FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[hazzben]

So we meet again!  Wheaton's not who I was hoping to see in Rd 1, but when you come in with two losses, you don't expect anything but a nasty 'ol dog fight. Looking forward to the week ahead on the boards, and of course, the action on Saturday!

[matblake]

It will be a good game.  I was really starting to sweat it with the two losses, but when I saw we were hosting, I thought to myself, we're going to play Bethel.  Good luck to the not Pilots, the Royals. 

[matblake]

I'm really hoping that Jaran Roste will be able to be in as best form as possible (he's been struggling with an injury I believe).  He's a dynamic player that really enhances Bethel's chances.  Regardless, his determination will be a test for the Wheaton defense. 

[matblake]

Really surprised that Wheaton has the chance to host.  Perhaps a budgetary decision somehow bracket-wise?  The facilities at Wheaton are good, unless you count the stadium bathrooms.

[hazzben]

I'm really hoping that Jaran Roste will be able to be in as best form as possible (he's been struggling with an injury I believe).  He's a dynamic player that really enhances Bethel's chances.  Regardless, his determination will be a test for the Wheaton defense.

Same here. Our offense is explosive with a healthy Roste throwing to Kidder and Niewald. When that's cooking, it sets up a strong ground game. Roste's leg's being a key component of that. When he's not healthy it gets rough. We aren't built to be a run first team this year.

D is very good (a little banged up right now, but who isn't at this point). If the O is humming, the D is very salty. Where they get in trouble is when they get stuck out there the entire game because we can't sustain drives.

I'm assuming you'll be a legit challenge, quite possibly the best we've faced all year. That's not a knock on SJU, but I believe you guys were pretty young and I know you graduated a lot of 5th year talent on the front 7. Looks like that talent has grown up, and more than held it's own against Trinity.

I'm really glad the committee rewarded Wheaton and Bethel/SJU loser. We want to see teams that go out and schedule great non-con matchups. SJU gets a 1 seed as a reward for monster SOS, Bethel and Wheaton get into the dance. That's the right way to do it, hope it continues in years to come.

[USee]

Really surprised that Wheaton has the chance to host.  Perhaps a budgetary decision somehow bracket-wise?  The facilities at Wheaton are good, unless you count the stadium bathrooms.

Pretty sure this was probably just a case of Wheaton being a #3 in region 5 and Bethel was #4 or #5 probably. That's probably what determined hosting.

[matblake]

Really surprised that Wheaton has the chance to host.  Perhaps a budgetary decision somehow bracket-wise?  The facilities at Wheaton are good, unless you count the stadium bathrooms.

Pretty sure this was probably just a case of Wheaton being a #3 in region 5 and Bethel was #4 or #5 probably. That's probably what determined hosting.

That makes sense. I had forgotten the regional ranking portion.

[SpartanHouse]

Looks like some programs need to shake up some things in the coming days.

Very curious if some CCIW programs will clean house and start looking for new coaches.

Looks like Elmhurst staff has been let go.

[Pat Coleman]

Really surprised that Wheaton has the chance to host.  Perhaps a budgetary decision somehow bracket-wise?  The facilities at Wheaton are good, unless you count the stadium bathrooms.

Wheaton and Bethel stadiums are basically identical at this point.

[Next Man Up]

Looks like some programs need to shake up some things in the coming days.

Very curious if some CCIW programs will clean house and start looking for new coaches.

Looks like Elmhurst staff has been let go.

The official announcement says McDonald "stepped down," but odds are it was you can "step down" or be fired.

[79jaybird]

Well when you suffer through a difficult campaign like Elmhurst has this year,  it's bound to happen that changes will occur.
Elmhurst is in a tough spot.  It's tough on them geographically which they have no control over.  But with the rise in North Central these last 15-20 years,  recruiting top candidates has been (even more) challenging.   

Journell, Lester, and (even) Adam had Elmhurst starting to show signs of climbing into (minimally) the middle of the pack.  However recent years has seen Elmhurst sink back to the basement of the conference.  I am not sure what the answer is at this point.   I do hope the new hire will help to get Elmhurst back on their feet because it's a program floundering right now.

[SpartanHouse]

Well when you suffer through a difficult campaign like Elmhurst has this year,  it's bound to happen that changes will occur.
Elmhurst is in a tough spot.  It's tough on them geographically which they have no control over.  But with the rise in North Central these last 15-20 years,  recruiting top candidates has been (even more) challenging.   

Journell, Lester, and (even) Adam had Elmhurst starting to show signs of climbing into (minimally) the middle of the pack.  However recent years has seen Elmhurst sink back to the basement of the conference.  I am not sure what the answer is at this point.   I do hope the new hire will help to get Elmhurst back on their feet because it's a program floundering right now.

Why is Elmhurst a tough geographical spot?

[OLCoach99]

Well when you suffer through a difficult campaign like Elmhurst has this year,  it's bound to happen that changes will occur.
Elmhurst is in a tough spot.  It's tough on them geographically which they have no control over.  But with the rise in North Central these last 15-20 years,  recruiting top candidates has been (even more) challenging.   

Journell, Lester, and (even) Adam had Elmhurst starting to show signs of climbing into (minimally) the middle of the pack.  However recent years has seen Elmhurst sink back to the basement of the conference.  I am not sure what the answer is at this point.   I do hope the new hire will help to get Elmhurst back on their feet because it's a program floundering right now.

Why is Elmhurst a tough geographical spot?

It isn't

[79jaybird]

IMO  it is.  All too often over the years, I have heard of recruits saying,  "I love ____ about Elmhurst, but it's too close to home"  or it's in my back yard.   Academically Elmhurst is one of the best,  but given the choice of going to (i.e. Carthage, Augie/IWU) they go there, because Elmhurst is in their minds,  too close.     

[New Tradition]

IMO  it is.  All too often over the years, I have heard of recruits saying,  "I love ____ about Elmhurst, but it's too close to home"  or it's in my back yard.   Academically Elmhurst is one of the best,  but given the choice of going to (i.e. Carthage, Augie/IWU) they go there, because Elmhurst is in their minds,  too close.   

NCC should have the same issue by that logic, though.  Elmhurst is a beautiful city with a lot to offer students, just like Naperville.  Downtown Elmhurst is gorgeous and there is a ton to do (I currently live 10 min from there).  The problem I had when I was being recruited by coach Krohn (cough20yearsagocough) was that Elmhurst had a reputation as a "suitcase school" where kids packed up and went home for the weekend more often than not.  It wasn't THE deciding factor in my college choice, but it certainly was a consideration.