FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bleedpurple]

How about we all win the rest of our games and stay healthy in the process? If that happens, the most intriguing thing of all is who will get a #1 seed and whether any of the three would get sent out of the region. I remember a few years ago, the committee got creative and set up some unique match ups. It would be awesome if they did that again. After years of perception that the East is weak, the East Region has two teams in the Top 5 and three in the Top 8. I would love to have some crossover to see how Brockport or Frostburg would stack up against the Johnnies, Tommies, or Warhawks.

Last year, their seasons ended poorly. Frostburg lost to Mount and gave up 70 in the process.  But I'm guessing they are getting somewhat of a pass because it was Mount.  Brockport was shutout at UMHB 24-0.  Similarly, I'm guessing they are getting somewhat of a pass because it was UMHB. It would be fun to see how they stack up against any of the top teams in the West.

[emma17]

I think we all know SJU/UWW/UST are the top 3 teams in the region. SJU beat UST handily so they get the nod at #1, I'd say UWW being #2 is a no-brainer as they're undefeated, and someone would really have to make a compelling argument to me to even consider UST being anything less than #3.

This could very well be.

But why not...

SJU UWW beat UST UWO handily so they get the nod at #1, I'd say UWW SJU being #2 is a no-brainer as they're undefeated.

SOS so far:
3rd - UWW
8th - UWO
11th - SJU
136th - UST

UWO is a two-loss team with an anemic offense who only mustered up 0 points against UWW and 3 points against an upstart football program (who is a paper tiger as far as DII goes, so, no need to point out Davenport's record). While, UWO is a decent football team, a win over a team that can't score against a quality defense doesn't do as much for me as SJU putting 40 (33 points offensively) on one of the best defenses in the country.

Now, stop making me defend SJU's ranking before I vomit.

I would pump the breaks on that a little. SJU is the only team you've played that's currently over .500, and UST's passing defense was torched in the process.

One thing about us WIAC fans. We share the common challenge of defending our teams that play opponents outside of D3. I've not researched this, but i don't think there are any other conferences that find it necessary to look outside of D3 for a game as much as the WIAC. Yet, certain fans from outside the WIAC, seem so cock-sure of their ability to evaluate the NAIA and DII teams. Here's the deal. As a UWW fan first and a WIAC fan second, I've seen an absolute ton of great football. The other UWW fans can claim the same. We probably have a pretty good idea of what football talent looks like. Some can pretend to know who the "paper tigers" in DII are, but we do know that teams with scholarship athletes present a different challenge than the typical D3 opponent.
I don't think anybody will argue 2018 UWO isn't as good as previous years, but imo, they've proven themselves to be a successful, high-level D3 program. 2 semi-final appearances plus a Stagg Bowl appearance since 2012 have earned UWO the benefit of the doubt. UWO has beaten two D3 teams that have been in/near the top 25. They got shut down by UWW, no different than every other team UWW has faced this year. UWO limited UWW to 3 yards a carry. You know who that's not like? St. John's! They only gave up 8.2 yards per carry to St. Thomas. But, hey, we won't pay attention to those realities.     

[DuffMan]

You know who that's not like? St. John's! They only gave up 8.2 yards per carry to St. Thomas. But, hey, we won't pay attention to those realities.   

Bend but don't break!

I find it a bit funny that it's Tommies defending the Johnnies over here.  I really don't give a rat's ass what you guys think of the Johnnies.  If the stars align, it'll get sorted out on the field.  Till then, they've got 4 more games to win, improve, and stay healthy.

[jamtod]

You know who that's not like? St. John's! They only gave up 8.2 yards per carry to St. Thomas. But, hey, we won't pay attention to those realities.   

Bend but don't break!

I find it a bit funny that it's Tommies defending the Johnnies over here.  I really don't give a rat's ass what you guys think of the Johnnies.  If the stars align, it'll get sorted out on the field.  Till then, they've got 4 more games to win, improve, and stay healthy.

We like to argue! Anywhere, anytime!

And now that you guys gave us a beatdown, we feel the need to go elsewhere for it.

[Pat Coleman]

Looking at Davenport's 6-1 record:

D2 schools:
Wayne State 1-6
Northern Michigan 1-6
Michigan Tech 3-4
Northwood 2-5 (L)

NAIA schools:
Quincy 2-5
St. Francis IL 2-5

[emma17]

Looking at Davenport's 6-1 record:

D2 schools:
Wayne State 1-6
Northern Michigan 1-6
Michigan Tech 3-4
Northwood 2-5 (L)

NAIA schools:
Quincy 2-5
St. Francis IL 2-5

Not sure I understand the point of this post unless it's just a public service announcement, like hey- be sure to wash your hands before handling food.

As far as I know, all the schools listed above have scholarship athletes, which really should be the end of discussion.
Anyway, I don't think another D3 team has played any of them, so we have no comparison of a D3 team result.
The D3 game and WIAC schedule played by UWO provides pollsters all the data they need to rank them. UWO beat two D3 teams in/around the top 25- should be enough said.

Duff, I know you don't care, but I think highly of the Johnnies and the rankings at this point aren't important. This is just banter. I'm bantering the pollsters moved the Johnnies up too high. If the pollsters thought UWW was ahead of the Johnnies prior to last week, I'm surprised they feel the results of the weekend changed the order.

[Pat Coleman]

Not sure I understand the point of this post unless it's just a public service announcement, like hey- be sure to wash your hands before handling food.

I figured the paper tiger reference could use some data rather than just a label.

[02 Warhawk]

Not sure I understand the point of this post unless it's just a public service announcement, like hey- be sure to wash your hands before handling food.

I figured the paper tiger reference could use some data rather than just a label.

Davenport's record and resume (in terms of SOS) looks very similar to that of UST.

But I wouldn't dare call them a paper tiger 

[Pat Coleman]

Sure, but last year with much of the same team, St. Thomas went to the national quarterfinals and Davenport was a 1-10 second-year program.

[02 Warhawk]

Sure, but last year with much of the same team, St. Thomas went to the national quarterfinals and Davenport was a 1-10 second-year program.

Which makes that defensive meltdown against SJU all the stranger. Surprised that a very successful UST program couldn't figure out a way to slow down Gillach, let alone put a stop to it, the entire game.

Those numbers he put up are rarely seen against a defense belonging to a 3rd ranked team in the country. Unless your a Mount Union receiver with a NFL career on the horizon.

[bleedpurple]

Sure, but last year with much of the same team, St. Thomas went to the national quarterfinals and Davenport was a 1-10 second-year program.

Davenport has played 4 of the 10 teams who handed them losses in 2017 and beaten 3 of them. They are clearly not the same team as they were last year. 1-10 doesn't become 6-1 without significant improvement. I'd imagine we will learn more about them over the next three weeks, when they host two teams ranked in the Top 10 of D-II.

Small college football is an intriguing thing. Six months ago, I never heard of Davenport University. Now I find myself defending them. Before we played Oshkosh, I told myself, Davenport probably isn't any good. Now that we've beaten Oshkosh, I find myself wanting to believe Davenport is incredible. I ought to be a politician...

[Pat Coleman]

No doubt and no surprise that new programs have growth curves!

[jamtod]

Sure, but last year with much of the same team, St. Thomas went to the national quarterfinals and Davenport was a 1-10 second-year program.

Davenport has played 4 of the 10 teams who handed them losses in 2017 and beaten 3 of them. They are clearly not the same team as they were last year. 1-10 doesn't become 6-1 without significant improvement. I'd imagine we will learn more about them over the next three weeks, when they host two teams ranked in the Top 10 of D-II.

Small college football is an intriguing thing. Six months ago, I never heard of Davenport University. Now I find myself defending them. Before we played Oshkosh, I told myself, Davenport probably isn't any good. Now that we've beaten Oshkosh, I find myself wanting to believe Davenport is incredible. I ought to be a politician...

Tommies defending Johnnies, D3 Whitewater fans defending D2 Davenport, cats and dogs LIVING TOGETHER!

Mass hysteria!

[UWO Titan 78]

Over on the OAC board, a post about an article in the Toledo Blade says Glenn Caruso is a candidate for the Bowling Green opening. Obviously, a WIAC coach has jumped from D3 to the MAC, is Caruso looking to make that jump?

[jamtod]

Over on the OAC board, a post about an article in the Toledo Blade says Glenn Caruso is a candidate for the Bowling Green opening. Obviously, a WIAC coach has jumped from D3 to the MAC, is Caruso looking to make that jump?

For various reasons, I think it's highly unlikely.

Then again, those same reasons could have applied to other coaches that made the jump. This opportunity and this timing (after being here for 10 years) would be very odd. But nothing is impossible.