FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[usee]

With the WIAC and CCIW so close in proximity, it still bothers me that they have not tried to schedule these non-conference games betweent the two conferences to save travel and money.   I hate the idea of playing another conference team twice in a year.  

Don't expect to see this change much going forward. I am on record as wanting the cciw coaches to schedule more stringently, including wiac opponents. However, in the preseason coaches chat last year Tim Rucks from Carthage said he would never schedule a wiac team as Carthage has a policy not to schedule a "public" school vs a private school. Several other coaches agreed with this including Barnes from Augie and Millikin's coach. I think this is a major copout but the reality is North Central missed the playoffs last year after losing to Ohio Northern and going 7-2. If they had played Coe or Augsburg they would have been in at 9-1.  

[usee]

BTW, Wheaton has 3 openings a year beginning 2012. Here's hoping for some more WIAC games.

Regarding North Central, my guess is they are the real deal this year. I believe they are a top 5 team  but that depends on how well their qb plays down the stretch. You saw what they did to a solid UWEC team. I will be very interested in the UWW-UWEC game next weekend.

[BoBo]

With the WIAC and CCIW so close in proximity, it still bothers me that they have not tried to schedule these non-conference games betweent the two conferences to save travel and money.   I hate the idea of playing another conference team twice in a year.  

Don't expect to see this change much going forward. I am on record as wanting the cciw coaches to schedule more stringently, including wiac opponents. However, in the preseason coaches chat last year Tim Rucks from Carthage said he would never schedule a wiac team as Carthage has a policy not to schedule a "public" school vs a private school. Several other coaches agreed with this including Barnes from Augie and Millikin's coach. I think this is a major copout but the reality is North Central missed the playoffs last year after losing to Ohio Northern and going 7-2. If they had played Coe or Augsburg they would have been in at 9-1.  

Do you know if Carthage has a different internal policy for basketball? UWW played in Carthage's season-opening tournament last year (and finished 2-0, I might add).

[usee]

I don't know what the actual policy is. I suspect it's Coach Ruck's "Internal" policy more than anything else but who knows? Although Bosko may have adopted it after last year

[BoBo]

At one time, someone claiming to have some knowledge of the situation at Carthage (I forget who it was) came on here and said it was the Carthage President's policy. Maybe it has something to do with the roster size -- a bit easier to field a competitive basketball team with only 5 on the court at a time than a football team. I don't know.

[usee]

I tried to find then link to last years CCIW coaches chat to remember exactly what he said but it wasn't on the conference site. he may have said it came from the president, I just can't remember. Either way, it's clear CCIW coaches (for the most part) want nothing to do with non conference games against good WIAC opponents. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

I tried to find then link to last years CCIW coaches chat to remember exactly what he said but it wasn't on the conference site. he may have said it came from the president, I just can't remember. Either way, it's clear CCIW coaches (for the most part) want nothing to do with non conference games against good WIAC opponents. 

As I recall (NOT that reliable a source! ), it was the (now ex?) President of Carthage who adamantly refused to schedule WIAC schools (though would play them if tournaments dictated).

Being way south, I will partially excuse Millikin and IWU from the WIAC 'ducking' (though IWU regularly takes on MIAA teams instead).  Being a Michigan resident, I have mixed feelings: it brings games to my area (ALL of them wins for my Titans ), but I'd also like them to upgrade the schedule.

[bleedpurple]

With the WIAC and CCIW so close in proximity, it still bothers me that they have not tried to schedule these non-conference games betweent the two conferences to save travel and money.   I hate the idea of playing another conference team twice in a year.  

Don't expect to see this change much going forward. I am on record as wanting the cciw coaches to schedule more stringently, including wiac opponents. However, in the preseason coaches chat last year Tim Rucks from Carthage said he would never schedule a wiac team as Carthage has a policy not to schedule a "public" school vs a private school. Several other coaches agreed with this including Barnes from Augie and Millikin's coach. I think this is a major copout but the reality is North Central missed the playoffs last year after losing to Ohio Northern and going 7-2. If they had played Coe or Augsburg they would have been in at 9-1.  

Am I the only one that finds it a little weak and more than a little ironic that CCIW schools would avoid public schools to help them gain access to a tournament in which they have to play them?  Sounds a little bit like a self-imposed ceiling to me.  Maybe they should just form a D3 NIT and then Hickory could claim some sort of title every year!

Or, another idea: they could do what it takes to overcome obstacles instead of using them as an excuse. After all, I would presume that is what they are coaching their athletes to do.  Looking at history, there are private schools that have been downright dominant (see St. Johns, Mt. Union, Linfield, and more). Just a guess, but I'm thinking dominance arises more out of a "no fear" attitude than careful and selective scheduling.

Hats off to North Central. I hope they keep scheduling WIAC and keep beating Carthage and Co 43-8.

[02 Warhawk]

A pair of WIAC athletes made this week's Team of the Week.

Congrats to Matt Blanchard (UWW) and Chad Samuelson (UWEC)

[badgerwarhawk]

[quote author=BoBo link=topic=3741.msg1236542#msg1236542 date=1286332428

Do you know if Carthage has a different internal policy for basketball? UWW played in Carthage's season-opening tournament last year (and finished 2-0, I might add).
[/quote]

Carthage will schedule WIAC teams if it is in a multi-team event such as their basketball tournament which had four teams.  Also their women's volleyball team competed in a tournament at WHITEWATER this year.  My understanding of their policy  is to not schedule public schools if the event only involves them and one other team.  I had always heard that the policy was set by the president but I think they have a new president now and that they formerly worked at a WIAC school.  Also didn't they just hire the former LaCrosse athletic director as their new AD? 

[badgerwarhawk]

"Offense
QB Matt Blanchard, Jr., UW-Whitewater
Blanchard completed 24 of 30 passes for 337 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions en route to a 49-17 win at UW-Platteville. Blanchard scored the game's first points on a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter."


Pat,
Minor point of correction....Blanchard didn't score the "game's first points."  Those were scored by Platteville.  He did score the WARHAWKS' first points however.  That is probably what you meant to say. 

[usee]

With the WIAC and CCIW so close in proximity, it still bothers me that they have not tried to schedule these non-conference games betweent the two conferences to save travel and money.   I hate the idea of playing another conference team twice in a year.  

Don't expect to see this change much going forward. I am on record as wanting the cciw coaches to schedule more stringently, including wiac opponents. However, in the preseason coaches chat last year Tim Rucks from Carthage said he would never schedule a wiac team as Carthage has a policy not to schedule a "public" school vs a private school. Several other coaches agreed with this including Barnes from Augie and Millikin's coach. I think this is a major copout but the reality is North Central missed the playoffs last year after losing to Ohio Northern and going 7-2. If they had played Coe or Augsburg they would have been in at 9-1.  

Am I the only one that finds it a little weak and more than a little ironic that CCIW schools would avoid public schools to help them gain access to a tournament in which they have to play them?  Sounds a little bit like a self-imposed ceiling to me.  Maybe they should just form a D3 NIT and then Hickory could claim some sort of title every year!

Or, another idea: they could do what it takes to overcome obstacles instead of using them as an excuse. After all, I would presume that is what they are coaching their athletes to do.  Looking at history, there are private schools that have been downright dominant (see St. Johns, Mt. Union, Linfield, and more). Just a guess, but I'm thinking dominance arises more out of a "no fear" attitude than careful and selective scheduling.

Hats off to North Central. I hope they keep scheduling WIAC and keep beating Carthage and Co 43-8.

Again, I am in your camp as far as scheduling goes and I applaud North Central (barely) for adding UWEC this year. But on the other  side of it the CCIW has better scheduling options than most of the WIAC due to geography and demographics. So I think the CCIW coaches would much rather try and beat a WIAC school once in November than to have to try and do it twice (September and November) if they are lucky enough. Obviously the WIAC guys are not enamored of playing each other twice so I don't think CCIW coaches should be eager either. Part of this problem is the system and how its set up. There is no reward for playing in a tough conference AND playing a tough non conference schedule. (see North Central last year, Willamette this year, etc).

[usee]

I would also add that I think North Central has taken a risk to schedule the way they have and the reward is they may be separating themselves from the rest of the CCIW for a while ala UWW in the WIAC and Mt Union in the OAC. They are clearly loading up with more and better players and are consistently playing at a high level. You don't dominate a team like UWEC unless you are pretty good up front on both sides of the ball. This hasn't translated into deep playoff runs but I believe that will come quickly. I haven't seen them play this year yet but I know they have the depth and personnel to make a deep playoff run if their qb situation remains stable and productive. I don't see them losing in conference this season.

[MasterJedi]

With the WIAC and CCIW so close in proximity, it still bothers me that they have not tried to schedule these non-conference games betweent the two conferences to save travel and money.   I hate the idea of playing another conference team twice in a year.  

Don't expect to see this change much going forward. I am on record as wanting the cciw coaches to schedule more stringently, including wiac opponents. However, in the preseason coaches chat last year Tim Rucks from Carthage said he would never schedule a wiac team as Carthage has a policy not to schedule a "public" school vs a private school. Several other coaches agreed with this including Barnes from Augie and Millikin's coach. I think this is a major copout but the reality is North Central missed the playoffs last year after losing to Ohio Northern and going 7-2. If they had played Coe or Augsburg they would have been in at 9-1.  

Am I the only one that finds it a little weak and more than a little ironic that CCIW schools would avoid public schools to help them gain access to a tournament in which they have to play them?  Sounds a little bit like a self-imposed ceiling to me.  Maybe they should just form a D3 NIT and then Hickory could claim some sort of title every year!

Or, another idea: they could do what it takes to overcome obstacles instead of using them as an excuse. After all, I would presume that is what they are coaching their athletes to do.  Looking at history, there are private schools that have been downright dominant (see St. Johns, Mt. Union, Linfield, and more). Just a guess, but I'm thinking dominance arises more out of a "no fear" attitude than careful and selective scheduling.

Hats off to North Central. I hope they keep scheduling WIAC and keep beating Carthage and Co 43-8.

Again, I am in your camp as far as scheduling goes and I applaud North Central (barely) for adding UWEC this year. But on the other  side of it the CCIW has better scheduling options than most of the WIAC due to geography and demographics. So I think the CCIW coaches would much rather try and beat a WIAC school once in November than to have to try and do it twice (September and November) if they are lucky enough. Obviously the WIAC guys are not enamored of playing each other twice so I don't think CCIW coaches should be eager either. Part of this problem is the system and how its set up. There is no reward for playing in a tough conference AND playing a tough non conference schedule. (see North Central last year, Willamette this year, etc).

The benefit is home field advantage in the playoffs. Get wins over good region teams and you'll get seeded higher than you normally would. I'm sure IWU would have loved to have another home game or two before it had to go to UWW.

[Just Bill]

Do you know if Carthage has a different internal policy for basketball? UWW played in Carthage's season-opening tournament last year (and finished 2-0, I might add).

Carthage will schedule WIAC teams if it is in a multi-team event such as their basketball tournament which had four teams.  Also their women's volleyball team competed in a tournament at WHITEWATER this year.  My understanding of their policy  is to not schedule public schools if the event only involves them and one other team.  I had always heard that the policy was set by the president but I think they have a new president now and that they formerly worked at a WIAC school.  Also didn't they just hire the former LaCrosse athletic director as their new AD? 

No, BW. That's Carroll University of the MWC who just hired Joe Baker, formerly of UW-La Crosse.