FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

Interesting game action today but the results still ended up as expected.

At NP, wheaton's chaz black and anthony toal did not dress for the game. Wheaton gave up a KR for a td, had a punt blocked and fumbled another kick off. not good things coming down the stretch of the season.

Millikin hung tough w NCC off the cardinal special teams blunders and turnovers. but in the end they came up w 4 picks of their own and kniss took over to secure a tough road victory. showdown in naperville next saturday.

IWU is gonna beat someone down the stretch here, i just hope its not the thunder in wheaton.

[usee]

also, I am mildly encouraged by the CCIW's chances to at  least get to alliance in the post season after BW hung w MUC today, losing 14-0.

[Mugsy]

also, I am mildly encouraged by the CCIW's chances to at  least get to alliance in the post season after BW hung w MUC today, losing 14-0.

My thoughts exactly when I saw that score.  Perhaps BW is exceeding everyone's expectation and so Augie's loss doesn't look quite as bad.

[79jaybird]

Go Thunder-- thank you. I am glad you were able to get the broadcast.  Very exciting finish at Elmhurst this afternoon.
Coincidentally, the person who filled in for my usual Color Analyst is the Father of Jake Mobley who scored the final Elmhurst TD on a DL return.  What a thrill for the D Lineman to make the game clinching TD and also a big thrill for his Father in the booth to be able to see his Son making the big play.

[Mugsy]

Suffice to say the poll on top of every page right now is significantly different after today's results.  Carthage has been virtually eliminated from the CCIW championship picture - although still a very, very tough opponent that can factor in who does or doesn't win because they still have games against both Wheaton and North Central.

It is now a 3 horse race with Augie being in charge of their own destiny.  Next week could be the last significant hurdle between Augie and a repeat championship.  I know who I'll be rooting for...

[79jaybird]

Well, I don't know how it happened but somehow Elmhurst was able to come from behind and win the game.  Here are some thoughts:
A) The Elmhurst defense is no doubt 1 of the top 3 defenses in the CCIW. They shut down IWU in the second half and gave the Bluejays a chance.
B) IWU failed to execute and some penalties really made life difficult for the Titans.  They should have put Elmhurst away in the 3rd quarter (when the Bluejays offense was sputtering) and couldn't seal the deal.
C) Mike LaFleur (QB) had a tough 3 quarters and wasn't getting the offense going, but he went from goat--- hero by engineering the go-ahead TD drive to win the game.  That is the neat thing about sports is that you can go from goat--hero and hero---goat in a matter of minutes, along with the ability to redeem yourself.
All in all a very good game and exciting game to call on the air at Elmhurst.
Devildog-- I agree there were some very questionable calls in today's game.  I will give the officials credit that there were questionable calls on both sides.  I.E. The Ciesel 72 yd TD that was negated by an illegal motion call was somewhat fishy??  I didn't see anything unordinary with that play, but the officials saw something.  
Then later when Cody Battaglia made an interception and returned it 20 yards the other way, only to have the final placement back where he was called to have "touched his knee to the ground".
There were some calls for both sides, but the officials did not decide the outcome of the game, which is all you can really ask for.  
The bottom line-- Elmhurst ended their 2 game skid by executing in crunch time.  Something they weren't able to do in the Augie and NC game.  
Lastly, Marcus Dunlop is one of the best backs in the CCIW.  IMO, I would put him at #3 behind 1)Wallach 2) Black  3) Dunlop

[Pat Coleman]

BW and MUC tend to play games like that, even in years where MUC runs away with everything else.

[usee]

BW and MUC tend to play games like that, even in years where MUC runs away with everything else.

I have seen that. point is, BW is better than most thought. we will see how they do down the stretch in a tough conference.

[TrueAugieAlum]

AugieAlum.....Why can't you just be happy that the Vikings keep winning?  I know the 2 losses were a disapointment at the beginning of the year, but they are undefeated in conference.  Just let the coaching staff do their thing.  They have been successful over the years. 

Same reason I am sick of hearing talk about the championships in the 80's.  
That is the past.  Should we be satisfied with Augie winning conference championships year after year, knowing they cannot win the big one?   Augie could be GREAT again if the coaching approached the game as having 100+ players all capable of doing their job.  I just do not understand why they insist on playing the "first" team even when the score indicates that they have already won.    Why not let others take some snaps to rest the "first" team?  
The way this team is presently being coached, Augie has a good chance of winning conference most if not every year (weather deserved or by default) but is that enough?
Shouldn't a team that wins conference every year be a threat in the post season?

[TrueAugieAlum]

Yeah, Augie deserved the win today.    I'm even going to let the coaching staff take the credit for switching the offensive lines(though I was preaching this two weeks ago).   Even scored on the switch and they were looking fresh.
Augie even had the guts to PASS to my man number 86 for a touchdown.
The offensive coaching decisions still leave a lot to be desired!!

sounds like if they added you to their staff all their problems would be solved (maybe even their undefeated conf record!)

Maybe if the coaching was correct in the first place there would be no problems!
Can you honestly tell me that the conference championships in the last few years was entirely due to Augies superior play?  Or perhaps some of the other teams lost the conf..

My point is to make Augie a great dynasty, not a runnerup at the dance!

[usee]

JB, sometimes I don't know where you get the stuff you post.

The Elmhurst defense is no doubt 1 of the top 3 defenses in the CCIW. They shut down IWU in the second half and gave the Bluejays a chance.

You think Elmhurst is good on defense because they shut down IWU in the second half?? tell me you have more sense than that.

statistically they are not in the top 3 in ANY category on defense in the CCIW except pass defense (3rd).  They allowed every team they have faced to achieve at or close to their average points and yards. What makes you think they are a top 3 defense? (including IWU--236yds average 15pts)

[usee]

Yeah, Augie deserved the win today.    I'm even going to let the coaching staff take the credit for switching the offensive lines(though I was preaching this two weeks ago).   Even scored on the switch and they were looking fresh.
Augie even had the guts to PASS to my man number 86 for a touchdown.
The offensive coaching decisions still leave a lot to be desired!!

sounds like if they added you to their staff all their problems would be solved (maybe even their undefeated conf record!)

another strong arguement for getting you a seat at the table. bring home the hardware TAA!!

Maybe if the coaching was correct in the first place there would be no problems!
Can you honestly tell me that the conference championships in the last few years was entirely due to Augies superior play?  Or perhaps some of the other teams lost the conf..

My point is to make Augie a great dynasty, not a runnerup at the dance!

[TrueAugieAlum]

Oh, and I still think Coach JohnsEn is a dinosaur from the past!!
And Brewer looks like he may be following suit.

[Tailgater]

Augie fumbles the ball in the Carthage endzone, Carthage picked up the ball and he started running down the sideline. The officals blow the whistle for no reason when Johnson was across the 30 yard line. He never stepped out of bounds but for some reason the refs blew the whistle. Terrible call as that ball could have been returned for a TD or it would have been much better field position. Instead Carthage ball at the 20 yard line. TERRIBLE CALL!

You're right. Johnson was heading down the sideline and got to about the 20 and suddenly the whistle is blowing. Johnson appeared to be heading for a score as Augie had stopped pursuit on the play. Aweful call! Never seen anything so bad and certainly took a score away that Carthage desperately needed.

[devildog29]

Devildog-- I agree there were some very questionable calls in today's game.  I will give the officials credit that there were questionable calls on both sides.  I.E. The Ciesel 72 yd TD that was negated by an illegal motion call was somewhat fishy??  I didn't see anything unordinary with that play, but the officials saw something.  
Then later when Cody Battaglia made an interception and returned it 20 yards the other way, only to have the final placement back where he was called to have "touched his knee to the ground".
There were some calls for both sides, but the officials did not decide the outcome of the game, which is all you can really ask for.  
The bottom line-- Elmhurst ended their 2 game skid by executing in crunch time.  Something they weren't able to do in the Augie and NC game.  
Lastly, Marcus Dunlop is one of the best backs in the CCIW.  IMO, I would put him at #3 behind 1)Wallach 2) Black  3) Dunlop

Jaybird, yes, I agree with you that it went both ways which is why I tried to make it clear I wasn't blaming the refs for the game.  That play with your DB intercepting only to have it brought back was sketchy on both sides because the IWU receiver got tripped trying to catch the ball only to have a no call on what should have been a pass interference.  Then, there was a phantom "knee touched the ground" on the return that nobody saw.  It almost seemed like, we have to make up for the no call on the pass interference, so we'll say he was down back where he interecepted the ball to make it even.  The officials were a joke the whole game, for both sides.  I don't know how they get their credentials for CCIW.   I see better officiated games at my little 3A HS football games I watch. 

As for Dunlop, I'd like to say I agree about his skills, but I just can't agree, and I'm a greenie.  I think he has good speed, and some decent cutback ability, but he just doesn't seem to have that extra "uumph" to turn an average play into a big play.  He isn't going to break any tackles, and quite frankly, I didn't see him make too many peope miss tackles today.  Perhaps I'm being too critical on my own, but I'm not seeing anything "special."  I see a good back, but not a special back.