Well, I couldn't have been more wrong, predicting a solid second half for Wheaton. They were pathetic on both sides of the ball. No scores in the entire second half? Couldn't stop them when it mattered most? No rally when the game was on the line?

Doesn't sound like Wheaton Football.


The thunder need to grow some stones and figure this thing out. While Albion played a great football game today, Wheaton can't afford losses like this if they expect to remain a top-tier team. Extremely disappointing day for the Blue and Orange.

Well, after a sluggish start by Wheaton and going down 9-0 at Albion, the thunder have righted the ship going into half up 21-9. Wheaton with all the momentum now and should continue to roll.

Great drive and a Big TD for Wheaton.

Score is 9-7, Albion

Albion starts their drive on their own 3 yd line.

Wheaton D NEEDS to hold strong on this drive.

NCC about to LOSE. Too many turnovers and sloppy offensive play today.

Very surprising from a touted Cardinal Team at home

Wheaton wins in Kenosha. 31-7

I stand corrected. Congrats to IWU.

I will be making the trip to Bloomington for the game tomorrow. Looks like a perfect fall night for some football!


http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail/USIL0113?dayNum=1

Great Video Blog with Thunder Senior Captain Fullback, Brannen Dorman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq1sbkDOvyA&feature=player_embedded

Guys, believe me. I'm not trying to take ANYTHING away from IWU. There's no doubt that this will be a very hard fought game by both sides and facts are facts, Wheaton has NOT played well recently in Bloomington. I just believe that what I've seen thus far out of the thunder is something special. I've been to all 3 games as well as the Wabash Scrimmage and have been very impressed. I think (and hope) that the leadership by this strong senior class will bring enough poise and focus to get the job done.

Bottom Line: I CAN'T WAIT FOR SATURDAY

Quote from: Mugsy on September 29, 2011, 12:27:43 AM

Quote from: LETS ROLL on September 28, 2011, 11:45:46 PM

Quote from: Mugsy on September 28, 2011, 10:05:35 PM

Quote from: LETS ROLL on September 28, 2011, 08:17:08 PM

My thoughts exactly. I think Wheaton wins by 10-17 points but it will be a hard fought battle.

I believe the Wheaton/IWU game will be closer to 6-8pt range.  Too many of their games have gone down to the wire recently and I believe this year is no different.

But I would love to see a 10-17pt Wheaton victory!   

Wheaton's average margin of victory vs. Wesleyan since '06 is 14.4 points... I like where I stand  ... Let's leave margin of victory in games only played in Bloomington out of this since '06 please...

Oh, but to support my view I can't leave out the away games since the game is in Bloomington.  My assertion as to why the game will be closer is based on the very close statistical comparison I provide a page or so ago and:

1. Wheaton @ IWU in 2009: 20-17 loss
2. Wheaton @ IWU in 2007: 18-14 loss (for a share of CCIW conference championship)
3. Wheaton @ IWU in 2005: 23-14 loss
4. Wheaton @ IWU in 2002: 35-21 win
5. Wheaton @ IWU in 2001: 31-13 loss

1-4 record, with loss by 3pts, 4pts, and 10pts in the last 3 games (average of 5.6 pts).

Now... granted the games at McCully Field have been complete opposite (large margins of victory), which leads to your stat on average margin of victory since 2006.

1. IWU @ Wheaton in 2010: 29-19 win
2. IWU @ Wheaton in 2008: 44-10 win
3. IWU @ Wheaton in 2006: 49-14 win
4. IWU @ Wheaton in 2004: 42-25 win
5. IWU @ Wheaton in 2003: 26-17 win (one of Wheaton's best teams, only a 9pt win)

5-0 record, with average margin of victory at 21 pts.

Other interesting stat: Wheaton has averaged 38 pts a game in the home series, but only 18.6 in the away series.

Touche Mugsy. I read and was thoroughly impressed with your statistical comparisons a couple pages back. There is no doubt that it will be a hard fought game. With that being said, I will keep my positive outlook and double digit margin of victory despite the  location of the game. I think this year's Wheaton team has the potential to be one of the best in several years (perhaps comparing to the '02, '03, '06, '08 teams). As I stated before, time will tell.

A couple factors that will also play a HUGE role in Saturday's outcome that have impacted this series in the past

1. Officiating: last trip to Bloomington, the Titans had 0 penalties...0. It seemed like Wheaton had penalties occur at the worst possible timing too.

2. Play calling: While this has been surprisingly solid this year, We've had a couple years of pretty dismal offensive calls, IMHO. Please no more draws on 3rd and long!

3. Field Position: I think that whichever team hold the field position advantage on Saturday will likely be the victor.



Oh, and if you think my faith in the thunder is a little overzealous now, just wait til North Central week...

Quote from: Mugsy on September 28, 2011, 10:05:35 PM

Quote from: LETS ROLL on September 28, 2011, 08:17:08 PM

Quote from: matblake on September 28, 2011, 04:06:49 PM

Quote from: newcardfan on September 28, 2011, 03:29:51 PM
Now that the Wheaton/NPposters have hogged the board (Are these enough smiley guy things?) Any opinions about the other CCIW games going on this week? Go Cards!!

North Central wins easily this weekend. 
Wheaton in a nailbiter
Augie by 10
Elmhurst gets by the Chicago Vikings

My thoughts exactly. I think Wheaton wins by 10-17 points but it will be a hard fought battle.
I don't think North Central will have any problem with Carthage and will win by several scores.
I think Augie will still pull out a win, although it should be pretty close
I see Elmhurst winning by at least 2 TD's

GO THUNDER!

I believe the Wheaton/IWU game will be closer to 6-8pt range.  Too many of their games have gone down to the wire recently and I believe this year is no different.

But I would love to see a 10-17pt Wheaton victory!   

Wheaton's average margin of victory vs. Wesleyan since '06 is 14.4 points... I like where I stand  ... Let's leave margin of victory in games only played in Bloomington out of this since '06 please...

Quote from: matblake on September 28, 2011, 04:06:49 PM

Quote from: newcardfan on September 28, 2011, 03:29:51 PM
Now that the Wheaton/NPposters have hogged the board (Are these enough smiley guy things?) Any opinions about the other CCIW games going on this week? Go Cards!!

North Central wins easily this weekend. 
Wheaton in a nailbiter
Augie by 10
Elmhurst gets by the Chicago Vikings

My thoughts exactly. I think Wheaton wins by 10-17 points but it will be a hard fought battle.
I don't think North Central will have any problem with Carthage and will win by several scores.
I think Augie will still pull out a win, although it should be pretty close
I see Elmhurst winning by at least 2 TD's

GO THUNDER!

This is the 3rd year in the 3-4 Defense for Wheaton. I doubt there is much of a learning curve still taking place as most of the defense are seniors, who have had 3 years of experience working in the new system. I think the low number of sacks is due to the fact that Wheaton's D-Linemen (while very good) aren't the pure pass rusher's that Wheaton's had in the past, as well as the fact that Wheaton has not been bringing much pressure thus far this season. I think that will change as Wheaton gets into the meat of their schedule and allows their inexperience at corner to catch up and be able to handle the increased pressure of man coverage. Time will tell. Either way I feel very confident with this year's defense and am excited to see how they continue to gel.

I agree that the Millikin/Augie game should be a good one. It'll definitely be the Big Blue's best shot to beating them in several years, although the game will be played in Rock Island...not that home field has been much of an advantage for Augie yet this year...   

Quote from: ILGator on September 27, 2011, 10:57:05 AM

Quote from: LETS ROLL on September 25, 2011, 11:37:05 PM
New Top 25 Out:http://www.d3football.com/top25/2011/week4

Spots 1-7 stay the same with Wheaton remaining at #7

North Central makes the jump back to the Top Ten, making the #9 spot with previous #9 Ohio Northern and #10 Wartburg losing.

Redlands moves from #15 to #13

I was surprised to see that IWU only received 6 votes, despite opening 3-0 (even if not overly impressive). I was surprised that UWP collected 33 votes, even after losing to Wheaton.

We'll find out more about these two teams this weekend, with IWU hosting Wheaton and UWP visiting UWW.

I don't find this to be surprising at all, and this is why:

Aside from a hard fought loss to a #7 Wheaton team, UWP has had 3 other solid victories thus far this season. Stevens Point has recently been the second best team to come out of the WIAC and I believe that UW-Lacrosse is much improved this year as well. Usually teams do not drop too far in rankings after losing a game to a higher ranked team, especially if the game remains respectable, as it certainly was.

Also, I'm guessing that IWU has not received a substantial amount of votes yet, due to their strength of schedule at this point in the season. While undefeated, their victories have come against Hope (2-2) Alma (1-3) and Aurora (1-2). I don't usually put much stock in comparing margin of victory, but maybe the voters are as North Park and Wesleyan had almost an identical margin of victory against common opponent Aurora.

As Mugsy pointed out, this week will be very telling. I always get nervous when Wheaton has to travel to IWU as we tend to struggle there (we've lost in our last 3 trips to Bloomington).