FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[matblake]

Millikin is tough to gauge.  I haven't encountered an abundance of posters from there (my apologies to those who regularly post).  It could totally be me, but I don't remember a ton of info from Decatur on this board last year.

There aren't many Millikin posters, but devildog29 and blue_balls come to mind as regulars during the season.

Hello everyone

I have read this board for a few years on and off and have decided to start posting a little. As someone who lived in Decatur for years I am a little disappointed that not many Big Blue posters seem to ever be around.

Welcome Ditka.  As the season gets closer I am sure some guys will come out of the woodwork!

[matblake]

With that said I hope none of you have thoughts of successful Saturday's for you respective teams when Nate Wallick, Joey Albin, and Chris Katzmark roll into town this fall.

I don't think anyone takes Millikin lightly.  They have consistently been a competitive team in the CCIW.  Wallick has great stats (I have never seen him play).  Looking forward to hearing more about them!

[79jaybird]

Wallick has been the single reason Millikin has beat Elmhurst 2 of the last 3 years.  He is a GREAT running back and loves beating his hometown team.
1980 EC tied for the CCIW lead with IWU.  Since 1980 up to Carthage's 2004 year the CCIW went to Augie, Wheaton, Millikin, IWU.    While these schools are still strong, quality opponents, I think the CCIW (has been) a wide open race for some time.  All 8 teams (well, one is not quite there)  have a good shot at the title this year.  IMO, this is what makes each week in the CCIW fun, exciting, and worth watching.

[devildog29]

I'm a little late with the response obviously, but for clarification, I am an IWU alum, not Millikin.  We weenies are much too pretentious to have attended Millikin.

[usee]

Ok its time:

submit your preseason picks for the CCIW. list teams in order of finish and their record at a minimum. i will keep track and let everyone know about midseason where we "stand". the winner gets positive karma from all other posters for a month!!

i'll start it off:

Augie 9-1
wheaton  9-1
NCC 8-2
IWU 7-3
Elmhurst 6-4
carthage 5-5
millikin 4-6
NP 2-7

[matblake]

Here we go:

Augustana   9-1
Wheaton      9-1
North Central    8-2
IWU               6-4
Carthage       5-5
Millikin           5-5
Elmhurst        4-6
North Park     2-7

[79jaybird]

Ah, one of the first signs that football is approaching... the Preseason polls!

1)Augustana   8-2  (6-1)
2)North Central 8-2 (5-2)
3)Elmhurst      8-2  (5-2)
4)Wheaton     7-3   (4-3)
5)Carthage     6-4  (4-3)
6)Millikin          5-5  (3-4)
7) IWU             5-5 (3-4)
8)North Park    3-7 (1-6)

I don't think anybody sweeps the CCIW slate, and I think NPU breaks their long CCIW losing streak.  Should be a fun, exciting, year.

[zorbadagreek]

Auggie is team to beat, I agree w/ NPU ending the pain!!!
Auggie- 9-1 (7-0)
Wheaton- 8-2 (6-1)
North Central- 7-3 (5-2)
Elmhurst- 6-4 (4-3)
Carthage- 6-4 (4-3)
Millikin- 5-5 (3-4)
North Park- 4-6 (1-6)
Wesleyan- 3-7 (1-6)

[dansand]

Jaybird and Zorba,

Not to nit-pick, but your cumulative wins and losses in league play add up to 31 wins and 25 losses. 

[mr_b]

Jaybird and Zorba,

Not to nit-pick, but your cumulative wins and losses in league play add up to 31 wins and 25 losses. 

It's probably just further testament to the improved competitiveness of the CCIW!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Jaybird and Zorba,

Not to nit-pick, but your cumulative wins and losses in league play add up to 31 wins and 25 losses. 

It's probably just further testament to the improved competitiveness of the CCIW!

Our goal is the full 'Lake Wobegon Effect': all of the teams above the league average!

[Red Reign]

NCC--- 6-1    *Loses to Wheaton
AC--- 6-1      *Loses to North Central
EC--- 5-2      * Loses to AC & NCC
WC--- 5-2     * Loses to AC & EC
MU--- 3-4      * Loses to Above
CC--- 2-5       * Loses to Above
IWU--- 1-6    * Loses to Above
NP--- 0-7       * Loses to Above

I don't know that much about teams non conf schedule, but I'll go ahead and give everyone in the CCIW 3 more wins for non conf.

[79jaybird]

USee, we are both MSL Alums,  do you have predicts on this conf. also?  Viewing the CCIW rosters, I think each CCIW school has at least 2 MSL alums.
East
Prosp
Hersey
BG
EG
Wheel
RM
West
Fremd
Barr
Sch
Pal
Conant
HE
Iovino (Pros) should do well this year for IWU

[Ditka]

Well the Kehe experiment in Decatur has ended.  He has left the program and the new defensive coordinator will actually be the new defensive coordinators. 

Patrick Etherton who is a returning linebackers coach and Chris Krich who is coming in from Lakeland College will be co-coordinators. 

It is interesting, Lakeland's head coach Jim Zebrowski came from Millikin as the offensive coordinator and in his first few years the coaches up there seem to be funneling into Decatur.  Richard Worsell was new to the Big Blue staff last year after working at Lakeland (played and in England before Lakeland, dont see that too often) and this year Coach Krich.

Here is a link to the Millikin coaching staff page.  It has a short bio of each coach.

http://www.millikin.edu/athletics/football/asst.asp

I can only expect the Big Blue to get better defensively, as Coach K would run out some very interesting sets. 

I remember watching a couple games with long stetches of only two linemen with two inside linebackers  two standup OLBs who really just looked like safeties walked up pretty much where the DEs would traditionally be, and then five DBs behind that.  Needless to say the Big Blue have traditionally had much better defenses and a change was probably needed after two seasons with a lot of points being put up by Millikin foes.

I remember seeing someone post before last season that there were rumors that there was some tension between the players and Coach K.  I don't know if that kind of thing played into Coach K's departure, so I will not comment on it. 

[Ditka]

seeing this is my first time making predictions I hope I get leeway to be a homer.  Next season, no homerism permitted.  Plus this year I do have some newfound optimism

1.  Millikin  8-2 (6-1)
2.  North Central 8-2 (5-2)
3.  Augustana 8-2 (5-2)
4.  Carthage 7-3 (4-3)
5.  Wheaton 6-4 (3-4)
6.  Elmhust 6-4 (3-4)
7.  Illinois Wesleyan 5-5 (2-5)
8.  North Park 2-8 (0-7)