FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[02 Warhawk]

Not sure what to think of this Wartburg team. I know they came into Whitewater a few years ago and played them down to the wire. I put this Titan team close to those Warhawk teams (especially offensively), but I don't know anything about Wartburg. I predicted the winner of the Oshkosh/North Central game to win the bracket, so I still like my Titans chances. If we don't turn the ball over, I'm guessing we have too much firepower (at least that is what I'm hoping). Anybody know anything about this version of the Knights?

They don't seem nearly as dangerous as the 2014 version.  I think Oshkosh will handle their business and move on without much of an issue.

What wildcat11 said

[WW]

Haven't seen 'em but I have followed their progress since they took apart Monmouth with relative ease in the opener. Very balanced offensively. They'll find your weakness and are capable of exploiting it, via either run or pass. That demolition of Trine was an eye opener and unexpected in my book. This will be a ballgame.

By the way, Titan, UWO got a home-and-home scheduled with Carthage starting next fall. fyi.

[UWO Titan 78]

Good News about the Carthage home-and-home. Carthage is making great strides to join NC and Wheaton at the top of the CCIW. This will be good for both programs.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Good News about the Carthage home-and-home. Carthage is making great strides to join NC and Wheaton at the top of the CCIW. This will be good for both programs.

Ahem.  The co-champion with NCC this season was neither Wheaton or Carthage, but the IWU Titans.  With that moniker, you oughta be able to remember we exist!

[Carin@TheLiquorStore]

Does anyone have any insight about how Wartburg's conference, the IIAC, is in general? I see that their QB posted some spectacular numbers this season but I confess to having absolutely no clue what the level of competition is like in that conference...

[Pat Coleman]

Is that the most Wisconsin message board handle ever? Just lacks a reference to cheese or something.

[MediaGuy]

Does anyone have any insight about how Wartburg's conference, the IIAC, is in general? I see that their QB posted some spectacular numbers this season but I confess to having absolutely no clue what the level of competition is like in that conference...

I've been following the IIAC for quite a while and I will say that the league has gotten much more competitive over the years.  10-15 years ago, the conference was really just Wartburg, Central and sometimes Coe, with the rest of the conference not much of a threat. So for the front runners there were only 1 or 2 really competative games each year, and they played few or no out of conference games.  Lately, there have been 5 or 6 teams with a legitimate shot at winning the league.  Sometimes it might look like the league isn't very good because the champion has a loss or two and the rest of the league is around .500 but that is more a factor of the middle of the pack teams being much more competitive than the league not being very good.  I think the recent "short" playoff runs for Dubuque or Coe is more about a lack of playoff experience than having lower quality football teams.  It's just my humble opinion, but I think that an undefeated IIAC champ should at least be considered a worthy opponent for anyone in the west region.

[Carin@TheLiquorStore]

Thanks for the insight! I have admittedly only been following D3 football for the past two or three years and admittedly, don't know follow anyone outside of the WIAC too closely. Since the brackets were released, pretty much everyone I've spoken with seemed to be under the assumption that the winner of the North Central/St. Johns game would prove to be the tougher game for UWO. I'm a pessimist though and worry that this could very easily be a let-down/overlooked game for UWO if they aren't careful. Not expecting them to lose but I figure on it being closer than people seem to be anticipating. Despite how well they've played this year (generally speaking), UWO's defense is still quite young and I very much worry about slip-ups.

[D O.C.]

I applaud Carin for coming on here.

[HansenRatings]

Does anyone have any insight about how Wartburg's conference, the IIAC, is in general? I see that their QB posted some spectacular numbers this season but I confess to having absolutely no clue what the level of competition is like in that conference...

The IIAC regularly ranks as about the 10th best conference in the D3Football annual conference rankings, but they're pretty consistently ranked higher than that by my model. Right now, the IIAC is the 6th highest-rated conference in the country. This year, Wartburg was really the only great team in the conference, with several good teams all losing to and beating each other. Wartburg only had two games this regular season decided by less than 20 points, in weeks 2 & 3. Outside of Wartburg, the conference's non-conference games this year included wins against UWRF (by Coe, who finished last in the conference), Elmhurst, Augustana, St. Olaf, Bethel, Pacific, Illinois College, Cornell, and Wash U. There's typically a lot of cross-over games between the CCIW & MWC, and IIAC teams regularly beat up on the MWC teams and are on-par with everyone but NCC & Wheaton in the CCIW.

[UWO Titan 78]

Good News about the Carthage home-and-home. Carthage is making great strides to join NC and Wheaton at the top of the CCIW. This will be good for both programs.

Ahem.  The co-champion with NCC this season was neither Wheaton or Carthage, but the IWU Titans.  With that moniker, you oughta be able to remember we exist!

I apologize Ypsi, for leaving out IWU. I have a lot of respect for IWU. You guys are my second favorite Titans .... tied with Cal State-Fullerton and the team from Remember the Titans! 

[WW]

Just poked around your site, HansenRatings. Awesome stuff! But if somebody's giving me Wartburg at plus 17, I'm putting a dime on it...

[HansenRatings]

Just poked around your site, HansenRatings. Awesome stuff! But if somebody's giving me Wartburg at plus 17, I'm putting a dime on it...

Hey, I'm a Wartburg grad. I would take that action, too. I actually get grief from the coaching staff a couple times a year for ranking them too low when I go to booster club events.

[bleedpurple]

Just poked around your site, HansenRatings. Awesome stuff! But if somebody's giving me Wartburg at plus 17, I'm putting a dime on it...

Before you spend your money, you probably want to get an informed opinion specifically on the line play of the 2017 Wartburg team.  The IIAC is a good conference, but year in and year out doesn't match the physicality or size of the WIAC.  I'm not saying Wartburg doesn't, but it's possible their opponents haven't.  In 2014, LL told me before the game that he was very concerned about the Wartburg offensive line.  He felt that group was elite (nationally). I don't know about the 2017 version.  If they are also elite, Wartburg might be able to control the ball on the Titans. If not, they will probably be in trouble.  While UW-O is definitely my LEAST favorite Titan, those dudes can put up points!

Sacia's passing numbers even eclipse what Logan Schrader did in 2014. Schrader did run for quite a bit more yardage, though.  Speaking of Schrader, does anyone know if Wartburg's second leading rusher is Logan's younger brother?

[Alfredeneumann]

Just poked around your site, HansenRatings. Awesome stuff! But if somebody's giving me Wartburg at plus 17, I'm putting a dime on it...

Before you spend your money, you probably want to get an informed opinion specifically on the line play of the 2017 Wartburg team.  The IIAC is a good conference, but year in and year out doesn't match the physicality or size of the WIAC.  I'm not saying Wartburg doesn't, but it's possible their opponents haven't.  In 2014, LL told me before the game that he was very concerned about the Wartburg offensive line.  He felt that group was elite (nationally). I don't know about the 2017 version.  If they are also elite, Wartburg might be able to control the ball on the Titans. If not, they will probably be in trouble.  While UW-O is definitely my LEAST favorite Titan, those dudes can put up points!

Sacia's passing numbers even eclipse what Logan Schrader did in 2014. Schrader did run for quite a bit more yardage, though.  Speaking of Schrader, does anyone know if Wartburg's second leading rusher is Logan's younger brother?

Wart fan here - O-line is as physical as ever. More team speed than 2014 team. Sacia is a better passer than Schrader, a good runner but not as good as Schrader. Yes,  Conner Schrader is Logan's younger brother.