FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[New Tradition]

I didn't think we would when Lenny left in 05, but we plugged in Wenger and he turned out to be better than Lenny.

I'm not so sure about that...

[usee]

About what?

[robertgoulet]

I didn't think we would when Lenny left in 05, but we plugged in Wenger and he turned out to be better than Lenny.

I'm not so sure about that...

Surely you can't be serious.

[usee]

RG,

I agree. Lenny Radtke was  a great LB at NCC and in the CCIW, but I can name about 10 other LB's I would put with him. The list Wenger is on is about 2 deep. Radke can't run anywhere near as fast as Wenger and simply wasn't as explosive. Radtke was like Rusty VanWetzinga from Augie in the 90's, Chip Parrish from Wheaton, Justin Knapp from Wheaton, or even Randy Wright even this year at Elmhurst. Wenger type guys?? I would say Jon Munch from IWU and maybe Chad Thorsen from Wheaton are the only two who are even close. Both those guys had NFL careers (in multiple camps but never made a team). Munch was an outside LB and was just as fast as Wenger but a taller, more athletic body type. Thorson was bigger, more physical (6'1" 245) but could run very well. Munch, Thorson, and Wenger were multi year POY's and the 1st two were in NFL camps. Thorson actually played in the Senior Bowl. Munch nearly made the Patriots team after one of their Super Bowl runs.

Radtke was good but he was a step below those guys in my opinion.

[emma17]

Three great names for linebackers- Thorsen, Munch and Wenger- I sure hope Wenger makes an NFL team.

Congrats to NCC, I was glad to see them ranked third in the fan poll- and not forth (and with at least some discussion at #2).   
 

[New Tradition]

I didn't think we would when Lenny left in 05, but we plugged in Wenger and he turned out to be better than Lenny.

I'm not so sure about that...

Surely you can't be serious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA

Lenny had 466 tackles to Wenger's 422.  Wenger also played 7.5 more games than Lenny between playoffs and the half a game he played his first senior year at Ohio Northern.  That means Lenny averaged 11.4 tackles per game to Wenger's 8.7.  And, as a whole, Wenger had a much better d-line to keep the offensive linemen off of him than Lenny did.  Was Wenger more explosive?  Certainly.  He was impressive because he really made contact with an exclamation point.  But I think that Lenny had a better nose for the ball and the numbers show it.

[WarhawkDad]

I didn't think we would when Lenny left in 05, but we plugged in Wenger and he turned out to be better than Lenny.

I'm not so sure about that...

Surely you can't be serious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA

Lenny had 466 tackles to Wenger's 422.  Wenger also played 7.5 more games than Lenny between playoffs and the half a game he played his first senior year at Ohio Northern.  That means Lenny averaged 11.4 tackles per game to Wenger's 8.7.  And, as a whole, Wenger had a much better d-line to keep the offensive linemen off of him than Lenny did.  Was Wenger more explosive?  Certainly.  He was impressive because he really made contact with an exclamation point.  But I think that Lenny had a better nose for the ball and the numbers show it.

I do not want to comment about which player might be better, but I would like to make an observation about statistics being misleading.  An excellent defensive player on an average team will have outstanding statisctics because they are often the one ending up having to make tackles.  The same player on a very good defense will still be an excellent player, but other players step up and make plays.

Without trying to promote UWW too much, I would like to use them as an example.  Not one defensive player on the D3football All American First or Second team, yet the defense as a unit was darn good. 

Just food for thought.  It may apply to your conversation. They actually could be very similar talent.

Happy Holidays

[CardinalAlum]

I didn't think we would when Lenny left in 05, but we plugged in Wenger and he turned out to be better than Lenny.

I'm not so sure about that...

Surely you can't be serious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA

Lenny had 466 tackles to Wenger's 422.  Wenger also played 7.5 more games than Lenny between playoffs and the half a game he played his first senior year at Ohio Northern.  That means Lenny averaged 11.4 tackles per game to Wenger's 8.7.  And, as a whole, Wenger had a much better d-line to keep the offensive linemen off of him than Lenny did.  Was Wenger more explosive?  Certainly.  He was impressive because he really made contact with an exclamation point.  But I think that Lenny had a better nose for the ball and the numbers show it.

Sorry, NT, this isn't close.  Radtke was an outstanding LB, but Wenger was at a whole higher level. 

[Mugsy]

I didn't think we would when Lenny left in 05, but we plugged in Wenger and he turned out to be better than Lenny.

I'm not so sure about that...

Surely you can't be serious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA

Lenny had 466 tackles to Wenger's 422.  Wenger also played 7.5 more games than Lenny between playoffs and the half a game he played his first senior year at Ohio Northern.  That means Lenny averaged 11.4 tackles per game to Wenger's 8.7.  And, as a whole, Wenger had a much better d-line to keep the offensive linemen off of him than Lenny did.  Was Wenger more explosive?  Certainly.  He was impressive because he really made contact with an exclamation point.  But I think that Lenny had a better nose for the ball and the numbers show it.

Sorry, NT, this isn't close.  Radtke was an outstanding LB, but Wenger was at a whole higher level. 

I'm in agreement as well.  As good as Radtke was, Wenger was better. I don't care if Radtke had 40 something more tackles.  Tackles are not the only measure of an LB's effectiveness.

[Mugsy]

Great article from the Titans website on the nature of being a practice squad player in the NFL.

http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/Practice-Squad-Players-Patiently-Wait-for-Opportunity/95fe4b73-76e3-480b-8fb6-d06b914c6c22

[usee]

mugsy,

Could you please refer to them as the Tennessee Titans. Otherwise some may think you have gone to the dark side! 

[Mr. Ypsi]

mugsy,

Could you please refer to them as the Tennessee Titans. Otherwise some may think you have gone to the dark side! 

I assume you mean UW-Oshkosh .

Or are you THAT scared of MY Titans?

[CardinalAlum]

mugsy,

Could you please refer to them as the Tennessee Titans. Otherwise some may think you have gone to the dark side! 

That was the first thing that popped into my head as well!!   

Here's hoping for a wonderful Holiday for all of you!  It's been another great year of CCIW play (well, better for some of us!).

[footballfan413]

Happy Holidays to the CCIW crew!  Hope it is filled with lots of  love, friends and family and that 2011 is one of hope, peace and prosperity for all!  It's almost next year!  

[badgerwarhawk]

I don't know any Lenny except the one on The Simpsons but if he was even close to Wenger, let alone better, he must have been one hell of a player.

Merry Christmas from the WIAC