FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[HSCTiger74]

You guys really need to chill and have a burger at the Deluxe Billiard Hall in downtown McMinnville.

Bluenote! How can you SAY THAT! You haven't experienced the agony that 02 and Emma have of having to watch UW-W and especially the offense this year! They are averaging a paltry 38.2 points per game and just under 415 ypg this year. It's been excruciating to watch Behrendt rush things and settle for shorter routes as he scuttled his way to 29 TD passes to go along with that one horrid interception. Plus not only has the offense sputtered, it turns the ball over. Seven turnovers this year!  Unacceptable! They get off to notoriously slow starts outscoring teams only 253 to 63 in the first half. Then they finish even slower outscoring their opponents 171-24 in the second half. All this while playing in the indefensible WIAC. 

And Bluenote, the struggles continue in the playoffs where, on a day with winds of 20 MPH and a wind chill that got to -15, their margin of victory was only 3 point more than Linfield's! Small wonder why 02 is feeling downright giddy of his prediction that your Cats will beat the Warhawks! IF UW-W even gets that far!

This offense is no where near the teams that piled up 253 yards and 3 scoring drives of under 30 yards at NCC in 2010
Or the team that mauled Mt. Union for 238 yards and 13 points in the Stagg Bowl in 2011

Of course the statistical numbers don't really speak of a dramatic falloff, but that's just an inconvenient technicality.

Tough days in Whitewater, Blue. If UW-W is fortunate enough to survive next week, maybe you will get a chance to see for yourself how far this team has fallen. 

What's all that have to do with a burger from the Deluxe Billiard Hall? 

+1 Blue.   

[D O.C.]

I gotta pull some sheets here. The Deluxe is a local DIVE. Bluenote like fool you as 02Warhawk like soften up LINFIELD fans.

[bleedpurple]

I like to think my mind is active, but at times, a little slow.

My thinking has been that UWW is not as good as in past years. While that may be true, it now strikes me that it will never play the UWW teams of the past. They will only have to play the teams that it actually faces this year. Are they good enough to beat those teams? That is the question that will be answered in the next week, or more. My answer is that they very well could be, but it is probably closer a call than recently, and those other teams are probably good enough to beat UWW. Any given Saturday. (To paraphrase)

Very good points, Ret. All that matters is how UW-W stacks up to other 2013 D3 teams. My reason for citing earlier games was a post by one of our faithful saying:

I'm not here to defend the WIAC, I've been saying all season Whitewater isn't nearly the same Whitewater from 2005 to 2011. They over achieved all season long this year, IMO. UWW's offense won't scare anyone this year. They may win one more, but that's about it

My point is that he doesn't know that any more than I know that this team is CLEARLY SUPERIOR to those previous teams.  Such subjective and broad statements ought not go unchallenged. Now that I think about it, they don't go unchallenged too often, do they? 

Oh and I should probably apologize to Emma. What he said wasn't over the top. I was just on a roll!  Sorry Emma!

I gotta pull some sheets here. The Deluxe is a local DIVE. Bluenote like fool you as 02Warhawk like soften up LINFIELD fans.

Nah, softening up Linfield fans is just a fun byproduct.  He likes to fire up Warhawk fans! 

And Blue, don't pretend you didn't tell us to "chill" with all this DIVE burger talk! 

[emma17]

"They may win one more"?  Who's playing Glum?  I'm actually sad for the person thinking this way. 

Bleed, I do agree with the context of your post (although comparing UWW's output against NCC and Mt to support this year's offense, probably is........ a strecth).

[palum]

P-ville represented the WIAC well yesterday.  Kelly was his usual self and spread the ball to many different recievers for over 400 yards.  Puccini subing for Vlasak rushed for over 100 yards.  The defense played well against what was advertised as a high scoring Concordia offense.  One big concern turnovers at Oshkosh they turned it over twice inside the 10 yardline and the same happened yesterday.  Thats points left off the board.  I've read here that NCC weakness is pass defense if thats the case they will have their hands full with Platteville's passing attack I just hope Platteville can hold onto the ball.  Here's to 2 WIAC teams making it to the next round.

[voice]

P-ville represented the WIAC well yesterday.  Kelly was his usual self and spread the ball to many different recievers for over 400 yards.  Puccini subing for Vlasak rushed for over 100 yards.  The defense played well against what was advertised as a high scoring Concordia offense.  One big concern turnovers at Oshkosh they turned it over twice inside the 10 yardline and the same happened yesterday.  Thats points left off the board.  I've read here that NCC weakness is pass defense if thats the case they will have their hands full with Platteville's passing attack I just hope Platteville can hold onto the ball.  Here's to 2 WIAC teams making it to the next round.

Congrats Palum on the impressive offensive effort by UWP yesterday. Especially in poor weather.

             _______ meanwhile _______

This coming Saturday's Franklin College at UW-Whitewater 2nd round playoff game is a really intriguing match-up.

UWW ranks No. 1 in the Nation in SCORING DEFENSE (7.9 pts/game) and No. 1 in TOTAL DEFENSE (217 yds/game)

Franklin College quarterback Jonny West leads the Nation in PASSING YARDS (3624 yds) and PASSING TDs (40)

[bleedpurple]

"They may win one more"?  Who's playing Glum?  I'm actually sad for the person thinking this way. 

Bleed, I do agree with the context of your post (although comparing UWW's output against NCC and Mt to support this year's offense, probably is........ a strecth).

To clarify, I wasn't using those games to support UW-W's offense up to this point. Over 38 points per game do not need rationalizing whether certain fans like how they got them or not. My point was that there are 4 more wins necessary to win the national championship. Those games can be won in any fashion necessary. Plenty of times in the past, UW-W won games through a great defensive effort with somewhat limited offensive production. I haven't seen too many people question this defense. Why some people think UW-W suddenly couldn't win games like that is beyond me.  As always, it is play on the field and not opinion that will crown the champion. Gotta love D-III! 

[02 Warhawk]

Given Franklin's strengths, I wouldn't mind the exact same forecast as yesterday's game for next weekend.

I'm on board with what retagent is suggesting. That UWW isn't as dominate as past seasons, but that doesn't mean a dominant team is required to go far into the playoffs this season. 

[Stagg Again!!]

I've read here that NCC weakness is pass defense if thats the case they will have their hands full with Platteville's passing attack...

Palum - I think you'll find North Central's pass defense a bit better than in prior years:

Category.                               Rank.         Statistic
Passing Yards Allowed                  9          136.4
Team Passing Efficiency Defense   7           88.67

But, that is just my opinion.  We'll all see if that is the case on Saturday.

[bleedpurple]

I've read here that NCC weakness is pass defense if thats the case they will have their hands full with Platteville's passing attack...

Palum - I think you'll find North Central's pass defense a bit better than in prior years:

Category.                               Rank.         Statistic
Passing Yards Allowed                  9          136.4
Team Passing Efficiency Defense   7           88.67

But, that is just my opinion.  We'll all see if that is the case on Saturday.

Well, it's an opinion, but you also cite some pretty good facts. I think it will be an interesting game. This is one of those match-ups that could lead to a pretty crazy game. If one team gets a lead, they better keep the pedal on the gas because either team is capable of striking quickly and coming back. This is one I will definitely be keeping my eye on.

[emma17]

"They may win one more"?  Who's playing Glum?  I'm actually sad for the person thinking this way. 

Bleed, I do agree with the context of your post (although comparing UWW's output against NCC and Mt to support this year's offense, probably is........ a strecth).

To clarify, I wasn't using those games to support UW-W's offense up to this point. Over 38 points per game do not need rationalizing whether certain fans like how they got them or not. My point was that there are 4 more wins necessary to win the national championship. Those games can be won in any fashion necessary. Plenty of times in the past, UW-W won games through a great defensive effort with somewhat limited offensive production. I haven't seen too many people question this defense. Why some people think UW-W suddenly couldn't win games like that is beyond me.   As always, it is play on the field and not opinion that will crown the champion. Gotta love D-III! 

I know you to be a reasonable guy willing to look at both sides of the coin.  I have an idea why some people either think UWW can't win games w somewhat limited offensive production (not me) or worry that overly limited offensive production may not be enough to get it done (me).

Although UWW beat teams like NCC and Mt in the past by relying primarily on a great D, the offenses did have big play capabilities and/or players.  Coppage was always a threat to break one and go the distance.  Brandes made many great catches on long balls in many playoff games.  Unless Givens turns out to be a long run threat, the UWW running game doesn't pose anywhere near the challenge it used to.  If Behrendt is going to continue to opt for the underneath stuff against better defenses that have speed, the YAC won't be there.   
The fear this year is that there are some high powered offenses on the horizon and it's likely that, no matter how great the UWW defense is, UWW may need its offense to do more.  I think it's fair to say that the high powered offenses on the horizon are quite a bit better than the Mt offense of the 2011 Stagg Bowl.   

I won't lose hope that the D can keep UWW in every game.  For my own preference, I'd like to see UWW take more shots at the intermediate and deep routes in the passing game.  I think there is underutilized talent at the wideouts and Behrendt may be a bit too worried about picks or sacks.  I know it looks great on the stats to only have one interception, but I'm not sure that it's of greater value than getting the ball down the field a bit more in every game.     

[emma17]

The CCIW board has a good conversation going on about AA QB candidates and one post shows stats for three top guys, Stanek, Florence and Burke.  Please, in no shape, way or form am I suggesting that Behrendt isn't doing well or that UWW must have a QB w AA numbers.  I find the numbers interesting and with limited data, they show a bit about why I feel Matt might want to take more shots down the field especially with the receivers he has.   Matt has the lowest yards per completion and also the most completions.  Additionally, the other guy with only one interception has the second lowest yards per completion. 

Matt Behrendt:
215-336 (64%), 2,355 yds, 29 TD's, 1 INT, 10.95 yds per completion. 

Spencer Stanek:
211-284 (74%), 2,774 yds, 36 TD's, 1 INT, 13.1 yds per completion, 

Reed Florence:
193-285 (68%), 3,039 yds, 36 TD's, 6 INT,15.7 yds per completion,

Kevin Burke:
164-259 (63.3%), 2,745 yds, 35 TD's, 6 INT, 16.7 yds per completion,

[bleedpurple]

"They may win one more"?  Who's playing Glum?  I'm actually sad for the person thinking this way. 

Bleed, I do agree with the context of your post (although comparing UWW's output against NCC and Mt to support this year's offense, probably is........ a strecth).

To clarify, I wasn't using those games to support UW-W's offense up to this point. Over 38 points per game do not need rationalizing whether certain fans like how they got them or not. My point was that there are 4 more wins necessary to win the national championship. Those games can be won in any fashion necessary. Plenty of times in the past, UW-W won games through a great defensive effort with somewhat limited offensive production. I haven't seen too many people question this defense. Why some people think UW-W suddenly couldn't win games like that is beyond me.   As always, it is play on the field and not opinion that will crown the champion. Gotta love D-III! 

I know you to be a reasonable guy willing to look at both sides of the coin.  I have an idea why some people either think UWW can't win games w somewhat limited offensive production (not me) or worry that overly limited offensive production may not be enough to get it done (me).

Although UWW beat teams like NCC and Mt in the past by relying primarily on a great D, the offenses did have big play capabilities and/or players.  Coppage was always a threat to break one and go the distance.  Brandes made many great catches on long balls in many playoff games.  Unless Givens turns out to be a long run threat, the UWW running game doesn't pose anywhere near the challenge it used to.  If Behrendt is going to continue to opt for the underneath stuff against better defenses that have speed, the YAC won't be there.   
The fear this year is that there are some high powered offenses on the horizon and it's likely that, no matter how great the UWW defense is, UWW may need its offense to do more.  I think it's fair to say that the high powered offenses on the horizon are quite a bit better than the Mt offense of the 2011 Stagg Bowl.   

I won't lose hope that the D can keep UWW in every game.  For my own preference, I'd like to see UWW take more shots at the intermediate and deep routes in the passing game.  I think there is underutilized talent at the wideouts and Behrendt may be a bit too worried about picks or sacks.  I know it looks great on the stats to only have one interception, but I'm not sure that it's of greater value than getting the ball down the field a bit more in every game.     

Maybe that is the difference between me and the worriers. I know the Hawks have special athletes on offense that can make plays and have made plays and will continue to make plays. I think as the playoffs unfold, Huber and Kumerow will prove very difficult to keep under wraps by any defense for an entire game. The coaches know that to advance past the best teams, big plays will be at the heart of it. That aspect doesn't worry me at all. It wouldn't hurt to get a game without wind gusts around 30 MPH, but it is what it is.  Without a doubt UW-W is young offensively. I agree this year they are not the "pound the rock" machine offensively they were in the past. Part of that is health, part of that is design, and part of that is youth. But that doesn't mean they can't score points and it doesn't mean they won't win four more games.  Is UW-W guaranteed anything, including a win on Saturday? Of course not. They will have to earn it just like everyone else. I believe they will.  If I am wrong, all is not lost. Next year UW-W will be scary good. But they are also 11-0 this year. They have as good a chance as anyone.

I know this will irritate Retagent, but I believe the WIAC does prepare teams well for the playoffs. Battling the defenses of Oshkosh and Point. Matching up against Platteville's passing game and the balance of UW-O's offense. I think all those things prepare UW-W well for the nation's best.  I don't believe teams will have adequate preparation for the UW-W defense.  I believe they will be drawn into a battle that UW-W is used to fighting. We'll see what happens, but I believe this team hasn't shown us all it's got yet.

[bleedpurple]

The CCIW board has a good conversation going on about AA QB candidates and one post shows stats for three top guys, Stanek, Florence and Burke.  Please, in no shape, way or form am I suggesting that Behrendt isn't doing well or that UWW must have a QB w AA numbers.  I find the numbers interesting and with limited data, they show a bit about why I feel Matt might want to take more shots down the field especially with the receivers he has.   Matt has the lowest yards per completion and also the most completions.  Additionally, the other guy with only one interception has the second lowest yards per completion. 

Matt Behrendt:
215-336 (64%), 2,355 yds, 29 TD's, 1 INT, 10.95 yds per completion. 

Spencer Stanek:
211-284 (74%), 2,774 yds, 36 TD's, 1 INT, 13.1 yds per completion, 

Reed Florence:
193-285 (68%), 3,039 yds, 36 TD's, 6 INT,15.7 yds per completion,

Kevin Burke:
164-259 (63.3%), 2,745 yds, 35 TD's, 6 INT, 16.7 yds per completion,

So is it your position that Stanek and NCC would be better served by throwing the ball down the field more? And if so, have you shared that on the CCIW board? 

[retagent]

I know this will irritate Retagent, but I believe the WIAC does prepare teams well for the playoffs. Battling the defenses of Oshkosh and Point. Matching up against Platteville's passing game and the balance of UW-O's offense. I think all those things prepare UW-W well for the nation's best.  I don't believe teams will have adequate preparation for the UW-W defense.  I believe they will be drawn into a battle that UW-W is used to fighting. We'll see what happens, but I believe this team hasn't shown us all it's got yet.
[/quote]

My irritation does not come from that. It is mostly directed at an implicit denegration of other teams/conferences. Maybe I read to much into some posts ( it is a human trait to be defensive about slights, or perceived slights from others), but that's another story. Also, logic has taught me that you cannot take a specific from a general, or a general from a specific. For example, let's agre that the WIAC is, if not the best, one of the best D-III conferences around. I believe the MIAC went 3-0 against the WIAC this year. That does not lead me to declare that the MIAC is better than the WIAC, for obvious reasons. I'm not going back over the entire history of the D-III PLayoffs, but I would guess that the MIAC has a pretty good record in those playoffs. I remember seeing those stats somewhere, and as I recall, those bear out my contenetion. The WIAC probably is in the same arera as far as that is concerned. You could look at the OAC, and without knowing that Mount skews their figure, assume facts not in evidence.