FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bleedpurple]

quote author=02 Warhawk link=topic=3741.msg1107799#msg1107799 date=1255312177]
Looks like Borland and company held Sartorelli (a very talented RB) in check to just 75 yards on 3.4 yards per carry.   Great job by the D-Line. I missed the game, so i'm just taking a glance at the box score. i see whitewater only punted once that afternoon. Offense looked efficient as usualy (minus a couple of turnovers)  

Stay healthy and keep pounding the rock.

Well, I was at the game and at times, it felt like he was running all over us.  Glad to see the actual stat.   Great job DEFENSE!

[/quote]

It's funny how a game can feel so differently to people watching the same game sometimes. I never felt even a little threatened by Sartorelli all day long. He gained 26 of his yards in the final two minutes of the first half when EC was in two minute, no huddle drill and Hawks expecting pass (18 of it on one run) . He had another 18 yerd gain on the first drive of the fourth quarter with the Hawks ahead 31-14. Other than that, his runs were -1, 3, 0, 5,5,2,3,2,4,1,3,-1,6,-1,0,2,2. I felt like this was worth pointing out to accentuate your last point. GREAT JOB DEFENSE.

And this against the leading rusher in the WIAC last year! Other than Coppage of course. I'm biased of course, but I'm pretty sure our O-Line and Coppage won the battle of the top two running backs in the WIAC from a year ago!

Great game all the way around by UWW. I epsecially liked the response to the Bluegolds pulling to within 3 at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. On to Menominee!

[02 Warhawk]

Here's a small nugget:  Looks like each week UWW has slowly been chipping away at MUC's first-place vote total. Warhawks received 6 this week. Up from 3 from last week.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Here's a small nugget:  Looks like each week UWW has slowly been chipping away at MUC's first-place vote total. Warhawks received 6 this week. Up from 3 from last week.

UWW should have been preseason #1 anyway.  Voters probably saw the close score vs. Capital (or watched the internet broadcast) and finally realized that Rocco and Panchek are not Micheli and Kmic.

It was a good test for MUC, but they still need to do a lot of improving if they want to attempt to meet UWW in Salem for #4.

[footballfan413]

It's funny how a game can feel so differently to people watching the same game sometimes. I never felt even a little threatened by Sartorelli all day long. He gained 26 of his yards in the final two minutes of the first half when EC was in two minute, no huddle drill and Hawks expecting pass (18 of it on one run) . He had another 18 yerd gain on the first drive of the fourth quarter with the Hawks ahead 31-14. Other than that, his runs were -1, 3, 0, 5,5,2,3,2,4,1,3,-1,6,-1,0,2,2. I felt like this was worth pointing out to accentuate your last point. GREAT JOB DEFENSE.

And this against the leading rusher in the WIAC last year! Other than Coppage of course. I'm biased of course, but I'm pretty sure our O-Line and Coppage won the battle of the top two running backs in the WIAC from a year ago!

Great game all the way around by UWW. I epsecially liked the response to the Bluegolds pulling to within 3 at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. On to Menominee!

Well, I should probably clarify........................I was in the stands AND in the parking lot........ off and on throughout the game.   

[houdini]

I think members of the prior and current Warhawk offense will tell you there is really no focus on setting records and keeping players in a game.......it was that way with Beaver, Burns,Wurth, and now Coppage in recent history.

You mean like when Beaver broke the single game record in the fourth quarter of a 38-10 game, breaking his collarbone in the process?

[voice]

I think members of the prior and current Warhawk offense will tell you there is really no focus on setting records and keeping players in a game.......it was that way with Beaver, Burns,Wurth, and now Coppage in recent history.

You mean like when Beaver broke the single game record in the fourth quarter of a 38-10 game, breaking his collarbone in the process?

What's your point?  That was the way he was used throughout his career

[BoBo]

It's funny how a game can feel so differently to people watching the same game sometimes. I never felt even a little threatened by Sartorelli all day long. He gained 26 of his yards in the final two minutes of the first half when EC was in two minute, no huddle drill and Hawks expecting pass (18 of it on one run) . He had another 18 yerd gain on the first drive of the fourth quarter with the Hawks ahead 31-14. Other than that, his runs were -1, 3, 0, 5,5,2,3,2,4,1,3,-1,6,-1,0,2,2. I felt like this was worth pointing out to accentuate your last point. GREAT JOB DEFENSE.

And this against the leading rusher in the WIAC last year! Other than Coppage of course. I'm biased of course, but I'm pretty sure our O-Line and Coppage won the battle of the top two running backs in the WIAC from a year ago!

Great game all the way around by UWW. I epsecially liked the response to the Bluegolds pulling to within 3 at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. On to Menominee!

Well, I should probably clarify........................I was in the stands AND in the parking lot........ off and on throughout the game.  

...dipping into the hooch always skews reality, fbf413... !!  

I'd have to concur with much of what BP said.  I wasn't worried with Sartorelli running the ball; he's really never hurt us and I don't think he has the foot speed to do it. Plus, the first guy touching him on the running plays usually brought him down, or ran him out of bounds (hence all the 0-2 yard gains).  A couple times he caught a screen or swing pass and had a running step on the linebacker, he got into open space -- and had a nice gain.  After EC had run the play so often, even Anthony White read the play perfectly, broke off his pass rush and covered him in the flat, causing Paulsen to throw high and incomplete.  Previously, however, they did pick up that 18 yard gain you mentioned on a similar designed play to the other side of the field.  He has to have a space to run in because he doesn't really have a lot of moves.  As a result, I never felt like he was going to break off a long one because our D is so fundamentally sound. That Paulsen run at the beginning was really out of character.  Anyway, what won't surprise me is when Sartorelli comes back this week with a 30-190-4 TD performance against Platteville. He kind of reminds me of Moriarty from Oshkosh in a way.  In 3 games vs UWW, Moriarty had 49 rushes for 151 yards (3.08 yard avg), against everyone else, he ran like Secretariet.  You could easily see what a special kind of back Coppage is during this EC game. Not only does he have the moves -- jukes, spins, and great vision, but at 180 lbs., he can run you over, too. He, as basically the entire running attack, single-handed wore out that EC defense.  As I said in an earlier post, the O-line did a great job at the point of attack.  But, once Levell got beyond the line of scrimmage, it was easy to see the differences compared to Sartorelli. If he wasn't carrying 3-4 guys for extra yards, never stopping his legs from moving, he was making guys miss him with some pretty sick moves.  The 41 rushes appeared to tire the EC defense more than it did himself.

I must have missed something...I thought EC was doing the no-huddle thing the entire game.  

[note:  Sartarelli in 5 games vs UWW 83-304 (3.66 avg)]

I should point out that I like the way Whitewater got the FB Max Wasikowski involved, in a way other than just blocking. Those dump off passes and designed swing passes showed he has some hands and has a little burst -- 3 catches for 43 yards is pretty good production -- and he's a load to bring down when he lowers his pads. 

[Pat Coleman]

UWW should have been preseason #1 anyway.  Voters probably saw the close score vs. Capital (or watched the internet broadcast) and finally realized that Rocco and Panchek are not Micheli and Kmic.

Voters always knew that. What wasn't clear was whether the other 19 or so returning starters could pick up the slack.

[bleedpurple]

UWW should have been preseason #1 anyway.  Voters probably saw the close score vs. Capital (or watched the internet broadcast) and finally realized that Rocco and Panchek are not Micheli and Kmic.

Voters always knew that. What wasn't clear was whether the other 19 or so returning starters could pick up the slack.

What I mentioned on the OAC Board is that I think it's a matter of a voter's philosophy. If one believes in always ranking the previous champion number 1 until they are beaten, then that could account for some Mount votes. Or in Mount's case, some voters may feel all those championships accord at least Mount to be treated that way. Others feel like they are going to vote on who they believe to be the best team in the country. I would think that would be the actual purpose of the poll. If that is the case, I would think more people would be open to changing their vote as the results come in and relative team strengths begin to become more clear. An interesting side poll would be "If Mount Union were to play UWW this week, which team would win?" My guess is that the poll would be much closer than 19-6.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

UWW should have been preseason #1 anyway.  Voters probably saw the close score vs. Capital (or watched the internet broadcast) and finally realized that Rocco and Panchek are not Micheli and Kmic.

Voters always knew that. What wasn't clear was whether the other 19 or so returning starters could pick up the slack.

What I mentioned on the OAC Board is that I think it's a matter of a voter's philosophy. If one believes in always ranking the previous champion number 1 until they are beaten, then that could account for some Mount votes. Or in Mount's case, some voters may feel all those championships accord at least Mount to be treated that way. Others feel like they are going to vote on who they believe to be the best team in the country. I would think that would be the actual purpose of the poll. If that is the case, I would think more people would be open to changing their vote as the results come in and relative team strengths begin to become more clear. An interesting side poll would be "If Mount Union were to play UWW this week, which team would win?" My guess is that the poll would be much closer than 19-6.

Bold statement is what I believe the poll should be.   If MUC were to play UWW this week I would lean toward UWW winning at a neutral field or at UWW.  MUC might have the edge if the game were in Alliance.

[badgerwarhawk]

If Mount Union had won just one national championship and had graduated players like Micheli and Kmick I could see voters questioning their status.  However when you've won multiple, consecutive national championships like Mount Union has and you've graduated other outstanding players and still won multiple, consecutive national championships like Mount Union I think it's hard to question until someone comes along and beats them.  

Personally, while it would be nice to be ranked #1, I don't really care where we are ranked.  The rankings are great for recognition and there's no doubt they help a program.  However rankings don't help you beat opponents.  We've got a lot more important things to be concerned about.  Like Stout's defense for instance.  It's clearly the best defense we've seen to date and it's very effective at stopping the run.  We need to continue to focus on each week's opponent and let the poll voters do what they will.  In the end it isn't about being the top ranked team, it's about winning and getting to Salem.  

[Sakman 1111]

Gotta go with BW.......The measuring stick for UWW and MUC is getting to Salem and winning......anything else would make it a somewhat unsuccessful season. Pre-season and polls during the season are excellent conversation pieces but really carry little effect for the final goal. Personally, I believe MUC is the current champ and should be rated number 1 until some one knocks them off......

[BoBo]

Who's #1 in the Top 25 poll at the end of the year means one thing -- you won the Stagg Bowl...that's the prize in football at the D3 level.

Being #1 in the poll, half way through the regular season, earns you nothing.  So, go out, win every game, put yourself in a position to be in that final game of the year -- a victory allows you an offseason to celebrate your #1 ranking.  When the preseason poll comes out the following year, if you're lucky (& said your prayers), you might be #2 in that one!!    And then we start the fun all over again.
   

[D O.C.]

I'd have to say being ranked #1 during the season in any sport will bring you $$$$. Therefore, it does matter.

I have been flabbergasted and then enviable of the MUC JV program with, what? 10 games. If they win them all like the oft Stagg Champs do, then that is an indicator what kind of team they will field year after year.

Spare me the research. Does UWW have a full JV program as well?

[janesvilleflash]

If I remember correctly, WW can only play three JV games?