FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

On the Wartburg/IWU game...

http://wartburgcircuit.org/gameday-wartburg-at-illinois-wesleyan-ncaa-first-round/

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/titans-first-round-foe-rich-with-playoff-history/article_3f09ea66-5400-11e3-8363-001a4bcf887a.html

http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/story/welseyan-waiting-for-wartburg/d/story/sObmdrVPmU6D2bjtr_qFAA


Looking forward to watching...good luck Titans!!

[iwu4ever]

Good Luck to all 3 former Titan players who are leading their teams today in the NCAA D3 playoffs:
Norm Eash - IWU
John Thorne - North Central
Mike Maynard - Redlands

[AndOne]

Right now in beautiful downtown NaPPer-Ville its a balmy 25 degrees with a wind chill of 11. Conditions are expected to still be exactly the same at the noon kickoff time of the NCC-Albion game, and remain steady through 3:00, after which temps will begin to head downward to a low later tonight of 13 with a 0 degree wind chill. Snow flurries just began to swirl about 5 minutes ago. You have to wonder what effect the frozen air will have on fingers, among other body parts, and how that might negatively affect the passing game today. 

[dahlby]

Get the ball warmers out!

[AndOne]

Get the ball warmers out!

BOTH kinds! 

[devildog29]

Too much talk about 2nd and 3rd round games.   Titans looking completely disorganized in the first quarter.

[formerd3db]

Too much talk about 2nd and 3rd round games.   Titans looking completely disorganized in the first quarter.

This is not good, IWU is getting killed so far and so is Albion.  However, still much time left to get back in the game for IWU; I think it is obviously over for Albion all but the final score.

[iwu70]

Titans getting their butts kicked by Wartburg so far -- down 21-0 at the half.  Not easy in these cold windy snowy conditions to get back into such a game.  We'll see.

'70

[devildog29]

Too much talk about 2nd and 3rd round games.   Titans looking completely disorganized in the first quarter.

This is not good, IWU is getting killed so far.  However, still much time left to get back in the game.

Well, my one glimmer of hope is that a couple years ago against Monmouth, the game looked very similar in the first half with the Titans basically controlling the entire half.  We know how that movie ended.

[Titan Q]

Wartburg 41
IWU 7

As Ron Burgundy once said, "That escalated quickly."

IWU got the opening kick, ended up with tremendous field position (about the Wartburg 35 I think), but got into a 3rd and long where Rob Gallik through an INT.  The Titans forced a Warburg punt but couldn't do anything with it again and had to punt it back.  From that point forward (about the 10:00 mark of the 1st Q), this game was complete domination by Wartburg.  Wartburg just completely controlled the O and D lines, and thus, the game.

Wartburg is the better team (clearly), but I don't want to let the Titans off the hook.  IWU's gameplan absolutely stunk, and their execution was worse.  Norm Eash teams have usually been good in these first round games (including that loss to Monmouth two years ago - IWU played well, Monmouth played a little better), so seeing the Titans just get boatraced today was shocking.

A tough way to see that great senior class go out, but thank you from this alum to that group for everything they have done for the program.

[iwu70]

An old fashioned butt kicking.  I couldn't have been more wrong about Wartburg.  They are a very good, strong, physical team and took it to the Titans today.  Very disappointing  for IWU with no ability to move the ball on the ground, a very poor day through the air too, and 5 or so TOs -- 3 INTs and 2 key fumbles lost.  The result would be pretty clear, especially in a play-off game vs. a quality opponent . . .  also in very demanding weather conditions, but all credit to Wartburg.  Their very crisp O reminds me a bit of NCC.  Titans really couldn't control the LOS or the edges today -- so probably the most disappointing defensive performance of the year. Congrats to Wartburg on a big win in round #1.  Gotta be very disappointing for Norm and the Titans, leaving again a pretty sour taste in the mouth after an otherwise excellent season, making the playoffs for the third time in five years.  Yes, execution and game plan today was pretty lame.  As they say, "there's always next year."

Congrats to the Titans and Coach Eash on a good season -- going 9-2.  Thanks to all the seniors for all their work and dedication.  A lot of good performances over the years and lots of good play to please and entertain the Titan faithful.  Good luck with all your future endeavors.  I have enjoyed seeing so many games, so many excellent performances by the Titans this season. 

IWU70

[Mr. Ypsi]

The ONLY good news for the Titans is that Gallik did get the career passing yardage record, and Simms did get the season record for unassisted tackles.  I'm sure they would both trade the records in a heartbeat for a win.

They finished with -5 yards rushing on 22 carries.  And enough turnovers to stock a bakery.

But I join in on congratulating the team (especially the seniors) for a very good season overall.

[Naperick]

Wartburg 41
IWU 7

As Ron Burgundy once said, "That escalated quickly."

IWU got the opening kick, ended up with tremendous field position (about the Wartburg 35 I think), but got into a 3rd and long where Rob Gallik through an INT.  The Titans forced a Warburg punt but couldn't do anything with it again and had to punt it back.  From that point forward (about the 10:00 mark of the 1st Q), this game was complete domination by Wartburg.  Wartburg just completely controlled the O and D lines, and thus, the game.

Wartburg is the better team (clearly), but I don't want to let the Titans off the hook.  IWU's gameplan absolutely stunk, and their execution was worse.  Norm Eash teams have usually been good in these first round games (including that loss to Monmouth two years ago - IWU played well, Monmouth played a little better), so seeing the Titans just get boatraced today was shocking.

A tough way to see that great senior class go out, but thank you from this alum to that group for everything they have done for the program.

Never expected that.  Hats off to Wartburg.

I know it's weird to write this right now but Congrats to the Titans on a nice season!

[Naperick]

Nice win for the Cardinals today!  Looks like a tough opponent in round 2.  Platteville up big on Concordia (WI) late in the game.

[devildog29]

The ONLY good news for the Titans is that Gallik did get the career passing yardage record, and Simms did get the season record for unassisted tackles.  I'm sure they would both trade the records in a heartbeat for a win.

They finished with -5 yards rushing on 22 carries.  And enough turnovers to stock a bakery.

But I join in on congratulating the team (especially the seniors) for a very good season overall.

I will preface this by saying this was a complete and total team a$$-whooping with fault everywhere as Q mentioned above.  But quite frankly, he may be the all-time career leader in passing yards, but this was a game where a senior leader needed to step up and make some plays when the bleeding started, and that didn't happen.  It was clear after the first few possessions that Wartburg was the better team, but that's where leadership needs to dig deep and keep the game respectable.