FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Thank you, Greg.  AndOne, this is a posting of brevity.

No commercials here, but the State Farm Hall opening was glorious!   IWU rocks.

IWU70

Excellent 70. +K
Go to the head of the class. 

[Gregory Sager]

Hey! I remember that game!

[Gregory Sager]

Greg, you do realize, of course, that your complaint about my former classmate's 8-paragraph posts (don't recall any than ran more than 4 or 5, but oh well) was imbedded in (including quoted material) about a 20-25 paragraph post!

It was more of a complaint about content than about length. After all, I'm hardly one to be able to complain about the length of anybody else's posts. It's just as easy to scroll past an eight-paragraph post about IWU's Department of Widgets being moved to Whatever Hall than it is to scroll past a two-paragraph post about the same.

Do I attend Carthage and pay $44,350 a year for tuition, a double room, and a 13 meal a week plan, or do I attend Whitewater for $15,130 for tuition, a double room, and a 14 meal a week plan? Aren't some Carthage recruits going to UWW (or another UW school with similar costs)?   

In reference to Greg Sager's last entry above.

And, as I said, that hasn't been that much of a problem for Carthage in the past, because the school matched Illinois's in-state aid and allowed Carthage coaches to concentrate upon recruiting suburban Chicagolanders.

Hey Gregory:

I totally understand where you are coming from i.e. just reporting what you've heard.  It would be interesting to hear from someone there who would know more of the "inside details".  Yet, at the same time, I can't imagine their problem is any different than some of the other DIII schools that have faced this such as our Olivet and Kalamazoo in the MIAA in regards to some of the difficulties in recruiting athletes due to the financial aid requirements/availability and other involved policies.  Hopefully, they can get whatever needs to be rectified worked out.

It is a little different for Carthage than it is for Olivet or Kalamazoo, though. If Olivet or Kalamazoo drew most of their student-athletes from northern Indiana because Michigan had a D3-based system of University of Michigan branches, or because Indiana had a vast metropolis right across the border (picturing metro South Bend/Mishawaka/Elkhart with eight million people makes me chuckle ), then the analogy would be a bit more airtight.

That is true Gregory to an extent.  However, on the other hand, there is indeed somewhat of analogy in regards to the multitude of DII and NAIA scholarship football schools in our region with respect to the D3-based system of the U of Wisconsin that you are alluding to.  It may not be quite the same amount of effect, yet it is a factor and somewhat analogous to the situation.

There's only six D2 and two NAIA schools in the mitten that have football teams, which is not exactly a "multitude" -- and, remember, the number of scholies that those eight schools can hand out is much smaller than it is for D1 schools. While those eight schools might have some effect upon the pool of D3-potential football players in Michigan, I don't think it's the same thing as a school at the same athletic level as the WIAC (Carthage) having to recruit against those WIAC schools in l'etat de fromage. Besides, you're forgetting the other half of the equation vis-a-vis Carthage's recruiting strategy, which is that the Chicagoland suburbs contain more people than the entire state of Wisconsin, let alone the southeastern corner of the state where Carthage has always been most likely to draw any recruiting interest.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Indiana had a vast metropolis right across the border (picturing metro South Bend/Mishawaka/Elkhart with eight million people makes me chuckle ), then the analogy would be a bit more airtight.

Rather than chuckling, I'm, cringing.  My son and daugter-in-law live in Mishawaka (he is manager of an indoor soccer facility).  Traffic is already bad enough, at maybe 100,000 metro area?

BTW, at 65 I'm finally gonna be a grandpa in April or May.  I confess that I was the main cause of the delay - I was 40 when David was born, so 25 is plenty early enough to have a kid.   (Though in 'Ypsitucky' that would be pretty late - the record that I'm aware of would be 36 for a grandma, 49 for a great-grandma - one of my best friends (a former student) worked in child-services.  She lasted about 7 years; the average 'burn-out' rate for that job is about 3.)

I suppose 25 is actually kinda slow since they are Mormon (David converted long before he met D-i-L who will be 22/23).  It works for him/them, so I'm not gonna judge (even though I think it is a pretty silly religion - the Book of Mormon is totally a laugh; fortunately, I'm confident he will never come onto this website ) .  No knowledge yet whether it is a grandson or granddaughter, but already in love with him/her regardless!

[sac]

There's only six D2 and two NAIA schools in the mitten that have football teams, which is not exactly a "multitude" -- and, remember, the number of scholies that those eight schools can hand out is much smaller than it is for D1 schools. While those eight schools might have some effect upon the pool of D3-potential football players in Michigan, I don't think it's the same thing as a school at the same athletic level as the WIAC (Carthage) having to recruit against those WIAC schools in l'etat de fromage. Besides, you're forgetting the other half of the equation vis-a-vis Carthage's recruiting strategy, which is that the Chicagoland suburbs contain more people than the entire state of Wisconsin, let alone the southeastern corner of the state where Carthage has always been most likely to draw any recruiting interest.

There are 8 D2's....
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan
Ferris State
Grand Valley State
Northwood
Saginaw Valley State
Wayne State
Hillsdale


D2 schools can hand out 36 full or partial scholarships.  Most of the D2 schools in Michigan have rosters approaching or over 100 players, many would make fine D3 athletes.  Along with the scholarship issue,  6 of those 8 D2's are state funded schools with substantially lower tuition vs D3, likely on par with the WIAC's.

I've heard more than a few people belly ache about D2's affect on MIAA football recruiting.

[NCF]

Hey! I remember that game!

you probably still have that game

[Mr. Ypsi]

There's only six D2 and two NAIA schools in the mitten that have football teams, which is not exactly a "multitude" -- and, remember, the number of scholies that those eight schools can hand out is much smaller than it is for D1 schools. While those eight schools might have some effect upon the pool of D3-potential football players in Michigan, I don't think it's the same thing as a school at the same athletic level as the WIAC (Carthage) having to recruit against those WIAC schools in l'etat de fromage. Besides, you're forgetting the other half of the equation vis-a-vis Carthage's recruiting strategy, which is that the Chicagoland suburbs contain more people than the entire state of Wisconsin, let alone the southeastern corner of the state where Carthage has always been most likely to draw any recruiting interest.

There are 8 D2's....
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan
Ferris State
Grand Valley State
Northwood
Saginaw Valley State
Wayne State
Hillsdale


D2 schools can hand out 36 full or partial scholarships.  Most of the D2 schools in Michigan have rosters approaching or over 100 players, many would make fine D3 athletes.  Along with the scholarship issue,  6 of those 8 D2's are state funded schools with substantially lower tuition vs D3, likely on par with the WIAC's.

I've heard more than a few people belly ache about D2's affect on MIAA football recruiting.

sac, while I agree with your basic points, Greg is correct.  'The mitten' refers to the lower peninsula; Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan are in 'the wedge'.

[USee]

IWU v NCC this week will come down to turnovers. IWU has had 3 games where they have turned it over 4x. I think its pretty obvious but if they turn it over 4x against North Central I don't think there is any way they can win. Spencer Stanek is playing at an all-american level right now and the NCC defense has been the best in the conference through 4 games. IWU has the talent to win this game and the home field advantage is big but they will have to do something they have yet to do this year, win the turnover battle.

I think this game is NCC -10.5

[wally_wabash]

I suppose 25 is actually kinda slow since they are Mormon (David converted long before he met D-i-L who will be 22/23).  It works for him/them, so I'm not gonna judge (even though I think it is a pretty silly religion - the Book of Mormon is totally a laugh; fortunately, I'm confident he will never come onto this website ) .  No knowledge yet whether it is a grandson or granddaughter, but already in love with him/her regardless!

Couldn't agree more.  I was fortunate enough to catch a performance in DC in August- I haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time.  If/when that show travels through your nearest metropolitan area (or the next time you're in NYC) I would definitely say "man up" and get a seat for a show.  Good times.   

[iwu70]

Chuck, congrats on Grandpadom!  You'll have to change your handle to Mr. Grandpa Ypsi.  I'm not quite there yet, as my son is now 28 and still unattached, just finishing law school after a long long run of 10 years of higher education.  College debt + a good job offer = waiting on marriage and family.  So it goes . . . He hasn't become a Mormon, but he did become a Red Sox fan, being in Boston now for the last 6 or so years.  Not sure which is worse!  (actually I'm cheering for the Red Sox now, that my overage Yankees are clearly not up to the task this season.  Another great game last night.  Would be nice for Boston to celebrate on their sacred, home field).  Fenway will be rocking for sure.

I'm with several posters here about the IWU-NCC showdown Saturday, saying that IWU needs to win the TO battle.  And, IMHO, they have to get some pressure on Stanek and overall play the kind of D they've been playing.  In a close game, could come down to FG kicking where IWU does have an advantage.  Let's hope home field and a TO battle win keeps the game close.  The line at NCC by  one TD or one TD+ seems reasonable to me.  Hoping for a big big big home crowd, as last week's crowd for IWU-WC was very disappointing. 

IWU70

[Langhorst_Ghost]

Elmhurst and Millikin.....well somebody had to win but I am still in shock that Elmhurst isn't at least competing in the top 4 this year.

I am too, SOT.  While the "Big 3" seemed to be the class of the conference heading into September, a hard-fought 7-3 or 6-4 season for the Jays was right where i figured this young team would finish.

Certainly in a transition year for the program, some level of regression was to be expected, but 2013 has been a tough go.  We knew the graduation losses on O would have a huge impact, but i did believe that the talented underclassmen down the depth chart would rise up - in large measure, they have struggled.  During the program's recent rise, the philosophy of the offense has been a ground and pound attack - which has actually been pretty reliable this year - but the Jays have been unable to generate balance with a passing game, leading to way too many 3-and outs, limited opportunities for big plays, and turnovers in long 3rd down situations.

The D has actually been very good - they have kept the Jays in just about every game this year, but they have been on the field a lot and been called to carry the heavy, tremendously uneven load way too often.

I fully expected these Jays to scrap and give great effort...and they have (see 14-14 @ half vs. NCC and 7-0 @ half vs. Wheaton) - and i give a lot of credit to first year HBC Joe Adam for keeping his kids focused and inspired - but the extreme inconsistency of the offense (13.7 ppg) to generate positive possessions or big plays has been surprising.

The Jays' O has just really struggled to score points the first 7 weeks of the year: 7 @ Trine, 0 @ Chicago, 7 on Homecoming (other 7 on D), and 3 at McCully. The shut-out @ the U of C left the deepest cut - the Maroons put up a respectable non-con effort in most years, but leaving Hyde Park with a zero on the board was incredibly disappointing. 

Just this past Saturday, the Big Blue rolled into Langhorst with, statistically, THE WORST DEFENSE in the Nation (giving up an average of 550 yards and 45 points/game and with 6 freshmen starting) - the Jays turned the ball over as many times as they found the end-zone, and allowed a really banged-up Millikin team to kind of hang around all afternoon.

I do believe, however, that the Jays will finish strong.  Coach Adam does respect what Coach Conway is building up on Foster Avenue, so i can promise you the Jays will play hard Saturday.  Carthage is a mess right now - EC will take care of business on Senior Day in two weeks.  As far as the Greenies go - EC will give them a fight in Bloomington (much like the Fighting Norms did a year ago at Langhorst in a very similar situation) - whether they can spoil IWU's season or not might be a bit of a stretch, but i won't count the Jays out given the effort we saw in the NCC and Wheaton games.

Coach Adam will get this program back on track, i have no doubt about it.  The roster has a lot of really good young talent, the coaching staff have been together for a while, and the facilities have seen big-time upgrades - there's a lot to like about the program going forward.  As i said before the season, 2012 was a special year, no doubt, but 2013 (although disappointing) is not an indication of the long-term direction of the program.

[mr_b]

Game story in the QC Times.

Augustana head coach Rob Cushman said he warned his players in advance that they couldn't take Saturday's game lightly.

"I tried to tell our guys that's not the old North Park," Cushman said. "I'm not sure I got through to them."

What's funny about this is that the Augie of today is taking anyone lightly!   

Now, that's a post with brevity!

!

[ncc58]

There's not a Swimming Board, so can anyone explain this:
Rose-Hulman's Martin named CCIW Men's Swimmer of the Week

http://www.cciw.org/news/2013/10/29/mswim_1029134245.aspx

I've not previously seen where an athlete from a non-CCIW school was the CCIW athlete of the week.

(This came across my Twitter feed from the CCIW_Athletics account.)

[mr_b]

There's not a Swimming Board, so can anyone explain this:
Rose-Hulman's Martin named CCIW Men's Swimmer of the Week

http://www.cciw.org/news/2013/10/29/mswim_1029134245.aspx

I've not previously seen where an athlete from a non-CCIW school was the CCIW athlete of the week.

(This came across my Twitter feed from the CCIW_Athletics account.)

Rose-Hulman joined the CCIW as an associate member just for men's and women's swimming in 2007.  But it does seem odd to see an athlete from Rose Hulman be named CCIW athlete of the week.

[ncc58]

There's not a Swimming Board, so can anyone explain this:
Rose-Hulman's Martin named CCIW Men's Swimmer of the Week

http://www.cciw.org/news/2013/10/29/mswim_1029134245.aspx

I've not previously seen where an athlete from a non-CCIW school was the CCIW athlete of the week.

(This came across my Twitter feed from the CCIW_Athletics account.)

Rose-Hulman joined the CCIW as an associate member just for men's and women's swimming in 2007.  But it does seem odd to see an athlete from Rose Hulman be named CCIW athlete of the week.

Thanks. I figured it was something like that. The press release has a blurb at the bottom that the CCIW is an 8 school conference blah blah blah. No mention of associate members.