FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mugsy]

Mugsy,

Looking forward to the annual Wabash/Wheaton scrimmage in a couple of weeks (9/2).  It has been a very good early test.  High expectations again in C-ville.  56 Frosh / 121 on the roster.

BB16

BB16,
The Wabash/Wheaton scrimmage is a great way to gauge where we are at against a very tough team.  I'd love to see this long standing relationship between Wabash and Wheaton continue with at a minimum a scrimmage and hopefully a continuation of non-conference games like we had back in the 80's.

With all Wabash has coming back from a very successful season last year, there is no doubt the expectations are high - and rightly so.  Should be exciting to see how things go.

[79jaybird]

HikerJim--Thank you for your compliments!    Yes, we aim to please.
Formerd3db-- Thank you again for your books and materials.  I look forward to reading them.  (Check your personal e-mail) which has more of this discussion.
Wheaton will feature a new uniform and new helmet decal this year.  I was over at Wheaton yesterday talking to Coach Hardy and in honor of Coach Bishop's Retirement, they are changing a few items.  I didn't get to see the new jerseys, however the helmet will be different.  Retired-  is the Wheaton title with the underline.   The new-- An attractive W  (similar to the W on their website)  with a Red Stripe between White stripes down the middle of the helmet.  I think the new features look pretty sharp, and a neat gesture to Coach Bishop.

[Mugsy]

Just a heads up...

Over the next week or so I will be putting together 2 or 3 options on how to run the weekly CCIW Pick-Em's pool this year.  For those interested, we can vote on which option sounds like it will be the most interesting and fair.  Obviously I will be open to suggestions as well.

[79jaybird]

I was also over at Elmhurst yesterday looking at the first practice.  Great to see that each year the numbers are increasing, which is always a good sign.  I think the initial numbers are 3 x's what they were when I was playing there.
Matt Smith is back at RB  along with 4 other new RB's.
Kudyba will be the primary QB,  Ryan Freund will be also in the hunt.  
The O-line is a veteran group.  
The one question mark offensively will be the losses of 3 skilled players, and how EC replenishes these gaps.
Defensively, all 11 starters return which is good, however the big question is can they limit the gamebreaking big play. (i.e. North Central's Kniss TD pass on 4th a mile)  I think overall Elmhurst is pretty sturdy and should have a successful year.

[diehardfan]

Wheaton will feature a new uniform and new helmet decal this year.  I was over at Wheaton yesterday talking to Coach Hardy and in honor of Coach Bishop's Retirement, they are changing a few items.  

Lol... are you sure the gesture isn't... out with the old, in with the new?  Just kidding! Coach Bishop was an amazing man, even a small, somewhat non-sensical geture at his retirement is a nice one!

I was just looking at the CCIW helmets on a page somewhere recently, I sorta liked that ours was a little different (as in, not the first letter of the name of the school)...

I have also always really REALLY wanted to have one of the helmet decals to stick on my rear window of my car, rather than the traditional Wheaton College bookstore decal. I guess it's too late now. 

[ncc58]

First, all players are invited to camp. I would doubt that any school extends an open invitation to all syudents. So, there is no reason for a cut. The only reason to expel  a player from the team is the typical reasons --- missing curfew, use of drugs or alcohol, or committing illegal acts.

Second, I'm sure every head coach knows exactly how many players are on his team. If he won't say, he doesn't want to say. He probably doesn't want you to think that are 8 QBs ahead of you, or 12 LBs.

[Mugsy]

I have also always really REALLY wanted to have one of the helmet decals to stick on my rear window of my car, rather than the traditional Wheaton College bookstore decal. I guess it's too late now. 

Don't be so sure.  I'd bet there is a box of the old helmet decals laying around somewhere.  One check with "Billy Ray" (Bill Stukes - the equipment manager extraordinaire) and I'll bet one (or a couple hundred) could be found.  I'll check to see.

[Tailgater]

Im hoping to come up there for 2 games this year any suggestions?

GO REDMEN!!!

Well..... for sure the Nov 4th game against Wheaton is a must attend game. Fingers crossed the stakes will be high for both and a conference title in sight. The 1st conference game Sept. 30th vs. Elmhurst is family weekend. IMO this is going to be a real good game and a test for both teams to set the tone for the remainder of the year. Would it be strange to say, this early, that it's a must win game for both programs?

[matblake]

Would it be strange to say, this early, that it's a must win game for both programs?

I don't think so at all.  Elmhurst is trying to make that push into the top of the CCIW.  Carthage has some questions on both sides of the ball.  Add to the fact of still having to play perhaps one of the most evenly balanced CCIW slates in recent history and it's not so hard to see this game is very important to both programs.

[Tailgater]

RedmenFB44:
Oh, and I forgot.... Your are always invited to join us tailgating before any games you may attend. Just look for the red tent and the familiar Carthage flag. Our coolers are open and food plentiful. Looking forward to seeing you again!

[matblake]

Over the next week or so I will be putting together 2 or 3 options on how to run the weekly CCIW Pick-Em's pool this year.  For those interested, we can vote on which option sounds like it will be the most interesting and fair.  Obviously I will be open to suggestions as well.

Mugsy, thanks for heading this up again. 

[Augie6]

Comet, I agree with Devildog's comments about coaching as it relates to teams with large rosters and how duties are split between the Head Coach and his assistants.  I would not be that surprised if a head coach can't quote the exact number of players he ended a prior season with and I don't think it is really that important.  I am sure most coaches know how many they have report at the start of the season, but, after that, there probably isn't much effort in tracking the total number as players drop off the team for various reasons. 

Realistically, if a player new to the program doesn't make some kind of impression on the coaches within the first few weeks of practice (and in most cases with very few opportunities) the chances of that player receiving extensive "coaching" are pretty slim.  With a 100+ kids who were all good high school players, the competition is too great and the time to prepare for the season opener too short to spend an extensive period of time evaluating all of the new players to the program. 

In a lot of cases, these new players end up playing on the scout teams used to prepare the starters and primary reserves for each week's game.  Many of these players were able to distinguish themselves by their play on the scout teams which benefitted them in future years.  During my senior year in 1986, our starting Noseguard earned All-American honors.  As a freshman, he played on the scout team the entire year.

At this level, it's really more about the motivation of each player to be better than the person he is competing against, not about coaching the bottom part of the roster to be better players.

[RedmenFB44]

Tailgater-

Thanks I will stop by before a game and have a few refreshments with the crew.

Matblake-

Every CCIW game is huge. To say that the Carthage vs. Elmhurst game isnt a big deal is non-sense. Every game will be a test and in this conference anything can happen!

GO REDMEN!!!

[79jaybird]

Every Elmhurst/Carthage game is a big rivalry (arch rivals)  no matter where each team is in the standings.  I recall the 1 game we put a star next to on the schedule each year was Carthage.  We had some fierce battles during my 4 years.
As RedmenFB44 said well,  there is a big game weekly.  There are no more "creampuffs" in the CCIW and even North Park can't be taken lightly anymore.  This adds to the excitement each week.  The CCIW is a 7 week marathon.

[redman04]

I know it is trivial, but does any one know what the new Carthage helmet will look like?  I loved the old logo and since we have not played any games yet there is not much to talk about yet!