FB: Midwest Conference

[scottie]

Hey, The Roop..... Latch on to some illegal wifi somewhere.  This is getting painful.   

[Purple Heys]

C'mon, stay focused. Don't let the IIAC residue bring you down.

Thus spake a member of the "mighty" MWC... 

[Purple Heys]

So yes, they know what it is.  lol.

While have no doubt you know what it is...My question was more rhetorical.  I can get BBQ here in San Diego, maybe even from a guy who used to live in Kansas City.  But can I really "get" BBQ in San Diego?  Transplanted native dishes just don't have the same impact as getting it at the source.  I have respect for the folks that have migrated to your area and brought some new cultural experiences...but there's more to it than that...it's the ingredients and where they come from.

So unless you have an Eddie's Carniceria - explanation not needed because you just know once you eat the C.A. from there - can you really "know"?

Once you sample this exclusive example of perfection on a tortilla right off the grill with cebollas and cilantro, lime, and La Constena Green Sauce you will know two things:  1) That you really didn't know Carne Asada before; and 2) That now you do.     

[fulbakdad]

Actually was stationed in Southern California for 6 years (at different times) while in the Marines.  I know what real carne asada is.  lol.

[doolittledog]

Actually was stationed in Southern California for 6 years (at different times) while in the Marines.  I know what real carne asada is.  lol.

Is fulbakdad on the right or the left???



fulbakdad to the poor sap that serves him bad carne asada..."You are the sorriest excuse, of all the sorriest excuses that has ever served me carne asada...now drop and give me 20"

I kid, I kid.  I'm ready for the season to start.  I'm curious to see how Cornell fairs in their return home to the MWC. 

[fulbakdad]

We are wondering too Doolittle.  Should be interesting.

Can't wait for the season to start.  They start practices in a month.

Does Cornell broadcast thier home games on the internet?  Last year, all of the games Lake Forest played were.  It gets expensive flying to Chitown for a football game. lol.  But we try to get to as many as we can afford.  Cramming in overtime now trying to get a cushion.

[Purple Heys]

Does Cornell broadcast thier home games on the internet?  Last year, all of the games Lake Forest played were.  It gets expensive flying to Chitown for a football game. lol.  But we try to get to as many as we can afford.  Cramming in overtime now trying to get a cushion.

Cornell does have webcasts of their games.  Link to www.cornellrams.com...click on the Live Webcast button.  The quality is hit or miss...unlike Dubuque's and Wartburg's both of which do a good job on their game webcasts.  (sigh)   

Sorry a brief moment of lament...that's all done now.  Go MWC!  Go Rams!

[Purple Heys]

Actually was stationed in Southern California for 6 years (at different times) while in the Marines.  I know what real carne asada is.  lol.

Would I presume correctly that you were at Pendleton?  I'm in O-side.   

[fulbakdad]

Pendleton, 29 Palms, and MCRD San Diego.

[TitanPride]

I'm on vacation this week, so I took some time to research each of the 11 MWC teams -- schedules, who graduated/returns, coaching changes, etc.  It's early, but I took a stab at making some projections.  This certainly isn't meant to be professional media guide or scouting report on all of the teams, just a fun, preseason exercise.  Please feel free to let me know if there are mistakes and where you agree/disagree.


Beloit
    2011 Season:  2-8 (2-7)
   Do not play Lake Forest.  Play Chicago in non-conference.
   Two new coordinators
   Lost Carrier (1st team All-conference), RB Stewart (2nd team), and QB Maughn, DB Salucci (2nd team)
   Carrier set all-time marks for catches (189), yards (3,111) and touchdowns (29).  Steward led the Buccaneers in rushing with 681 yards while scoring a team-best five touchdowns on the ground.  Salucci was second on the team in tackles with 73, including a team-high 51 solo, while tying for the team lead with three interceptions.
   During 2011, Buccaneers scored 24.6 points/game, while giving up 35.4.  Bucs gave up 210 yards of rushing/game.
   Dillion Hess (Sr.), who saw limited action at QB last year, may be in line for starting job.  Big kid – 6'4".  Will need to replace weapons around him.  Defense will also need big upgrades.

   Projection:  Could struggle big time on both sides of the ball. 

Carroll
   2011 Season:  7-3 (6-3)
   Do not play Monmouth.
   Graduated Dziewit, Linebacker, Defensive Player of the Year
   Also graduated, Beckstrand, 1st team All Conference Running back
   During 2011, Pioneers scored 30 points/game and gave up 24.5.
   Return two young QBs with game experience:  Ryan Young (Jr.) and Justin Butterfield (Soph).

   Projection: Pretty favorable schedule. Could contend for a conference title. 

Cornell
   2011 Season:  3-7 (1-7)** in IIAC
   Do not play Ripon.  Play Coe in non-conference
   Head coach is Vince Brautigam who is entering his 3rd season.  He turned around Dubuque's program prior to taking job at Cornell.  Last year's 3-7 record was the best for Cornell since 2003.
   Will return a 2nd team All-Conference corner in sophomore Myron Seabrook.
   In total, 16 starters are set to return including QB and leading rusher, Juan Flores (5'9" Jr.), and leading WR James Scully (6'5" JR). 
   In 2011, Rams scored only 15.7 points/game while allowing 38.3.  They turned it over 29 times.
   Program has announced an incoming class of 37 new players.

   Projection:  Big question mark.  Will have to score to compete with MWC's passing first teams.  Look to have solid coaching staff and nucleus of returning players. 

Grinnell
  2011 Season:  5-5 (4-5)
   Does not play Knox.  Plays Carleton in non-conference.
   Lost All Conference WRs Robert Seer and Robert Granera
   In 2011, Pioneers scored 27.3 points/game but gave up 31.9.
   Averaged only 70 yards on the ground per game
   Will return SR. QB Mike McCabe but need to add weapons around him.

   Outlook:  May take a step back. 

Illinois College
  2011 Season:  9-2 (8-1) Lost to Wabash in first round of Division III playoffs
   Does not play St. Norbert.  Plays Hanover in non-conference.
   Ranked 13th in Lindy's College Football Preview
   Return all starters from nation's 8th ranked offense except WR Brock Thompson
   In 2011, Blue Boys scored 42.8 points/game, while allowing 35.8.
   Defense was very susceptible to giving up yards, especially through the air.  Will have to replace some pieces from the defense including All Conference pick, safety Eric Fisher.

   Projection:   Offense should be dynamic again.  Should challenge for title. 

Knox
  2011 Season:  0-10 (0-9)
   Does not play Grinnell.  Plays Eureka in non-conference.
   Return preseason All American LB, Mike Hendrick, along with 3 other All MWC players from last year
   In 2011, Prairie Fire scored 21.5 points/game, while allowing a whopping 39.9.  Knox threw for only 160 yards per game.
   QB Drew Diaz returns for another year.

   Projection:  May be battling with Beloit to stay out of the MWC's basement again. 

Lake Forest
  2011 Season:  3-7 (3-6)
   Does not play Beloit.
   Jim Catanzaro, interim coach since the spring of 2009, was been named head coach during off-season.
   Lost senior leaders, WR Kevin Davis and Safety Luke Butts.
   Return 2nd team All Conference, QB Pete Scaffidi.  He threw for over 2,900 yards and 31 TDs last year.
   He will have some returning weapons in RB Al Mitchell and WR Austin Sobey.
   In 2011, Forresters scored 33.2 points/game but allowed 40.2. 
   Must improve rush D.  Lake Forest gave up nearly 200 yards on the ground/game last year.

   Outlook:  Look to make jump into conference's upper echelon. 

Lawrence
  2011 Season:  1-9 (1-8)
   Plays St. Norbert, but does not count as conference game for Lawrence.
   Mike Barthelmess promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach, taking over for Chris Howard who went 19-50 in his 7 seasons.
   In 2011, Vikings scored 23.1 points/game, while allowing way too many – 42.6.  They gave up 230 yards per game on the ground and had a talented but one-dimensional, pass only offense.
   Return talented QB Luke Barthelmess and WR Tyler Mazur.

   Projection:  Will need to shore up defense, but should have some offensive fire to be competitive.

Monmouth 
  2011 Season:  10-2 (9-0) Lost to St. Thomas in 2nd round of Division III playoffs
   Does not play Carroll.  Plays Coe in non-conference.
   Scots lose All-American QB, Alex Tanney, but should have a very capable replacement in Brit Wedekind.  As a sophomore, he completed 54% of his passes and threw for 160 yard/game, filling in for the injured All-American.
   In 2011, Scots scored an incredible 53.6 points/game, while the defense gave up 28.3.  Scots had a very potent passing game, but still ran for 220 yards/game, including Trey Yocum's 120 yards/game.  Defense forced 31 turnovers.
   Scots lost a lot of all conference performers on both sides of the ball.  Preston Lumzy, an all conference honoree as a freshman, will have to step up at his linebacker position

   Projection:  Should reload again to contend for another title/playoff berth.

Ripon
  2011 Season:  6-4 (5-4)
   Does not play Cornell.  Plays Wisconsin Lutheran in non-conference.
   In 2011, Redhawks scored 30.1 points/game, while giving up 25.8.  Ripon rushed for 337 yards /game and only turned the ball over 13 times.
   Graduated TJ Pierce, team's leading RB, and QB Matt Miller.  They accounted for 9 and 13 TD's, respectively. 
   Ripon does return fantastic kicker, preseason All American, Jacob Gahart.

   Outlook:  Special teams are important, but not promising when the kicker is the team's MVP.  May be a rebuilding year.

St. Norbert
2011   son:  7-3 (7-2)
   Does not play Illinois College.  Plays John Carroll in Ireland on August 31.
   Returns Joe Green, SR WR, who had 11 receiving TD's last year.
   Junior linebacker Adam Nitsche and junior defensive back Josh Vanden Heuvel were second-team selections.
   In 2011, Green Knights scored 28.3 points/game.  They had the league's best scoring defense, allowing only 16.1 points per game.  Run D only gave up 76 yards/game.
   Craig Fagan, the top running back last year, returns.
   Mike Fabrizio QB graduated as did back-up Kevin Hansen.  Could have questions at QB.  May need to rely heavily on D again.

   Projection:  How does offense perform?  Hard for D to bring it every week in pass happy MWC.

Projected Standings
Carroll 8-1 (9-1)
Illinois College 8-1 (9-1)
Monmouth 8-1 (8-2)
St. Norbert 7-2 (7-3)
Lake Forest 6-3 (7-3)
Ripon 4-5 (4-6)
Cornell 3-6 (3-7)
Lawrence 3-6 (3-7)
Grinnell 2-7 (3-7)
Knox 1-8 (2-8)
Beloit 0-9 (0-10)

[hickory_cornhusker]

I have a weird scenario that was brought up on a high school sports message board in Wisconsin for a high school conference but it could theoretically happen in the MWC. Say St. Norbert goes undefeated and Lawrence wins all of their games except St. Norbert. They both would finish 9-0. How would a tiebreaker work? St. Norbert went 1-0 against Lawrence but technically for conference games Lawrence didn't play St. Norbert.

[scottie]

I have a weird scenario that was brought up on a high school sports message board in Wisconsin for a high school conference but it could theoretically happen in the MWC. Say St. Norbert goes undefeated and Lawrence wins all of their games except St. Norbert. They both would finish 9-0. How would a tiebreaker work? St. Norbert went 1-0 against Lawrence but technically for conference games Lawrence didn't play St. Norbert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvOHbxBAEN8

[fulbakdad]

3 Weeks till camp.  Not looking forward to the Chicago drive!

lol

[Purple Heys]

Cornell
   2011 Season:  3-7 (1-7)** in IIAC
   Do not play Ripon.  Play Coe in non-conference
   Head coach is Vince Brautigam who is entering his 3rd season.  He turned around Dubuque’s program prior to taking job at Cornell.  Last year’s 3-7 record was the best for Cornell since 2003.
   Will return a 2nd team All-Conference corner in sophomore Myron Seabrook.
   In total, 16 starters are set to return including QB and leading rusher, Juan Flores (5’9” Jr.), and leading WR James Scully (6’5” JR). 
   In 2011, Rams scored only 15.7 points/game while allowing 38.3.  They turned it over 29 times.
   Program has announced an incoming class of 37 new players.

   Projection:  Big question mark.  Will have to score to compete with MWC’s passing first teams.  Look to have solid coaching staff and nucleus of returning players. 

Well produced Titan +K for the effort.  Not that I am the MWC's Cornell Correspondent, but I can at least add a couple of tidbits to your assessment.

Perhaps it's the biggest positive impact to Cornell is NOT playing in one of D3's Black and Blue Conferences, the IIAC, where the Rams' roster size was insufficient to support the attrition that comes with playing in such a conference.  How many wins does that translate into moving to the MWC is anybody's guess, but I would expect the Rams won't suffer as many second half swoons as I saw in the years of IIAC play I witnessed.  Maybe that's worth 1 or 2 more wins.

As for key players, the Rams also get back Coach Brautigams' son at free safety, he's a good ballplayer.  He was lost to injury last season.  They also return a Starting QB for only the second time in 6 years...We'll see if that means anything.  The Rams had trouble stopping the run and couldn't run the ball when they had to...but that was against IIAC teams geared for that type of play.

I would imagine the Rams come into the MWC with a lot of confidence that the playing field is somewhat more level when they take the field.  And I hope that the coaches instill the proper level of respect for their opponents...the MWC had 2 playoff teams last year.  The MWC has been picking up its level of competitiveness and Cornell will get its collective asses beat every game if they don't come ready to play.  I am hopeful for a 5-5 season as that would tend to validate the move.

Personally, I was disappointed they left the IIAC, but there comes that time where you reach the difference between being persistent or being too dumb to quit.

[Ash Park]

+K to Tp as well. Pretty spot on with your review of the Cornell program.

Heys I would also add that Cornell has increased their roster size to 76 players which will only help them going into the MWC. It would have helped them in the IIAC for reasons you mentioned earlier about lack of depth and the IIAC being more of bruising style of play. Just a few years ago Cornell was down to around 50 players and when the injury bug hit they were below 50 at one point. You will not be successful in any conference with those numbers anymore. That staff has done a tremendous job of recruiting. The last time Cornell had over 70 players on the roster was 2001-2003 fyi.

Cornell must improve their line play on both sides of the ball and take care of the ball on offense. They have some pretty dang good skill kids in my opinion but the line play has been subpar and also not very deep. Hopefully with the roster increasing in size they have gotten some good kids for the line.

I was also in favor of staying in the IIAC but that is no offense to the MWC as the conference has stepped up their level of play. Cornell will certainly have to come to play every Saturday and I am excited to see how we fair against new competition.