Western Illinois

[2002jack]

http://www.khqa.com/sports/sports_story.aspx?id=27639

It looks like Western Illinois has completed their schedule.  There is a brief mention of SDSU and NDSU.

The Leathernecks will host both South Dakota State (Thur., Aug. 30) and North Dakota State (Sept. 29, Homecoming) in bookend home games to the five-game non-conference schedule. The two teams, which finished first and second in the Great West Conference a year ago, will be first-year members of the non-football Mid-Continent Conference. South Dakota State ended the season at No. 22 in the final 2006 Sports Network poll. League-champion North Dakota State notched a 10-1 record, including a win over Ball State and a 10-9 loss at Minnesota. The Bison, who were ranked No. 5 at the end of the season, will be the first non-Gateway team in Macomb for Homecoming since 2002, and only the second since 1990.

Read more. It looks like they put together a pretty good schedule.

[2002jack]

Re: Western Illinois

Here's the leathernecks' schedule

http://www.wiuathletics.com/SportSel...mp;SPSID=50030

 
 Thu, Aug 30   South Dakota State  Macomb, Ill.    6:05 p.m.    
 Sat, Sep 08   Illinois  at Champaign, Ill.    TBA    
 Sat, Sep 15   St. Francis (Ill.)  Macomb, Ill.    6:05 p.m.    
 Sat, Sep 22   Stephen F. Austin  at Nacogdoches, Texas    6 p.m.    
 Sat, Sep 29   North Dakota State (Homecoming)  Macomb, Ill.    1:05 p.m.    
 Sat, Oct 06   Indiana State *  at Terre Haute, Ind.    TBA    
 Sat, Oct 13   Missouri State (Hall of Fame) *  Macomb, Ill.    1:05 p.m.    
 Sat, Oct 20   Northern Iowa (Family Weekend) *  Macomb, Ill.    6:05 p.m.    
 Sat, Oct 27   Illinois State *  at Bloomington, Ill.    1:30 p.m.    
 Sat, Nov 03   Southern Illinois *  Macomb, Ill.    1:05 p.m.    
 Sat, Nov 10   Youngstown State *  at Youngstown, Ohio    Noon    
 Sat, Nov 24   NCAA Playoffs  at TBA    TBA  

[2002jack]

Re: Western Illinois

http://www.wiuathletics.com/SportSel...;Q_SEASON=2006


They went 5-6 last year (2-5 in the Gateway).  They beat UNI in Cedar Rapids.  Should be a tough test for the start of the season.

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[2002jack]

Re: Western Illinois

http://www.leathernecknation.com/

One of their forums.

[SloStang]

Re: Western Illinois

http://www.wiuathletics.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=50030&SPID=4963&DB_ OEM_ID=12000&KEY=&Q_SEASON=2006


They went 5-6 last year (2-5 in the Gateway).  They beat UNI in Cedar Rapids.  Should be a tough test for the start of the season.
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I agree that South Dakota State should be a tough test for Western Illinois, one I am sure the leathernecks are going to fail.  They also did not schedule a cream puff for homecoming.  NDSU ooch!!!

[2002jack]

Re: Western Illinois

Since I have nothing but time, I've volunteered to help the coaching staff by doing some early (perhaps premature) scouting.  I just spent ten minutes on the UWI web site looking over last years roster.  I would say that pretty much qualifies me as an expert.

http://www.wiuathletics.com/SportSel...RINTABLE_PAGE=

Herb Donaldson is there stud RB.  He gained 1400 yards in his sophomore season.

They lose their three year starting QB Steve LeFalce, their top WR Marco Thomas, and four starting O-Linemen (RG, LT, RT, C) to graduation.  They will 3 Jr. QB's that I would guess are competing for the starting position this fall.  Will Ducey (6'6" 220) would appear to have the early advantage.  Carl Sims will be their "go-to-guy" on the recieving core.  He had 521 recieving yards last season.


On defense they lose a starting DB.  It looks like they had alot of inconsistency and injuries on defense.  They only had three players start all eleven games.  Jerome Bennett (LB) had the most tackles with 101, he'll be a Senior.  Jason William (LB) was second on the team for tackles he'll be a Junior.

It looks like the key will be exploiting an inexperienced O-line and QB.

[bisonbacker]

Re: Western Illinois

http://www.leathernecknation.com/

One of their forums.

Holy Crap, I forgot about that forum and I posted there back in October of last year. My posts the most recent post and it's over 4 months old. Geez if that's all the fan interest they have locally that they can't keep one message board even somewhat updated it's no wonder they are considering dropping football, I have to go look at what their average attendance is, maybe the janitor, the guy that cuts the grass and ???? ;D

[2002jack]

Re: Western Illinois

Last I checked, I think our QB should be Will Ducey. I believe he will be a jr. this year. I liked him even before the job was given to Lafalce the last couple of years. But to be fair, Lafalce did seem to get better the last year or so as a starter. But Ducey is big (6'6&quot and mobile. He was a transfer from Mississippi. I look forward to seeing what he could do as a full time starter.

What has hurt WIU in the past is their inability to stop the run. Too many big plays went the distance for a TD. Their offense could seemingly score against most anyone. But the defense couldn't get enough stops. Especially against teams with a good running game. It was most painful to watch at times. Don't know if it was the scheme (they run the semi-trendy 3-5-5 system), or their lack of talent up front which was the primary issue there.

http://www.leathernecknation.com/Topic878-15-1.aspx

A post on the WIU forum.

[2002jack]

Re: Western Illinois

Macomb is a lot like Brookings. A small midwest college town of about 20,000 people. The University has an enrollment of about 13,000 with a commuter campus in Moline. It's about an 8.5 hour drive from Brookings and less than a 5 hour drive from KC, and Des Moines. I'm hoping we can get a descent crowd of Jacks fans at the game. Remember the game is on a Thursday night.

[thebluehatman]

Re: Western Illinois

Blue might be making a stop at that game. Could be a fun time.

[jackmd]

Re: Western Illinois

Macomb is a lot like Brookings.  A small midwest college town of about 20,000 people.  The University has an enrollment of about 13,000 with a commuter campus in Moline.  It's about an 8.5 hour drive from Brookings and less than a 5 hour drive from KC, and Des Moines.   I'm hoping we can get a descent crowd of Jacks fans at the game.  Remember the game is on a Thursday night.

I think my brother and I are going to make the trip, not sure yet depends on my schedule that week.

[Jacks99]

Re: Western Illinois

Thursday makes it tough, but do have a friend living close by....

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: Western Illinois

[quote author=2002jack link=1171752576/0#8 date=1172363273]Macomb is a lot like Brookings.  A small midwest college town of about 20,000 people.  The University has an enrollment of about 13,000 with a commuter campus in Moline.  It's about an 8.5 hour drive from Brookings and less than a 5 hour drive from KC, and Des Moines.   I'm hoping we can get a descent crowd of Jacks fans at the game.  Remember the game is on a Thursday night.

I think my brother and I are going to make the trip, not sure yet depends on my schedule that week.[/quote]

Bring alot of change. Illinois is a toll-booth state and they have alot of them.

[2002jack]

Re: Western Illinois

Time to quit talking about USD and to start focusing on our future conference foe and next seasons opening game. I perused their website. It looks like they started their spring practice last week.

[JackJD]

Re: Western Illinois

Met some folks from Western Illinois at an indoor track meet in Ames, IA in January. Nice people...knew all about the Jacks joining the Mid-Con and the Gateway. They also knew about how tough the football team was at the end of the year and they commented on the Jackrabbit women's basketball team.

Their women's teams are called the WesterWinds. Wonder what was wrong about calling their girls "leathernecks"?