FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

For what it's worth on his Twitter Zurek said he was looking forward to playing.

[HCAlum86]

UWW is still the team with the ring on their finger, but I am looking forward to this game. I think Wabash is able to give any team in the country a run for their money when they play complementary football.

[Dickison85]

Were the Wabash boosters the ones that brought that motor home to Perkins Stadium  to tailgate the last time you guys were here?

YES! We brought a bunch of folks and got there early. We sort of upset the parents of the stud Sr. DB you had back then but they eventually came around and appreciated our devotion. We also had a big-ass grills that an alum towed up from Lake Geneva complete with employees to take care of everything. We will NEVER forget that weather - crazy. I am not sure we will bring same number of fans but never know. I do think our product is MUCH improved from that 07 team. That year we had our season starting ab who had been out all season come back and coaches started him which may have been a mistake as the team had been cruising behind Matt Hudson but who knows. I know we are anxious to see where we stack up.

[badgerwarhawk]

I remember that motorhome and the crazy tailgate affair you guys had going.  Safe travels and we look forward to seeing you. 

[bleedpurple]

Well, it was hard to tell if Whitewater looked extremely beatable or just took their foot off of the gas a little bit against Macalaster. Nonetheless, it will be an exciting matchup next week!

Wheaton also has not impressed me thus far against Benedictine.

And it seems as if most of our scorelines are close to on point as far as Wabash/Franklin!

Both, UWW only had starters in for the first series or two of the second half, backups are in now and they're not returning punts either. UWW always calls off the dogs a lot earlier then other teams.

Thanks for the insight! I figured as much.

Wabash is also a great team and should have a chance though too, as it has been noted, UWW has been having some offensive hiccups the last 4 weeks with Kumerow gone. I imagine he'll play next week though, and if he is 100% I don't think UWW loses, but there's always a chance. Wabash has a really good defense and anything can always happen.

I think the hiccups were, for the most part, cured on Sat...scoring on their first 5 possessions with little TOP and driving for another scoring opportunity before the half stopped them. Very efficient, Warhawk style ball. While they were having specific issues with big #1 (Kumerow) out, I think the Warhawks have re-discovered their offensive identity without him and will be just fine, granted they weren't entirely tested on Sat. In fact, they are probably further advanced in their offense compared to last year, but a little behind in regards to their defense. They surrendered yards between the 20's, (bent, but didn't break) and got the stops when they had to. Word is Jake is itching to get back, and probably could have played Sat, but LL smartly kept him out. Wasn't really needed anyway. Should be a blast at the Perk next Sat - interested to see in what ways Wabash has improved since the last time. In '07, the Wabash hype machine didn't quite measure up to the product I saw on the field. Hoping for a more competitive game, with of course the good guys in purple winning again - with both teams healthy and playing at a high level.

I agree that I think the UW-W has now settled in and are functioning well as an offense. Everyone is comfortable and pretty much thriving in their new roles. Also, a couple of new threats have emerged as a result of the change.

As far as Jake, I should probably elaborate on that, since I am the one that provided the original info. Based on everything I had heard, my conclusion/speculation was the Jake could have played Saturday. That was a "if this were the Stagg Bowl" kind of "could have played".  And it was based on people who know Jake. It was neither from coaches or from a doctor.   Jake is a competitor.  I know he is working hard and doing whatever he can do to get back on the field and very much IS "itching" to get back on the field.  Coach Leipold stated succinctly in the post-game press conference Saturday, "We don't know if we will get him back."  What I think we are seeing play out is that UW-W is going to do what is best for Jake.  I believe that when the doctors feel like Jake can return without undue risk of re-injury (there is always some risk of injury), then he will be on the field.  If/when he returns, I am fully confident we will see a fully functioning Jake Kumerow.  In other words, they aren't going to throw him out there as a decoy and risk re-injury.  The kid has a potential future beyond this level. Once again, I would guess Jake will be a "game-time decision". People get frustrated and suspect when they hear that. But when a kid is very close to being able to return, but isn't quite there yet on, say, Thursday, how else can the situation be described?  If the ankle is strong enough on Saturday to play, they are going to play him.  If not, then they won't. 

[HCAlum86]

Whitewater's stadium seats upwards of 12,000, correct?

[voice]

Set a conference and stadium record attendance of 13,627 mid-season and averaged a nation high 9,426 during the regular season.  It's a big stadium!

[badgerwarhawk]

But it will essentially be empty on Saturday. 

[HCAlum86]

But it will essentially be empty on Saturday.

Why is that? Just knowing Wabash I would be willing to bet that their following will contribute at least a couple hundred to that crowd.

Are 2nd round games just not that big of a draw at UWW as of late, given their immense success in the post-season for the past decade or so?

[wabashcpa]

I'm thinking more Thanksgiving break and lack of students that will be around.

[HCAlum86]

I'm thinking more Thanksgiving break and lack of students that will be around.

Earth to HCAlum

[Dr. Acula]

Yeah, this is always a tough weekend for playoff crowds.  I remember how much trouble we had even finding enough student employees to WORK the Thanksgiving weekend game, let alone attend as fans. 

[badgerwarhawk]

Deer hunting, weather, video broadcast availability and Thanksgiving break are probably the primary culprits but attendance during the playoffs has always been ridiculously sparse.

[Schwami]

As voice pointed out on the WIAC board, attendance last weekend was abysmal everywhere.

Wabash had only 1,258 in attendance for the Franklin game (season average 4,953).

I was surprised to see how few people were in the stands on the Franklin side, since they have a good reputation for traveling well.

[bashbrother]

Attendance for the 2007 game err.. Snow Show... Is listed at 2,335.

I would estimate that Wabash had 300-400 for that game... Was hard tell with the crazy weather.

What a fun road trip that was..  I remember the weather forecast was a 50% chance of snow when I landed at Midway in Chicago... By the time we got our rental car and made it to Rockford... It was. Winter Storm warning for Friday night and Saturday. Crazy.

Lastly, our first 4 possessions in that game ended with.. INT, 19 yard punt, INT, INT... 28-0... Brutal.

CC's last game at Wabash