FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I've never watched an Elmhurst football game online, but I've watched a number of Elmhurst basketball games online. The feed quality is tremendous, and it's the only CCIW webcast that has replays.

[Gotberg]

I've never watched an Elmhurst football game online, but I've watched a number of Elmhurst basketball games online. The feed quality is tremendous, and it's the only CCIW webcast that has replays.

I watched the Elmhurst v NPU game - last year I believe?  It was outstanding - very professional.

[thunder38]

Hmm... HD broadcasts.  This could be good. 

It will be interesting to see how accessible it is without WETN or local station broadcasts.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2015/7/31/GEN_0731152722.aspx

I can understand why the new online video provider will replace WETN video, but what's the rationale for shutting down the WETN radio broadcasts?

WETN did not want to continue to provide the studio personnel necessary for games to be aired on the FM feed as well.

[Mugsy]

Pre-season CCIW coaches poll released:

http://cciw.org/news/2015/8/12/FB_0812152701.aspx

Wheaton & NCC are #1 and #2 respectively.  Total points and first place votes very close - 47pts to 45pts, 5 1st place votes to 3.

For the most part no surprises from my perspective, other than I might have had Elmhurst ahead of Augustana. 

[USee]

based on who everyone has coming back, which is a big part of how the coaches vote, I would think the ballot looks like this:

Wheaton (5)
North Central (3)
IWU
Elmhurst
Augie
North Park
Carthage
Millikin

So I missed on the tie between Augie and Elmhurst (Augie listed first alphabetically) but otherwise pretty much as expected. I have no clue but it's always fun to speculate which coaches voted for NCC/Wheaton for 1st place. You can't vote for your own team so most likely Swider and Thorne voted for each other. that means the remaining 6 coaches were split 4-2 in favor of Wheaton. I would bet Augie voted for NCC. New coach who hasn't seen either team play but if he watched last year's tape he would have been much more impressed w NCC than Wheaton. So the last vote I am betting was Stormin Norm. My guess is that he believes his team is better than Wheaton (having played them tough in Wheaton this year and knowing he will host them this year) as the Thunder haven't won in Bloomington in a long time. It could also have been Conway instead of Eash as Conway's is building a Sager-esque dislike of the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance fueled by the events of a couple years ago in Chicago.

[Mr. Ypsi]

based on who everyone has coming back, which is a big part of how the coaches vote, I would think the ballot looks like this:

Wheaton (5)
North Central (3)
IWU
Elmhurst
Augie
North Park
Carthage
Millikin

So I missed on the tie between Augie and Elmhurst (Augie listed first alphabetically) but otherwise pretty much as expected. I have no clue but it's always fun to speculate which coaches voted for NCC/Wheaton for 1st place. You can't vote for your own team so most likely Swider and Thorne voted for each other. that means the remaining 6 coaches were split 4-2 in favor of Wheaton. I would bet Augie voted for NCC. New coach who hasn't seen either team play but if he watched last year's tape he would have been much more impressed w NCC than Wheaton. So the last vote I am betting was Stormin Norm. My guess is that he believes his team is better than Wheaton (having played them tough in Wheaton this year and knowing he will host them this year) as the Thunder haven't won in Bloomington in a long time. It could also have been Conway instead of Eash as Conway's is building a Sager-esque dislike of the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance fueled by the events of a couple years ago in Chicago.

Wheaton and NCC got all the first place votes, but missed two of the 2nd place votes.  Those missing second place votes come from Wheaton and NCC (who voted each other first, but couldn't vote themselves second).   The point totals indicated that two coaches voted IWU second, four others voted them third, which leaves some scoundrel who voted IWU fourth.  We WILL smell out the scoundrel (which is limited to all seven other teams ) and make them pay!

So far unnamed coach, you have been warned - Titan wrath is upon you!

(Actually, I'm delighted that a 4-6, 2-5, team is so respected that they are almost unanimously expected to finish #3!   While all teams can expect injuries, I'm happy to see that coaches think IWU had more than their fair share, and should be back this year with normal luck.)

[matblake]

It could also have been Conway instead of Eash as Conway's is building a Sager-esque dislike of the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance fueled by the events of a couple years ago in Chicago.

+k Usee
Imagining a conversation between Conway and Sager:
Conway: When is the best time to knock Wheaton?
Sager (with enthusiasm): Anytime!
Conway (a la Steve Harvey on Family Feud): My man!
(The two high five boisterously)

And..........Scene! 

[AndOne]

It seems that in voting IWU into the 3rd place position in the coaches poll, plus the associated increased IWU fan optimism the 3rd place position brings, conference coaches and IWU fans alike are pinning a great deal of faith in the ability of QB Jack Warner to return to top form after last year's extended absence. Additionally, while any player is always subject to the perils of a big hit, it seems like the 5'10" 165 pound Warner could be particularly susceptible to injury. However, Warner could certainly both return to top form and avoid the injury bug, and the Green Team does have dangerous top level talent on both sides of the ball. Accordingly, they should be a tough opponent all year, and they have the added advantage of playing host to both of the conference teams picked above them.

[Gregory Sager]

based on who everyone has coming back, which is a big part of how the coaches vote, I would think the ballot looks like this:

Wheaton (5)
North Central (3)
IWU
Elmhurst
Augie
North Park
Carthage
Millikin

So I missed on the tie between Augie and Elmhurst (Augie listed first alphabetically) but otherwise pretty much as expected. I have no clue but it's always fun to speculate which coaches voted for NCC/Wheaton for 1st place. You can't vote for your own team so most likely Swider and Thorne voted for each other. that means the remaining 6 coaches were split 4-2 in favor of Wheaton. I would bet Augie voted for NCC. New coach who hasn't seen either team play but if he watched last year's tape he would have been much more impressed w NCC than Wheaton. So the last vote I am betting was Stormin Norm. My guess is that he believes his team is better than Wheaton (having played them tough in Wheaton this year and knowing he will host them this year) as the Thunder haven't won in Bloomington in a long time. It could also have been Conway instead of Eash as Conway's is building a Sager-esque dislike of the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance fueled by the events of a couple years ago in Chicago.

I haven't asked Mike how he voted, but I'll bet that he had Wheaton #1 and North Central #2. As for his animus towards Wheaton, the fallout from that 2013 game no doubt lingers still. But it's not really accurate to call it a "Sageresque dislike," inasmuch as I can hardly claim ownership of this sentiment. It's endemic to North Parkers as a whole, and, from what older generations have told me, it has always been that way. You pick it up through sheer osmosis when you come to NPU. "Here's your dorm key." "Here's your ID card." "Here's your 'complimentary' North Park hoodie*."Here's your hatred of Wheaton College." Skits on student talent nights invariably involve a character wearing a Wheaton College shirt who is the butt of the humor. The infamous 1969 April Fool's issue of the North Park student newspaper had a front-page picture of goosestepping German SS soldiers at the Nuremberg rally under the banner headline, "Homecoming at Wheaton College." And about fifteen years ago or so, I happened to walk across the campus footbridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River on the first day of NPU new-student orientation and saw a large balloon-laden sign attached to the bridge railing that said, "Thank you for not choosing Wheaton."

NPU student-athletes pick up on it, just like everybody else. Wheaton is the team that they most want to beat, regardless of the sport (except for the rowing team, of course). And the coaches pick up on it as well. I can't think of a single North Park coach I've ever known who held Wheaton in warm regard (aside from the coaches who were Wheaton alumni). They pick up on the vibe, too, once they've been hired by North Park. While there may be an opposing CCIW coach or two (or three) with whom they have more difficulty interacting on a personal level than with their Wheaton counterpart, you don't tend to see them get all buddy-buddy with Wheaton coaches. And most of them aren't above pushing the old "this is Wheaton, so this one matters more" button when preparing their teams to play the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance.

It's not me. It's all of us. We really, really, really don't like Wheaton College.

Imagining a conversation between Conway and Sager:
Conway: When is the best time to knock Wheaton?
Sager (with enthusiasm): Anytime!
Conway (a la Steve Harvey on Family Feud): My man!
(The two high five boisterously)

And..........Scene! 

Yep. That's pretty much the gist of it.

*NPU undergraduates are given a (ostensibly) free North Park hoodie upon enrollment. Students sardonically call it "the $25,000 hoodie."

[USee]

It's okay Greg, the first step toward healing is admitting you have a problem. God can forgive even you.

[Gregory Sager]

 

[Titan Q]

An article on the Titans from their recent media day...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/new-look-iwu-football-hopes-new-uniforms-mean-return-to/article_780b39a7-6a14-559c-8403-e3eb3f9f19b2.html

Heading into the season, it looks like IWU's expected "difference makers" are:

* Tyrell Bolden (DB) - 6-0/190 Sr. (5th year, medical redshirt granted for Fr. year)
* Ben Bouie (DB) - 5/10/180 Sr.
* Sean Garvey (LB) - 6-0/220 Jr.
* Luke Roth (LB) - 6-0/235 Jr.
* Kevin Slawkowski (DB) - 5-11/185 Sr.
* Kyle Venhuizen (DL) - 6-2/240 Jr.

* Quincy Butler (TE) - 6-3/235 Jr.
* Artie Checcin (WR) - 6-1/205 Sr.
* Andrew Javorka (WR) - 6-2/205 Sr.
* Jack Warner (QB) - 5-10/165 So.

* Michael Kelley (K) - 5-9/165, Sr.


The Titans should be strong defensively - a lot of impressive talent there. 

On offense, despite the small sample size, I am sold on QB Jack Warner.  Definitely undersized, but he's a dynamic dual threat QB with a really big upside.  In the passing game, Artie Checcin is an All-American candidate WR, Andrew Javorka is a very sure-handed second option, and Quincy Butler could have a big year.  The big questions coming into the season seem to be around the O line and the RB spot.  I'm not clear if the Titans have enough talent here to develop a consistent running game or not.  6-4/210 junior RB Austin Harrell is someone I'll have my eyes on.  Given a chance in IWU's final two games last year, he rushed for 115 yards at Wheaton and 220 vs North Park.  The Titans just could not manage to run the ball consistently last year - if they don't fix that, they'll have another rough season.

Enough talent for IWU fans to be excited about 2015, but enough questions to not know what the heck to expect.  Could finish 2nd in the CCIW...or 6th.

[USee]

I always thought IWU was better than their record last year. They had a lot of things go against them. They were in the top 3 in the league in 8 important categories but they were one of the worst teams in the league in 2 important categories, red zone offense and 3rd down defense. If you don't take advantage of your opportunities to score and you can't get off the field you won't be very good. Those two categories, along with the poor running game and high number of sacks allowed, point to poor play up front. I think IWU has some really good skill players returning on both sides. If they can be better up front on both sides, they will compete for the CCIW title in my view.

[Gotberg]

north park roster is up:

http://athletics.northpark.edu/roster.aspx?path=football

[Gregory Sager]

Filo Langkilde is most definitely back. I'm not sure why Mark thinks he isn't. Perhaps he was looking in the wrong place on the online roster, since Filo's got a new number this year, #5.

Conway to Childress.  Conway to Conway.

You forgot Conway to Burton. Anthony Burton caught 36 passes for 460 yards and two touchdowns last season. He's an outstanding athlete with great burst, and he's a veteran. I think he's going to have a big senior year and will help take some of the defensive focus off of Dakota Conway and Devin Childress. You also forgot Conway to Hood. Cody Hood wasn't in school last year, but as a freshman two years ago he had a 71-yard touchdown catch at Augustana and a 53-yard touchdown catch at Millikin. He'll help stretch the field for T.D. Conway. I think that more is expected from sophomores Mark Ojomu and Denton Delgado (who missed most of last season after breaking his leg at Alma), and there's some freshman WRs whom the coaches like as well.

the Vikings have a huge gap running the pigskin.  My troglodyte mind thinks you have to run the ball, not just as a gesture, to allow the D time to rest.

NPU should definitely have a better running game this year than the Vikes had in 2014, because: a) the offensive line, which returns four starters, should definitely be better; and b) the RB corps is deeper and more talented, albeit less experienced. Aside from senior Langkilde, who is the big banger among the North Park RBs, there's three incoming freshmen running backs upon whom Mike Conway is very high: Alfred Soboyejo IV, a Las Vegas product whose parents were both D1 scholarship sprinters; Matthew Chapp, a local kid from Riverside-Brookfield HS; and Uluao Letuli, who, like Langkilde, is one of the Samoan contingent, and who may have the best upside of all the RB candidates but is coming off of an injury. John Wilkinson, who missed all of last season due to a leg injury suffered in the preseason scrimmage against Olivet Nazarene, is back as well. The coaching staff was very high on him last season, and if he's fully recovered he'll be in the mix at RB, too.

And North Park has never had depth on D.

That's true, and I'm certainly not making any promises in that category for this season, either. But the Vikings have some nice pieces on that side of the ball, too. Hunter Corrigan, who was really solid as a junior, is poised to have a great senior season at DE. Mark Mamola and Austin Regel have big shoes to fill beside Corrigan on the DL, replacing two outstanding graduates in Matt Leibforth and Trevor Forker, but the coaching staff feels that they're up to the challenge. The Vikings have experience at the LB spots, and I think that Chaun Maiava has a chance to be one of the CCIW's breakout stars on defense. In the secondary, there are six returnees who saw playing time last season, and Mike Conway is really excited about one of the new Floridians, Frantz Dorcely, who could contribute right away. All in all, though, I think that the defense has more question marks than the offense.

NPU had media day on Saturday, in which the Vikings broke out their new road uniforms. There are 96 players on the roster, so (at least initially) the team is about twice the size of what Mike Conway inherited when he took over two and a half years ago. Mike is pretty excited about this incoming freshman class, and the sentiment seems to be that it's deeper and has more potential standouts than last year's freshmen class -- and last year's freshman class was the best that North Park's had in decades. There's only eleven seniors on the roster, so this is still a very young team.

Expectations are high everywhere, of course, since preseason is the time of year when every coach raves about his team and every fan dreams about a season that improves upon last year (unless you're a fan of Purple One or Purple Two, of course, in which case you're dreaming about the same old, same old). North Park is certainly no exception, and therefore there's no point to me hyping this team in terms of where it could finish. But the feeling at Foster & Kedzie is that, even with a tougher schedule than last season's, the Park expects a significant improvement over 2014.