FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

The game is a little more difficult when you don't have Blanchards and Beavers and Coppages and Kumerows and Grayvolds, isn't it?  It shouldn't be a huge surprise that a team will look a little more ordinary when you take away all of the extraordinary players.  It's a cop out to stick it all on the coaches, tbh. 

The same thing is happening this year at Mount Union this year, btw.  They just don't have the same dudes this year that they did last year or the year before.  I think they're going to get wiped out tomorrow in a pretty significant way.  Do their coaches stink?  Nah.  They just don't have all of the best players this year.

As it relates to Mt, no, the same thing isn't happening there.  At Mt, the coaching staff is taking a lesser talented/experienced team to the semis.  Although like everybody else, I assume UMHB has too much for Mt, but I will not be surprised at all if Mt wins.  I will be surprised if Mt gets taken behind the woodshed. 

This is probably a good time to point out that every road to the semifinal isn't the same.  Placed in another quadrant of the bracket, I think Mount Union would have run into a loss in the 2nd or 3rd round.  I'm not saying that Mount Union's path has been "easy", but I am saying that if they swapped places with Whitewater, Mount Union would be out and Whitewater would still be playing (and I think UWW would get wiped out by UMHB also...they're really good). 

I think what rankles me about the whole "the coaches stink" angle is that it has become so pervasive in the culture of watching college football.  Have a three and out series?  The play calling sucks.  Give up a 3rd and 7?  The DC sucks.  Punt on 4th and 2?  Coach is a coward.  This stuff just saps the fun out of the experience and I wish we could get away from it.  Maybe UWW's offense looked worse this year because other teams got better?  It doesn't have to be that the coaches are bad.  Those guys wouldn't be at that program if they were bad, right? 

I mean, you all literally had your choice of just about any dude you wanted two years ago and you picked Bullis.  That was THE guy that could keep it rolling.  I'm seeing a lot of second guessing and head scratching here just two seasons into this thing.

I appreciate where you are coming from Wally.
I have the utmost respect for the coaching profession and I do my best to support them, but I care more about the players. The players only get 4 years to make it happen. Coaches have more room for error- time wise.
I agree about paths not being equal, I'm not confident UWW would be in the semis if they had MT's bracket. They've been on thin ice a lot this season. The game they didn't win the turnover margin is the game they lost.

For the record I'm a Bullis fan. I'm fine with that decision and continue to support it. But let me tell you, I attended his public interview and he was clear that he'd keep the UWW style of football. You don't need to be a UWW guy to see that the current offense is not the style that was so successful. I understand an OC should have some creative freedom, but this is not the UWW style that was so important to building the program.

[D O.C.]

Mt. Union wins again by a point at home.

[edward de vere]

Huh?

[D O.C.]

(read slowly)
If they were playing at home
they could find a way to win.
The other team would have to make
all the adjustments
to time and weather.

[edward de vere]

Thank you for the edjumacation.

[emma17]

That blitz call was outstanding
Coaching.

[wesleydad]

Nice win by Oshkosh.  Strong defensive effort and just enough offense.  Good luck next week in Salem.

[emma17]

I don't wonder if they showed just enough offense they felt they needed to advance.

[SaintsFAN]

I don't wonder if they showed just enough offense they felt they needed to advance.

I bet you're right.  No matter who the opponent is next week, UWO will need to dent the 'board. 

[SaintsFAN]

Mitchell got 4.5 ypc as the only threat for Mount Union.  Will be interesting to see how UW-O's three headed rushing attack does on Friday night. 

I'm sure the Titan D will work in some of the same concepts that Mount Union used today. 

[fredfalcon]

Emma--in a game that close, with that much at stake, a coach would consider not using all his offense?  I seriously doubt it.

[New Tradition]

Great game today, Titans.  Can't wait for the matchup in Salem!

[DFWCrufan]

Congrats to UW-Oshkosh...have UMHB/ Oshkosh ever faced each other? Anyway, it's a hell of a place to have a first go round...Safe travels

[emma17]

Emma--in a game that close, with that much at stake, a coach would consider not using all his offense?  I seriously doubt it.

Every game gets a different game plan right?  There are lots of things that decide what the game plan will be for each opponent.
Coach C was interviewed at halftime and he said the team that wins will be the one that doesn't  make a mistake. UWO may very well have thought the best way to beat JCU is to employ a conversative, ball control offense focused on field position. If that was the way they thought this game would be won, then maybe you can see how/why a team might not "use all their offense".  Some plays are more susceptible to mistakes than others.
Perhaps UWO will feel that next week they will need to take more chances against UMHB in order to be successful-if so you'd likely see some different plays.
That's just my opinion though.

[gbpuckfan]

Congrats to UW-Oshkosh...have UMHB/ Oshkosh ever faced each other?

No.
http://uwoshkoshtitans.com/sports/fball/RecordVsOpponents