Best thing of the week was watching the FSN replay of the Stout victory over La Crosse and the commentator who happened to be the QB of the Johnnies in the 2000 playoff game against stout made the comment that the 2000 UW-Stout team was the best team he ever played.  His team lost in the championship to Mt. Union.  He also commented that the Stout defense had a goal to beat the crap out of him each play. 

After reading the good ole days story for UWW, it made me a little sadened that my alma mater has fallen since my days in pads.  I love to watch games in Menomonie, but it definitely is not like it used to be when they always filled the new stadium.  I am not sure they win another game this year as the lower tier WIAC teams are road games for the Stout squad and with only 2 home games left I am worried to think they will go 2-8 losing to 8 WIAC teams for the first time ever including when Superior fielded a team.  I sure hope Stout can figure it out for the remainder of the year.

Didn't Oshkosh finish in the lower half of the WIAC and with a losing record?  I do not see this team making it over the hump anytime soon much less compete with UWW.  UWW had some history behind them before their recent Championship run, but UW0 does not really have that past history even in the conference.

It seems to me that this is a pattern with this 2010 UWW team.  Slow first half by their standards with several games having a lead less than 2 touchdowns.  Against the top teams, this will not work in their favor.  They will not win the Championship if they continue to come out slow and act like they do not need to play 4 quarters.

Only Divison 3 teams count toward the strength of schedule. 

Who will get the better coach: UWL of UWRF?

Quote from: PointSpecial on October 25, 2010, 06:17:33 PM

Quote from: WarhawkDad on October 25, 2010, 03:55:09 PM

Quote from: Devil Badger Gopher on October 25, 2010, 03:01:54 PM

Quote from: MasterJedi on October 23, 2010, 10:21:36 PM
I noticed something reading the recap on RF's website. All the players listed are from MN, maybe that's why they don't have the best talent? The people from Minnesota mostly have to have been picked over by all the DI, II and III schools their first before deciding to come to RF.

This is the quote.  A lot more talent in Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro area than all of Wisconsin.  They can fuel all of their D2 programs, Iowa and Wisconsin as Gophers do not get the best ones, and the top D3's in the state, St. John's, St. Thomas, and rest of MIAC.  One sample score from a HS border battle 42-3 Minnetonka over Stevens Point.  This is a clear example of how two of the largest schools in both states match up against each other with talent.

The sentence in question has a question mark after it inviting discussion.  It is not a statement.  From my perspective, talent comes from everywhere, but the ability to attract depth of talent may be based upon the success of the program and proximity to areas of density of talent.  UWW attracts from the Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago area where you have a huge number of high schools.  The success of the program then helps promote the program.

It's impossible to compare two entire states based on one score.  And furthermore, there's a lot more that goes into the quality of an athletic program other than just enrollment.  The top program division in Illinois this season is 7a (enrollment threshhold: 2023-2603), not 8a (largest schools) and the best school (Wheaton Warrenville South - 2321) is dwarved by some of the 8a schools.  There are 77 schools with a greater enrollment.

Just because SPASH is one of the schools with the highest enrollment doesn't mean they are indicitive of the level of competition from the entire state.

On the game I mentioned above from the border battle between Wisconsin and Minnesota.  It looks even worse for Wisconsin now that Minnetonka has gone 4-4 on the season.  SPASH is 6-3.  These are two public schools in the largest division that produce some blue chip players and other college level talent year in and out.  Tiny sample size, but example at talent level comarison for that sample size.

Quote from: MasterJedi on October 23, 2010, 10:21:36 PM
I noticed something reading the recap on RF's website. All the players listed are from MN, maybe that's why they don't have the best talent? The people from Minnesota mostly have to have been picked over by all the DI, II and III schools their first before deciding to come to RF.

This is the quote.  A lot more talent in Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro area than all of Wisconsin.  They can fuel all of their D2 programs, Iowa and Wisconsin as Gophers do not get the best ones, and the top D3's in the state, St. John's, St. Thomas, and rest of MIAC.  One sample score from a HS border battle 42-3 Minnetonka over Stevens Point.  This is a clear example of how two of the largest schools in both states match up against each other with talent.

Quote from: WarhawkDad on October 25, 2010, 01:07:12 PM

Quote from: Assassin14 on October 24, 2010, 01:28:08 AM
Hope alot of these young minnesota players from UWRF stay at UWRF in the coming years!  Seems they have a few decent young players in Adams, Mandoza, Bjorkland, Mehan, Brandt, and Udeh to name those listed in the recap! Things will get better there for sure!

Not to interpret for the original poster, but as I read this post, I believe Assassin is saying that he wants the recruits to (not transfer) stay at RF because they are going to get better and help improve the program.  He concludes by saying, "Things will get better there for sure".   So I think this was meant as a compliment not an insult.

WarhawkDad

There was a quote before the one you quoted.  I will find and quote in next post.

Like I said last week, no other team will make playoffs besides UWW.  This does take away from the rest of the conference since UWW has played an extra 3 seasons in the past 5 years including this post season based on extra practices.  Biggest factor against rest of WIAC trying to unseed UWW.  I thought I saw the future when I mentioned RF will go winless prior to conference play, that looks to be one more game away from a lock.  Still cannot believe the comment about Minnesota having bad recruits and that is why RF is bad.  This must be why ILL and NW are so good recruiting Chicago.  Schools, money, programs are some of the strongest recruiting tools.  Glad to see Stout took it to Eau Claire.  My experience has EC always being too arrogant in what they really are, another school in NW Wisconsin.  Sorry for the rant, but with Badgers W and last night's game, been preoccupied outside of D3. 

USee,   good point, but not seeing them getting in at 8-2 and dont see them going 8-2

This is the first time since I can remember that, IMO, all games are meaningless towards playoffs as UWW will win out and no one else has shot at playoffs.  It does suck to be good in the WIAC if you are not great.  Lots of football to play.  Let's go Stout, kick some ass and let it all hang out.

UWS-7
UWSP-3
3 1/2 to go in 1st q

Quote from: BoBo on October 15, 2010, 12:01:29 PM
This might be one very good reason for Keith's take (hijacked from the ATN thread):

Quote from: HScoach on October 08, 2010, 08:01:42 AM

Quote from: K-Mack on September 30, 2010, 08:53:32 PM
Awesome. I am clearly not writing about anything that anyone cares to discuss.

(takes a load off)

.......sound of crickets chirping..........

If you want someone to comment about your article, write about how vulnerable the #1 is! That always gets people's attention. It's somewhat odd, however, that he didn't mention that little thing called UW-EC/UW-Platteville in the analysis...(YIKES)!! Personally, I would have mentioned the long bus trip on Saturday morning as potentially having a greater impact than the sum total of everything he did say.

Bobo,
I am not sure other people realize how big of an effect that is on these players.  especially for a team as UWW has had the opportunity to stay in several hotels prior to their big games .  Much earsier to travel before game day than prior to the actual game.  I am thinking 42 pts. on UWEC and A.a. gets player of the week honors and lets his brethern rest the week.

Quote from: Beyond Prime on October 09, 2010, 06:43:21 PM
A fiend asked me earlier in the season if it was a good thing that O'Grady announced his retirement at the beginning of the season, or wait until the end. My response was the announcement could have one of two effects. Motivate the team, such we are seeing right now with Michigan State, or deflate the team. After today's loss to La Crosse, it looks like it is the later.

RF didn't lose that much talent and actually should have gained ground this year because they played very young last year. Yet, if you see them in the game, it is in the first half. The second half has been usually down hill. So it looks like the team is already starting to hang up their cleats and waiting to see what will happen for next season.

What does everyone else think?

I stand by my quote earlier this season when I said they would go 0-7 based on past performances and the coach announcing retirement prior to season.  Without their stud RB, I see them really falling off towards the end of the year.