FB: Midwest Conference

Kilts and Bagpipes · August 18, 2011, 02:02:30 PM

Stretch.....Yawn....ahhhh...

Its football season again. Good to get back on here and do a little time wasting at work.

Monmouth looks to have a rebounding season. Blodgett back at reciever, Tanney back at QB...a good portion of the Defense back. I think that it will be a battle at the top and the winner could have a 1 loss season. Here's to no major injuries around the conference and some good football weather.

The Roop · August 18, 2011, 03:44:11 PM

scottie you were close to bringing back BTNT but we all know that Texas doesn't have any real BBQ anyway.

Moncolfan · August 18, 2011, 04:24:25 PM

wow I can't believe that 5 coaches in the MWC think Tanney is going to get hurt again! By the way Blu isn't coming back from where he is at.

hazzben · August 19, 2011, 11:59:25 AM

Quote from: hickory_cornhusker on August 18, 2011, 01:32:39 PM
Quote from: scottie on August 18, 2011, 12:43:01 PM
Quote from: larry_u on August 17, 2011, 03:55:42 PM
Poll's Out

1    St. Norbert (5)    76
2    Monmouth (3)    74
3    Ripon (1)    68
t4    Carroll    51
t4    Illinois C.    51
6    Beloit    42
7    Grinnell    37
8    Lake Forest    23
t9    Lawrence    14
t9    Knox    14

http://www.midwestconference.org/news/2011/8/17/FB_0817113634.aspx

Anyone surprised, based on this, that the Green Knights are not receiving any votes in the top 25? Is this the year that the MWC could/should have two teams receiving votes? Monmouth is currently unranked with 10 votes. Hopefully they skyrocket after the Wartburg game.

It won't matter for St. Norbert. They'll have an early season loss after the St. Thomas game. It will be a good loss so there is a chance they could climb into the Top 25 if they rack up a bunch of wins with the only loss being to a Top 5/10

Both the Wartburg and St. Thomas game could definitely be big for Monmouth and SNC. If either team wins their game, they're definitely in the top 25 IMO. If either loses in a close competitive game, they likely start creeping towards getting into the rankings.

Even more interesting (though I don't see it happening) if they both won these key non-con matchups and then went undefeated the rest of the way (with the obvious exception of their head to head matchup for one team) the MWC might even get a pool C bid. For that to happen, I think you'd still need either (if not both) Wartburg and St. Thomas to bounce back and win the IIAC and MIAC auto bid.

All in all, I think the Wartburg - Monmouth is the most likely to go either way. At least on paper. St. Thomas loses a lot on defense, but they bring back a ton of talent on offense and they've got some really incredible depth that should allow them to reload where they graduated guys. This'll be a tougher matchup for SNC.

scottie · August 20, 2011, 08:35:01 PM

Careful, Hazzben. If you mention MWC and Pool C in the same sentence too many times, PC will take you down.....

hazzben · August 20, 2011, 11:10:44 PM

Quote from: scottie on August 20, 2011, 08:35:01 PM
Careful, Hazzben. If you mention MWC and Pool C in the same sentence too many times, PC will take you down.....

Well, like I said, I don't see it happening or think it's necessarily likely. But if there was ever a year where the non-con matchups provide at least the possibility, it'd be this year. Your top two preseason teams play #15 and #5 in the preseason poll, both from strong conferences. If you won both and they went on to win the MIAC and IIAC I'd say you'd be in an unusually good position for pool C. Especially given that the West Region committee would probably be more inclined to give you the regional ranking requisite to earn a pool C.

But, that's also a whole lot of 'ifs' with a whole lot of football left to be played

warthog · August 21, 2011, 12:24:44 AM

Quote from: hazzben on August 20, 2011, 11:10:44 PM
Quote from: scottie on August 20, 2011, 08:35:01 PM
Careful, Hazzben. If you mention MWC and Pool C in the same sentence too many times, PC will take you down.....

Well, like I said, I don't see it happening or think it's necessarily likely. But if there was ever a year where the non-con matchups provide at least the possibility, it'd be this year. Your top two preseason teams play #15 and #5 in the preseason poll, both from strong conferences. If you won both and they went on to win the MIAC and IIAC I'd say you'd be in an unusually good position for pool C. Especially given that the West Region committee would probably be more inclined to give you the regional ranking requisite to earn a pool C.

But, that's also a whole lot of 'ifs' with a whole lot of football left to be played

I think hazzbeen is on to something. I am very concerned about the Monmouth/Wartburg opener. If anybody can carry a team on his shoulders, it is Tanney. Having to play the Scots right out of the chute is a tough assignment for the Knights. This isn't the same defense that beat him up at Wartburg last fall. There are holes to fill and we all know it takes a few games for a new defensive group to be operating on the same page.

Moncolfan · August 22, 2011, 11:08:56 AM

This game is shaping up to be exactly like last year's game except the roles are reversed. Monmouth is definitely going to be better across the board than they were last year. Wartburg is rated based on last years team but is going on the road and I think that will be the difference. Monmouth's o-line will be the key to this game, if they protect Tanney MC wins this one by more than one score.

Maverick · August 22, 2011, 11:55:30 AM

Coach Campbell in a little bit of trouble for texting...

http://www.galesburg.com/sports/x919545689/Illinois-College-football-coach-suspended-for-violating-texting-rule

scottie · August 22, 2011, 02:30:06 PM

Somebody find out if those texts were to/from Texas!!

skunks_sidekick · August 23, 2011, 09:02:24 AM

I think this is a case of the NCAA being behind the times regarding technology. So you can CALL a kid on his cell as much as you want, but you can't text him? Although, upon reflection I guess that would limit the contact because I know of few kids that actually ANSWER their cell phones (yes I have a teenager)!

Maverick · August 23, 2011, 11:55:20 AM

Here's the link to the story on a different newspaper website. This one has more detail than the other.

http://www.sj-r.com/localcolleges/x1837753223/Illinois-College-football-coach-suspended-for-violating-texting-rule

PS - Good call scottie!

scottie · August 23, 2011, 12:20:45 PM

"Illinois College......the Miami Hurricanes of the Midwest."

Pat Coleman · August 23, 2011, 04:39:19 PM

Quote from: skunks_sidekick on August 23, 2011, 09:02:24 AM
I think this is a case of the NCAA being behind the times regarding technology. So you can CALL a kid on his cell as much as you want, but you can't text him? Although, upon reflection I guess that would limit the contact because I know of few kids that actually ANSWER their cell phones (yes I have a teenager)!

Yes, because you can refuse a phone call but you can't refuse a text.

There are always discussions among the membership on rules, though, and this does come up for debate. Maybe not in a formal setting, as in voting on the floor at the convention, but it's talked about.

fulbakdad · August 23, 2011, 08:23:29 PM

So we're a week and a 4 days from the first game. I know I'm new to the board, but I've heard good things comming from the Lake Forest Camp. I'm sure there's good things around the League, but maybe there might be change in the Midwest! Looking forward to the first kickoff.

Go Foresters!