FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BoBo]

Anybody else just finish watching the Packers/bears?  I gotta tell you, in all my years of watching football, I don't think I've seen a better trick play than the one the Bears almost succeeded in pulling off on that last Packer punt.  What deception. But, leave it to the bears to screw it up by getting a penalty and getting the easy TD called back (thought I really didn't see the holding that was called). Problem for the bears is that play had 1 chance to work and they messed it up. I doubt it can work again. But, whoever drew it up needs to get a raise!!

The best part was that there didn't appear to be any holding on the play.  The officials attributed the infraction to a #29 who was not on the field for the play.  There was a #21 on the field but he never touched anyone so he couldn't have been holding.  From all appearances it was perhaps one of the most blown calls of the season.  And it screwed the bear.  No offense intended to any bear fan but I was ROTFLMAO. 

I will admit it was a brillant call and I've never seen a team as confused and faked out as the PACKERS punt coverage team was.  It's hard to believe that Matshay was the only PACKER player that had any clue whatsoever where the ball actually was.  When he kicked it I could see that it was angled to the left so I couldn't figure out why the entire coverage team was on the right side of the field. 

I would imagine that the call was to punt the ball to the left sideline and away from Hester. Hester did a great job of moving up and making it seem like he was following the flight of the ball. The first players downfield seeing Hester had to be thinking that SOB Matshay, he kicks it straight down the middle. It was a great call by the Bears, because they had to discern that the Packers would kick to the sideline and predict the correct side. I would like to see what the penalty actually was and how Knox was able to lineup near the sideline without anyone detecting him. The play only works if you punt to the opponents sideline, otherwise sideline personnel should be yelling about Knox.

For all you old-timers, the play seemed to be a take-off of Army's lonesome end formation of the late 1950's, using All-american & College Hall of Famer Bill Carpenter as the "loney end," who later retired a LTG in the Army.

[badgerwarhawk]

Don't you think that at some point in the huddle Matshay would have indicated that he was kicking the ball to the left side of the field? 

[BoBo]

Just started looking at this week's match-up between UWW and UWP.   So I started with National Rankings. 

Let the dialogue begin!   

Well, those stats pretty much tell you what you might expect. But it's not really a good sample. UWW had three realtively easy games - the only real challenge was Franklin. Meanwhile, UWP played and lost to #7 Wheaton.

If it's not really a good sample and that's what you believe, how is playing and losing to #7 some how a better sample? I don't follow your line of reasoning. Franklin is the only real challenge  ? Sorry, not this time.

[Raider 68]

Just started looking at this week's match-up between UWW and UWP.   So I started with National Rankings. 

Let the dialogue begin!   

Well, those stats pretty much tell you what you might expect. But it's not really a good sample. UWW had three realtively easy games - the only real challenge was Franklin. Meanwhile, UWP played and lost to #7 Wheaton.

If it's not really a good sample and that's what you believe, how is playing and losing to #7 some how a better sample? I don't follow your line of reasoning. Franklin is the only real challenge  ? Sorry, not this time.

BoBo,

IMHO, I do not think UWW has any challenges before the playoffs, same is probably true for the Raiders, but each team has to win one at a time! +k

[BoBo]

Just started looking at this week's match-up between UWW and UWP.   So I started with National Rankings. 

Let the dialogue begin!   

Well, those stats pretty much tell you what you might expect. But it's not really a good sample. UWW had three realtively easy games - the only real challenge was Franklin. Meanwhile, UWP played and lost to #7 Wheaton.

If it's not really a good sample and that's what you believe, how is playing and losing to #7 some how a better sample? I don't follow your line of reasoning. Franklin is the only real challenge  ? Sorry, not this time.

BoBo,

IMHO, I do not think UWW has any challenges before the playoffs, same is probably true for the Raiders, but each team has to win one at a time! +k

Raider 68, I agree...although I would say even in the first few rounds of the playoffs there regularly are no real challenges to the Warhawks or the Raiders...and in some of those years there were no challenges until the Stagg Bowl. That's not to say some of those teams aren't good teams, they just were not anywhere near the level of UWW or Mount.

[Brian Carroll]

bulk19: Yes, I am a La Crosse resident, and I did see the article on the bike. You are right that UWL is making some effort to market the program to the community, which is long overdue. D3 sports are among the best shows available in college towns, and people should be made aware of them. I sense that AD Josh Whitman knows this, and let's hope the word gets out. This reminds me that I was surprised at the small crowd (1300 or so) at Platteville on Saturday. I believe they had 3100 or so earlier this year. Did they all come to La Crosse for Oktoberfest ? They missed a good game which could have gone either way. La Crosse's O-line appears to be a work in progress, and we couldn't get the running game going. We also missed a 25 yard FG, and had a DB breakdown on the Pio's first TD. The Eagles aren't far away from being solid, but need to learn the close games. Pointers in town on Saturday, and I look forward to the three game homestand. Thank you for your observations.

[bleedpurple]

If anyone has some spare time I finally got around to post my first WIAC related post to my blog.

I talked about this week's games, and briefly touched on each team's non-schedule leading up to Saturday.

Enjoy


p.s. the link to my blog is below.

Thanks 02!  I enjoyed your first WIAC post! +k

[John Gleich]

Anybody else just finish watching the Packers/bears?  I gotta tell you, in all my years of watching football, I don't think I've seen a better trick play than the one the Bears almost succeeded in pulling off on that last Packer punt.  What deception. But, leave it to the bears to screw it up by getting a penalty and getting the easy TD called back (thought I really didn't see the holding that was called). Problem for the bears is that play had 1 chance to work and they messed it up. I doubt it can work again. But, whoever drew it up needs to get a raise!!

The best part was that there didn't appear to be any holding on the play.  The officials attributed the infraction to a #29 who was not on the field for the play.  There was a #21 on the field but he never touched anyone so he couldn't have been holding.  From all appearances it was perhaps one of the most blown calls of the season.  And it screwed the bear.  No offense intended to any bear fan but I was ROTFLMAO. 

I will admit it was a brillant call and I've never seen a team as confused and faked out as the PACKERS punt coverage team was.  It's hard to believe that Matshay was the only PACKER player that had any clue whatsoever where the ball actually was.  When he kicked it I could see that it was angled to the left so I couldn't figure out why the entire coverage team was on the right side of the field.

Never saw the play....I turned the game off early in the 3rd quarter. As a bears fan, that game went about as I expected it to.

The Play

One of my favorite things about the play, other than the fact that it almost (...should have) worked was the fact that Devin Hester almost caught up with Johnny Knox on the play.  Knox is really fast... but Hester is unbelievable.  Watch it again and watch Hester the whole time on the replay.

[emma17]

Great blog post 02.  I plan to read them all.

I'm hoping Bleed does the same sort of detail on my Titans blog- you've really raised the bar for me.

[emma17]

Bleed, unless something changes drastically, I don't forsee me making an effort to convince myself or anyone that the mighty Titans will be a pick em vs. UWW.  My hope, seriously, is that one of the non UWW WIAC schools finish with only one loss in conference so that two get into the playoffs. 

The Bears.  Yuck.  What is their offensive identity?  The mistake started when someone figured Devon Hestor could be a #1 receiver when they finally brought in a QB with talent.  Other than UW's Gabe- they've done nothing to build an offense- meanwhile, a talented group of defensive players gets another year older. 

[voice]

Just started looking at this week's match-up between UWW and UWP.   So I started with National Rankings. 

Let the dialogue begin!   

Well, those stats pretty much tell you what you might expect. But it's not really a good sample. UWW had three realtively easy games - the only real challenge was Franklin. Meanwhile, UWP played and lost to #7 Wheaton.

If it's not really a good sample and that's what you believe, how is playing and losing to #7 some how a better sample? I don't follow your line of reasoning. Franklin is the only real challenge  ? Sorry, not this time.

BoBo,

IMHO, I do not think UWW has any challenges before the playoffs, same is probably true for the Raiders, but each team has to win one at a time! +k

You are correct Bobo.  The idea before you have played a conference game that it will be a breeze to win another WIAC title is assinine.  The key to winning a title starts with respecting your opponent.  For UWW the focus must be on an improved Platteville team.  Next week the focus must be on River Falls.  Nothing more - nothing less.  Win on 3... 1,2,3   

[BoBo]

Just started looking at this week's match-up between UWW and UWP.   So I started with National Rankings. 

Let the dialogue begin!   

Well, those stats pretty much tell you what you might expect. But it's not really a good sample. UWW had three realtively easy games - the only real challenge was Franklin. Meanwhile, UWP played and lost to #7 Wheaton.

If it's not really a good sample and that's what you believe, how is playing and losing to #7 some how a better sample? I don't follow your line of reasoning. Franklin is the only real challenge  ? Sorry, not this time.

BoBo,

IMHO, I do not think UWW has any challenges before the playoffs, same is probably true for the Raiders, but each team has to win one at a time! +k

You are correct Bobo.  The idea before you have played a conference game that it will be a breeze to win another WIAC title is assinine.  The key to winning a title starts with respecting your opponent.  For UWW the focus must be on an improved Platteville team.  Next week the focus must be on River Falls.  Nothing more - nothing less.  Win on 3... 1,2,3

Someday, this is supposed to translate into a more competitive game, right?  It seems like whenever someone says this, the score usually ends up something like 52-7. 

[MasterJedi]

Just started looking at this week's match-up between UWW and UWP.   So I started with National Rankings. 

Let the dialogue begin!   

Well, those stats pretty much tell you what you might expect. But it's not really a good sample. UWW had three realtively easy games - the only real challenge was Franklin. Meanwhile, UWP played and lost to #7 Wheaton.

If it's not really a good sample and that's what you believe, how is playing and losing to #7 some how a better sample? I don't follow your line of reasoning. Franklin is the only real challenge  ? Sorry, not this time.

BoBo,

IMHO, I do not think UWW has any challenges before the playoffs, same is probably true for the Raiders, but each team has to win one at a time! +k

You are correct Bobo.  The idea before you have played a conference game that it will be a breeze to win another WIAC title is assinine.  The key to winning a title starts with respecting your opponent.  For UWW the focus must be on an improved Platteville team.  Next week the focus must be on River Falls.  Nothing more - nothing less.  Win on 3... 1,2,3

Someday, this is supposed to translate into a more competitive game, right?  It seems like whenever someone says this, the score usually ends up something like 52-7. 

That's how I feel and see it as well. But the beautiful thing being a fan is we have the luxury of doing just that, and at least we know the coaching staff won't let the players overlook anyone and they'll take it one game at a time.

[footballfan413]

If anyone has some spare time I finally got around to post my first WIAC related post to my blog.

I talked about this week's games, and briefly touched on each team's non-schedule leading up to Saturday.

Enjoy

p.s. the link to my blog is below.

The blog is an awesome idea, 02!  Will be added to my, "must read," list! 

[Pat Coleman]

Someday, this is supposed to translate into a more competitive game, right?  It seems like whenever someone says this, the score usually ends up something like 52-7. 

Whitewater has definitely reached the status that Mount Union reached some years into its run as well -- UWW has the ability to make good teams seem really pedestrian.