FB: Midwest Conference

fulbakdad · September 10, 2016, 02:22:03 PM

Lake Forest out to a 14-0 lead with 5 left in the 1st. Went on a 4th and 1 from their own 30.... Nice...

fulbakdad · September 10, 2016, 03:18:55 PM

Lake Forest up 35-7 at half. Lake Forest with 400 yard of offense at the half....

Maverick · September 10, 2016, 05:22:26 PM

Final Score

Monmouth 29, Wartburg 22

Good weather and good crowd on both sides made for a nice atmosphere. Congrats to the Scots on the come from behind win!

cubs · September 10, 2016, 09:37:42 PM

Quote from: fulbakdad on September 09, 2016, 07:25:59 AM
What was a bigger story Saturday probably went unnoticed outside of the Lake Forest circle. Just prior to the season Lake Forest lost a Defensive Lineman Dj Baker who passed away due to a brain aneurism. This link is a great short video showing how the team dedicated Saturday, which was "Hero's Day", to DJ. On the first play on defense, Lake Forest lined up with 10 players leaving his spot vacant. Beloit ran the ball to that side and was stuffed at the line of scrimmage. For those who remember, kind of like when Beloit stuffed Lake Forest a couple years ago when we were thinking of our fellow poster the Roop who had just passed.

Anyways, worth a watch.....Should have been the play of the week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeDCvBjqLFY&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for sharing fulbakdad!!! +K!!

However, how in the heck did I miss the fact that The Roop had passed away?

fulbakdad · September 11, 2016, 07:39:17 AM

Shocked us all. He has a nephew that plays for Lake Forest. That's how I found out.,

gbpuckfan · September 12, 2016, 09:06:09 AM

I didn't get a chance to do every conference, but if my math is correct (and I was a communication major, so...)

MWC was 8-12 in out-of-conference non-conference games (it appears Beloit/Knox was a non-con game).

Including:
0-2 vs. WIAC
1-2 vs. MIAC
1-2 vs. IIAC

fulbakdad · September 12, 2016, 04:58:01 PM

I believe that Lake Forests first game against Beloit was also non conference....

gbpuckfan · September 12, 2016, 08:14:42 PM

Quote from: fulbakdad on September 12, 2016, 04:58:01 PM
I believe that Lake Forests first game against Beloit was also non conference....

Missed that, thanks... I was looking for the opponents from the other leagues.

So, 7-11. And SNC didn't help any. But LU did. Go figure.

And Beloit couldn't find anyone outside the MWC to play? What's with that? Rockford College is a stone's throw away. Create some sort of border line trophy or something... Just an idea...

Maverick · September 13, 2016, 12:22:36 AM

Quote from: scottie on September 07, 2016, 02:19:07 PM
Quote from: judgetrainer on September 07, 2016, 08:36:13 AM
Welcome to the MWC...

Quote from: fulbakdad on September 07, 2016, 07:25:59 AM
So the guy who covers the West Region does a cover story on a running back who didn't play this week (maybe it could have waited till he did play). Then accolades to the Monmouth "Two Headed Running Attack". And ignores the MWC Offensive player of the week and D3 Team of the week member who's numbers were just a tad south of the combined 2 Heads....

Geez, no respect I say, No respect!

Rule Number One: The Good Guys get preference on all news features until scottiesaysotherwise (tm).

Y E S . . . . . . . I ' M BACK ! ! ! !

scottie - You think f-dad is mad again this week???

Congrats to Matlick and Barnes on earning MWC Offensive and Defensive Performers of the Week! Roll Scots!

judgetrainer · September 14, 2016, 11:17:45 AM

MWC scheduling has struck me as odd for a few years now. The two division format made for a five game conference schedule (only those in the division mattered) but many schools were using other MWC teams to fill out two or three games. I suspect it is hard to find true non-conference opponents after the first three weeks of the year.

I commend SNC for taking on a pair of tough opponents. If they keep doing that it can only help them with playoff seeding if they improve their program. The Whitewater guys talk about how going to Mt. Union before WW was a contender changed their thinking. Still, the results show SNC is a really big fish in a really tiny football pond.

Long ago when I was a student at LU (and dinosaurs roamed, let me show you my AARP card, and get off my lawn) I recall they played three non-conference games and included a trip to Texas one year (I think it was Trinity). Budgets are a killer.

Pat Coleman · September 14, 2016, 03:00:26 PM

Quote from: judgetrainer on September 14, 2016, 11:17:45 AM
MWC scheduling has struck me as odd for a few years now. The two division format made for a five game conference schedule (only those in the division mattered) but many schools were using other MWC teams to fill out two or three games. I suspect it is hard to find true non-conference opponents after the first three weeks of the year.

I commend SNC for taking on a pair of tough opponents. If they keep doing that it can only help them with playoff seeding if they improve their program. The Whitewater guys talk about how going to Mt. Union before WW was a contender changed their thinking. Still, the results show SNC is a really big fish in a really tiny football pond.

Long ago when I was a student at LU (and dinosaurs roamed, let me show you my AARP card, and get off my lawn) I recall they played three non-conference games and included a trip to Texas one year (I think it was Trinity). Budgets are a killer.

It is indeed hard to find non-conference opponents later in the season. The MWC's non-conference weeks are Week 1 and 2, though, and basically everyone in the area is available for non-conference at that point. The constant change in the conference structure does make it a little more difficult to plan non-conference games, but Week 1 and 2 have been open for non-conference play for a few years now. Some choose to play completely insular schedules (Beloit) while others are choosing to add one non-conference game vs. a conference foe.

gbpuckfan · September 14, 2016, 10:20:34 PM

With the 12-team two divisions, I really liked the two-game north/south crossover. Half of the classes got to play 4 of the other 6 schools, while the other half that hit it staggered got to play all six. And that still left room for non-conference.

I was not a big fan of the not-play-everybody-round robin. But I guess it was good in that there was still a non-con game, but not having all head-to-head was odd and kinda sucked, IMO.

I get why more MWC schools don't play the WIAC. Let's face it, the state schools, even the bottom feeders, should beat MWC teams the vast majority of the time. But, as noted, a win by the MWC says a lot.

Pat is spot on that the changes in format has been a challenge, given how far out some scheduling is done. But I'd like think there are enough teams in WI, IL, MN and IA that Lawrence shouldn't have to go to SD to play a NAIA school.

Pat Coleman · September 14, 2016, 10:29:52 PM

I don't really fault Lawrence for trying to find a win, I guess. Grinnell, either. Tough times at those two programs.

judgetrainer · September 15, 2016, 09:05:24 AM

I can only speculate but I suspect Lawrence could not find someone willing to play them. As Pat said, hard times for a LONG time. A W against Lawrence for a rising program is not exactly exciting. If the recruiting continues and the kids stick around (last year they had 10 freshman this year they have 5 sophs) it will get better. And a new full AD might mean more expansive scheduling.

A man can, hope, right?

Pat Coleman · September 15, 2016, 10:20:35 AM

Quote from: judgetrainer on September 15, 2016, 09:05:24 AM
I can only speculate but I suspect Lawrence could not find someone willing to play them. As Pat said, hard times for a LONG time. A W against Lawrence for a rising program is not exactly exciting. If the recruiting continues and the kids stick around (last year they had 10 freshman this year they have 5 sophs) it will get better. And a new full AD might mean more expansive scheduling.

A man can, hope, right?

Actually, Lawrence had an agreement with Illinois Wesleyan that it pulled out of. IWU ended up having to play a team from Mexico in a game that doesn't even count. I am sure there was at least one team willing to play them.