FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titanwatcher]

I guess that is the reason that 79 said IWU needs a good o-line, to showcase Mr. Dunlop's talent. apparently they do not teach linear thought proccess at the naperville school.

Shoot, I knew I should have gone to Montini!! 

sorry, my kids went there not me, but judging from the pithy insite offered by comet a couple of posts down, you may have a fellow alum on the board.

[football2007]

for those interested Carthage has all the new freshman recruits listed on their web site.  wow almost 60 freshman coming in.  Is that a record?

[Mugsy]

News from Wheaton...

I, along with other Wheaton posters, have known for some time that there have been some coaching changes at Wheaton in the off-season.  I haven't felt comfortable sharing the changes given reasonably close ties to the coaching staff.

But given the following post on the Wheaton website, the word is out.  Coach Walt Whitehead resigned his position as offensive line coach.  Wheaton has hired a replacement.  Having been a GA under Coach Whitehead, I have a deep appreciation for his knowledge of the game and his passion for coaching.  To know how good of a coach he is, all you need do is look at the number of All-American linebackers during the 90's and All-American offensive linemen since 1999.  He will be missed, but I'm sure Wheaton has found a capable replacement.

John Bear named offensive line coach for the Thunder football program
Wheaton, Ill. (6/7/07) – Wheaton College head football coach Mike Swider has announced the hiring of John Bear as an assistant coach for the Thunder football program. Bear will serve as Wheaton's offensive line coach, replacing Walt Whitehead who had served in that role since 1999.

Bear comes to Wheaton from Liberty University, where he had served as a quality control coach for the football program since January 2006. Bear also served as the Flames' assistant strength and conditioning coach from April 2006, working with many different Liberty athletic teams. Prior to his tenure at Liberty, Bear served as strength and conditioning intern for four summers (2001-04) at University of Washington.
The native of Washington graduated from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois in 2005 with a degree in Sports Management and a Business minor. Bear was a three-year starter on the offensive line at Trinity International, serving as a team captain in his senior year. In his four seasons at Trinity the Trojans posted a record of 31-13, winning the Mid-States Conference in 2004 with a NAIA Playoff appearance in that same season.

Bear notes that he looks forward to working at Wheaton, "I am excited to be a part of the Thunder football program. This is a special team that is a terrific representative for this special institution."

[79jaybird]

Mugsy, I agree with you.  You will NEVER hear anybody mention a bad word about Walt.
Last time I was at Wheaton I missed Rod "Rocket" Sandberg.  I know him and Amy are new parents.  Was it a boy/girl?  If it's a boy, perhaps a future Thunder player? 

[Comet 14]

It's not insight it's an opinion and everyones entitled to one. I'm a Elmhurst fan. My son goes there and even though I would love for them to win the CCIW or at least finish in the top 3 I think they have to get a lot better to get there. And no I didn't go to Montini.

[Mugsy]

Mugsy, I agree with you.  You will NEVER hear anybody mention a bad word about Walt.
Last time I was at Wheaton I missed Rod "Rocket" Sandberg.  I know him and Amy are new parents.  Was it a boy/girl?  If it's a boy, perhaps a future Thunder player? 

Well... except for April who didn't appreciate Coach Whitehead's penchant for yelling at players.   

I must be struggling to recover from a long run over lunch (in the 90's today)... I'm drawing a blank on the baby Sandburg.   I'm almost certain it was a boy, because I have a vague recollection wondering who the baby was named after.  I have the birth annoucement on my desk at home, so I'll confirm when I get home.

[football2007]

Congratulations to the AD at Carthage for winning the athletic director of the year award!!!!

Division III ADOY Winners


June 6, 2007


Bob Bonn, Carthage College -- West Region


Bob Bonn is currently serving in his 16th year as director of athletics at Carthage. During his tenure, Bonn has added five sports (men's and women's soccer, women's golf, men's volleyball and women's water polo) to his 22 varsity sport roster. Under Bonn's leadership, Carthage teams have won 43 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships and 12 NCAA Regional Championships in 14 different sports. In addition, he has been an important leader in the construction, planning and fund raising for over $35 million of Carthage's athletics facilities. Bonn currently serves as a NACDA Executive Committee member, an NCAA Region 4 Postgraduate Scholarship Committee member and part of the Kenosha United Way cabinet. He is also a company leader for the American Heart Association Southeastern Wisconsin "heart walk" and a member of the Kenosha Junior Achievement Board of Directors. Bonn is a former NAADD president and previous member of the NCAA Division III Nominating Committee. Bonn received a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut, his master's degree from Springfield College and his doctorate in education from Boston University. Before signing on with Carthage, he served as director of athletics, men's basketball coach and chair of the department of physical education at Pacific University. He also has served as an assistant basketball coach at Western New Mexico and Framingham State. In 2005, Bonn was inducted into the Rockland H.S.(Massachusetts) Athletics Hall of Fame.

[Son of Tailgater]

on a random note, I just finished my first week of working in the real world. I think it just hit me that I am not going to be playing ball this year       

[Red Reign]

The old Cardinal head buries the NC interlock IMHO!

I could not agree more.  When I was being recruited, I saw the cardinal head on the helmets and I remember commenting on how cool it looked.  IMHO, it looks better than ISU, Louisville and the Arizona cardinals, more aggressive, I think.  I remember when we first got the NC's my freshman year I was pretty disappointed.  It reminded me of Naperville Central, a rival team that I was not too fond of in high school.  Actually, my sophomore year, Coach Thorne put the helmet decal to a vote and supposedly the NC won, but I know that I voted for the Cardinal.

I was there too and I don't remember any vote...I still have my cardinal heads from my freshman year under DeGeorge...
Thorne wanted a different look and thats cool, can't fault him for trying to change perceptions, I think he's managed to do a pretty good job getting things turned around.  I liked the cardinal head better.

Didn't they used to have a N like Nebraska at some point? or was it a plain white helmet with a red stripe?

To my understanding the Cardinal head will be back this year, not on the helmet but on the jersey

[Pat Coleman]

on a random note, I just finished my first week of working in the real world. I think it just hit me that I am not going to be playing ball this year       

Hopefully this board can be your support group. 

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the backfield situation for Wheaton will be next year? I haven't heard much and I'm sure that it will be hard to replace Chaz Black and Brad Thorton. Has anyone heard anything?

[Mugsy]

Does anyone know what the backfield situation for Wheaton will be next year? I haven't heard much and I'm sure that it will be hard to replace Chaz Black and Brad Thorton. Has anyone heard anything?

Yes, it will be difficult to replace Chaz Black & Brad Thorton.  But over the past 4-5 years, Wheaton has done a great job of filling the backfield position year after year with solid players.

I don't have a ton of information, but I do know some of the leading candidates include:

Andrew Hershey: 5-11 185 Jr. - filled in very well when Chaz Black was injured, including several 100 yard games

Walker Smith: 5-10 210 Jr. - was 2nd on the depth chart (ahead of Hershey) until a season ending injury

One bit of new information I do have is that Brett Jackson will be moved from WR to RB.  Brett is the 2nd or 3rd fastest player on the team, so he'd be a good compliment to a more physical runner like Walker Smith.

The fullback position seems to be more open to competition.  Returning players who didn't see a ton of action you have:

Jamie Aucutt: 6-0 224 Sr.
Daniel Sunday: 5-11 220 Jr.

There is always a possibility one of the underclassmen will move up into this slot, or one of the TE's could be moved as well.

[Mugsy]

Incidentally 2006 stats for returning Wheaton RB & FB's:

RUSHING              GP  Att Gain Loss  Net   Avg  TD Long Avg/G
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hershey, Andrew       9   83  393   11  382   4.6   8   33  42.4
Smith, Walker         3   23   84    6   78   3.4   0   17  26.0
Prudhomme, Matt       8   12   78    0   78   6.5   1   22   9.8
Aucutt, Jamie         5    8   57    0   57   7.1   0   12  11.4
Sunday, Daniel        3    3   13    0   13   4.3   0    5   4.3

I wouldn't get caught up in the yards for Wheaton fullbacks.  Blocking and receptions out of the backfield are more important for fullbacks (as in most offenses).

[Redmen96]

on a random note, I just finished my first week of working in the real world. I think it just hit me that I am not going to be playing ball this year       

It will really hit you next year when you go to watch your first game and you realize, " Ive never watched a game before.  I always played."  And you have to sit in the stands for the first time in your life.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it will be difficult to replace Chaz Black & Brad Thorton.  But over the past 4-5 years, Wheaton has done a great job of filling the backfield position year after year with solid players.

I don't have a ton of information, but I do know some of the leading candidates include:

Andrew Hershey: 5-11 185 Jr. - filled in very well when Chaz Black was injured, including several 100 yard games

Walker Smith: 5-10 210 Jr. - was 2nd on the depth chart (ahead of Hershey) until a season ending injury

One bit of new information I do have is that Brett Jackson will be moved from WR to RB.  Brett is the 2nd or 3rd fastest player on the team, so he'd be a good compliment to a more physical runner like Walker Smith.

The fullback position seems to be more open to competition.  Returning players who didn't see a ton of action you have:

Jamie Aucutt: 6-0 224 Sr.
Daniel Sunday: 5-11 220 Jr.

There is always a possibility one of the underclassmen will move up into this slot, or one of the TE's could be moved as well.
[/quote]

Interesting....do you know why it is that they are moving the WR to RB?