FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[02 Warhawk]

^ will the lone SUNY Maritime voter, PLEASE.....STAND......UP....

...and take a bow!! 

Finishing undefeated deserves some love

[BoBo]

^ yes, I wanted to give my congratulations to the pollster who thought enough to do such a kind and considerate thing.  

Other pollsters, shame on you!! 

[John Gleich]

I don't think there is a conspiracy to not schedule UWW or the WIAC, but there's simply no motivation to do it.  The weaker teams don't need the beating, and the stronger teams eventually benefit in the playoffs by not doing it (as we've seen this year).

Frankly, they only team that would be motivated would be an unusually strong team from a traditionally weaker conference.  They probably can't get a Pool C bid anyway, so a loss isn't damaging, and they will gain big experience (and survive the physical beat down) that they can take back to their league to claim the AQ.

A couple years ago at the NCAA Convention, Gary Karner (WIAC commissioner) called a meeting for as many Midwest ADs and Presidents as he could gather. (The word is he may have been somewhat less than forhtright about the purpose of the meeting in order to get them there.)  His message was "You guys have to play us in football."  The overwhelming answer was a laugh out loud, followed by "No, we don't".  And they were right, they don't have to.  The negatives severly outweigh the positives for them.  As long as they can fill their non-conference schedules, they don't have to pick up the phone when the WIAC calls.

We in the WIAC can hate it, and stamp our feet and call them names, but it doesn't change the fact that they have no significant motivation to play us.  Until that exists, this continues.

This isn't just a football problem.  The other defending national champion in a major sport (UWSP men's basketball) had a terrible time scheduling this year too... to the point where they're playing 4 games in 4 days in two tournaments out in Las Vegas and Phoenix.  They have just 3 home non-conference games.  Teams that had agreed to home-and-home agreements broke them.

Now, a single loss in basketball likely won't a lost season make (at least not to the extent this would happen in football) but there is very little motivation to play too many tough games (from a numbers standpoint)

[02 Warhawk]

But I think NCC is a better team than STU...but's that an irrelevant debate  

Reasons for this assertion please.

Sorry Bobo....you're my boy, but I don't look at common opponents that way when comparing teams. For me, it has to be a direct common opponent, like how UWEC is to NCC and UWW. Once you start playing 6 Degrees of Separation when comparing common opponents, you start to lose its validity.  

retagent: I'm not saying that STU isn't a solid team, but I'm just putting NCC on a very high pedestal this season. They have always had a very good offense, but this year they are bringing an even better defense to the playoffs. They stormed through one of the toughest conferences without breaking much of a sweat, judging by the final scores. Then all this hype was built up when NCC had to go on the road and play the #1 team in the region (at the time). That game turned out to be a 22-point laugher. I for one fear them the most (apart from UMU), and the fact that I have to travel to Naperville to watch the 'hawks play them scares me a little (if both teams make it to week 3 of course).

NCAA Ranks
Passing Defense: 52
Rushing Defense: 3
Overall: 6

Passing Offense: 109 (i'm guessing they don't pass much with the game in-hand in the second half)
Rushing Offense: 22
Overall: 33

I knew retagent will be reading this so I double checked my grammar and spelling  

[02 Warhawk]

^ yes, I wanted to give my congratulations to the pollster who thought enough to do such a kind and considerate thing.  

Other pollsters, shame on you!! 

by dinging my karma

[fredfalcon]

Congrats to Ryan Luessenheide, RF QB, and Chad Blair, RF kicker, for winning WIAC players of the week honors. Very unusual for two players from the same team to do that  trick.
And a special kudo to John OGrady for finishing on a winning note. A group of former players, including Adam Kowles, current Hudson HS coach and former WIAC player of the year in 1998, had a huge poster pinned to the fence at Eau Claire. It read "John OGrady. Influencing lives one player at a time." Also on the poster were the names of what I'd guess were 75 or more  former players. It was an impressive tribute to a coach who's held in high regard by many, many of his  former players.

[BoBo]

But I think NCC is a better team than STU...but's that an irrelevant debate  

Reasons for this assertion please.

Sorry Bobo....you're my boy, but I don't look at common opponents that way when comparing teams.

I was just repeating the 'evidence' I've read on this page and the CCIW page when NCC/CCIW supporters attempted to justify their assertion in the days leading up to the playoff brackets that NCC should've been seeded higher than UST. They have used this meandering game sequence to try to prove their case. I'm just the innocent messenger!! 

[retagent]

Thanks 02. Since I haven't paid close attention to, and don't know much about the CCIW, other than what I read regarding Carthage in the Kenosha paper, I need some "teachin' up." What I do know is that Carthage seems to be a middle of the pack team in that conference, and they don't seem to compare well with middle of the pack WIAC, or  MIAC teams (from what I can tell). I guess we will see.

[Pat Coleman]

including Adam Kowles

Forever known in my mind as "that guy I used to pinch-run for in baseball in high school."

[UniqueInsight38]

One of the most interesting things about the playoffs this year is:

UW-RF's non-conference teams all made it to the playoffs but:

NONE of them are even close to UWW.  The ability and talent level of UWW is way above any of those three teams.   Also I believe that NCC will more than likely get knocked off and that final game will be at Whitewater.

Also UW-Stevens Point is better than any of those non-conference opponents.

[footballfan413]

One of the most interesting things about the playoffs this year is:

UW-RF's non-conference teams all made it to the playoffs but:

NONE of them are even close to UWW.  The ability and talent level of UWW is way above any of those three teams.   Also I believe that NCC will more than likely get knocked off and that final game will be at Whitewater.

Also UW-Stevens Point is better than any of those non-conference opponents.

Ah, very interesting, 38.  I had forgotten how tough the Falcons NC schedule was and none were blow out losses by any means considering they ended the season 1-9.  The first 2 games were road games for RF as well.

Overall: 1-9 - Conference: 1-6
9/2    at Ohio Northern    L, 35-21    
9/11    at St. Thomas •    L, 27-3    
9/18    vs. Trine            L, 35-14    
9/25    vs. UW-Oshkosh * •    L, 43-15    
10/2    vs. UW-Stout * •       L, 24-7    
10/9    at UW-La Crosse * •    L, 37-20    
10/23    vs. UW-Whitewater * •    L, 63-14    
10/30    at UW-Platteville * •    L, 38-17    
11/6    vs. UW-Stevens Point * •    L, 58-13    
11/13    at UW-Eau Claire * •    W, 45-42    

One little correction, if both win first 2 games, we meet the Cardinals in the 3rd games so a loss by them will send the opponent to the Perk in the 3rd game but the semi-final will be played on the road for the Hawks unless a 3rd seed wins the South region, (both Wesley and UMHB lose,) and I really don't see that happening.  That is the extra gift the selection committee gave us by seeding the North Region 4th overall!  
And yes, I would take the Pointers in at least 2 of those games if not 3 because, if you are right and NCC gets knocked off, I expect Ohio Northern to be the one who does it.

[footballfan413]

Thanks 02. Since I haven't paid close attention to, and don't know much about the CCIW, other than what I read regarding Carthage in the Kenosha paper, I need some "teachin' up." What I do know is that Carthage seems to be a middle of the pack team in that conference, and they don't seem to compare well with middle of the pack WIAC, or  MIAC teams (from what I can tell). I guess we will see.

The TOP of the CCIW is always tough and that hasn't been Carthage for awhile.  NCC/Wheaton have held the top spots recently along with the occasional upstart like IWU last year.  Augie has a rich history but not so much as of late.  The bottom half, very weak, but whoever rises to the top every year could take the vast majority of the top of most D-3 conferences, I suspect, except the WIAC, OAC, MIAC, NWC, etc.  A number of those schools recruited my son and most are in my, "backyard," so I am  somewhat familiar with the conference.  Just my 02 cents.

[retagent]

Thanks. It sounds similar to all other conferences. Most seem to have a top tier, middle tier and lower tier, with some, but not much interchange. The question is always; How do the top teams compare with other conference's top teams? The Playoffs answer this question in any given year - Thank goodness.

[skunks_sidekick]

One of the most interesting things about the playoffs this year is:

UW-RF's non-conference teams all made it to the playoffs but:

NONE of them are even close to UWW.  The ability and talent level of UWW is way above any of those three teams.   Also I believe that NCC will more than likely get knocked off and that final game will be at Whitewater.

Also UW-Stevens Point is better than any of those non-conference opponents.

Wow........bold statement considering the team was 1-9.  Methinks maybe you are just a tad bit biased in that observation.   

[skunks_sidekick]

One of the most interesting things about the playoffs this year is:

UW-RF's non-conference teams all made it to the playoffs but:

NONE of them are even close to UWW.  The ability and talent level of UWW is way above any of those three teams.   Also I believe that NCC will more than likely get knocked off and that final game will be at Whitewater.

Also UW-Stevens Point is better than any of those non-conference opponents.

Wow........bold statement considering the team was 1-9.  Methinks maybe you are just a tad bit biased in that observation.   

Ooops...now realize you were talking about Stevens Point......well at least that has a bit more credibility.