FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gotberg]

I listened to NPU's preseason update on cciw.org.  I love that Nick French and Conway talk about conference title ambitions even if it is just talk.  I have never heard that genuine confidence about football from my school before in my life and I like it.

Roster also posted:  http://athletics.northpark.edu/roster.aspx?roster=100&path=football

[thunderdog]

Speaking of Joe Callahan... Dude is tearing it up tonight for Green Bay... Still has a shot at the 53 man roster.

[Gregory Sager]

I listened to NPU's preseason update on cciw.org.  I love that Nick French and Conway talk about conference title ambitions even if it is just talk.  I have never heard that genuine confidence about football from my school before in my life and I like it.

Truer words were never spoken. Those of you who are fans of the football programs of other schools probably dismiss talk like that out of hand, even if it's for the team that you follow (unless you're a fan of Wheaton or North Central). You may consider it to simply be the typical hyperbole that one hears from all players and coaches about their teams in preseason. Well, allow me to disabuse you of that notion. You don't typically hear that kind of confident hyperbole from all players and coaches. There's absolutely nothing typical about hearing it from a North Park player or coach. It simply hasn't happened, at least not in my memory -- and my memory, unfortunately, goes quite a ways back now. At North Park the preseason talk was always about "getting better" and "building the program" rather than competing for a CCIW championship. And even that often tended to sound hyperbolic, because most preseasons you'd look at the players that the Vikings had on hand and you'd think to yourself, "They'll be lucky to survive in one piece, let alone get better as individuals or as a team."

This is not to say that the Vikings are going to win the CCIW. As Gotberg said, there is that "just talk" element to what Nick French and Mike Conway said that is the usual yadda-yadda-yadda of preseason chatter from players who are building up their own confidence and coaches who are trying to help build it for them. I think that fans like Gotberg and I are clear-eyed and realistic, and I know that Mike Conway is as well -- he wouldn't have spent so much time paying homage to the strength of the CCIW if he didn't have a good understanding of where NPU sits in the league coming into the 2017 season. But focusing upon where the Park realistically slots in preseason predictions misses the point. The point here is that, because the NPU football program has made such big strides on the field over the past three years, the team has undergone a sea change in terms of how it internally considers itself. The Vikings no longer aspire to get better. They expect to get better. They now aspire to win.

There's just a very, very different mentality now under Mike Conway, and I'm not sure that non-NPU types really understand that.

[kiko]

I listened to NPU's preseason update on cciw.org.  I love that Nick French and Conway talk about conference title ambitions even if it is just talk.  I have never heard that genuine confidence about football from my school before in my life and I like it.

Truer words were never spoken. Those of you who are fans of the football programs of other schools probably dismiss talk like that out of hand, even if it's for the team that you follow (unless you're a fan of Wheaton or North Central). You may consider it to simply be the typical hyperbole that one hears from all players and coaches about their teams in preseason. Well, allow me to disabuse you of that notion. You don't typically hear that kind of confident hyperbole from all players and coaches. There's absolutely nothing typical about hearing it from a North Park player or coach. It simply hasn't happened, at least not in my memory -- and my memory, unfortunately, goes quite a ways back now. At North Park the preseason talk was always about "getting better" and "building the program" rather than competing for a CCIW championship. And even that often tended to sound hyperbolic, because most preseasons you'd look at the players that the Vikings had on hand and you'd think to yourself, "They'll be lucky to survive in one piece, let alone get better as individuals or as a team."

This is not to say that the Vikings are going to win the CCIW. As Gotberg said, there is that "just talk" element to what Nick French and Mike Conway said that is the usual yadda-yadda-yadda of preseason chatter from players who are building up their own confidence and coaches who are trying to help build it for them. I think that fans like Gotberg and I are clear-eyed and realistic, and I know that Mike Conway is as well -- he wouldn't have spent so much time paying homage to the strength of the CCIW if he didn't have a good understanding of where NPU sits in the league coming into the 2017 season. But focusing upon where the Park realistically slots in preseason predictions misses the point. The point here is that, because the NPU football program has made such big strides on the field over the past three years, the team has undergone a sea change in terms of how it internally considers itself. The Vikings no longer aspire to get better. They expect to get better. They now aspire to win.

There's just a very, very different mentality now under Mike Conway, and I'm not sure that non-NPU types really understand that.

Maybe not that exact transition, but some of us are old enough to remember North Central make the pivot from perpetual mediocrity (in a good year) to a level of consistent success and recalibrated expectations.  It's not easy to push through that sort of tipping point, which I believe NPU has, and is a nice feeling when you realize the paradigm has shifted from 'I hope Augustana doesn't beat us by 40 this year' to 'we are as good as they are*, and expect to beat them'.

(*) - today this is 'we are a better team than they are', which was a second tipping point to break past.

[USee]

I listened to NPU's preseason update on cciw.org.  I love that Nick French and Conway talk about conference title ambitions even if it is just talk.  I have never heard that genuine confidence about football from my school before in my life and I like it.

Truer words were never spoken. Those of you who are fans of the football programs of other schools probably dismiss talk like that out of hand, even if it's for the team that you follow (unless you're a fan of Wheaton or North Central). You may consider it to simply be the typical hyperbole that one hears from all players and coaches about their teams in preseason. Well, allow me to disabuse you of that notion. You don't typically hear that kind of confident hyperbole from all players and coaches. There's absolutely nothing typical about hearing it from a North Park player or coach. It simply hasn't happened, at least not in my memory -- and my memory, unfortunately, goes quite a ways back now. At North Park the preseason talk was always about "getting better" and "building the program" rather than competing for a CCIW championship. And even that often tended to sound hyperbolic, because most preseasons you'd look at the players that the Vikings had on hand and you'd think to yourself, "They'll be lucky to survive in one piece, let alone get better as individuals or as a team."

This is not to say that the Vikings are going to win the CCIW. As Gotberg said, there is that "just talk" element to what Nick French and Mike Conway said that is the usual yadda-yadda-yadda of preseason chatter from players who are building up their own confidence and coaches who are trying to help build it for them. I think that fans like Gotberg and I are clear-eyed and realistic, and I know that Mike Conway is as well -- he wouldn't have spent so much time paying homage to the strength of the CCIW if he didn't have a good understanding of where NPU sits in the league coming into the 2017 season. But focusing upon where the Park realistically slots in preseason predictions misses the point. The point here is that, because the NPU football program has made such big strides on the field over the past three years, the team has undergone a sea change in terms of how it internally considers itself. The Vikings no longer aspire to get better. They expect to get better. They now aspire to win.

There's just a very, very different mentality now under Mike Conway, and I'm not sure that non-NPU types really understand that.

I understand it. I saw it first hand at Wheaton. They were 2-7 for 4 straight years before JR Bishop took over and began the cultural change that led to where they are now. It wasn't the stretch of futility that the Park fans have endured, but it was a sea change nonetheless. It started with getting better, then getting better players, then expecting to win, and eventually they won and then kept winning. It's no easy task but I see the familiar roots of it on Foster with Coach Conway. He has that ship headed in the right direction. The only question is when, not if. It won't be this year but I would expect NPU to continue to surprise people with what they are doing.

[izzy stradlin]

Can anyone shed some light on which LB's will replace Dansdill & Swider?

From the preview video it sounds like Luke Sahly and Eric Stevenson or Kody Thornburg. 

On the DLine Whit Wiggins (added 20-30 pounds) inside and Michael Stanley outside. 

[robertgoulet]

I listened to NPU's preseason update on cciw.org.  I love that Nick French and Conway talk about conference title ambitions even if it is just talk.  I have never heard that genuine confidence about football from my school before in my life and I like it.

Truer words were never spoken. Those of you who are fans of the football programs of other schools probably dismiss talk like that out of hand, even if it's for the team that you follow (unless you're a fan of Wheaton or North Central). You may consider it to simply be the typical hyperbole that one hears from all players and coaches about their teams in preseason. Well, allow me to disabuse you of that notion. You don't typically hear that kind of confident hyperbole from all players and coaches. There's absolutely nothing typical about hearing it from a North Park player or coach. It simply hasn't happened, at least not in my memory -- and my memory, unfortunately, goes quite a ways back now. At North Park the preseason talk was always about "getting better" and "building the program" rather than competing for a CCIW championship. And even that often tended to sound hyperbolic, because most preseasons you'd look at the players that the Vikings had on hand and you'd think to yourself, "They'll be lucky to survive in one piece, let alone get better as individuals or as a team."

This is not to say that the Vikings are going to win the CCIW. As Gotberg said, there is that "just talk" element to what Nick French and Mike Conway said that is the usual yadda-yadda-yadda of preseason chatter from players who are building up their own confidence and coaches who are trying to help build it for them. I think that fans like Gotberg and I are clear-eyed and realistic, and I know that Mike Conway is as well -- he wouldn't have spent so much time paying homage to the strength of the CCIW if he didn't have a good understanding of where NPU sits in the league coming into the 2017 season. But focusing upon where the Park realistically slots in preseason predictions misses the point. The point here is that, because the NPU football program has made such big strides on the field over the past three years, the team has undergone a sea change in terms of how it internally considers itself. The Vikings no longer aspire to get better. They expect to get better. They now aspire to win.

There's just a very, very different mentality now under Mike Conway, and I'm not sure that non-NPU types really understand that.

I understand it. I saw it first hand at Wheaton. They were 2-7 for 4 straight years before JR Bishop took over and began the cultural change that led to where they are now. It wasn't the stretch of futility that the Park fans have endured, but it was a sea change nonetheless. It started with getting better, then getting better players, then expecting to win, and eventually they won and then kept winning. It's no easy task but I see the familiar roots of it on Foster with Coach Conway. He has that ship headed in the right direction. The only question is when, not if. It won't be this year but I would expect NPU to continue to surprise people with what they are doing.

The same thing w/ NCC before Thorne took over. Have to start somewhere!

[badgerwarhawk]

Speaking of Joe Callahan... Dude is tearing it up tonight for Green Bay... Still has a shot at the 53 man roster.

This isn't going to happen unless Hundley is unable to play for any length of time.  They don't keep three QBs on the active roster.  Callahan is lock for the practice squad.  I think last night when he played almost the entire game was an indication that Williams, the fourth QB in camp, is history.  I've spoke with several people who really like Callahan and I have to admit I was surprised by how mobile he looked at times last night.  Now if he just realizes that you can't hold on to the ball for eternity in the NFL.    He took some losses on sacks last night when he should have dumped the ball somewhere. 

[USee]

All of the video previews are up on the CCIW website. Some great information from some and a bunch of nothing from others. I am specifically looking at IWU and trying to figure them out. Kickoff has them returning 10 starters on defense and 9 on offense. Coach Eash, in his video segment, confirms this:

https://youtu.be/5l9qd-TcVeE

In addition, Kickoff has 4 of 5 OL back and says "10 starters on defense". The next paragraph kickoff says they lost both corners and a safety to graduation.

I am looking at their roster last year and on offense They started the same 5 OL for 9 games and Tom Pearson had 1 start and never appeared again (and is off the roster) Those linemen, Diller, Toland, Mulcrone, Monferdini and Melvin both Diller and Toland are graduated, the other 3 are back. So IWU is playing with 2 OL who have not started. Artie Checchin started 8 games and got hurt so Adam Muellers started the last 2. He is back. Jack Warner, Anfernee Roberts Quincy Butler started all 10 games. Roberts is gone. Harrell started 9 games and Shoemaker-Gilmore started 1. They are both back so I am sure Eash is counting them both as returning starters, but they play the same position. Jaworka started 9 games and is gone this year.

On defense the 3 LB's and same 4 DB's started all 10 games for IWU. Garvery, Roth, Fahey, Bouie, Bolden, Slawkouski and Wilton. 3 of those guys are gone. Up front VanHuizen got hurt in the opener but he started the entire year before and he is back. Will James started 10 games and graduated. Hargrove started 7 games and graduated. Nordstrom (6 starts), Jamal Jackson (10 starts), Shipman (3 starts) and Van Huizen are back.

To summarize, IWU has to replace 2 OL with new starters. A fullback and 2 WR (Muellers has 2 starts as the only experienced WR--Comfort played in most games) are replaced. On Defense they replace 3 DB's with new starters and at DT they are replacing Hargrove and James. The DL they bring back were all starters at DE so whoever plays DT will be playing a new position. If you count those 4 DL and the 3 LBs with 1 DB, that's 8 returning starters. And the article I read on the Pantagraph has 3rd string RB Sobol coming over to play corner. He has playing time but not at corner. I will be interested to see how these new players mesh together as the season progresses.

All this is interesting in how teams calculate returning starters.

[79jaybird]

Gotberg- I know where you are coming from.  This was a vision of mine on the air for 10 years covering the Jays. Seeing quality recruits and coaches go to rival schools,  trying to get the school excited about their team, being 7-3 and just not getting over that "hump".   Keep the faith.   I see NPU putting the building blocks in place to start (continue) climbing the ladder.   

[CardinalAlum]

-IWU plays in the burrito bowl at Tucci stadium-IWU has some key players who need to step up as playmakers-VanHuizen, Warner, Shoemaker-Gilmore, and the secondary. Including this exhibition against Monterrey-Mexico IWU has only 9 games scheduled

If I'm Norm Eash, I'm not running any one of those guys for more than two series in this thing.  Noooo way I'm risking my top line guys for some kind of result against Monterrey Tech.

Many distinguished people have tried and failed at being Norm Eash. There is no telling what he may do in this game.

Besides run up the score if possible!   

[Titan Q]

Titans vs Wild Sheep, 1:00pm.  Game on!

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-ready-for-first-action-against-mexican-opponent/article_51c71baa-c7bb-5ffc-87d2-c1bbd94a04cd.html

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-seeks-to-set-the-tone-in-early-going/article_33c2830b-0964-5e4f-bc06-7e40e12dab04.html

[USee]

Titans vs Wild Sheep, 1:00pm.  Game on!

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-ready-for-first-action-against-mexican-opponent/article_51c71baa-c7bb-5ffc-87d2-c1bbd94a04cd.html

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-seeks-to-set-the-tone-in-early-going/article_33c2830b-0964-5e4f-bc06-7e40e12dab04.html

I thought you were kidding about the Wild Sheep! Wow.

This isn't good:

IWU's Jack Donegan will be making his first start at quarterback. The Titans' starter the last two years, Jack Warner, is still recovering from summer knee surgery and hopes to be available for next Saturday's game at Nebraska Wesleyan.

[USee]

Sorry if this was discussed previously. Is it true Lawrence backed out of the game with IWU? 
I was in Bloomington yesterday and heard the story from a local resident.

Here is your answer:


http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-ready-for-first-action-against-mexican-opponent/article_51c71baa-c7bb-5ffc-87d2-c1bbd94a04cd.html

This will be a unique season opener for the Titans, who were forced to find an opponent when Lawrence (Wis.) canceled a two-year contract in February. IWU coach Norm Eash searched to find another Division III opponent, but for cost reasons was unable to at such late notice.

[Titan Q]

This isn't good:

IWU's Jack Donegan will be making his first start at quarterback. The Titans' starter the last two years, Jack Warner, is still recovering from summer knee surgery and hopes to be available for next Saturday's game at Nebraska Wesleyan.

I believe Jack Warner is pretty much good to go -- just being held out today for precautionary reasons.  No reason to risk something vs the Wild Sheep.