FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr. Downtown]

I know a lot of Whitewater fans are pounding their chests, saying the Warhawks should at least win by 14.


Yeah, they should win by 14. Actually, in the history of Oshkosh vs Whitewater football games, and the talent and level each team has been, Whitewater should win by 14 every game.

They do in Whitewater. They don't in Oshkosh.

I understand that the Whitewater teams the past seasons playing in Oshkosh were not on the same level as this Whitewater team. While that is true, it goes the same for Oshkosh. Oshkosh is expotentially better than those teams where Whitewater lost 21-20 (a game thrown out for using academic ineligable players) and had to win in OT 22-16 the last time these teams met.

Say what you want, or say how good you think this Oshkosh team is. I know their are some "bird brain Warhawks fans" on this board, and I know their are some true Whitewater fans that know what I speak of with the struggles Whitewater has at Oshkosh.

Its going to be crappy weather, windy and rainy probably all night.

This is why I think Oshkosh actually matches up pretty well with Whitewater:

Just like the Warhawks, Oshkosh returns 4 of their starting 5 offensive lineman. And yes, maybe they are not as good as Whitewater has (with two superstar OL), but Oshkosh's is really really good!

Just like the Warhawks, Oshkosh returns their starting offensive backfield. Sure, Beaver/Jacobs is a better duo than Moriarty/Patek, but both backfields are effective, and both running backs are the best in the WIAC.
Just like the Warhawks, Oshkosh is once again very strong on the defensive side of the ball. Actually, Oshkosh is the team with the superstar position player on defense (preseason all-american, LB Eric Stenbroten).

Whitewater and Oshkosh are 1/2 Offensively and Defensively in the WIAC.


Here's the big numbers that people should pay attention to:

Jacobs has yet to get sacked.

Whitewater turnover margin +8. Oshkosh -1


We all know Whitewater is great, but Oshkosh is a solid, very good football team. And for those that have paid attention to the WIAC over the past couple of years...it seems very good football teams beat great teams at home, more times than not.


Raschke wins it for Oshkosh : 38-35.

[Mr. Downtown]

Side note

The last three times Whitewater played in Oshkosh

2000: Whitewater 27, Oshkosh 25

2002: Oshkosh 21, Whitewater 20

2004: Whitewater 22, Oshkosh 16 OT

7 point difference the last three times Whitewater has played in Oshkosh.

[cougarjunkie]

In-depth game preview article from APU athletics website.  Good reading.

http://www.apu.edu/athletics/football/stories/9480/

[footballfan413]

Mr. Downtown,
   I agree with everything you said and you make a great case for Oshkosh giving the Warhawks everything they can handle tomorrow night.  Anyone expecting a "cakewalk," for the Hawks is being unrealistic  The only point that didn't work for me is the point about Stenbroten.  While I am sure he is a great LB,  three of the four, "1st Team WIAC All-Conference," linebackers in 2005 were Stenbroten, Raebel and Widuch, (2005 All-American).   Two of the three will be playing for the Warhawks tomorrow!!

[voice]

There was a great article this week in the La Crosse Tribune addressing the issue of D3 teams in the Midwest refusing to schedule games against teams from the WIAC.  The article, written by Joel Badzinski, comes on the eve of UW-Lacrosse's game vs. Azusa Pacific just up the street from the Rose Bowl in metro Los Angeles.  The Eagles were unable to schedule a 10th game for the second season in a row. 

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2006/09/21/sports/wiac.txt

The following excerpt from the article puts the issue into solid focus...

"The WIAC's traditional football success and reputation for physical play has alienated teams from other Division III conferences based in states bordering Wisconsin.

For example, there are a total of 36 Division III teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Midwest Conference and the Illini-Badger Conference but only three — St. John's (Minn.), Ripon (Wis.) and Lakeland (Wis.) — scheduled games against WIAC teams this season."

Enough said!

[DIII Fanatic]

Good point regarding Raebel and Widuch at LB for the Warhawks.  Both players will be major forces against the Titans on Saturday night.  And let's not forget the man at DT for the Hawks, Kleppe.  I wouldn't be surprised if he made a comeback appearance on the field after he suffered a broken arm in week 1.  Should be a great game!!

GO HAWKS!!!

[repete]

Voice,
At least the Johnnies did their part ... twice.

[fredfalcon]

You guys who  picked RF over St. Francis--I hope you know something I don't. SF has 31 straight home wins, has outscored their opponents 102-3 this season, has won 43 straight games, including a 35-7 win over EC last year, and wins over Butler and Indiana State. Today they are re-naming their stadium for their current coach.

Good luck, Falcons!

[fredfalcon]

Final:  St. Francis 63-8 over RF DESPITE SF losing it twice on fumbles and twice on interceptions. Falcon D did all it could.

[buf]

Stout loses in 2-OT 14-13.  A missed extra point in the 2nd OT was the difference.

[coco]

It sounded like a hell of a game. Too bad someone has to lose those.

[Devil Badger Gopher]

The game with Stout and Whitworth was an enjoyment to watch.  There were things on both sides that each team could have done to make the game end in regulation in their favor.  You gotta feel for the Stout kicker who had a kick blocked, a missed kick to win, and a missed PAT in the second overtime.  The Devils defense was your bend but dont break.  Each time Whitworth traveled from their side of the field to the red zone, Stout made a huge play with an interception.  When The rain started on Stout, they got scored on at the end of regulation and lost in the second O.T.  The Whitworth offense was very predictable.  They would use many different sets, but nearly always go to the strong side.  It would have been nice to see Stout try to get Wendt involved more with short slants and fades.   

[Retired Old Rat]

Stout loses in 2-OT 14-13.  A missed extra point in the 2nd OT was the difference.

Looks like a real tough loss.

Met coach Coach Todd Strop last week at St. John's and thought he was a real class act.

Good luck the rest of the year.

[Retired Old Rat]

There was a great article this week in the La Crosse Tribune addressing the issue of D3 teams in the Midwest refusing to schedule games against teams from the WIAC.  The article, written by Joel Badzinski, comes on the eve of UW-Lacrosse's game vs. Azusa Pacific just up the street from the Rose Bowl in metro Los Angeles.  The Eagles were unable to schedule a 10th game for the second season in a row. 

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2006/09/21/sports/wiac.txt

The following excerpt from the article puts the issue into solid focus...

"The WIAC's traditional football success and reputation for physical play has alienated teams from other Division III conferences based in states bordering Wisconsin.

For example, there are a total of 36 Division III teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Midwest Conference and the Illini-Badger Conference but only three — St. John's (Minn.), Ripon (Wis.) and Lakeland (Wis.) — scheduled games against WIAC teams this season."

Enough said!

At St. John's we did our part twice this year.  I know next year EC is off the schedule, we play at RF.  I much prefer we play WIAC teams in non-conference games versus some cup cake that is a guaranteed 50 point win. 

Hoping we will make it a 3-0 year against the WIAC when we get Whitewater in a rematch.

[fredfalcon]

Point over Waldorf, 45-7.