FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Barber Greene]

I am so thankful the Hawks won!

The Raider defense seemed to be in our backfield immediately all day. This was very bad! It was like they knew what we were going to run. The fact that we still moved the ball just enough was very impressive. The Raiders were very impressive.

I guess all we can say to them is "see ya next year! Same time, same place!

Much to the dismay of much of D3 Nation, there's a pretty good chance of this happening.  UW-W should be loaded on defense and, although they lose Blanchard, will be returning a Stagg Bowl winning QB who has been in the system for 3 years.  Given the centrality of a powerful running game to all UW-W does, I do hope they are able to add a "ready now" running back to the mix for next year.  We've been pretty spoiled by what we've had at running back for the last 8 years!

Bleed Purple,

How many starters return for the Warhawks? The Raiders return 14 which is pretty encouraging as well!

Raider, UWW graduates 18 from a 100 man roster the way I count it. Starters? Hard to count because the way the coaches shuffled people in and out, it's hard to know who was actually the starter in many cases (I've never seen a Whitewater 2 deep if it even exists). IMO, the key graduating seniors are Blanchard, Coppage, Allemand and Olson off the OL, TE Jason Ford, Greg Arnold, and DL Keeser and Casper & Kris Rosholt the punter who did such an outstanding job keeping Mount in poor field position. But, as bp indicated, how many schools can replace a graduating Stagg Bowl winning QB with another Stagg Bowl winning QB? Only guessing, but I bet that hasn't been done very often. 2011 Warhawks were really a soph/junior dominated outfit. Linebacker corps and DB's should be electrifying next year - that's with or without Steve McCollum and/or Josh Williams returning from injuries that kept them sidelined the entire season. Looking a lot like reloading for the Warhawks, too, my friend!! 

Bobo,

UWW posts a two deep every week or every other week on its website.

http://uwwsports.com/sports/2011/8/31/FB_0831114737.aspx

[Barber Greene]

I am so thankful the Hawks won!

The Raider defense seemed to be in our backfield immediately all day. This was very bad! It was like they knew what we were going to run. The fact that we still moved the ball just enough was very impressive. The Raiders were very impressive.

I guess all we can say to them is "see ya next year! Same time, same place!

Much to the dismay of much of D3 Nation, there's a pretty good chance of this happening.  UW-W should be loaded on defense and, although they lose Blanchard, will be returning a Stagg Bowl winning QB who has been in the system for 3 years.  Given the centrality of a powerful running game to all UW-W does, I do hope they are able to add a "ready now" running back to the mix for next year.  We've been pretty spoiled by what we've had at running back for the last 8 years!

Bleed Purple,

How many starters return for the Warhawks? The Raiders return 14 which is pretty encouraging as well!

bp, I hope you don't mind my answering.  This is something I was looking at last night so I have the numbers readily at hand.

Off the starting lineup in the Stagg Bowl on offense we lose six and return five.  Leaving are Robinson (WR), Ford (TE), Coppage (RB), Olson (RT), Blanchard (QB) and Allemand (LT).  Returning are Huber (WR), Seefelt (RG), Norris (LG), Tamsett (FB) and Hanson (C).  Defensively we lose five and return six.  Lost are Arnold (LB), Keeser (DT), Casper (DE), Overton (S) and Kiesow (CB).  Returning we have Wenkman (S), Wismer (LB), Cortez (LB), Hohlstein (DT), Minett (DE) and Timm (CB).   We also lose Rosholt (P) and return Kindler (K).  Of the 22 other player who saw action 3 were seniors, 7 were juniors, 9 were sophomores and 3 were freshman.  We'll also return several medical redshirts Josh Williams (LB), Aaron Samplawski (WR/KR), Steve McCollum (S) and I think there were a couple of tight ends and an offensive lineman though I don't know the status of those players.   

Oops, I see BoBo beat me to it.  In my defense I was interupted by a job related task.

Desmin Ward saw some action in the Stagg so I guess he is still on the team.  Interesting that Shane Covington is not on the final 2011 roster yet Jesse Hamilton is.  I assume that neither will be back next year?

[gobash83]

Congrats to UWW on its win on Friday night.  Your defense was just incredible.

I do have a question, if anyone can answer.  I was driving through downtown Indianapolis at 8:15 am on Saturday morning and saw a UWW bus traveling north on I-65.  Would that have been the team returning? 

[emma17]

I fear any discussion on the game plan will fall into the category of nitpicking or arm-chair quarterbacking.   I hope my post isn't taken that way, it's just a discussion on offensive style.   
First, I believe luck or Pilotto missing a receiver had nearly Nothing to do with UWW's victory Friday.  I think the coaching staff knew exactly where UWW had the advantage and they called the gameplan accordingly. I believe the staff was very aware that this was a game between teams loaded with very good/excellent DIII players and NOT an NFL caliber receiver (as one poster accurately stated way back in August)-and in this category of DIII players vs DIII players, UWW is absolutely best in class (no offense to anyone intended).  Yes, it resulted in a very bland offensive game- and although it showed the nation just how great the defense and special teams are, it didn't show the nation what the UWW offense is capable of.   

With Blanchard's great completion percentage (including 9 of 13 Friday) and a talented wide receiver corp, you can understand why fans wanted to see more passing plays called, especially with Mt's commitment to stopping the run.
At the risk of being pelted with electronic tomatoes, I confess I was yelling "pound the rock/run the ball" in the second half- and not looking for more passing.  But at least let me explain before you start hurling vegies.

Given the choice between the type of passing plays/routes being called and running the ball, I preferred running the ball.  In the second half (and honestly in much of the season), it didn't appear as though UWW used many crossing routes or quick slants.  The one pass play that worked well was Blanchard rolling (usually left) and hitting the receiver on the curl route.  When he dropped straight back (and then often scrambled), or didn't have that curl open, it seemed as though there were no other options.  I certainly saw a couple pass plays where his only receivers were running deep routes- but he was scrambling and could not set his feet to throw.  I thought some intermediate crossing routes would have helped. 
To Mt's credit, they completely took the fullback out of the passing game, which has been a go-to play for UWW for a while now.  They jammed him when he tried to release to the flat- to the point that it even disrupted other routes- forcing Blanchard to run.   
I also think the interception on the first series had a lasting effect.  There were a couple plays later where maybe Blanchard would have thrown a deeper route to Huber, relying on Huber's athletic ability to make the play, but he didn't.  Being down 0-1 in the turnover category right off the bat probably made it pretty tough for both the coaches and the players to open up a bit.   

As much as I would have loved for Blanchard to go out with a couple hundred yards passing and 2-3 touchdowns, I think he'd agree that he would rather leave as national champion and undefeated in his time at UWW (I don't think the team has lost since he's been here).  There are lots of reasons UWW is on this streak, but near or at the top I would list ball control.  Turnovers are the #1 key to wins and losses. 

It is worth noting that in what turned out to be the drive that produced the game winning field goal in the 4th, UWW ran the ball every play (6 straight).   
It's also worth noting that every turnover by Mt came on a passing play- 2 interceptions and 1 fumble.  A 3rd interception was almost had on an excellent play by Wenkman (the pick was there, but he got upended and landed head first).   

[badgerwarhawk]

Congrats to UWW on its win on Friday night.  Your defense was just incredible.

I do have a question, if anyone can answer.  I was driving through downtown Indianapolis at 8:15 am on Saturday morning and saw a UWW bus traveling north on I-65.  Would that have been the team returning? 

No, the team returned on a chartered flight into Madison.  It could have been one of the three spectator buses that made the trip.

[gobash83]

Thanks.  I'm glad to hear the team flew.  It would have been grueling to have played that game and then have to jump on a bus almost immediately (given the time from when the game ended and I saw the bus) for the 14 hour ride home. 

[badgerwarhawk]

I also think the interception on the first series had a lasting effect.  There were a couple plays later where maybe Blanchard would have thrown a deeper route to Huber, relying on Huber's athletic ability to make the play, but he didn't.  Being down 0-1 in the turnover category right off the bat probably made it pretty tough for both the coaches and the players to open up a bit.   

IMO the interception was probably the main reason the play calling was as conservative as it was the rest of the game.  Once that happened it was like the staff decided that they weren't going to do anything that might backfire.  Plus we had been playing probably the best defense of the season in the playoffs and the staff had a lot of confidence in them.  Also holding them scoreless for three quarters reinforced that it was a sound game plan. 

While I was thinking that we needed to open things up more I can't argue with the way the staff went about it.  In the end the only statistic that matters is the one immediately under opponents and home on the scoreboard and that one was ours.   

[Barber Greene]

I think a lot of fans were expecting or hoping that Coppage would break through the line of defenders Mount had in the box at least a couple of times like he did last year for some big yardage. Maybe the coaching staff did too. It had usually worked that way for most of his career. Coppage for 3, 4, or 5 yards, then boom....there he goes for 40 or 50 or more.  Again, all the credit to Mount for not letting that happen again this year.

[retagent]

Congrats to LC - Offensive POY, and all other All Americas named in the d3 list.

Interesting link on the MIAC Board to an article about Coaching resources in the conference. Don't know what the situation is like in the WIAC, but I would assume it's fairly similar there. and throughout D III. I think I remember in paging through a UWW game program, that you, too rely on a lot of part-time and Grad Assistant types.

[WarhawkDad]

Congrats to UWW on its win on Friday night.  Your defense was just incredible.

I do have a question, if anyone can answer.  I was driving through downtown Indianapolis at 8:15 am on Saturday morning and saw a UWW bus traveling north on I-65.  Would that have been the team returning?

No that would be a fan bus.  The team took a charter flight.

[WarhawkDad]

I think a lot of fans were expecting or hoping that Coppage would break through the line of defenders Mount had in the box at least a couple of times like he did last year for some big yardage. Maybe the coaching staff did too. It had usually worked that way for most of his career. Coppage for 3, 4, or 5 yards, then boom....there he goes for 40 or 50 or more.  Again, all the credit to Mount for not letting that happen again this year.

Levell got hurt on the first series of plays.  He came over to the sideline, got taped and went back in.  He was retaped a little later on that half and again at half time.   He did not have the ability to plant and cut off that foot.   He was courageous to continue playing and a Coppage at 50% is better than most at 100% especially since he rarely puts the ball on the carpet.

[BoBo]

I think a lot of fans were expecting or hoping that Coppage would break through the line of defenders Mount had in the box at least a couple of times like he did last year for some big yardage. Maybe the coaching staff did too. It had usually worked that way for most of his career. Coppage for 3, 4, or 5 yards, then boom....there he goes for 40 or 50 or more.  Again, all the credit to Mount for not letting that happen again this year.

Levell got hurt on the first series of plays.  He came over to the sideline, got taped and went back in.  He was retaped a little later on that half and again at half time.   He did not have the ability to plant and cut off that foot.   He was courageous to continue playing and a Coppage at 50% is better than most at 100% especially since he rarely puts the ball on the carpet.

That helps to explain why B. Stanford was in at RB on the play Blanchard threw the EZ INT. I recall thinking to myself that it was quite early to see him in on offense. As far as I remember, this was never explained on the audio broadcast, though I might have missed it when I stepped away from my computer for a second. Might also help to explain some of the conservative play calling for the remainder of the game.

[footballfan413]

I think a lot of fans were expecting or hoping that Coppage would break through the line of defenders Mount had in the box at least a couple of times like he did last year for some big yardage. Maybe the coaching staff did too. It had usually worked that way for most of his career. Coppage for 3, 4, or 5 yards, then boom....there he goes for 40 or 50 or more.  Again, all the credit to Mount for not letting that happen again this year.

Levell got hurt on the first series of plays.  He came over to the sideline, got taped and went back in.  He was retaped a little later on that half and again at half time.   He did not have the ability to plant and cut off that foot.   He was courageous to continue playing and a Coppage at 50% is better than most at 100% especially since he rarely puts the ball on the carpet.

That helps to explain why B. Stanford was in at RB on the play Blanchard threw the EZ INT. I recall thinking to myself that it was quite early to see him in on offense. As far as I remember, this was never explained on the audio broadcast, though I might have missed it when I stepped away from my computer for a second. Might also help to explain some of the conservative play calling for the remainder of the game.

Well, yes and no.  If your RB is not up to full speed, it makes having him put the team on his back almost the entire game all the more dangerous. A big, kudos to Levell, way to tape it up and go, my kind of player.  Don't get me wrong, I fully understand the benefit of winning the time of possession battle and ball security that comes with a run game.  I was all about the run until I witnessed, first hand the last seven years, that the teams that do both well are the ones still playing football the 3rd week in December.  Who said, "when you pass the ball, three things can happen and two are not good?"  My main beef was with the last series and when we desperately needed a first down or two to put the game away.  Not talking about a bomb, here, just a few more dink and dunks to mix it up, keep the defense guessing and I certainly would have trusted my QB who had only thrown 4 picks all year to make good judgement about what was open.  Giving the ball back to a desperate Mount team and LK with 2 minutes left and a chance to tie or win?  Well, how many times does that go the way you want it to?  But hey, it did this time, we won....................it worked.  Thanks to DEFENSE!  Can't say that enough! (Going to be like a dog with a bone.)         

[badgerwarhawk]

Who said, "when you pass the ball, three things can happen and two are not good?" 

That would be OSU icon Woody Hayes.

[02 Warhawk]

I think a lot of fans were expecting or hoping that Coppage would break through the line of defenders Mount had in the box at least a couple of times like he did last year for some big yardage. Maybe the coaching staff did too. It had usually worked that way for most of his career. Coppage for 3, 4, or 5 yards, then boom....there he goes for 40 or 50 or more.  Again, all the credit to Mount for not letting that happen again this year.

Levell got hurt on the first series of plays.  He came over to the sideline, got taped and went back in.  He was retaped a little later on that half and again at half time.   He did not have the ability to plant and cut off that foot.   He was courageous to continue playing and a Coppage at 50% is better than most at 100% especially since he rarely puts the ball on the carpet.

Now that you mentioned it, I think I remember the play too. It was one of the first handoffs he took, where he slipped and fell when trying to cut. Plus, ESPN did show Levell going into the locker room before the rest of the team did before half.