There are always a few extra activities going on surrounding homecoming week, and this year’s homecoming was no exception. We were fortunate enough to have former Notre Dame head football coach, Jerry Faust speak on campus and attend a Thursday afternoon practice.
Having a man who once held such a prestigious position address the team after our practice was quite an honor. He handed our program plenty of genuine compliments and it was a thrill to see him get fired up as he stressed to us the importance of team ball. I was impressed with the amount of knowledge he had of our program from over the years and it was flattering to hear him say that he would be following us in the paper in the following weeks. We were fortunate enough to have had the experience of meeting Coach Faust as it was a positive note heading into Week 8 as we took on Illinois Wesleyan University.
The Titans came to Rock Island with a 1-4 record, but records are thrown out the window bearing in mind the tradition this game has held throughout the years. Though Augustana has won 18 of the last 24 meetings, including the last four contests, Coach Barnes was quick to remind us that Wesleyan is the only school in our conference that still has the edge over us in the overall win-loss column.
As the defense played well again, the game broke open in the second half as fullback Mike Guzman tied a school record when he made his way to the end zone from 97 yards out. The final score was 41-15 as the senior class walked away knowing they were one of a few Augie classes that had never lost to IWU.
This Saturday we head down to Decatur to take on the Big Blue of Millikin. I have been looking forward to this game because one, they are a tough team with plenty of athletes, and two, one of my good friends from high school plays for them. Max Warner, our high school quarterback has found himself on the other side of the ball at Millikin and since then there has been plenty of good natured trash talk.
As a team we look forward to the challenge Millikin brings us this Saturday as every game from here on out is our biggest game yet. There is no doubt this will be a hard fought game on both sides of the ball. Just hope no flags get thrown if I meet Max on the field.
I wish the entire Augustana team the best as they go to kick some Millikin you-know-what.
As an Augie alum I follow the teams progress all the time. Bring home another win for the loyal alumni who can’t wait for the score to arrive!
You are correct, every game from here on out is the biggest game of the season. I know our players have the mental toughness to take that challenge on, and run the hell out of that ball!
Good luck and win for all of the people like me who count on Augie to play like winners and carry on the tradition of victory and success.
Good comments on the strengths of both the MWC and CCIW, although I’ll have to agree the the CCIW has better teams. If you watch enough games of teams in both conferences you will see that the difference is speed. CCIW players have it on both sides of the ball and MWC teams don’t. As for Monmouth, they seem to have more Illinois small high school players on the team as compared to Augie who has more larger school players ie Suburban Chicago schools.
ftblfan makes a good point.
Check out this link for the Massey rankings for teams and conferences.
http://www.masseyratings.com
Monmouth should look at leaving the MWC and joining the CCIW, geographically it makes sense, the Scotts should take their lumps in the CCIW and try to build a program to compete in the CCIW as well as nationally. I see no sense in KILLING teams in the MWC each year only to lose in the 1st round of the playoff’s. Go for the gusto Scotts!!
There is only one T in Scots!!!
You are correct a lot of players on MC’s roster come from smaller schools but they just so happen to be smaller schools that have competed at a very high level.
The gamebreakers for MC are players that could have played on even the best D3 teams and in even the “best” D3 conferences.
I have a question have any of you MC bashers actually seen us play withing the last decade?
The program took a dramatic change in 2000 (maybe 99 sorry coaches) when they cleaned house, brought in a new coaching staff, and built a 23 million dollar training facility. The players at MC are bigger, stronger and faster than they have ever been. Come out and watch us play, then take your shots if you will. Right now you guys are shouting down the MC ghost of old. This is not your grandma’s fighting SCOTS team.
Out.