FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

North Park senior WR Norm Cupicciotti, who was second on the team in catches, yards, and YPC and tied for the lead in touchdown catches in 2016, will apparently be back to use his final season of eligibility in 2017 as a grad student. That's certainly good news for the Vikings.

[formerd3db]

North Park senior WR Norm Cupicciotti, who was second on the team in catches, yards, and YPC and tied for the lead in touchdown catches in 2016, will apparently be back to use his final season of eligibility in 2017 as a grad student. That's certainly good news for the Vikings.

That is good to hear, Gregory.  While it is obviously a student-athlete's own decision to choose like this in such situations, I personally  always like to see them, regardless of which NCAA division (or NAIA) they are from, finish out their careers at the school they played at from which they received their undergraduate degree from.  Of course, I realize that some circumstances are such, in some cases, that it is not possible (such as their undergrad school not having the graduate degree program they are interested in or perhaps the situation of playing time being in question for that next year, even though they might have been big contributors and/or even starters).  Anyway, again, that is good news for your North Park.

[Gregory Sager]

I would not applaud it publicly if this was clearly a decision based only upon the desire to put off hanging up the pads for good for another year, but it's my understanding that getting his MBA is something that directly fits into his career plans.

[matblake]

Some cool promos for the CCIW, which according to Twitter were put together by NC17 in Naperville.  There's a long and short version.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cciw

[thunderdog]

Some cool promos for the CCIW, which according to Twitter were put together by NC17 in Naperville.  There's a long and short version.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cciw

I have heard strong speculation that stud DT Patrick O'Connell's younger brother, Stevenson HS QB Aidan O'Connell (6'3" 170 with a rocket arm) is leaning strongly towards the Thunder 

Any other updates out there? I'm eager to hear about the recruiting class as a whole, but if Wheaton did indeed land Aidan, that's BIG TIME!

How much longer till the season starts??? Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?..............

[izzy stradlin]

Some cool promos for the CCIW, which according to Twitter were put together by NC17 in Naperville.  There's a long and short version.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cciw

I have heard strong speculation that stud DT Patrick O'Connell's younger brother, Stevenson HS QB Aidan O'Connell (6'3" 170 with a rocket arm) is leaning strongly towards the Thunder 

Any other updates out there? I'm eager to hear about the recruiting class as a whole, but if Wheaton did indeed land Aidan, that's BIG TIME!

How much longer till the season starts??? Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?..............

Aidan O'Connell has committed to Wheaton.  https://twitter.com/DeepDishFB/status/827958168617619457

Also, I have heard the coaches confirm that there are 70 juniors and seniors committed to coming back next fall.   That is by far a record for Wheaton.  You'll note that this past year's roster has only 68 sophs/juniors which means 2 players will be staying for a 5th year out of the group of Moore, Sahly, Norton and Zach Lindquist.   Looks like Wheaton could be bringing back 19/22 starters.   

[thunderdog]

I have heard strong speculation that stud DT Patrick O'Connell's younger brother, Stevenson HS QB Aidan O'Connell (6'3" 170 with a rocket arm) is leaning strongly towards the Thunder 

Any other updates out there? I'm eager to hear about the recruiting class as a whole, but if Wheaton did indeed land Aidan, that's BIG TIME!

How much longer till the season starts??? Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?..............

Aidan O'Connell has committed to Wheaton.  https://twitter.com/DeepDishFB/status/827958168617619457

Also, I have heard the coaches confirm that there are 70 juniors and seniors committed to coming back next fall.   That is by far a record for Wheaton.  You'll note that this past year's roster has only 68 sophs/juniors which means 2 players will be staying for a 5th year out of the group of Moore, Sahly, Norton and Zach Lindquist.   Looks like Wheaton could be bringing back 19/22 starters.

70 returning JR's and SR's is just awesome. Returning 19 of 22 starters is just as awesome (more on that in a moment). The overall depth on the roster is just astonishing. Back in my day, we had only 72 total on the roster. Kudos to the Wheaton coaches, particularly recruiting coordinator Jesse Scott, for their efforts in getting these talented young men to buy into the program and its mission, both on-and-off the field. This SR class will be more "battle tested" than any other SR class to come thru Wheaton. 3 straight playoff appearances, 4 playoff wins, an overall record of 33 wins to just 4 losses... 3 of those coming in the playoffs to some of the biggest names in all of D3 (JCU in 2014, UWW in 2015, and UMHB in 2016)... that 4th loss shall remain nameless ... The only other SR class that comes close (in terms of battle tested-ness) would be the class of 2006 (2005 football season), which entered that season with 3 straight playoff appearances, and an overall record of 32 wins and 5 losses. That 2005 team finished 7-3...

19 returning starters is a big # for sure. However, it is somewhat offset by the fact that next year's starting QB is going to be someone who hasn't played many (if any) meaningful snaps for the Thunder yet. Who's going to be the guy? Is it SR #9 Curtis McWilliams, SO #13 Dave Beamer, JR #14 Jesse Furrow, SO #19 Spencer Peterson, FR #? Aidan O'Connell, or even someone else? Looks like there's going to be a wide open competition for the starting gig. But the bottom line is, the Thunder needs someone to be ready to fill the large-combined-shoes of Andrew Bowers and Johnny Peltz.

Great expectations can be distracting... in fact, expectations don't mean squat once that ball is teed up and 60 minutes are put on the clock. Time to block all the noise out and focus on coming back bigger, faster, stronger, and more determined than ever!

[CardinalAlum]

I have heard strong speculation that stud DT Patrick O'Connell's younger brother, Stevenson HS QB Aidan O'Connell (6'3" 170 with a rocket arm) is leaning strongly towards the Thunder 

Any other updates out there? I'm eager to hear about the recruiting class as a whole, but if Wheaton did indeed land Aidan, that's BIG TIME!

How much longer till the season starts??? Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?..............

Aidan O'Connell has committed to Wheaton.  https://twitter.com/DeepDishFB/status/827958168617619457

Also, I have heard the coaches confirm that there are 70 juniors and seniors committed to coming back next fall.   That is by far a record for Wheaton.  You'll note that this past year's roster has only 68 sophs/juniors which means 2 players will be staying for a 5th year out of the group of Moore, Sahly, Norton and Zach Lindquist.   Looks like Wheaton could be bringing back 19/22 starters.

70 returning JR's and SR's is just awesome. Returning 19 of 22 starters is just as awesome (more on that in a moment). The overall depth on the roster is just astonishing. Back in my day, we had only 72 total on the roster. Kudos to the Wheaton coaches, particularly recruiting coordinator Jesse Scott, for their efforts in getting these talented young men to buy into the program and its mission, both on-and-off the field. This SR class will be more "battle tested" than any other SR class to come thru Wheaton. 3 straight playoff appearances, 4 playoff wins, an overall record of 33 wins to just 4 losses... 3 of those coming in the playoffs to some of the biggest names in all of D3 (JCU in 2014, UWW in 2015, and UMHB in 2016)... that 4th loss shall remain nameless ... The only other SR class that comes close (in terms of battle tested-ness) would be the class of 2006 (2005 football season), which entered that season with 3 straight playoff appearances, and an overall record of 32 wins and 5 losses. That 2005 team finished 7-3...

19 returning starters is a big # for sure. However, it is somewhat offset by the fact that next year's starting QB is going to be someone who hasn't played many (if any) meaningful snaps for the Thunder yet. Who's going to be the guy? Is it SR #9 Curtis McWilliams, SO #13 Dave Beamer, JR #14 Jesse Furrow, SO #19 Spencer Peterson, FR #? Aidan O'Connell, or even someone else? Looks like there's going to be a wide open competition for the starting gig. But the bottom line is, the Thunder needs someone to be ready to fill the large-combined-shoes of Andrew Bowers and Johnny Peltz.

Great expectations can be distracting... in fact, expectations don't mean squat once that ball is teed up and 60 minutes are put on the clock. Time to block all the noise out and focus on coming back bigger, faster, stronger, and more determined than ever!

Well, the QB inexperience will be softened by handing off the ball to 23 and 31 over and over!   

[matblake]

News on the Wheaton coaching front:
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2017/2/7/changes-football-staff.aspx

[Neverwas]

I love the new additions.  Coaching tenure, once a staple of the Wheaton recruiting pitch, has been replaced with young/high energy coaches.  It is nice to see the pipeline of former players continue.  I hope, at some point, we can stop the revolving door of coaches leaving.  But as other posters have pointed out on these boards it is the nature of D3 football to lose coaches and if you are losing them they must be good. 

I find the addition of Studebaker the most interesting.  I wonder how long he is content as an assistant coach (not even a coordinator) and where he fits long term in Wheaton's plans.  For now, I am very happy he is on board.  Anyone with 97 career games played in the NFL will have an abundance of knowledge.  Wheaton fans hope he knows how to transfer that knowledge to the players as that is what coaching is all about.

All in all, I am a very happy Wheaton fan today.

[thunderdog]

I love the new additions.  Coaching tenure, once a staple of the Wheaton recruiting pitch, has been replaced with young/high energy coaches.  It is nice to see the pipeline of former players continue.  I hope, at some point, we can stop the revolving door of coaches leaving.  But as other posters have pointed out on these boards it is the nature of D3 football to lose coaches and if you are losing them they must be good. 

I find the addition of Studebaker the most interesting.  I wonder how long he is content as an assistant coach (not even a coordinator) and where he fits long term in Wheaton's plans.  For now, I am very happy he is on board.  Anyone with 97 career games played in the NFL will have an abundance of knowledge.  Wheaton fans hope he knows how to transfer that knowledge to the players as that is what coaching is all about.

All in all, I am a very happy Wheaton fan today.

Well said Neverwas. I agree with your sentiments. Pretty awesome to have a former NFL'er join the ranks, especially one with 2 picks against Pittsburgh's Big Ben (darn that Rashard Mendenhall ). I'm also hearing great things about Taylor Graham as well... great presence, talented motivator & recruiter, etc... I think that was big to make Coach Graham full time and let him start working with the QB's, especially considering the aforementioned inexperience at the position.

[Pat Coleman]

Couple CCIW schedules:
http://www.d3football.com/teams/North_Central_(Ill.)/2017/index
http://www.d3football.com/teams/Illinois_Wesleyan/2017/index
http://www.d3football.com/teams/Carthage/2017/index

I think some of this may have been posted but just in case.

[Pat Coleman]

One more, sorry:
http://www.d3football.com/teams/Wheaton_(Ill.)/2017/index

[izzy stradlin]

Article on Aidan O'Connell to Wheaton:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/buffalo-grove/sports/ct-lsr-aidan-oconnell-wheaton-brief-tl-0209-20170206-story.html

[Pat Coleman]

Interesting season opener here:
http://www.d3football.com/teams/Augustana/2017/index