FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

Gregory,

rest assured i am not speculating anything about the future of Scott P at north park. to the contrary i hope he has the longest tenure ever recorded a cciw coach. if you could simply give me the names of the last 5 north park head football coaches and their length of tenure at north park you will have made my point.

Yes, you are speculating about Pethtel's future at NPU by asking, "Another coaching change coming?" after only three games.

Here's the last five North Park coaches and their lengths of tenure:

Robin Cooper, 5 years (2001-05)

Mike Liljegren, 6 years (1995-2000)
Tim Rucks, 5 years (1990-94)
Mel Boehland, 1 year (1989)
Craig Fouhy, 2 years (1987-88)

This does the opposite of proving your point -- unless your point is that Pethtel is a reversion back to North Park's late-'80s coaching carousel. The last three men to hold the job were each there for substantial periods of time, certainly long enough to make your speculation about Pethtel after three whole games unwarranted. Heck, Rucks would probably still be coaching at NPU if his alma mater hadn't beckoned him home to Kenosha.

I admit to being extreme in calling for the current coach to step down after 1 season but can anyone say they would be surprised?

Yes, I can. I would be extremely surprised if Scott Pethtel stepped down, either now or at the end of the season. I don't claim to know Pethtel well, but I've had enough conversations with him to grasp his fervor and excitement about the prospect of bringing a winning football program to NPU; how deeply impressed he is with the school; and his confidence that the administration will do what it can to provide him with the tools he needs to build a winning program. Heck, I've gone on at length about how two big pieces of that commitment -- the refurbished stadium and the new rec center -- are already in place.

That doesn't mean that he won't get burned out down the line if North Park continues in its losing ways. But it's precipitous to the extreme to hint that he might get burned out in his first season, or that North Park might show him the door without even giving him a chance to bring in his own players.

i don't find that at all amusing, in fact it is a terrible testament to a school that has a minimal committment to being competetive (you have expounded many times on this on the basketball board). Good coaches (and maybe a couple bad ones) come and go with great regularity at north park. the only consistent is the administration. its not hard to figure out.

Yeah, I have expounded on this in the past many times, and I still feel that the school could do a lot more to build up its sports programs. But NPU has, without a doubt, made a strong statement of support for the football program through the recent developments of Holmgren Athletic Complex and Helwig Rec Center. As I said before, most of the excuses are gone now for NPU to keep losing.

Given what I know of Pethtel, the fact that his two predecessors who continually spun their wheels and logged terrible records still stuck around for five- and six-year tenures at the Park, and what I've seen with my own eyes in terms of NPU's commitment to giving the coaching staff what they need to succeed, all I can say is that you've jumped the gun by erroneously applying what happened twenty years ago to today.

Gregory,

you again miss my point. if you think I am calling for his resignation or his termination you don't know me very well. I was taking to an extreme a lack of committment by the administration to the football program. so you think things are different now since they have a new field?? I hope so. i do know that history has a tendency to repeat itself if someone doesn't step in and change it. I like what I have seen of Scott Pethel. i am a big vandenboss fan (former wheaton db coach) and the other staff he has in place seem like good additions. 5-6 years for any coach does not a winning school make. not for a program like north park. get someone to stay for 10 years with a couple winning seasons and we'll see. It is good to see your enthusiasm for north park. they are the only team in the cciw who hasn't made a run at  a title during any currently breathing generation. There is no reason why they can't start now but i won't buy into it until i see it on the field and this years version of north park is a step backward from last years (a large step backward). i hope the new coach has more tenure than the previous 5 or there will soon be a day when coaches don't last a season on foster avenue. we lived through 4 coaches in 4 years at wheaton as i am sure you remember and its not a fun place to be. here's hoping Scott Pethel begins a JR Bishop kind of run on the north side.

[Tailgater]

I am hesitant to really get overly "psyched" for EC because I know Carthage has had the overall edge the last few years.  Series:  Car leads 33-20-1 which began in 1936.  Recently Carthage has won 4 of the last 5,  Elmhurst last win was a 19-16 win in 2000.  Carthage has won 9 of the last 11 meetings also, which HOPEFULLY we can start to even up the series slowly.  Tim Rucks has beat us 9 of 10 tries. 

If you're willing to forget the 21-0 blanking Elmhurst handed Carthage at your Oct 11, 2003 Homecoming game I'm more than happy to erase it from my memory as well.

[matblake]

On to the CCIW season.  Looks like Carthage v Elmhurst is shaping up to be "The Battle of the Week."  Elmhurst considers this to be the "rivalry game."  Both teams are 3-0.  Personally, I think that Elmhurst's schedule was a bit easier.  Carthage has had a week off, will they come out flat or have they used the time to heal?   

[redman04]

On to the CCIW season.  Looks like Carthage v Elmhurst is shaping up to be "The Battle of the Week."  Elmhurst considers this to be the "rivalry game."  Both teams are 3-0.  Personally, I think that Elmhurst's schedule was a bit easier.  Carthage has had a week off, will they come out flat or have they used the time to heal?   

It should be the "Battle of the Week" because; sorry to say, the other CCIW games will be Blow outs.  I may have to eat my words  8)

Wheaties too tough for the Big Blue.

Augie will run all over Norm's boys, taking out their anger for a disappointing non conference record.

NCC vs. NPU I hate to say no chance in hell, because even a blind squirrel finds a but once in a while.

I would like to see a Carthage blow out but I just don see it happening. I hope I am wrong.

[redman04]

Reidy
here is the new Helmet picture


http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

[matblake]

It should be the "Battle of the Week" because; sorry to say, the other CCIW games will be Blow outs.  I may have to eat my words  8)

Augie will run all over Norm's boys, taking out their anger for a disappointing non conference record.

This could be a defining game for IWU.  Given Augie's play and dansand's comments several pages back about the offensive line, I think that this will be an uncomfortable game for the Vikings.  Hope, I'm wrong about that. 

[Redmen96]

No matter if you like it or not SUNY does slap its name on some Alfred programs.  I too am from Upstate and also have friends that went there.  Anyway it was to show that there are other systems similar to the UW system.

[Redmen96]

Thanks Joe Bear

[TitanBacker]

It should be the “Battle of the Week” because; sorry to say, the other CCIW games will be Blow outs.  I may have to eat my words  8)

Augie will run all over Norm’s boys, taking out their anger for a disappointing non conference record.

This could be a defining game for IWU.  Given Augie's play and dansand's comments several pages back about the offensive line, I think that this will be an uncomfortable game for the Vikings.  Hope, I'm wrong about that. 

I very much agree.  A strong defensive game by IWU could spell the end for Augie.  Both teams are 1-2 and are looking for some momentum.  IWU comes off a bye week and Augie comes off a disappointing loss.  I have 3 main questions to throw out about the game.

1)  Will Augie's O line finally gel and smack some guys in the mouth like we're all used to?
2)  Can IWU's QB and offense put points on the board?
3)  Who will win the turnover battle??

I believe the third question is the most important.  Whoever wins the turnover battle will win the game.  But then again, we shall see...

[FormerCard]

I know it is only Monday but...I am calling the upset of the week (in my mind an upset) 

Millikin      24
Wheaton 14

NC  42
NP  14

Augie 35
IWU   9

Carthage 28
Elmhurst  27

[matblake]

I know it is only Monday but...I am calling the upset of the week (in my mind an upset) 
Millikin      24
Wheaton 14

Are you sure you would want your Cardinals to face Wheaton after a loss? Might not be to your advantage, especially on Bell Week.   

Seriously though, considering how Wallick has dominated the Thunder I really wouldn't be that surprised, but it would be an upset at this point.

[79jaybird]

How could I forget the 2003 EC game!!  (And I haven't even been tailgating!   )
I was actually looking in the Carthage FB Program digging up the stats/series and the Car program didn't have a score listed for 2003.  Oh well,  all signs, figures, stats, indicate that the "arch rival" game is indeed just that.  It's going to be a brutal, very physical, IMO low scoring game.  With all 11 defensive starters returning, I think the defense is very sturdy.  I am also impressed with Carthage's elusiveness, quickness to the ball, and as some RedMen IMers have indicated,  they have forced many turnovers and change of possessions.
Looking a little deeper into this game, I think a turnover might be the deciding factor for this game.  Fumble, Interception, blocked kick, etc.  some type of "instant change"  I could see being the difference.

[usee]

Go Thunder-keep in mind the Thunder have not faced a team with a good running attack yet so we really don't know how good they are vs the run. Wallick has torched them the last few years. that said i think mugsy's 140 yard Over/under is a touch on the aggressive side vs this athletic defense.

a much better indicator of the wheaton/millikin matchup is the millikin pass defense, ranked dead last in the conference. Wheaton scrimmaged wabash pretty evenly and wabash, except for a 4th quarter mind meld pretty much had their way with millikin. the wheaton defense is playing much better than the wabash defense but the wheaton offense probably isn't as potent as wabash (although it can be). based on that outcome I see wheaton beating millkin pretty handily. however, if wheaton turns the ball over and gives millikin good field position, it could easily be a close contest.

One thing is certain, wheaton better put millikin away pretty early. if this game gets into the 4th quarter and is still close, the big blue will be very hard to beat in decatur. (similar thing happened last year when wheaton let millikin hang around and won, barely, in overtime)

[Pat Coleman]

No matter if you like it or not SUNY does slap its name on some Alfred programs.  I too am from Upstate and also have friends that went there.  Anyway it was to show that there are other systems similar to the UW system.

SUNY-Alfred is an entirely separate intstitution and is a two-year school.

BTW, I knew there other states with state schools in D-III -- Connecticut and Virginia.

[robberki]

Gregory,

rest assured i am not speculating anything about the future of Scott P at north park. to the contrary i hope he has the longest tenure ever recorded a cciw coach. if you could simply give me the names of the last 5 north park head football coaches and their length of tenure at north park you will have made my point. I admit to being extreme in calling for the current coach to step down after 1 season but can anyone say they would be surprised? i don't find that at all amusing, in fact it is a terrible testament to a school that has a minimal committment to being competetive (you have expounded many times on this on the basketball board). Good coaches (and maybe a couple bad ones) come and go with great regularity at north park. the only consistent is the administration. its not hard to figure out.

Woah, woah, woah, I represent that remark!