FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

They scored 7 points Greg.   I was much more surprised by their defense than the offense.  At well was average, completing 45% of his passes.  They ran for less than 100 yds.

[iwu70]

Greg, I always listen to you whether the microphone is on or not.  We were all just confirming your genius. 

A new week now . . . and CCIW play is about to begin.  The Bears have returned to their old, normal TO-itis ways and we are all still wondering how Illinois put up 50.  My Yanks are dead and done, Mo retired, Pettitte off to the pastures, and A-Rod about to be sanctioned severely.  Would love to say "there's always next year," though the Yanks prospects for next year with aging pitching, many injuries and a dubiously healthy SS Captain, well, things don't look too terribly bright for next season either!  May be several years of re-building. 

I'm stick'in to DIII football for now . . .

ISU basketball starts practices tomorrow -- even earlier starts than ever before -- 42 days before their first game now allowed.

IWU70

[oldnuthin]

Two for three on player of the week. That Shreve does have one hell of a leg! If we can get two of three this coming weekend, I think we will come out with a win.

http://www.cciw.org/news/2013/9/30/FB_0930134713.aspx

[Langhorst_Ghost]

Happy conference season returns to all the birds, vikes, thunder, redmen, titans, and...big blues (?) out there in CCIW chatboard cyberspace!

October 5th is homecoming at Langhorst Field, and our feathered friends from Naperville come calling this Saturday.  If recent history is any indication, the Jays will have their hands full...

The Cardinals are the only CCIW program that EC has not defeated in this millennium.
NCC has scored 16 touchdowns in 3 non-con games so far, EC has mustered 6 (and just one in the last two weeks).
NCC is averaging 554 yards/game in 2013, EC has managed just 324 per.

The Cards are the clear favorites - no debate here, but might i offer a few factors that could play the Jays' direction (that's why they play the games):

Weather will have an impact one way or another on Saturday.  Scattered T-Storms (projected) should dampen the spirits of the Homecoming crowd, and could also slow down a Cardinal passing attack that has racked up over 1,000 yards and 10 scores so far.

Despite their extreme struggles on offense thus far, the Jays have been pretty solid on D - having only surrendered 3 TDs in 3 games (11.7 pts/game) and taken the ball away 6 times.  Coach Adam and his staff have also had 2 weeks to build the defensive game plan while the Cards were in action last week.

EC QBs have struggled so far (46% and just 358 passing yards thru 3 games), but the ground game has been fairly sturdy (5+ yards/carry despite the aerial inefficiencies) - if EC can grind out first downs and limit the NCC possessions on a wet field, EC could find themselves in the game in the 4th quarter.

Saturday will certainly present a tremendous opponent and an extremely steep hill to climb for the Jays - here's hoping they rise up to the challenge and turn in an inspired performance to kick off the conference season.

[iwu70]

Congrats to the two MU players of the week -- offence and special teamer.  And congrats to Titan Tim Hollywood -- on being defensive player of the week.  His INT in the last minute surely saved the day for the sputtering Titans vs. Hope last Saturday.  But, 3-0 is still 3-0.

Titans travel to Decatur to meet the Big Blue on Saturday.  I, too, am hoping for a big big win and a more free-flowing and productive offence on the day.  The Titan D will, IMHO, be just fine.  IWU by 3 TDs? 

Can Congress get any more useless and dysfunctional?  Just say'in.

IWU70

[formerd3db]

They scored 7 points Greg.   I was much more surprised by their defense than the offense.  At well was average, completing 45% of his passes.  They ran for less than 100 yds.

They obviously did not hit what they had been doing the first two weeks.  Had you seen their offense the first two weeks (and 1/2 of the third game), you would might possibly have a slightly altered opinion, although as has been well discussed, the first two teams Hope played were not anywhere near what IWU was/is.  Hope's offense is tremendously better than previously.  As I had posted before QB Atwell is not making the "freshman" mistakes that had sometimes plagued him even through last year and the receiving core is back near Hope standards (I won't say the top of what is has had about 6 years ago and before, but getting close).That said, their offense was at least good enough to be threatening to tie the score when the INT happened on the IWU 6 yard line late in the game. 

The other difference so far this year in defense is that the secondary is not giving up the long bomb TD's (at least so far), a better pass rush and the DL not leaking like a sieve forcing LBs and DBs to do tons of tackling more than desired.

Enough of this one...time to move on.  Good luck to your team the rest of the way.

[79jaybird]

Looking at the Elmhurst/NC matchup, one word comes to mind for Elmhurst- Rhythm. Trying to establish some kind of rhythm and consistency on offense.  If Elmhurst cannot gobble up TOP minutes, then it could/will get ugly quickly.   

[thunderdog]

Looking forward to this weekend... catching my first Thunder game of the year vs. Augie.

Want to give a BIG, HUGE shout-out to one of the all-time greats being inducted into the Wheaton Hall of Honor this Saturday... Chip Parrish!  Way to go Chip! 

[Titan Q]

IWU article...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-football-notes-worley-turning-into-sack-master/article_82c861bc-2bb8-11e3-a322-0019bb2963f4.html

Senior halfback T.J. Stinde will not play Saturday because of a one-game suspension for "breaking team rules," according to Eash.

"That's all I want to say about it," said the IWU coach, who added Stinde is allowed to practice with the team this week.

Stinde, a Lexington High School graduate who has split duties with Devonte Jones the past two games, gained 129 yards on 17 carries against Hope. Jones figures to be backed up by sophomore Anfernee Roberts against Millikin.

[iwu70]

On another Pgraph bit of news:

A win on Saturday by Coach Eash  over MU would tie Eash with Don "Swede" Larson as the winningest coach in IWU football history.  Larson was 168-121-6 (back in the day of ties), from 1954-86.  Larson was succeeded by Eash IWU'75 who was a lineman for Larson.  Eash is now 167-88-1 in 26+ seasons.  Eash ranks No. 2 on the all-time CCIW list for league coaching wins with 117.  Larson is the all-time leader with 142.  If Norm sticks around about another 5-6 seasons, winning 5-6 league games per year, he'd become the all-time CCIW wins leader, perhaps in some time before the 2019 or 2020 seasons.   

Quite a record of success and longevity, IMHO.  Congrats to Coach Eash.

IWU70

Too bad about Stinde.  He's played much better than many of us expected him to play in two of the three games so far this season.  Perhaps a rest of his knees for whatever reason is not entirely a bad thing.   

[robertgoulet]

Fun fact from NCC's twitter:

North Central has beaten Elmhurst 14 straight times.

[formerd3db]

Okay, jaybird, iwu70, TitanQ and Mr. Ypsi and others:

What are your predictions for the Elmhurst/IWU game?  Jaybird, do you think an upset is plausible?

[Langhorst_Ghost]

Fun fact from NCC's twitter:

North Central has beaten Elmhurst 14 straight times.

Nothing "fun" about that fact. 

[79jaybird]

Formerd3d3b- I will say that if Elmhurst plays a clean game, mistake free football, and can match up TOP evenly, they will be able to stay close to NC.  Even that might not be enough because I think NC is just smoking with talent this year.  Unfortunately, I cannot make the game as I will be Milwaukee.  Hoping to read in the paper on Saturday a close game with blue feathers in the first column.

[iwu70]

EC vs. IWU a bit down the road.  Need to watch both teams more.  IWU likely over MU this week, by 2-3 TDs, then a big win at Homecoming over NPU, probably by more than 3 TDs, then the long trip to Kenosha, followed by the REALLY REALLY big games -- WC and NCC at home @ Tucci Stadium @ Wilder Field, IWU.  EC - IWU is so so far away, can't really say what to expect.  IWU has a lot of improvement to go, potential to develop to win the CCIW Crown.  So far WC and NCC have looked overall sharper.  I have no doubt the Titans will contend, play WC and NCC tough at home this year. 

MU comes first -- one game at a time, and the weather may play a role in the IWU-MU -- MU Homecoming -- matchup this weekend.

IWU70