FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[tommiegun]

If there was a #3, that would have been it Washedup.  I just can't imagine them coming out slow for this one.  In the two games UST was most amped up for this year (SJU and Bethel), they had excellent starts.

[02 Warhawk]

Sometimes it takes Whitewater's defense a half to adjust to what the opposition's offense is doing.

In the past teams have been able to score on Whtiewater in the first half. During halftime the defense makes adjustments - then it's lights out. Perfect example is the Oshkosh game.

[oshfb]

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.

If UST is better than Oshkosh, whom only lost to UWW by 3 points, then I would be worried if I were a UWW fan (only as a fan, not as a player). That leaves, technically, only 1-2 points room for margin of victory, depending on how much better UST is than UWO.

Oshfb- are you being crafty here ?
Since I know that you know that we know that Oshkosh is a totally different style team and therefore, the closeness of that game isn't a good measuring stick for predicting this week's results- I'm wondering if perhaps you aren't trying to make some other point about the mighty Titan? 

Just stirring the pot fellas! No offense was intended, as I was being crafty, as emma17 has pointed out. That said, it appears to have gotten a few peoples attention 

[Sakman 1111]

Good point 02.....Defense usually tougher in the second half after they make adjustments.....Blanchard needs to have an awesome game because UST I imagine will try and stop #33.....

[02 Warhawk]

Good point 02.....Defense usually tougher in the second half after they make adjustments.....Blanchard needs to have an awesome game because UST I imagine will try and stop #33.....

Stopping #33 may require eight dmen up front. That means Huber, Menzel and Robinson will run wild with one-on-one coverage in the secondary.

[hazzben]

Warhawk fans, what do you think is a potential weakness of your team that could be exposed against St. Thomas?

Tommy fans, same question to you.

Bethel fan, but I'll throw in my 2¢ from an opposing fan's perspective in regards to Tommie vulnerability.

1. Dakota Tracy is very good and very mobile. They love to get him in space and roll him out on bootlegs with a run/pass option. But on occasion he'll throw an egregious pick. He's had a few really bad throws in big games, usually trying to force something. But as a Sr they've been fewer and farther between.

2. Their D is salty and fast. They flood to the ball and have a nastiness this year that I think they lacked last year. But if they've got a weakness it'd be their safeties. They're good enough up front and at corner that most teams don't have the time to really test them deep up the middle, but that's the one relative weakness on their D. They aren't bad, but against an elite WR or accurate QB with time they could be vulnerable. UWW will be the first team with the passing attack and O-line to potentially take advantage of this all season. Bethel really only had the Oline. If #33 gets going some PAP over the top could be effective. Most teams just haven't gotten enough of a run game going to make PAP even remotely deceiving.

3. WR Diversity. Waldvogel is exceptional. He bulked up over the offseason to compensate for his one glaring weakness. He's not as tall or physcial as Shorts or Garcon, but he's very good in multiple ways. But he's definitely the best of a good group and when DT throws one of those bad picks it is sometimes because his primary option wasn't there.

4. Experience. On one hand they are seasoned and/or Seniors at a ton of key positions (All MIAC players at every position both O and D). On the other hand, they're facing one of the purple powers for the first time. No player will have seen a team with this kind of competitive, physical, athletic and coaching balance before. Speaking from Bethel's experience, it is a different deal encountering a team that is so experienced, confident and balanced. I think UST probably has the athletes, but experience and the confidence it breeds is earned. UST has to earn theirs on Saturday.

As a disclaimer, these are all 'relative' weaknesses. This UST team is as good and balanced as any team the MIAC has produced since SJU in 2003. Waldvogel isn't Blake Elliot, but the sum total might just be better. We'll find out on Saturday and then maybe in the next few weeks if that's really the case or not. Should be a great game and I hope it lives up to the hype. Both these semifinals should be excellent football.

[voice]

Just in to Warhawkfootball.com....
Time Warner Cable Wisconsin has picked up the ESPN3 feed of the Whitewater-Saint Thomas game to air on Sports32.  Time Warner Cable Sports32 serves the Milwaukee and Green Bay markets. TWC will be releasing a press release later this afternoon.

[02 Warhawk]

Just in to Warhawkfootball.com....
Time Warner Cable Wisconsin has picked up the ESPN3 feed of the Whitewater-Saint Thomas game to air on Sports32.  Time Warner Cable Sports32 serves the Milwaukee and Green Bay markets. TWC will be releasing a press release later this afternoon.

sweet..I'll set my DVR tonight.

This could be an instant classic

[USTBench]

Warhawk fans, what do you think is a potential weakness of your team that could be exposed against St. Thomas?

Tommy fans, same question to you.

Bethel fan, but I'll throw in my 2¢ from an opposing fan's perspective in regards to Tommie vulnerability.

1. Dakota Tracy is very good and very mobile. They love to get him in space and roll him out on bootlegs with a run/pass option. But on occasion he'll throw an egregious pick. He's had a few really bad throws in big games, usually trying to force something. But as a Sr they've been fewer and farther between.

2. Their D is salty and fast. They flood to the ball and have a nastiness this year that I think they lacked last year. But if they've got a weakness it'd be their safeties. They're good enough up front and at corner that most teams don't have the time to really test them deep up the middle, but that's the one relative weakness on their D. They aren't bad, but against an elite WR or accurate QB with time they could be vulnerable. UWW will be the first team with the passing attack and O-line to potentially take advantage of this all season. Bethel really only had the Oline. If #33 gets going some PAP over the top could be effective. Most teams just haven't gotten enough of a run game going to make PAP even remotely deceiving.

3. WR Diversity. Waldvogel is exceptional. He bulked up over the offseason to compensate for his one glaring weakness. He's not as tall or physcial as Shorts or Garcon, but he's very good in multiple ways. But he's definitely the best of a good group and when DT throws one of those bad picks it is sometimes because his primary option wasn't there.

4. Experience. On one hand they are seasoned and/or Seniors at a ton of key positions (All MIAC players at every position both O and D). On the other hand, they're facing one of the purple powers for the first time. No player will have seen a team with this kind of competitive, physical, athletic and coaching balance before. Speaking from Bethel's experience, it is a different deal encountering a team that is so experienced, confident and balanced. I think UST probably has the athletes, but experience and the confidence it breeds is earned. UST has to earn theirs on Saturday.

As a disclaimer, these are all 'relative' weaknesses. This UST team is as good and balanced as any team the MIAC has produced since SJU in 2003. Waldvogel isn't Blake Elliot, but the sum total might just be better. We'll find out on Saturday and then maybe in the next few weeks if that's really the case or not. Should be a great game and I hope it lives up to the hype. Both these semifinals should be excellent football.

I agree mostly with everything said, but I will say that Linfield in '09 could've beat anyone in the Catdome.

[emma17]

Nice post Hazzbeen, +k.

"Warhawk fans, what do you think is a potential weakness of your team that could be exposed against St. Thomas?"

I think it's hard to pick out weaknesses on either team that would be game changing.  We've posted before that the UWW secondary has been beat deep a bit too much.  I think it's simply that they are aggressive tacklers - and not that they can't cover.  Salisbury is a perfect example of aggression over ability.  UWW up 17-0 late in 2nd qrtr- Salisbury w ball at their own 37- 1:20 to go in half- 2nd down and 8.  Everybody on the PLANET knows the safeties must stay deep right?  Fake hand off on dive, pass right down the middle of the field for 32 yards as safeties bite on run. 
But plays like this aren't frequent, and I don't think St. T can count on it working. 

Anyone care to predict rushing yards for:
Coppage:
UWW Team:

Tobin:
St. T Team:   

[USTBench]

Nice post Hazzbeen, +k.

"Warhawk fans, what do you think is a potential weakness of your team that could be exposed against St. Thomas?"

I think it's hard to pick out weaknesses on either team that would be game changing.  We've posted before that the UWW secondary has been beat deep a bit too much.  I think it's simply that they are aggressive tacklers - and not that they can't cover.  Salisbury is a perfect example of aggression over ability.  UWW up 17-0 late in 2nd qrtr- Salisbury w ball at their own 37- 1:20 to go in half- 2nd down and 8.  Everybody on the PLANET knows the safeties must stay deep right?  Fake hand off on dive, pass right down the middle of the field for 32 yards as safeties bite on run. 
But plays like this aren't frequent, and I don't think St. T can count on it working. 

Anyone care to predict rushing yards for:
Coppage:
UWW Team:

Tobin:
St. T Team:

I imagine it will be tough sledding for both guys. I expect each to get an above average amount of carries, perhaps around 30, and both rushing 85 to 95 yards and a TD.

I think both teams will have to find success in the air to win.

[WarhawkDad]

Anyone care to predict rushing yards for:
Coppage:
UWW Team:

Tobin:
St. T Team:

Emma

First an admission of my biases.  I am an offensive line Dad and a UWW fan.  With that said, I have watched most of the YouTube videos available of UST this season and see how good Tobin is with a large offensive line.

With those admissions out of the way, I think Coppage will rush for about 127 yards and UWW for about 165 with Blanchard getting the balance.

I think Tobin will get 68 or so with another 25 or so mixed in from UST others.

I am not including any special teams run yardage for either team in the above.  While Waldvogel is outstanding, I believe Coppage on Punts and Morris on Kickoffs balance that out.   Obviously any major special teams plays can influence the outcome.

In the end, I agree somewhat with USTBench that the team with the most effective passing game or maybe a better way of saying it, the most complimentary passing game to the running attack will  prevail.

WarhawkDad

[hazzben]

Anyone care to predict rushing yards for:
Coppage:
UWW Team:

Tobin:
St. T Team:

Emma

First an admission of my biases.  I am an offensive line Dad and a UWW fan.  With that said, I have watched most of the YouTube videos available of UST this season and see how good Tobin is with a large offensive line.

With those admissions out of the way, I think Coppage will rush for about 127 yards and UWW for about 165 with Blanchard getting the balance.

I think Tobin will get 68 or so with another 25 or so mixed in from UST others.

I am not including any special teams run yardage for either team in the above.  While Waldvogel is outstanding, I believe Coppage on Punts and Morris on Kickoffs balance that out.   Obviously any major special teams plays can influence the outcome.

In the end, I agree somewhat with USTBench that the team with the most effective passing game or maybe a better way of saying it, the most complimentary passing game to the running attack will  prevail.

WarhawkDad

I'd say if UST holds Coppage to that or less we'll have a very competive game.

I think Tobin ends up closer to 100 on the day. If he goes over 100 UST is the thick of things in the 4th.

If Dakota Tracy has a pick free day I think UST wins.

And there's been some great analysis on here today. Fun reading and posting with knowledgable fans!

[Retired Old Rat]

Someone posted about this earlier.  Watching St. Thomas early in the game versus Fisher, I couldn't help but think their habit of picking up lots of penalties could make the difference when they played the Purples.  The two games I've seen, St. John's and St. John Fisher, St. Thomas took a lot of stupid penalties.  Off sides, unnecessary roughness, etc.  They really cleaned that up against Fisher starting in the second quarter.  I didn't comment on this earlier, as I noted that UWW also had an above average number of penalties.  Didn't do any research, so I don't know the nature of those penalties.

I hope that both teams can stay away from the dumb penalties.  Would hate for that to be the difference between them.

[2115 Summit]

Nice article on UST'd Colin Tobin:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/ct-spt-1208-prep-college-catchup-20111207,0,4401160.story