FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCC_alum62]

I know you all missed me. Everyone. Especially FormerCard.

Wheaton 9-1 (L to NCC)
North Central 8-2 (L @ Concordia and Carthage in nail-biters, w/ the Carthage game costing NCC the CCIW title)
Augie 8-2 (L to NCC and Wheaton)
Carthage 6-4
IWU 4-6
Elmhurst 4-6
Millikin 3-7
NP 2-8


Goulet.

The way you set up the rankings, NC would win the Conf. not wheaton. It would go head-to-head between NC and WC with NC beating WC. So the loss to Carthage wouldn't have any effect on the Conf. title.

Also, whats with all these rankings having Carthage 2 or 3... didn't they lose their whole O-Line 3 or which were all conf. I'd consider that to be a big rebuilding year on offense

Take a look at who posted Carthage being 2 or 3....Carthage Supporters.  We all lean toward our home team here Shark.

Most of the rest have them in the 4 spot.

[NCC_alum62]

Its all speculation...

I think both Wheaton or NCC could run the table...dare I say it!?!

If Kyle is anything like his big brother and the team gels going into the season...NCC could be 10-0 come November, and I know that is coach Thorne's goal.

GO CARDS!

[usee]

Its all speculation...

I think both Wheaton or NCC could run the table...dare I say it!?!

If Kyle is anything like his big brother and the team gels going into the season...NCC could be 10-0 come November, and I know that is coach Thorne's goal.

GO CARDS!

I would be very surprised if any qb could come in after having taken virtually no snaps in 2 years and perform within a fraction of a guy who was a 4 year starter and one of the better qb's this conference has seen. but that is just my opinion.

[usee]

Now that I've jumped on someone else for thier picks...

Wheaton 9-1, 6-1
NCC 9-1, 6-1
Auggie 8-2, 6-1
Carthage 7-3, 4-3
Elmhurst, 5-5, 3-4
Millikin 3-7, 2-5
IWU 2-8, 2-5
North Park 1-9, 0-7

My CCIW top three and why

Wheaton (9-1, 6-1 loss toNCC , Has a chance to go 10-0, the only stumbling block I see is thier away game in Naperville.  They get Carthage, Auggie, and Milliken at home this year.  Both Wheaton and NCC play extremly well at home.  In non-conference they make two long trips to Albion and Washington U., but they are both very winnable games.  They get the MIAA champ, Hope, at home.

North Central (9-1, 6-1 loss to Augustana , Home field advantage is crucial this year for Wheaton, Auggie, and NCC.  Thorne has yet to win in Rock Island, and Augustana is very good at home.  The Cardinals should start the season 3-0, They're undefeated against WashU in the Thorne era and Benedictine isn't ready for the Cardinals this year.  They get a balanced schedule in the CCIW with home games against Millikin and IWU, and Carthage. 6 home games and three very winnable away games for the Cardinals.

Augustana (8-2, 6-1 losses to Wheaton, and Baldwin Wallace), Auggie returns much of thier defense and offensive line thats a very good start, but they need to get over the hump in non-conference play. MacMurray shouldn't be a problem, Baldwin Wallace is a very dangerous OAC team, and UW has to come to Rock Island this year.  Augie has to make a tough trip to Wheaton and have had the Thunder's number of late, but I don't think they will win that game.

And the others:

Carthage (7-3, 3-3, loosing to Auggie, Wheaton, and NCC) has the chance to start the season 6-0 with a good non conference schedule of two home games and trip to Whittier, CA to face a perenial 2-7 dormat in the SCIAC (Carthage will have two games under thier belt before making the trip and Whittier will be playing thier first game on Sept 15th against the Redmen they will travel to Elmhurst and NPU, and get IWU at home, but Carthage faces all three top CCIW teams and an always physical Millikin in the last four weeks...ouch.

I've got to do some more research on the other teams especially IWU and Millikin, Its hard to not think NPU might win a conference game this year with all the talk of them improving this season and IWU has been bad of late and makes the trip to Foster Ave.  But here are some initial thoughts without a final prediction on records or place in conference:

IWU: Could start the season 0-5, ouch.  Tough trips to Coe and Olivet (who has a chance to win the MIAA this year), and Mt. St. Joseph HCAC champs last year and a favorite to repeat comming to Bloomington-Normal.  They get MSJ at home, so if there was ever a time for an upset this is it.  They get Millikin at home which could be thier first win of the season, they get Auggie and Wheaton at home, but don't have the talent in the trenches to get it done this year.

Elmhurst: Will start 2-0, but plays a very tough Olivet team and a tough opening 3 games of the CCIW (Carthage, Auggie, and NCC).  They also must travel to IWU (a close win in 2006) and Millikin whom they lost to at home.  I can see them beating Olivet with a good nucleus of player and some spring hitting that came with traveling to Europe, but they will not have a legitimate shot at the CCIW this year.  They do benefit from having NCC and Wheaton at home, and they've pushed hard for the upset before, especially against NCC where the past three games have been pretty tight.

North Park: Honestly they took a step back from thier 3 win 2005 performance by only gathering 1 win in 2006.  Coach Penthel may be doing good things, but they lost by double digits in every game last year (aside from thier lone win against lowly Eureka)  The D gave up 37 pts per game last year and the offense scored an average of just 10 pts per game and was shut out 3 times by Rose Hulman, IWU, and Auggie.  Dreadful.  They get Benedictine at home to open the season, but the once woeful Eagles have been better the past couple years and have been able to turn things around faster than NPU, they should contend for the last IBC football crown.  They get four CCIW home games, but none of them are easy.  The best chance for a win may come against Elmhurst in the last game of the year if the Bluejays don't take the Vikings seriously, but I doubt it.

Millikin: I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Millikin.  They play very tough physical football, and are usually pretty good in the trenches, two things I love.  That being said, they should beat Illinois College, but Ohio Northern and Wabash are significantly better teams than the Blue Boys of IC. Wabash is picked to wwin the NCAC, and ONU is always a tough OAC competitor.  They also play my top three picks on the road this year (Auggie, Wheaton, and NCC), But could upset Carthage who could be banged up from a monster final 4 games including the top three and the Big Blue.

this is good stuff. thanks for putting it together. some good, well thought out analysis here.

[NCC_alum62]

Its all speculation...

I think both Wheaton or NCC could run the table...dare I say it!?!

If Kyle is anything like his big brother and the team gels going into the season...NCC could be 10-0 come November, and I know that is coach Thorne's goal.

GO CARDS!

I would be very surprised if any qb could come in after having taken virtually no snaps in 2 years and perform within a fraction of a guy who was a 4 year starter and one of the better qb's this conference has seen. but that is just my opinion.

Hey come on I said...IF 

Kyle has played in spring games and practices...you are definetly correct in that he has not played a meaningful snap in the last two years, but lets face it scholarship athletes are basically going to school to play the sport and they do it year round.  Kyle participated in spring ball this past spring against some good athletes at EIU. 

[NCC_alum62]

It is still a brutal conference schedule with no gimme's...  Teams had better not assume a victory over NPU, like in years past.  If the top running teams let up at all, then look for the upsets...

No doubt.  While I don't think that playing NP will be a gimmie as in years past, I still believe they are 1 year away from that conference win.  Next year, Coach Pethtel will  have 3 years of recruits under his belt, and enough time for some natural attrition that always occurs at any level will have had a chance to take place.  It will also be enough time to make his own imprint on the team. 

I agreee, although I still can't say that NPU will win a conference game this year.  Teams are going to prepare for them, if I were coaching in the CCIW and saw that the perenial doormat started adding better recruits, facilities, and holding onto the coaching staff, you;d better believe that we would prep for that team like we would prep for any of the others in the conference.

New facilities, better recruiting, and a coach sticking around are all signposts to a program turning things around and getting better on the field.  I'd say give them another year, they need to play teams alot closer than how they played 'em last year, but the season is less than a month away and I cannot wait!

Hey...if we score more points than the other team, we got a good shot at winning this game...

Thanks John Madden

[Red Reign]

Now that I've jumped on someone else for thier picks...

Wheaton 9-1, 6-1
NCC 9-1, 6-1
Auggie 8-2, 6-1
Carthage 7-3, 4-3
Elmhurst, 5-5, 3-4
Millikin 3-7, 2-5
IWU 2-8, 2-5
North Park 1-9, 0-7

My CCIW top three and why

Wheaton (9-1, 6-1 loss toNCC , Has a chance to go 10-0, the only stumbling block I see is thier away game in Naperville.  They get Carthage, Auggie, and Milliken at home this year.  Both Wheaton and NCC play extremly well at home.  In non-conference they make two long trips to Albion and Washington U., but they are both very winnable games.  They get the MIAA champ, Hope, at home.

North Central (9-1, 6-1 loss to Augustana , Home field advantage is crucial this year for Wheaton, Auggie, and NCC.  Thorne has yet to win in Rock Island, and Augustana is very good at home.  The Cardinals should start the season 3-0, They're undefeated against WashU in the Thorne era and Benedictine isn't ready for the Cardinals this year.  They get a balanced schedule in the CCIW with home games against Millikin and IWU, and Carthage. 6 home games and three very winnable away games for the Cardinals.

Augustana (8-2, 6-1 losses to Wheaton, and Baldwin Wallace), Auggie returns much of thier defense and offensive line thats a very good start, but they need to get over the hump in non-conference play. MacMurray shouldn't be a problem, Baldwin Wallace is a very dangerous OAC team, and UW has to come to Rock Island this year.  Augie has to make a tough trip to Wheaton and have had the Thunder's number of late, but I don't think they will win that game.

And the others:

Carthage (7-3, 3-3, loosing to Auggie, Wheaton, and NCC) has the chance to start the season 6-0 with a good non conference schedule of two home games and trip to Whittier, CA to face a perenial 2-7 dormat in the SCIAC (Carthage will have two games under thier belt before making the trip and Whittier will be playing thier first game on Sept 15th against the Redmen they will travel to Elmhurst and NPU, and get IWU at home, but Carthage faces all three top CCIW teams and an always physical Millikin in the last four weeks...ouch.

I've got to do some more research on the other teams especially IWU and Millikin, Its hard to not think NPU might win a conference game this year with all the talk of them improving this season and IWU has been bad of late and makes the trip to Foster Ave.  But here are some initial thoughts without a final prediction on records or place in conference:

IWU: Could start the season 0-5, ouch.  Tough trips to Coe and Olivet (who has a chance to win the MIAA this year), and Mt. St. Joseph HCAC champs last year and a favorite to repeat comming to Bloomington-Normal.  They get MSJ at home, so if there was ever a time for an upset this is it.  They get Millikin at home which could be thier first win of the season, they get Auggie and Wheaton at home, but don't have the talent in the trenches to get it done this year.

Elmhurst: Will start 2-0, but plays a very tough Olivet team and a tough opening 3 games of the CCIW (Carthage, Auggie, and NCC).  They also must travel to IWU (a close win in 2006) and Millikin whom they lost to at home.  I can see them beating Olivet with a good nucleus of player and some spring hitting that came with traveling to Europe, but they will not have a legitimate shot at the CCIW this year.  They do benefit from having NCC and Wheaton at home, and they've pushed hard for the upset before, especially against NCC where the past three games have been pretty tight.

North Park: Honestly they took a step back from thier 3 win 2005 performance by only gathering 1 win in 2006.  Coach Penthel may be doing good things, but they lost by double digits in every game last year (aside from thier lone win against lowly Eureka)  The D gave up 37 pts per game last year and the offense scored an average of just 10 pts per game and was shut out 3 times by Rose Hulman, IWU, and Auggie.  Dreadful.  They get Benedictine at home to open the season, but the once woeful Eagles have been better the past couple years and have been able to turn things around faster than NPU, they should contend for the last IBC football crown.  They get four CCIW home games, but none of them are easy.  The best chance for a win may come against Elmhurst in the last game of the year if the Bluejays don't take the Vikings seriously, but I doubt it.

Millikin: I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Millikin.  They play very tough physical football, and are usually pretty good in the trenches, two things I love.  That being said, they should beat Illinois College, but Ohio Northern and Wabash are significantly better teams than the Blue Boys of IC. Wabash is picked to wwin the NCAC, and ONU is always a tough OAC competitor.  They also play my top three picks on the road this year (Auggie, Wheaton, and NCC), But could upset Carthage who could be banged up from a monster final 4 games including the top three and the Big Blue.

Cards play @ carthage this year... last time they played at Carthage was during the D. Washington era. Cards lost a nail bitter, Redmen won a Conf...

[NCC_alum62]

Sorry, according to the website the game is at NCC.


I think Carthage will be good this year, they get NCC at the last game of the year,  so the issues with having to replace the entire offensive line may not be so apparent.  If Carthage can stay healthy and gel up front they will be very good on offense.

[football2007]

If you look at the CCIW site the north central/carthage game is in Kenosha.

How are camps going so far.  Any stand out new players to watch over the next 4 years anywhere.

[matblake]

I know you all missed me. Everyone. Especially FormerCard.

Wheaton 9-1 (L to NCC)
North Central 8-2 (L @ Concordia and Carthage in nail-biters, w/ the Carthage game costing NCC the CCIW title)
Augie 8-2 (L to NCC and Wheaton)
Carthage 6-4
IWU 4-6
Elmhurst 4-6
Millikin 3-7
NP 2-8


Goulet.

The way you set up the rankings, NC would win the Conf. not wheaton. It would go head-to-head between NC and WC with NC beating WC. So the loss to Carthage wouldn't have any effect on the Conf. title.

Also, whats with all these rankings having Carthage 2 or 3... didn't they lose their whole O-Line 3 or which were all conf. I'd consider that to be a big rebuilding year on offense

Actually, in Goulet's scenario for the conference championship it would be a tie and Wheaton and North Central would be conference champions. See Section III. Part A of the Football Guide from the CCIW.  Granted, this is last years rule book and a change could have occured.  Where it would make the difference is in the Automatic bid for the playoffs.  See  Section IV.  Part B1.  

[Carthage Fan]

If you look at the CCIW site the north central/carthage game is in Kenosha.

Carthage's schedule has the NCC game at Kenosha as well.

[Gregory Sager]

It is still a brutal conference schedule with no gimme's...  Teams had better not assume a victory over NPU, like in years past.  If the top running teams let up at all, then look for the upsets...

No doubt.  While I don't think that playing NP will be a gimmie as in years past, I still believe they are 1 year away from that conference win.  Next year, Coach Pethtel will  have 3 years of recruits under his belt, and enough time for some natural attrition that always occurs at any level will have had a chance to take place.  It will also be enough time to make his own imprint on the team. 

I agreee, although I still can't say that NPU will win a conference game this year.  Teams are going to prepare for them, if I were coaching in the CCIW and saw that the perenial doormat started adding better recruits, facilities, and holding onto the coaching staff, you;d better believe that we would prep for that team like we would prep for any of the others in the conference.

New facilities, better recruiting, and a coach sticking around are all signposts to a program turning things around and getting better on the field.  I'd say give them another year, they need to play teams alot closer than how they played 'em last year, but the season is less than a month away and I cannot wait!

I agree with both MB and NCC_alum. This is not the year for heightened expectations for NPU with regard to the W-L record. This is the year for heightened expectations for NPU with regard to actual performance on the field. As poster Gotberg said last year in quoting some D1 football coach (Steve Spurrier, maybe?), first you lose consistently by blowouts, the next year you lose consistently by narrow margins, the next year you win consistently by narrow margins, and the year after that you start winning some blowouts. That sounds to me like an ambitious but logical blueprint for a rebuilding program.

I think that the Vikings have to be seen as the underdog in each CCIW game that they play this season, including the home game against Illinois Wesleyan. North Park is still in the "guilty until proven innocent" phase of expectations on the gridiron, and in spite of all of the steps forward that NPU has taken (improved retention, coaching stability, upgraded facilities, better recruits, etc.), it's all nothing but footnotes until the Vikes actually break through and win a CCIW football game for the first time after six winless conference seasons. Then, and only then, can NPU be viewed as anything but an underdog on CCIW Saturdays.

[usee]

Its all speculation...

I think both Wheaton or NCC could run the table...dare I say it!?!

If Kyle is anything like his big brother and the team gels going into the season...NCC could be 10-0 come November, and I know that is coach Thorne's goal.

GO CARDS!

I would be very surprised if any qb could come in after having taken virtually no snaps in 2 years and perform within a fraction of a guy who was a 4 year starter and one of the better qb's this conference has seen. but that is just my opinion.

Hey come on I said...IF 

Kyle has played in spring games and practices...you are definetly correct in that he has not played a meaningful snap in the last two years, but lets face it scholarship athletes are basically going to school to play the sport and they do it year round.  Kyle participated in spring ball this past spring against some good athletes at EIU. 

I would be a lot more optimistic if he had participated in NCC's spring drills. It will be hard for him to perform at an all conference level this year. NCC better rest its hopes on the likes of their OLine, Sulo and some veteran defenders. Their good punter won't hurt either.

[timbo]

Does anyone know if Augie or Carthage will be scrimmaging anyone this year?

[ncc58]

If you look at the CCIW site the north central/carthage game is in Kenosha.

Carthage's schedule has the NCC game at Kenosha as well.

We went through this at the end of last season .... the game is at Carthage. John Thorne hasn't yet managed to schedule all of NCC's games at home.