FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

Last time I checked 1 person did not make a football team.  I am sure Wheaton will be solid even without him. 

[NCF]

2. You want to use roster size as a measuring stick? Fine. How many schools do you think have fewer men on the roster and/or field than UWW--or most other state schools, or any private school of over 6-7,000 students. I mean really?

A1 -- if you have purchased Kickoff you can see for yourself about roster sizes. UWW brought 130 to camp; North Central brought 140.

Because of conference rule, UWW won't keep more than 100 of them. How many will North Central have on the roster this year?

Division III isn't the division of small schools, it's the division of non-scholarship athletic programs.

By the way, at 2,490 full-time undergraduates, North Central sits above the average and well above the median for D-III school size. In fact, North Central is the 70th largest. Should you move up as well?

Nah - it took us a while, but the CCIW eventually overtook Augustana in the 80s.  We'll take NCC down a peg or two one of these years!   (And North Central certainly hasn't risen to the level Augie once (4 times?) achieved.)

I found this little tidbit float around the WIAC board.....Isn't this the year of the Titan? No better time like the present to put your money where............. I'm in. And why don't all NCAA schools have the same roster limits across the board in all sports? It makes sense to me. Just some fodder to fill the week long wait until kick-off.

(modified by GS for formatting)

[Son of Tailgater]

Are there any Carthage people still on the boards? Since Coach Rucks left it looks like we have been quiet.

[AndOne]

Wheaton certainly still has a guy who can throw it well very well, and several others who can catch whats thrown.   

[USee]

Wheaton certainly still has a guy who can throw it well very well, and several others who can catch whats thrown.

Do you have any specific names to go along with that assertion?

[USee]

Jacksonville Jaguars pared their roster from 75 down to 54 players today and Andy Studebaker appears to have made the team. they cut 3 LB's including one who started half the season last year but kept Studebaker. Congrats Andy on joining the Jaguars, now teammate of Cecil Shorts from Mt Union.

[shepherd]

Wheaton certainly still has a guy who can throw it well very well, and several others who can catch whats thrown.

Do you have any specific names to go along with that assertion?

Jordan Roberts throwing to his brother.  Wheaton is loaded at the skill positions.  I have picked NCC to win the conference for the past few years but this year I think Wheaton is the favorite. Behind the two starting Rbs are two very good tb's in
Jacob Furnari and Danny Puknaitis.  Furnari runs a lot like  Dominic Sulo in that  he also has that great move to the outside and you also see in his clips the same move when he is about to be tackled he slides vertically around the defender. 
Even Stevie Wonder can see from his video he is very special.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/355331/highlights/25037382

[iwu70]

Yes, WC will still be very strong.  I agree.  No doubt.  But, Hiben was a DII or even DI player playing in the DIII ranks.  Unusual size for a DIII WR.  Looks to be a great race with IWU and WC perhaps giving NCC a better challenged this year, it would seem.  Until someone dethrones them, you gotta believe NCC is the favorite.  Hasn't happened for a long time.  IWU does have both WC and NCC at home this year -- some help. 

IWU70

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm well aware that one player is rarely a game-changer in football, but I think the loss of Hiben is HUGE for Wheaton.  Last year I think IWU might have rebounded for the win against the Thunder if Gallik had not gone down; this year my way-too-early prediction is that IWU is now the favorite (unlike my earlier post).  I'm gonna predict that the NCC at IWU game is for the AQ.  While NCC (7 consecutive titles) is the favorite, I think we have a chance to run the table - NOT a prediction, but a decent chance.

Go Titans!

[iwu70]

Ypsi, hope you are right.  Would love to see our Titans have a great season, for all these hard-working seniors, esp. those who have come back from injuries, long rehabs.  My worry is the running game.  Just don't see much coming there -- from Stinde or others and to rely mostly on Galik and the passing game, well, it's going to be tough.  Titans will, no doubt, have good D as they almost always do.  We'll see.  NCC and WC will be very tough.  At least we have them both at home.  Nice to have NPU for Homecoming!   

Hope you are well.  Will I see you at Homecoming this year -- retirement festivities for Paul Bushnell's 47 year career of teaching, advocating, and mentoring.  Hope a good group from '70 appear to honor Paul. 

I do see that some IWU roundball (men's) is coming your way in the pre-CCIW phase, to play in Holland.  Check out the roundball schedule.  Titans basketball this year is going to be something very good, very special, IMHO! Gotta love those transfers.  Looking forward to that much more than football.

IWU70

[Langhorst_Ghost]

I see Hiben is no longer on the Wheaton roster:

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/roster.aspx?path=football&

Not good.

Okay chat board wheaties, who's got the intel?  Academic?  Injury?  Other?

Not on the same level obviously, but EC lost stud receiver Rodney Payton in the off season a year back to off the field issues...turned out okay for the Jays.   

[AndOne]

Wheaton certainly still has a guy who can throw it well very well, and several others who can catch whats thrown.

Do you have any specific names to go along with that assertion?

Throw--Roberts
Catch--Washko, Roberts, Thorsen

[AndOne]

I'm well aware that one player is rarely a game-changer in football, but I think the loss of Hiben is HUGE for Wheaton.  Last year I think IWU might have rebounded for the win against the Thunder if Gallik had not gone down; this year my way-too-early prediction is that IWU is now the favorite (unlike my earlier post).  I'm gonna predict that the NCC at IWU game is for the AQ.  While NCC (7 consecutive titles) is the favorite, I think we have a chance to run the table - NOT a prediction, but a decent chance.

Go Titans!

If Stinde isn't 100%, and it doesn't look like he is going to be, that could put a pretty big dent in the prospect of IWU being the favorite. The main advantages I see Wesleyan having this season are the return of Gallik, and having home field advantage against NCC and Wheaton. In fact NCC has to go to both WC and IWU.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm well aware that one player is rarely a game-changer in football, but I think the loss of Hiben is HUGE for Wheaton.  Last year I think IWU might have rebounded for the win against the Thunder if Gallik had not gone down; this year my way-too-early prediction is that IWU is now the favorite (unlike my earlier post).  I'm gonna predict that the NCC at IWU game is for the AQ.  While NCC (7 consecutive titles) is the favorite, I think we have a chance to run the table - NOT a prediction, but a decent chance.

Go Titans!

If Stinde isn't 100%, and it doesn't look like he is going to be, that could put a pretty big dent in the prospect of IWU being the favorite. The main advantages I see Wesleyan having this season are the return of Gallik, and having home field advantage against NCC and Wheaton. In fact NCC has to go to both WC and IWU.

To clarify: I now view IWU as the slight favorite over Wheaton.  Clearly, NCC is the favorite for the title, though I think the Titans have a chance.

[iwu70]

Titans need to stay healthy, avoid key injuries, of course, but biggest doubt is the running game.  Wasn't all that strong last year and needs to find a way to somehow provide enough to keep the defenses honest to make Galik and company effective.  Can't do it all through the air.  Need some new guys to step up and make an impact.  D will be very good, as usual, IMHO.  Still lots of unanswered questions, even with so many seniors, experienced players coming back. 

IWU70