FB: Midwest Conference

[piopride10]

My first post ever... what to say?  Well lets start by wishing everyone's team good luck on this new season.  I played at Carroll for the past 4 years, and now as an alumni I feel that I should get involved in conference gossip.  We've all seen the pre-season rankings, but we shouldn't put too much stock in them.  After all, it just seems like the pre-season mirrors how the last season finished up.  I feel that I can offer some insight on this season because I am only a year removed and have played against most of players in the conference.  Monmouth seems stacked.  A good freshman year for Tanney can only mean good things to come.  Not to mention 20 returning starters.  It's hard to take away from experience.  I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I just don't know how Norbert is going to pull it off this year.  Those guys there know how to win...no question.  But losing a great QB-WR combo will hurt.  Not to mention that Phillips isn't really a tackle-to-tackle runner.  Get him in the open field - watch out, but that can be stopped.  Now I could review each team but everyone seems intent on hyping Norbert and Monmouth so I figured I'd do the same.  Onto my boys!  A lot of athleticism for the Wi-Pis this year.  Some veteran losses at important positions but I think they'll put things together and have a great season.  Overall I think the conference is up for grabs this year... expect for Lawrence, Beloit, Grinnell, and Knox.  Sorry!  The academic requirements there are just too strict to get any surplus of high school talent.  As you all continue to chat it up on here, keep in mind that there isn't really any home field advantage in the MWC.  Sure it sucked when we had to drive to IC, MC, and KC because the overnights slightly changed our routines, but this isn't D1.  The 4,000 fans that "pack" our stadiums don't really change games.  And now the playing surfaces won't give any advantage because almost every team has field turf.  Trust me from my experiences in the conference... don't put too much stock into travel.  Well I guess that sums it up for my first post.  Good luck to every team this year.  Have fun and stay safe.  Cheer for YOUR team, not AGAINST the other teams.  Don't get your jollies from trying to embarrass college kids.  Sorry Norbert but that cheer you do after your victories "Yes that is the winning team, Yes that is the losing team" is high schoolishly immature.  You've won a lot of games in that program.  Act like you've done it before.  Sorry for the rant.  Be in touch and we'll have a drink on me when you come to Waukesha.

[Pat Coleman]

Welcome to the new posters!

[sncfballfan]

Sorry Norbert but that cheer you do after your victories "Yes that is the winning team, Yes that is the losing team" is high schoolishly immature.  You've won a lot of games in that program.  Act like you've done it before.  Sorry for the rant.

Sorry for calling you out but I played there for 4 years and NEVER heard that chant  

Although, I 100% agree with you when it comes to having no home field advantage in the MWC....well...unless you consider the "men" wearing kilts south of the border, pretty distracting and just plain weird to see for the first time.

[SNCOLDAD]

piopride 10, I too will welcome you even though it is not my place. I am glad we have more MWC followers. I too was a little confused by the "Chant" comment, but since I am not a player I was not commenting. I am glad that someone else who played spoke up. I am sure others will also. I do have to make a comment or 2 about Carroll. Nice field and facility. Last year was the first I was with the team as a parent and I did like your facility. The tailgating was also very good. Also, I am from Illinois so I enjoyed a little shorter drive. But what really impressed me was Carrol's colors and emblem. BEARS all the way!!! I felt like I was cheering against the bears but thats OK. It is nice to know that there are some north of the border that enjoy Bears colors and emblem. Of course my son plays for the Green and Gold.

[hickory_cornhusker]

as an adament Packer fan and a student at Carroll (I don't play football, I run cross country) I have to point out that the logos are different. if you get an official Chicago Bears "C" and an official Carroll University "C" next to each other you will see a slight difference. there was an article in our student newspaper a year or two ago that went into great detail describing the differences. plus I think Chicago's blue is a little darker than ours.

[SNCOLDAD]

Thanks cornhusker, I figured they were not exact. But why would a school in Wisconsin, home of the Packers, have colors and emblem so close to the hated Bears.



It still does not change the fact that I am forced to wear Green and Gold on Saturdays.  What a parent will do for his children. 

[hickory_cornhusker]

The Bears used to have training camp at Carroll back in the day.

My dad also has to wear the rivals colors when he comes to my races.

[piopride10]

Sorry sncfballfan, I didn't mean to offend.  The SNC fans did the chant as they were running out the clock in last year's game.  It might have been the only time it has been done... sorry for the assumptions.  And as this post gets crowded with discussions about colors, I'm a huge Packer fan and I hate the color orange, yet I went to Carroll.  There must be something wrong with me. 

[Once a Pio always a Pio]

Back for another season......

1st off.... Good to have a bit of Carroll Love on this board.

2nd..... as a former player I have to disagree with the home field advantage comment as a blanket statement.  First, home field advantage applies for almost every team at least once a year.....homecomming.  Every team in the midwest conference (for the most part) puts on enough of a show and packs the place enough to make the homecomming crowd a valid factor in those particular games.  Second, I know I may sound like a bit of a homer, but when you are looking what schools like CU IC and Monmouth are doing with their facilities, you are begining to see that those places possess more of a "college football atmosphere" that translates to on the field intensity and excitement..... thats my two cents

3rd.... Is there anything better than the current bit of parody in the MWC.  the top 6 teams in the leauge go into this season with at least a faint possibility that a conference championship is a possibility..... That being said Monmouth is just sick and will take a flawless game to beat. 

Aright all.... lets have another great one this year.... Go Pios

[ahig]

Heard a story once that Carroll (the oldest school in Wisconsin) originally created the Bears current C and that the Bears bought the rights to it or paid to use it or some damn thing.  Any confirmation or correction?

Was or is anyone else a wee bit surprised to NOT see Wartburg/St. Norbert on the Around the Midwest "Big Games" segment?

Go Ripon, beat Oshkosh!

Go MWC, beat non-MWC!

[SNCOLDAD]

I never heard that about the "C" and the Bears. Would not doubt it though. SNC has had Green and Gold way before the Packers settled on those colors.
Wartburg - SNC game is probably only a big story if the Green Knights can upset the Orange Knights on their home field.

I tend to agree that Monmouth is in a very good position this year. That QB looked really good last year against SNC. But SNC's defense is probably even better than last year in spite of a couple key losses from graduation. If the SNC offense can click at all, the rest of the MWC will have to play a great game to beat them. The defense should keep them in just about any game they play.

Of course I am biased. That is the privilage of being a parent. I also will cheer for all MWC against all non-MWC. I want this conference to build a stronger reputation as a great football conference.

[Walston Hoover]

Actually the football program goes (or went by when I was there) Black Knights.
I was very excited to see SNC scheduled for the opener. We're planning on it being a special year for the Knights and I'm happy to see a high quality opponent to measure ourselves up to to start the year. I'm usually a prick to opposing teams, but I have a lot of respect for programs with winning traditions. Good luck to you guys, but not that much luck 

I never heard that about the "C" and the Bears. Would not doubt it though. SNC has had Green and Gold way before the Packers settled on those colors.
Wartburg - SNC game is probably only a big story if the Green Knights can upset the Orange Knights on their home field.

I tend to agree that Monmouth is in a very good position this year. That QB looked really good last year against SNC. But SNC's defense is probably even better than last year in spite of a couple key losses from graduation. If the SNC offense can click at all, the rest of the MWC will have to play a great game to beat them. The defense should keep them in just about any game they play.

Of course I am biased. That is the privilage of being a parent. I also will cheer for all MWC against all non-MWC. I want this conference to build a stronger reputation as a great football conference.

[SNCOLDAD]

WH, I too believe that having quality opponents as pre-conference games gets you ready and also let's you know where you stack up. This year and next will have tough opening games for both of us. Let's hope they are REAL good games. Good luck to you also, but more after the first game.

[MWCfan787]

First post: I am a Monmouth student so thats where most of my inside info is

To start off: Monmouth opens at Loras....could be a confidence builder if they win and snc loses

Norbert v Monmouth will decide the conference, seems like people have been saying that for like 5 years in a row now, MC has a bad history in De Pere as well, last visit was a blowout and the one before was a close comeback win when I felt they had a superior team

As far as Ripon, I don't think they can beat an MC team that is hungry for revenge from last year

If Tanney goes down, thats the season for Monmouth, the backup situation is terrible and the run game needs some work

Many know about Tanney (who has 3 years left) and his receivers(most have 2 or 3 years left sorry MWC), but the MC defense is nasty, the d-line is big and extremely athletic, the lbs are a veteran group with 4 seniors all who started, and the dbs are playmakers with great instincts and ball skills, this D could dominate many teams (though most of it will leave after this year good news MWC)

This is the year that if Norbert wins it I think they leave no doubt in my mind that have a superior program and coaching compared to the rest of the conference not just players.

[Pat Coleman]

Can't tell you how happy I was to look at the Monmouth roster and find nobody named Garcia. Welcome aboard.