FB: Midwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

It is disappointing -- both teams have a corresponding open date: today.

[The Roop]

True but nothing was mentioned on the Lake Forest website about Sundays being an option; so I excluded today.

[Moncolfan]

Hard one to take if your a MC fan.  Can't help but think the difference in this game was 4 big plays. If any of the 4 don't happen I really think MC wins. But you have to give credit to Wartburg because they made them and MC didn't.  I really thought MC had a chance to put this game away both in the first half and early in the second half but they settled for field goals and then fumbled when it appeared they were going  to go up by 13. Other than one drive MC's defense was really dominated Wartburg in the first half and for part of the second but Wartburg's QB made some great throws under pressure. It appeared Wartburg did make some adjustments and were able to run the ball when they absolutely had to in the 4th quarter. The reverse on 4th and 6th really was a great call by the coach. Wartburgs d really step it up after getting the turnover so once again give them credit.  All I can say is I hope Wartburg is really a top ten club because if they are I believe MC is right there with them.  Good luck to Wartburg the rest of the season.

[fulbakdad]

I don't agree with the post that Lake Forest and Concordia should have played the rest of the game today.  Even though the game was stopped before the half, both teams were playing and hitting hard.  To have them both come back the next day would have been asking for guys who really needed a break to compete again at game level.  Asking for uneeded injuries for a Non-Conference game.....  I agree with the coaches with that call. 

[Pat Coleman]

Well, another game did it today and it's been done in the past. I just hate to see kids not get a chance to play the few games that D-III rules allow.

[Kilts and Bagpipes]

Tough weekend.  Monmouth up 20-14 at half and opens up with a great drive.  Fumbles on the Warburg 5 and then Wartburg runs to the same play to the same side twice for two basically two scores.  One touchdown and another to the 1 yard line.  I found it odd that the best player in Division III was minimized by the offensive playcalling.  Monmouth could have pushed it down the field plenty, but they dipped and dunked and got to 4th down very quickly on a few drives.  Then when they had to go deep at the end of the game and Wartburg was in a prevent defense (well, prevent-like coverage) Tanney picks apart the offense and they go the length of the field in a minute.  Now I know that you have to even out the game with short and long and running, but it seemed as though they could have pushed it a little more down field.  Anyway, my real concern is after the rain delay.  They have a 2.5 hour delay with a chance to set up a game tying drive and the first two plays are a quick out and a draw.

I think the better team physically was Monmouth.  The team that took advantage of their opportunities and all around played a better football game was Wartburg.  I know this for sure.  The weapons in the Monmouth offense are looking good and there are going to be some beatings in the MWC this year.  I think this game will be a great experience builder for the Scots and there is a good shot that these two teams could meet in the Playoffs.

On to Grinnell...will Tanney come back with a vengence after being knocked out by Grinnell last year.

And is there a better natural turf then at Grinnell?  They do still have natural grass don't they?

[scottie]

As I do a little bean counting, it appears that both Wartburg and Monmouth moved up in the rankings - Wartburg up 1 spot to #14 and Monmouth up 4 spots to #34 (from receiving 10 votes to 15).  Still would have greatly preferred a "W" and cracked the Top 25, of course, but at least the Scots are still on the voters' radar.

And as for Tanney's rematch with Grinnell, I hope it goes something like this....  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvepAotTZPQ&feature=related   

[wartknight]

As I do a little bean counting, it appears that both Wartburg and Monmouth moved up in the rankings - Wartburg up 1 spot to #14 and Monmouth up 4 spots to #34 (from receiving 10 votes to 15).  Still would have greatly preferred a "W" and cracked the Top 25, of course, but at least the Scots are still on the voters' radar.

And as for Tanney's rematch with Grinnell, I hope it goes something like this....  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvepAotTZPQ&feature=related   

Not a fan of the movie, but I got a good laugh out of that scene!! Similar to Peyton Manning on SNL when he was throwing passes to the kids on the playground. He joked that those were some of his best throws ever as he was throwing nerf balls that actually had the foam removed from the middle!

Good luck to the Scots this weekend

[Yupstate]

Last year, week 1, was "upset" weekend in the MWC.. Beloit beat St. Norbert without Coach Purtill, Grinnell destroyed Monmouths season hopes, Lawrence over Knox, Carroll over IC, and Ripon mauled the Foresters... Will the MWC be topsy-turvy again in '11?

Any "predictions" or "guarantees?"

Is this the only chance for a Knox or Lawrence victory?

Will anyone match Ripon's 60+points from a year ago?

[Redhawk Sighting]

Last year, week 1, was "upset" weekend in the MWC.. Beloit beat St. Norbert without Coach Purtill, Grinnell destroyed Monmouths season hopes, Lawrence over Knox, Carroll over IC, and Ripon mauled the Foresters... Will the MWC be topsy-turvy again in '11?

Any "predictions" or "guarantees?"

Is this the only chance for a Knox or Lawrence victory?

Will anyone match Ripon's 60+points from a year ago?

Yupstate - I understand you are new to the board and conference, but Ripon beating the Foresters was not an upset.....  The only upsets that accured that week was Norbs, Monmouth and MAYBE LU(but i'm not sure anyone cared about that came).  Just an FYI for you.  I'll be heading to Lake Forest this weekend to watch the RC vs LF game.  It's supposed to be great weather..  Anyone going to be there?

[fulbakdad]

I'll be at the Lake Forest game.  There's going to be some stuff paying tribute to Servicemen (Semper Fi Marines!) and Responders (Police, Fire, etc).

Looking forward to it.

[KnoxOnTheRise]

I know no one asked, and nobody probably cares, but the Knox-WashU game was actually a decent game. The Knox defense forced 5 fumbles and recovered 4, we look really fast and fly around to the ball bu as been our problem in the past, we have very poor pass defense, especially in the red zone. The game may have been a lot closer if it were not for our 5 turnovers, 2 of which were on special teams (the other 3 interceptions, one on 4th down late in the 4th quarter). Our receivers looked really good, we had no dropped passes and some pretty impressive catches. It is the first year in the few years I have been following the team where we are at least 2 players deep at practically every skill position on offense. Our O-line is pretty young (1 senior starter, 2 junior, 2 sophomores) but didn't look out-matched by any means. Too many poor decisions at QB and poor red zone pass defense made this game look worse than it actually was. I was very happy with what I saw from the team on week 1 and really do believe we have an opportunity to put a few notches in the win column this year.

[Pat Coleman]

That's alright -- nobody needs to ask for you to tell what you saw at a D-III game! Keep posting.

[scottie]

I know no one asked, and nobody probably cares, but the Knox-WashU game was actually a decent game. The Knox defense forced 5 fumbles and recovered 4, we look really fast and fly around to the ball bu as been our problem in the past, we have very poor pass defense, especially in the red zone. The game may have been a lot closer if it were not for our 5 turnovers, 2 of which were on special teams (the other 3 interceptions, one on 4th down late in the 4th quarter). Our receivers looked really good, we had no dropped passes and some pretty impressive catches. It is the first year in the few years I have been following the team where we are at least 2 players deep at practically every skill position on offense. Our O-line is pretty young (1 senior starter, 2 junior, 2 sophomores) but didn't look out-matched by any means. Too many poor decisions at QB and poor red zone pass defense made this game look worse than it actually was. I was very happy with what I saw from the team on week 1 and really do believe we have an opportunity to put a few notches in the win column this year.

Thanks, KOTR.  It's been a rough week and I needed a good chuckle.     But, seriously, I hope we're both undefeated (in MWC) heading into Turkey Week.  Don't look past Lawrence in anticipation of the SNC showdown, however.

[larry_u]

Vote on the name for the new Ripon mascot...

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/riponmascot

the choices are:
Ruckus
Ready
Rudy
Rip
Rally

Alliteration is alive and well in Ripon...

All kinda lame, but I guess I shouldn't expect much more from a bunch of Ripon students.....

I agree it's lame, but I love how the only come back that a LU player/fan has is about academics, if you want to talk academics, then start a D3 Scholastic board, otherwise, stick to sports.

This will be one of the rare times you will hear me say this, but good luck Monmouth and Norbs...

I know where my bread is buttered.  We suck at football.  Hopefully once basketball season starts again we will be back to a level where we are both better at learning and scoring then Ripon once again.