FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[RedmenFB44]

First Prediction on this weeks game:

Wheaton will not win unless Swider gets a hair cut!  

HAHA nice 

Mount Union is dominant but not unbeatable. Every team can be beat we all know this. Don't get me wrong they are the best team in D-3 football. But that is what gets into a lot of players/coaches heads. When I played them during the 2004 playoffs, we were winning and then tied until early 4th quarter when you saw Mount Unions playoff experience and great athletes take over. We put up the most rushing yards against MU then any other team did that season. To have a shot against MU, you have to be able to run the ball and control the clock. Easier said than done, expecially with a 0.8 yard per carry they are giving up (that's crazy good). A lot of this game will be mental and I know that Wheaton will have the right mindset or it could very a very long Saturday.

[usee]

First Prediction on this weeks game:

Wheaton will not win unless Swider gets a hair cut!   

If you could guarantee a wheaton win I am quite sure we could get this done.

[matblake]

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.

That game was the first time I had ever heard of Mt. Union, needless to say it was not the last.  Borchert was amazing.  I was very surprised that they lost to UW-L in the next round. 

Wes Mooring was extremely ill prior to that game.  He sucked it up and took the field in the second half.  Excellent display of intestinal fortitude.

[HScoach]

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

Their offense is very similar to last year with a very good 4th year starter at QB.  Running game is nothing more than an attempt to keep the defense honest.  But their defense is not nearly as good as last year, especially against the run.  If NCC has a good rush O, then Cap could be in trouble. 

The key to defending Capital is getting pressure from the D-line.  If you have to blitz to get pressure, then you're dead.  If you can make Pentello scramble by just rushing 4, then the D has a decided advantage as Pentello is very mobile to avoid the rush, but doesn't throw very well on the move.

[Mugsy]

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

Their offense is very similar to last year with a very good 4th year starter at QB.  Running game is nothing more than an attempt to keep the defense honest.  But their defense is not nearly as good as last year, especially against the run.  If NCC has a good rush O, then Cap could be in trouble. 

The key to defending Capital is getting pressure from the D-line.  If you have to blitz to get pressure, then you're dead.  If you can make Pentello scramble by just rushing 4, then the D has a decided advantage as Pentello is very mobile to avoid the rush, but doesn't throw very well on the move.

Not that it matters much since it isn't possible, but it sounds like Wheaton would have matchup pretty well against Capital.  Wheaton and North Central both run the ball well, although with completely different schemes.

Wheaton can get good pressure from D-Line alone - particularly Andy Studebaker who has 17.5 sacks.

[matblake]

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!

If you can, follow kirasdad's suggestion.  The Hall of Fame is amazing even for a marginal football fan.  We went before the game in 95, but I think the games were at 1 PM back then.  With a 12 PM start, you might not have enough time.  

Anybody know if the famous Mt. Union brunch will be available this weekend?

[Redmen96]

How far is the Hall of Fame from MUC campus?

[dansand]

To have a shot against MU, you have to be able to run the ball and control the clock.

...and sometimes even that's not enough. It's been mentioned here before that in 1999 Augie ran for 398 yards, piled up 28 first downs and had a 48:08 to 11:52 advantage in time of possession and still lost, 42-33. While Augie's offense was dominant in that game, their defense and special teams got smoked. Part of the reason MUC had less than 12 minutes of possession time is that their offense and special teams were so explosive and scored so quickly.

What people have to realize, if they haven't seen MUC first hand is that we CCIW folks gush, rightfully, over the Studebakers, Ittersagens, and Knisses; or last year the Radtkes, Spencers, and Anthonys, etc.; but Mt. Union has players like that all over the field. I won't say at every position, but I would guess at nearly every position they have All-CCIW cailber players. That's not meant as a slight to any of the fine players I've mentioned, just to illustrate how good the Purple Raiders are.

I think both the CCIW reps will be facing uphill battles on Saturday. North Central, while an underdog, sounds like they match up well with Capital. I, like most people, think they have a better chance at pulling the upset this weekend. I just have a feeling that Wheaton's tendency to turn the ball over might be their undoing against Mt. Union. An All-CCIW regional final would be quite an accomplishment. I just can't honestly see it happening.

[rscl70]

How far is the Hall of Fame from MUC campus?

About 20 miles west in Canton, near the intersection of I77 and US 62.

[rscl70]

 

Anybody know if the famous Mt. Union brunch will be available this weekend?
[/quote]

It will be available, but with a new food service there are those who do not think it's as good as in the past.

[usee]

To have a shot against MU, you have to be able to run the ball and control the clock.

...and sometimes even that's not enough. It's been mentioned here before that in 1999 Augie ran for 398 yards, piled up 28 first downs and had a 48:08 to 11:52 advantage in time of possession and still lost, 42-33. While Augie's offense was dominant in that game, their defense and special teams got smoked. Part of the reason MUC had less than 12 minutes of possession time is that their offense and special teams were so explosive and scored so quickly.

What people have to realize, if they haven't seen MUC first hand is that we CCIW folks gush, rightfully, over the Studebakers, Ittersagens, and Knisses; or last year the Radtkes, Spencers, and Anthonys, etc.; but Mt. Union has players like that all over the field. I won't say at every position, but I would guess at nearly every position they have All-CCIW cailber players. That's not meant as a slight to any of the fine players I've mentioned, just to illustrate how good the Purple Raiders are.

I think both the CCIW reps will be facing uphill battles on Saturday. North Central, while an underdog, sounds like they match up well with Capital. I, like most people, think they have a better chance at pulling the upset this weekend. I just have a feeling that Wheaton's tendency to turn the ball over might be their undoing against Mt. Union. An All-CCIW regional final would be quite an accomplishment. I just can't honestly see it happening.

Dansand,

this is a good analysis. This is the concern. If wheaton doesn't turn the ball over and plays perfect, this game will be close for some period of time. when it's said and done, I think MUC has too much speed on defense for the Thunder. the only way to combat speed is run the ball right at them. 0.8 yds per rush doesn't lend itself to a very exciting game of running it right at them.

If I was Wheaton, though, I would line up w 2 tight ends in the I formation and run right at the purple raiders with plenty of play action mixed in. Doesn't mean it will work but thats what I would do.

[Redmen96]

 It's easy to grin / When your ship comes in / And you've got the stock market beat. / But the man worthwhile, / Is the man who can smile, / When his shorts are too tight in the seat.

So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas. A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-galunga. So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.

[ncc58]

It's easy to grin / When your ship comes in / And you've got the stock market beat. / But the man worthwhile, / Is the man who can smile, / When his shorts are too tight in the seat.

So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas. A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-galunga. So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.

That's quite a post for number 200. Use that karma from the Lama wisely.

[formerd3db]

To have a shot against MU, you have to be able to run the ball and control the clock.

...and sometimes even that's not enough. . .

. . .  If I was Wheaton, though, I would line up w 2 tight ends in the I formation and run right at the purple raiders with plenty of play action mixed in. Doesn't mean it will work but thats what I would do.

I would agree with that.  Sounds like a reasonable plan.  Yet, I would also have some "surprise" plays for at least a couple of occasions (reverse or throw-back or mis-direction passes, and perhaps fake field goal) - of course, one can't live by those, but in a playoff game like that, not much to lose if they are considered at the "right" moment/situation.

Also, Mount is not only fast on defense, but the same goes for their offense.  I would suggest the additional need to make sure the weak side flat is covered for the WR there/back from backfield and/or WR coming shallow across. . . because once they get around that corner (not talking about a CB, but rather that area in general), their speed takes effect and their "gone".  Mount killed Hope with that.  Just some additional thoughts to add to your general discussion.  Best of luck to your team.  As you and others mention, Mount is very good.

[cufan]

Here is what will drive teams crazy vs MUC, they have the size, speed and everything else.........but when you have a great drive and score they will return the KO 60yrds or they will hit a 80yrd pass play.  I have not seen anybody that answers as quickly as Mount.  You think you have momentum and they you find yourself chasing Garcon for 80 yards.  You must win the turnover battle and you must have a stop after a TD. 

Good Luck