FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Thunderdome21]

Well, NCC has between 15-17 starters back including 9 on offense so I am not sure that's a justification.

NCC's 2022 roster is up, and it looks like there are 13 starters coming back with 8 on offense. The big surprise for me was not seeing 2nd team all-region safety Braden Lindmark on their roster. But NCC continues to reload as they have a d-1 (Northern Illinois) transfer corner (Antwain Walker) on the roster. He started two games for NIU back in 2019.  They also have a JC transfer nose tackle that started for Dupage's recent national championship team on the roster as well as a WR transfer from Illinois St. (Joey Lombardi).

[markerickson]

Since Elmhurst got 12 votes/points that translates to 8 votes for 10th place and two votes for 9th.  Then the likelihood is North Park got 1 vote for 10th place, 7 for 9th, and 1 for 8th to get to 18 votes.

[USee]

Well, NCC has between 15-17 starters back including 9 on offense so I am not sure that's a justification.

NCC's 2022 roster is up, and it looks like there are 13 starters coming back with 8 on offense. The big surprise for me was not seeing 2nd team all-region safety Braden Lindmark on their roster. But NCC continues to reload as they have a d-1 (Northern Illinois) transfer corner (Antwain Walker) on the roster. He started two games for NIU back in 2019.  They also have a JC transfer nose tackle that started for Dupage's recent national championship team on the roster as well as a WR transfer from Illinois St. (Joey Lombardi).

Depends on how you count starters. Several players started playoff games due to injuries.

[ncc_fan]

Well, NCC has between 15-17 starters back including 9 on offense so I am not sure that's a justification.

NCC's 2022 roster is up, and it looks like there are 13 starters coming back with 8 on offense. The big surprise for me was not seeing 2nd team all-region safety Braden Lindmark on their roster. But NCC continues to reload as they have a d-1 (Northern Illinois) transfer corner (Antwain Walker) on the roster. He started two games for NIU back in 2019.  They also have a JC transfer nose tackle that started for Dupage's recent national championship team on the roster as well as a WR transfer from Illinois St. (Joey Lombardi).

Depends on how you count starters. Several players started playoff games due to injuries.

I noticed that DB Julian Bell has returned after missing the 2021 season.  He had two interceptions in the 2019 Stagg Bowl.

[Next Man Up]

I may be mistaken, but did Julian Bell not play for NAIA Roosevelt U last season?

[USee]

I may be mistaken, but did Julian Bell not play for NAIA Roosevelt U last season?

Yes and he was 2nd team all conference with 4 interceptions.

[USee]

North Central has the following returning (does not include Freshmen or Xfers who start in August)

Seniors: 12
Juniors: 16
Soph: 52
Fresh: ??

Offense: 10 players who have started games for NCC and 1 more who is effectively a returning starter (Terrance Hill is a 3 yr back up RB and has more rush attempts than many CCIW starters) and 1 transfer WR

QB: Lehnen
RB: Greenfield, Hill
WR: Hardy, Transfer: Joey Lombardi (2 years at Illinois St: 3 rec 21 yds)
TE: Matt Robinson
OL: Ebert, Fortier, Hart, Thornton, Maples, Pryor

Defense:  6 players who have started games for NCC and 4 transfers (3 of whom have significant college experience)
DL: Rich, Gilroy, Greifelt. Tranfer: Lukowski (started for College of Dupage Junior College and had 23 tckls, 4.5 tfl, 1.5 scks)
LB: Taviani
DB: Rummell, Bell (2019 Stagg). Transfers: Marcel Ellis (Quincy/Drake: 27 tckls, 1 Int over 3 yrs), Antwain Walker (NIU/SIU 4 games with 2 starts; SIU had 2 tackles in 3 games;


To me it looks like NCC has 10 returning starters on Offense, and 11 if you count Hill and 6 returning starters on defense with 3 transfers who have significant college football experience.

Loaded

[BIG BLUE BEN]

Hey Everyone,

NEWS FROM DECATUR: Exciting time of year and can't wait for CCIW football to be be back in a few weeks. Even more exciting is the fact that Millikin has signed their LARGEST CLASS EVER (67 Freshman) which does not even include the 8 transfers they now have on campus as well. This will be one of the largest teams (if not the largest) in school history and its coming on the brink of a new 6-million-dollar weight room/locker room begging construction in the spring. It seems Millikin is not content with being left behind in a conference where the top teams are quickly widening the gap between the bottom of the conference. I think the Big Blue will have all the motivation in the world this fall as they were picked 8th in the pre-season coaching polls.

Plain and simple I think this is the 4th best team in the CCIW and I would bet they finish no worse than 5th considering the array of talent coming into Decatur this fall. The QB play last year was poor and with a competition taking place for the starting QB role it will be interesting to see who wins that job. Millikin brought in the most OL/DL in school history and I believe with 3 starters back on the OL they will be able to find 2 missing pieces amongst the freshman/tranfers now garnering the Blue and white in central Illinois. There are a lot of question marks as not alot of info has come out of Decatur but on paper the Big Blue are poised to rejuvenate a program that has struggled to keep a standing roster of 80+. As of right now Millikin now has 120+ men on the roster which should create an atmosphere of competition and growth as Coach Hall begins his era running the ship for the Big Blue.  Although i still do not think Millikin is ready to challenge NC/Wheaton I do think they have an opportunity to win every other game on the schedule. I think a successful season for the big blue would be 6-4 but I am not ruling out an 8-2 season with a trip to the Bowl game in November. Nevertheless, if Coach Hall can succeed where the previous 2 Millikin coaches have failed (retaining players) then I believe this ca be the start of something special in Decatur for years to come. Cheers to a new season, I will have a post put together to preview the week 1 matchup vs Greenville but I expect this to be an exciting year where new faces begin to make their mark on Millikin's rich football history.

[USee]

Love your enthusiasm and I would like nothing better than for the Big Blue to leap into the conversation at the top of the conference. More bodies is a step in the right direction. I am in the middle of researching every team (based on the available roster data) and will have my thoughts on the conference race and the outlook for each team before the first game on Sept 3 (hopefully early next week).

I can tell you the teams with multiple seniors and returning starters will be favored but who knows?

[HAMBO]

Hi Board
As a Big Blue fan, I hope you are correct BIG BLUE BEN.  I am a little more subdued.  I think the freshmen class brings in a good foundation but with unproven talent.  Then when you add in a new first time head coach, it leaves many questions.  Also, as you know, the academic axe has hit the football team heavy recently.  My main concerns with returning players centers on the offensive line and running backs.  I will hold my enthusiasm until the first game with Greenville.  I agree that on paper the incoming athletes look excellent.

[Next Man Up]

Hey Everyone,

NEWS FROM DECATUR: Exciting time of year and can't wait for CCIW football to be be back in a few weeks. Even more exciting is the fact that Millikin has signed their LARGEST CLASS EVER (67 Freshman) which does not even include the 8 transfers they now have on campus as well. This will be one of the largest teams (if not the largest) in school history and its coming on the brink of a new 6-million-dollar weight room/locker room begging construction in the spring. It seems Millikin is not content with being left behind in a conference where the top teams are quickly widening the gap between the bottom of the conference. I think the Big Blue will have all the motivation in the world this fall as they were picked 8th in the pre-season coaching polls.

Plain and simple I think this is the 4th best team in the CCIW and I would bet they finish no worse than 5th considering the array of talent coming into Decatur this fall. The QB play last year was poor and with a competition taking place for the starting QB role it will be interesting to see who wins that job. Millikin brought in the most OL/DL in school history and I believe with 3 starters back on the OL they will be able to find 2 missing pieces amongst the freshman/tranfers now garnering the Blue and white in central Illinois. There are a lot of question marks as not alot of info has come out of Decatur but on paper the Big Blue are poised to rejuvenate a program that has struggled to keep a standing roster of 80+. As of right now Millikin now has 120+ men on the roster which should create an atmosphere of competition and growth as Coach Hall begins his era running the ship for the Big Blue.  Although i still do not think Millikin is ready to challenge NC/Wheaton I do think they have an opportunity to win every other game on the schedule. I think a successful season for the big blue would be 6-4 but I am not ruling out an 8-2 season with a trip to the Bowl game in November. Nevertheless, if Coach Hall can succeed where the previous 2 Millikin coaches have failed (retaining players) then I believe this ca be the start of something special in Decatur for years to come. Cheers to a new season, I will have a post put together to preview the week 1 matchup vs Greenville but I expect this to be an exciting year where new faces begin to make their mark on Millikin's rich football history.

Ben,
One of the problems in being able to get too enthusiastic about the chances of the Big Blue is that we've all recently been told a couple times that they were ready to make a move to the top or near the top of the second tier of the conference only to see them fail in that pursuit. Being picked 8th in conference would reasonably translate to two conference wins, most likely NPU and Elmhurst. Carthage got only 2 more points in the Coaches Poll so it would seem logical that MU would stand a decent chance to post a W in that contest.
That's 3 CCIW wins. Sorry, but I see no chance for MU vs WC, NCC or WashU. That leaves Augie, Carrol, and IWU. Let's say the Big Blue hits on all cylinders on both offense and defense in one of those games and completely shuts the opponent (most likely IWU) down. That would be 4 conference wins. Add a victory over Greenville in the season opener and you have a 5-5 season. Realistically, I think that would be about what MU could reasonably hope for this year. With being picked 8th it would seem like this could be considered to be a successful season. 5-4 in conference and 6-4 overall would make for an over the moon year. 

[Thunderdome21]

Hey Everyone,

NEWS FROM DECATUR: Exciting time of year and can't wait for CCIW football to be be back in a few weeks. Even more exciting is the fact that Millikin has signed their LARGEST CLASS EVER (67 Freshman) which does not even include the 8 transfers they now have on campus as well. This will be one of the largest teams (if not the largest) in school history and its coming on the brink of a new 6-million-dollar weight room/locker room begging construction in the spring. It seems Millikin is not content with being left behind in a conference where the top teams are quickly widening the gap between the bottom of the conference. I think the Big Blue will have all the motivation in the world this fall as they were picked 8th in the pre-season coaching polls.

Plain and simple I think this is the 4th best team in the CCIW and I would bet they finish no worse than 5th considering the array of talent coming into Decatur this fall. The QB play last year was poor and with a competition taking place for the starting QB role it will be interesting to see who wins that job. Millikin brought in the most OL/DL in school history and I believe with 3 starters back on the OL they will be able to find 2 missing pieces amongst the freshman/tranfers now garnering the Blue and white in central Illinois. There are a lot of question marks as not alot of info has come out of Decatur but on paper the Big Blue are poised to rejuvenate a program that has struggled to keep a standing roster of 80+. As of right now Millikin now has 120+ men on the roster which should create an atmosphere of competition and growth as Coach Hall begins his era running the ship for the Big Blue.  Although i still do not think Millikin is ready to challenge NC/Wheaton I do think they have an opportunity to win every other game on the schedule. I think a successful season for the big blue would be 6-4 but I am not ruling out an 8-2 season with a trip to the Bowl game in November. Nevertheless, if Coach Hall can succeed where the previous 2 Millikin coaches have failed (retaining players) then I believe this ca be the start of something special in Decatur for years to come. Cheers to a new season, I will have a post put together to preview the week 1 matchup vs Greenville but I expect this to be an exciting year where new faces begin to make their mark on Millikin's rich football history.

Even though my son and my nephew play for Wheaton, I also have a soft spot for Milliken since one of my former students was on the team back in 2017.  But with only 13 Seniors and 7 Juniors returning and losing your most/all of your O-Line, I just don't see Millikin finishing in the top half this year.   Agree with USee that teams with multiple seniors and returning starters will be favored.

[USee]

For Millikin: 119 on the roster
13 seniors
7 juniors
32 soph
67 Freshmen

1 returning starter on offense, 2 upperclassmen in the OLine and almost no experience in that group as the entire OLine from 2021 is gone. They have zero upperclassmen QB's or RB's and their Soph QB threw 12 passes last year. No RB's with any carries in games last year return. They have some WR's with some game experience.

On Defense they have 5 returning starters (2 DL, 1 LB, 2 DB).

Unless the freshmen class is spectacular, I think Millikin is in for a very tough year on the field against many of the CCIW teams.

[kiko]

I have no POV on the talent coming into Decatur other than to say the stronger the conference is top-to-bottom, the better it is for everyone.

And, please keep posting as we have not necessarily had consistent reports from Decatur in the past and they would be a welcome addition to the convo here!

[iwu70]

Thanks for the report on the Big Blue and the hopes for some improvement, moving up in the program there.  I agree it would be nice to have more regular reports from MU fans and supporters in this football board!

IWU also has a rebuild year, after the very disappointing 3-7 campaign last year.  Coach Norm has a huge group out for football, too . . . at least 110 out for the team.  I'll report further after the opening game with Ohio Wesleyan at Tucci Stadium at Wilder Field on September 10th.

IWU'70