FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

Norm Eash on the post game:

"This will go down as one of the most disappointing games in my time here at Illinois Wesleyan. We didn't answer the bell in the second half. I told our team sometimes the best team doesn't always win but the team that plays the best does"

[blue_jays]

I agree Swider is well-respected and I wouldn't choose anyone else to coach the thunder.  That said he can still make mistakes. He made one. That happens. 

I predict he corrects his mistake and we see Peltz Saturday.

Either they're saving Peltz for North Central or I smell a red-shirt season...

[Mugsy]

Norm Eash on the post game:

"This will go down as one of the most disappointing games in my time here at Illinois Wesleyan. We didn't answer the bell in the second half. I told our team sometimes the best team doesn't always win but the team that plays the best does"

Wow... just wow.  So it had nothing to do with Wheaton answering the bell and showing they were the better team?

[AndOne]

I agree Swider is well-respected and I wouldn't choose anyone else to coach the thunder.  That said he can still make mistakes. He made one. That happens. 

I predict he corrects his mistake and we see Peltz Saturday.

Indeed! With 28 for 35 for 351 yards and 4 TDs, Peltz was awesome today!   

[AndOne]

Norm Eash on the post game:

"This will go down as one of the most disappointing games in my time here at Illinois Wesleyan. We didn't answer the bell in the second half. I told our team sometimes the best team doesn't always win but the team that plays the best does"

Wow... just wow.  So it had nothing to do with Wheaton answering the bell and showing they were the better team?

Yep. And now Eash is headed home to his wife, Kellyanne Conway. After dinner they are going to play a game where they take a story and see who can twist it so that the end is the furthest away from the way the event actually occurred.     

[matblake]

Norm Eash on the post game:

"This will go down as one of the most disappointing games in my time here at Illinois Wesleyan. We didn't answer the bell in the second half. I told our team sometimes the best team doesn't always win but the team that plays the best does"

Wow... just wow.  So it had nothing to do with Wheaton answering the bell and showing they were the better team?

That's Eash. Doesn't mean it's right, it's just how he is. He's fiercely loyal to his players. Oftentimes IMO to a fault.

[matblake]

Wow. Like watching two different games.
IWU played very well and won the 1st half. However, they were virtually invisible in the entire 2nd to the point where it appeared they watched the 2nd half from the locker room.

Wheaton played much better defensively in the second half. The pressure seemed to bother the quarterback much more.

However, I can't emphasize enough how important the field goal to end the first half was. Cutting the deficit to 7 and be getting the ball back to start the half was huge.

[AndOne]

Norm Eash on the post game:

"This will go down as one of the most disappointing games in my time here at Illinois Wesleyan. We didn't answer the bell in the second half. I told our team sometimes the best team doesn't always win but the team that plays the best does"

Wow... just wow.  So it had nothing to do with Wheaton answering the bell and showing they were the better team?

That's Eash. Doesn't mean it's right, it's just how he is. He's fiercely loyal to his players. Oftentimes IMO to a fault.

CREDIT THE WESLEYAN KIDS, Mat. No doubt they're smart enough to know who the best team was today.

[Gregory Sager]

Final from Waukesha:

Carthage 38
Carroll 14

Carroll is finding out in a hurry just how different life in the CCIW is from the MWC.

[matblake]

I think Wheaton's experience came into play the past few weeks. Having been in the playoffs for the past 2 seasons and in high pressure situations has aided them in not completely losing their composure (infuriating unsportsmanlike penalties aside) during close games v Carthage, Elmhurst, and the first half against IWU. They always looked like they knew they were going to do it.

[NCC26]

Millikin layeth the smack down, Wheels falling off NP.

[shepherd]

The biggest difference in the offense today was not bottling Bowers up in the pocket and let  Bowers be Bowers by letting him roll out of the pocket.  Also the freshmen receiver Phillip Nichols is learning and getting better every week.

Every time Wheaton has brought in a new offensive coordinator it took time for the offense to get through the learning curve to reach their potential.  Time and time again after loosing coaches due to Wheatons success the results prove Coach Swider makes excellent decisions.

[thunder38]

Norm Eash on the post game:

"This will go down as one of the most disappointing games in my time here at Illinois Wesleyan. We didn't answer the bell in the second half. I told our team sometimes the best team doesn't always win but the team that plays the best does"

Norm is clearly delusional if he thinks he has the better team after watching that second half. Wheaton overwhelmed Illinois Wesleyan with their team speed on defense and looked the part of the battle tested team while IWU self destructed with penalties and inexperience. Wheaton did a very nice job bottling up MSG in the second half and ultimately held him to just 65 yards on 11 carries. Wheaton had nearly 300 yards of total offense in the second half while only surrendering just over 100 yards.

Takeaways from today:

- Daniel Gray reinjured himself on the field goal at the end of the half but its very possible that his field goal was the one that changed things for the Thunder this season. The momentum of the made kick at the end of the first half was palpable on the Thunder sideline and the importance of making it a one possession game at halftime was huge.

- Credit the Thunder coordinators for adjustments made for this game. Jesse Scott got Andrew Bowers out of the pocket and finally seemed to let him be the athlete that he is. Bowers was impressive today and hopefully laid the QB controversy to rest with his performance today. Jordan Langs dialed up the pressure in the second half and brought the Titan offense to a screeching halt in the second half.

- Chase Greenlee is a man playing against boys. His motor and strength is impressive to watch.

- Wheaton's wide receivers have struggled to get separation in the last two games but Wheaton made an adjustment in the passing game to go to shorter timing routes and Nichols, White and Hanley did a great job getting open. White's route-running precision is impressive to watch. Both touchdown catches were set up by his ability to set up his defender.

- Wheaton finally was able to get its penalty problem under control this week. A false start penalty brought Wheaton's second drive to a stop inside the Titans red zone but after that, the penalty problem belonged to the Titans. Jon Callaway waited until the fourth quarter to finally get his one personal foul penalty this week but managed to squeak it in so congrats to those of you who took the over on his personal foul line for the day.

- Healthy Sola Olateju is a beautiful sight for this offense. Wheaton's ability to run downhill with Olateju in the backfield made a ton of difference to the rhythm of the offense. Sola finished with 171 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. Most importantly, the run game kept Wheaton on or ahead of the sticks and away from the third and long issue that has plagued Wheaton for the last two weeks.

- Illinois Wesleyan will have a healthy problem at QB assuming Jack Warner comes back healthy. After hitting the home run ball on the second possession of the game, Brandon Bauer looked confident and composed in the pocket and did a nice job making plays with his feet. He played well beyond his collegiate experience level. Bauer and Warner provide the Titans a pair of dynamic, athletic options at the QB spot.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I have no problem with what Coach Eash says he told his team - TO HIS TEAM.  I suspect most coaches would do about the same.  To repeat it publicly was IMO dumb - sounds whiny, unrealistic, and downright disrespectful to Wheaton.  At the half I thought perhaps Wheaton was overrated and IWU underrated; by the end I had no doubt which was the better team (and not JUST for today).

I agree with matblake that it is fierce loyalty to his players (and also with AndOne that the players KNOW who the better team was); I don't see these as contradictory statements.  One of a coach's jobs is boosting players' morale, even if sometimes with thinly disguised hyperbole. 

I know some of you hold Coach Eash in contempt, but I LOVE d3 'lifers' - guys who probably could have 'moved up', but prefer it in the land of GENUINE 'student-athletes'  (where you don't have to wince or snicker when you say that phrase).

[CardinalAlum]

Norm Eash on the post game:

"This will go down as one of the most disappointing games in my time here at Illinois Wesleyan. We didn't answer the bell in the second half. I told our team sometimes the best team doesn't always win but the team that plays the best does"

Typical.  Never can give a team credit for being better. Then people wonder why he is so disliked.