FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[MasterJedi]

Preseason Top 25 is out and UWW is the unanimous #1!

As for 02, maybe you should go back to being unsure and thinking UWW will lose? It seemed to help last year!   

[02 Warhawk]

There are many players I'm looking forward to seeing this year, especially:
M Bratchett- I thought he played MVP caliber defensive end in Stagg and playoffs.
Tamsett- D Line. that kid has a great motor and he's tough and strong.
McClin- I'm a big fan of his game at corner.
Morang- incredible nose for the ball
Kumerow- lots to play for
Justin Howard- scrapper
Behrendt- remarkable improvement throughout last season.

For me it's the LB's...whoever they may be. The linebackers are my biggest (and practically my only) concern heading into this season.

Not too sound cocky, but after what their offense did to Mount's defense in the Stagg Bowl - and with everyone coming back - it's easy not to be concerned with that side of the ball. Also, I think they have some key play makers in the secondary and DL to be successful.

So to me...that only leaves the LBs.

I didn't mean to suggest these were my concern positions. They are some of the players I most look forward to watching in 2014.
Concern-wise, I'm right there w you on LB's. Replacing 4 guys that started for 3 years at LB!!
Thankfully we have Brian Borland and his staff.

I guess my biggest concern is also the same position I'm most looking forward to watching this year. I believe this team can go far again if whomever steps in can perform at a competitive level at LB.

[D3MAFAN]

Preseason Top 25 is out and UWW is the unanimous #1!

As for 02, maybe you should go back to being unsure and thinking UWW will lose? It seemed to help last year!   

That assumption was based on that 7-3 previous year and uncertainty on offense coming into the season. I am sure everyone, even the guys in the OAC believes that UWW is the favored to win in all again this year.

[@d3jason]

The ridiculousness that is the USACollegefootball.org DIII Pre-Season All-American list

Always good for a laugh.

Joe Worth, emma!!!!!

I'm patriotic and all, but looking at that link hurt my eyes (aside from interesting picks.)

Thanks for sharing. I sure hope Joe Worth can return to form.
I know we don't put too much stock in these picks - I am surprised Brady Grayvold wasn't added somewhere as a DB. Tough to ignore his play against the best competition.

Well, they would have to actually know about his play before they choose to ignore it.  So you are doubting there are 98 D-III defensive backs better than Brady? I am pretty sure UW-W doesn't have any starters that are not in the top 98 at their positions, much less one of our best players.

That's one of the many reasons that poll is a joke.

[MasterJedi]

Preseason Top 25 is out and UWW is the unanimous #1!

As for 02, maybe you should go back to being unsure and thinking UWW will lose? It seemed to help last year!   

That assumption was based on that 7-3 previous year and uncertainty on offense coming into the season. I am sure everyone, even the guys in the OAC believes that UWW is the favored to win in all again this year.

It was a joke. 

[badgerwarhawk]

WARHAWKS excel in classroom as well as on gridiron. 

http://www.uwwsports.com/news/2014/7/7/FB_0707143407.aspx

[02 Warhawk]

WARHAWKS excel in classroom as well as on gridiron. 

http://www.uwwsports.com/news/2014/7/7/FB_0707143407.aspx

There must have been some mistake. I thought only private school student athletes excel in the classroom. No way a public school student should be mentioned in the same list as a private school student? Right?!?!

I want to see some credentials.

[KitchenSink]

UWW has some kicking game issues to finalize, as well.  But the LB issue is a biggie, for sure.

[badgerwarhawk]

Sophomore Lake Bachner should assume the kicking/punting position.  He's got a huge leg.  Though he didn't punt in a game last year I watched him practice several times and I'm confident he'll be fine.  He did the majority of the kickoffs and had 28 touchbacks in 81 kickoffs with an average nearly identical (59.5 to 59.4) to Kindler.  He didn't attempt a field goal in a game situation last year but he's got a longer range than Kindler.  Though, admittedly, accuracy remains to be seen.  I suspect we'll also have a recruited kicker as well.

I know some (i.e. emma) are somewhat uncomfortable with the same player kicking off and punting but I'm not really that concerned about it.  Like others it's what we've got at linebacker that concerns me the most.  However I have a lot of faith in our staff and their ability to recruit and develop talent.  A lot of things have to happen for a team to win our league and advance through the post season to the Stagg Bowl.  We may or may not do that but I'm very confident that we'll be very competitive and with a few breaks along the way the potential is there.

[Pat Coleman]

WARHAWKS excel in classroom as well as on gridiron. 

http://www.uwwsports.com/news/2014/7/7/FB_0707143407.aspx

There must have been some mistake. I thought only private school student athletes excel in the classroom. No way a public school student should be mentioned in the same list as a private school student? Right?!?!

I want to see some credentials.

Might other schools have more than four? Like the six from Augustana, seven from Bethel, nine from Gustavus, 12 from Johns Hopkins ... I am not sure this makes your argument.

[badgerwarhawk]

Borland to be inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.

http://www.uwwsports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1189

Outstanding and well deserved.  Congrats, Brian.

[emma17]

WARHAWKS excel in classroom as well as on gridiron. 

http://www.uwwsports.com/news/2014/7/7/FB_0707143407.aspx

There must have been some mistake. I thought only private school student athletes excel in the classroom. No way a public school student should be mentioned in the same list as a private school student? Right?!?!

I want to see some credentials.

Four from UWW is fantastic- especially w 2 starters in Cole and Marshall.
Well done men- way to represent!!

[emma17]

Sophomore Lake Bachner should assume the kicking/punting position.  He's got a huge leg.  Though he didn't punt in a game last year I watched him practice several times and I'm confident he'll be fine.  He did the majority of the kickoffs and had 28 touchbacks in 81 kickoffs with an average nearly identical (59.5 to 59.4) to Kindler.  He didn't attempt a field goal in a game situation last year but he's got a longer range than Kindler.  Though, admittedly, accuracy remains to be seen.  I suspect we'll also have a recruited kicker as well.

I know some (i.e. emma) are somewhat uncomfortable with the same player kicking off and punting but I'm not really that concerned about it.  Like others it's what we've got at linebacker that concerns me the most.  However I have a lot of faith in our staff and their ability to recruit and develop talent.  A lot of things have to happen for a team to win our league and advance through the post season to the Stagg Bowl.  We may or may not do that but I'm very confident that we'll be very competitive and with a few breaks along the way the potential is there.

Thanks for info on kickers- I'm looking forward to seeing Lake w a bigger role.

You are right that I'm not a fan of dual roles for the kicker- however I will be at peace as long as the offense looks more like the 2013 Stagg than the 2012 season- much less pressure on the kicker.

[bleedpurple]

UW-W's punter/kicker is Lake Bachar.  He is a stud and to get him last year was a coup for UW-W.  He was ranked the 40th best punter nationally for the class of 2013 by the prestigious Kohl's Professional Kicking Camps rankings.  They hold 105 kicking events and many kids attend multiple camps to maximize exposure. So to split hairs on rankings is really difficult, but there is a good measure of eyeballing and measuring the results on a head to head basis. Some of the kids around Bachar's rankings went to some big time schools:

#38 Auburn
#41 Florida
#44 Georgia Tech
#45 Missouri
#48 Washington
#53 Alabama

Again, this is not a precise science, but it's fair to say he has a great leg to be in that kind of company.

Oh, and he was ranked the 47th best place kicker by Kohl's also.

[bleedpurple]

A lot of things have to happen for a team to win our league and advance through the post season to the Stagg Bowl.  We may or may not do that but I'm very confident that we'll be very competitive and with a few breaks along the way the potential is there.

Don't wander too far out on a limb BW.