FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[cardinaldad]

Why isn't Phillip Rossberg playing more. He did a very admirable job running the ball last year. Especially when Sulo went down with an injury. He currently has a 4.8 yard/carry average (356 carries?). Mike Mucha is doing an ok job so far averaging about the same, but with far less carries. Rossberg deserves more carries. With his famed high school career and transferring from U of I and all, expecations are very high for Mucha. Like I said, he has performed ok, but Rossberg has hardly seen the field. IMO, he desrves more PT. Did they maybe promise PT to Mucha when he transferred? Remember last year, when the coaching staff tried as hard as they could to make Kniss the starter over Fanthorpe, when clearly, Fanthorpe deserved to be? It cost them the game against Wash U. last year.

Rossberg is out for the season with a knee injury.

REALLY? I did not know that! Thanks NCC.2008. I know he had some carries and did well against Ohio Northern, Benedictine and Olivet. What a shame! Do you know when and how it happened?

[cardinaldad]

I obviously second that.
Sorry, CD, as you said, it wasn't clear---at least to me.   

*Whats your take on all the recent penalties?

Back breaking and very uncharacteristic for a John Thorne coached team. I know it is not sitting well with him. He made the team aware of that last week. They paid for it. I'm not sure if it's discipline, playing both quarterbacks (different cadence), alternating centers, or what. But, I agree with you. If it continues, it will cost the Cards a game or more. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are just inexcusable. At least THAT was better against NPU.

[Carthage Fan]

What a great arch rivalry game in Carthage.  You could not have asked for a better environment or atmosphere at Carthage with the weather, a great turnout in the stands for both teams, a neat parade, and an exciting final 5:00 of the game.  Really exciting for both teams as even with 1:15 left, and Elmhurst up 29-26, Carthage still had a drive to try and tie/win it.

This game was won by the Elmhurst defense who all game long gave the (at times non existent) offense numerous opportunities to climb back into the game.  I think we had something like 4 yds rushing after 1 quarter and just a disaster on offense, yet at the half we were only down 14-7.  Carthage scored 14 points on our mistakes and turnovers to jump out to a big 3rd quarter lead.  I personally thought that was going to be the final straw that led to a route, however the defense came up big again.

Some thoughts for Elmhurst

1) Although he struggled many times during the game, Kudyba really stepped up to the plate when he had to, senior led his troops to a charismatic win.  He executed the offense well in that 4th quarter.

2) D'Angelo was very good and received most of the tosses, but I think it was Matt Long's catches that seemed to lift the Bluejays and continue their momentum.

3) The LB's  (Wright, Puzon, Jones) were all over the field today and when their names needed to be called, they were there. 

Some thoughts for Carthage

1) GREAT Linebackers and were noisy all game long too.  The LB's and D-Line really stymied the Jays offense for 3 + quarters.  IMO, they got a little fatigued in that 4th quarter.

2) Danny O'Donnell played great and was keeping D'Angelo in check.  When he went down that really opened up some doors of opportunity for Elmhurst on offense. 

IMO, this was a statement game for Elmhurst.  Not a statement to Carthage as much as a statement that just because we have a new coach, new regime, etc. we are not "way out in left field" in the conference.    This is 3 straight years EC has defeated their arch rivals.  I know the goal is to start beating the Wheaton's, Augie's, IWU's, more consistently but I think Lester and company have the Jays on the right direction. 
Personally, this was a great game to call on the air.  Tons of excitement, some great hits on the QB    and a great football Saturday.

Jaybird, we wrapped that one up in a pretty bow for you guys!     Did you get to the Carthage tailgate?  If you did, sorry I didn't see you.  Tailgater had the kabobs going too! 

[FormerCard]

Norris has wheaton at the augie 20 w 12 seconds left in half after a few completions. now at the 4 with 2.5 seconds left....what to do?

Fade route?

lol... No bitterness there from experience, eh?

Never bitter         

I also like the toss on the goal line,  pretty tough to stop.

[usee]

I obviously second that.
Sorry, CD, as you said, it wasn't clear---at least to me.   

*Whats your take on all the recent penalties?

Back breaking and very uncharacteristic for a John Thorne coached team. I know it is not sitting well with him. He made the team aware of that last week. They paid for it. I'm not sure if it's discipline, playing both quarterbacks (different cadence), alternating centers, or what. But, I agree with you. If it continues, it will cost the Cards a game or more. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are just inexcusable. At least THAT was better against NPU.

Really? The Naperville school had 9 penalties for 58 yds Saturday. Against ONU they had 10 for 88 and against millikin they had 11 for 104. For 2008 they have an average of almost 8 penalties a game for 70 yds.

For reference, in 2007 they had 101 penalties for 1,020 yds in 12 games or an average of 8.4 penalties a game for 85 yds.

looks like a pretty consistent pattern to me. 

[Mugsy]

Norris has wheaton at the augie 20 w 12 seconds left in half after a few completions. now at the 4 with 2.5 seconds left....what to do?

Fade route?

lol... No bitterness there from experience, eh?

Never bitter         

I also like the toss on the goal line,  pretty tough to stop.

I was posting in jest.  I seem to remember NCC throwing a fade on 4th down in a key game last year or the year before and NCC faithful strenuously objected to the call.

<modified for spelling>

[New Tradition]

I obviously second that.
Sorry, CD, as you said, it wasn't clear---at least to me.   

*Whats your take on all the recent penalties?

Back breaking and very uncharacteristic for a John Thorne coached team. I know it is not sitting well with him. He made the team aware of that last week. They paid for it. I'm not sure if it's discipline, playing both quarterbacks (different cadence), alternating centers, or what. But, I agree with you. If it continues, it will cost the Cards a game or more. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are just inexcusable. At least THAT was better against NPU.

Really? The Naperville school had 9 penalties for 58 yds Saturday. Against ONU they had 10 for 88 and against millikin they had 11 for 104. For 2008 they have an average of almost 8 penalties a game for 70 yds.

For reference, in 2007 they had 101 penalties for 1,020 yds in 12 games or an average of 8.4 penalties a game for 85 yds.

looks like a pretty consistent pattern to me. 

.I know that there are a fair amount of flags thrown on the Cards, and there are a couple of reasons for that, but usually not for unsportsmanlike conduct.  Especially 8 in a game or whatever the ridiculous number was during the Millikin game.  Thorne was not happy at all with the players after that one.

[usee]

New D3 poll is out.

Wheaton jumps 2 spots to #4
Naperville 1 spot to #8
Capital down to #9

[cardinaldad]

I obviously second that.
Sorry, CD, as you said, it wasn't clear---at least to me.   

*Whats your take on all the recent penalties?

Back breaking and very uncharacteristic for a John Thorne coached team. I know it is not sitting well with him. He made the team aware of that last week. They paid for it. I'm not sure if it's discipline, playing both quarterbacks (different cadence), alternating centers, or what. But, I agree with you. If it continues, it will cost the Cards a game or more. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are just inexcusable. At least THAT was better against NPU.

Really? The Naperville school had 9 penalties for 58 yds Saturday. Against ONU they had 10 for 88 and against millikin they had 11 for 104. For 2008 they have an average of almost 8 penalties a game for 70 yds.

For reference, in 2007 they had 101 penalties for 1,020 yds in 12 games or an average of 8.4 penalties a game for 85 yds.

looks like a pretty consistent pattern to me. 

The number of penaties is one thing. The critical times with which they happen in the game is another. No coach likes the mental errors. Again, unsportsmanlike is inexcusable. Against Millikin, a lot of the yards were not marched off because they were offsetting with Millikin's unsportsmanlike penalties.

[cardinaldad]

New D3 poll is out.

Wheaton jumps 2 spots to #4
Naperville 1 spot to #8
Capital down to #9

Great for Wheaton to jump two spots. I'm kind of surpised to see the Cards move up one.

[usee]

Its not surprising. The #4 team (Capital) lost badly (to #1 MUC) and everyone else earned more votes. Wheaton was 1 pt behind Muhlenberg last week and now is 3 pts ahead. Naperville gained votes from a week ago.

In two weeks it will sort itself out. 

[AndOne]

I obviously second that.
Sorry, CD, as you said, it wasn't clear---at least to me.   

*Whats your take on all the recent penalties?

Back breaking and very uncharacteristic for a John Thorne coached team. I know it is not sitting well with him. He made the team aware of that last week. They paid for it. I'm not sure if it's discipline, playing both quarterbacks (different cadence), alternating centers, or what. But, I agree with you. If it continues, it will cost the Cards a game or more. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are just inexcusable. At least THAT was better against NPU.

Really? The Naperville school had 9 penalties for 58 yds Saturday. Against ONU they had 10 for 88 and against millikin they had 11 for 104. For 2008 they have an average of almost 8 penalties a game for 70 yds.

For reference, in 2007 they had 101 penalties for 1,020 yds in 12 games or an average of 8.4 penalties a game for 85 yds.

looks like a pretty consistent pattern to me.

Ya, but here is the problem----

When you start with an unacceptably high level of penalties (especially for a top 8 in the country team), and you remain consistent at an unacceptable level, sooner or later chances are good that consistent level will bite you in the ass. Especially when the level of upcoming competition will be a step up from what they have previously faced.
The penalties need to come down.

[usee]

I agree its a high number of penalites. But, to clarify, my response was to the statement "...very uncharacteristic of a John Thorne coached team". That's simply not true. John Thorne's teams have been in the bottom half of the conference for number of penalties every year he has been the coach at Naperville. Last year they were last in the conference and this year they are 6th. (to be fair Wheaton has been worse 2x in the last 5 yrs.).

[cardinaldad]

Its not surprising. The #4 team (Capital) lost badly (to #1 MUC) and everyone else earned more votes. Wheaton was 1 pt behind Muhlenberg last week and now is 3 pts ahead. Naperville gained votes from a week ago.

In two weeks it will sort itself out. 

It should play out to be a great one regardless, but what a headliner if both teams show up undefeated. Not looking past Carthage, but I can't wait!!!

[usee]

If carthage turns it over 5 times in Naperville they will have no chance. You can bet on that.