FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[D3FLETCH]

No spin Auggie played well. On to the recruiting trail.

Are you taking Norm with you on the recruiting trail? Show him the ropes? Maybe teach him a few tricks of the trade? 

Norm has a meeting with IWU cabinet on Monday  Stealing road time from the legend.

[cciwman]

At Notre Dame, Lou Holtz was famous for making his opponent appear to be the best team in the nation each week.  Norm, on the other hand, complements his opponent briefly before explaining how they're really not that good.  Now it is COVID's fault.  I think Lou at least realized that recruiting and working hard is how you build a program.

Today's Pantagraph:

IWU lost its first three games this season. The Titans won two of the next three before losing three of their final four games to finish with their worst record since 2006.

"We don't want kids to react, we want them to respond. We have to respond to this situation," said Eash. "We're used at Illinois Wesleyan to being loaded every year and challenging for a championship. We're not at that stage right now, and I don't know if that's because of COVID. There's a lot of things that have happened the last two years.

"But we need to respond. The younger players have to understand we didn't do the things necessary to get ourselves in a position to win. Those are things we have to correct. We were playing a lot of young kids which will be a beneficial in the future."

[Next Man Up]

At Notre Dame, Lou Holtz was famous for making his opponent appear to be the best team in the nation each week.  Norm, on the other hand, complements his opponent briefly before explaining how they're really not that good.  Now it is COVID's fault.  I think Lou at least realized that recruiting and working hard is how you build a program.

Today's Pantagraph:

IWU lost its first three games this season. The Titans won two of the next three before losing three of their final four games to finish with their worst record since 2006.

"We don't want kids to react, we want them to respond. We have to respond to this situation," said Eash. "We're used at Illinois Wesleyan to being loaded every year and challenging for a championship. We're not at that stage right now, and I don't know if that's because of COVID. There's a lot of things that have happened the last two years.

"But we need to respond. The younger players have to understand we didn't do the things necessary to get ourselves in a position to win. Those are things we have to correct. We were playing a lot of young kids which will be a beneficial in the future."

Evidently Norm is incapable of considering that his team did indeed responded to his coaching. 🤦🏼‍♂️
And evidently he is unaware of the possibility that every other team in the nation also had to deal with problems brought on by demon Covid. 🌏

[duckfan41]

Final prediction has Wheaton in and hosting Aurora and NCC hosting Greenville

https://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2021/our-projected-bracket

Wheaton is in and hosts Aurora. NCC hosting Carnegie Mellon.

Wheaton did exactly what they needed to do and got a lot of help the last day of the season. Time to take advantage of the opportunity they were given, because they certainly are playing their best football right now.

[hazzben]

Congrats to Wheaton. The bracket is better with you in it, glad we both made it. Here's to having a reason to visit Chicagoland in two weeks!!

NCC got a solid draw IMO. Tough likely second rd game v. UWL, but avoid any Top 10 teams till the semi's if they hold serve.

[TrueGreen]

At Notre Dame, Lou Holtz was famous for making his opponent appear to be the best team in the nation each week.  Norm, on the other hand, complements his opponent briefly before explaining how they're really not that good.  Now it is COVID's fault.  I think Lou at least realized that recruiting and working hard is how you build a program.

Today's Pantagraph:

IWU lost its first three games this season. The Titans won two of the next three before losing three of their final four games to finish with their worst record since 2006.

"We don't want kids to react, we want them to respond. We have to respond to this situation," said Eash. "We're used at Illinois Wesleyan to being loaded every year and challenging for a championship. We're not at that stage right now, and I don't know if that's because of COVID. There's a lot of things that have happened the last two years.

"But we need to respond. The younger players have to understand we didn't do the things necessary to get ourselves in a position to win. Those are things we have to correct. We were playing a lot of young kids which will be a beneficial in the future."

Actually Norm has been a great recruiter and one of the hardest working guys out there. He just has never been able to make the right comments at the right times to the right audiences. Afraid that will never change. Also the messaging to the team doesn't paint a realistic picture of what needs to happen to get back to the top.

And by TOP, I mean NCC. How does he communicate what it will take to get a win vs The TOP.

[SpartanHouse]

Will be an intriguing matchup in Wheaton. AU will throw the ball 80% of the time and not pound their heads trying to run against that front 7.

[hazzben]

Will be an intriguing matchup in Wheaton. AU will throw the ball 80% of the time and not pound their heads trying to run against that front 7.

I had the same thought. Aurora's seen good teams in SJU and NCC the last several years, but they've yet to get over the hump. Wheaton D is plenty good against the pass as well as the run from the two games I've watched.

[CardinalAlum]

Congrats to the Wheaton Thunder as well as the Cards.  I'm sure it's been a bit nail biting in Wheaton until you see that name flash.  Lots of work to be done for both teams.  Best of luck!

[robertgoulet]

Left side of the bracket is a bear. Think NCC got a more difficult draw than Mt U, but only just. Can't wait to get this party started!

[CardinalAlum]

Will be an intriguing matchup in Wheaton. AU will throw the ball 80% of the time and not pound their heads trying to run against that front 7.

I had the same thought. Aurora's seen good teams in SJU and NCC the last several years, but they've yet to get over the hump. Wheaton D is plenty good against the pass as well as the run from the two games I've watched.

My thoughts having seen both teams (AU and Wheaton vs NCC)....AU's biggest issue is going to be stopping the Wheaton run game.  2nd biggest is going to be trying to establish some kind of running game themselves and not let Wheaton pin their ears back rushing the passer.   Wheaton plays the screen/draw game very well so I'm not sure that's the way to go.  Saturday can't get here soon enough! 

[SpartanHouse]

Aurora will bring a nice crowd to Wheaton. Glad the NCAA got these local teams together.

[USee]

Final rankings released. https://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2021/final-regional-ranking

The Five got it right. Snuck WashU into the bottom and gave Wheaton an RRO win. The Thunder were likely 2nd or 3rd Pool C taken. HSU was blocked by RMC the whole time or they're in.

[CardinalAlum]

Aurora will bring a nice crowd to Wheaton. Glad the NCAA got these local teams together.

Visitors stands at Wheaton are rather smallish. Just a fair warning.  AU fans should arrive early or they'll be standing around the track. 

[kiko]

Left side of the bracket is a bear. Think NCC got a more difficult draw than Mt U, but only just. Can't wait to get this party started!

That's geography.

Bethel got in despite two losses but they and Central IMO have the most brutal path forward starting in Round 1 if everything plays out as we expect.