FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[footballfan413]

Thanks 02 and BW-
I'd love to find out how many guys are trying out for the team again this year that didn't make it in the past.  I guess I can locate last year's media guide and compare it to the 2010 final roster, then compare to this year's media guide.  Ok, that will be my homework assignment. 

I'd be interested to know the answer to that question.  But I'd be really surprised if there were some if any players who did this.  If you can't make the 100 man roster the first time, what makes you think you can do it the next season with a fresh crop of recruits coming in to compete with.  I mean, even if you can move from 101 plus to 100, the odds of playing time being in your future are really low.  If it were me and I didn't want to give up on my dream to play college ball, I'd transfer to a school where I thought I had a better chance to compete after seeing the level of talent at UWW then stay and try again. 

[fballfan]

Thanks 02 and BW-
I'd love to find out how many guys are trying out for the team again this year that didn't make it in the past.  I guess I can locate last year's media guide and compare it to the 2010 final roster, then compare to this year's media guide.  Ok, that will be my homework assignment. 

I'd be interested to know the answer to that question.  But I'd be really surprised if there were some if any players who did this.  If you can't make the 100 man roster the first time, what makes you think you can do it the next season with a fresh crop of recruits coming in to compete with.  I mean, even if you can move from 101 plus to 100, the odds of playing time being in your future are really low.  If it were me and I didn't want to give up on my dream to play college ball, I'd transfer to a school where I thought I had a better chance to compete after seeing the level of talent at UWW then stay and try again. 

Things must be really different at UWW.  I know of players - in other schools - who decided to take a year off, bulk up, gain weight and came back bigger and stronger and ready to go.  They figured why sit on the bench their freshman year when they would have a much better chance after they grew into their "man body".   Most students are in school 4 1/2 - 5 years anyway.  Some majors are such that you KNOW you will be in school 5 years.
Or are you saying that the talent at UWW is so good and so big at the freshman year that if you can't make it your freshman year, you need not apply again?

[oshfb]

Things must be really different at UWW.  I know of players - in other schools - who decided to take a year off, bulk up, gain weight and came back bigger and stronger and ready to go.  They figured why sit on the bench their freshman year when they would have a much better chance after they grew into their "man body".   Most students are in school 4 1/2 - 5 years anyway.  Some majors are such that you KNOW you will be in school 5 years.
Or are you saying that the talent at UWW is so good and so big at the freshman year that if you can't make it your freshman year, you need not apply again?

Every year while I played I would see a group of Freshman who thought they would benefit more by taking a year off to bulk up and/or get quicker than by redshirting and as you put it "sit on the bench". It NEVER worked out. Why?
(1)   They never gained experience working within the offensive or defensive scheme that comes with redshirting (even if it is as a scout player)
(2)   They never gained experience competing against athletes who are at a higher level than themselves
(3)   They never built chemistry that comes with practicing with teammates over an extended period of time
(4)   They never worked as hard in the offseason (weights, conditioning, agility, speed, etc) as the football team did (not even close)

[02 Warhawk]

Kind of curious to see Whitewater's back-up RB in action.

Desmin Ward 6'4" 240 lbs   
Transfer from Eastern IL

As freshman he led EIU in rushing TDs with 11.

This kid sounds like a load, and he's a junior.

[oshfb]

Kind of curious to see Whitewater's back-up RB in action.

Desmin Ward 6'4" 240 lbs   
Transfer from Eastern IL

As freshman he led EIU in rushing TDs with 11.

This kid sounds like a load, and he's a junior.

Looks like a load to: http://media.www.dennews.com/media/storage/paper309/news/2008/09/10/Sports/Football.Spotlight.Freshman.Desmin.Ward.Gains.Ground-3422494.shtml

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks 02 and BW-
I'd love to find out how many guys are trying out for the team again this year that didn't make it in the past.  I guess I can locate last year's media guide and compare it to the 2010 final roster, then compare to this year's media guide.  Ok, that will be my homework assignment. 

I'd be interested to know the answer to that question.  But I'd be really surprised if there were some if any players who did this.  If you can't make the 100 man roster the first time, what makes you think you can do it the next season with a fresh crop of recruits coming in to compete with.  I mean, even if you can move from 101 plus to 100, the odds of playing time being in your future are really low.  If it were me and I didn't want to give up on my dream to play college ball, I'd transfer to a school where I thought I had a better chance to compete after seeing the level of talent at UWW then stay and try again. 

Things must be really different at UWW.  I know of players - in other schools - who decided to take a year off, bulk up, gain weight and came back bigger and stronger and ready to go.  They figured why sit on the bench their freshman year when they would have a much better chance after they grew into their "man body".   Most students are in school 4 1/2 - 5 years anyway.  Some majors are such that you KNOW you will be in school 5 years.
Or are you saying that the talent at UWW is so good and so big at the freshman year that if you can't make it your freshman year, you need not apply again?

There's no point in even paying lip service to the concept of a grayshirt if you're not going to get a decent chance to compete the next summer.

[emma17]

Thanks 02 and BW-
I'd love to find out how many guys are trying out for the team again this year that didn't make it in the past.  I guess I can locate last year's media guide and compare it to the 2010 final roster, then compare to this year's media guide.  Ok, that will be my homework assignment. 

I'd be interested to know the answer to that question.  But I'd be really surprised if there were some if any players who did this.  If you can't make the 100 man roster the first time, what makes you think you can do it the next season with a fresh crop of recruits coming in to compete with.  I mean, even if you can move from 101 plus to 100, the odds of playing time being in your future are really low.  If it were me and I didn't want to give up on my dream to play college ball, I'd transfer to a school where I thought I had a better chance to compete after seeing the level of talent at UWW then stay and try again. 

What caught my eye is the number of sophomore players listed on the preseason 2011 media guide that don't show heights/weights and home towns.  Could all of these kids be transfers?  That doesn't seem likely.  But like you say 413- it also doesn't seem likely that they would all be kids that didn't make it last year and are coming back for another shot at it.  

02- That is a big kid- and especially tall for a rb.  I see they also picked up a RB from IL- Mt. Carmel High School.  Those from IL know the storied tradition there.  Can't wait to see these new kids on the field.

[emma17]

Thanks 02 and BW-
I'd love to find out how many guys are trying out for the team again this year that didn't make it in the past.  I guess I can locate last year's media guide and compare it to the 2010 final roster, then compare to this year's media guide.  Ok, that will be my homework assignment. 

I'd be interested to know the answer to that question.  But I'd be really surprised if there were some if any players who did this.  If you can't make the 100 man roster the first time, what makes you think you can do it the next season with a fresh crop of recruits coming in to compete with.  I mean, even if you can move from 101 plus to 100, the odds of playing time being in your future are really low.  If it were me and I didn't want to give up on my dream to play college ball, I'd transfer to a school where I thought I had a better chance to compete after seeing the level of talent at UWW then stay and try again. 

Things must be really different at UWW.  I know of players - in other schools - who decided to take a year off, bulk up, gain weight and came back bigger and stronger and ready to go.  They figured why sit on the bench their freshman year when they would have a much better chance after they grew into their "man body".   Most students are in school 4 1/2 - 5 years anyway.  Some majors are such that you KNOW you will be in school 5 years.
Or are you saying that the talent at UWW is so good and so big at the freshman year that if you can't make it your freshman year, you need not apply again?

There's no point in even paying lip service to the concept of a grayshirt if you're not going to get a decent chance to compete the next summer.

I didn't even think of the grayshirt idea.  So the thought is some of these kids came in second semester last year- and although they miss practicing and playing for the 2010 season, they are able to work out with the guys after the season ends and participate in off-season training and spring ball 2011- leading up to this camp?

[Pat Coleman]

A more likely scenario is they came in as freshmen a year ago, didn't make the 100-man roster, were given a playbook and told to keep working out and get stronger. Participate in spring practice. Come back this summer as 19-year-olds with freshman eligibility to compete with the 18-year-olds with freshman eligibility.

[emma17]

A more likely scenario is they came in as freshmen a year ago, didn't make the 100-man roster, were given a playbook and told to keep working out and get stronger. Participate in spring practice. Come back this summer as 19-year-olds with freshman eligibility to compete with the 18-year-olds with freshman eligibility.

I like it.  Not quite Rudy, but there is a feel good piece to the story. 

[footballfan413]

Things must be really different at UWW.  I know of players - in other schools - who decided to take a year off, bulk up, gain weight and came back bigger and stronger and ready to go.  They figured why sit on the bench their freshman year when they would have a much better chance after they grew into their "man body".   Most students are in school 4 1/2 - 5 years anyway.  Some majors are such that you KNOW you will be in school 5 years.
Or are you saying that the talent at UWW is so good and so big at the freshman year that if you can't make it your freshman year, you need not apply again?

Every year while I played I would see a group of Freshman who thought they would benefit more by taking a year off to bulk up and/or get quicker than by redshirting and as you put it "sit on the bench". It NEVER worked out. Why?
(1)   They never gained experience working within the offensive or defensive scheme that comes with redshirting (even if it is as a scout player)
(2)   They never gained experience competing against athletes who are at a higher level than themselves
(3)   They never built chemistry that comes with practicing with teammates over an extended period of time
(4)   They never worked as hard in the offseason (weights, conditioning, agility, speed, etc) as the football team did (not even close)

Exactly. I could be wrong but in my mind, if the coaches think enough of a player or the future potential of a player, they make the roster!   That is the best way to insure that a player develops properly, gets the benefit of working in the weight room with the strength and conditioning coach, learns the system and improves their overall football knowledge and skill.  I don't know how many success stories there are at UWW regarding grey shirting and I'm sure every coaching staff and program uses the tool differently but I just don't see it as being a good avenue for a player to, ultimately make this team, or more importantly, become a starter.   Theoretically, you are only going to grey-shirt players you have ranked after the first 100, right?  Seems like pretty lousy odds to me that a player every makes the team,  But as Pat said, they do become academic sophomores but with freshman eligibility so there is something to be said for that.  It may happen more than I realize.  

[badgerwarhawk]

I'll see if I can get any information if there were changes in the rules for tailgating.  The last I had heard it was going to be pretty much unchanged but that hadn't been firmed up. 

[BoBo]

Kind of curious to see Whitewater's back-up RB in action.

Desmin Ward 6'4" 240 lbs   
Transfer from Eastern IL

As freshman he led EIU in rushing TDs with 11.

This kid sounds like a load, and he's a junior.

Looks like a load to: http://media.www.dennews.com/media/storage/paper309/news/2008/09/10/Sports/Football.Spotlight.Freshman.Desmin.Ward.Gains.Ground-3422494.shtml

If he really is 6'4", it would appear as if he grew 4 inches in the last 3 years too!! (article says he "was" 6' in '08) 

His running style according to the article - "Big and bruising."  Hope he hasn't lost that touch.
Don't need any 240 lbs teddy bear RB's!! 

[BoBo]

2003 - total D ranked #2
2002 - total D ranked #3
20112001? - total D ranked #1

You caught me BoBo...I meant 2011...I was trying to sneak that by everyone

You can sneak it past some of the people some of the time, but you can't sneak it past all the people all the time!! My best optimistic guess for the 2011 Titans - they'll be in the #4-#6 range in conference, which in my view is a defense that will have issues to deal with.  They will not win games because of their defense, but they may very well lose a game(s) because of it, IMHO.   

[BoBo]

Things must be really different at UWW.  I know of players - in other schools - who decided to take a year off, bulk up, gain weight and came back bigger and stronger and ready to go.  They figured why sit on the bench their freshman year when they would have a much better chance after they grew into their "man body".   Most students are in school 4 1/2 - 5 years anyway.  Some majors are such that you KNOW you will be in school 5 years.
Or are you saying that the talent at UWW is so good and so big at the freshman year that if you can't make it your freshman year, you need not apply again?

Every year while I played I would see a group of Freshman who thought they would benefit more by taking a year off to bulk up and/or get quicker than by redshirting and as you put it "sit on the bench". It NEVER worked out. Why?
(1)   They never gained experience working within the offensive or defensive scheme that comes with redshirting (even if it is as a scout player)
(2)   They never gained experience competing against athletes who are at a higher level than themselves
(3)   They never built chemistry that comes with practicing with teammates over an extended period of time
(4)   They never worked as hard in the offseason (weights, conditioning, agility, speed, etc) as the football team did (not even close)

Exactly. I could be wrong but in my mind, if the coaches think enough of a player or the future potential of a player, they make the roster!   That is the best way to insure that a player develops properly, gets the benefit of working in the weight room with the strength and conditioning coach, learns the system and improves their overall football knowledge and skill.  I don't know how many success stories there are at UWW regarding grey shirting and I'm sure every coaching staff and program uses the tool differently but I just don't see it as being a good avenue for a player to, ultimately make this team, or more importantly, become a starter.   Theoretically, you are only going to grey-shirt players you have ranked after the first 100, right?  Seems like pretty lousy odds to me that a player every makes the team,  But as Pat said, they do become academic sophomores but with freshman eligibility so there is something to be said for that.  It may happen more than I realize.  

Nick Anderson, Platteville QB did this...it has worked for him so far.