FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mr_b]

Contrary to the basketball and soccer boards, there doesn't seem to be a lot of NPU football talk around here. What's been the general consensus on their play thus far?

I've only been to one game, the victory at  home over Eureka, so I don't have the bigger picture.  I liked the athleticism I saw vs. Eureka, and there are some Viking players that can really fly.  Shelby Wood has a strong arm and could be a force to be reckoned with, and the running backs as a group moved the ball better than they have in the past with one back doing all the work.  Special teams also looked good.

I don't know anything about Rose-Hulman, so Saturday's game may or may not set the tone for conference play.  The CCIW won't be a cakewalk -- it never is -- but I feel that the Vikes will be more competitive this season.

[RedmenFB44]

Wheaton played at North park last year and is going to again this year.  Shouldn't the game be scheduled at Wheaton this year?

Sometimes the schools schedule a Home-Away-Away-Home and then it switches after that Away-Home-Home-Away

They will do this just to mix it up a bit

[thunderdog]

I meant to comment on this right after Mugsy said... "if he stays healthy, Andy Studebaker will be the best DE in school history."

Wow... that is some high praise considering Mugsy played with or saw the likes of Jeff Frazier, Don Parrish, Doug Rothschild, Dave Hoover, etc...

I have yet to see Andy play, but I think I heard the announcers (whoever they are... great job by the way) call his name on just about every play during the Wash U game.  I wonder how he compares to Drew Pearson?

Drew was one of the most dominant forces I've seen play at DE (1996-2000).  The problem was, he had the joints of a 55 year old.  He'd only play 15-20 snaps a game his senior year and would have 1 or 2 sacks, 1 or 2 tackles-for-loss, 1 or 2 QB knock-downs, 1 or 2 QB hurries, 1 or 2 batted balls.  OK, OK, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but my point is... when he played, it was Reggie White-esque!

All this to say, I can't wait to watch the Wheaton team play (especially the D and Andy Studebaker).  It sounds like Coach Rocket Rod has got the Wolfpack a howlin'!

fyi, Mugsy... how would you rank the top 5 DE's to come thru Wheaton?

[FatalImpact]

79jaybird,
What are your thoughts on the QB situation at elmhurst?

[79jaybird]

Fatalimpact-- Hopefully we can make it through the Olivet game without any QB injuries or tweaks.
Mike LaFleur and Ryan Freund did a nice job in the Chicago game.  Two different QB styles.  Freund has more muscle (converted TE) and is not afraid to try and plunge the ball in the interior gaps.  He has some beef on him, so he's not the fragile QB.
LaFleur will be o.k. also.  I think if EC didn't have a veteran O-Line both QB's would be in a little more trouble with less options available.
I said this on the air and will say it here... every team is going to have an injury here or there.  You can A) dwell on the injury and cry about it  or B) Regroup and start marching forward with the unit that is healthy and ready to go.  I don't like Coach Journell or the Jays will do A)  as most teams would.
Kudyba will be back, he's a good kid.

[RedmenFB44]

Always nice to see 4 CCIW teams receiving votes in this weeks polls.

Ranking:       Team:          Votes:
    21           Wheaton        108
    30             Augie             33
    38               NC               13
   T-44         Carthage          5

[Mugsy]

I meant to comment on this right after Mugsy said... "if he stays healthy, Andy Studebaker will be the best DE in school history."

Wow... that is some high praise considering Mugsy played with or saw the likes of Jeff Frazier, Don Parrish, Doug Rothschild, Dave Hoover, etc...

I have yet to see Andy play, but I think I heard the announcers (whoever they are... great job by the way) call his name on just about every play during the Wash U game.  I wonder how he compares to Drew Pearson?

Drew was one of the most dominant forces I've seen play at DE (1996-2000).  The problem was, he had the joints of a 55 year old.  He'd only play 15-20 snaps a game his senior year and would have 1 or 2 sacks, 1 or 2 tackles-for-loss, 1 or 2 QB knock-downs, 1 or 2 QB hurries, 1 or 2 batted balls.  OK, OK, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but my point is... when he played, it was Reggie White-esque!

All this to say, I can't wait to watch the Wheaton team play (especially the D and Andy Studebaker).  It sounds like Coach Rocket Rod has got the Wolfpack a howlin'!

fyi, Mugsy... how would you rank the top 5 DE's to come thru Wheaton?

thunderdog,

You mention some really good d-ends and great guys as well.  It was a privilege to play alongside many of the guys you mentioned.  Though I didn't have the honor to play on the defense with Drew Pearson, it was memorable to watch him play and I agree completely on how tough he was and how unfortunately it was that he had so many injuries to deal with.  I had the chance to get to know him personally as he worked with the high school kids at my church.  What an awesome person!

I started a few games my sophomore year when Doug Rothchild was a senior and causing all kinds of havoc for the opposition.  He was your prototypical DE - 6'5" 260 lbs and fast.  He ended up signing with the Chicago Bears and making it to the last cut or so in 1986 or 87.  There is a picture of him in action against Walter Payton in Coach Swiders office, if memory serves me correctly.

Jeff Frazier started as a freshman when I was a senior.  He as a bit shorter, but a brute and raw power DE.  You could tell then he was going to be a force for the next 3 years.  All-American multiple times.

Don Parrish from my perspective was the most technically skilled.  He would throw together 3-4 moves and keep going until he got to the QB, along with being incredibly disciplined against the run.  Only 6'2" or so and 235-40lbs, but tough as they come.  All-American multiple times along with Academic All-American.

I didn't  get the chance to play on a team with David Hoover, but I was a coach when he was at Wheaton.  By far the least physically dominating compared to the others, but by far the quickest of them all.  He beat people with raw speed and had a ton of sacks.  Probably got the most out of his ability than anyone else.

Man... it is so hard to pick the top 5, because there were so many that preceded my era (Coach Jeff Peltz, etc...) and I'm by no means the best to speak to this topic.

To those I forget to mention, please forgive the oversight, but here is my crack at top 4 DE's at Wheaton since the early 1980's:

1. Don Parrish
2. Jeff Frazier
3. Doug Rothchild
4. Drew Pearson (only because he played so little)

Wheaton's website is down right now so I couldn't refresh my memory on all the DE's that have played since I graduated and stopped coaching.

What impresses me with Andy Studebaker from afar is that he is the complete package.  At 6'5" 250lbs, he is the combination of size and strength.  I wish you could have seen 2 plays where on one play he absolutely drove a 6'5" 290lb tackle 7 yards into the backfield like he was on rollerskates (to the point where his legs buckled and he fell over backwards - no exaggeration) and then mauled the QB and a few plays later he used footwork and 2 quick moves (including a nasty swim move) to go around the tackle like he was a glacier.  He is only a junior, so he has a ton of potential.  He needs to stay clear of injuries and remain hungry to get better and better.  I think he is going to be a ton of fun to watch over the better part of the next year and 2/3rds.  Like I said, he has the potential to be the best ever - IMO.

[Gregory Sager]

Contrary to the basketball and soccer boards, there doesn't seem to be a lot of NPU football talk around here. What's been the general consensus on their play thus far?

The Vikings looked good for the most part against a really poor Eureka team, after the defensive front seven corrected some difficulty they'd had early in the game staying in their lanes and preventing cutbacks by the RBs of the Red Devils. Brandon Watts had an outstanding 100/100 game (passing yards and return yards). And for the first time in eons, it appears that the Park has a genuine kicker in freshman Jesse Reyes.

It was good to see Scott Pethtel get his first win as head coach, and even better to hear him take a realistic view of the accomplishment. He was pretty critical of the Vikings' performance on Saturday, but cautiously optimistic that they were going to improve as the season went on. He has a very good understanding of what he's up against with regard to the program's long-term inertia and difficulties with recruitment and retention. NPU has a long road ahead just to get to where the Vikings are competitive on the CCIW level, and he's no more expecting instant success than is anyone else on campus. I think that he's looking for incremental improvement on a game-by-game basis at this point.

With the addition of the new Helwig Rec Center on campus -- a facility that is every D3 football coach's dream in terms of a weight room and an indoor practice space -- recruiting and retaining players should be a much easier task for NPU. But that doesn't guarantee that the Vikings will become a winning program, and Coach Pethtel knows that. It's going to take a certain amount of time and a lot of hard work on the part of the coaching staff. The Vikings will take their lumps in CCIW play this year. Next year and beyond? We'll see. But so far I've been very impressed with Coach Pethtel and his approach to changing the wretched fortunes of North Park football.

Wheaton played at North park last year and is going to again this year.  Shouldn't the game be scheduled at Wheaton this year?

Sometimes the schools schedule a Home-Away-Away-Home and then it switches after that Away-Home-Home-Away

They will do this just to mix it up a bit

I'm not sure if it's the case, but it also might have something to do with NPU not having any home games while Holmgren Athletic Complex was being refurbished three years ago.

[RedmenFB44]

I'm not sure if it's the case, but it also might have something to do with NPU not having any home games while Holmgren Athletic Complex was being refurbished three years ago.
[/quote]

Ahhh... yes Gregory Sager that could be correct but I know schools also use the Home-Away-Away-Home format.

[Goal Line Stand]

Washdupcard-

I think Cary Grove is ranked in the top 20 in Illinois. Cary Grove plays their 4th game today against Huntley I believe. Should be a win

Carthage-31 Whittier-2 with 8:13 to go in the 4th

CG 43  Huntley  0

CG is ranked 3rd in IHSA 6A polls. 

Cary-Grove is ranked 4th overall in Chicagoland by the Tribune.

Looks like we are both right.  Cary-Grove is ranked 3rd in the Associated Press Class 6A rankings this week.  Just be two different rankings.   

[Tailgater]

Looking at the cover page on the D3 websight I see the new Wheaton uniform. I think it looks great! I'd be pleased to wear it if I were a player. Carthage has also had to go with a new look at home this year after the NCAA plucked their feathers. Red jersey with thick mesh material for the body and solid material over the shoulders. Wide black & white bands go over, under and around the shoulder with white numbers on the body. The pants are a real light silver with a red and black stripe down the length of the leg. Kind of has a throw-back uniform look. Very similar to the Georgia Bulldogs.

[usee]

You know... I've tried to ignore it, but I find no pleasure sharing information with this board anymore. Regardless what I write some cowardly anonymous bully(s) whacks my character and reputation by hitting me with negative karma. Maybe it's funny to some to abuse this power, (which I believe Pat should re-think about offering) but I find it to be humiliating to have the thoughts or information I offer receiving negative karma with EVERY single post I make (this season), including season predictions. Does someone want to explain to me what their problem is with me??? or is this little club so exclusive that occasional CCIW posters are not welcome? You wouldn't get much info on Carthage otherwise or is that the goal? Some may think karma ratings don't matter. I do and so does Pat or he wouldn't have added the feature.  If I were to travel around and visit various boards how serious do you think I would be taken? An individual tagged with a lot of negative karma is surely assumed to be a fool or a jerk of which I am neither. Pat, the power of karma corrupts. I wish you would do away with it.

although its been a while, this is obviously a job for the Karma Chameleon........Karma for all who post!!!


we come and gooooooooo...................................................................

[CardinalAlum]

Return of the Karma fairy!   

[usee]

I meant to comment on this right after Mugsy said... "if he stays healthy, Andy Studebaker will be the best DE in school history."

Wow... that is some high praise considering Mugsy played with or saw the likes of Jeff Frazier, Don Parrish, Doug Rothschild, Dave Hoover, etc...

I have yet to see Andy play, but I think I heard the announcers (whoever they are... great job by the way) call his name on just about every play during the Wash U game.  I wonder how he compares to Drew Pearson?

Drew was one of the most dominant forces I've seen play at DE (1996-2000).  The problem was, he had the joints of a 55 year old.  He'd only play 15-20 snaps a game his senior year and would have 1 or 2 sacks, 1 or 2 tackles-for-loss, 1 or 2 QB knock-downs, 1 or 2 QB hurries, 1 or 2 batted balls.  OK, OK, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but my point is... when he played, it was Reggie White-esque!

All this to say, I can't wait to watch the Wheaton team play (especially the D and Andy Studebaker).  It sounds like Coach Rocket Rod has got the Wolfpack a howlin'!

fyi, Mugsy... how would you rank the top 5 DE's to come thru Wheaton?

thunderdog,

You mention some really good d-ends and great guys as well.  It was a privilege to play alongside many of the guys you mentioned.  Though I didn't have the honor to play on the defense with Drew Pearson, it was memorable to watch him play and I agree completely on how tough he was and how unfortunately it was that he had so many injuries to deal with.  I had the chance to get to know him personally as he worked with the high school kids at my church.  What an awesome person!

I started a few games my sophomore year when Doug Rothchild was a senior and causing all kinds of havoc for the opposition.  He was your prototypical DE - 6'5" 260 lbs and fast.  He ended up signing with the Chicago Bears and making it to the last cut or so in 1986 or 87.  There is a picture of him in action against Walter Payton in Coach Swiders office, if memory serves me correctly.

Jeff Frazier started as a freshman when I was a senior.  He as a bit shorter, but a brute and raw power DE.  You could tell then he was going to be a force for the next 3 years.  All-American multiple times.

Don Parrish from my perspective was the most technically skilled.  He would throw together 3-4 moves and keep going until he got to the QB, along with being incredibly disciplined against the run.  Only 6'2" or so and 235-40lbs, but tough as they come.  All-American multiple times along with Academic All-American.

I didn't  get the chance to play on a team with David Hoover, but I was a coach when he was at Wheaton.  By far the least physically dominating compared to the others, but by far the quickest of them all.  He beat people with raw speed and had a ton of sacks.  Probably got the most out of his ability than anyone else.

Man... it is so hard to pick the top 5, because there were so many that preceded my era (Coach Jeff Peltz, etc...) and I'm by no means the best to speak to this topic.

To those I forget to mention, please forgive the oversight, but here is my crack at top 4 DE's at Wheaton since the early 1980's:

1. Don Parrish
2. Jeff Frazier
3. Doug Rothchild
4. Drew Pearson (only because he played so little)

Wheaton's website is down right now so I couldn't refresh my memory on all the DE's that have played since I graduated and stopped coaching.

What impresses me with Andy Studebaker from afar is that he is the complete package.  At 6'5" 250lbs, he is the combination of size and strength.  I wish you could have seen 2 plays where on one play he absolutely drove a 6'5" 290lb tackle 7 yards into the backfield like he was on rollerskates (to the point where his legs buckled and he fell over backwards - no exaggeration) and then mauled the QB and a few plays later he used footwork and 2 quick moves (including a nasty swim move) to go around the tackle like he was a glacier.  He is only a junior, so he has a ton of potential.  He needs to stay clear of injuries and remain hungry to get better and better.  I think he is going to be a ton of fun to watch over the better part of the next year and 2/3rds.  Like I said, he has the potential to be the best ever - IMO.

Mugsy,

an obvious (and perhaps intentional) omission is Jeff Peltz, current DLine coach at wheaton. although i think i remember he was a 3-4 linebacker, he was in essence a defensive end. it was his record all the others were shooting for (sacks). he has to be in the conversation but its tough since their aren't many stats and only old fashioned film to support this. It would be interesting to see some statistics for some of the folks you mentioned to compare. I think you captured the names i remember as being a force at the DE spot. if you expand to DT a lot of other names come into this picture.

[ncc58]

Contrary to the basketball and soccer boards, there doesn't seem to be a lot of NPU football talk around here. What's been the general consensus on their play thus far?

NPU is going to have to prove itself against CCIW competition. So far, I'm not seeing anything that would suggest that NPU is ready to win a CCIW game.

Yeah, it's dangerous but I'll just look at a couple games. Benedictine University held NPU to 34 yards rushing and 76 yards passing (5 first downs). IMHO, NCC has not been impressive and BU held them to 206 yards rushing and 241 yards passing (23 first downs).   

BU had 334 yards rushing and 63 yards passing (23 first downs) against NPU. BU had 66 yards rushing and 31 yards passing (8 first downs) against NCC. 

BU beat NPU 22-7, NCC beat BU 38-0.

NPU is going to have to play significantly better if they expect to compete in the CCIW. Unless NPU plays out of their minds and catches a CCIW opponent on a bad day looking ahead to their game, I can't see them coming close to another win this season.