FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BoBo]

Name ring a bell Warhawks fans?

"We have our own Rudy story at Badgers football practice today. Walk-on Ricky Finco wins FG challenge with 40-yarder. Teammates lift him up on shoulders!!!"

They might have lifted him on their shoulders once they caught up to him, but as seen on this video, we'll never know for sure... https://twitter.com/TheBadgerNation.  Scroll down to the correct tweet to view video highlights of the competition.

Funny he's the guy kicking a fieldgoal- his name always reminds me of Ray Finkle- wide left.
He's got some new pipes to go along w that kicking leg.
Come back Ricky.

There's a poster named Ray Finkles on these boards, a UMHB fan, I think 

[footballfan413]

Jerrell Freeman, former Colts LB, fellow D-3 Football AA, Saskatchewan Roughriders rookie campmate, and MHB opponent of my son has signed with the Chicago Bears!   So excited!  What a D-3 success story he has become!  And, apparently, he really enjoys a home cooked meal.   


Happy Easter to all! 

[ScreamingEagles]

Landry Named Assistant Football Coach

http://uwlathletics.com/news/2016/3/30/landry-named-assistant-football-coach.aspx?path=football

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has named Jake Landry as an assistant coach for the Eagles' football team.  Landry will serve as UWL's offensive coordinator and work in the intercollegiate athletics department sports performance center.

Landry has worked as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb the last three seasons, including the last two as a graduate assistant coach.  After serving as an intern with the Huskies' quarterbacks in 2013, Landry worked with the NIU linebackers in 2014.  He returned to coaching the quarterbacks in 2015.

[ScreamingEagles]

UW-L football: Schmidt hires Landry as offensive coordinator

http://lacrossetribune.com/sports/uw-l-football-schmidt-hires-landry-as-offensive-coordinator/article_2d8c6cb3-ed33-5e50-beed-2ba744a03ada.html

Schmidt didn't know Landry when the search for a new offensive coordinator began, but Landry's name came up multiple times when Schmidt asked his coaching colleagues about possible candidates. Landry — who was also considered for some other coaching opportunities at various levels — stayed available for the UW-L position as the university went through the somewhat arduous process of hiring for a full-time State University system job.

That energy could transfer well to the style Schmidt and Landry come up with for the Eagles offense this fall. Landry's experience at Northern Illinois and its no-huddle, up-tempo style is what Schmidt anticipates being something the Eagles adopt.

[emma17]

UWL has some exciting things going on. With an up tempo offense from a D 1 guy, maybe they'll change the minds of some recruits out there.

[BoBo]

UWL has some exciting things going on. With an up tempo offense from a D 1 guy, maybe they'll change the minds of some recruits out there.

Don't want to rain on La X's parade, but let's not make TOO big of a deal for a new OC, who was only an intern/graduate assistant for the past 3 years (with one year on defense) - and no recruiting duties on top of that.  That, IMO, is taking a big leap of fate for a first-time, defensive-minded coach (putting their offense in the hands of someone so inexperienced). But, to each his own.

[ScreamingEagles]

UWL has some exciting things going on. With an up tempo offense from a D 1 guy, maybe they'll change the minds of some recruits out there.

Don't want to rain on La X's parade, but let's not make TOO big of a deal for a new OC, who was only an intern/graduate assistant for the past 3 years (with one year on defense) - and no recruiting duties on top of that.  That, IMO, is taking a big leap of fate for a first-time, defensive-minded coach (putting their offense in the hands of someone so inexperienced). But, to each his own.

Agreed.  I think he has a very interesting background, but he's by no means proven.  Let's hope he soaked it all in at NIU AND knows how to implement that on his own.

Would be interesting to know who the other candidates were, but I doubt that information will come out.  Thought we might be able to get someone a bit more experienced.

[BoBo]

For a first time head coach, with his mainly defensive background (though I saw where he did have some experience on the other side at DU), I would have thought he would go with someone with a stronger resume. If I were a high school prospect, I wouldn't know what to think.

ScreamingEagles, do you know anything about the La X recuiting this year? Had to have been tough with no coach in place until late.

[bleedpurple]

UWL has some exciting things going on. With an up tempo offense from a D 1 guy, maybe they'll change the minds of some recruits out there.

Don't want to rain on La X's parade, but let's not make TOO big of a deal for a new OC, who was only an intern/graduate assistant for the past 3 years (with one year on defense) - and no recruiting duties on top of that.  That, IMO, is taking a big leap of fate for a first-time, defensive-minded coach (putting their offense in the hands of someone so inexperienced). But, to each his own.

Agreed.  I think he has a very interesting background, but he's by no means proven.  Let's hope he soaked it all in at NIU AND knows how to implement that on his own.

Would be interesting to know who the other candidates were, but I doubt that information will come out.  Thought we might be able to get someone a bit more experienced.

That popped out at me as well. I am guessing that someone who Coach Schmidt really respects worked with Coach Landry and highly recommended him. If that is the case, it's very possible Coach Landry is an  up-and-comer in the profession and is an excellent catch even if it's on the front end of his career. Talent is talent and if he's got it he will do well. If I were an Eagle fan and discovered that was the scenario I would be pleased and very optimistic. If it is more that the guy has D-I experience and was a good interview, I would say "Uh-oh". Now, he still could be great, but I would be less confident in that scenario.

[ScreamingEagles]

For a first time head coach, with his mainly defensive background (though I saw where he did have some experience on the other side at DU), I would have thought he would go with someone with a stronger resume. If I were a high school prospect, I wouldn't know what to think.

ScreamingEagles, do you know anything about the La X recuiting this year? Had to have been tough with no coach in place until late.

I haven't heard many specifics regarding recruiting.  Coach Schmidt is pretty active on Twitter and has expressed a ton of optimism - basically all that I have seen.  The La Crosse Tribune stepped up their coverage over the past year, I would imagine at some point this spring/early summer they'll have an article with some commitments.

https://twitter.com/uwlcoachschmidt

[ScreamingEagles]

Colten Bartholomew: With drama over, Eagles get back to football

http://lacrossetribune.com/sports/localcollege/colten-bartholomew-with-drama-over-eagles-get-back-to-football/article_3d0a6da3-61ff-56eb-b587-09e664699540.html

"(This week) is a lot of team stuff and a lot of competition, guys pushing each other because that's all they've got is each other," Schmidt said. "There are no expectations for this football team outside of here, and they need to understand that. We're trying to train them to know that these guys here are all they've got."

"We're setting our tempo for when we show up, and how we show up, no matter if it's 5:45 in the morning or it's 3:15 in the afternoon in the fall or it's 1 o'clock on game day. We have to show up with the same mentality," Schmidt said. "We're not trying to weed the guys out, we're trying to weed the behavior out."

Steve King joins UW-L coaching staff

http://lacrossetribune.com/sports/localcollege/steve-king-joins-uw-l-coaching-staff/article_259db0c1-d8cf-5fba-85cc-880e0d2f964a.html

The former longtime coach of the Holmen High School football team will continue a nearly three-decades-long coaching career and look to help the Eagles return to WIAC and national prominence as an assistant coach for the Eagles.

King's exact role is still yet to be determined as UW-L searches for another fulltime assistant coach that will likely serve as the defensive coordinator. King will definitely be a defensive assistant, likely with linebackers, Schmidt said.

UW-La Crosse Announces Additions to Football Coaching Staff

http://uwlathletics.com/news/2016/4/5/three-join-football-coaching-staff.aspx?path=football

Joining the staff are Steve King and Bob Lichty as defensive assistant coaches and Dylan Ramsey as a defensive intern.

King comes to UWL after coaching at Holmen (Wis.) High School the last 33 years, including 29 seasons as the Vikings' head coach.  He went 155-134 as Holmen's head coach, winning five Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) titles (1992, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2015) and finishing second in 10 different seasons.  The Vikings earned 18 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) playoff appearances under King, who retired from coaching after the 2015 season.  He will retire from teaching at Holmen (Wis.) at the end of the 2015-16 school year.

Lichty joins the UWL staff in 2016 after 43 years as an assistant coach and coordinating the 3-Dimensional Character Development Program for coaches and athletes.  A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Lichty graduated from Columbus (Wis.) High School.  He played football his freshman year at the University of Northern Iowa and then served in the U.S. Army for three years before transferring to UW-Eau Claire, where he earned his bachelor's degree.

He began his coaching career in 1973 at UW-Eau Claire assisting with the offensive line.  Lichty started coaching the offensive line at UW-Stout in 1974 while earning his master's degree.  He spent the next four years at Wausau (Wis.) Newman High School as an assistant football and track & field coach and head wrestling coach.  Lichty coached at Mount Senario College (Wis.) from 1978-1987, serving the first five seasons as the defensive coordinator before taking over as head coach in 1984 for four years.  He was named the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1987 after leading Mount Senario to league titles.

Spending the next 26 years coaching high school football at Bruce (Wis.), Ladysmith (Wis.) and Menomonie (Wis.) High School, Lichty returned to coach the linebackers at UW-Stout in 2014.  He spent the 2015 season coaching at UW-Eau Claire.

Ramsey comes to UWL after coaching the cornerbacks at North Carolina Wesleyan College (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) in 2015.  The Battling Bishops finished tied for second in the USA South Athletic Conference in 2015.  Ramsey coached cornerback Bobby Tucker, who set a single-game school record with three interceptions against nationally-ranked Maryville College (Tenn.) October 10, 2015.

A 2014 graduate of the University of Dubuque (Iowa), Ramsey earned four letters in football for the Spartans at defensive back.  He was a 2012 and 2014 All-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Honorable Mention selection and a four-time (2011-14) All-IIAC Academic member.  Ramsey recorded 57 tackles and 20 pass break-ups in 2012 while finishing with 35 tackles, including four for loss, 19 pass break-ups and one interception in 2014.

[bulk19]

King will be a great addition to the UWL staff...
Litchy will add a ton of experience and contacts, too...

[bleedpurple]

"Familiarity Key as Coaches Eye Productive Spring"

www.warhawkfootball.com

[BoBo]

The Badgers OL transfer from UWSP, Ryan Ramczck, has had a solid spring practice for UW. Out of HS, he spent 2 weeks at Winona State, went to tech school for 1 year and had 2 seasons at Point. Thought he would become a welder. Now, he practicing with the first team OL with UW. Paul Chryst's Sat. post-practice interview regarding the OL went like this:

"Q: You thought highly enough of Ryan Ramczyk to put him at left guard (should be Tackle) to start spring practice, what has impressed you most in those practices about what he has been doing?

PC:  I think Ryan is, you know, a talented football player, and that is a good starting point, and it is important to him.  And he is like the whole group. And I think there is good in him and its being consistent. And you know the good thing about offensive line play is there are so many techniques, so many little things that are hugely important. And I think Ram has done a nice job of working and we think he is a talented player and you know he is not season ready, but we don't need to be in spring practice.

Q: What did you see in him when you first made the contact?

PC: Well we, you know, we knew about Ryan when he was coming out of high school and that year we went to Pitt, we offered him. And he didn't want to go out East, and so he is a big, athletic, good football player, and you know, we feel fortunate that he wanted to come here and work out and we love having him on this team."

video interview : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRH4nC7jB34

[emma17]

"Familiarity Key as Coaches Eye Productive Spring"

www.warhawkfootball.com

Great article Bleed, thanks for the work you do.
I found Coach Smith's review of last year's offense to be honest and accurate: "We weren't a bad offense, but we weren't a good offense". 
The O showed signs of being good like the run production vs Morningside and UWO 2 and the first half performances against UWSP and Wheaton. UWO 1 and Mt Union game plans were head scratchers.

I think the D has talent, with improvement in their tackling technique they should be tough.