FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[voice]

For UWW football fans, St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso was a guest on Mark Rosen's Sports Sunday that aired Sunday evening on WCCO TV in Minneapolis.  He had great insight on his team and great things to say about U-Dub-Dub

To view the six minute segment click on the following link:
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/video/6516175-tommies-head-coach-sr-center-on-d3-semi-finals/

[wartknight]

Good colors at least. Gotta respect the purple.

I am not sure UST will be in purple Sat. I heard through the grapevine the Tommies will be sporting new unis against UWW: part of their color scheme is "Johnnie Red"

[cubs]

This will be the toughest game for either team this season. By far.

I guess the game against Oshkosh where the Ttians led or were tied for all but four minutes wasn't much of a test for the Warhawks? 

[02 Warhawk]

This will be the toughest game for either team this season. By far.

I guess the game against Oshkosh where the Ttians led or were tied for all but four minutes wasn't much of a test for the Warhawks? 

Oshkosh was a big test, but UST is better in my opinion.

[Sakman 1111]

UST simply is better.....

[emma17]

Coming from a fan's perspective, I am hoping that our run defense is better than anything Coppage has seen before. Interesting nugget, our RB Tobin and Coppage played within 5 miles of each other in HS.

The thing that worries me, is that UST has had trouble "getting it going" early the last few weeks. Once they settle in, they go on cruise control and everything seems to go well. I fear that if it takes 5 minutes for UST to get properly calibrated the game will already be out of hand. The good thing is, if the other squad comes out and gets those first points, it doesn't rattle them and they've responded quickly. Unfortunately, UWW is a foot on larynx kind of team when they get up.

Like 02 said, I don't think St Thomas fans should look for confidence in the idea that you may have the best run defense UWW has seen- given the playoff schedule of recent years I can't imagine St T will prove to be better than the best of the others (not meant as a knock).
The angle St T fans might take for confidence is the terrific balance you have as a team. Looking back, most teams UWW played had an identifiable strength that- if taken away would give UWW the advantage. With St T, the offense seems extremely capable both running and passing. On the defensive side, St T is super strong against both the pass and run.
These teams are near mirror images of each other stylistically. It seems to me this game, more than most, will come down to the mental part of execution.

[badgerwarhawk]

106 of Salisbury's 244 rushing yards came on one play (64 yard reverse) and on their final drive of 80 yards, 42 rushing, 18 passing, 20 penalty yards.

[tommiegun]

I'd agree with the mirror comment.  I just hope that what St. Thomas sees in the mirror is what they are and not what they would like to be.

[USTBench]

Coming from a fan's perspective, I am hoping that our run defense is better than anything Coppage has seen before. Interesting nugget, our RB Tobin and Coppage played within 5 miles of each other in HS.

The thing that worries me, is that UST has had trouble "getting it going" early the last few weeks. Once they settle in, they go on cruise control and everything seems to go well. I fear that if it takes 5 minutes for UST to get properly calibrated the game will already be out of hand. The good thing is, if the other squad comes out and gets those first points, it doesn't rattle them and they've responded quickly. Unfortunately, UWW is a foot on larynx kind of team when they get up.

Like 02 said, I don't think St Thomas fans should look for confidence in the idea that you may have the best run defense UWW has seen- given the playoff schedule of recent years I can't imagine St T will prove to be better than the best of the others (not meant as a knock).
The angle St T fans might take for confidence is the terrific balance you have as a team. Looking back, most teams UWW played had an identifiable strength that- if taken away would give UWW the advantage. With St T, the offense seems extremely capable both running and passing. On the defensive side, St T is super strong against both the pass and run.
These teams are near mirror images of each other stylistically. It seems to me this game, more than most, will come down to the mental part of execution.

Obviously, if matched evenly I'd give the benefit of the doubt to UWW given the experience in the magnitude of the moment and the home field advantage. If UST avoids turnovers however, they are capable of beating anyone.

UST's biggest playoff road test was against Linfield two years ago when they were a younger team at key spots, and it didn't pan out well for them. But I think they're beyond the adversarial environment bit. Finally got the elusive road win at SJU in 2010 and had a tough game against Bethel at their place this year. Both environments akin to playoff atmospheres.

Perkins Stadium is its own beast though. Hopefully our guys realize UWW has every reason to be as nervous about UST as UST has to be nervous about them.

[02 Warhawk]

Can't believe it's only Monday....I'm going to drive myself nuts all week worrying about this game.

[WarhawkDad]

Coming from a fan's perspective, I am hoping that our run defense is better than anything Coppage has seen before. Interesting nugget, our RB Tobin and Coppage played within 5 miles of each other in HS.

The thing that worries me, is that UST has had trouble "getting it going" early the last few weeks. Once they settle in, they go on cruise control and everything seems to go well. I fear that if it takes 5 minutes for UST to get properly calibrated the game will already be out of hand. The good thing is, if the other squad comes out and gets those first points, it doesn't rattle them and they've responded quickly. Unfortunately, UWW is a foot on larynx kind of team when they get up.

Like 02 said, I don't think St Thomas fans should look for confidence in the idea that you may have the best run defense UWW has seen- given the playoff schedule of recent years I can't imagine St T will prove to be better than the best of the others (not meant as a knock).
The angle St T fans might take for confidence is the terrific balance you have as a team. Looking back, most teams UWW played had an identifiable strength that- if taken away would give UWW the advantage. With St T, the offense seems extremely capable both running and passing. On the defensive side, St T is super strong against both the pass and run.
These teams are near mirror images of each other stylistically. It seems to me this game, more than most, will come down to the mental part of execution.

Obviously, if matched evenly I'd give the benefit of the doubt to UWW given the experience in the magnitude of the moment and the home field advantage. If UST avoids turnovers however, they are capable of beating anyone.

UST's biggest playoff road test was against Linfield two years ago when they were a younger team at key spots, and it didn't pan out well for them. But I think they're beyond the adversarial environment bit. Finally got the elusive road win at SJU in 2010 and had a tough game against Bethel at their place this year. Both environments akin to playoff atmospheres.

Perkins Stadium is its own beast though. Hopefully our guys realize UWW has every reason to be as nervous about UST as UST has to be nervous about them.

When you are a parent and a fan and you have had the success UWW has had, you spend the week between every game being somewhat nervous.  Believe me, we were nervous last year for Trine, Franklin NC, Wesley and Mount and we have been this year as well.  Everyone I have talked to about the potential and now the reality about playing St. Thomas has been nervous.   

With that said, we know our coaches, senior leadership and players have been in these types of games before and that helps lessen the amount of nervousness, except for 02 Warhawk.  He is very nervous, most of the time   

[Retired Old Rat]

Bench- are you traveling to UWW for the game?  There are few of us considering making the trip.

[badgerwarhawk]

Can't believe it's only Monday....I'm going to drive myself nuts all week worrying about this game.

I hear ya, '02.  I tried not to think of yesterday but even the Packer game wasn't enough to take my mind off of it.   

[Sakman 1111]

Well said Warhawk Dad.....I remember the feeling when my son was playing.....and it wasn't fun between games.....I found at least 3 or 4 bloody marys helped on gameday but never had a cure for the days in between games.....all I did was worry. Good luck making it through this week. I will say that the 5 years my family followed UWW around the country was the most fun I ever had for an extended period of time.....so enjoy it wh0ile you can and I hope it takes you to Virginia next week.....Pound the Rock.....

[emma17]

This is just like the week before NCC last year for me.  We all knew NCC was the team knocking on the "purple power" door and the week was filled with uncertainty.  So here we are again.  We've all known St. Thomas has been knocking at the door. 

On another note, does anybody know if the UWW administration does anything in particular to encourage attendance at the games?  With ESPN coming I can't imagine they wouldn't want a big crowd for obvious reasons.  If it were up to me, I'd make sure every professor read a bulletin to every class every day of the week encouraging attendance at the game. I'd make sure every dining hall and the common areas in the student union had "ESPN is Coming to Town" posters.   Heck, I'd put fliers on car windshields and send updates through the university email system.  I'm rambling, but you get the point.