FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

North Central was the knife today, and Lake Forest the butter as the Cardinals cut through the Foresters with ease on the way to piling up 70 points in a 70-14 season opening triumph. I thought a NCC victory was virtually assured, but was frankly surprised at the ease of the Cardinals' victory. I sensed LF was a little better, and didn't think the NCC engine would be as finely tuned this early.

* Broc Rutter, 18-23-0 for 194 yards, and 2 TDs plus a rushing TD
* Dom Muoghalu, 11 rushes for 125 yards (11.4 avg.), and 3 TDs
* Frosh Ethan Greenfield, 9 rushes for 78 yards, and a TD
* Frosh Terrence Hill, 7 rushes for 66 yards, and 2 TDs
* Frosh Jack Kegel, 7 for 35, and a TD
* Andrew Kamienski, 4 receptions for 92 yards, TD
* Michael Sfikas, 3 catches, 58 yards, TD
* Cameron Moore, 6 catches for 44
* DJ Warkenthien and Ben Wong led the defense with 9 tackles apiece

[USee]

The CCIW goes 7-2 in the new non conference slate (9 game conference season now) with the only losses to 2 top tier WIAC teams (though I question LAX's inclusion in the top tier of the WIAC based on what I saw). The best win among that conference record appears to to be Wheaton's domination of a Monmouth team that just handled #13 Wartburg. Monmouth's RB DeAndre Wright ran for just 6 yds and Wheaton held them to 54 total yds while Wright ran for 165 of their teams 315 yds.

Wheaton @IWU this weekend will be the featured CCIW opener. The Thunder begins a stretch of 3 games that will shape the conference race in the early weeks (v Millikin and @NCC follow this weekend)

[iwu70]

USee, I think LAX is a pretty good football team.  We'll see how they do longer term in their conference.  IWU hurt themselves with the secondary breakdowns and the excellent mis-direction TD play, called back by a holding penalty.  Bauer will have a big year.  #3 on the Titans a wonderful new surprise and weapon. 

Very close, well-played game for early on in the season.  Yes, IWU-WC will tell us much more.

IWU'70

[USee]

I didn't say LAX wasn't good, I just don't think they are a top tier WIAC team. D3.com has them at 6-4.  I think that's about right.

[Pat Coleman]

I didn't say LAX wasn't good, I just don't think they are a top tier WIAC team. D3.com has them at 6-4.  I think that's about right.

Fourth-best team in the WIAC is still pretty darn good.

[USee]

I didn't say LAX wasn't good, I just don't think they are a top tier WIAC team. D3.com has them at 6-4.  I think that's about right.

Fourth-best team in the WIAC is still pretty darn good.

I didn't say it wasn't. I saw some things that don't strike me as a top tier WIAC team. They are not top 1-3 based on what I saw.

[USee]

NCC Head Coach Jeff Thorne said this on the front page of D3.com:

"Despite graduating one of the nation's and program's best running backs, expectations for this year's Cardinals squad are as high as ever. They feel close to getting over the hump and advancing to the Stagg Bowl if they can just take care of a few more little things.

"We've got to play championship-level defense. We've got a special quarterback and a special group of receivers. We've got one of the best offensive linemen in the country in Sharmore Clarke," said Thorne. "How these young kids progress is really going to be the secret to this year's team. If these young guys can be as good as we think they can be, then we can make a run at it, especially with the kind of quarterback we have."

I am on record as saying NCC has an elite QB and skill positions. I think Stagg Bowl is a little ambitious for the Cards this year, they may be a year away from competing for that, but the talent is clearly still there in Naperville. Trench play and development will be the key to their season. They need defensive playmakers to step up.

[79jaybird]

Glad Elmhurst was able to pick up an opening day win, but gosh  this game has a bunch of distressing signs.
I can understand a sluggish start and the Spartans had the benefit of playing a game already,  but having to
come from behind like makes me think the Jays are going to struggle against the elite & mid tier CCIW teams.

Lots of things to patch up and work on for EC and not a lot of time because Augie showed in week 1 they can
win big on the road. 

[formerd3db]

Glad Elmhurst was able to pick up an opening day win, but gosh  this game has a bunch of distressing signs.
I can understand a sluggish start and the Spartans had the benefit of playing a game already,  but having to
come from behind like makes me think the Jays are going to struggle against the elite & mid tier CCIW teams.

Lots of things to patch up and work on for EC and not a lot of time because Augie showed in week 1 they can
win big on the road.

Okay, jaybird, it has been a while since our last correspondence. Glad to see you are still following your alma mater!  Hope all is well with you and your family.

[79jaybird]

formerd3d3b,  Thank you.  I know,  kids (8 & 6) have occupied most of my time of late.  Family is all well and I hope the same for yours. 

[matblake]

Congrats to Brandon Greer from Elmhurst who was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week

[USee]

Obviously the marquee game this week is Wheaton @ IWU  but I am also interested in the Washu @ NCC game to see how the Bears compete in their debut to the league. In addition, I want to see Augie @Elmhurst as I had these teams similarly rated (with Augie a bit ahead).

[formerd3db]

formerd3d3b,  Thank you.  I know,  kids (8 & 6) have occupied most of my time of late.  Family is all well and I hope the same for yours.

jaybird, you are welcome and thanks for the reply.  I am glad to hear all is well with you and yours.  Wow, I can't believe your kids are that old already-my, how time passes by all too quickly. But, you are doing the right thing-you know everyone only gets one chance at that, so we all have to be in 100%.  All is fine here; I have nothing to complain about. Well...in reality I do just like everyone else, but I should not do so.

[AndOne]

JMHO..........

For awhile now we've heard about the adverse effects excessive heat can have on a body. And a body covered by things like pads and helmets is even more susceptible to injury and death as a result of heavy exercise in excessive heat. Among the various attempts to protect athletes as much as possible have been things like Rules committees limiting practices to one a day, requiring trainers be present at all times, and teams holding early morning practices before the heat builds to its zenith, or night practices which allow for the heat to dissipate somewhat.

The forecast for the 1:00 game time tomorrow in Naperville is 85 degrees under sunny skies. 🌞🔥
In light of the above information why the h-e-double hockey sticks is the CCIW scheduling this game for mid afternoon rather than 7:00. Seems like you wouldn't need to be the sharpest tack in the box to figure out the potential for injury or possible death to either a player or spectator would be less later In the day. 🏈🌙

Seems like it would make sense/be good policy to make any game prior to Oct 1st a night game. 🌙

[Pat Coleman]

The MIAC fans ... wait, mostly just Johnnies fans ... would roundly criticize your take on that, but the conference office would agree with you.

We had a conversation about this, and a talk with the MIAC commissioner, in today's podcast:
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/14/atn-podcast-203-feeling-the-heat-in-week-3/

Segment starts at the 7:50 mark.