FB: Midwest Conference

[MWCfan787]

SNCOLDAD:   you've alluded to snc injuries in 2008 many times...though last yr i knew many players well and asked many questions leading up to the game....they never mentioned anything in the scouting report about key injuries except 1 db i think

so this is my question:  To clear things up, what difference makers missed games because of injury last year?  and a follow up question to stir the pot...Do you feel like the green knights would have won conference last year if not for injuries, or at the very least did snc injuries make the Scots title last yr less legitimate?

other snc fans are welcome to answer

[sncfballfan]

MWC, name one team that doesn't have injuries during the year to vital members of the team, Monmouth included...it's part of the ups and downs of a season.

As a SNC alum, Monmouth had more firepower than the green knights last year and deserved the title...no need to stir that pot.  Look at the battles these two teams have had over the past 10 years and we could sit here all day and pick apart the "could of/should of..."

[SNCOLDAD]

I will not name any names. Not what I am willing to discuss on an open message board. But do I think SNC would have won conference last year without the injuries. Sure, why not? Do I think MC had just as good a chance. Absolutely. And I will also include Ripon in the mix. I believe that their game with MC was even closer than the SNC - MC game, but not sure. And you also asked for key players. That is also a very vague term. What you consider key vs. what I consider key very well could be different.

So you are not stirring the pot. MC won conference. I will not take anything away from that. I think in the past I have said that the game would have been a different game without the injuries. Not saying the Win Loss would have changed but I strongly feel the score would have been quite different.

[scots fan]

 sncoldad ,I saw the snc game against Monmouth last year and Monmouth dominated that game. SNC had no answer for them defensively . the other thing i saw in that game is without your qb breaking numerous tackles behind the line of scrimmage and turning them into substantial  gains the score would have been considerably worse . the game this year should be fun to watch and of course it being at MONMOUTH is a plus. OH  by the way i hope you shored your defense up   from last year because they will have a tall task stopping those top 18 returning offensive players on MONMOUTH this year. I think MONMOUTH put up 36 at snc last  year 1year older 1year more seasoned oh oh .

[SNCOLDAD]

You said it Scots Fan. 1 year more experience is huge for your offense. And hopefully for the SNC defense. Of course we are both assuming that there is no loss of personnel due to transfer, drop out, no more football, whatever. I am not familiar with this except for 2 years but I would think in D3 there is always a little fall out from above reasons.

You mention the home at Monmouth this year. Absolutely a strong advantage I think, especially this year. I would agree it would be an upset for SNC to take MC this year on their home field.

Another advantage you have this year is that SNC has a new Defensive Coach. No experience from last year in how to defend the Scots and that passing attack.

I am looking forward to the season and a great set of games all around.

[scots fan]

 very good observation SNCOLDAD the other  thing about the MONMOUTH offense you forgot to mention is they have a very good running attack. I truly believe MONMOUTH deserves their ranking in lindys poll .  the only question i have about MONMOUTH IS can they  replace those 7 they lost on defense. THEY do have however 2 all conference d ends and a all conference safety it is all about who steps up for them on defense. I do believe we are going to see some track meets    in the scoring department

[MWCfan787]

definitely agree on the Ripon thing....that game was much closer, and MC was a home.  monmouth still deserved it though cuz found a way to win in the final 2 mins i think in what was a perfect let-down situation cuz it was the very next week after snc, and that Ripon defense seemingly dominated snc according to the numbers

a new d coordinator for snc might be a good thing, cuz whatever they were running didn't work last yr with the athletes they had

nervous for the scots d against snc next yr though, as referred to before...berger had some WOW runs last yr as well as sims, and i think they are both back right?  without them two the game would've been over much earlier last yr.....i think ripon loses alot on offense and their best 2-3 players on D if i remember correctly, sounds like alot of rebuilding and doesn't worry me as much

[MWCfan787]

MWC football champion vegas odds

monmouth - 2 to 1
st. norbert - 5 to 1
ripon - 10 to 1
carroll - 30 to 1
lake forest - 80 to 1
beloit - 125 to 1
illinois college - 200 to 1
lawrence - 300 to 1
grinnell - 600 to 1
knox - 1000 to 1

i personally wouldn't waste 2 dollars on any of those odds cept Monmouth still.....because the $1998 i would make if I put 2 bucks on Knox would not be nearly enough consolation if I had to see the Prarie Fire holding the 2009 trophy

[bballer1280]

MWC football champion vegas odds

monmouth - 2 to 1
st. norbert - 5 to 1
ripon - 10 to 1
carroll - 30 to 1
lake forest - 80 to 1
beloit - 125 to 1
illinois college - 200 to 1
lawrence - 300 to 1
grinnell - 600 to 1
knox - 1000 to 1

i personally wouldn't waste 2 dollars on any of those odds cept Monmouth still.....because the $1998 i would make if I put 2 bucks on Knox would not be nearly enough consolation if I had to see the Prarie Fire holding the 2009 trophy

The odds listed above are very interesting to consider.  Basically, I would agree with the odds for the top six teams in particular.  Illinois College, Lawrence, and Grinnell are all about the same in my mind (time will tell).  These three schools will likely split against each other as Grinnell hosts Lawrence, Illinois College hosts Grinnell, and Lawrence hosts Illinois College (the home team will win each of these games in my opinion).  They each will beat Knox.  So, can one of these teams find a way to pull off and upset against one another or an upset of one of the likely top six MWC teams?  That is the question. 

I look for Grinnell to potentially be a tough out for both Illinois College and Lawrence (as well as being more competitive against the conference's more established football teams) based on the fact that Coach Hawsey has now brought in his second very good recruiting class (15 players) combined with last year's 18 returning sophomores.  Hawsey is a very good young coach and he has the players in this program excited and working hard.  They are building for the "long haul" at Grinnell and those 33 players recruited by Hawsey will become the foundation for an improved program beginning potentially as quickly as this fall.  Numbers are improving as Grinnell will have over 50 players on its roster for the first time in years.  Grinnell will become a competitive MWC football team in the years ahead.  I am not saying that they are a team that will eventually challenge for a conference championship.  But, I am saying that they will not be an "automatic win" and a conference "door mat" in the years ahead for those at the "top of the pack."

I agree that Knox will be the likely "cellar dweller" this year.

[DBQ1965]

MWC football champion vegas odds

monmouth - 2 to 1
st. norbert - 5 to 1
ripon - 10 to 1
carroll - 30 to 1
lake forest - 80 to 1
beloit - 125 to 1
illinois college - 200 to 1
lawrence - 300 to 1
grinnell - 600 to 1
knox - 1000 to 1

i personally wouldn't waste 2 dollars on any of those odds cept Monmouth still.....because the $1998 i would make if I put 2 bucks on Knox would not be nearly enough consolation if I had to see the Prarie Fire holding the 2009 trophy

How did you find out about the vegas odds?

[sncfballfan]

Stole this from the IIAC site...give us something to debate about with camp just a month away.  Let's see your pre-season picks.

Offense                                   Defense
QB:                                         Safeties:

RB:                                          CB:

WR:                                         LB:

TE:                                           D-Line:

O-Line:                                       

Drew Anderson, SNC 

Specials:
K:                                             P:

KR/PR:

[SNCOLDAD]

One can only hope. 

I could see the Punter repeating. Berger of SNC


GO GREEN KNIGHTS

[SNCOLDAD]

MWCfan787, your point about d coach is well taken. He has lots of films to study from past MWC games. But I wonder how much the opposing coaches will know about him and his schemes?   ???Interesting situation.

GO GREEN KNIGHTS

[MWCfan787]

MWC football champion vegas odds

monmouth - 2 to 1
st. norbert - 5 to 1
ripon - 10 to 1
carroll - 30 to 1
lake forest - 80 to 1
beloit - 125 to 1
illinois college - 200 to 1
lawrence - 300 to 1
grinnell - 600 to 1
knox - 1000 to 1

i personally wouldn't waste 2 dollars on any of those odds cept Monmouth still.....because the $1998 i would make if I put 2 bucks on Knox would not be nearly enough consolation if I had to see the Prarie Fire holding the 2009 trophy

How did you find out about the vegas odds?

completely made it up for fun

[SNCOLDAD]

MWCfan787............   EXCELLENT!