FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[markdamaker40]

I agree on North Centrals defense not being what they should be. Returning 10 of 11 starters, two all-americans, returning CCIW POY. Not to mention was staticaly the best defense in 2004 holding aponents to under 100 yards rushing. What is going on?!? I think it starts with the cards defensive line. With all four returning from last year, including an all-american D-end. You'd think they would be one of the best in the conference... I've been to all two of NCC's home games and the IWU game this last week. I've seen the entire d-line not do so well. At IWU and Wheaton I have yet to see them get any pressure on a QB. The defense is giving up 20-25 ponits a game as a whole. I think this is a promblem going into a tough game like this week against Carthage. I think this will be the game of the week in the CCIW... #1 offense vs. #1 defense. It should be a low scoring game with alot of turnovers. I belive for NCC to win they will have to establish their running game with #26. For Carthage to win they will have to come up HUGE on defense. Rememer this game was very close last year minus Carthage's all-american running back. However, for Carthage to stay alive this is do or die. The Redmen will come to play, but so will the Cardinals.

If I remember correctly Carthage not NCC had the TOP DEFENSE in 2004 (with three extra games played due to playoffs) and still has the TOP Defense. Just because of the politics of ALL-AMERICAN, does not make you a great defense.  Carthage's Defense Shut down an AMAZING Augie rushing attack.  The total yards that Augie gained against Carthage this year and NCC last year was the exact same.  So then we must go to the points given up 7 for Carthage 10 for NCC.  Its all there in black and white you just have to look for it. 

That said I do believe it will be a low scoring affair for NCC this weekend and the Carthage Offense will look to rebound, that being said...
Carthage 21
NCC 10

[vikes35]

Very odd that Carthage is ahead of Augie, but it is only by one point, which shows how even they actually are (just as the game showed). Polls have flaws but we all know that and have discussed it before.

It is nice to see NCC 16 Carthage 22 Augie 23 and Wheaton 26 all having substanial votes in the polls.

[wheels81]

Congratulations to Joe Chupp and Tom Anthony for making CCIW players of week.
Chupp redeemed himself with his clutch performance in the last 5 minutes.  He fumbled and Milikin recovered in the red zone, the 8 yard line, that prevented wheaton from scoring early in the 3rd quarter.
Anthony leads league with 7 interceptions wow, and he hasn't even played wheaton which has given up 6 in two league games.   

Wheaton's defense has lost a key player for several games as Trey Andrew who was player of week for his efforts in Gustavas game. 
Does anyone know if or when he will return?

[79jaybird]

Whew!  What a weekend top to bottom in the CCIW.   EC 28 NPU 12, but this was much closer than the score indicates.  It was only 14-12 (I believe) at the half.  That Mike Haehn  is an excellent QB and put together a great 2:00 offense to score before  the half.  Elmhurst's defense was just too strong in the second half.
Offensively, right now I would say Matt Smth is running better than Eric Luna.  Both are great RB's but I would give it to Smith right now on 3rd and 1.
I think it is WAY TO EARLY!!  to talk about how great NC is , ____ offense is unstoppable, ____ is going to run the table, or _____ is going to go winless.  This weekend is a perfect example of how unpredictable and vulnerable each and every team is in this conf.
Right now I think Strong contenders:  Augie, NC
Outside shots:  Wheaton Carthage
Darkhorse Elmhurst
I will say that at 5-0 (for the first time since 1981 Congrats Jays!!)  I don't see Elmhurst losing 5 straight games.  I know the competition will be fierce, but I don't see the Jays losing 5 straight.
Note:  Nobody on the field was born the last time we opened up 5-0.  
The Bears make me sick, and it is a wonder I still watch them.
3 overtimes Wheaton/Millikin... what is the CCIW for the longest game?
Augie wins by 7 on a Touchdown?  I almost choked on my coffee when I read it in the paper Sunday.

[usee]

jaybird-who do you think elmhurst will beat in the next 5? wheaton? carthage? Augie? NCC? Millikin? their best chance is this weekend v wheaton. outside of that they play ncc and carthage at home and augie and millikin on th road. I just don't see who elmhurst is going to beat out of this group.

[matblake]

Don't forget that the weather could soon be making a difference.  I'm sure we can all think of a number of situations where an underdog  was able to hang with the favorite because of the weather conditions.  I believe it was 1996 or 1997 when there was a huge snowstorm in most of the CCIW.  I believe that IWU beat Elmhurst 6-0 on a fumbled kickoff in the endzone (I tried to look it up but I couldn't find archives that went back that far).  Any others that people can bring up?

[HughJass]

I can think of Augie/Central in 2003...it had rained the night before and all day for gameday.  I believe the first punt was booted and didn't even bounce when it hit the ground.  On the game film a thud could be heard and it stuck right in the mud.  Footing was horrible and no one could get the ball moving.  Central won 3-0....off a field goal!  Augie tried for a field goal and missed.  Quite a crappy game.  I'm not sure Central played on that field the rest of the year because it was destroyed.

[washdupcard]

I just love some of the definitive comments people post on here...like they have a window into the future...very amusing.  I wonder if most of you who do this realize that you immediately lose credibility with everyone else?  Example, NCC is going to beat Carthage by 21 points...because they are unstoppable.  Might as well just say..."I'm a very large tool and please don't even bother reading the next paragraph."

USee,

To answer you questions about Wheaton and the logical anticedent dealing with North Central....You said it yourself...Wheaton gave the game away to North Central (not saying that North Central shouldn't have won, or that North Central didn't give the game away to Wheaton in the first half).

A Wheaton Conference Championship team does not turn the ball over in the clutch.  They do not self-destruct at half-time.  The Wheaton teams of the last few years execute when it matters and make things happen.  Yes, they came through against a tough Millikin team in OT...but is that because Millikin is better than advertised or because Wheaton isn't as flawless as they have been?

Granted this is all with the caveat that I haven't personally observed Wheaton with my own two eyes...my thoughts are all based on stats and second hand information.

I honestly don't think that NCC is better than they were last year.  I believe NCC would have won the conference last year had Kniss and Holden been healthy.  This year, I think NCC's O-line is weaker...and the running game is inconsistent.    HOWEVER, Kniss is playing like an All-American QB.

What does all this mean?  How the hell should I know!  

With all that said, NCC blows out Carthage 42-14.  Its definitely going to happen!    

[usee]

washdup-I happen to agree w your assessment of wheaton--you are right, the conf champ won't do what wheaton did in the 2nd half v ncc (did ncc turn it over 5x in the 1st half??). I have seen both ncc and millikin and i can't tell much of a difference between the two.  kniss is playing really well but the inefficient running game and lack of defense will hurt ncc down the stretch if they don't figure that out.

[washdupcard]

Agreed.

In regards to Millikin, if my memory serves me right....I think that I picked Millikin to finish fairly high in the conference standings.  Wasn't it you who logged the predictions for the year?  I don't remember exactly where I had them.

[79jaybird]

USee, I think Elmhurst best chance in their next 5 are Wheaton and Millikin.  I think Elmhurst has a fightin chance to beat the Thunder next week.  That 22-16 game still sticks in my mind... but their last 3 trips to Langhorst have been close games.  I am looking forward to this game, because I think it will be just like their game versus Millikin.
Weather definitely is a variable that helps underdogs.  The IWU/Elmhurst game was in 2001 (I believe) and IWU won on the last play of the game (or close to it)  A fade to the back of the endzone and after trailing all day, the Titans came back and beat us.  This was played on a day when we had 30 straight hours of heavy rain and flooding all over the city.  haha, we were toasty warm in the pressbox.  My roommate was on the team and came back to the dorm room covered in mud     He told me it was a blast.
There were 6 straight fumbles which I have never seen before.  You could literally start sliding at the 30 and travel to the other 30 yard line.

[79jaybird]

The IWU/EC game is what I call the mud bowl which prompted the school to invest in the Astroplay Surface which is currently at Langhorst Field.

[usee]

aaah yes, the early predictions: i will post them on the pick em's page for all to refer to as we go down the stretch.

to answer your question-you picked millikin 3rd at 8-2. you also picked carthage to finish 5-5, which is still possible, but unlikely 

[5wide]

Hi all, its been a while so I had to get a new username.  Anyway, I'm a big D2 and D3.

I was just wondering, how has having the highschools playing their games at North Park worked out so far.  Will it help them get to be respectable and help out this conference on a national level.

[washdupcard]

touche.