FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

CardinalAlum/Mugsy,  while the stats don't support my argument I will say that I think EC's defense is in the top 3 based upon what I have seen on the field.  Yes stats count for something, but I look at the game and what is going on, on the field. 
Ex. Wheaton vs. Albion.  As I mentioned in my last post, I saw a Thunder team just completely handcuff the Britons.  Without looking at the stats IMO, I would put Wheaton's Defense at #1 in the CCIW.  Studebaker is the best defensive player I have seen in quite some time.  Similar to John Munch back at IWU.
EC was able to hold the most potent offense in the CCIW to a mere FG after a half, which just goes to show you the capabilities of this defense.  I am not saying they are the best, I just think they are 1 of the top 3 I have seen this year.
Last thing-- These kids and defensive groups are human.  They can't hold the offense forever.  When the offense goes consistently 3 and out, they don't get that extended "breather" and eventually all defenses have to give.  That's partly what happened in the Augie game 3 weeks ago.

[matblake]

Over on the NCAC board there is a mpg of the hail mary pass from the Allegheny vs. Wooster game. 

About as bad as you can defend a hail mary...  The DB tries to catch the ball instead of knocking it down, thus the deflection for a TD.  I'm not sure what the heck the right DT was doing.  They would have been just as ineffective if  they had only 10 men on the field.

That was awful.  It looked that they were completely unprepared.  I played on some bad football teams, but any chance for a Hail Mary the coaches were screaming to just knock the ball down.  Kudos for the Wooster receiver trailing the play.

[vikes35]

Another point on the Augie crowd/ support argument is that students (or anyone who looks close to a student) don't have to pay, so who knows how accurate those numbers are. I know that even adding 200-300 students (which is probably a good estimate) would make it look a little higher. But as many have said,  Augie has very good road support. I know being in Chicagoland post graduation I was able to make the EC game and I will be at the NCC game this weekend. The parents also make it out to those games more often because, as was mentioned earlier, the students come from around this area.  In fact the road seats were packed at the EC game and I ended up sitting on the EC side.

As for the sociology of "Augie vs. the QCA", recent grads could attest that that is getting worse. Augie had to destroy homes to build that new res. hall, residents do not tolerate the Augie culture, and the clash between blue collar and white collar seems to harm the schools rep in the QCA.  I know that when I was around the QC and people asked what I was doing I got a lot of glares when I said I was an Augie student. It is probably safe to say that 80% of the people that are at Augie games are there because of ties to the school, not many people show up just because a local college is playing. With all that being said though it is still hard to find a parking spot and anyone who looked at the parking lots would have thought there were many more than 2300+ at that Wheaton game.

[usee]

CardinalAlum/Mugsy,  while the stats don't support my argument I will say that I think EC's defense is in the top 3 based upon what I have seen on the field.  Yes stats count for something, but I look at the game and what is going on, on the field. 

so if we can't rely on stats what are we left with? you suggest we rely on what you have seen. that seems reliable. I agree stats can't be counted on to determine the best team, but we are talking about the best defenses.  last year augie won the conference while being no better than 3rd in total offense or defense or scoring/def scoring. so while the winners and losers aren't necessarily determined by stats, the best defenses have to be. I just don't think a defense that gives up 200 yds rushing to carthage can be that good. don't get me wrong, i think wheatons defense has its flaws and statistically it shows.

point is, the only way you can measure the "best" defenses is by statistics. it doesn't mean its accurate.

[Mr. Ypsi]

CardinalAlum/Mugsy,  while the stats don't support my argument I will say that I think EC's defense is in the top 3 based upon what I have seen on the field.  Yes stats count for something, but I look at the game and what is going on, on the field. 

so if we can't rely on stats what are we left with? you suggest we rely on what you have seen. that seems reliable. I agree stats can't be counted on to determine the best team, but we are talking about the best defenses.  last year augie won the conference while being no better than 3rd in total offense or defense or scoring/def scoring. so while the winners and losers aren't necessarily determined by stats, the best defenses have to be. I just don't think a defense that gives up 200 yds rushing to carthage can be that good. don't get me wrong, i think wheatons defense has its flaws and statistically it shows.

point is, the only way you can measure the "best" defenses is by statistics. it doesn't mean its accurate.

To further complicate the defensive (or offensive, for that matter) stats, you would have to take into account which unit was on the field.  If a game is sufficiently 'out-of-reach' that the 2nd (3rd? 4th?) teams are in for a significant amount of time could really knock things out of whack.  And, of course, with only a 10-game season (or 7, for conference stats) even just one 'weird' game may alter things quite noticeably.

Despite those warnings, I think TEAM stats are 'fairly' meaningful, but be VERY wary of individual defensive stats.  A defensive player may be SO good, that the offense just never goes there.  As I pointed out on one of the boards (if it was already here, I apologize! ), Charles Woodson, the only primarily defensive player to ever win the Heisman, had absolutely pathetic stats the second half of the year - because no SANE QB would ever send a ball within a country-mile of him!

[Brick]

Vikes...I agree if the Augie attendance numbers took into account all of the non paying students...and non paying recent grads that can pass for students the totals would be a little higher.  As far as the clash between the QC and Augie, it has definitely gotten worse.  Last year I remember more run-ins with "townies" (no offense Dan) than during any of my previous three years at Augie...It's a shame the School and community can't co-exist any better than they do.

[cardinaldad]

     Well, the Cards finally escaped with one in Decatur. After Kniss's interception in the endzone late in the game, most fans had a flashback to two years ago with Milikin's hail mary. Thank got it didn't lead to the same result!
     Big game this weekend. While I'm hoping for a 21+ point win, I'm not so sure it's going to happen. Stanger things have happened though. The Cards will need some good, dry weather to be in it (not like last year). Also, as stated earlier, the offense is going to have to get out of ther blocks early. They can't wake up late like they did a few times already this year. If they play four quaters, it will be a Cardinal win.

GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dansand]

Vikes...I agree if the Augie attendance numbers took into account all of the non paying students...and non paying recent grads that can pass for students the totals would be a little higher.  As far as the clash between the QC and Augie, it has definitely gotten worse.  Last year I remember more run-ins with "townies" (no offense Dan) than during any of my previous three years at Augie...It's a shame the School and community can't co-exist any better than they do.

No offense taken. My earlier comments were meant more about the immediate neighborhood surrounding the college rather than the Quad-Cities in general. There's no one who hates class warfare and class envy more than I do (and believe me, my background is anything but privileged). Unfortunately, certain political factions love to foment that sort of thing and there are a lot of folks who gladly follow their lead.

[Mr. Ypsi]

My apologies in advance to those who are not affected, but more of you may be than think you are, and THIS IS IMPORTANT.  Totally off-topic, but I 'hacked' my way in to my younger son's My Space page (and I have VERY poor computer skills - if I can, anyone can, and I suspect the same goes for FaceBook, etc.)  We had already made him clean up his 'profile', but his messages could severely limit his chances for college or employment with anyone else who ever checked them (and, again, if I could, anyone could).  [I THINK his messages were just male adolescent bs, but would an admissions office or employer take that chance?]

A very disturbing article in the AA News this evening - the 'cybercop' for Washtenaw County found that 13 of 13 sex crime parolees had MySpace accounts (and most had had contact with children and/or had child porn on their computers).

Never forget that internet messages are potentially eternal - even if you erase your hard-drive, they recovered 4 of the 4 kidporn offenders.  Even if you utterly destroy the hard drive (crush, burn, etc.), it may still live on someone else's hard-drive.  Monitor your children (or younger brother or sisters, or yourself!) - they could ruin their lives before they are old enough to realize it!

[usee]

My apologies in advance to those who are not affected, but more of you may be than think you are, and THIS IS IMPORTANT.  Totally off-topic, but I 'hacked' my way in to my younger son's My Space page (and I have VERY poor computer skills - if I can, anyone can, and I suspect the same goes for FaceBook, etc.)  We had already made him clean up his 'profile', but his messages could severely limit his chances for college or employment with anyone else who ever checked them (and, again, if I could, anyone could).  [I THINK his messages were just male adolescent bs, but would an admissions office or employer take that chance?]

A very disturbing article in the AA News this evening - the 'cybercop' for Washtenaw County found that 13 of 13 sex crime parolees had MySpace accounts (and most had had contact with children and/or had child porn on their computers).

Never forget that internet messages are potentially eternal - even if you erase your hard-drive, they recovered 4 of the 4 kidporn offenders.  Even if you utterly destroy the hard drive (crush, burn, etc.), it may still live on someone else's hard-drive.  Monitor your children (or younger brother or sisters, or yourself!) - they could ruin their lives before they are old enough to realize it!

Mr Ypsi,

thanks for this. a good reminder of caution for those of us w kids

[79jaybird]

Mr. Ypsi-- you are right.  There are a lot of crazy, dirty people with dirty minds that "prowl" the Cyberspace Network.  MySpace is great to reaquaint with classmates from hs and college.  It can also be an open invitation for trouble and a "lethal weapon" of sorts, for the unpolished cpu user.  That is why on MySpace.com you only accept friend's requests if you konw the person and/or sender.  Often, dirty sites disguise their true intentions with a familiar picture and/or message.
OK now back to football.  Both USee and Mr. Ypsi make good points in regards to the stats debate. 
Tailgater, thank you for that article, very well written.  I will see what I can do with that picture.  I really hope I can fit it in, because that is a good banner for Carthage.

[CardinalAlum]

Mr. Ypsi,

Great reminder!  We can sometimes forget about the more important things in life.

[Tailgater]

I just don't think a defense that gives up 200 yds rushing to carthage can be that good.

usee
So correct me if I'm wrong, you're saying the offense of Carthage, whom you haven't personnally seen play this season, isn't that good even thou they put up decent numbers rushing and passing against Augie (339 total yds). This makes Augie's D bad because.....? I'd say watch them first before you under-rate them. Off the top of my head, they have been putting up around 325 - 350 yds per game for the last four weeks. Yes they had a slow start, but their senior offensive line are no chumps as you appear to be insinuating.

[Mr. Ypsi]

79jaybird, I 'hacked' my way in.  I'd previously seen some of his posts thanks to my older son (my sons alas are currentlly Cain and Abel, but I didn't like my brothers at that age either, so I have hopes they will eventually reconcile),  but this was by a totally different route.  I just wanted to warn people that MySpace and FaceBook are  not nearly as secure as they put on.  If I could 'hack' in, certainly a cop, teacher, or employer could. 

Be warned if you are a poster, or the older sibling or parent of a poster - what is posted now may come back to bite you in the butt years from now!  What really terrifies me is that kids may foreclose their futures before they are old enough to understand about their futures!

[usee]

I just don't think a defense that gives up 200 yds rushing to carthage can be that good.

usee
So correct me if I'm wrong, you're saying the offense of Carthage, whom you haven't personnally seen play this season, isn't that good even thou they put up decent numbers rushing and passing against Augie (339 total yds). This makes Augie's D bad because.....? I'd say watch them first before you under-rate them. Off the top of my head, they have been putting up around 325 - 350 yds per game for the last four weeks. Yes they had a slow start, but their senior offensive line are no chumps as you appear to be insinuating.

Well, since you appear to be poor at being a mind reader let me clarify two different things for you:

1-ANY defense who gives up 200 yds rushing vs. (insert any team name here) doesn't impress me as dominating.

2-even though my original comment had nothing to do with Carthage's offense (I certainly didn't come close to saying anything about their O-Line) now that you bring it up I do have my questions about the carthage offense.  O'Boyle is a playmaker and represents 70% of your offense. stop him and carthage hasn't shown they have anyone else. You can't win in this league without better production. I have no opinion about carthage's offensive line.