FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCF]

A second and a third on the Christmas wishes already posted as well as a Merry Christmas to all who post here and make the football season a whole lot more fun!!!

[ncc_fan]

Does anyone have an explanation for why Wheaton went for it on 4th and 1, looking at about a 33 yard field goal down 2 with 5:00 and change left?  Whether it was a poor spot or not, the call makes no sense to me. Take the lead. It was little more than a chip shot.

Wheaton's 4th down conversion rate is much higher then their FG conversion rate.

Wheaton's decision to make no improvements to their kicking game during the season ultimately played a major role in costing them this game and shortening their run in the play-offs. 

Two turnovers on downs in the Red Zone during this game clearly showed that at that point in the season even the Wheaton coaching staff lacked any confidence in their FG kicker (6 potential points lost).  The missed extra point (ultimately cost them 2 points) and two missed FG attempts (3 more points lost) at the end of the game showed their lack of confidence was well founded. 

Wheaton had created a significant problem here and their decision making during this game clearly showed that they knew that.  They tried everything in this game to work around it, but they had let this issue fester way too long during the course of the season (which is quite contrary to the way Wheaton typically handles things) and it ultimately caught up to them.

What would you suggest they do?  You have to play with the guys on your roster.  It's not as if they could add a free-agent kicker midway through the season.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Does anyone have an explanation for why Wheaton went for it on 4th and 1, looking at about a 33 yard field goal down 2 with 5:00 and change left?  Whether it was a poor spot or not, the call makes no sense to me. Take the lead. It was little more than a chip shot.

Wheaton's 4th down conversion rate is much higher then their FG conversion rate.

Wheaton's decision to make no improvements to their kicking game during the season ultimately played a major role in costing them this game and shortening their run in the play-offs. 

Two turnovers on downs in the Red Zone during this game clearly showed that at that point in the season even the Wheaton coaching staff lacked any confidence in their FG kicker (6 potential points lost).  The missed extra point (ultimately cost them 2 points) and two missed FG attempts (3 more points lost) at the end of the game showed their lack of confidence was well founded. 

Wheaton had created a significant problem here and their decision making during this game clearly showed that they knew that.  They tried everything in this game to work around it, but they had let this issue fester way too long during the course of the season (which is quite contrary to the way Wheaton typically handles things) and it ultimately caught up to them.

What would you suggest they do?  You have to play with the guys on your roster.  It's not as if they could add a free-agent kicker midway through the season.

It always surprises me when schools with outstanding soccer programs have trouble finding a kicker.  I realize footballs and soccer balls are rather different, but surely there is someone on the soccer team who doesn't see the pitch much but has a monster leg - I'd bet that 3-4 weeks of intensive training could produce a kicker who is deadly from 40+ yards out.

[Gregory Sager]

Does anyone have an explanation for why Wheaton went for it on 4th and 1, looking at about a 33 yard field goal down 2 with 5:00 and change left?  Whether it was a poor spot or not, the call makes no sense to me. Take the lead. It was little more than a chip shot.

Wheaton's 4th down conversion rate is much higher then their FG conversion rate.

Wheaton's decision to make no improvements to their kicking game during the season ultimately played a major role in costing them this game and shortening their run in the play-offs. 

Two turnovers on downs in the Red Zone during this game clearly showed that at that point in the season even the Wheaton coaching staff lacked any confidence in their FG kicker (6 potential points lost).  The missed extra point (ultimately cost them 2 points) and two missed FG attempts (3 more points lost) at the end of the game showed their lack of confidence was well founded. 

Wheaton had created a significant problem here and their decision making during this game clearly showed that they knew that.  They tried everything in this game to work around it, but they had let this issue fester way too long during the course of the season (which is quite contrary to the way Wheaton typically handles things) and it ultimately caught up to them.

What would you suggest they do?  You have to play with the guys on your roster.  It's not as if they could add a free-agent kicker midway through the season.

It always surprises me when schools with outstanding soccer programs have trouble finding a kicker.  I realize footballs and soccer balls are rather different, but surely there is someone on the soccer team who doesn't see the pitch much but has a monster leg - I'd bet that 3-4 weeks of intensive training could produce a kicker who is deadly from 40+ yards out.

Soccer coaches are loath to give up any of their players, no matter how little they play. Plus, the player has to want to switch sports.

When I was a North Park student, the NPC soccer team loaned the football team a kicker -- and in his first game in pads and a helmet he promptly went out on a soggy Saturday and kicked the only points in a 3-0 mud-bowl victory over Carroll (this was long before Hedstrand Field had the Field Turf surface installed), winning the CCIW Special Teams Player of the Week award for his efforts. What makes the story even better is that he was a music major who played the cello. I've always wondered how the other Vikings felt about a soccer-loving cello player walking onto the team, kicking the game-winning field goal, and winning the POW award.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Does anyone have an explanation for why Wheaton went for it on 4th and 1, looking at about a 33 yard field goal down 2 with 5:00 and change left?  Whether it was a poor spot or not, the call makes no sense to me. Take the lead. It was little more than a chip shot.

Wheaton's 4th down conversion rate is much higher then their FG conversion rate.

Wheaton's decision to make no improvements to their kicking game during the season ultimately played a major role in costing them this game and shortening their run in the play-offs. 

Two turnovers on downs in the Red Zone during this game clearly showed that at that point in the season even the Wheaton coaching staff lacked any confidence in their FG kicker (6 potential points lost).  The missed extra point (ultimately cost them 2 points) and two missed FG attempts (3 more points lost) at the end of the game showed their lack of confidence was well founded. 

Wheaton had created a significant problem here and their decision making during this game clearly showed that they knew that.  They tried everything in this game to work around it, but they had let this issue fester way too long during the course of the season (which is quite contrary to the way Wheaton typically handles things) and it ultimately caught up to them.

What would you suggest they do?  You have to play with the guys on your roster.  It's not as if they could add a free-agent kicker midway through the season.

This.

+1

[USee]

Does anyone have an explanation for why Wheaton went for it on 4th and 1, looking at about a 33 yard field goal down 2 with 5:00 and change left?  Whether it was a poor spot or not, the call makes no sense to me. Take the lead. It was little more than a chip shot.

Wheaton's 4th down conversion rate is much higher then their FG conversion rate.

Sam Cote was a first team ALL CCIW kicker in 2012. Wheaton did not lack talent. They had kicks blocked in both playoff games because their operation was slow. New snapper (slow) and new holder. The kicks were blocked off the edge which means your snap, hold, kick were too slow. It's not about ability to kick the ball. Changing kickers wouldn't have made a difference on the extra point or FG that was blocked vs JCU, which was the issue. The same guy beat North Central and was perfect on Extra Points and FG's in a 3 Pt win. His 41 yd FG with under a minute to play was wide left by about 5 feet. 

Wheaton's decision to make no improvements to their kicking game during the season ultimately played a major role in costing them this game and shortening their run in the play-offs. 

Two turnovers on downs in the Red Zone during this game clearly showed that at that point in the season even the Wheaton coaching staff lacked any confidence in their FG kicker (6 potential points lost).  The missed extra point (ultimately cost them 2 points) and two missed FG attempts (3 more points lost) at the end of the game showed their lack of confidence was well founded. 

Wheaton had created a significant problem here and their decision making during this game clearly showed that they knew that.  They tried everything in this game to work around it, but they had let this issue fester way too long during the course of the season (which is quite contrary to the way Wheaton typically handles things) and it ultimately caught up to them.

What would you suggest they do?  You have to play with the guys on your roster.  It's not as if they could add a free-agent kicker midway through the season.

It always surprises me when schools with outstanding soccer programs have trouble finding a kicker.  I realize footballs and soccer balls are rather different, but surely there is someone on the soccer team who doesn't see the pitch much but has a monster leg - I'd bet that 3-4 weeks of intensive training could produce a kicker who is deadly from 40+ yards out.

[joehakes]

The NP soccer player that Greg described couldn't make practices because of his schedule as a music major and couldn't maintain his fitness level in order to play.  He did have a big leg and could score by blasting the ball past the keeper.  When I talked to him about kicking for the football team, he said that he would do it under specific circumstances.  He would not wear football shoes, only soccer shoes.  He did not want to talk to any other players on the sideline and did not want to share a seat on the bus.  This wasn't a loan, it was changing teams.

The football team literally had no kicker so these conditions were met.  As Greg said, his first FGA produced a win for North Park, which was pretty rare in those days.  I was in the pressbox to see it and it was great to help out another team.

That being said, most soccer players want to play (or practice) soccer. They don't want to play football so the idea that any school with a good soccer program will have players willing to swtich sports.  In this case, the player wasn't going to be able to play soccer because of his schedule, but he could practice kicking at a time that worked for him.  The coaches at North Park did not want to add soccer back in 1981 and so I had some politics to play.  This move and beating Augie our first year went a long way toward the program being accepted in the athletic department.  Great memory, Greg. 

[Veinteuno]

Expect an Augie decision by the end of this week or possibly early next week at the latest. Down to three finalists, last interview tomorrow.

[79jaybird]

Is Jeff Lindmark one of the Augie candidates?  I think he would have a wealth of knowledge about Augie, the CCIW, and football in general. 

[Veinteuno]

He is not one of the finalists. However, I do feel confident in the three that were brought in.

[USee]

You should feel confident, as other Augie fans should, that at least there is a process this time around and they are taking their time and interviewing candidates. Augie, despite their recent and relative troubles, is a good D3 job and I am sure any search would yield strong candidates. I look forward to seeing who they end up with.

[CardinalAlum]

You should feel confident, as other Augie fans should, that at least there is a process this time around and they are taking their time and interviewing candidates. Augie, despite their recent and relative troubles, is a good D3 job and I am sure any search would yield strong candidates. I look forward to seeing who they end up with.

It has been a good job in the past.  Is it still a good job though?   Augie is still in Rock Island, just like Millikin is still in Decatur.  I know they did win in the past there but I don't know how you sell recruits on those two cities to attend college. 

[USee]

You should feel confident, as other Augie fans should, that at least there is a process this time around and they are taking their time and interviewing candidates. Augie, despite their recent and relative troubles, is a good D3 job and I am sure any search would yield strong candidates. I look forward to seeing who they end up with.

It has been a good job in the past.  Is it still a good job though?   Augie is still in Rock Island, just like Millikin is still in Decatur.  I know they did win in the past there but I don't know how you sell recruits on those two cities to attend college.

Augie Basketball seems to be able to do it. It's not for everybody but it's also not any harder than many of the D3 schools out there. And most of them don't have the tradition Augie has to go on. I am not saying its attractive like it used to be, but it's not a bad job.

[Augie6]

You should feel confident, as other Augie fans should, that at least there is a process this time around and they are taking their time and interviewing candidates. Augie, despite their recent and relative troubles, is a good D3 job and I am sure any search would yield strong candidates. I look forward to seeing who they end up with.

It has been a good job in the past.  Is it still a good job though?   Augie is still in Rock Island, just like Millikin is still in Decatur.  I know they did win in the past there but I don't know how you sell recruits on those two cities to attend college.

There is a heck of a lot more going on in Rock Island than when I attended there, and we were able to recruit just fine.  I absolutely enjoyed my time in Rock Island and would have no problem recommending it to potential recruits.   A lot of money has been spent to upgrade facilities (both academically and athletically) in recent years and IMO, Augie has a one of the most beautiful campuses in the CCIW.  No question the former staff hurt the program from a recruiting standpoint as they didn't really have anyone that was connected to the Chicago area or the rural areas of Illinois and kids want to play for a program that is a winner, which Augie wasn't over the past few seasons.  I am really intrigued about one of the candidates for the position and I'm hoping he is the one that gets the job.  As USee mentioned, it does feel good that there was some effort put into a search for a qualified candidate instead of what happened when Barnes left. I guess we'll all find out in a few days. 

[Veinteuno]

A lot of D3 schools are not in the most attractive cities. Although Rock Island is not what I would deem desirable, between Augie's campus life and the district (downtown Rock Island) there is actually a lot to do and fun to be had. i don't think its that hard of a sell at all, which is why the majority of the students are from the Chicago suburbs.