FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bleedpurple]

Evenly matched game up in Eau Claire today.  The Blugolds drove from their own 30 to the UW-O 5 at the end of the game. The Titans stopped them four straight times from the  5 on the last four plays of the game to hold on to a 23-16 win. UW-O ran it well and UW-EC threw it well. Statistically, the game was as close as the outcome:

First Downs: 18-18
Total Yards: O 309, EC 329
Average yards per play: O 4.2, EC 4.6
Turnovers: O 1, EC 1

[hazzben]

Blugold QB throws up at mid field and completes pass.  Announcers:.that's a gutty play. True

I loved the Blugolds announcer after he threw up and before the snap of the ball.  "ooooo, that's tasty".

Classic! 

[hazzben]

Evenly matched game up in Eau Claire today.  The Blugolds drove from their own 30 to the UW-O 5 at the end of the game. The Titans stopped them four straight times from the  5 on the last four plays of the game to hold on to a 23-16 win. UW-O ran it well and UW-EC threw it well. Statistically, the game was as close as the outcome:

First Downs: 18-18
Total Yards: O 309, EC 329
Average yards per play: O 4.2, EC 4.6
Turnovers: O 1, EC 1

Sounded like it was a great game. If UWO wins out (no guarantee in the wild wild WIAC) and only loses to UWW, they'd be an intriguing Pool C candidate. 2 losses, but against the two teams no one else has been able to beat recently either...

[fballfan]

Maybe the student-athlete Taylor Edwards will get a better education at UWRF?

Yes, there is that STUDENT part of student-athlete.  Every school has its specialty and its own "feel", and it appears RF is the school for him. 

[bulk19]

Night all...
Go Pack!
And GOOOOOOOOOOO Brewers!

[BoBo]

Maybe the student-athlete Taylor Edwards will get a better education at UWRF?

Taylor Edwards transferred, according to Coach Matt Walker, because Edwards could not make the squad at WW as a freshman.

[emma17]

For those of you not at the game, River Falls was stacking 8 in the box and moving linebackets and safeties all around.  Heard from three different UWW offensive players that UWRF had not played that defense all year.  AS far as the UWW defense goes, the starting defense was dominant.  The only touchdown UWRF had was from a fumbled punt. 

Thanks for the report from the game.  When a team puts 8 in the box, they will undoubtedly create pressure and should have success stopping the run.  You have to make them pay through the air.  That seems to be exactly what the Hawks did today.  301 yards passing, 458 total yards, and 35 points is excellent by ANY measure.  And allowing 6 yards rushing in 26 attempts is ridiculous.  Allowing  163 total yards is excellent defense. 

Good job Hawks!

Truly a great defensive effort against a team that has fought hard in every game. 
My concern with UWW right now is Covington on punt returns.  He seems to have tremendous confidence in himself catching the punt, which is great.  But he has made some decisions that worry me if they continue in close games.  The old rule of not catching a punt inside the 10 doesn't seem to be one he follows.  He's not the only one though.  I attended the NCC -Auggie game and there were two or three of the same.  That decision does serious damage to the battle for field position. 

[Blugold 89.7FM]

Well, I just broke my rule about coming back to this board. Maybe I'll post once a year like another poster that tried to explain to everyone why no one out side of WW comes on this board. I wasn't planning on replying again until I saw this on the WIAC in-game updates board from MasterJedi:

Maybe they should say that they're sorry that Taylor Edwards plays at UWRF instead of any other UW school, he's wasting his talents when he could probably be putting up big numbers and winning somewhere else.

Okay I'm going to use the "I'm still new at this"  excuse and chime in...but maybe I see this from a different perspective as yes I am new here. My first season.

Hey guys it's D3! And yes the objective of the games(all sports) is to win, but don't forget these athletes are here to Compete, while at the same time earn an education in hopes of bettering their lives.  Notice I said EARN an education, as there are very few free rides in D3. (we should debate that sometime). But win or lose a student in D3 should go where the student feels the best fit.  Hopefully that decision does include education and family, and "fit".  If you make this experience all about winning and winning at a specific program  you diminish the value of all the other teams in the WIAC. For most in this league the memories and life skills will be forged on the journey....not the reward. Not all the "good" athletes go to a specific program...look at any WIAC roster and you'll see top level athletes....state track or basketball champions...team captains...Leaders...or academic all-stars.  That's what makes the conference so great.

Now my second point.  Primetime please stay...let's make this board about challenging banter. And yes it would be nice to have some more opinions from other perspectives....that diversity adds to the spice to the discussion. As an outsider it is clear that this is sometimes a WW board, but only because others need to be recruited and add to the experience.

As for me I do like reading all the comments, no matter what perspective.  It's part of my education on WIAC football. 

[fballfan]

Nice summaries by the Blugold fans - good to see some new, fresh insights here...

I, too, listened to the game; I, too, felt like ralphing towards the end of the game, due to the way it turned out... 

Credit is due to Oshkosh - seems like the 'Golds outplayed them and dominated the first half, but the fumble on the last play was a big momentum swing, and a big turnaround, as it could have been a 23-9 Blugold lead, vs. 16-9...

Then Oshkosh came out and took over the second half behind their QB, Wara, who reminds this fan of another QB who gave Packer fans fits in the 1970s- Fran Tarkenton...Man, I hate QBs who can run and scramble when they play against my favorite teams! 

Definitely a huge momentum swing. 
It is also worth noting that Neu only completed about 50% of his passes this game, compares to 70% prior.  There were times when his receivers were open and had green grass all the way but he wasn't hitting them.  Considering the upchucking episodes at the end of the game, you have to wonder if that had an impact.  But that's he way it goes...all part of the game.
Matt Oleson was also out for the Blugolds again, although I heard he is expected back soon.  He was putting up some good numbers.
Good WIAC football.  Will be interesting to see how Osh/EC handles Platteville.

[fballfan]

Maybe the student-athlete Taylor Edwards will get a better education at UWRF?

Taylor Edwards transferred, according to Coach Matt Walker, because Edwards could not make the squad at WW as a freshman.

Leaving WW doesn't explain why Edwards chose RF over "any other UW school" as the original post that started all this stated.

[footballfan413]

Well, I just broke my rule about coming back to this board. Maybe I'll post once a year like another poster that tried to explain to everyone why no one out side of WW comes on this board. I wasn't planning on replying again until I saw this on the WIAC in-game updates board from MasterJedi:

Maybe they should say that they're sorry that Taylor Edwards plays at UWRF instead of any other UW school, he's wasting his talents when he could probably be putting up big numbers and winning somewhere else.

Okay I'm going to use the "I'm still new at this"  excuse and chime in...but maybe I see this from a different perspective as yes I am new here. My first season.

Hey guys it's D3! And yes the objective of the games(all sports) is to win, but don't forget these athletes are here to Compete, while at the same time earn an education in hopes of bettering their lives.  Notice I said EARN an education, as there are very few free rides in D3. (we should debate that sometime). But win or lose a student in D3 should go where the student feels the best fit.  Hopefully that decision does include education and family, and "fit".  If you make this experience all about winning and winning at a specific program  you diminish the value of all the other teams in the WIAC. For most in this league the memories and life skills will be forged on the journey....not the reward. Not all the "good" athletes go to a specific program...look at any WIAC roster and you'll see top level athletes....state track or basketball champions...team captains...Leaders...or academic all-stars.  That's what makes the conference so great.

Now my second point.  Primetime please stay...let's make this board about challenging banter. And yes it would be nice to have some more opinions from other perspectives....that diversity adds to the spice to the discussion. As an outsider it is clear that this is sometimes a WW board, but only because others need to be recruited and add to the experience.

As for me I do like reading all the comments, no matter what perspective.  It's part of my education on WIAC football.

I have been reading and watching this, "incident," play out since it erupted last night and I wasn't sure I had anything new to add to the conversation til now.  BG 89.7, I think you have said it all beautifully here.  You made two very eloquent points!!!!  I agree totally with everything you have said and it is clear that many on here do also. 
   Now, I humbly suggest that this be the last word.  I have gotten really uncomfortable with the piling on that has been happening to Jedi and I suspect that Mr. Edwards might appreciate it if his personal choices not continue to be subject of Post Patterns as well.  Yes, MJ's original comment came off badly, ( I found it to be more of a condemnation of UWRF's program than the athlete in question,) and I suspect he has certainly become aware of the arrogant way it sounded in hindsight.  He now has been adequately reprimanded many time over and I highly doubt he had any idea the can of worms that he would be opening with, what was probably, just an offhanded comment.  I have not found any of Jedi's post to be particularly offensive or arrogant in the past so am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.  I think the board can let up on him now and I hope you all agree.  One of my favorite saying is from Mya Angelou,  "When I knew better, I did better."  Pretty sure he knows better now.  The regulars on here know that I would be one of the first to call out an arrogant WW poster so I am not defending his comment in anyway, just saying that the point has been made.  Let's move on. I hope he feels able to come back on soon and those of you who are new and old from other programs understand that your thoughts and observations are welcomed here by the majority of us. We all just love to discuss football and yes, UWW has been really fortunately to enjoy some unprecedented success the last 6 years.  It won't last forever especially in a conference as strong as the WIAC. I, for one, still have a knee jerk sweating of the palms every time my Warhawks face a WIAC opponent.   
   
Now for my second point.  Painting every WW poster as arrogant and full of themselves is not acceptable and it is not the truth. 

[fballfan]

I got this off UWRF website:
* 2009 WIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Sept. 21-27
* 2009 All-WIAC Second Team
* 2010 All-WIAC
* 2010 Most Valuable Player
* 2010 Offensive Player of the Year
* 2011 Inside Wisconsin Sports All-State Team

Looks to me like Taylor did alright.  I have great respect for all the D3 athletes.  They do not get compensated, and most LOSE money to play when you consider leaving your summer job to show up for camp in mid-August, and not working during the season to make practices, workouts etc.  These athletes are up at 5 am to run and lift.  The spend their free time at practices and work hard the entire year.  They go to bed early while their peers are out having a good time.  Each and every one of them deserve respect irregardless of how their program is doing in any given year.  To say an athlete is wasting his talents at a particular program is a diss to those young men and all the others whose teams may not be having the best year so far.
As far as picking a school who will do well...good luck with that.  Some are a given, but just look at WIAC this year.  Who predicted EC would be playing so well?  (Well I did but the polls didn't).  Some teams all over D3 were expected to do well, but aren't for any number of reasons.   Players have to go to the school that fits them the best, and football is just one (small) part of the equation.

[BDB]

413, I am willing to lay 1000 to 1 odds that no one, in the history of Post Patterns, has ever quoted Mya Angelou before. 

+k for breaking new ground. 

[badgerwarhawk]

I predicted Eau Claire would do well.     With all the returning starters they were relatively loaded.

There's a lot more to a student/athlete's athletic and educational experience than winning football games.  I have little doubt that Taylor Edwards will look back on his time at River Falls as a positive experience regardless of how many games the football team won.  I've been out of high school for a long, long time and when I attend class reunions and see my old teammates we often talk about  athletic experiences we shared but the conversation never centers around how many games we won or loss.  We even watch old 8mm film of games and laugh at ourselves.  None of us were as good as we thought we were. 

I'm sorry to keep the topic going 413 and this will be my last word on the subject. 

[footballfan413]

413, I am willing to lay 1000 to 1 odds that no one, in the history of Post Patterns, has ever quoted Mya Angelou before. 

+k for breaking new ground. 

HAHA!  Well, I can't fight the estrogen sometimes no matter how hard I try, BDB!  Although, my family would tell you that they think that, for a woman, I have an unusually high level of testosterone, too.