FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

The first time that Norm Eash met Mike Conway, this was their dialogue:

EASH: Why did you take that job? That's one of the worst football programs in the entire country!
CONWAY: That's exactly why I took it. I want to be the one who turns it around.
EASH: [chuckling] Well, good luck with that. But if North Park ever beats the Titans, it'll be long after I'm gone.

I'm not breaking anybody's confidence by retelling this. It seems like everybody connected to NPU football has already heard it.

Typical.  Great win for the Park! 

[Craft_Beermeister]

My Predictions:
B: Hardin Simmons
C1: Whitewater
C2: Wesley
C3: Mary Hardin Baylor
C4: St Johns
C5: Platteville
C6: Ohio Northern (I don't think they leave the #2 OAC team out)

My #1 seeds are : Mt U, Linfield, Oshkosh, and Wheaton

I think Wheaton has a better resume than St Thomas

Thunderdog i think you got it right.

[wally_wabash]

ONU is a possibility for the last team in.  We didn't think they graded out quite as well as Guilford or Whitworth last night, but I wouldn't be overly shocked if they make it.  It would be a mild surprise though.  ONU has an extra loss and a lower SOS that has to be talked around. 

[kiko]

My Predictions:
B: Hardin Simmons
C1: Whitewater
C2: Wesley
C3: Mary Hardin Baylor
C4: St Johns
C5: Platteville
C6: Ohio Northern (I don't think they leave the #2 OAC team out)

My #1 seeds are : Mt U, Linfield, Oshkosh, and Wheaton

I think Wheaton has a better resume than St Thomas

Thunderdog i think you got it right.

Wheaton may or may not get a #1, but it certainly won't be those four.  As Wally suggests, St. Thomas gets a #1 before Oshkosh does simply because they are the West #1 and Oshkosh is the West #2.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Ouch.  Wheaton will potentially play UWW in round 2, with UWO looming in the quarterfinals if they could beat UWW.

[wally_wabash]

My Predictions:
B: Hardin Simmons
C1: Whitewater
C2: Wesley
C3: Mary Hardin Baylor
C4: St Johns
C5: Platteville
C6: Ohio Northern (I don't think they leave the #2 OAC team out)

My #1 seeds are : Mt U, Linfield, Oshkosh, and Wheaton

I think Wheaton has a better resume than St Thomas

Thunderdog i think you got it right.

Wheaton may or may not get a #1, but it certainly won't be those four.  As Wally suggests, St. Thomas gets a #1 before Oshkosh does simply because they are the West #1 and Oshkosh is the West #2.

It was those four. 

West had to have kept Whitworth ranked ahead of Platteville which is the only way their last two selections make sense. 

[SaintsFAN]

ONU is a possibility for the last team in.  We didn't think they graded out quite as well as Guilford or Whitworth last night, but I wouldn't be overly shocked if they make it.  It would be a mild surprise though.  ONU has an extra loss and a lower SOS that has to be talked around.

I texted Pat during your show last night that I had a hunch ONU would be in.  Really happy for Dean Paul.

[HScoach]

Wow, terrible draw for Wheaton as a 2 seed.  Brutal.

[markerickson]

Dokata Conway garnered all-conference recognition in his sophomore year - I believe first team.  Unfortunately, he struggled with injuries in both his junior and senior campaigns.  The picture of the seniors shows him with a cast.  Thank you seniors for some special victories, including three straight at Homecoming. 

[USee]

I love it.  If Wheaton makes the Stagg there will be little doubt they earn it.  Heck if they win it all they will likely have to beat the National Champ from each of the past decade as well as the WIAC winner and probably Lnfield or St Thomas (or someone better than those two which is brutal). Let's go. Wheaton hasn't been healthy on offense but they should be close to full strength in the second round. Time to see how we stack up.  Never played UWW, seen them many times. It will be a great pleasure to host them.

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is not yet out (the guys are a bit busy today, I'm sure!), but probably few if any changes near the top.  By last week's poll, the bracket-makers certainly did Wheaton no favors.  If games were to go as the poll would predict them, to even reach the Stagg they would have to beat #6 UWW in round 2 (at least it is a home game), then #3 UWO on the road, then #1 UMU in Alliance!  I wish them lots of luck!

[Titan Q]

Wheaton's bracket reminds me of many an IWU basketball bracket.  I've found that it's awfully fun to watch your team compete against the elite teams in the tournament.

I believe Wheaton is strong enough on both sides of the ball to compete with anyone in the tournament, including UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh, and Mount Union.  The Thunder have some unique talent and depth in that defensive unit especially. 

Good luck to Wheaton - would love to see the Thunder make a deep run.  Seems like a hard-working team that does things the right way.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Q, agreed on all points (now, Wheaton, get healthy!), and have especially enjoyed some of our early round victories (always on the road, of course) over teams ranked #1 or #2.  Hope, Hanover, UChi and WashU come immediately to mind, but I know there have been others as well.  So IF Wheaton can pull off a deep run, it will be all-the-sweeter than if they beat 'lesser' teams.

[mr_b]

That 29-season losing streak aside, yesterday's upset win felt like justice was served. I realize that schadenfreude is not a Christian attitude, but, given the crap that Norm Eash has said to Mike Conway, it's hard not to savor the thought of Eash stewing over this loss for the entire off-season. Sometimes in life the Hollywood script plays out, and the arrogant do get their comeuppance.

It must have been a long bus ride back to Bloomington... actually twice yesterday for the Titans, once for football, the other for basketball (and not counting the sizable Titan fan base that travels to so many away contests).

[Mugsy]

Wow... congrats to former Wheaton D-coordinator Rod Sandberg in leading Whitworth to a 9-1 season and the 2015 playoffs in only his 2nd year at the helm.  A tall task with Linfield in first round, but huge accomplishment and I've got to think well ahead of expectations.