FB: Midwest Conference

[WW]

Two games loom large opening weekend and could have plenty to say about eventual MWC playoff representation. One is Wheaton at Monmouth. Wheaton (32-7 winner last year) was 8-2 last season and just missed a pool C slot. The other is Wash U StL (24-17 winner last year) at Chicago. Wash U also a near playoff miss last year.

MWC getting two playoff representatives is always gonna be a long throw... but winning these two would be a major step toward opening that door.

For the MWC to get two teams, they would both need to go through the regular season undefeated, beat a ranked team from another conference along the way, the loser of the title games does so by one possession, the WIAC runnerup has at least two losses, the moon is in the house of Venus, a Canadian team needs to have won the previous Stanley Cup, the Lions and Browns have to have met in the most recent Super Bowl, Congress has passed a balanced budget - and, just maybe - the price of stamps has to go down. 

Maybe getting the MWC winner to HOST a playoff game is a more reasonable goal....

Hey, pal, if I were interested in "reasonable" discourse I wouldn't be here 

But the larger fly in my two-team ointment is this: SNC and Monmouth play each other in a non-conference game Sept 28. Somebody will lose that game, and bring at least one loss to the MWC final (Chicago, potentially, messes this scenario up, as could LF or Ripon, but that's a different argument). Given SNC's schedule, the path to them hosting a playoff game, even undefeated, almost doesn't exist. Their best win would be Monmouth. The path to them gaining pool C entry at 9-1 with a loss in the MWC final... well, that's a tougher one yet. Again, their best win would be Monmouth, in September.

Monmouth, on the other hand, gets some cred from their NC schedule. A 10-0 Monmouth team would potentially have four or five quality wins and IMO gets serious host consideration. A 9-1 MWC-final loser could make a case for pool C inclusion (provided SNC is also 9-1, with only loss to Monmouth).

Bottom line is these NC games have huge playoff implications. Monmouth's schedule certainly presents it with opportunity to dictate its postseason, moreso than the Knights.

[fulbakdad]

It's GAME DAY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gbpuckfan]

Two games loom large opening weekend and could have plenty to say about eventual MWC playoff representation. One is Wheaton at Monmouth. Wheaton (32-7 winner last year) was 8-2 last season and just missed a pool C slot. The other is Wash U StL (24-17 winner last year) at Chicago. Wash U also a near playoff miss last year.

MWC getting two playoff representatives is always gonna be a long throw... but winning these two would be a major step toward opening that door.

For the MWC to get two teams, they would both need to go through the regular season undefeated, beat a ranked team from another conference along the way, the loser of the title games does so by one possession, the WIAC runnerup has at least two losses, the moon is in the house of Venus, a Canadian team needs to have won the previous Stanley Cup, the Lions and Browns have to have met in the most recent Super Bowl, Congress has passed a balanced budget - and, just maybe - the price of stamps has to go down. 

Maybe getting the MWC winner to HOST a playoff game is a more reasonable goal....

Hey, pal, if I were interested in "reasonable" discourse I wouldn't be here 

But the larger fly in my two-team ointment is this: SNC and Monmouth play each other in a non-conference game Sept 28. Somebody will lose that game, and bring at least one loss to the MWC final (Chicago, potentially, messes this scenario up, as could LF or Ripon, but that's a different argument). Given SNC's schedule, the path to them hosting a playoff game, even undefeated, almost doesn't exist. Their best win would be Monmouth. The path to them gaining pool C entry at 9-1 with a loss in the MWC final... well, that's a tougher one yet. Again, their best win would be Monmouth, in September.

Monmouth, on the other hand, gets some cred from their NC schedule. A 10-0 Monmouth team would potentially have four or five quality wins and IMO gets serious host consideration. A 9-1 MWC-final loser could make a case for pool C inclusion (provided SNC is also 9-1, with only loss to Monmouth).

Bottom line is these NC games have huge playoff implications. Monmouth's schedule certainly presents it with opportunity to dictate its postseason, moreso than the Knights.

Yes, I would agree that given the strength of the non-con games, Monmouth has a better chance at a higher seed. But obviously I hope  that doesn't happen

[fulbakdad]

Lake Forest up 14=7 at the half over Wisconsin Lutheran.  Offense looks fluid and dynamic so far.  Degman seems to be a diamond hidden in his first start as a senior at QB.  Defense looks solid so far.  Could be a bigger spread so far.....

[fulbakdad]

Lake Forest wins 27-15 over Wisconsin Lutheran.  Could have been a bigger spread.  Strong game by Senior Billy Degnan at QB, but at times he forced some throws.  On defense, Jordan Mcinerney is a BEAST!  3 1/2 sacks, controlled the line of scrimmage.  Good game by both running backs, Stone Mathews and Alex Adems.  Offense was fluid and dynamic tonight.  Lake Forest pretty much in control of the game.

[WW]

Two games loom large opening weekend and could have plenty to say about eventual MWC playoff representation. One is Wheaton at Monmouth. Wheaton (32-7 winner last year) was 8-2 last season and just missed a pool C slot. The other is Wash U StL (24-17 winner last year) at Chicago. Wash U also a near playoff miss last year.

MWC getting two playoff representatives is always gonna be a long throw... but winning these two would be a major step toward opening that door.

For the MWC to get two teams, they would both need to go through the regular season undefeated, beat a ranked team from another conference along the way, the loser of the title games does so by one possession, the WIAC runnerup has at least two losses, the moon is in the house of Venus, a Canadian team needs to have won the previous Stanley Cup, the Lions and Browns have to have met in the most recent Super Bowl, Congress has passed a balanced budget - and, just maybe - the price of stamps has to go down. 

Maybe getting the MWC winner to HOST a playoff game is a more reasonable goal....

Hey, pal, if I were interested in "reasonable" discourse I wouldn't be here 

But the larger fly in my two-team ointment is this: SNC and Monmouth play each other in a non-conference game Sept 28. Somebody will lose that game, and bring at least one loss to the MWC final (Chicago, potentially, messes this scenario up, as could LF or Ripon, but that's a different argument). Given SNC's schedule, the path to them hosting a playoff game, even undefeated, almost doesn't exist. Their best win would be Monmouth. The path to them gaining pool C entry at 9-1 with a loss in the MWC final... well, that's a tougher one yet. Again, their best win would be Monmouth, in September.

Monmouth, on the other hand, gets some cred from their NC schedule. A 10-0 Monmouth team would potentially have four or five quality wins and IMO gets serious host consideration. A 9-1 MWC-final loser could make a case for pool C inclusion (provided SNC is also 9-1, with only loss to Monmouth).

Bottom line is these NC games have huge playoff implications. Monmouth's schedule certainly presents it with opportunity to dictate its postseason, moreso than the Knights.

Yes, I would agree that given the strength of the non-con games, Monmouth has a better chance at a higher seed. But obviously I hope  that doesn't happen

Do you know who's emerged as starting QB, puck? The video snippets I see show a number 8 slinging it around and per the roster, that's Gage McClanahan, a senior transfer who's had mixed success at previous schools. But that could've been scout team video for all I know. I also see they moved starting shortstop Ben Kohl to receiver from QB. A bit of a surprise since I had heard pretty good reviews about his JV QB play last year.

[gbpuckfan]

sorry, didn't see the post before the game, but I wouldn't have known the answer.

The answer is Freddy Poorman, who threw for 303 yards today. But a baaaaad second quarter doomed SNC today

[WW]

sorry, didn't see the post before the game, but I wouldn't have known the answer.

The answer is Freddy Poorman, who threw for 303 yards today. But a baaaaad second quarter doomed SNC today

Yikes. That's a bad loss

[WW]

Not to mention a bad afternoon for the MWC. Save for Lawrence U!!

[gbpuckfan]

Not to mention a bad afternoon for the MWC. Save for Lawrence U!!

well, not really, it beat another MWC team, so... but nice for the Vikings to get a W

[WW]

Not to mention a bad afternoon for the MWC. Save for Lawrence U!!

well, not really, it beat another MWC team, so... but nice for the Vikings to get a W

AU passed for 497 yards and had 604 total yards vs SNC. In last years opener vs SNC, they passed for 130 and netted 160 overall. Guessing the 2019 SNC D has lots of new faces.

Monmouth's troubles appear to be on the other side of the ball. 3 first downs, 56 total yards vs Wheaton. Yoiks.

[fulbakdad]

Saturday not a good day for the MWC...

[judgetrainer]

Cornell and IC won, too, right?

[WW]

Cornell and IC won, too, right?

Yup. And on the bright side, the MWC championship race is wide open for a change

[gbpuckfan]

Well, hoping SNC can get its act together this week and do something no MWC school has done since 1935 - beat a WIAC school.

SNC beat a WIAC school (Platteville, IIRC) in 1983, but it was the year before the Knights joined the conference.