FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[SpartanHouse]

All starters played the majority of the first half with the exception of #23, #5 and #3. They played two series.

[CardinalAlum]

Game day notes.  As expected, three freshmen in the two deep at WR.  Watch Dennis, he's a special athlete.  I am surprised to see a freshman listed as a starter on the O-Line. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/documents/2017/8/30//fb_090217_notes.pdf?id=3285

[Mugsy]

Game day notes.  As expected, three freshmen in the two deep at WR.  Watch Dennis, he's a special athlete.  I am surprised to see a freshman listed as a starter on the O-Line. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/documents/2017/8/30//fb_090217_notes.pdf?id=3285

Isn't Kyle Fiedorowicz at TE?  I swear he still has eligibility.  Didn't he play for about 9 years?   

[USee]

For the Thunder their formula for this year is pretty simple. With 10 starters back on defense and D1 transfer as the 11th, and with 9 starters back on offense their ultimate fate rests in the development of their QB. They are going to compete in every game they play because of the level of talent on the team at every position. Not only do they return all those starters but there are backups at almost every position who have playing experience. They even have two returning starters at Kicker. Never seen that before.

The only other potential weakness, which we saw last year, is the depth on the OLine. They had some injuries there last year and their ability to compete against MHB was impacted as they had to play some younger guys in the playoffs. But last year's pain is this year's strength as all those players return so depth is less of a concern.

If Wheaton gets average production from their QB they could have a similar year to last year. If they get efficiency combined with playmaking from that position, they can go farther than last year in my opinion. If their QB position makes more mistakes than plays, Wheaton will have a disappointing season. If it's me, I keep the QB from losing games early in the schedule, develop some confidence and see what you have, then open up the playbook against the big dogs. But I have been wrong about QB before so what do I know.

I am excited about this year's team and the CCIW race. To me NCC and Wheaton have separated themselves from the pack and elevated their programs closer to the top tier of D3 than ever before.

[AndOne]

USee,

From what you know at this point, do you judge the degree of probability of your team finishing the season with a different QB than the one who starts the opening game as low, medium, or high?

[USee]

With the DL that NCC and Wheaton has I think there is a high probability of QB turnover in the league!

That said I think the Wheaton coaches have settled on a guy and if he does well that's it.  So turnover at QB would not be good for The Thunder.

[AndOne]

Both of NCC's listed starters at CB, Nate Bailey & Zach Greenberg, are sophs from Naperville Neuqua Valley. What are the chances? The Wildcats must have had a pretty formidable D backfield in 2015.

[Titan Q]

Norm Eash with WJBC's Eric Stock, talking about the season (video)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=64&v=fHgmTwhj5aQ

[CardinalAlum]

Game day notes.  As expected, three freshmen in the two deep at WR.  Watch Dennis, he's a special athlete.  I am surprised to see a freshman listed as a starter on the O-Line. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/documents/2017/8/30//fb_090217_notes.pdf?id=3285

Isn't Kyle Fiedorowicz at TE?  I swear he still has eligibility.  Didn't he play for about 9 years?   

Similar to Zachary Lindquist...he has to have his Wheaton Doctorate by now!      Ah yes, I missed Mugsy....ok, not really!   

[augie77]

In Thursday night football, Millikin squeaked by Greenville 76-3.

[Mugsy]

In Thursday night football, Millikin squeaked by Greenville 76-3.

I know Millikin has improved the past few years, but how bad must Greenville be?

[Mugsy]

Game day notes.  As expected, three freshmen in the two deep at WR.  Watch Dennis, he's a special athlete.  I am surprised to see a freshman listed as a starter on the O-Line. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/documents/2017/8/30//fb_090217_notes.pdf?id=3285

Isn't Kyle Fiedorowicz at TE?  I swear he still has eligibility.  Didn't he play for about 9 years?   

Similar to Zachary Lindquist...he has to have his Wheaton Doctorate by now!      Ah yes, I missed Mugsy....ok, not really!   

Who else tee's up responses for you like me?

[USee]

Norm Eash with WJBC's Eric Stock, talking about the season (video)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=64&v=fHgmTwhj5aQ

Nothing new here other than some classic Norm speak. Says he will use both QB's and he hasn't decided which will start (with a smirk). Also said Wilkey will move from starting safety to LB, which is news. Hassan, Akin and Wilkey are the LB's. He says only real question on offense is at RB. I have some questions at RB and WR. Norm said they have a lot of talent at WR. That may be true, but they have little to no experience.

I would be surprised if Jack Warner wasn't the starter this weekend against UWW. We will know quickly what we have with IWU. They play 3 top 7 teams in the first 5 weeks of the year.

[AndOne]

Game day notes.  As expected, three freshmen in the two deep at WR.  Watch Dennis, he's a special athlete.  I am surprised to see a freshman listed as a starter on the O-Line. 

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/documents/2017/8/30//fb_090217_notes.pdf?id=3285

Isn't Kyle Fiedorowicz at TE?  I swear he still has eligibility.  Didn't he play for about 9 years?   

Kyle Fiedorowicz who originally came to NCC to play basketball.   

[Gregory Sager]

In Thursday night football, Millikin squeaked by Greenville 76-3.

I know Millikin has improved the past few years, but how bad must Greenville be?

The Panthers went 2-8 last season, finishing 2-7 and eighth in the nine-team UMAC. I've gotta think that the UMAC is either considered the bottom of the barrel among D3 football leagues, or close to it.

Last season the two teams opened up at Greenville, and Millikin walked away with a deceptive-looking 40-21 victory -- deceptive-looking because the score was 40-0 midway through the third quarter when Dan Gritti yanked his starters. Gritti removed his starters last night after MU had scored a touchdown that put the Big Blue up, 55-3, with nine minutes to go in the third. So there's probably not much deviation from last season. MU might be a little better, Greenville might be a little worse.

Next week the Big Blue have to travel to Terre Haute to play Rose-Hulman. The Engineers shouldn't be a pushover, so we should get a better read on Jimmy Millikin by the end of the evening a week from tomorrow.

Nicco Stepina threw seven touchdown passes. Nice work, if you can get it.