FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mugsy]

Ric has his "tale of the tape" up on his website for MUC/Wheaton game. check it out at:

www.mtunionfootball.com

After a quick glance, some key stats that stand out to me:

1. Wheaton scoring by quarter is very consistent (92, 123, 109, 103) while points allowed is very heavily tilted to the 2nd half (4th quarter in particular).  

Wheaton has let up 37 points in the first half all year in 11 games.  That is pretty stinkin' good.  They have allowed 112 points in the 2nd half, with 82 coming in the 4th quarter alone.  So 55% of the points allowed have come in the 4th quarter.  At a cursory level, it would appear this could be attributed to removing a chunk of starters in the 4th quarter for many of their games when it was out of reach.  Also appears there is a significant drop off in talent from their #1's to their #2's. 

Summary of points allowed in 4th quarter of some games:
Albion: 7 points (score was 29-0)
Washington U: 7 points (score was 41-0)
Hope: 14 points (score was 35-7)
North Park: 12 points (score was 56-14)
Illinois Wesleyan: 14 points (score was 49-0)
Mount St. Joesph: 22 points (score was 42-6)

2. Mount Union has only allowed 236 yards rushing all year and 0.8 yards per rush.  Insane!

3. Wheaton & Mount Union have virtually identical passing offense stats (other than completion percentage - though it is not because Wheaton's is bad).

MUC: 235.1 ypg passing
Wheaton: 235.6 ypg passing

Both have 30 TD's through the air.

Wheaton QB's have thrown significant more interceptions: 11 to 5.  That said 11 intereceptions in 11 games isn't too bad.  Only 5 is remarkable.

4. Mount Union has a significant advantage in turnover margin: +14 to -3.  This is pretty typical of the past 4 meetings and has been Wheaton's achilles tendon.

5. Penalities... both are heavily penalized teams - probably due to aggresive play.
Mount Union: 104 penalities for 1014 yards
Wheaton: 73 penalties for 650 yards

[79jaybird]

.8 yards per rush!  Gosh, that's better than the pro's!

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

kirasdad:

The NCAA can count however they want to...the FACTS are that while Bill Borchert was wearing a Mount Union jersey...playing in real games winning real national championships he accumulated real statistics and they total over 200 touchdowns.  Borchert should be inducted into the College Football HOF and I would like to see a push from the DIII world to get him the honor and respect he deserves.

What I was saying is that his stats would be that much better if the playoffs were counted.  Settle down now Mr. OU#25, I am on your side.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Ric has his "tale of the tape" up on his website for MUC/Wheaton game. check it out at:

www.mtunionfootball.com

4. Mount Union has a significant advantage in turnover margin: +14 to -3.  This is pretty typical of the past 4 meetings and has been Wheaton's achilles tendon.

I think this is the big one.  I also believe that Hope was at a negative number entering the game this past Saturday.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Here are some awesome Bill Borchert Stat:

LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF PASSES HAD INTERCEPTED
Season
(Min. 150 atts.) 0.4%—Bill Borchert, Mount Union, 1997 (1 of 272)
Career
(Min. 600 atts.) 1.7%—Bill Borchert, Mount Union, 1994-97 (17 of 1,009)

[HScoach]

Redmen96  Here are Mt. Union's Home Attendances in 2006

Heidelberg   3832
OH Northern  6832
Capital   4132
John Carroll 4572
Hope (NCAA's) 1624

Interesting the lowest attendance was in the NCAA's. 

Ummm, that was also the same afternoon, albeit earlier in the day, than a certain other Ohio vs. Michigan game.  I wasn't surprised by the low attendance at all.  Hope brought essentially parents only, and most of the MUC crowd wasn't giving up their OSU pre-game partying just to watch MUC smash a hopelessly overmatched Hope team.  And alot of those that did attend left at halftime (MUC leading 42-0) to begin the OSU festivities.  This was the first year where the OSU/Michigan game cut into the MUC attendance, but this wasn't your usual OSU/Michigan game either.  And Hope was probably the weakest team ever to come to Alliance for a playoff game.  Not a good combination for attendance.

I wouldn't expect this weekend's game to be a huge crowd either as the student body will be out of town for Thanksgiving break.  Historically, the 2nd round is the lowest attended playoff game due to the long holiday weekend.   Unless MUC is playing another OAC team.

[Superfoot Wallace]

Here are some awesome Bill Borchert Stat:

LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF PASSES HAD INTERCEPTED
Season
(Min. 150 atts.) 0.4%—Bill Borchert, Mount Union, 1997 (1 of 272)
Career
(Min. 600 atts.) 1.7%—Bill Borchert, Mount Union, 1994-97 (17 of 1,009)

All this talk on Kenny Andersons conferences homepage.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Does anyone know if there would be a chance of tickets being sold out for the Mt Union game since they sell tickets in advance?  Any hotel suggestions on the cheaper side?   Any other travel suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks

You should be able to get standing room only seats if the stands are sold out, but with this being Thanksgiving weekend, you should be ok.

There is a Super 8, Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn Express in Alliance and Canton, OH is only about 20 minutes away.  Check the Belden Village Mall Area for hotels.  If you come on Friday, make a weekend of it and stop by the Pro Football HOF!

[HScoach]

Tickets will NOT be a problem at the gate.  Even when playing a local team like Capital or JCU there are still tickets. 

[Mugsy]

Here are some awesome Bill Borchert Stat:

LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF PASSES HAD INTERCEPTED
Season
(Min. 150 atts.) 0.4%—Bill Borchert, Mount Union, 1997 (1 of 272)
Career
(Min. 600 atts.) 1.7%—Bill Borchert, Mount Union, 1994-97 (17 of 1,009)

I remember watching Borchert play in the Wheaton vs. Mount Union playoff game in 1995.  He was an unbelievable QB.  That game was 14 all into the 3rd quarter and then Borchert unleased the inside-screen play a few times and bye-bye, game over.

Mount Unions defense held Wheaton on downs inside the redzone 2 time in the first half alone.  4 Wheaton turnovers really did them in as well.

Wheaton had a very, very good QB that year as well (though no where near the likes of Borchert) - Jeff Brown.  Brown had over 300+ yards passing against Mount Union that game, with 13 receptions and 200+ yards going to Mark Loeffler.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

All this talk on Kenny Andersons conferences homepage.

Kenny who?  JK, I grew up in DeKalb, IL...

[Redmen96]

Kenny Anderson and Augustana College are mentioned in the book "The Blind Side."

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

First Prediction on this weeks game:

Wheaton will not win unless Swider gets a hair cut!   

[CardinalAlum]

First Prediction on this weeks game:

Wheaton will not win unless Swider gets a hair cut!   

KD,

No such luck.  I've been trying that one for years! 

[washdupcard]

Any word on Capital in comparison with last year's team?