FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

Mike LaFleur was great for EC in 2006.  Pressed into duty first game of the year, with minimal game experience, and yet he paved the way for a 6-4 season, with a chance at 8-2.. not bad for a kid who wasn't expected to play much.
Yes, the Jays have some options at QB, and WR, but the RB is what I am focusing on.  I would like to see Rivers bulk up a little bit, and Wilharm/Smith get comfortable with the offense.
One player I did not mention was Demetrios Vrettos who was a Wrestling Champion this past year.  He will be on the DL and could be a factor to replace the D Linemen.

[Titanwatcher]

Jaybird, what weight does he play at? I see he is listed at 215 which would be about 100 lbs. less than your #93, who I thought was a load in the middle of your line last year.

[FatalImpact]

I dunno, I think it will be a wide open run at the QB spot, and maybe cause a QB controversy, but thats my opinion, I watched all three and I was just curious as I am more tied up in another conference but I would love to see EC do amazing things this year, I also heard that between EC's wo tightends that freund might get that role as he is being sturdy and strong

[79jaybird]

Titanwatcher-- #93 was "Heff"  which was Mike Heffernan listed at 6'1" 315 lbs.
Heff was a great DT for us in 2005/2006
D. Vrettos (and I'm looking at last year's program) was listed at DL 210 5'11" as a Freshman.
I am guessing Demetrios is probably around 220-240 lbs. and probably close to that 5'11".  I don't know any exact numbers on Demetrios.  I do know that he is a talented wrestler, not just a football player.

[79jaybird]

Fatal- I would be surprised if EC puts Freund at TE over Dichiara. 
Dichiara 6'0 220
Freund 6'1 205   (both of these are 2006 stats)
I will give you that Freund has the heart and tenacity, but Dichiara has more size and brawn. 

[FatalImpact]

I just know that he's dedicated to the weight room, as well as the other player is as well......Best of luck to all cciw teams, hope spring ball is going well....Lets go EC

[matblake]

If you have the chance, check out the interview with Coach Zweifel, formerly with UW-Whitewater now with UW-River Falls, on the front page.  I think it is pretty interesting stuff.  Gordon Mann does an excellent job with the interview.  I'm hoping with the new regional rules in place that the CCIW will get some more matchups with the WIAC in the future.  This year Augie continues with their series with Platteville which is the only CCIW/WIAC matchup in football this year.

[lakeshore]

I thought Kudyba was decent in 2005.  When LaFluer played us here last fall he showed some serious toughness and had the ability to keep plays alive.  he is really small but made some nice throws.  His older brother Matt was an all-conference QB at D2 Saginaw Valley State in MI just a few years ago and his Dad Denny coached football in the MAC @ CMU for many years.  Good bloodlines.

I still think our kid Wood has the best potential in the CCIW.  Hopefully NPU can get him some help.

[Comet 14]

Hey All. I havn't posted in a while but have been keeping up with what's going on. I can't wait for the fall to get here. As far as the QB situation at EC I think that competition is always healthy, At any position. I don't think the competition will include the incoming freshman early in the season because he is at a very bid disadvantage learning the offense and even more-so with the no huddle. I like everyone else hope the returning players can step up and fill the voids left by graduation. Hey Jaybird have you heard of any players not returning next fall that would have had a chance at playing?

[79jaybird]

Comet14-  I have not heard of any players leaving and hope I DON'T hear of any either! 
Certainly (and with every school) there are chance(s) that a player might decide to pursue other interests and not play, but as of right now I did not hear of any.

Great interview with Gordon Mann and Stan at UWW.    I have talked to Coach Journell and he is really in "awe" with Coach Stan up at UWW.  Coach Journell always speaks highly of Stan.

On the WIAC/CCIW matchups, I know Coach Journell wants to play a UW school.  Most likely Oshkosh, however he told me (last year) that we (Elmhurst) aren't quite ready for that.  Perhaps in a few years we might see Elmhurst play a UW school.
Do you know that Elmhurst has never played a WIAC school?  Elmhurst has played a school(s) from the MIAA, IBFC, MWC, and IIAC, but never have played the WIAC. 

[matblake]

Elmhurst has played a school(s) from the MIAC

That is interesting, which school did they play?  In 2008 Wheaton begins a home and away series with Bethel from the MIAC. 

[footballfan413]

Comet14-  I have not heard of any players leaving and hope I DON'T hear of any either! 
Certainly (and with every school) there are chance(s) that a player might decide to pursue other interests and not play, but as of right now I did not hear of any.

Great interview with Gordon Mann and Stan at UWW.    I have talked to Coach Journell and he is really in "awe" with Coach Stan up at UWW.  Coach Journell always speaks highly of Stan.

On the WIAC/CCIW matchups, I know Coach Journell wants to play a UW school.  Most likely Oshkosh, however he told me (last year) that we (Elmhurst) aren't quite ready for that.  Perhaps in a few years we might see Elmhurst play a UW school.
Do you know that Elmhurst has never played a WIAC school?  Elmhurst has played a school(s) from the MIAC, IBFC, MWC, and IIAC, but never have played the WIAC. 

I have been a lurker on this page for a few years and post very rarely here but always enjoy reading you guys.  Very knowledgable, respectful and stay on task better than alot of other threads.  I was going to post on here a few weeks ago when it was publicized that UWW has having alot of trouble filling their schedule with a tenth game asking your opinions about why there is so few WIAC/CCIW match ups considering geography, especially with UWW.  (even before their championship run the last two years.) But hard coming from a UWW fan to not make the question sound arrogant so I hesitated.  Now it has been brought up by one of your own so I decided to do it.  Also didn't want any WIAC supporters throwing out the, "they are just scared of us," theory and making the rest of us sound like jerks.  Anyway, I would just make one point.  It may be a complete coincidence but in 2002, UWW traveled to Mount Union for a non-conference game and lost 44-21. They also played SJU that year.  The reasoning put forth at the time by staff, etc, was that they wanted to get a closer look at a championship caliber team and program to see what it looked like and to have the opportunity to measure themselves to see where the Warhawks needed to go to get to that level.  The rest is history as they say.  I just think that when a program changes it's attitude from, "we can't play with those guys," to "we are going to figure out how to play with those guys,"  it is an important change.  I watched it happen.  Schools like St. Norberts and Lakeland have taken a pounding from playing UWW the last few years but they have also been very successful in their conference play afterwards.  Any thoughts? 

[matblake]

Comet14-  I have not heard of any players leaving and hope I DON'T hear of any either! 
Certainly (and with every school) there are chance(s) that a player might decide to pursue other interests and not play, but as of right now I did not hear of any.

Great interview with Gordon Mann and Stan at UWW.    I have talked to Coach Journell and he is really in "awe" with Coach Stan up at UWW.  Coach Journell always speaks highly of Stan.

On the WIAC/CCIW matchups, I know Coach Journell wants to play a UW school.  Most likely Oshkosh, however he told me (last year) that we (Elmhurst) aren't quite ready for that.  Perhaps in a few years we might see Elmhurst play a UW school.
Do you know that Elmhurst has never played a WIAC school?  Elmhurst has played a school(s) from the MIAC, IBFC, MWC, and IIAC, but never have played the WIAC. 

I have been a lurker on this page for a few years and post very rarely here but always enjoy reading you guys.  Very knowledgable, respectful and stay on task better than alot of other threads.  I was going to post on here a few weeks ago when it was publicized that UWW has having alot of trouble filling their schedule with a tenth game asking your opinions about why there is so few WIAC/CCIW match ups considering geography, especially with UWW.  (even before their championship run the last two years.) But hard coming from a UWW fan to not make the question sound arrogant so I hesitated.  Now it has been brought up by one of your own so I decided to do it.  Also didn't want any WIAC supporters throwing out the, "they are just scared of us," theory and making the rest of us sound like jerks.  Anyway, I would just make one point.  It may be a complete coincidence but in 2002, UWW traveled to Mount Union for a non-conference game and lost 44-21. They also played SJU that year.  The reasoning put forth at the time by staff, etc, was that they wanted to get a close look at a championship caliber team and program to see what it looked like and to have the opportunity to measure themselves to see where the Warhawks needed to go to get to that level.  The rest is history as they say.  Schools like St. Norberts and Lakeland have taken a pounding from playing UWW the last few years but they have also been very successful in their conference play afterwards.  Any thoughts? 

I have a feeling that it is a lot of different reasons for different schools.  Some of it has to do with the regional set up.   With only regional games counting towards getting a playoff berth, some WIAC schools were too far distance-wise to be counted for an in-region game.  Now that Illinois and Wisconsin are now considered to be in the same regional area that might promote some future match-ups.  I think also that because of the regional set up the CCIW has gotten familiar with playing MIAA and IBFC teams because of their proximity and their North Region status.  A smattering of OAC, UAA, HCAC, and NCAC are also thrown in every year.  There are examples of the CCIW playing WIAC schools such as Augie vs Platteville, but they are within the NCAA rules of being a 200 mile regional match-up.  In know IWU has played Eau Claire within the past few years.  Of course, there are always scheduling issues.  I know Wheaton has its schedule up through 2009 completed.  I think we may see some more CCIW/WIAC games in a couple of years, especially now that the rules have been altered.

[footballfan413]

Thanks, Mat.  The regional rule change should help.  It did seem, however, that UWW (and in some cases UWP) are within the NCAA 200 mile regional match-up rule to some CCIW schools, especially the ones in the Chicago area, but these schools have still not been willing to schedule them.   Of course, I haven't done any homework checking mileage on this.  Just guessing.  But thanks for the info.  Hope we do see more in the years ahead.  UWW has an opening to fill right now!!   

[lakeshore]

realistically the WIAC should have an advantage over all CCIW and D3 teams as there are no other scholarship programs to compete with in the state of Wisconsin other than the Badgers.  Also the players are paying half at the UW public schools than they would pay at the CCIW privates.

There has been some talk of dividing D3 into 2 divisions, publics (Wisconsin, New York) and the privates