FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

It's crazy WIAC.
This we know. UWL beat IWU at IWU (does that help you at least a little 02?).
UWSP played Wabash very close and played JCU reasonably close.
UWP played Thomas More neck and neck and crushed Lakeland.
UWEC is the 1 to 8-1 St. Norbert.
UWS beat Gustavus Adolphus- a near victor over St T.
UWRF lost a close game to Bethel.
UWO beat Carthage and held UWW to 116 yards rushing on 39 carries.

I can't answer any question as to who would beat who with 100% certainty- but I'm 100% certain the WIAC has provided plenty of playoff caliber challenges to UWW.
Whether UWW is ready for the top 7 is the question I have.

I don't have confidence the WIAC has provided playoff caliber competition to UWW or anyone for that matter.

I don't look at UWRF and think, well we know Bethel can beat a playoff type team in a close game. I also don't think anyone in the MIAC looks at GAC and thinks they are playoff caliber. Or Stout by extension. IWU isn't likely to make the field from a CCIW that seems down to me this year.

But if 'playoff caliber' means you have results and wins against some of the worst Pool A conference contenders then we have a nicely diluted definition of playoff caliber.

Oz Johnnie summed up my point, but I'll ask you the same question I asked 02-
Of the teams ranked 8-25, which do you feel UWO, UWL and UWP wouldn't be competitive with?
For reference, competitive to me means having a chance in the fourth quarter.

[hazzben]

I hear that Oz.

I guess my comment was meant to reflect that if the WIAC isn't down as much as was thought, don't you have to say the same about the MIAC?

And yes,multiple  teams already out of the WIAC and MIAC playoff hunt would be in the hunt or at the top of many middling to lower conferences around the country.

[hazzben]

@Emma

Bethel 

I know the rebuttal to this is UWRF, but that was a freshman QB in his first start. This team has improved a ton as the season progressed. And they weren't to bad to begin with 

[OzJohnnie]

@Emma

Bethel 

I know the rebuttal to this is UWRF, but that was a freshman QB in his first start. This team has improved a ton as the season progressed. And they weren't to bad to begin with 

I reckon BU are the dark horse of the post season, if they make it.  They have steadily increased in dangerousness.

[emma17]

@Emma

Bethel 

I know the rebuttal to this is UWRF, but that was a freshman QB in his first start. This team has improved a ton as the season progressed. And they weren't to bad to begin with 

Well of course not Bethel-nobody does the improve from the beginning of the season thing like Bethel👍
If I wasn't doing this on my phone I'd be tempted to list 8-25 here, as there are many teams I'd use as examples.

[WW]

It's crazy WIAC.
This we know. UWL beat IWU at IWU (does that help you at least a little 02?).
UWSP played Wabash very close and played JCU reasonably close.
UWP played Thomas More neck and neck and crushed Lakeland.
UWEC is the 1 to 8-1 St. Norbert.
UWS beat Gustavus Adolphus- a near victor over St T.
UWRF lost a close game to Bethel.
UWO beat Carthage and held UWW to 116 yards rushing on 39 carries.

I can't answer any question as to who would beat who with 100% certainty- but I'm 100% certain the WIAC has provided plenty of playoff caliber challenges to UWW.
Whether UWW is ready for the top 7 is the question I have.

I don't have confidence the WIAC has provided playoff caliber competition to UWW or anyone for that matter.

I don't look at UWRF and think, well we know Bethel can beat a playoff type team in a close game. I also don't think anyone in the MIAC looks at GAC and thinks they are playoff caliber. Or Stout by extension. IWU isn't likely to make the field from a CCIW that seems down to me this year.

But if 'playoff caliber' means you have results and wins against some of the worst Pool A conference contenders then we have a nicely diluted definition of playoff caliber.

The WIAC hasn't provided "playoff caliber" competition for UWW, despite those teams accomplishments vs teams of dubious achievement (Carthage is 3-6, GA 5-4, Lakeland 4-5 in a bad conference, SNC ranked 60 Hansen and will not be in playoffs, 45-21 is "reasonably close??", I'll give you IWU, TM 6-3, ho-hum)

But the WIAC does provide its champion the most challenging conference slate of any D3 conference in the country, per Hansen. MIAC is close behind, and CCIW just behind them. Per Hansen, the worst team in the WIAC is ranked 50 out of 240. As much as a conference schedule can provide challenging preparatory competition for playoffs, the WIAC is number one.

[02 Warhawk]

It's crazy WIAC.
This we know. UWL beat IWU at IWU (does that help you at least a little 02?).
UWSP played Wabash very close and played JCU reasonably close.
UWP played Thomas More neck and neck and crushed Lakeland.
UWEC is the 1 to 8-1 St. Norbert.
UWS beat Gustavus Adolphus- a near victor over St T.
UWRF lost a close game to Bethel.
UWO beat Carthage and held UWW to 116 yards rushing on 39 carries.

I can't answer any question as to who would beat who with 100% certainty- but I'm 100% certain the WIAC has provided plenty of playoff caliber challenges to UWW.
Whether UWW is ready for the top 7 is the question I have.

I don't have confidence the WIAC has provided playoff caliber competition to UWW or anyone for that matter.

I don't look at UWRF and think, well we know Bethel can beat a playoff type team in a close game. I also don't think anyone in the MIAC looks at GAC and thinks they are playoff caliber. Or Stout by extension. IWU isn't likely to make the field from a CCIW that seems down to me this year.

But if 'playoff caliber' means you have results and wins against some of the worst Pool A conference contenders then we have a nicely diluted definition of playoff caliber.

The WIAC hasn't provided "playoff caliber" competition for UWW, despite those teams accomplishments vs teams of dubious achievement (Carthage is 3-6, GA 5-4, Lakeland 4-5 in a bad conference, SNC ranked 60 Hansen and will not be in playoffs, 45-21 is "reasonably close??", I'll give you IWU, TM 6-3, ho-hum)

But the WIAC does provide its champion the most challenging conference slate of any D3 conference in the country, per Hansen. MIAC is close behind, and CCIW just behind them. Per Hansen, the worst team in the WIAC is ranked 50 out of 240. As much as a conference schedule can provide challenging preparatory competition for playoffs, the WIAC is number one.

Large in part to the bottom half of the WIAC is more competitive than any other conference's bottom half. Until that changes, the WIAC will always be ranked at the top of the conference rankings twice each year (D3football).

However, UWW hasn't been challenged by a team this regular season that's a threat to go deep into the playoffs.

[warhawkguard]

Hypothetical question: Given the expectation that the current teams leading their leagues do not falter, best guess for first round matchups? St. Norbert gets a trip to the Perk? They have a fight with Macalester this weekend correct?

As a Warhawk fan I look forward to the dance and settle these questions on the field. Is UWW, UWW again, or are they just purty danged good? 

[Pat Coleman]

St. Norbert plays Monmouth and Monmouth will be the favorite.

[emma17]

Y'all keep moving the bar.
This conversation started when 02 posted this

Weird to think UWW hasn't really been tested against playoff caliber teams yet.

02 didn't say UWW hasn't been tested by the best teams in the country or by the top teams from the toughest conferences.
To me, playoff caliber means either a known playoff team, a team likely to make the playoffs or a team that would compete well with the above.
UWW's conference slate has absolutely met the criteria of being tested by a playoff caliber team. Play all the word games you want, it doesn't change the reality.

[WW]

Hypothetical question: Given the expectation that the current teams leading their leagues do not falter, best guess for first round matchups? St. Norbert gets a trip to the Perk? They have a fight with Macalester this weekend correct?

As a Warhawk fan I look forward to the dance and settle these questions on the field. Is UWW, UWW again, or are they just purty danged good?

The top candidate to visit UWW I believe would be the ARC winner (Dubuque or Wartburg). MWC winner is also possible, especially if its St. Norbert, but I don't think SNC beats Monmouth in the MWC championship game Saturday. Presuming it's Monmouth, the Scots could get the Bethel-Tommy winner (presuming they get a pool C bid). I think Monmouth would have enough of a resume to not get fed to St Johns or UWW in the first round.

[jamtod]

Hypothetical question: Given the expectation that the current teams leading their leagues do not falter, best guess for first round matchups? St. Norbert gets a trip to the Perk? They have a fight with Macalester this weekend correct?

As a Warhawk fan I look forward to the dance and settle these questions on the field. Is UWW, UWW again, or are they just purty danged good?

The top candidate to visit UWW I believe would be the ARC winner (Dubuque or Wartburg). MWC winner is also possible, especially if its St. Norbert, but I don't think SNC beats Monmouth in the MWC championship game Saturday. Presuming it's Monmouth, the Scots could get the Bethel-Tommy winner (presuming they get a pool C bid). I think Monmouth would have enough of a resume to not get fed to St Johns or UWW in the first round.

And I suppose Martin Luther goes to St John's?

[WW]

Hypothetical question: Given the expectation that the current teams leading their leagues do not falter, best guess for first round matchups? St. Norbert gets a trip to the Perk? They have a fight with Macalester this weekend correct?

As a Warhawk fan I look forward to the dance and settle these questions on the field. Is UWW, UWW again, or are they just purty danged good?

The top candidate to visit UWW I believe would be the ARC winner (Dubuque or Wartburg). MWC winner is also possible, especially if its St. Norbert, but I don't think SNC beats Monmouth in the MWC championship game Saturday. Presuming it's Monmouth, the Scots could get the Bethel-Tommy winner (presuming they get a pool C bid). I think Monmouth would have enough of a resume to not get fed to St Johns or UWW in the first round.

And I suppose Martin Luther goes to St John's?

Yup. That would be my guess.

[bleedpurple]

Hypothetical question: Given the expectation that the current teams leading their leagues do not falter, best guess for first round matchups? St. Norbert gets a trip to the Perk? They have a fight with Macalester this weekend correct?

As a Warhawk fan I look forward to the dance and settle these questions on the field. Is UWW, UWW again, or are they just purty danged good?

On the podcast, I believe Pat mentioned the possibility of Eureka as a first round opponent.

[hazzben]

The WIAC hasn't provided "playoff caliber" competition for UWW, despite those teams accomplishments vs teams of dubious achievement (Carthage is 3-6, GA 5-4, Lakeland 4-5 in a bad conference, SNC ranked 60 Hansen and will not be in playoffs, 45-21 is "reasonably close??", I'll give you IWU, TM 6-3, ho-hum)

But the WIAC does provide its champion the most challenging conference slate of any D3 conference in the country, per Hansen. MIAC is close behind, and CCIW just behind them. Per Hansen, the worst team in the WIAC is ranked 50 out of 240. As much as a conference schedule can provide challenging preparatory competition for playoffs, the WIAC is number one.

Large in part to the bottom half of the WIAC is more competitive than any other conference's bottom half. Until that changes, the WIAC will always be ranked at the top of the conference rankings twice each year (D3football).

However, UWW hasn't been challenged by a team this regular season that's a threat to go deep into the playoffs.

I agree with all of this. No question the bottom 3 in the MIAC are a far cry from the bottom 3 in the WIAC. Those programs looked to be creeping closer a few years back, but the bottom fell out this year. Bethel's game against Augsburg this Saturday was a joke. 100 points was within reach if we don't put things in neutral at the start of the 4th quarter.

Y'all keep moving the bar.

Well yeah, what else are we supposed to do on here, have, like, rational and intelligent conversations that raise the level of debate in this country. This is, like, the interwebs dude. 

In all seriousness, most of the time our discussions on here are the message board equivalent of PhD level discourse. But that says a whole lot more about the cesspool that is the internet message boards than it does about us.