FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CuriousCCIWfan]

Question for NCC fans: Has there been any frustration from Aurora people when their best reciever transfered over to North Central? Just wondering since the schools are so close and they play at the beginning of the season. Should be interesting!

[SpartanHouse4]

Question for NCC fans: Has there been any frustration from Aurora people when their best reciever transfered over to North Central? Just wondering since the schools are so close and they play at the beginning of the season. Should be interesting!

Caught up in numbers game at NIU, Batavia's Trey Urwiler takes chance on AU. 'I'm good enough to play at any level

"Urwiler will take Madsen's spot. So that's an upgrade which is crazy to say." Coach Don Beebe

This was an interesting article with an interesting comment by Coach Beebe. I don't think I would have worded it that way.

AU took NCC's best WR a few years back in Cam Moore. Schools are even now

Hoping AU can keep it closer than last time around. We'll see.

[New Tradition]

"Urwiler will take Madsen's spot. So that's an upgrade which is crazy to say." Coach Don Beebe

This was an interesting article with an interesting comment by Coach Beebe. I don't think I would have worded it that way.

I got the exact same response in nearly the exact same words from another source close to the program when I asked about it.

AU took NCC's best WR a few years back in Cam Moore. Schools are even now

While Cam was very good, he was 3rd on the team in receptions in 2018, his lone season as a Cardinal. He had 54 receptions for 611 yds and 3 TDs, which ranks behind Kamienski (73 for 997 yds. and 11 TDs) and Michael Sfikas (57 for 871 yds. and 7 TDs).

[WUPHF]

The top four is identical to last year's preseason top four (NCC, Wheaton, Wash U, Augie), and that's in spite of the fact that Augie finished a game ahead of Wash U last season.

The Bears will defeat the Western Vikings in the final game of the season at Francis Olympic Stadium. Sharpie.

[USee]

No idea who voted for Wheaton other than Spencer. My guess (with zero info) is it may be Norm. No secret of his disdain for NCC during the Thorne years. Though his disdain for everyone but himself is also pretty well documented.

I can't argue with the rankings though my gut tells me WashU will be better than Augie this year. I haven't looked at what everyone has returning yet.

Wheaton will be scary good on offense if their QB situation gets settled. They will have maybe the best skill player group overall they have ever had. Their top 6 receivers by production are back with WR's Bonga, Kortenhoeven, Titherington, Gruepner and TE Juska. That with headliner Gio Weeks back for his 10th year. Gio is also a 1,000 yd rusherOL has some work to do and the QB's are between returnee Xavier Jones, who has improved dramatically through spring and early camp, and Fordham transfer Mark Forcucci, who played at Wheaton North with Bonga and Kortenhouven. It will be hard to replicate the accuracy and mistake free football Ben Thorson played at QB last year, but if one of these dudes comes close, this offense brings back 86% of its scoring and will be better than it's top 10 ranking last year.

Defensively the Thunder will be better, just don't know how much better. Last year was one of the worst years for a Wheaton defense in my memory. Mikey Swider takes over as DC and if I know the family, Mike Sr. isn't going to let his son do anything short of everything to make the defense a strength. While they bring back almost 70% of their defensive production, they didn't have the horses on their front 7 and specifically on the DL to compete with top 25 teams in the country. The secondary will be good, possibly great, with the return of AA Max Wilson. DL is the question mark but Peter Johanik (DE) is an AA type player and will create havoc for opposing offenses. Just need a few other dudes to develop quickly.

This is a playoff caliber team (#9 nationally seems ok at this point) and time will tell if they have closed the gap overall between them and North DuPage. Scrimmage this week vs Olivet Nazarene (NAIA) and opener Sept 7 at UW Oshkosh (ORV)

[BIG BLUE BEN]

Dear Men,

News from Decatur. Football season is upon us and the winds of change are blowing in central Illinois! For the first time in over 5 years there is hope in Decatur! As everyone knows, Millikin suffered only there 2nd ever winless season since 1907. I believe in Coach Hall and although he has gotten off to a 4-16 start to his Millikin tenure, this will be by far the most talented team he has had so far. He finally has enough of his own players in the building and has now had 3 years to establish his culture. They were very young last year but did lose their 1st team ALL-AMERICAN Perkins on the D-line. Millikin now has 52 freshmen on the roster and after over a week of watching film, I am pleased to say that this is the most talented class in a long time. Out of 52 freshmen, 40 had hudl highlight tapes and 25 were players that definitely have the potential to be starters in a year or two. With that said 6-7 of these players may start day 1 and are physically ready to play in the CCIW. Millikin has some special skill position players that can be difference makers day 1 on campus. Hall went heavy in Texas and Louisiana and signed Mutiple players who played at large high schools in Texas where it was hard for me to tell the difference between high school teams and D3 teams. I think this Millikin team will get better as the season goes on and will find a way to win 4-5 games. On paper, this team should be much improved, and I hope to see good things from the young Freshman class.

Cheers,
Go BIG BLUE

[GusD]

Preseason poll just dropped.

No real surprise that NCC was picked to win the league, though I am curious who besides Brad Spencer had Wheaton atop their ballot.

The money is on IWU's Norm Eash, who after losing to NCC by about 50 a couple years ago, reminded everyone that NC didn't play that much better than his team did, and with a couple of breaks the game could easily have gone the other way.   

[NCC2010]

Does anyone know how the 2024 NCC O-line is shaping up?  I feel like Jerod Thornton is going to be almost impossible to replace. Fortier was really good too.

Any word on some of the new kids on campus?

They are returning 3/5 starters from last year (Maples LT, Fehrle LG, Pryor RG) and if Alex Knaperek can play center, I would consider it 4 starters returning.  He started 14 games as a freshman at guard on the 2022 national title winning team and then last year was a backup for Pryor, Fehrle, and Thorton. Right tackle is probably the biggest question mark.  One guy who I wouldve pegged as the starter this year was Cortez Jones, who as a freshman last year was the 2nd team RT to start the season. Due to all the injuries to the defensive line however he got moved to DT and started the majority of the playoff games there.  Not sure if they plan on keeping him on defense now or move back to OL.

[robertgoulet]

Does anyone know how the 2024 NCC O-line is shaping up?  I feel like Jerod Thornton is going to be almost impossible to replace. Fortier was really good too.

Any word on some of the new kids on campus?

They are returning 3/5 starters from last year (Maples LT, Fehrle LG, Pryor RG) and if Alex Knaperek can play center, I would consider it 4 starters returning.  He started 14 games as a freshman at guard on the 2022 national title winning team and then last year was a backup for Pryor, Fehrle, and Thorton. Right tackle is probably the biggest question mark.  One guy who I wouldve pegged as the starter this year was Cortez Jones, who as a freshman last year was the 2nd team RT to start the season. Due to all the injuries to the defensive line however he got moved to DT and started the majority of the playoff games there.  Not sure if they plan on keeping him on defense now or move back to OL.

I know how important RT is but Jones was so impressive at DT. I'd keep him there and let him wreck shop.

[Cardinal773]

I love that phrase, "wreck shop".   I'm going to use that.

Speaking of such things, Ethan and Julian are taking care of business in Finland.  It's been kind of fun checking in on them this summer.  They look like they're having a blast, too.

[Gregory Sager]

Preseason poll just dropped.

No real surprise that NCC was picked to win the league, though I am curious who besides Brad Spencer had Wheaton atop their ballot.

The money is on IWU's Norm Eash, who after losing to NCC by about 50 a couple years ago, reminded everyone that NC didn't play that much better than his team did, and with a couple of breaks the game could easily have gone the other way.   

That's basically an evergreen quote (no color pun intended) from Norm Eash postgame interviews. Swap out the final margin and the opposing team, and you'd hear the exact same wave-of-the-hand dismissal of his victorious opponent from him as you heard last week, and as you'll hear again next week if the Titans keep losing. A variation on the theme is if his Titans win a close game, after which he'll tell the listening audience that the other team didn't play nearly as well as his team did, and with a couple of breaks the game could easily have been a blowout.

It's one of the reasons why Norm is so beloved and always stays atop the Christmas card list of each of his colleagues.

[HAMBO]

Dear Men,

News from Decatur. Football season is upon us and the winds of change are blowing in central Illinois! For the first time in over 5 years there is hope in Decatur! As everyone knows, Millikin suffered only there 2nd ever winless season since 1907. I believe in Coach Hall and although he has gotten off to a 4-16 start to his Millikin tenure, this will be by far the most talented team he has had so far. He finally has enough of his own players in the building and has now had 3 years to establish his culture. They were very young last year but did lose their 1st team ALL-AMERICAN Perkins on the D-line. Millikin now has 52 freshmen on the roster and after over a week of watching film, I am pleased to say that this is the most talented class in a long time. Out of 52 freshmen, 40 had hudl highlight tapes and 25 were players that definitely have the potential to be starters in a year or two. With that said 6-7 of these players may start day 1 and are physically ready to play in the CCIW. Millikin has some special skill position players that can be difference makers day 1 on campus. Hall went heavy in Texas and Louisiana and signed Mutiple players who played at large high schools in Texas where it was hard for me to tell the difference between high school teams and D3 teams. I think this Millikin team will get better as the season goes on and will find a way to win 4-5 games. On paper, this team should be much improved, and I hope to see good things from the young Freshman class.

Cheers,
Go BIG BLUE

Thanks for the info. Their roster seems quite thin at the QB position, which we all know how important that is. Any news about this?

[BIG BLUE BEN]

There are two incoming freshman who played both ways in HS and QB (both played QB). From their hudl tapes they are great athletes but would need to improve as passers to be CCIW caliber QB's. I could see them going with a young athletic freshman QB if the O-line does not seem stable and they need someone to run around all year, but the SR Lombardo has 19 career starts and I would imagine it will be his job to lose. Lombardo has struggled mightily behind bad offensive lines for his first two years as the starting QB. He is listed at 6ft but is more like 5'10 and has been very inaccurate under pressure. He has a great arm and when everything is perfect around him, he can sling it, but those moments have been far and few between. I have been hoping we would have found another young QB during the last 3 years but every year it seems they have been unable to bring in a freshman QB capable of taking over. I do not know the numbers exactly, but Lombardo has taken a beating and gets hit ALOT. Maybe he will look differently with more help around him but at this point in his career I think he is what he is. With that said, I know this team is not the worst team in CCIW. I think they will be motivated by the Pre-season CCIW rankings (might be first time ever Millikin was predicted last). They will not finish last, and I think they can finish as high as 5th.

[HAMBO]

There are two incoming freshman who played both ways in HS and QB (both played QB). From their hudl tapes they are great athletes but would need to improve as passers to be CCIW caliber QB's. I could see them going with a young athletic freshman QB if the O-line does not seem stable and they need someone to run around all year, but the SR Lombardo has 19 career starts and I would imagine it will be his job to lose. Lombardo has struggled mightily behind bad offensive lines for his first two years as the starting QB. He is listed at 6ft but is more like 5'10 and has been very inaccurate under pressure. He has a great arm and when everything is perfect around him, he can sling it, but those moments have been far and few between. I have been hoping we would have found another young QB during the last 3 years but every year it seems they have been unable to bring in a freshman QB capable of taking over. I do not know the numbers exactly, but Lombardo has taken a beating and gets hit ALOT. Maybe he will look differently with more help around him but at this point in his career I think he is what he is. With that said, I know this team is not the worst team in CCIW. I think they will be motivated by the Pre-season CCIW rankings (might be first time ever Millikin was predicted last). They will not finish last, and I think they can finish as high as 5th.

Thanks for the info. Do the 2 frosh possibilities have some size?

[markerickson]

Millikin garnered all one-point votes and perhaps the NCC HC voted for Wheaton.  I see NPU has a "blackout game" as its opener against Ripon.  Surely ugly uniforms guarantee a victory. Thus, after beating Millikin, the Vikings will be 2-0 with a road game at Elmhurst on 9.28.  Augie on the road and then versus Carroll for Homecoming.  So, perhaps 6-0 before losing the last five.  That scenario ends with a 6-5 record, and NPU has not had a better than .500 season since 1968.