FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

Now on a football related topic you have
The contenders
Wheaton, IWU, NC
The overachiever   IWU
The hopeful  Carthage
The disappointers /missed opportunities  Augie/Elmhurst
and the What has happened what to do?  Millikin /North Park.

Unfortunately, I think the only way the CCIW gets 2 into the NCAA's is if Wheaton stumbles and ends up with 1 loss.  Otherwise I think it's only the AQ CCIW champ that gets to dance.

[redman04]

Except this year, Michigan will win the Big 10.

I would bet on Ohio State over Michigan

Ok, you're on.  Loser has to change their post pattern screen name.  Deal?

Only if we get to pick each other's name!

This could be dangerous... 

In order to change your profile name, do you have to start a new account?  I'm down for whatever - call the ball.

No you just need to go to your account settings.  This should be fun!  Even though it is against my better judgement I will keep your new name within good taste! 

[redman04]

Now on a football related topic you have
The contenders
Wheaton, IWU, NC
The overachiever   IWU
The hopeful  Carthage
The disappointers /missed opportunities  Augie/Elmhurst
and the What has happened what to do?  Millikin /North Park.

Unfortunately, I think the only way the CCIW gets 2 into the NCAA's is if Wheaton stumbles and ends up with 1 loss.  Otherwise I think it's only the AQ CCIW champ that gets to dance.

I think you are right, Carthage is the hopefull and the long shot... The only thing they can do now is worry about themselves.  They win out and they have a chance. 
I also think that they could fall under the disapointers/ missed opportunities.  In all honesty (and no disrespect to EC) they should have beaten Elmhurst... But shoulda, woulda, coulda!

[79jaybird]

Redmen04,  I agree with you now  that the Carthage/Elmhurst game was basically who could keep the ball the longest.  Both schools have had their opportunities.  In Elmhurst case, they were within 0-14 points of their 3 losses, and had a chance at halftime. The 3rd/4th (second half) has been the problem point. 
I think Wheaton has the easiest track of WC/IWU/NC.  IWU still has to go to Naperville and then play at home vs. Wheaton.  Then again, anything and everything can happen.  You're right that the only thing you can control is yourself, by executing, limiting your turnovers, and making your plays with reads, routes, and coverage schemes.

[matblake]

Swider and company usually do a good job having the Thunder ready.  However, I'm kinda concerned about the Elmhurst and Carthage games.    Both have been competitive in their games this year (with the possible exception of Elmhurst in Rock Island).  With the injuries to the Thunder and the possibility of a final week showdown in Bloomington, I hope they don't look past either of the next two weeks. 

This week is huge for  North Central.  If they can beat Augie by more than 4, that opens the door to possibly being the pool A team (of course they would still need to win out and have Wheaton lose to IWU).  But this game in Rock Island this week could have interesting tie breaker implications as the season moves forward.

[burly]

Except this year, Michigan will win the Big 10.

I would bet on Ohio State over Michigan

Ok, you're on.  Loser has to change their post pattern screen name.  Deal?

Only if we get to pick each other's name!

This could be dangerous... 

In order to change your profile name, do you have to start a new account?  I'm down for whatever - call the ball.

No you just need to go to your account settings.  This should be fun!  Even though it is against my better judgement I will keep your new name within good taste! 

Ok, it's a deal.  Winner gets to pick the losers post pattern name until....the first CCIW game of 2008???

[matblake]

Thanks for the kind words about my dog.  Mrs. matblake and I are hanging in there.

[Augie6]

Viking Mike, while I agree that Augie should have been able to score from the 7 late in the game, overall, that one was Wheaton's to win, not Augies.  I thought that the number of dropped passes by Wheaton receivers and the muffed interception on that last Augie drive made Wheaton the mistake prone team that almost blew the game.  That game shouldn't have been close.

HJ,

Have to disagree on your comment that this was one for Wheaton to win and not Augie.  Augie handed Wheaton 7 pts by fumbling a punt inside their own 10 yard line in the first half.  Augie outgained Wheaton by almost 100 yds (404 to 306) and had a 7 minute time of possession advantage.  Augie's D recorded 5 sacks in the game.  The winning TD pass (although a well placed ball by Norris) should have never happened.  Augie's safety was in position to make that play but took a poor angle to the ball and allowed it to go over his head.  On Augie's final drive, we have the winning TD pass bounce off our receiver's chest in the end zone.  Both team's made some mistakes that cost them, but when you hand your opponent a TD and then drop the game winning pass in the end zone, I think those qualify as giving away a game that was yours to win.  Based on this, I don't see how you can justify a comment that the game shouldn't have been close.  If you truly believe that, I'm not sure what game you were watching.

[burly]

Thanks for the kind words about my dog.  Mrs. matblake and I are hanging in there.

No problem.  I think it is time to watch Old Yeller again...

[Mugsy]

The winning TD pass (although a well placed ball by Norris) should have never happened.  Augie's safety was in position to make that play but took a poor angle to the ball and allowed it to go over his head.  On Augie's final drive, we have the winning TD pass bounce off our receiver's chest in the end zone.  Both team's made some mistakes that cost them, but when you hand your opponent a TD and then drop the game winning pass in the end zone, I think those qualify as giving away a game that was yours to win.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda...  point is the safety wasn't in position, the receiver did drop the ball.  You could make the same point for 10 plays not made by Wheaton.  It's part of the game.  Augie didn't execute when it counted.

[Jim Matson]

Augie6,

I was at the game and like everyone else, stayed up til the last second.  You make good points, but you didn't mention those dropped passes by Wheaton's receivers.  First off, it is uncharacteristic for Wheaton's receivers to drop passes.  Secondly, the timing of those dropped passes was not good - several were needed to retain possession.  I know that the Augie receiver should have caught that TD pass, but since when is the expectation high that Augie conncects on their passing game?  Which is of course why the time of possession was somewhat meaningless in this game.

No doubt that Augie could have won the game.  But I still maintain that had Wheaton simply executed their game plan, it would have been a 2 TD game.

P.S. The fake punt call by Augie was ingenious.

[matblake]

P.S. The fake punt call by Augie was ingenious.

Indeed, it was the perfect time to call it.  Wheaton had been aggressively going for the blocked punt the entire game.  That call alone certainly turned the game in favor for Augustana in the second half.

[Mr. Ypsi]

matblake,

How much NCC beats Augie by is irrelevant for the tiebreak - Augie can't tie for the title.  How much NCC beats IWU by (did I just type that? ) could (help) determine the AQ.  Unless Wheaton loses twice (possible, but unlikely IMO), NCC's only chance is to beat IWU by more than 4, and have IWU beat Wheaton by less than whatever NCC's margin over IWU is.

[redman04]

Except this year, Michigan will win the Big 10.

I would bet on Ohio State over Michigan

Ok, you're on.  Loser has to change their post pattern screen name.  Deal?

Only if we get to pick each other's name!

This could be dangerous... 

In order to change your profile name, do you have to start a new account?  I'm down for whatever - call the ball.

No you just need to go to your account settings.  This should be fun!  Even though it is against my better judgement I will keep your new name within good taste! 

Ok, it's a deal.  Winner gets to pick the losers post pattern name until....the first CCIW game of 2008???

Done and Done! As long as you don't change my name to Go Thunder, I'dhate to be mistaken for that guy (world record holder for -K)! 
Good luck! 

[redman04]

Except this year, Michigan will win the Big 10.

I would bet on Ohio State over Michigan

Ok, you're on.  Loser has to change their post pattern screen name.  Deal?

Only if we get to pick each other's name!

This could be dangerous... 

In order to change your profile name, do you have to start a new account?  I'm down for whatever - call the ball.

No you just need to go to your account settings.  This should be fun!  Even though it is against my better judgement I will keep your new name within good taste! 

Ok, it's a deal.  Winner gets to pick the losers post pattern name until....the first CCIW game of 2008???

Done and Done! As long as you don't change my name to Go Thunder, I'dhate to be mistaken for that guy (world record holder for -K)! 
Good luck! 

-K for me... That was a little uncalled for, but again that little devil on my left shoulder spoke louder than the little angel on my right!  That seams to be a common thing!