FB: Midwest Conference

[gbpuckfan]

updated standings

Carroll  2-0
Ripon  2-0
Grinnell  1-1
Beloit  1-1 
Illinois College  1-1 
Lawrence  1-1  
Monmouth  1-1 
St. Norbert  1-1 
Knox  0-2 
Lake Forest  0-2

[Redhawk Sighting]

Carrol and Ripon at Ripon this Saturday.  After that game, there will be only 1 with 0 Losses...  Big game!!!

[blu thru n thru]

Thanks blu. Congrats. Has to be one of the fastest, if not the fastest to 200 in history.  

Don't know if that's a compliment, or not...

[The Roop]

Carroll @Ripon should be the game of the week. I'm near tears right now but if you are a Beloit fan you must root for Ripon       

[Redhawk Sighting]

If you're a Beloit fan you should ALWAYS be a Ripon fan, gives you something to look forward too... 

[The Roop]

This may be more of a basketball thing but I once asked JeffP "What would you do if you needed a Ripon win for Grinnell to make the playoffs ?" He said cry. I agreed if the same scenario involved Beloit.

[blu thru n thru]

Well, I'm back from my trip to J-Ville.  My return to Texas raised the average IQ of both states...

What a great experience and time.  What I witnessed only bolstered my enthusiasm for the coming years.  The off-field spirit is matching the youth movement on the field.  We had a great tailgating experience.  The spirit and support for the program is growing.  It's going to do nothing but improve the recruiting and performance of the team for the years to come. 

One thing was kinda funny.  Apparently one of the coaches reads the board.  When I walked up on the Friday walk-thru, I see this big dude walking toward me.  It's one of the coaches.  He gets to about 10' away and says "Blu Thru and Thru!".  He said he just had to meet me.  Problem is, now my wife knows of my guilty pleasure...  I guess I gotta be careful what I say now.

The game was good.  When we were focused, we dominated.  Particularly on the ground.  It's my opinion that after the first drive, we let up a little.  Same in the second half.  Of course, that could've been the D getting stuff figured out, too.  I have some other observations, but my comments may be being monitored. 

But in summary, my first MWC game was a blast.  The level of play was very good.  My son is in the right place.  He's being brought along well, and getting the first coaching in his career.  The families I met were great.  No high school political BS!  Just folks enthusiastically supporting Blueboy football.  I think they'll have a lot to cheer about in the coming years.  For the rest of yall in the MWC, get your shots in now!  Blueboy Nation is on the rise!!!

[SNCOLDAD]

blu, I was wondering how long it would take for a coach to approach you. Mine came very early in the freshman year but went through my son. The coach very nicely let him know I was out there and my son delivered the message.

In fact this past weekend after our game, one of the coaches brought up your name to me. You are becoming quite the celebrity out there. 

[scottie]

Speaking of coaches, congrats to Coach Bell for becoming the winningest football coach at Monmouth College!  (I never thought I would be so relieved with a win over Lawrence!)   

And, I think the aforementioned JeffP knows a thing or two about coaches reading the board and could perhaps tell a cautionary tale - huh Roop?

[Moncolfan]

well the old Scots showed up for a quarter at least! Just wondering maybe if Mr. Football with his inside knowledge and expertise has a spread for the game on Saturday vs IC.

[badgerwarhawk]

What a great experience and time.  What I witnessed only bolstered my enthusiasm for the coming years.  The off-field spirit is matching the youth movement on the field.  We had a great tailgating experience.  The spirit and support for the program is growing.  It's going to do nothing but improve the recruiting and performance of the team for the years to come.

I love your enthusiasm, I really do.  But I'm curious to know how the tailgating experience is going to improve recruiting and performance on the field. 

[blu thru n thru]

Celebrity, eh?  More like the lone idiot beating a drum nobody can really hear.  I'm doing what I can with what I have to work with.  "Celebrity", to the extent it is available on this board, comes when you're words ring true.  IC has a ways to go before I have the ammo to go from "rant & rhetoric" to a real contributor with words to be taken seriously.  But two things.  1) It's coming.  2) Y'all will rue the day that it does!  

Honestly, I see a little bit of Mack Brown in Campbell's approach.  His attention to all the details (on and off the field) shows an understanding that it's in those details that programs advance.  Oh, and I'm not just saying that b/c they may be reading it.  It's a common sentiment of all the parents we met this weekend.

Blueboy Nation is on the Rise!!!!

[blu thru n thru]

Hawk- Meaning absolutely no disrespect, I'm surprised that you'd not get that.  Fan support, enthusiastic administrative support, a more energetic gameday experience are all components in making yourself (the program) more attractive to potential recruits. Spirit and creating a program that is worthy of taking pride in, is beneficially symbiotic to on field success.   Though less tangible, spirit, support, and enthusiasm impact winning.   Winning programs are more attractive to potential players (call me Captain Obvious).  There is a lot of intangible synergy in developing a program.  A charismatic coach, with the above ammo, is a big part too.  My observation is that the growing enthusiasm for IC football is somewhat new.  Though that's based on limited exposure...  But take me at my word that the spirit at IC is VERY MUCH on the rise!

I have spent time with Mack Brown.  The man flat out gets it.  There is no more charismatic a coach in the NCAA, period.  And that's a big part.  I'm not comparing Campbell to Mack Brown, but Campbell gets it, too.  He's also a good salesman, selling a good, and fast improving, product. Mack Brown's attention to every detail has created, inarguably, a recruiting juggernaut, and the NCAA's most powerful program.  Campbell is paying attention to this as well.  Again, please don't think I'm comparing IC to UT.  Nor am I saying that's Campbell's model.  But to study Brown's blueprint is to learn that development is ALL in the details. And, ultimately, the best answer to your question.

[larry_u]

This may be more of a basketball thing but I once asked JeffP "What would you do if you needed a Ripon win for Grinnell to make the playoffs ?" He said cry. I agreed if the same scenario involved Beloit.

I'd rather miss the playoffs......

[tm343407]

Hawk- Meaning absolutely no disrespect, I'm surprised that you'd not get that.  Fan support, enthusiastic administrative support, a more energetic gameday experience are all components in making yourself (the program) more attractive to potential recruits. Spirit and creating a program that is worthy of taking pride in, is beneficially symbiotic to on field success.   Though less tangible, spirit, support, and enthusiasm impact winning.   Winning programs are more attractive to potential players (call me Captain Obvious).  There is a lot of intangible synergy in developing a program.  A charismatic coach, with the above ammo, is a big part too. 

Agree 110%