FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[thunderdog]

the 7-on-7 issue brings up an interesting point... way back in the 1990's (wow am I getting old) we'd always have 7-on-7 after Saturday morning workouts during the Spring semester.  None of the coaches were allowed to be there (not even in the stands), but it was still a very disciplined, organized, educational time run by the upper classmen.  As a scout-team player my first 2 years, I found these pass skellies to be invaluable in my development as a player.  Not only that, but these tough Saturday workouts, followed by the skeleton, helped promote team unity at Wheaton that (in my humble opinion) goes unmatched in the CCIW.

We did this in 94 and in 95.  Then, going into my senior year, we were all of a sudden not allowed to do 7-on-7 after the workout.  This was a CCIW implemented rule, not a NCAA, DIII rule.  Why?

The rumors I heard was that the Augie coach at the time (I believe it was Schmulbach) believed that the Wheaton coaches made these 7-on-7's "mandatory", even though they weren't around.  In truth, they were not mandatory, but nonetheless, all CCIW teams were banned from 7-on-7's for a while.  I remember being quite disappointed as I never got the chance to "coach up" the underclassmen the way so many had coached me the previous years.

Anyway, I don't know when things changed, but it's good to hear the pass skeleton is back on the plate during off-seasons.

[Comet 14]

I don,t know who organizes the 7 on 7's but the coaches are there sometimes observing from the stands or press box. At Elmhurst it is mostly players that live in the area. My son has driven in for a few of them but at the price of gas he does not make it every time. I think elmhurst has them twice a week on Tue. and Thur.

[Gregory Sager]

http://condraft.com/all-american-teams/div-iii.php

Andy Studebaker from Wheaton garnered some pre-season honors.

And I may be wrong, but I think these guys meant Don Kasper from NCC not Dan Casper from Central College, I went to Central College website and there is no Dan Casper and Don Kasper is 6'3 280.  Unless I am wrong and there is another Central College in DIII.

Nope, the one in Pella, IA is the only Central College in D3.

[79jaybird]

I like the new design on the Wheaton web page.  Nice job Brett!    A few of the schools in our conference could use a "boost" in their web pages to be a littl e more informative for the web surfer.

[football2007]

When will elmhurst update their web site with the roster.  since they are so close to home i am curious if any other players i know are going there.  Just found out a safety i know from glenbard east is attending.

[DIIIinVA]

Thunderdog, the 7-on-7 pass skellies I remember at Wheaton were just as you described them.  Durning winter we'd run them in the gym and later in the spring we'd do it outside.  Definitely a huge learning time for me as a scout team player, b/c once real practices started in the fall, there was very little time for teaching (by upperclassmen, not coaches) and player development if you weren't in the 2-deep.  I was there '89-'92.  No, it was never mandated by the coaches.  Just peer pressure from the upperclassmen to be there.  I didn't know they had been discontinued for a time.  I think Swider's effectiveness as the S&C coordinator at the time and his ability to motivate players to work at making themselves better during the offseason, plus his competitive nature, must have gotten some other coaches suspecting that he was bending the rules.  I never saw him do anything that wasn't totally by the book, though.

[lakeshore]

I like the new design on the Wheaton web page.  Nice job Brett!    A few of the schools in our conference could use a "boost" in their web pages to be a littl e more informative for the web surfer.

North Park will launch an all new npuvikings.com this fall

[rome]

How will Augustana be this season?

[79jaybird]

Rome, Augie is perennially strong and this year figures to be no different.  They return a solid O and D line, and a pretty good QB in McGinnis.  I look for Augie to finish in the Top 3. 

[DIIIinVA]

What is the word on Wheaton's Pete Ittersagen and his recovery from the injury he suffered vs. Mt. Union?

I can't remember.  What was the injury - knee or ankle, break or ligament damage?

[usee]

What is the word on Wheaton's Pete Ittersagen and his recovery from the injury he suffered vs. Mt. Union?

I can't remember.  What was the injury - knee or ankle, break or ligament damage?

I think he broke his leg above the ankle. required surgery. I heard he participated in spring drills but not yet at full speed. a big key to the Thunder this year is his full recovery. I also heard their entire OLine is back from last year when earlier thought they were replacing 3 starters. this is good news also.

the wheaton O needs a running back  and that's it. their D needs a d tackle and 1 corner from the ranks.

[DIIIinVA]

Thanks for the info on Ittersagen, Usee. 

How did they go from expecting to replace 3 OL starters to having the entire OL back?  Are 3 guys coming back for a 5th year or what?

Also, I think I read some time ago that they might get a WR back this fall who they initially thought was going to graduate/leave school.  Another 5th year scenario?  Did that pan out?

[Mugsy]

What is the word on Wheaton's Pete Ittersagen and his recovery from the injury he suffered vs. Mt. Union?

I can't remember.  What was the injury - knee or ankle, break or ligament damage?

I think he broke his leg above the ankle. required surgery. I heard he participated in spring drills but not yet at full speed. a big key to the Thunder this year is his full recovery. I also heard their entire OLine is back from last year when earlier thought they were replacing 3 starters. this is good news also.

the wheaton O needs a running back  and that's it. their D needs a d tackle and 1 corner from the ranks.

I'm not 100% certain on the extent of the injury, but I believe it was both bone and ligament damage.  Not a pretty injury and one that takes time to heal.

Last I heard Ittersagen was at about 70-75%, but that was from April/May.  I would expect he should be close to 100% by the first game, if not sooner.  The real issue will be lateral movement and making sharp cuts - motion that places severe pressure on the ankle.

[usee]

Thanks for the info on Ittersagen, Usee. 

How did they go from expecting to replace 3 OL starters to having the entire OL back?  Are 3 guys coming back for a 5th year or what?

Also, I think I read some time ago that they might get a WR back this fall who they initially thought was going to graduate/leave school.  Another 5th year scenario?  Did that pan out?

a couple of the OLine are probably 5th year and I was mistaken on the 3rd one.

The WR who is 5th year is Chris Fossum, I believe, a 1st team all conference WR.

[DIIIinVA]

Well Mugsy, put another way it sounds like the "real issue" is whether he can function as a CB, since the actions you mention are essential to playing the position.  Here's hoping he makes a full recovery.

Usee, to make sure I'm understanding correctly I take it that Fossum is definitely coming back for a 5th year then?

Returning 10 starters on D and the entire OL from a team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs sounds pretty good to me.

Down here in southwest Virginia I've enjoyed watching the Virginia Tech Hokies play football and become a fan of theirs, but I miss good D III football - college athletics like they were meant to be.  Discovering this board has been a godsend.  I do make the Stagg Bowl every year though!  Hopefully one of these years Wheaton will, too!