FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[D O.C.]

SaintsFan got me to finally look something up. We all know Wikipedia is lacking facts, still...

Wheaton has been excellent for years under Mike Swider; the only issue was getting past Mount Union when they were loaded with studs like Nate Kmic, Steve Micheli, Cecil Shorts and Pierre Garcon. 

Cecil Shorts - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Shorts
Cecil Carlon Shorts III (born December 22, 1987) is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL).
Missing: degree
From Mount Union to Miami: The Super odyssey of Indianapolis
www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/.../from_mount_union_to_miami_the.html
Jan 27, 2010 - Just as amazing as Pierre Garcon in the Super Bowl is how the receiver found his way to Mount Union College. ... transferring from one Division III school to another (as long as it's not in the same conference), he did not have to sit out a season. ... The coaches say he is about eight hours short of his degree.

[SaintsFAN]

SaintsFan got me to finally look something up. We all know Wikipedia is lacking facts, still...

Wheaton has been excellent for years under Mike Swider; the only issue was getting past Mount Union when they were loaded with studs like Nate Kmic, Steve Micheli, Cecil Shorts and Pierre Garcon. 

Cecil Shorts - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Shorts
Cecil Carlon Shorts III (born December 22, 1987) is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL).
Missing: degree
From Mount Union to Miami: The Super odyssey of Indianapolis
www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/.../from_mount_union_to_miami_the.html
Jan 27, 2010 - Just as amazing as Pierre Garcon in the Super Bowl is how the receiver found his way to Mount Union College. ... transferring from one Division III school to another (as long as it's not in the same conference), he did not have to sit out a season. ... The coaches say he is about eight hours short of his degree.

Garçon went back and finished up his degree.  He walked at the ceremony. 

[D O.C.]

8 units. No sweat.
Someone will know how to update Wiki.
Thx

[Pat Coleman]

If Wikipedia is correct and CS3 hasn't finished his degree yet, so what? The guy is playing in the NFL and can finish his degree later.

Heck, maybe he can finish it now. After that injury, he won't be playing anywhere for a while.

[USee]

Thunderdog, Great synopsis. As I look at the Thunder and where they are right now they have made some definitive steps forward in the program but also, despite the number of returning starters, have some obstacles to overcome to take the next step.

It seems to me the Thunder are as close as they have ever been to breaking through to the top tier (Purple Power level) of D3. The biggest indicator to me is the line play. Back in the late 90s and early 2000's when Wheaton was winning and making the playoffs, they did so withe exceptional skill players and a few great Linemen on either/both sides. In the last 4 years, really since Jesse Scott has been at Wheaton, the play and the personnel in the trenches has increased dramatically. Wheaton was not overmatched up front vs JCU in 2014 or vs UWW in 2015 or this year vs NCC or MHB. We outgained all three of those teams in yards and limited them to their lowest outputs of the season. Wheaton beat NCC with 2 OT's that didn't play in the game they lost during the regular season. The Thunder trotted Bates out after losing Greenlee and he responded with a huge game. Up front Wheaton is as deep and talented as they have every been in the 30+ years I have followed them.

In addition to the line play we have been deep and talented at LB and DB. This year especially we stepped up our DB play with the move of Sigler to corner. Last year we got beat by big plays from the UWW WR's down the field. IWU beat us last year and this year with the long ball. Since the move of Sigler to corner, our DB play has been high level.

What the Thunder need to take the next step is more playmakers (i.e. speed) on offense. We are 1-2 playmakers away from challenging the Purple powers IMO.

The other issue is coaching. Mike Swider has been tremendous at building a staff of young hungry coaches. Last year he lost his OC and replaced him without missing a beat. This year they will have serious questions again as Jordan Langs leaves to take a head position in Indiana and will likely take a couple of the current staff with him. Swider will again have to rebuild his staff (possibly in part on offense as well as most of the defensive staff) to take advantage of the 16 starters the Thunder have returning including 9 on a top 10 defense.

It's been a great year for the CCIW in football, getting 2 teams to the playoffs and ranked in the top 10, along with the improved play of IWU, Carthage and Elmhurst, the league is better than it was a year ago and I think there is strong reason to believe next year will be better still.

[D O.C.]

Yeah, so what?.
Many ways to satisfy the NCAA division that prides itself on student/ athletes.
Heck, some may even be able to finish from jail.

[badgerwarhawk]

I don't know what Shorts' NFL salary is but he's a six year veteran and as such the league's minimum salary is $760K.  In 2017 the minimum for a seven year veteran will be $900K.  He needs his degree...why?   

Shorts isn't the first DIII player who didn't graduate and he won't be the last.  However he will be one of the financially better off ones.   

[Gregory Sager]

BW, you'd be surprised at the number of NFL players who've managed to squander all of their considerable earnings. That's not to say that Shorts is one of those prodigals, of course. I don't know anything about him or his lifestyle. I'm just hesitant to make any assumptions about a pro athlete's financial situation, given the number of them who've managed to blow all of their millions through extravagant and heedlessly irresponsible living.

Here's an article that talks about some of those types of situations.

[badgerwarhawk]

I wouldn't say it would surprise me Greg I've read the stories too.  I guess my point was that after six years in the NFL he's probably made enough money to live quite comfortably without a degree.  Though you are right.  I shouldn't make assumptions and should have added something like "if he has been smart with his money" to my comment. 

It absolutely amazes me how anyone can blow so much money so quickly. 

[USee]

The article Greg cited is consistent with what I have seen and read. It is a fact that close to 80% of professional athletes go bankrupt within 5 years of retirement. If you look at the reason why it's not hard to understand. I think all of the professional leagues are doing a  better job of supporting these kids when they come out

[Gregory Sager]

It absolutely amazes me how anyone can blow so much money so quickly.

I wouldn't mind accepting the challenge of seeing how fast it would take me to blow it all.

[robertgoulet]

It absolutely amazes me how anyone can blow so much money so quickly.

I wouldn't mind accepting the challenge of seeing how fast it would take me to blow it all.

Sager's Millions

[DFWCrufan]

A great 30 on 30 - Broke.. A docupic on what happens to the "Premier Athlete" and how 90%+ go broke withing two years after leaving the league. All sports, NFL, MLB, NBA NHL they all get hit...really enlightening...you can see it on Netflix

[DFWCrufan]

A great 30 on 30 - Broke.. A docupic on what happens to the "Premier Athlete" and how 90%+ go broke withing two years after leaving the league. All sports, NFL, MLB, NBA NHL they all get hit...really enlightening...you can see it on Netflix

[formerd3db]

BW, you'd be surprised at the number of NFL players who've managed to squander all of their considerable earnings. That's not to say that Shorts is one of those prodigals, of course. I don't know anything about him or his lifestyle. I'm just hesitant to make any assumptions about a pro athlete's financial situation, given the number of them who've managed to blow all of their millions through extravagant and heedlessly irresponsible living.

Here's an article that talks about some of those types of situations.

That's right Gregory.  I read that article and there is also one on all the NBA players who did the same.  Granted, some of all these guys were the victims of poor advisers/agents, let alone many of the sycophants who preyed on them. Yet, at the same time and as you mention, much of it was just simply greed, waste and idiocy, unfortunately.  As the saying goes, "you reap what you sow".  Very sad in some of those cases.  Had some of them made wise choices, they would have been set for life.