FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bleedpurple]

Awful news regarding Stefaniak. I wish him the very best and many years of good health.

Regarding the Wittenberg thing, they looked pretty ridiculous taunting the Hawks.  I think most of the fans were understandably irritated.  A couple football players said a lot of the players were actually laughing at them.

As far as my favorite UW-W game, people are covering the recent ones pretty well.  My all-time favorite is 1984 in Perk's last home game. River Falls came in 7-0 and nationally ranked (I thought they were #2, but I'm not sure). The Warhawks were 6-3, but 5-1 in the WIAC.   The other losses were to Hillsdale College and Northern Iowa (now THAT was painful).  The Hawks trailed 21-20 late in the game. River Falls fell about a foot short on a 3rd down play with about 2 minutes left. Rather than go for it, they opted to punt. Whitewater took over with less than 2 minutes left on about their own 20.  QB Jim Stoppenbach hit Kelly Silha on a deep post for an 80 TD pass (about) on the first play. UW-W won 27-21. Very emotional game. Perk was presented a car after the game.

Much earlier "big game" memory. Defending National Champion Fairmont State came to Whitewater to open the 1968 season at Hamilton Field.  I don't remember many details because even I was pretty young back then. What I do remember was that Fairmont led 14-13 late in the game and Neil Hanson kicked a field goal very late in the game and UW-W won 16-14.  Back then games were scheduled MUCH more in advance and that game had been ticketed to open Warhawk Stadium (now Perkins Stadium).  But like most projects,it was delayed and opened in 1970. Looking at it today, it is very hard to believe it is 43 years old. UW-W has done an amazing job maintaining and enhancing it over the years.

[Brian R. Carroll]

La Crosse takes a 3 game winning streak to Platteville Saturday, and a win would salvage an up and down (more down and up season.) Air Platteville will be a tough challenge for UWL's bend- don't- break defense. Turnovers will be needed to keep the Eagles in the game unless the offense kicks it into  a higher gear, which is overdue. I hope I am wrong, but I don't see it happening. Pios win 30-14.

[Retired Old Rat]

Here is my top 10:

1 - 2009 Semifinal vs Linfield.  4th qtr rally, after Linfield owned the middle part of the game.
2 - 2010 at North Central.  Got turned around on campus trying to find the stadium.  Missed the start.  But enjoyed the finish.
3 - 2007 Semifinal vs MHB.  Had whipped them in the regular season, but the playoff was a total nailbiter on a frigid day.
4 - 2008 Playoff at Willamette.  Met a couple of Linfield guys watching the game, very nice people.  Great game, with the tiring UWW defense trying to cope with the Willamette speed.  Fortunately, the UWW rushing game wore down the Willamette D in a similar way.
5 - 2011 at Oshkosh.  You could feel the intensity up in the bleachers.
6 - 2007 Playoff vs Wabash.  Sleet and snow.  What a day.
7 - 2011 Semifinal vs St Thomas.  Should probably be higher, but it showed early that St T couldn't pass worth a damn and weren't going to come back from an early deficit.
8 - 2006 Playoff vs LaCrosse.  4th qtr score to eke out the win.
9 - 2006 Playoff vs St John's.  Much closer than the year before.
10 - 2005 Playoff vs St John's.  The start of a great run ....

Number 10 is my least favorite.   We (fans) were accustomed to our boys beating the big but slow WIAC teams in the playoffs.  We discovered quickly that WW was big and fast.  And had some real playmakers on both sides of the ball.  That was a looong ride home.  2006, I was sick and didn't make the trip.  2009, I knew we weren't that good and the result was not a surprise.  I hope we have a chance to meet again soon, in Collegeville this time.

[bleedpurple]

La Crosse takes a 3 game winning streak to Platteville Saturday, and a win would salvage an up and down (more down and up season.) Air Platteville will be a tough challenge for UWL's bend- don't- break defense. Turnovers will be needed to keep the Eagles in the game unless the offense kicks it into  a higher gear, which is overdue. I hope I am wrong, but I don't see it happening. Pios win 30-14.

I agree with that. I do think LaCrosse will have some success against the UW-P defense, but pretty hard to keep up with the Pioneers' offense. As a UW-W fan, it feels odd to be rooting for both UW-O and UW-P after spending the season battling with them for first place up until now. But if UW-W wins out, it actually benefits them to have both the Pioneers and Titans to win this week.

[emma17]

To spark some new conversation, what are the top 10 Warhawk games that you have been to? TV and internet viewing do not count!

1. Linfield 2009 Semifinals- Can't really dispute them.
2. UMHB 2007 Semifinals- Surprised I didn't freeze to death at that game.
3. North Central 2010- Going down to Naperville in the snowstorm and being louder then twice as many NCC fans!
4. LaCrosse 2006 - First year of college, Homecoming, still a true rivalry with LaCrosse at that point, nobody liked them!
5. St Thomas 2011- Great, tough fought night game.
6. Wesley 2006- Kaboom! Crushing them for the second time in the Semifinals.
7. Wittenberg 2009- Tough game. What would have happened if their starting QB hadn't gotten knocked out?
8. Platteville 2012- Tough game, probably should have lost it but it was oh so sweet going into their house and beating them, especially with how the season turned out.
9. Trine 2010- Nice shootout with the UWW defense coming through in the end.
10. Stout 2011- Night game on my birthday, good friends there, dinner at Jessica's.

As can be seen, I have not been to any Stagg Bowls. 

I missed some of the great games like 2005 Linfield and 2007 LaCrosse. 

1.  Mt Union-2007 Stagg.  I don't know if it was just me, but the atmosphere was electric.  The game was under the lights with that misting and light rain.  Mt was absolutely loaded on O and D.  UWW just gutted it out.  Great performances on O and D.
2.  Mt Union-2009 Stagg.  The snowstorm pushed the game under the lights again.  The UWW passing attack in the first half was incredible, scoring on all four drives and I think converting every 3rd down.  Then the 31 yard Coppage run after Mt had tied the game.
3.  Linfield- 2009.  That was one intense game.  If I remember, Donovan got crushed on a hit from Linfield, but got up and stayed in.  A huge pass completion to Wells in the 4th qrtr down to the 1 yd line.  Then the interception by the little (short in stature) UWW DB. 
4.  Mt Union-2010 Stagg.  UWW jumps in front and then Mt roars back to take the lead- I think 21-10 in 2nd qrtr.  UWW had back up QB Brekke and could have folded, but instead scored two TD's before half (Huber with big TD catch on seam route).  And then the Coppage run with GREAT blocking on 3rd and 6 in the 4th quarter to seal the deal.   
5.  2010- NCC.  Super intense game.  NCC's middle linebacker was great.  UWW just wouldn't give up. 
6.  2007- MHB.  Cold and tough team/tough game.
7.  2010- Trine.  Great QB and passing game.  Highly potent offense and fun to watch- after watching Franklin the week before.
8.  2010- Wesley.  Took the trip to Delaware.  Great experience and dominating defense in the second half.
9.  2011- Salisbury.  I think there was a logo issue in that game too.  Great to watch the UWW D play vs. the Salisbury vaunted option.
10. 1984- River Falls.  I agree w Bleed.  The bomb from Stoppie to Silk was like time stood still.  We were slower then too.   

[D O.C.]

2009...it was. Coppel busting to the outside on a short yardage. LINFIELD did not answer .

[emma17]

2009...it was. Coppel busting to the outside on a short yardage. LINFIELD did not answer .

Yep- 2009. That was a nice run but more the icing on the cake. Prior to that play if memory serves- there was the pass to Wells and his race downfield where he eventually got caught at 1. I believe Anderson scored to put UWW up. Then UWW picked off a pass I believe to set up Coppage's run.
Tense throughout.

[MasterJedi]

2009...it was. Coppel busting to the outside on a short yardage. LINFIELD did not answer .

Yep- 2009. That was a nice run but more the icing on the cake. Prior to that play if memory serves- there was the pass to Wells and his race downfield where he eventually got caught at 1. I believe Anderson scored to put UWW up. Then UWW picked off a pass I believe to set up Coppage's run.
Tense throughout.

Type in Whitewater Vs Linfield into youtube and they have the highlights.

[WarhawkDad]

2009...it was. Coppel busting to the outside on a short yardage. LINFIELD did not answer .

Yep- 2009. That was a nice run but more the icing on the cake. Prior to that play if memory serves- there was the pass to Wells and his race downfield where he eventually got caught at 1. I believe Anderson scored to put UWW up. Then UWW picked off a pass I believe to set up Coppage's run.
Tense throughout.

That was a great game.   I remember it very well and it was nice just looking at the video.  Two things standout to me, one is personal and that is my son as a freshman was in on the jumbo formation and was one of the linemen making the blocks when Anderson scored, the second was Jeff Donovan sprinting down the field to get in front of Coppage to make a block on that last score.   Very intense game.

WHD

[bleedpurple]

To spark some new conversation, what are the top 10 Warhawk games that you have been to? TV and internet viewing do not count!

1. Linfield 2009 Semifinals- Can't really dispute them.
2. UMHB 2007 Semifinals- Surprised I didn't freeze to death at that game.
3. North Central 2010- Going down to Naperville in the snowstorm and being louder then twice as many NCC fans!
4. LaCrosse 2006 - First year of college, Homecoming, still a true rivalry with LaCrosse at that point, nobody liked them!
5. St Thomas 2011- Great, tough fought night game.
6. Wesley 2006- Kaboom! Crushing them for the second time in the Semifinals.
7. Wittenberg 2009- Tough game. What would have happened if their starting QB hadn't gotten knocked out?
8. Platteville 2012- Tough game, probably should have lost it but it was oh so sweet going into their house and beating them, especially with how the season turned out.
9. Trine 2010- Nice shootout with the UWW defense coming through in the end.
10. Stout 2011- Night game on my birthday, good friends there, dinner at Jessica's.

As can be seen, I have not been to any Stagg Bowls. 

I missed some of the great games like 2005 Linfield and 2007 LaCrosse. 

1.  Mt Union-2007 Stagg.  I don't know if it was just me, but the atmosphere was electric.  The game was under the lights with that misting and light rain.  Mt was absolutely loaded on O and D.  UWW just gutted it out.  Great performances on O and D.
2.  Mt Union-2009 Stagg.  The snowstorm pushed the game under the lights again.  The UWW passing attack in the first half was incredible, scoring on all four drives and I think converting every 3rd down.  Then the 31 yard Coppage run after Mt had tied the game.
3.  Linfield- 2009.  That was one intense game.  If I remember, Donovan got crushed on a hit from Linfield, but got up and stayed in.  A huge pass completion to Wells in the 4th qrtr down to the 1 yd line.  Then the interception by the little (short in stature) UWW DB. 
4.  Mt Union-2010 Stagg.  UWW jumps in front and then Mt roars back to take the lead- I think 21-10 in 2nd qrtr.  UWW had back up QB Brekke and could have folded, but instead scored two TD's before half (Huber with big TD catch on seam route).  And then the Coppage run with GREAT blocking on 3rd and 6 in the 4th quarter to seal the deal.   
5.  2010- NCC.  Super intense game.  NCC's middle linebacker was great.  UWW just wouldn't give up. 
6.  2007- MHB.  Cold and tough team/tough game.
7.  2010- Trine.  Great QB and passing game.  Highly potent offense and fun to watch- after watching Franklin the week before.
8.  2010- Wesley.  Took the trip to Delaware.  Great experience and dominating defense in the second half.
9.  2011- Salisbury.  I think there was a logo issue in that game too.  Great to watch the UWW D play vs. the Salisbury vaunted option.
10. 1984- River Falls.  I agree w Bleed.  The bomb from Stoppie to Silk was like time stood still.  We were slower then too.

Matt Wenger, #40. In all my years of watching D3 (and before that NAIA) football, he is on my "one of the best I've seen" list.  I didn't post this because I didn't want to take away from an incredible NCC effort that day, but I truly believe if it were not for him, the game would not have been nearly as close.  Time after time I saw some significant holes open (I thought), only to have Wenger defeat a block and make the play, sometimes in the backfield! It was remarkable. Big, quick, fast, strong, smart, and loved to hit people. From what I observed that day, seemed like a leader too. One of those kids that others fed off of.  He also has really nice parents who were fun to banter with before the game.  Other than that, I really don't think that much of him. 

The only serious question I have for him is his choice of schools. Now THAT kid would have looked really good in purple!

[retagent]

You wish he had gone to St Thomas? Perish the thought.

[emma17]

2009...it was. Coppel busting to the outside on a short yardage. LINFIELD did not answer .

Yep- 2009. That was a nice run but more the icing on the cake. Prior to that play if memory serves- there was the pass to Wells and his race downfield where he eventually got caught at 1. I believe Anderson scored to put UWW up. Then UWW picked off a pass I believe to set up Coppage's run.
Tense throughout.

Type in Whitewater Vs Linfield into youtube and they have the highlights.

Thankfully, I think, I have two monitors on my desk. One for work and one for YouTube UWW highlights.

[MasterJedi]

2009...it was. Coppel busting to the outside on a short yardage. LINFIELD did not answer .

Yep- 2009. That was a nice run but more the icing on the cake. Prior to that play if memory serves- there was the pass to Wells and his race downfield where he eventually got caught at 1. I believe Anderson scored to put UWW up. Then UWW picked off a pass I believe to set up Coppage's run.
Tense throughout.

Type in Whitewater Vs Linfield into youtube and they have the highlights.

Thankfully, I think, I have two monitors on my desk. One for work and one for YouTube UWW highlights.

The two screens are awesome, but I need both of them for work. 

[bleedpurple]

You wish he had gone to St Thomas? Perish the thought.

Who? 

[emma17]

2009...it was. Coppel busting to the outside on a short yardage. LINFIELD did not answer .

Yep- 2009. That was a nice run but more the icing on the cake. Prior to that play if memory serves- there was the pass to Wells and his race downfield where he eventually got caught at 1. I believe Anderson scored to put UWW up. Then UWW picked off a pass I believe to set up Coppage's run.
Tense throughout.

Type in Whitewater Vs Linfield into youtube and they have the highlights.

Thankfully, I think, I have two monitors on my desk. One for work and one for YouTube UWW highlights.

The two screens are awesome, but I need both of them for work. 

Work?  Who works this close to the playoffs?