FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

Just curious, are there any big rivalries that stand out in the conference? 

Mugsy and I?   

April and all non-Wheaties? 

[football2007]

Wow great story about the little brass bell.  Thanks

[diehardfan]

I didn't mean to spark such a lengthy thread here on the history of Wheaton vs. Elmhurst.

It's much more difficult to predict what kind of an effect an offhanded comment will have on the board during the offseason.

We are, of course, only joking.

April and all non-Wheaties? 

Nah, just other CCIW opponents, and Grinnell. And even then it's only in jest. Hence my famous use of smilies. I do agree that Mugsy vs CardAlum may be the most heated rivalry in the CCIW, but it's only fueled by the whole Little Brass Bell thing. It could be worse if Mugsy was as mean as you.

football2007: Augie-Wheaton is another one. It's less longstanding, but I personally believe it's more heated and is fueled by years of very close games lately (many of which Wheaton has won at the last second due to some brilliant play calling and execution.

Since 2000 -

2000 = Wheaton 37, Augie 30 2OT (tie for CCIW champ)
2001 = Wheaton 34, Augie 32 2OT (Wheaton gets a last second QB draw using our third string QB... I don't remember this game going into OT, but I guess it did! Augie goes on to the plays, we finish third, but have the satisfaction of robbing Augie of their undefeated regular season)
2002 = Wheaton 38, Augie 14 (I came home from Africa a few weeks early to make it to this game... and then it ended up being a blowout... hah!)
2003 = Wheaton 28, Augie 27 (The defense actually lets the strong Augie "grind it down the field running" sorta offense score quickly so that the Wheaton offense has enough time to score.)
2004 = Wheaton 39, Augie 38 (Coach Swider decides to go for 2 after a score with no time left and we convert)
2005 = Wheaton 7, Augie 28
2006 = Wheaton 14, Augie 17

Between 1998 and 2005 this was the last game of the season, and was frequently an all the marbles big deal sorta game. It's really a shame this matchup has gotten pushed up to the middle of the season.

Anyhow, the reason I've always felt like this rivalry was the biggest is because I come to the whole thing from a fan perspective... Augie is a big deal.

1) Before one of those Augie games... maybe 2002? There were actual teeshirts being sold in the Student Center with "BEAT AUGIE" on them. (I still have mine, I get weird looks from people when I wear it but it makes me smile.)

2) I've never stormed the field for any game besides an Augie game.

3) The craziest fans and the most packed the Wheaton gym gets were always the Wheaton-Augie basketball games.

I know that there were varied reactions toward different teams from the players, and got to see a little of that thanks to my bro... but if Augie isn't Wheaton's rival, we should probably tell the rest of the students.

[79jaybird]

Rivalries
The most famous, and most glamorous Rivalry is Wheaton vs. North Central for the LBBell as those have stated. Other good rivalries
Carthage vs. Elmhurst  this is Elmhurst's arch rival and the team that we were "told to beat" as players.
IWU vs. Millikin  is another good battle.  On our broadcasts, I refer to this one as the Rt. 51 Rivalry.
Elmhurst vs. North Central is more of a proximity rivalry, however you ask any NC player who their main rival is... it's Wheaton.
Augie vs. Wheaton - only in football.    Other good D3 rivalries
Wabash vs. DePauw Monon Bell
Cortland St. vs Ithaca  Cortaca Jug
Knox vs. Monmouth
Hope vs. Calvin  (all sports except football)

[football2007]

79Jaybird:
My son has already decided that Elmhurst will be his biggest rival since his friend is going there.  Since he could never hit the QB in practice he is looking forward to getting him someday over the next 4 years, and of course the QB says you have to catch me first!!
We have a lot of fans already planning to come out to that game.

[FatalImpact]

Good list 79, I agree with Carthage vs. Elmhurst Ive had friends on both sides and alot of (joking) trash talk goes on, lets call it banter

[raiderguy]

Pat,

LK could only dream of  getting his winning percentage on the field to equal his graduation rate!

That is not a bad dream to have. LOL.

See below.

[79jaybird]

Football 2007 very good.   I am sure your Son and his friends can't wait to strap it up and get to "business" on the field.
I went to Prospect HS and my Cousin/some friends went to Fremd.  Carthage has historically attacked Fremd HS heavily for recruits, thus many MSL  combatants get a chance to continue their friendly rivalries in the CCIW.

[CardinalAlum]

I went to Prospect HS and my Cousin/some friends went to Fremd.  Carthage has historically attacked Fremd HS heavily for recruits, thus many MSL  combatants get a chance to continue their friendly rivalries in the CCIW.

I'm sure Irish21 coaching at Fremd doesn't hurt!

[matblake]

Football 2007 very good.   I am sure your Son and his friends can't wait to strap it up and get to "business" on the field.
I went to Prospect HS and my Cousin/some friends went to Fremd.  Carthage has historically attacked Fremd HS heavily for recruits, thus many MSL  combatants get a chance to continue their friendly rivalries in the CCIW.

One thing I do like about the CCIW is that you continue to see and compete against guys that you have competed against previously in high school.  When I wrestled for Wheaton, rosters from Augie, Millikin, North Central, and Carthage all had guys that I was familiar with. 

[CardinalAlum]

Football 2007 very good.   I am sure your Son and his friends can't wait to strap it up and get to "business" on the field.
I went to Prospect HS and my Cousin/some friends went to Fremd.  Carthage has historically attacked Fremd HS heavily for recruits, thus many MSL  combatants get a chance to continue their friendly rivalries in the CCIW.

One thing I do like about the CCIW is that you continue to see and compete against guys that you have competed against previously in high school.  When I wrestled for Wheaton, rosters from Augie, Millikin, North Central, and Carthage all had guys that I was familiar with. 

Great thought!  Even stranger and fun was playing against guys you played in high school WITH.  I had high school teammates at Carthage and Millikin.

[matblake]

Football 2007 very good.   I am sure your Son and his friends can't wait to strap it up and get to "business" on the field.
I went to Prospect HS and my Cousin/some friends went to Fremd.  Carthage has historically attacked Fremd HS heavily for recruits, thus many MSL  combatants get a chance to continue their friendly rivalries in the CCIW.

One thing I do like about the CCIW is that you continue to see and compete against guys that you have competed against previously in high school.  When I wrestled for Wheaton, rosters from Augie, Millikin, North Central, and Carthage all had guys that I was familiar with. 

Great thought!  Even stranger and fun was playing against guys you played in high school WITH.  I had high school teammates at Carthage and Millikin.

I never had to compete with a former teammate, but my brother who played fb at Wheaton once said that some of the most satisfying wins came against teams where he knew opposing players.

[Mugsy]

Elmhurst did have some fantastic teams in the Bob Beck era.

I don't know about BOB, but TOM Beck had some fantastic teams at Elmhurst!! 

YESS!!!! Got Him!!!! 8)

UGH... Bob Beck is a guy I played little league baseball with over 30 years ago.  You are correct, I meant Tom Beck.  At least I got the last name correct.

If I'm not mistaken, Coach Beck went on to an assistant coach position at Notre Dame when he left Elmhurst.  Does that ring a bell with anyone?

[Mugsy]

fyi... more on Tom Beck.  He was inducted in 2004 to the College Football Hall of Fame and holds a .724 all-time winning percentage as a coach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_College_Football_Hall_of_Fame_inductees_(coaches)

I appear to be thinking of some other CCIW coach that went onto Notre Dame, because it wasn't Coach Beck.

[Titanwatcher]

Elmhurst did have some fantastic teams in the Bob Beck era.

I don't know about BOB, but TOM Beck had some fantastic teams at Elmhurst!! 

YESS!!!! Got Him!!!! 8)

UGH... Bob Beck is a guy I played little league baseball with over 30 years ago.  You are correct, I meant Tom Beck.  At least I got the last name correct.

If I'm not mistaken, Coach Beck went on to an assistant coach position at Notre Dame when he left Elmhurst.  Does that ring a bell with anyone?

Yes, he was living in Lombard and painting watercolors or oils, I can't remember which, up until about two years ago. I used to run into him at ther local White Hen, but I have not seen him in quite some time.