FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[WUPHF]

You are a year late with your disappointment.

Bears opened the 2022 season with Hendrix.  Maroons with Concordia Chicago.

Correction: you are a year late.

I discussed this last season but added the comments this year about the rivalry as the teams will have played just once over a four year period.

The CCIW regulars all know that the teams did not play last season so I did not feel obligated to mention it.

[blue_jays]

If I was a Wash U fan, I would use this to its fullest advantage on those occasions in other sports in which the Bears will actually play the U of C.

After all, this can easily be spun as a case of the Maroons ducking Wash U on the high-profile stage of the gridiron. Evading your sworn rival like that is fuel for scorn and the heaping of abuse. This could be an unexpected means to ratchet up the rivalry; Wash U fans accusing the Maroons of being too afraid to play them in football anymore, and Chicago fans, required by the iron bonds of conference affiliation in most sports to have to share space with Bears fans in a sporting venue, forced to come up with some sort of riposte to the accusation.

Sometimes the sweetest victory is when your opponent runs away without a fight ... because you get to hold it over his head when you inevitably cross paths the next time.

WashU can spin it however they like, but it won't carry over to taunting in other sports. Does the basketball team really care enough to mention it during their annual games? What does it matter, those athletes aren't on the team and it isn't their problem. They're focused on the game at hand, the football team isn't their concern. And even if it was mentioned, UChicago would just give a shrug.
You can ask Pat Bloom why he ended the baseball series with UChicago after 2017. He won't give the real reason.

[blue_jays]

Admittedly, I have no idea why the game was not scheduled this season, but one might assume it was a decision by Chicago as the new coaching staff had no prior connections to the UAA.

I do agree on the everything else you said.

I do hope they get it scheduled again sooner or later.

Doubtful that the UC-WashU game will brought back. With only one non-con game on the schedule, the Maroons are more interested in finding different opponents from other regions, such as CMS or MIT. The WashU game is no longer a priority. Also, that decision was made before the coaching staff change.

[WUPHF]

I honestly have no idea why the game would suddenly become no longer a priority for the Maroons, but the rivalry was rather lopsided so that may explain it.

Or maybe they did not like the fact that Washington University ended up in the far better conference.

I also have no idea why Chicago would rather play Concordia or Claremont Mudd Scripps but to each his own.

[WUPHF]

You can ask Pat Bloom why he ended the baseball series with UChicago after 2017. He won't give the real reason.

I may ask Coach Bloom.  I am not sure if he will give me the real reason but I know it was not a matter of the W/L record because that rivalry was just as lopsided if not more so.

[blue_jays]

I honestly have no idea why the game would suddenly become no longer a priority for the Maroons, but the rivalry was rather lopsided so that may explain it.

Or maybe they did not like the fact that Washington University ended up in the far better conference.

I also have no idea why Chicago would rather play Concordia or Claremont Mudd Scripps but to each his own.

There are reasons beyond W/L, and a WashU supporter might not like them. But I don't see it changing in the near future.

[79jaybird]

Elmhurst to open up the season hosting Adrian College.  First time meeting and will be a tall order for Elmhurst.

[The Third Division]

Chicago Bears considering building a stadium in Naperville.

A new stadium and new location would absolutely be called for.

[CardinalAlum]

Not sure if this has ever been a thing for any other D3 championships but this is quite the honor:

https://wgntv.com/news/naperville/north-central-college-to-celebrate-ncaa-football-national-championship-at-white-house/

[Crusader92]

First post from a long time reader of this page. Played for a Wheaton in the late 80's early 90's. Live out of state but still get to a couple games a year. Noticed that Wheaton released a bit of info in 34 newcomers to the program so thought I'd pass it along here . 34 freshman and 
2 transfers from 16 states.

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2023/6/29/football-the-thunder-football-program-announces-34-newcomers-for-the-2023-season.aspx

[New Tradition]

https://d3football.com/top25/2023/preseason

NCC @ #1 receiving 22 of 25 possible first place votes (622 total points)
Wheaton clocking in @ 13 with 285 total points
Wash U is also just outside of the top 25 with 36 total points

Excitement is starting to percolate for the 2023 season.  I can't wait!

[lmitzel]

https://d3football.com/top25/2023/preseason

NCC @ #1 receiving 22 of 25 possible first place votes (622 total points)
Wheaton clocking in @ 13 with 285 total points
Wash U is also just outside of the top 25 with 36 total points

Excitement is starting to percolate for the 2023 season.  I can't wait!

I expected NCC to be preseason #1 but maybe not so dominantly. But I'll take 22 firsts and 3 seconds to open things up.

Excited for 9/2!

[CardinalAlum]

Cards set to welcome 90ish first year players to the program Tuesday when camp opens.  With approximately 90 returning players, it will be quite the crowded practice field early on!  Cards return a bunch but the big questions will be who opens up at RB and DE come game 1 against Roosevelt.  My guess would be a host of guys at RB playing and there are quite a few capable ones.

[USee]

Thunder don't report until next week as they open on Sept 9th vs Oshkosh. I am more hopeful today than I was previously for Wheaton.  They have a few 5th year guys coming back in positions of need and at least 1 previously unknown transfer that will be a difference maker. I expect the Thunder to be pretty good on offense if they can sort out the QB situation. Ben Thorson is the likely starter at this point. Family has a long history with the program. 2 returning OL along with Gio Weeks at RB, a talented TE group led by Ben Juska (a frosh who should play a lot) and some young talent at WR (Ben Bonga the lone returning starter).

Defensively their secondary should be a strength with two returning corners (Wilson and Schwartz) and some talented safeties stepping in. Big question marks for me are DL and LB where I believe only 1 player returns with significant playing experience.

I think the gap between NCC and the rest of the conference widens again this year and Wheaton is the next best team with WashU in the mix. Will take a look in the next couple weeks at the other teams as rosters get posted. For now I think NCC as consensus #1 nationally is right and Wheaton is probably a bit high at #13 but has a chance to play into a spot that high if talent evolves.

Bummer they don't play sept 2 before Oshkosh, especially with a new QB.

Exciting times as we get started..........

[Gotberg]

NPU is posting it's updated roster.  It appears there are 45 newcomers, 42 first year students and 3 transfers.

https://athletics.northpark.edu/sports/football/roster