FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Kovo]

I'm eagerly awaiting the new Top 25 - IWU should finally enter this week, as Lycoming, Thomas More (and possibly Concordia-Moorhead) should fall out.  I'd predict the new Top 25 teams will be IWU and St. John's (and, perhaps Salisbury or Pacific, if C-M does indeed fall out).

To me, the poll just looks better with three CCIW teams in it!

Awright!  Nailed it!

IWU enters at #23, St. John's at #25; Lyco and TM fall out.  C-M drops to #24 (I approve; Bethel is awfully good, and the final score was due to C-M losing the TO battle 7-0; C-M is a good team having a bad day).

NCC and Wheaton hold steady: NCC at 4, Wheaton at 13.

(My only whiff was that Pacific and Salisbury are both still buried well down in the ARV.)

Three CCIW teams!    And, by my count, correct me if I am wrong, three OAC teams, three WIAC teams, three NWC teams and FOUR MIAC teams.  Perhaps a little more fuel for the who has the best conference debate?

[kiko]

I'm eagerly awaiting the new Top 25 - IWU should finally enter this week, as Lycoming, Thomas More (and possibly Concordia-Moorhead) should fall out.  I'd predict the new Top 25 teams will be IWU and St. John's (and, perhaps Salisbury or Pacific, if C-M does indeed fall out).

To me, the poll just looks better with three CCIW teams in it!

Awright!  Nailed it!

IWU enters at #23, St. John's at #25; Lyco and TM fall out.  C-M drops to #24 (I approve; Bethel is awfully good, and the final score was due to C-M losing the TO battle 7-0; C-M is a good team having a bad day).

NCC and Wheaton hold steady: NCC at 4, Wheaton at 13.

(My only whiff was that Pacific and Salisbury are both still buried well down in the ARV.)

The surprise to me is that Redlands is not receiving any love.  I don't expect they'd be ranked, but would think that they'd at least have a random vote or five given the caliber of the two teams they've lost against.

9/7    vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor L, 31-13
9/21    at Pacific Lutheran L, 35-14
10/5    at Occidental * W, 38-21
10/12    at Cal Lutheran * W, 10-7

[Kovo]

North Central 55
Millikin 7

It wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated.

No it wasn't, as NC took their foot off the gas early.  But, I welcome your thoughts on MU running a flea flicker against NC's reserves in the  2nd half.  I think that if NC had run a flea flicker at that time (48-0)they would be universally ripped.  Is the current state of "sportsmanship" that the team way ahead go vanilla, while the team behind is free to run whatever they want----even trick plays against young players?

When we went down to Decatur my senior year (many many moons ago), and were pounded 44-7, we spent the 4th quarter running between the tackles and kicking it back to them, and MU did the same for us.  I venture to say that if we had run a double reverse, hook and lateral, flea flicker or bounce pass they would have run their starters back into the game and hung a 65 on us-----which seems fair.  However, I am not as close to the game today as many of you, so I welcome the collective thoughts of the board as to what constitutes "sportsmanship" in this context. 

[CardinalAlum]

North Central 55
Millikin 7

It wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated.

No it wasn't, as NC took their foot off the gas early.  But, I welcome your thoughts on MU running a flea flicker against NC's reserves in the  2nd half.  I think that if NC had run a flea flicker at that time (48-0)they would be universally ripped.  Is the current state of "sportsmanship" that the team way ahead go vanilla, while the team behind is free to run whatever they want----even trick plays against young players?

When we went down to Decatur my senior year (many many moons ago), and were pounded 44-7, we spent the 4th quarter running between the tackles and kicking it back to them, and MU did the same for us.  I venture to say that if we had run a double reverse, hook and lateral, flea flicker or bounce pass they would have run their starters back into the game and hung a 65 on us-----which seems fair.  However, I am not as close to the game today as many of you, so I welcome the collective thoughts of the board as to what constitutes "sportsmanship" in this context. 

I don't have a problem with it.  At that point, they are trying to save a little face.   There were a ton of recruits in the house and they didn't want to look any worse than they already did.   

[AndOne]

I think if you're way behind, any type play is OK to run, no mater the level of "trickery" involved, and no matter if you're running plays against the opponents 1st or 4th string.
Actually, by having "trick" plays run against them, it should help the reserves grow in the sense that it helps them be aware and prepare for any possible situation. That way, later on in their careers when they are in the game as a starter or top reserve in a crucial situation, possibly with the game on the line, they'll be ready for anything that may be thrown against them. 

[Kovo]

North Central 55
Millikin 7

It wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated.

No it wasn't, as NC took their foot off the gas early.  But, I welcome your thoughts on MU running a flea flicker against NC's reserves in the  2nd half.  I think that if NC had run a flea flicker at that time (48-0)they would be universally ripped.  Is the current state of "sportsmanship" that the team way ahead go vanilla, while the team behind is free to run whatever they want----even trick plays against young players?

When we went down to Decatur my senior year (many many moons ago), and were pounded 44-7, we spent the 4th quarter running between the tackles and kicking it back to them, and MU did the same for us.  I venture to say that if we had run a double reverse, hook and lateral, flea flicker or bounce pass they would have run their starters back into the game and hung a 65 on us-----which seems fair.  However, I am not as close to the game today as many of you, so I welcome the collective thoughts of the board as to what constitutes "sportsmanship" in this context. 

I don't have a problem with it.  At that point, they are trying to save a little face.   There were a ton of recruits in the house and they didn't want to look any worse than they already did.

Oh, I don't have a problem with it----but I also don't have a problem with the team way ahead running their offense with their young kids.  But, can you imagine the outcry if NC had run their offense and threw it around in the 2nd half?  It just seems to me that it should be a two way street-----one way or the other.

[Kovo]

I think if you're way behind, any type play is OK to run, no mater the level of "trickery" involved, and no matter if you're running plays against the opponents 1st or 4th string.
Actually, by having "trick" plays run against them, it should help the reserves grow in the sense that it helps them be aware and prepare for any possible situation. That way, later on in their careers when they are in the game as a starter or top reserve in a crucial situation, possibly with the game on the line, they'll be ready for anything that may be thrown against them. 

I get it for the defense, but what about the O?  Why can't the young guys run their offense and try to improve for when they are called upon.

[hazzben]

I have no issue with UST being ranked ahead of Wheaton. They should not have stayed in the too ten after losing to an unranked team IMO.  They got a grace check that other teams haven't received.  It will sort itself out.  And Gustavus isn't any better than Augie or Elmhurst in the CCIW

I'd definitely take Gustavus over both those teams. It's not perfect, but here's my rationale:

Simpson      21
@Gustavus  28

Simpson  14
@Central 10

Central  38
@Augie 13

You know the Augie v. Elmhurst result. I think Simpson, Central and Gustavus are pretty equal teams and I think all three are a step above Augie and two steps above Elmhurst. Gustavus has a good defense, very good running back and very capable QB. They took both Augsburg and UST to the brink the last two years.

[AndOne]

I think if you're way behind, any type play is OK to run, no mater the level of "trickery" involved, and no matter if you're running plays against the opponents 1st or 4th string.
Actually, by having "trick" plays run against them, it should help the reserves grow in the sense that it helps them be aware and prepare for any possible situation. That way, later on in their careers when they are in the game as a starter or top reserve in a crucial situation, possibly with the game on the line, they'll be ready for anything that may be thrown against them. 

I get it for the defense, but what about the O?  Why can't the young guys run their offense and try to improve for when they are called upon.

I can certainly understand the principle that what is good, in this case allowable, for one team ought to apply to the other (leading) team as well. However, I believe the prevailing, shall we say unwritten rule, is that if you're leading by a huge margin you just go with your basic running plays most of the time when you have the ball, even if the 3rd-4th team is in. I think if its 3rd and 15 a pass would be OK in a situation like that. However, most coaches would be hugely PO'd if they were 40 points behind and the offense was running trick plays and/or throwing long passes. One exception however--If a conference tiebreaker was dependent on most points scored against a common opponent, total point differential over the entire season, or some other rule that effected where the leading team might be positioned for an automatic qualifier or for placement or qualification going into playoff competition, then all bets are off and any type play is OK. 

[USee]

I'm eagerly awaiting the new Top 25 - IWU should finally enter this week, as Lycoming, Thomas More (and possibly Concordia-Moorhead) should fall out.  I'd predict the new Top 25 teams will be IWU and St. John's (and, perhaps Salisbury or Pacific, if C-M does indeed fall out).

To me, the poll just looks better with three CCIW teams in it!

Awright!  Nailed it!

IWU enters at #23, St. John's at #25; Lyco and TM fall out.  C-M drops to #24 (I approve; Bethel is awfully good, and the final score was due to C-M losing the TO battle 7-0; C-M is a good team having a bad day).

NCC and Wheaton hold steady: NCC at 4, Wheaton at 13.

(My only whiff was that Pacific and Salisbury are both still buried well down in the ARV.)

The surprise to me is that Redlands is not receiving any love.  I don't expect they'd be ranked, but would think that they'd at least have a random vote or five given the caliber of the two teams they've lost against.

9/7    vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor L, 31-13
9/21    at Pacific Lutheran L, 35-14
10/5    at Occidental * W, 38-21
10/12    at Cal Lutheran * W, 10-7

To quote a now famous D3 moderator, "It's not who you lost to but who you beat".

[ExTartanPlayer]

I think if you're way behind, any type play is OK to run, no mater the level of "trickery" involved, and no matter if you're running plays against the opponents 1st or 4th string.
Actually, by having "trick" plays run against them, it should help the reserves grow in the sense that it helps them be aware and prepare for any possible situation. That way, later on in their careers when they are in the game as a starter or top reserve in a crucial situation, possibly with the game on the line, they'll be ready for anything that may be thrown against them. 

I get it for the defense, but what about the O?  Why can't the young guys run their offense and try to improve for when they are called upon.

I can certainly understand the principle that what is good, in this case allowable, for one team ought to apply to the other (leading) team as well. However, I believe the prevailing, shall we say unwritten rule, is that if you're leading by a huge margin you just go with your basic running plays most of the time when you have the ball, even if the 3rd-4th team is in. I think if its 3rd and 15 a pass would be OK in a situation like that. However, most coaches would be hugely PO'd if they were 40 points behind and the offense was running trick plays and/or throwing long passes.

I agree with this.  While I'd probably keep it on the ground with a huge lead, I'm fine with running the "base offense" (including some basic pass plays) with the backups in to let them get some experience running the regular offense (although I'd probably avoid throwing deep balls).  Trick plays with a big lead, that's unnecessary.  If I was on the business end of a blowout, I don't think I'd be particularly upset with the opposing coach running the regular offense with their second team, or calling a pass play on a 3rd and 15; I would understand that he wants his second-string offense to actually run the play that they would run on 3rd and 15 so they get experience with it.  This only extends to a point; obviously I don't suggest letting the backups run the two-minute drill at the end of the game.  But mid-3rd-quarter, or even mid-4th-quarter, if the backups are in, let'em run whatever they would normally run.  I think it's more embarrassing if they start kneeling on first down with 12 minutes to go.

I also think it's fine for the team that's losing to run basically anything they want on offense.  I don't think the team that's losing 48-0 has to abandon any pretense of playing the game just because the other team put their backups in.

[USee]

A bit late to the game here but I want to offer my congratulations to Coach Eash for surpassing Don Larsen's winning record at IWU. 169 games is a lot of wins and Coach Eash has stood the test of time and maintained excellence for the Titan program. Great legacy and tough to do in this day and age where a "win now" mentality is prevalent.

[iwu70]

Glad to see the Titans enter the Top 25.  My congrats too for Norm Eash and the Titan program.  I was in school, around most of Swede Larsen's long career.  Quite an achievement to surpass Coach Larsen and his long long run in Bloomington -- along with Jack Horenberger and Don Keck.  Only Dennie Bridges now still there at IWU of that famous IWU athletic/coaching quartet.  Coach Eash, hope you sit back and enjoy the achievement, at least for a day or two, before getting ready for Carthage, then the two big big games at home.  If all goes to form, the top three teams' games with each other in the next 3-4 weeks are really going to be great clashes -- and will determine the CCIW Crown, post-season berths etc. 

Titans played very very well this past Saturday at Homecoming.  Running game was on fire, special teams, esp. kickoff returns, played well.  The receivers are playing well, making great contributions too.  Good D as always -- soon to be challenged in ways not see in the season heretofore. 

Thanks to Ann Harding and all her team for a wonderful Homecoming weekend.  Had a great time.  Great to see so many students volunteering for Homecoming activities and events. 

Titans making the long road trip to CC this coming weekend -- then the big showdown games at home @Tucci vs. WC and NCC.  Looking forward to those games, for sure.

IWU70

[AndOne]

Congrats to the CCIW Players Of The Week:

Offensive---------->Spencer Stanek, North Central QB
Defensive---------->Adam Dansdill, Wheaton LB
Special Teams----->Devonte Jones, IWU RB

* This is Stanek's third POW award.
* Jones was the offensive POW last week.

http://www.cciw.org/news/2013/10/14/FB_1014134734.aspx

[iwu70]

Congrats to Stanek, Dansdill and Devonte Jones for weekly CCIW honors.  Jones had an explosive first half, running for 166 on 10 tries, but got the award for his nearly 160 return yards, including a long one in the fourth Q.  He's leading the D3 national stats chart in the kickoff return category, averaging about 47 yards per return. 

Titans to Carthage now -- then the run of upcoming big games:  IWU vs. WC, IWU vs. NCC and NCC vs. WC.  Some great games upcoming, no doubt.

Gallik was again very effective and accurate, with many WR and TE options.   Titans are deep, have a great corps of receivers.  By the way, Stinde played well, too, and had 99 yards on Saturday, so almost 2 100 yard RBs for the Titans. 

Another big, good, loud Homecomin crowd.  The IWU Pep band is the best in the nation, IMHO.  Really makes for a great D3 football atmosphere.  Thanks to all the musicians, too.

IWU70