickoff-2013

$11, or $7 if you still have access to a .edu email address. (Meant for active players/students and coaches but hey, we know you guys on this board are loyal to D3football.com and we appreciate it.)