First, I'll admit I was mistaken about the fourth-down play being from midfield, and I appreciate the correction CarrolFan. That said, I think the history behind the Illinois Wesleyan–Millikin rivalry runs a lot deeper than you might realize.

This rivalry dates back to 1904, and there's a long history of pride, tradition, and competitive tension between these two schools. One particularly significant chapter came during World War II, when Millikin did not field a football team from 1943 through 1945 while almost all of its students/players went off to serve their country. Illinois Wesleyan, meanwhile, continued to play football during those 3 years.

You can imagine how a difference like that could become part of the story and identity surrounding a rivalry that was already deeply rooted. Over the years, those experiences, combined with the schools' different identities and cultures, helped fuel the competitive edge between them.

Millikin has traditionally been viewed as the more blue-collar school of the two, an identity many of its supporters still embrace today. That working-class pride is part of what makes this rivalry so personal for Millikin fans. It's not just another game on the schedule; it's about school pride, history, and bragging rights.

So, while I was wrong about the exact location of that fourth-down play, I don't think you can fully understand the intensity of this rivalry by looking at one game or one play. When a rivalry stretches back more than a century, there's a lot of history and emotion behind it that doesn't always show up in the box score.  The all time series after last night is 56–55-7 in favor of Illinois Wesleyan.

Just to clarify, it was only my personal opinion that Wesleyan didn't respect Millikin enough going into the game. That wasn't something I claimed to know for a fact.

But having been around football for a long time, I've learned to pay attention to more than just what happens between the lines. Watching the Wesleyan players on the sidelines and observing the coaches, I got the distinct impression that they were shell-shocked and frustrated that they were still in a fight that late in the game. To me, their body language suggested they hadn't expected Millikin to challenge them the way they did.

That's simply how I read the situation from what I saw. I could be wrong, but it was my impression as someone who's spent a lot of time around the game. And honestly, I think Millikin deserves credit for putting Wesleyan in that position.

How Millikin Pulled Off the Upset Over Illinois Wesleyan

The most fascinating part of Millikin's upset over Illinois Wesleyan wasn't just that Millikin won. It was watching Illinois Wesleyan play as though they didn't believe they were in any real danger of losing until it was too late.

Wesleyan played like a team that expected to win by 21 points simply by showing up and being the more talented team. They never seemed to fully appreciate that Millikin was capable of beating them, and that arrogance showed up repeatedly in their play calling.

Go back and watch some of those fourth-down decisions. One of them was Wesleyan going for a 4th and 11 at midfield early in 4th... WHY?) Those are the kinds of risks you take when you believe you're so much better than your opponent that the consequences of a mistake don't really matter. Except Millikin kept making them pay. Over and over again, Millikin showed that they could compete, make plays, and put Wesleyan under pressure. And over and over again, Wesleyan seemed unwilling to adjust its approach.

It was like watching a man sitting on the deck of a sinking boat, drinking Kool-Aid and insisting everything was fine while the water slowly crept up around his ankles. The boat wasn't sinking all at once. It was happening gradually, right in front of him. And he still refused to recognize what was happening.

What makes it even more incredible is that Wesleyan seemed to carry that same mentality into the final moments. Even on the last play, they took their chances on a jump-ball fade or back-shoulder throw rather than running something that reflected a genuine respect for Millikin's ability to win the game. In a way, it was the perfect ending to a game in which Wesleyan never seemed to fully respect the opponent standing across from them.

And honestly, I don't think this falls entirely on the players. I would love to hear someone ask the coaching staff to explain some of those decisions. This looked like a game in which the coordinators expected to win comfortably and never really prepared for the possibility that Millikin would drag them into a four-quarter fistfight. They wanted to win this game on their terms, without ever seeming to appreciate that Millikin had every intention of making them earn it.

To be fair, we can debate just how enormous this upset really was. Millikin had already played close games against Augusta and Carroll, so this wasn't a team incapable of competing with quality opponents.  With that said, for Millikin, this was the biggest win of the Riebock era, and I'm genuinely happy for him and the team. Beating Wesleyan means something in Decatur. I know that firsthand. Losing to Wesleyan throughout my four years was painful enough, and I believe my class was only the second in program history to go all four years without beating them. That makes this result especially satisfying.

And the best part? This doesn't have to be the high point of the season.

There's no reason Millikin can't beat Carthage and Elmhurst and get to five wins before the season finale against North Central. Finishing 5–5 would be a tremendous accomplishment for Reebok in his second year, especially considering it would mark the program's first five-win season since 2019.

So congratulations to Millikin. They earned this one. And to the Wesleyan faithful who apparently thought this game was a foregone conclusion: sometimes the most dangerous thing you can do in football is convince yourself that your opponent can't hurt you.

Millikin spent four quarters proving otherwise. Wesleyan just didn't seem to believe it until the game was over.

There are two incoming freshman who played both ways in HS and QB (both played QB). From their hudl tapes they are great athletes but would need to improve as passers to be CCIW caliber QB's. I could see them going with a young athletic freshman QB if the O-line does not seem stable and they need someone to run around all year, but the SR Lombardo has 19 career starts and I would imagine it will be his job to lose. Lombardo has struggled mightily behind bad offensive lines for his first two years as the starting QB. He is listed at 6ft but is more like 5'10 and has been very inaccurate under pressure. He has a great arm and when everything is perfect around him, he can sling it, but those moments have been far and few between. I have been hoping we would have found another young QB during the last 3 years but every year it seems they have been unable to bring in a freshman QB capable of taking over. I do not know the numbers exactly, but Lombardo has taken a beating and gets hit ALOT. Maybe he will look differently with more help around him but at this point in his career I think he is what he is. With that said, I know this team is not the worst team in CCIW. I think they will be motivated by the Pre-season CCIW rankings (might be first time ever Millikin was predicted last). They will not finish last, and I think they can finish as high as 5th.

Dear Men,

News from Decatur. Football season is upon us and the winds of change are blowing in central Illinois! For the first time in over 5 years there is hope in Decatur! As everyone knows, Millikin suffered only there 2nd ever winless season since 1907. I believe in Coach Hall and although he has gotten off to a 4-16 start to his Millikin tenure, this will be by far the most talented team he has had so far. He finally has enough of his own players in the building and has now had 3 years to establish his culture. They were very young last year but did lose their 1st team ALL-AMERICAN Perkins on the D-line. Millikin now has 52 freshmen on the roster and after over a week of watching film, I am pleased to say that this is the most talented class in a long time. Out of 52 freshmen, 40 had hudl highlight tapes and 25 were players that definitely have the potential to be starters in a year or two. With that said 6-7 of these players may start day 1 and are physically ready to play in the CCIW. Millikin has some special skill position players that can be difference makers day 1 on campus. Hall went heavy in Texas and Louisiana and signed Mutiple players who played at large high schools in Texas where it was hard for me to tell the difference between high school teams and D3 teams. I think this Millikin team will get better as the season goes on and will find a way to win 4-5 games. On paper, this team should be much improved, and I hope to see good things from the young Freshman class.

Cheers,
Go BIG BLUE

Hey Everyone,

NEWS FROM DECATUR: Exciting time of year and can't wait for CCIW football to be be back in a few weeks. Even more exciting is the fact that Millikin has signed their LARGEST CLASS EVER (67 Freshman) which does not even include the 8 transfers they now have on campus as well. This will be one of the largest teams (if not the largest) in school history and its coming on the brink of a new 6-million-dollar weight room/locker room begging construction in the spring. It seems Millikin is not content with being left behind in a conference where the top teams are quickly widening the gap between the bottom of the conference. I think the Big Blue will have all the motivation in the world this fall as they were picked 8th in the pre-season coaching polls.

Plain and simple I think this is the 4th best team in the CCIW and I would bet they finish no worse than 5th considering the array of talent coming into Decatur this fall. The QB play last year was poor and with a competition taking place for the starting QB role it will be interesting to see who wins that job. Millikin brought in the most OL/DL in school history and I believe with 3 starters back on the OL they will be able to find 2 missing pieces amongst the freshman/tranfers now garnering the Blue and white in central Illinois. There are a lot of question marks as not alot of info has come out of Decatur but on paper the Big Blue are poised to rejuvenate a program that has struggled to keep a standing roster of 80+. As of right now Millikin now has 120+ men on the roster which should create an atmosphere of competition and growth as Coach Hall begins his era running the ship for the Big Blue.  Although i still do not think Millikin is ready to challenge NC/Wheaton I do think they have an opportunity to win every other game on the schedule. I think a successful season for the big blue would be 6-4 but I am not ruling out an 8-2 season with a trip to the Bowl game in November. Nevertheless, if Coach Hall can succeed where the previous 2 Millikin coaches have failed (retaining players) then I believe this ca be the start of something special in Decatur for years to come. Cheers to a new season, I will have a post put together to preview the week 1 matchup vs Greenville but I expect this to be an exciting year where new faces begin to make their mark on Millikin's rich football history.

Enter, BIGBLUE BEN lol! I have been following along for a few years and mainly only post on the CCIW football page since I am a football alumni but I also root for the Basketball team and watch alot of their games. The Wheaton game was a thing a beauty and as a longtime Milli BBall supporters I think we were all waiting for Wheaton to snap out of it and it just never happened. Millikin proved the real parity in the CCIW this year and after seeing Millikin's ceiling against Wheaton, I think the boys shouldn't resign their  Title hopes just yet... Although the double OT loss @NCC hurts, we seem to be hitting our stride at the perfect time.


Wesleyan  (6-1) 13-2
Elmhurst   (4-2)   12-3
NNC          (4-2) 9-5
Millikin   (5-3) 10-7
Wheaton   (5-3)   13-4
North Park   (3-4)   7-7
Augustana   (3-5)   8-9
Carthage   1-5   8-7
Carroll   1-7   5-12

Big Blue next 4 games: I think MU can win all 4 of these games, if so it would set up a a 14-7 (9-3) red hot MU team hosting IWU @ the GRIZ. If Wheaton can beat Elmhurst tomorrow and then Elmhurst beats IWU then my dream of this game being for 1st place may not just be a fantasy. Dont want to get ahead of ourselves bc every game is a grind in the CCIW but just a bigger picture view of how MU is 100% in the mix when they play like they did the other night (More impressive bc MU was missing best big man, ankle sprain for Wheaton game).

@Augustana
@Carthage
@NNC
Carrol

Quote from: TrueGreen on October 22, 2021, 10:42:52 AM

Quote from: USee on October 22, 2021, 09:33:04 AM
HansenRatings has the following for this weekend:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KNIFuxVLu4y0s-1ggD-WASCC4RXUEao-qkWqOYfiEOM/edit#gid=1727317062

IWU @ NCC -51.2
Elmhurst @ NPU -7.4
WashU @ Millikin +19.2
Carthage @ Wheaton -31.2
Carroll @ Augie -3.5

Mark my words. Wash U is walking into a bar fight, they just dont know it yet. Millikin will play lose, they have nothing to lose. On top of that they should be getting a couple starters back from injuries and if Wash U has one weakness its the run game. Millikin's D-line matches up really well with Wash U and I think Millikin forces some turnovers and creates some tackles for loss. If Wash U gets Millikin in alot of 3rd and longs then thats when their D is at their best, rushing the pass. The longer Millikin keeps it close Saturday, the more I would turn into that one. Millikin is an up and down team, they could score 30 tonight or 0. But I like to think that they will play their most complete game and put up some points. Millikin did hold Wesleyan to 14 points and may have started to figure some thing out on Defense. Hoping for a nice home crowd, would go as far as a guantee that Milikin covers the +19 and with that said, I think they punch Wash U in the mouth and win 28-27. "I believe we can win" and Im going out on a limb bc Wash U is a very sound solid team, however, I guess I just believe when Millikin is at their peak (which has been sporatic to say the least) can put up yards against anybody. Wash is a better team on paper but if Millikin plays their A+ game and Wash U is at all hesistant, then there going to be dancing in Decatur tonight.

Go Big Blue!!!

I think these are again pretty accurate. Wash U still would get a little more love from me (at least 3 TD spread), but picking Augie and NP at home is solid. I am hoping (maybe beyond hope) that the Titans don't lose by more than 7 TDs! (But I'm sure that NCC is looking to get that number)

Sorry I am late, did not want to miss my chance at the Green Norm Pinata Fiesta. The IWU/Millikin rivalry runs very deep in Decatur, the rivalry saw some droughts in the 2010's simply bc it was no longer a big game and beating NC /Wheaton became Wesleyan's big game every year. The trash talking was always at another level and it was always a chippy game since the old story of the rivalries origin goes that Millikin's only 3 seasons not playing football since there onset in the early 1900's except during WW2. If you look in the record books youll notice that IWU played all 3 seasons and since then the Millikin Men have never respected the Green Weenies who dodged the draft.


Its a bad blood game. Wesleyan has always been the "preppy" "cocky" old money in Bloomington while Millikin has always viewed themselves as a the blue collar, harding working which I believe is true. Blooimgton (city) Decatur (farmers, factor workers). Obviously, the hostility isn't anything uncivil but when it comes to sports, thats just way people around there feel.

Just in my 4 years, I saw 4 ejections (not including targeting calls) for (punches, fights, middle finger to the crowds, spit in the face, etc).Millikin however during those years was not too far behind those Wesleyan teams and that game was still the most important game home or away. It still is, without a doubt, still our Rivalry game whether Wesleyan wants to consider it one is up to them. But maybe it will just take need to take Millikin throwing a party on their field as they did in the spring. It was a massive release of all the frustration/failures of past teams failing against the Green Weans.

There is nothing I would like to see more than Millikin send Norm to the retirement homes with one last (long overdue/well earned) butt kicking. AND if the Big Blue can beat a very good Carthage team (I think they are better than Wash U) then Millikin will walk into the Wesleyan game riding high 4-1 (4-0). If Wesleyan cannot manage to escape against Elmhurst then they should not be expecting a win until  October 30, 2021 vs North Park. It would be a site to see but im pulling for the claimed 0-10 season for IWU. Best case scenario now is 2-8, which I would also welcome with open arms.  Every other CCIW team I will pull for in non conference and playoffs barring one.... Bloom Tech.

I hope everyone gets their "pound of flesh" from Norm this year on his way out. What goes around comes around Norm.

Alright fellas, if its okay with everyone else, I want to talk about a big (yes I know its not the Bell game) CCIW ballgame.

Millikin vs Carrol @Frank M. Lindsay Field

This should turn out to be a great competitive contest that is highlighted by the cool connection of Carrol's Coach Buda and Coach Dan Gritti. Buda flurished at Millikin for 3 years 2 of which he spent shattering the offensive record books with nicco stepina. His offense has had success everywhere he has went and if he is ever able to steal recruits from the other WI conference then I think he can scheme with the best in the country. With that said, I think Millikin will have there hands full with a team that is also coming off a big win last week (upset IWU).

I excpect Millikin's offense to be improved from last week and continue to move the ball with a balanced run/pass combo. Millikin's strength is there O-line (have not given up a sack this year) along with there AA WR Colton Lockwood requiring so much of the attention that it opens up the rest of Millikin's talented young WR's. Millikin offense has only been stopped this year when they shoot themselves in the foot. Finally getting to play at home should help them play more relaxed and hopefully turnover free football.


Defensively, Millikin has the advantage on the line of scrimmage and on top of that, Carrol lacks a mobile QB which will allow Gritti to dial up a variety of blitzes/stunts. Carrol's air raid is scary when they are clicking. They have big bodied WR's which will have a big advantage on Millikin's undersized corners. With that said, I think Millikin will create tackles for loss/sacks and will be able to get off the field when ot counts Saturday.

Special teams,
No surprise Coach Gritti leads the CCIW in blocks through 2 games.
-Week 1 (Blocked punt for TD)
-Week 2 (blocked opening punt/blocked game winning field 25 yard field goal)
-Well see if we can one against Carrol but for nothing else, teams having to waste practice time prepping extra for PUNT is point for Millikin.

Turnovers have plagued the Big Blue but I think they find their groove playing at home for first time in really 2 years; Millikin plays their most complete game so far and wins a close shootout at home. Millikin 34-Carroll 29

Expect a great game up @Wheaton. I believe Wheaton's D-line to be the better of the two, however, I think NC has a slight advantage in the skill position department. Wheatons key to success will be scoring first and playing with the lead. If NC finds them selves in 3rd and 8-12 and Wheaton's pass rushers can peal their ears back and get after a freshman QB then I think its going to be a long day for NC. In the end though, I think NC wins in a close one 28-23.

As for the Millikin @ Augy Matchup.

I expect to see Millikin to be shot out of a cannon when they take the field and will play with a chip on their shoulder. Although Greenville was a much stronger team than history shows, it was a wake up call to the Big Blue that you cannnot take any team for granite. Unlucky for Augy there is no way to "fake" or manufacture desperation. With that said, I think Millikin comes out and plays like a team refusing to lose again while Augy plays like a team hoping to win. There is an old saying that goes, "always fear a man who has nothing to lose" and I think that saying holds true Saturday and Millikin plays harder for longer and wins decisively.

Millikin 34. Augustana 21

Thats great to hear all around! Congrats again to NC, it was well deserved.

I'm not ready to abandon my 3rd place prediction for the Big Blue just yet USee. If they lose to Augy on 9/18 I will press the panic button but for Augies sake I do not want to hang on the Greenville loss too much..... IF Augy loses to Millikin, it may help the Vikings confidence to think of Greenville as a playoff team.

Quote from: Next Man Up on September 06, 2021, 12:55:05 AM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on September 06, 2021, 12:30:12 AM

Quote from: BIG BLUE BEN on September 05, 2021, 09:35:20 AMIf there is a silver lining, its that Greenville has the best team I have seen in the last 7-8 years

Seriously? Just how much football do you watch, anyway?

He must have meant its the best Greenville team he has seen in the last 7-8 years. No???

Sorry for the confusion, let me clarify. This looked like the best "Greenville" team I have seen since 2013 when they upset Millikin in Decatur to open that season as well. I would bet money that Greenville team will win their conference and go to the playoffs. I think Greenville could have beaten any of the #4-#9 teams CCIW Saturday if any of them were unfortunate enough to find themselves in a mud bowl monsoon dog fight against that Greenville team.

Quote from: CardinalAlum on September 04, 2021, 10:46:45 PM
Curious if the new Blue followers have any insight on the loss to Greenville?  That one is a head scratcher.

.


To be honest, I was shocked yesterday with Greenville finding a way to come back and upset Millikin in the rain. For the starters, Greenville was just straight up better than anyone expected. If there is a silver lining, its that Greenville has the best team I have seen in the last 7-8 years and they were playing in front of a packed out crowd. Add in one of the worst D3 football fields in the country, 6 hours of rain before and during the game, creating a mud bowl. Milikin lost 2 fumbles, one as they were about to score on 1st and goal. The other recovered by Greenville inside Millikins 20 yard line. To make matters worse Cal threw 2 picks, both of which were going in to score. It was a perfect storm with Millikin playing the worst I have seen them in the Gritti Era, mixed with Greenville having a solid team that probally goes 9-1 and wins Conference results in what will be a soul searching 2 weeks for this team.

With that said, this is a bad loss for Millikin no matter how good Greenville is. We came in over confident and played poorly. I still think Millikin can and will go win there next 5 games and make things interesting but I would be lying if I wasnt very concerned with my early predictions.

Millikin's offense will be hard to stop as they were just as good as advertised. Throwing for over 300, scoring 33 points all with having 4 turnovers in the rain was encouraging if anything.....They just need to protect the ball, if we only have one turnover we win by 21.

The defense is what failed them in the second half of this one. As Millikin got weaker, Greenville ran harder. The secondary was lost all day, couldnt seem to figure out Greenville's 3 passing concepts along with not stop the tight ends or the middle of the field. Greenville lived up and down the hashes all day and Millikin kept running cover 2/4 and was not learning their lesson. I am confident Millikin will look like a new team after the bye and think they find a way to win a close one @augy on 9/18.

Quote from: HAMBO on August 29, 2021, 10:32:01 PM
I agree but Millikin's backup QB is a freshman which may be unique.

Take this with a grain of salt but I am hearing that one of Millikin's freshman QB's is said to have a very unique lively arm that has people excited. If the rumors are even slightly true and a freshman has come in and pushed a 5th year returning starter to the brink for the job... then it sounds like Millikin is going to be in good hands regardless of who wins the starts moving forward. With that said, if its close, tie goes to the 5th year and I believe Cal will look like a veteran starting QB in the CCIW this year. Cal is an old school type of QB, a true leader of the team, great student and a competitor who will do anything to win and doesn't care about his stats. Look for the freshman QB to get some time if Millikin does what they should and blows out Greenville College Week 1. Should be a fun day to watch alot of young new faces play in there first college game. ALOT of freshman on this team (for Millikin standards in last decade) hopefully there are a few more ALL TIMERS in this class.

In honor of the great Nicco Stepina, please check out his CCIW record setting Junior season below and his career highlight tape. GAME WEEK BABY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkdshDYN6cc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEHi_kAHlFU