FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BoBo]

I think MUC should go to 1-AA and go against teams like Montana if they're so great.....They always seem to think they're better than anybody else...

for the time being, I accept Mount's fans talking about their 10 national championships because they have earned the right to do so, exactly the way Linfield fans like yourself have earned the rights to the so-called "Streak" label that you guys like to drive home every opportunity you get, anyway you can.    Time to look into the mirror  - essentially, Mount fans and Linfield fans are attempting to reach the same conclusion, "..we're better than you." But, IMHO, the Mount Union argument is considerably stronger than yours.

Senior Y....

The big people's conference? http://www.wiacsports.com/ncaateam/index.html

47 National Championships since 2000!  Seven different schools! Hell! LaCrosses's Men's Track and Field is beginning to rival MUC football run.

Let's take a gander at why this conference does so well.....

CORRECTION:  Mount Union football was beginning to rival La Crosse Men's track and Field.    But, it's taken a slight detour!!  

For the record, I happen to know a partial reason for the WIAC's success. Unfortunately, I'm unable to give you any clues at this time. You're a smart guy, I'm sure if you guys put your noggins together, you will come up with the answer (it's quite simple, really!!).  

[bleedpurple]

The Blue guy and I are only reviving a 7-8 year old argument here, we know.

You mean you are, "reviving an old argument of 7-8 year olds"! 

The big people's conference? http://www.wiacsports.com/ncaateam/index.html

47 National Championships since 2000!  Seven different schools! Hell! LaCrosses's Men's Track and Field is beginning to rival MUC football run.

Let's take a gander at why this conference does so well.....

Great athletes, great coaches, great programs, great facilities (in some cases  ), but mostly I think it's the great message board posters.   

Actually the 47 National Championships statistic is an amazing accomplishment! Way to go WIAC! Any great athletes or parents of great athletes take note, WIAC is the way to go!

[badgerwarhawk]

Anybody up for beating a dead horse?  

[footballfan413]

                                 
                                        "$ize matter$"              

I guess that explains why (small/private) Mt. Union has 10 national titles.  And why (small/private) Augustana is still the only school with four consecutive national titles.

And state support is these days so lavish that WIAC schools may have to play each other twice due to travel restrictions.  (And why some Michigan public schools are investigating going private.)

You forgot to mention my favorite point about the difference in the tuition tags between private and public schools being much closer in reality than the sticker price suggests.  I was just told by a friend of mine that their child, who is a TOP player, (as in one of the best in the state,) in a sport other than football, was given a, "package," to a private D3 school from a well known and respected conference that would reduce the price tag from the published $45-50K to a mere $6K!    Academic money, "wink-wink,"  is a well known fact. Yes, in state tuition is usually cheaper than private tuition but in many cases, not enough to have nearly as as much of an impact on the final decision for many players as those that continue to raise this arguement would like us all to believe, IMHO.

I know, BW, the old dead horse, but with my new story to share, I just couldn't help myself!  

[HEMI_HAWK]

We drove to the game, good times. Lots of snow. Good food @ the tailgate. Here are some pics.

[BoBo]

bleedpurple named four of the simple reasons I couldn't tell you Blue and Doc. Sorry, I wanted you guys to come up with them. 

[retagent]

Before this gets "out of hand" since I have maybe been on both sides of the argument, I think that the resaon in the prominence of the WIAC in sports can be found in a couple of factors. First, and maybe foremost, is the fact that there are no D II schools in Wisconsin. Say what you will, I think a great percentage of kids coming out of high school look to schools "close to home." If you are not a D I type of athlete, that leaves a very attractive option of going to a less expensive D III state school. When I look at the majors of many of the UWW football players (the only WIAC school where I have any information) they have a quite significant percentage of Physical Education or Health and Human Performance majors. Most private colleges don't have those types of programs. Take from that what you will, but I don't think I'm going out on a limb here saying that most private colleges have higher academic requirements for entrance. State schools, I think, are tasked with educating a broader scope of students than private colleges due to their public status. Even though you can find many instances where athletes get financial aid, I think that the aid athletes get is similar to the aid non-athletes get at  private colleges. On average, I think that a WIAC attendee has less of a financial burden than a private school attendee.

The bottom line is, the rules are in place, and if the rules for being a D III in athletics are followed, the field is relatively even. The other thing to remember is the main reason for attending college is to get an education that prepares you for your future, and hopefully, provide a unique experience while doing so. Athletic prominence is just one of the things that contribute to that.

[TooForRaider]

Before this gets "out of hand" since I have maybe been on both sides of the argument, I think that the resaon in the prominence of the WIAC in sports can be found in a couple of factors. First, and maybe foremost, is the fact that there are no D II schools in Wisconsin. Say what you will, I think a great percentage of kids coming out of high school look to schools "close to home." If you are not a D I type of athlete, that leaves a very attractive option of going to a less expensive D III state school. When I look at the majors of many of the UWW football players (the only WIAC school where I have any information) they have a quite significant percentage of Physical Education or Health and Human Performance majors. Most private colleges don't have those types of programs. Take from that what you will, but I don't think I'm going out on a limb here saying that most private colleges have higher academic requirements for entrance. State schools, I think, are tasked with educating a broader scope of students than private colleges due to their public status. Even though you can find many instances where athletes get financial aid, I think that the aid athletes get is similar to the aid non-athletes get at  private colleges. On average, I think that a WIAC attendee has less of a financial burden than a private school attendee.

The bottom line is, the rules are in place, and if the rules for being a D III in athletics are followed, the field is relatively even. The other thing to remember is the main reason for attending college is to get an education that prepares you for your future, and hopefully, provide a unique experience while doing so. Athletic prominence is just one of the things that contribute to that.

Well said.

[bluenote]

This is fun...what's the next subject! 

[D O.C.]

Beating a dead Purple Raider?

[bleedpurple]

Before this gets "out of hand" since I have maybe been on both sides of the argument, I think that the resaon in the prominence of the WIAC in sports can be found in a couple of factors. First, and maybe foremost, is the fact that there are no D II schools in Wisconsin. Say what you will, I think a great percentage of kids coming out of high school look to schools "close to home." If you are not a D I type of athlete, that leaves a very attractive option of going to a less expensive D III state school. When I look at the majors of many of the UWW football players (the only WIAC school where I have any information) they have a quite significant percentage of Physical Education or Health and Human Performance majors. Most private colleges don't have those types of programs. Take from that what you will, but I don't think I'm going out on a limb here saying that most private colleges have higher academic requirements for entrance. State schools, I think, are tasked with educating a broader scope of students than private colleges due to their public status. Even though you can find many instances where athletes get financial aid, I think that the aid athletes get is similar to the aid non-athletes get at  private colleges. On average, I think that a WIAC attendee has less of a financial burden than a private school attendee.

The bottom line is, the rules are in place, and if the rules for being a D III in athletics are followed, the field is relatively even. The other thing to remember is the main reason for attending college is to get an education that prepares you for your future, and hopefully, provide a unique experience while doing so. Athletic prominence is just one of the things that contribute to that.

Well said.

I agree. Very well said.

[bleedpurple]

Beating a dead Purple Raider?

Wow, D O.C.!

Opening yourself up there a bit. If I were a Mount fan, I'd be very tempted to say something like,

"Maybe if Linfield had advanced far enough in the playoffs in the last 5 years to actually PLAY the Purple Raiders you would realize they are far from dead."

But then again, I should probably let them answer for themselves. I get myself in enough trouble responding to people taking shots at UWW and the WIAC! 

[TooForRaider]

Beating a dead Purple Raider?

Wow, D O.C.!

Opening yourself up there a bit. If I were a Mount fan, I'd be very tempted to say something like,

"Maybe if Linfield had advanced far enough in the playoffs in the last 5 years to actually PLAY the Purple Raiders you would realize they are far from dead."

But then again, I should probably let them answer for themselves. I get myself in enough trouble responding to people taking shots at UWW and the WIAC! 

Thanks, BP. Usually comments like that are so idiotic that they need little or no response. But, I think you did a pretty good job!

[warhawkindian]

The entire O benefitted this year from having consistency in coaching. Which included having the QB from the 07 champs stay with the program for 2 years as an assistant O coach and QB coach. All you have to do is look at the pros to see the benefits of having a system in place for an extended period of time. That's one reason MU is so good over time and now UWW. Or for that matter any of the top teams.  Same system,plug and play a good athlete and boom. 
For the Shorts lovers, Uh sorry but Shorts was not the best single player on the feild that day. IMHO. If he was it would have been the Rocco to Shorts call every play because #7 on UWW couldn't cover him so UWW changed up coverages. Did he get his, yes. Was he the MVP, no, winner or not, did he have the biggest impact on the feild that day, no. Was he a threat, sure.
But enough about all that.  Great game and I have watched it 3 times now with the same result. YEAH.

Even if Donovan had been 100 percent healthy last year in the Stagg Bowl it wouldn't have been the same. That extra year starting is a huge difference.

Jeff improved a lot from last year to this year.  His level of health had little to nothing to do with how he played in the Stagg Bowl last year. 

The hunger generated from getting there and losing helped motivate the entire team, including Jeff.  I'm sure he wanted to play better than he had last year and wanted to go out on top.

I'm sure spring helped to solidify his understanding of the offense and gave him opportunities to work on his technique and reads.


One thing that is being underrated IMO is the development of 3 really good receivers.  All 3 have their strengths and weaknesses but the bottom line is that they catch the ball when its thrown to them and they know all their routes.  That was a huge thing for Jeff, having guys that knew their stuff and were not only dependable but playmakers.

Coach Zebrowski also deserveds credit for working with Jeff and teaching him his offense and getting the most out of him.  Coach Z deservingly won that coordinator of the year this year because Jeff was his pet project and you can see that it turned out very well.

Consistency in coaching is big but the quality of that coaching is just as important.  Consistently bad coaching will produce consistently bad teams for instance.  But I do agree, the consistency in schemes and coaches as a whole is a big factor when considering sustained success. 

As you alluded to, talented players and an attractive facility and school also play into it.  Transfers have played key roles on UWW teams in recent years.  Lane Olson, Kyle Supianoski, Adam Brandes, Paul Wick, Jake Ustruck, Matt Weber, and more as starters from this team alone. 

And I do not understand how you can't see that Shorts was the best player on the field.  When one on one with one of Whitewaters most athletic and supposed best players in Shumpert, he was absolutely enforcing his will.  Troney couldn't pass interfere or do anything to stop him.  He was probably the fastest guy on the field and maybe the most athletic overall as well.  Whitewater has a trio of really good receivers and that kid was in a whole other class.  He was a smooth, confident athlete that was able to make plays and draw enough attention to keep his team in the game basically.

[Warhawk 96]

Before this gets "out of hand" since I have maybe been on both sides of the argument, I think that the resaon in the prominence of the WIAC in sports can be found in a couple of factors. First, and maybe foremost, is the fact that there are no D II schools in Wisconsin. Say what you will, I think a great percentage of kids coming out of high school look to schools "close to home." If you are not a D I type of athlete, that leaves a very attractive option of going to a less expensive D III state school. When I look at the majors of many of the UWW football players (the only WIAC school where I have any information) they have a quite significant percentage of Physical Education or Health and Human Performance majors. Most private colleges don't have those types of programs. Take from that what you will, but I don't think I'm going out on a limb here saying that most private colleges have higher academic requirements for entrance. State schools, I think, are tasked with educating a broader scope of students than private colleges due to their public status. Even though you can find many instances where athletes get financial aid, I think that the aid athletes get is similar to the aid non-athletes get at  private colleges. On average, I think that a WIAC attendee has less of a financial burden than a private school attendee.

The bottom line is, the rules are in place, and if the rules for being a D III in athletics are followed, the field is relatively even. The other thing to remember is the main reason for attending college is to get an education that prepares you for your future, and hopefully, provide a unique experience while doing so. Athletic prominence is just one of the things that contribute to that.

That's a pretty nice summary Retagent. Is your heart warming up to the Warhawk nation?