FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bleedpurple]

Paging bleedpurple... you are overdue in providing your analysis of yesterday's Warhawk win in Texas!

To be honest, I am still taking it all in. Tomorrow, I may actually look at the game through analytical eyes and provide some thoughts along those lines. (Maybe). But for now, and since the game has ended, my emotions have kind of taken over. I can't tell you how proud I am of this team, the coaches, and pretty much everyone involved with this program.

While I firmly believed UW-W would do whatever it took to get back on top, I had no idea how far this year's team could go on the national level this year. I did expect UW-W to win the conference title back. I had a ton of faith in the coaches and players ability to right the ship to that degree. However, in my mind, I wasn't entirely sure of our QB or offensive line situations. I feel like I almost owe Matt an apology for that. He has been beyond, beyond, beyond my expectations. He is a leader and a great decision maker. UW-W does not panic when we fall behind and he is a big, big reason for that. And an offensive line with two freshmen, two sophomores, and a junior. Helping us get to the Stagg Bowl? With the senior laden defenses they had to face? Are you kidding me? When this season started, I remember saying, "If we are any good this year, that is not good news for the rest of the country." I said that fully expecting to be very good. Yet, I have to admit, this team exceeded my pre-season expectations.

Many weeks ago, I declared WIWA. That is when I saw something special about this group. I don't know if anyone else really bought into my proclamation right away or not. Heck, the silly little word is even vague enough to understand why people may have not even known exactly what I meant. It wasn't some veiled Stagg Bowl prediction. I never felt like UW-W has ever been a shoe-in or entitled to a Stagg appearance. I feel like each team earned it their own way, meeting and beating worthy opponents along the way. To me, assuming it was going to happen would actually take away from the effort each team put in to accomplish it. To me, WIWA simply meant that Whitewater was not Whitewater last year, for whatever reasons. Early on, I recognized that was not at all the case this year.

This team is Whitewater. And as a result of their effort and perseverance, they are 60 minutes away from a National Championship. People will pick against them, but I assure you, they will show up Friday night. They will play the way the 2013 Whitewater Warhawks have played all year. Underestimate them, criticize them, dismiss them, fail to appreciate how they win games, pay homage to the flash of high scoring games rather than the value of an incredible defense, predict them to lose because of the flaws you perceive. Do whatever you want with them in your mind. I know one thing with 100% certainty. It is far easier to underestimate them than it is to beat them. 

Congratulations to everyone involved with the UW-Whitewater football program. You are well deserving of being one of two teams standing. You've put yourselves in the position you have worked all year to be in. Go show Mount Union and the nation what the 2013 UW-W team is about. Warhawk Nation believes in you.

Go bring it home Hawks!

[skunks_sidekick]

Go show Mount Union and the nation what the 2013 UW-W team is about. Warhawk Nation believes in you.

So does the Purple Raider Nation.........so THERE!   

[bleedpurple]

Go show Mount Union and the nation what the 2013 UW-W team is about. Warhawk Nation believes in you.

So does the Purple Raider Nation.........so THERE!   

Purple Raider Nation believes in UW-W also? Now that's surprising. 

[Pat Coleman]

I'm not so sure Wisconsin - Whitewater played their best game today either... What if Kindler makes the field goal that he usually makes? A lot of would haves should haves and assumptions.

Kindler doesn't "usually" make 40-plus yard field goals, actually. He's 1-for-6 from beyond 40 this season, 15-for-17 inside 40.
Last year he was 4-for-11 from beyond 40, 13-for-14 from inside 40.

[KitchenSink]

So who is going to Salem?  Saw that UWW is taking reservations for a fan bus - if I can get Friday off that might be my best option.  What about everyone else?

[emma17]

So who is going to Salem?  Saw that UWW is taking reservations for a fan bus - if I can get Friday off that might be my best option.  What about everyone else?

We are in.

[emma17]

I'm not so sure Wisconsin - Whitewater played their best game today either... What if Kindler makes the field goal that he usually makes? A lot of would haves should haves and assumptions.

Kindler doesn't "usually" make 40-plus yard field goals, actually. He's 1-for-6 from beyond 40 this season, 15-for-17 inside 40.
Last year he was 4-for-11 from beyond 40, 13-for-14 from inside 40.

Kindler has been interesting this season- both punting and field goal kicking.
It's a bit uncertain what we will get from him but I do believe he will get it done.

[voice]

Matt Behrendt enters Friday night's Stagg Bowl with 36 TD passes. That ties him with Justin Jacobs for most TD passes in a season for UWW.

[HScoach]

Matt Behrendt enters Friday night's Stagg Bowl with 36 TD passes. That ties him with Justin Jacobs for most TD passes in a season for UWW.

My Christmas wish for Santa?    Behrendt finishes the season tied Jacobs. 

[KitchenSink]

Matt Behrendt enters Friday night's Stagg Bowl with 36 TD passes. That ties him with Justin Jacobs for most TD passes in a season for UWW.

My Christmas wish for Santa?    Behrendt finishes the season tied Jacobs. 

Were you a good boy this year?  You might be getting coal instead .....

[MasterJedi]

Where is this stagg bowl bus info? I doubt I could get off but it might be worth a try. I at least was able to redo my schedule and come in a half hour early so I'm not leaving work right when the game comes on.

[KitchenSink]

Where is this stagg bowl bus info? I doubt I could get off but it might be worth a try. I at least was able to redo my schedule and come in a half hour early so I'm not leaving work right when the game comes on.

http://www.uwwsports.com/documents/2013/12/15/Fan_Bus_trip_information_Stagg_Bowl_2013.pdf?id=2084

[badgerwarhawk]

Matt Behrendt enters Friday night's Stagg Bowl with 36 TD passes. That ties him with Justin Jacobs for most TD passes in a season for UWW.

Behrendt needs one touchdown pass to break the record and Jake Kumerow needs one more touchdown catch to break that record.  Kumerow is 100 yards shy of the single season record for receiving yardage.  Kindler is four field goals shy of Schebler's record.

[umhb2001]

Matt Behrendt enters Friday night's Stagg Bowl with 36 TD passes. That ties him with Justin Jacobs for most TD passes in a season for UWW.

Behrendt needs one touchdown pass to break the record and Jake Kumerow needs one more touchdown catch to break that record.  Kumerow is 100 yards shy of the single season record for receiving yardage.  Kindler is four field goals shy of Schebler's record.

That was the brightest spot to me coming out of last week's game, that Kumerow didn't have a bust out game. I expected him to get a lot of looks, but whatever our D did, they shut him down for most of the game. That's a big step up for our D. But DANG, that TE was a beast!!

[02 Warhawk]

Matt Behrendt enters Friday night's Stagg Bowl with 36 TD passes. That ties him with Justin Jacobs for most TD passes in a season for UWW.

Behrendt needs one touchdown pass to break the record and Jake Kumerow needs one more touchdown catch to break that record.  Kumerow is 100 yards shy of the single season record for receiving yardage.  Kindler is four field goals shy of Schebler's record.

That was the brightest spot to me coming out of last week's game, that Kumerow didn't have a bust out game. I expected him to get a lot of looks, but whatever our D did, they shut him down for most of the game. That's a big step up for our D. But DANG, that TE was a beast!!

Yea, MHB has a very good defense. I was curious how much UWW was going to be able to score off them leading into the game.

Considering MHB only lost by one, I'm sure Diaz couldn't be happy with himself knowing he possibly could have made a difference in the outcome.