FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[wisd3fan2]

Thanks for responding. I just want to clarify that I feel that home field advantage is not a matter of playing on your own field in front of your fans as much as it is the taxing travel time and interuption of your regular schedule. Also this is during Finals which makes things more stressful for the traveling team. This makes this issue a huge deal. Thanks again for your thoughts.

[Just Bill]

Neutral sites for quarterfinals and semifinals is never going to happen. If FCS and D-II don't do it, you won't see D-III taking the lead on that one.

The better option is to continue to fine tune the seeding/regional ranking process. But the fact is, it will never be perfect in football. 10 game season. Too little crossover play between regions. I'm sure it can be improved but there's always the tug of war between subjectivity and objectivity, and therefore, it can never be perfect.

[hazzben]

Thanks for responding. I just want to clarify that I feel that home field advantage is not a matter of playing on your own field in front of your fans as much as it is the taxing travel time and interuption of your regular schedule. Also this is during Finals which makes things more stressful for the traveling team. This makes this issue a huge deal. Thanks again for your thoughts.

Playing at home is nice, but in some ways going on the road has its advantages.

Playoff road trips allow coaches to eliminate all distractions and the team gets more time together. When I was playing and coaching at Bethel, we loved going on the road in the playoffs. Hosting an NCAA event brings a ton of headaches from an administrative standpoint. Coach Johnson is on record that in some ways it's harder to be the home team.

[02 Warhawk]

I have no issue with Oshkosh not getting a #1 seed. I think it's a little arrogant to think that an undefeated WIAC team should automatically get a #1 seed.

Before anyone replies, I'll cut them off by saying in 2010, UWW's case was different. Whitewater was the #1 team from beginning to end, and for them not to get a #1 seed was just silly.

[emma17]

I join others in saying UST was a deserving #1 seed. The problem for UWO was a logjam with Linfield and UST.
Taking it a step further I don't think UWO played like a #1 seed in the playoffs.  Although their comebacks made for a fun story, it was always going to be their recipe for disaster.

Another interesting discussion will be pre-season rankings. Does Mt. Union get it on their credentials or does UST get it on their returning strength?
Where will UWO and UWW fall to?  I don't see how either have a strong case for top 10 based on returners.  UWP makes more sense to me for the highest ranked WIAC team pre-season- until the return of the Dub.

[wartknight]

Have not read posts on here in quite a while. I just read what people were saying towards the end of the play-off season. What I do not see being mentioned is the seeding which I think is the most important element. In our bracket I do think that Linfield was probably the best team. Maybe the best in the Nation. However to seed St T above UWO is in MHO a joke. It probably cost UWO the win. The Titans played tired! It is my opinion that a Mt. Union UWO match-up would have been far more competitive. I think the same could be said about Mary Hardin-Baylor. I think the idea of Neutral Sites in the Quarters and Semis should be visited. I know it would be more costly but it would decide things by how good the teams are vs. someones opinion on seeding. What do you all think? I think that any team that goes undefeated in the WIAC is a number 1 seed period!

Did you give your common sense away for Xmas?

[02 Warhawk]

I join others in saying UST was a deserving #1 seed. The problem for UWO was a logjam with Linfield and UST.
Taking it a step further I don't think UWO played like a #1 seed in the playoffs.  Although their comebacks made for a fun story, it was always going to be their recipe for disaster.

Another interesting discussion will be pre-season rankings. Does Mt. Union get it on their credentials or does UST get it on their returning strength?
Where will UWO and UWW fall to?  I don't see how either have a strong case for top 10 based on returners.  UWP makes more sense to me for the highest ranked WIAC team pre-season- until the return of the Dub.

I think it's a safe bet that Mount will be #1, even though they have very little returning. Although, UWW beat Mount in 2007 but Mount was the preseason #1 in 2008...not UWW. So it's not out of the question. However, It's tough to think that a defending national champion Mount team won't be a preseason #1.

I agree, UWP will be the team to beat in the WIAC next season.

[retagent]

What about UMHB? I will leave it up to those who have the inclination to determine the number of returnees and see if they might have a claim on pre-season #1. The only thing one gets for being pre-season #1, is to be able to say, "We were pre-season #1." So I really don't give a rodent's posterior.

UST may also be a consideration for all but the WIAC Kool Aid Drinkers.

[BDB]

Anyone notice Rod Carey, former coordinator at UW-Stout a few years ago prowling the sidelines at the Orange Bowl last night as the new Head Coach of Northern Illinois University?

[Retired Old Rat]

Anyone notice Rod Carey, former coordinator at UW-Stout a few years ago prowling the sidelines at the Orange Bowl last night as the new Head Coach of Northern Illinois University?

I did not realize he had been at Stout.  Pretty quick climb for the guy.  If the history of the last two coaches at NIU is any indicator, with any luck he'll be moving on to a major conference school in a couple of years.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Anyone notice Rod Carey, former coordinator at UW-Stout a few years ago prowling the sidelines at the Orange Bowl last night as the new Head Coach of Northern Illinois University?

I did not realize he had been at Stout.  Pretty quick climb for the guy.  If the history of the last two coaches at NIU is any indicator, with any luck he'll be moving on to a major conference school in a couple of years.

And he did lead NIU to being the first team from a non-BCS conference to break into the BCS without going undefeated!  (Though after yesterday's game, they may also be the last to do so! )

[HScoach]

I join others in saying UST was a deserving #1 seed. The problem for UWO was a logjam with Linfield and UST.
Taking it a step further I don't think UWO played like a #1 seed in the playoffs.  Although their comebacks made for a fun story, it was always going to be their recipe for disaster.

Another interesting discussion will be pre-season rankings. Does Mt. Union get it on their credentials or does UST get it on their returning strength?
Where will UWO and UWW fall to?  I don't see how either have a strong case for top 10 based on returners.  UWP makes more sense to me for the highest ranked WIAC team pre-season- until the return of the Dub.

I think it's a safe bet that Mount will be #1, even though they have very little returning. Although, UWW beat Mount in 2007 but Mount was the preseason #1 in 2008...not UWW. So it's not out of the question. However, It's tough to think that a defending national champion Mount team won't be a preseason #1.

I agree, UWP will be the team to beat in the WIAC next season.

Here is my top 3 for next year.

1.   Mount Union - graduates everyone on offense except QB Burke, but adds the OAC's best RB in Germany Woods.   Only question on offense is replacing Collins at the #1 receiver spot.   Defense is going to be very strong.   Especially D- line with 3 starters back.   Best LB returns in freshman Hank Spencer.   The hole to fill on D is Nick Driskill at SS.  As long as LK returns, Mount is going to be awfully good again.

2.   St Thomas - returns almost everyone and the experience of a Stagg run is priceless.  Only thing holding them back is real game changers on the edges offensively.

3.   MHB -  Bailey & Jones got all the press, but other than those two they were a very young team.   Find a QB that can throw half decent and they'll be scary good.

4.  Linfield - close in 12 even with some key injuries.   Disappointing playoff could provide stepping stone to deep 13 run?

[WarhawkDad]

Anyone notice Rod Carey, former coordinator at UW-Stout a few years ago prowling the sidelines at the Orange Bowl last night as the new Head Coach of Northern Illinois University?

I did not realize he had been at Stout.  Pretty quick climb for the guy.  If the history of the last two coaches at NIU is any indicator, with any luck he'll be moving on to a major conference school in a couple of years.

As an NIU grad, I think Carey would do himself a favor by staying for more than a couple years.  As you mention, it has been a quick climb.  For him to move up to a"major conference" I would think he would need sustained success at the head coach level, which is something both his predecessors had and that is what enabled them to move on so quickly.

[emma17]

I join others in saying UST was a deserving #1 seed. The problem for UWO was a logjam with Linfield and UST.
Taking it a step further I don't think UWO played like a #1 seed in the playoffs.  Although their comebacks made for a fun story, it was always going to be their recipe for disaster.

Another interesting discussion will be pre-season rankings. Does Mt. Union get it on their credentials or does UST get it on their returning strength?
Where will UWO and UWW fall to?  I don't see how either have a strong case for top 10 based on returners.  UWP makes more sense to me for the highest ranked WIAC team pre-season- until the return of the Dub.

I think it's a safe bet that Mount will be #1, even though they have very little returning. Although, UWW beat Mount in 2007 but Mount was the preseason #1 in 2008...not UWW. So it's not out of the question. However, It's tough to think that a defending national champion Mount team won't be a preseason #1.

I agree, UWP will be the team to beat in the WIAC next season.

Here is my top 3 for next year.

1.   Mount Union - graduates everyone on offense except QB Burke, but adds the OAC's best RB in Germany Woods.   Only question on offense is replacing Collins at the #1 receiver spot.   Defense is going to be very strong.   Especially D- line with 3 starters back.   Best LB returns in freshman Hank Spencer.   The hole to fill on D is Nick Driskill at SS.  As long as LK returns, Mount is going to be awfully good again.

2.   St Thomas - returns almost everyone and the experience of a Stagg run is priceless.  Only thing holding them back is real game changers on the edges offensively.

3.   MHB -  Bailey & Jones got all the press, but other than those two they were a very young team.   Find a QB that can throw half decent and they'll be scary good.

4.  Linfield - close in 12 even with some key injuries.   Disappointing playoff could provide stepping stone to deep 13 run?

I can't argue with your top four from any perspective.
When it comes to the pre-season poll it depends on what point in time we are ranking.  For instance, if my pre-season ranking is based on who I think is the best team for the opening game of the season I'd probably give UST the #1 spot. If my pre-season ranking is based on what team I expect to be #1 at the end of the season I'd probably go another direction.

[retagent]

Rankings are always subjective opinions based on what objective criteria we have, filtered through our perspectives of what we think is more important. I think emma has about the right outlook (meaning I agree with that line of thinking.) That's what makes it fun to talk about. Thank goodness, that in the end, all the speculation is just that - FUN. Once it's settled on the field, it's settled. Except for all the "What ifs" which in itself, is more fun.