FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

So, once a team knows it's out of the playoffs, what do they do for the balance of the season in terms of personnel?
Are wins and losses important? 
Does a team now have to think about finding a balance between letting seniors get as many plays in their last games and young players getting valuable minutes?

Will UWO fans take over the WIAC board?

These questions are good for you non UWW WIAC people- like the Oshkosh fans that act like your entitled to the throne.  smile.

Are there any besides oshfb?   

[bleedpurple]

So, once a team knows it's out of the playoffs, what do they do for the balance of the season in terms of personnel?
Are wins and losses important? 
Does a team now have to think about finding a balance between letting seniors get as many plays in their last games and young players getting valuable minutes?

Will UWO fans take over the WIAC board?

These questions are good for you non UWW WIAC people- like the Oshkosh fans that act like your entitled to the throne.  smile.

In my opinion, winning is still the most important thing.  I think some of the developing has been occurring as a result of the onslaught of injuries. I do think there will be more giving players experience as well, but this team needs a win!  In spite of UW-W's success and expectations, 7-3 is still much better than 5-5!

[bleedpurple]

What bothers me the most, is this place is going to turn into a ghost-town by the middle of November with Whitewater missing the postseason....

I'll still be here! 

And I for one hope you will be here until December 15th!

WarhawkDad

Me too!  If we are all going to stick around for awhile after the Hawks' season is finished, it's the least oshfb can do to stick around a week or two after the Titans are done. 

[Trackfan]

A's we wrap up the season....good luck to UW Oshkosh.  This season PROVES the strength of the WIAC.  No game is a given.  No Saturday is a sure bet.   I'm not just referring to the so called "elite" of the conference.  UWSP has played many close games....to the last second.  They were ready for UWW.  And they made the most of their opportunity.  UWRF is fighting for every yard, and showing it's determination. Eau Claire, Stout, Platteville, LaCrosse congrats to all.  The athletes of the WIAC (all sports by the way) bring their best efforts each time they line up at the starting line, at midfield for the kickoff and at center court for the tipoff.  They are student athletes. And they love what they do.  I've seen all the WIAC teams compete over three seasons.
The strength of the conference, the upsets, the crushing victories make all of the teams stronger.  My frustration is the setup of the playoffs....to take one team from all conferences somehow is too Cinderella for me.  Take two from the strongest conferences...expand the playoffs.  Why?Because...the WIAC will continue to beat up on each other all season long. Fewer and fewer teams will opt in for a non-conference game against us.  The result is the WIAC has to take on each other and the strongest of strong non conference opponents....while other conferences feast on low hanging fruit to fatten their records.  Ok I'm done... Except to say Good Luck to the WIAC this weekend.  BRING IT!

[jknezek]

....to take one team from all conferences somehow is too Cinderella for me.  Take two from the strongest conferences...expand the playoffs. 

Are you willing to pay for it? It's easy to spend someone else's money.

[Pat Coleman]

A's we wrap up the season....good luck to UW Oshkosh.  This season PROVES the strength of the WIAC.  No game is a given.  No Saturday is a sure bet.   I'm not just referring to the so called "elite" of the conference.  UWSP has played many close games....to the last second.  They were ready for UWW.  And they made the most of their opportunity.  UWRF is fighting for every yard, and showing it's determination. Eau Claire, Stout, Platteville, LaCrosse congrats to all.  The athletes of the WIAC (all sports by the way) bring their best efforts each time they line up at the starting line, at midfield for the kickoff and at center court for the tipoff.  They are student athletes. And they love what they do.  I've seen all the WIAC teams compete over three seasons.
The strength of the conference, the upsets, the crushing victories make all of the teams stronger.  My frustration is the setup of the playoffs....to take one team from all conferences somehow is too Cinderella for me.  Take two from the strongest conferences...expand the playoffs.  Why?Because...the WIAC will continue to beat up on each other all season long. Fewer and fewer teams will opt in for a non-conference game against us.  The result is the WIAC has to take on each other and the strongest of strong non conference opponents....while other conferences feast on low hanging fruit to fatten their records.  Ok I'm done... Except to say Good Luck to the WIAC this weekend.  BRING IT!

There's no way Division III schools would agree to expand the playoffs beyond five weeks.

[Trackfan]

In my previous post I neglected to mention UWW.  It was not an omission of disrespect...more of an assumed nod.  Nothing should be left to assumption.  UWW is one of the main reasons the WIAC garners respect!  My bad for not being more transparent.   And as I said. here's to the last two weeks of the season.  I know we will all treasure every play.

[Sakman 1111]

It has been a great run with the Warhawks since their first appearance in the Stagg Bowl but I don't believe it's over......time to retool.....the Goo Crew will do their part in getting some big time talent back to UWW.....You play to win every week using your best talent.....any other discussion is simply lame......Pound the Rock guys.....can't put into words what fun this has been for the last ten year or so......

[emma17]

It has been a great run with the Warhawks since their first appearance in the Stagg Bowl but I don't believe it's over......time to retool.....the Goo Crew will do their part in getting some big time talent back to UWW.....You play to win every week using your best talent.....any other discussion is simply lame......Pound the Rock guys.....can't put into words what fun this has been for the last ten year or so......

Hold on a second there. Lame?  That's harsh man.
Here's the discussion worth having, IMO.  Of course you play to win.  The finer point, though, is how you define "using your best talent".  Is there any question that Ward is the "best" running back overall for UWW when considering things like understanding blocking assignments?  However, is Ward the "best talent" at running back? 

We know that Behrendt is/was the #2.  Is he significantly above the #3 and #4?  Perhaps the #3 or #4 has a certain talent that is better than Behrendt/Brekke- but the staff has been worried about rookie mistakes? 

In the UWO game we saw a receiver - Dantrell Wright, make a couple real nice long ball catches (one was PI- one for TD).  I'm not sure if he played this last game.  Is it possible he has more talent but doesn't quite have the playbook down? 

I agree entirely that you put a game plan in with the intention to win the game.   

[Pat Coleman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W42iiCcFbxE

[couchp54]

A's we wrap up the season....good luck to UW Oshkosh.  This season PROVES the strength of the WIAC.  No game is a given.  No Saturday is a sure bet.   I'm not just referring to the so called "elite" of the conference.  UWSP has played many close games....to the last second.  They were ready for UWW.  And they made the most of their opportunity.  UWRF is fighting for every yard, and showing it's determination. Eau Claire, Stout, Platteville, LaCrosse congrats to all.  The athletes of the WIAC (all sports by the way) bring their best efforts each time they line up at the starting line, at midfield for the kickoff and at center court for the tipoff.  They are student athletes. And they love what they do.  I've seen all the WIAC teams compete over three seasons.
The strength of the conference, the upsets, the crushing victories make all of the teams stronger.  My frustration is the setup of the playoffs....to take one team from all conferences somehow is too Cinderella for me.  Take two from the strongest conferences...expand the playoffs.  Why?Because...the WIAC will continue to beat up on each other all season long. Fewer and fewer teams will opt in for a non-conference game against us.  The result is the WIAC has to take on each other and the strongest of strong non conference opponents....while other conferences feast on low hanging fruit to fatten their records.  Ok I'm done... Except to say Good Luck to the WIAC this weekend.  BRING IT!

There's no way Division III schools would agree to expand the playoffs beyond five weeks.

I understand what Trackfan is saying.  I lose interest in the playoffs, not because my team isn't there, but because the top teams are not necessarily in the playoffs.  There are so many lopsided games the first few rounds.  The UWW/Lakeland game a few years ago comes to mind.  You can't tell me that was fun for Lakeland! If they insist on an automatic playoff berth for the weakest conferences, then perhaps they should consider doing something like high school does and have two divisions in the playoffs.  That would still keep it at 5 weeks, and more teams could participate.  That would also give those schools that go to the playoffs and get crushed in the first couple rounds a chance to compete with other schools that match their talents better.  We know the team at the bottom of WIAC could beat a lot of teams that head to the playoffs as the conference champ.  And it would make the playoffs a whole lot more interesting for D3 fans.  If money is an issue, perhaps WIAA could charge for online viewing, raise ticket prices, or find some other way to raise money.
And I don't quite understand why non-conf games count as much as they do for the playoffs. There's such a difference in talent level between teams in D3.  WIAC teams have a hard time finding someone to play and that has caused travel hardships.  If those games didn't count, closer teams would be willing to play us.   

[criswyly]

It's time for the WIAC faithful (fans) and especially Oshgosh to begin boning up on Linfield since it is quite possible that these two schools will clash in the playoffs.  Every UWW fan knows that the Cats were always a huge mountain to climb on their march to the Stagg Bowl.

BTW, I'm sure UWW will be back...and I'm not looking forward to that

[02 Warhawk]

A's we wrap up the season....good luck to UW Oshkosh.  This season PROVES the strength of the WIAC.  No game is a given.  No Saturday is a sure bet.   I'm not just referring to the so called "elite" of the conference.  UWSP has played many close games....to the last second.  They were ready for UWW.  And they made the most of their opportunity.  UWRF is fighting for every yard, and showing it's determination. Eau Claire, Stout, Platteville, LaCrosse congrats to all.  The athletes of the WIAC (all sports by the way) bring their best efforts each time they line up at the starting line, at midfield for the kickoff and at center court for the tipoff.  They are student athletes. And they love what they do.  I've seen all the WIAC teams compete over three seasons.
The strength of the conference, the upsets, the crushing victories make all of the teams stronger.  My frustration is the setup of the playoffs....to take one team from all conferences somehow is too Cinderella for me.  Take two from the strongest conferences...expand the playoffs.  Why?Because...the WIAC will continue to beat up on each other all season long. Fewer and fewer teams will opt in for a non-conference game against us.  The result is the WIAC has to take on each other and the strongest of strong non conference opponents....while other conferences feast on low hanging fruit to fatten their records.  Ok I'm done... Except to say Good Luck to the WIAC this weekend.  BRING IT!

There's no way Division III schools would agree to expand the playoffs beyond five weeks.

I understand what Trackfan is saying.  I lose interest in the playoffs, not because my team isn't there, but because the top teams are not necessarily in the playoffs.  There are so many lopsided games the first few rounds.  The UWW/Lakeland game a few years ago comes to mind.  You can't tell me that was fun for Lakeland! If they insist on an automatic playoff berth for the weakest conferences, then perhaps they should consider doing something like high school does and have two divisions in the playoffs.  That would still keep it at 5 weeks, and more teams could participate.  That would also give those schools that go to the playoffs and get crushed in the first couple rounds a chance to compete with other schools that match their talents better.  We know the team at the bottom of WIAC could beat a lot of teams that head to the playoffs as the conference champ.  And it would make the playoffs a whole lot more interesting for D3 fans.  If money is an issue, perhaps WIAA could charge for online viewing, raise ticket prices, or find some other way to raise money.
And I don't quite understand why non-conf games count as much as they do for the playoffs. There's such a difference in talent level between teams in D3.  WIAC teams have a hard time finding someone to play and that has caused travel hardships.  If those games didn't count, closer teams would be willing to play us.

The question still remains....who will pay for this?

If more teams are in the playoffs, then the NCAA will have to fork over more $$$ for traveling. Considering the lack of exposure/interest in DIII playoffs, the NCAA has little incentive to spend more money and expand the field.

[d-train]

...If they insist on an automatic playoff berth for the weakest conferences, then perhaps they should consider doing something like high school does and have two divisions in the playoffs.  That would still keep it at 5 weeks, and more teams could participate.  That would also give those schools that go to the playoffs and get crushed in the first couple rounds a chance to compete with other schools that match their talents better. ..

You want to kick some folks down to create a Division 4?  Division 2 and NAIA could use a few more conferences if the WIAC wants to move 'up' and give out some scholarships. (<-- I'm not arguing for this, just saying that it makes as much sense as your comment.)

I tend to agree that when a strong team like UWW, PLU, or Willamette is left at home when a Lakeland or Northwestern (Minn.) makes the field it can be pretty lame and frustrating.  But equal access is very much a D3 value - and the first three teams listed there had a clear path to the playoffs (but lost games).

What's worse is when one of those 'weaker' conference champ has 3 or more D-3 losses.  I think that should drop them (and their bid) into Pool C were they'd be evaluated on SOS, etc.  But I don't know if that would help with WIAC non-conference scheduling. 

[02 Warhawk]

...If they insist on an automatic playoff berth for the weakest conferences, then perhaps they should consider doing something like high school does and have two divisions in the playoffs.  That would still keep it at 5 weeks, and more teams could participate.  That would also give those schools that go to the playoffs and get crushed in the first couple rounds a chance to compete with other schools that match their talents better. ..

You want to kick some folks down to create a Division 4?  Division 2 and NAIA could use a few more conferences if the WIAC wants to move 'up' and give out some scholarships. (<-- I'm not arguing for this, just saying that it makes as much sense as your comment.)

I tend to agree that when a strong team like UWW, PLU, or Willamette is left at home when a Lakeland or Northwestern (Minn.) makes the field can be pretty lame and frustrating.  But equal access is very much a D3 value - and the first three teams listed there had a clear path to the playoffs (but lost).

WIAC moving to DII...there's an idea.