FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

IWU junior QB Nick Panno, who lost his starting job to Kraig Ladd, has left the team...the backup is now freshman Brien Rooney (Fenwick HS).

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/10/04/sports/doc470462b653156307578203.txt

[cardinaldad]

CardinalDad, I agree with some of your points and disagree with some. Fair enough. 

Fair enough Jaybird. It's a GREAT country America is. Isn't it? That we could all agree and disagree and express it!
Hope you slept well!

[usee]

IWU junior QB Nick Panno, who lost his starting job to Kraig Ladd, has left the team...the backup is now freshman Brien Rooney (Fenwick HS).

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/10/04/sports/doc470462b653156307578203.txt

Interesting article. I think the carthage/IWU matchup is very intriguing. A win and IWU is feeling like they can and will beat everyone. A loss and I think their confidence is shaken. Either way, IWU will be a very dangerous opponent the rest of the way.

[79jaybird]

Well, the Cubs made me sick so no  I didn't sleep well, then that good old thing called WORK and the alarm clock wake you up at 6:00 and it's a reminder of how much I miss college and athletics! 

Pilgrim  I agree that North Park will win a CCIW game soon, but I still think you are with "Lucy in the diamond skies" on some things. 

TitanQ-  Do you know why Panno left?  I was real impressed with Panno in the games I saw him play, not just the games vs. Elmhurst.

[matblake]

IWU junior QB Nick Panno, who lost his starting job to Kraig Ladd, has left the team...the backup is now freshman Brien Rooney (Fenwick HS).

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/10/04/sports/doc470462b653156307578203.txt

Interesting article. I think the carthage/IWU matchup is very intriguing. A win and IWU is feeling like they can and will beat everyone. A loss and I think their confidence is shaken. Either way, IWU will be a very dangerous opponent the rest of the way.

I agree.  That win against Augie appears to be huge at this point.  The rest of the season will see if IWU is for real, or if they simply pulled an upset similar to the upset they pulled against Wheaton in 2005.

[matblake]

At this point Augustana has to be reeling.  With 2 in-region losses (BW & IWU), they basically have to win the CCIW at this point to get into the playoffs, since they are Augie they could win out the rest of their games.  They would need some help with a couple of defeats of IWU by someone else.  Of course, we still have the rest of the CCIW schedule to go, all sorts of craziness can and probably will ensue.

[redman04]

The debate jaybird and I have been having about Elmhurst this weekend brings to mind another topic I have been pondering. When has a team arrived at the top of the conference to be considered one of the best? Clearly Jaybird feels Elmhurst already belongs as he mentions them consistently when speaking of the last few conference champions. Carthage may feel they belong since they have won a conference championship and gone to the playoffs in the last few years. Naperville has a claim as they have been to the playoffs and shared their first CCIW title in forever. Wheaton has lost more to Mt Union than any CCIW team in the last 7 years and Augie has always been at the top of the CCIW.

Clearly a mark of success is the ability to make the NCAA playoffs. whether that's by AQ or pool C if you are in you have won most of your games in the CCIW. But in looking at the process of getting to that point I took the Naperville school as an example. They wallowed in mediocrity for years under previous regimes. they then showed signs of promise and their breakthrough wins were beating Augie in 2004 and Wheaton in 2005. Both of those victories were at home. They came close to beating Augie in Rock Island in 2005 and lost on a last second field goal. They have yet no road wins against any of the last 3 conference champions. Those are hard facts to overlook. So for teams like Naperville, Carthage, and Elmhurst, I think they have to show everyone they can win on the road. Even Carthage hasn't beaten Augie or Wheaton at their place. More importantly, This codifies what I have been feeling about Elmhurst this weekend vs Augie. Elmhurst hasn't shown me a big win at home to indicate they are ready to compete with Augie on the road. I may be wrong and this Saturday they have a chance to change that trend, but history shows that's not how it happens. Now Elmhurst's players don't believe that and they shouldn't, they are certainly talented enough to beat anyone if they play well.

Interesting points---- As someone recently brought up the idea of big 4 little 4 in the cciw was the norm for years.  I really think that now it is not the case at all.  There is one upper echelon team in the CCIW, Wheaton.  That will be the case until some other team can beat them on a consistent basis.  After that there are a bunch of middle teams and one bottom team, NPU….Not trying to beat up on the Vikes just stating facts.

The middle teams are hard to rank.  They are almost all interchangeable.  Here is my best stab at it

2. Augie---although  not the powerhouse of the past,  they are a team that everyone has struggled to win against.  CCIW teams like NCC, CARTHAGE, & ELMHRUST need to be able to Consistently win games vs Augie to move up (not sure anyone has been to do that since the 80’s)

3. NCC--- Have really showed that they are now a force to deal with but need to continue to make play off appearances to move ahead of Augie.  But very very close as of right now with augie, they make it to playoffs again this year then they are Without a doubt the #2 team.

4. Carthage--- I know that I am a self-proclaimed homer, but the fact is that they have won a CCIW championship and made it to the 3rd round of NCAA playoffs in the past 3 years.  No team listed below Carthage can say that. And that is the only reason why I have Elmhurst listed below.

5 Elmhurst ---- Have won some very big games the past couple of years, but No play offs and no CCIW titles to show for it. 

6/7 Millikin--- So strong for the end of the 90’s and early 00’s, but have seem to have really fallen off

6/7IWU --- The team everyone loves to hate!  How the mighty have fallen!  Good start to the conference, Millikin and IWU are interchangeable in my opinion.

[burly]

Yes I do.  On what basis, I'll get back to you.

Agree - Both Carthage and Elmhurst a light years ahead of NP.  But, I think this is the year NP steals one and it will happen against Carthage, Elmhurst or Milikin (in that order of most likely to least likely).

Whatever it is you are on I want some, because have no clue what is going on.  And you wonder why your karma takes hits, that comment might be why...

Who has no clue? 

Please enlighten me with your infinite CCIW wisdom and answer this, what CCIW game this year does NP have the greatest chance of winning?  If your answer is Carthage, we are on the same page.  If it's anybody else, please explain.

Yes, I did wonder for a while, but then I realized that Karma is more about winning a popularity contest than challenging ideas with stats and facts.  For example, I questioned why people have forgotten how good Burris was and statistically proved my point, but made a lot of people uncomfortable a long the way and started -10.  Anway, that's why I joined this board - to participate in healthy debate, make and take witty comments and give acknowledgment when deserved.

If that's not the case, I'll go do something else.  But until then, this is pretty entertaining.

[burly]

Pilgrim  I agree that North Park will win a CCIW game soon, but I still think you are with "Lucy in the diamond skies" on some things. 

Hey man, always up for you reasons why.  Without sports....

[Comet 14]

79jaybird- Sorry for the late response. I was out of town for a couple of days. Yes I will be at the Augie game Sat. and should be at the game the following week as well. Speaking of Augie, where do the Elmhurst faithfull tailgate at Augie? I missed meeting you at the game against Carthage. We tailgated in the North Parking lot right about Mid- field. I belive I was right by tailgater because there was a big red tent there and a Carthage fan with a huge grill with dual tanks on it. I was guessing that was him.

[usee]

Yes, I did wonder for a while, but then I realized that Karma is more about winning a popularity contest than challenging ideas with stats and facts.  For example, I questioned why people have forgotten how good Burris was and statistically proved my point, but made a lot of people uncomfortable a long the way and started -10. 

Good thoughts. +K for you

[matblake]

Important information for Wheaton fans and players to follow after Saturday's game listed here.

[Titan Q]

TitanQ-  Do you know why Panno left?  I was real impressed with Panno in the games I saw him play, not just the games vs. Elmhurst.

I have no insider knowledge of the situation, but I assume this is just one of those cases of a kid who is not happy being on the bench.  Panno was IWU's starting QB last year (and he started the opener this year) and probably feels like he should be the starter.  Being a junior and Ladd a sophomore, I guess the writing is on the wall there.

Panno is talented and would be a very good player in another scheme, but Kraig Ladd is a much better fit for the Titans.  I think everyone knows that IWU loves to throw the ball and the Titans really do have some very good receivers.  Ladd is a thrower and Panno a runner.

[matblake]

Ladd is a thrower and Panno a runner.

Sounds like the change to Ladd is better for the IWU offense.  They do love throwing the ball. 

[79jaybird]

Comet, I look forward to meeting you Saturday.  We probably passed by each other without even knowing it at the Carthage game.   I was the only guy with a white shirt in the sea of red Carthage jackets in the parking lot just to the north of Langhorst Field.

At Augie, I am not sure. Perhaps there are some Augie posters that can answer the tailgating question.  I haven't spent a whole lot of "leisure" time on Augie's campus. I am usually either setting up, on air, or traveling unlike the other school's where I have time to peruse around and see more of the campus.

TitanQ- Thank you and Panno's strong running is what I admired most. Reminded me a lot of how McGinnis runs the Augie offense.    Not afraid to run the ball like a conditioned RB  when the pass is not there.