FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

You're throwing the middle team out of the mix, which if you are trying to measure conference strength top to bottom, you absolutely have to do.

You may be trying to measure conference strength a different way to meet your own agenda. I get that. This is our agenda-free measurement. I don't have a dog in the fight, and this Minnesota boy certainly doesn't have a WIAC dog in it.

In the past you've used playoff winning pct to rank the conferences.

We've listed standings for them, yes. Still do, in the FAQ. But playoff record back to 1999 is not part of our 2014 conference rankings.

[emma17]

I'm really looking forward to the UWP-UWSP game the following weekend. That might be the game of the year in the WIAC. It'll be a good test for both programs.

I, on the other hand, am leaning the other way in that I feel one or both of them will make it a stinker of a game because one or both of them are being terribly overrated by members of this forum and the larger D3 community as a whole. emma, 02, go at it and convince me why I'm wrong!!

I wish I had solid evidence to use to convince you, but at this point I don't.  I don't think either team is immune from making it a stinker of a game, but I don't think they are over-rated for this reason:
IMO, if a top 30- ish team isn't in the top 5 (otherwise known as UWW, Mt, UMHB, Wesley and Linfield (and I still think NCC will return), then I believe any game that team plays against another top 30 ish team that isn't in the top 5 can go either way- no matter how many times they play.  As such, I believe both of these teams belong in the top 30.  From there, I have to think about how I'd expect them to do in a first time match-up with other top 30's. 
If someone were to say UWP shouldn't be #17 because they think St. John's would beat them- I'd respond that on any given Saturday it'd be a coin flip- except wighted a bit more to a certain type of team if it's a first meeting.   

For instance, if 17 UWP is playing a #24 St John's, I'll go with a UWP for two reasons.  One, I'll take the passing team in the first meeting.  Two, I'll take the experience (of the players and in terms of types of teams played). 
As for UWP v UWSP- I think it should be an absolute barn burner.  I definitely think UWSP proved itself as a team capable of mixing it up against any of the top 30.  The plays they made are not indicative of a team that got lucky.  Their players made plays in the face of good opposition.  The routes, throws and catches that UWSP skill position players made can't just happen one game only. 

These types of teams typically don't fare well against the top 5 because they don't have the line play.  It's not that they can't upset a top 5er on a given day, but in a 10 game series they'd get smoked. 

[bleedpurple]

You're throwing the middle team out of the mix, which if you are trying to measure conference strength top to bottom, you absolutely have to do.

You may be trying to measure conference strength a different way to meet your own agenda. I get that. This is our agenda-free measurement. I don't have a dog in the fight, and this Minnesota boy certainly doesn't have a WIAC dog in it.

In regards to this actually happening, I think the MIAC is doing a pretty good job of scheduling the few non-conference games they have. I also think we'll see another couple MIAC-WIAC matchups in the playoffs this year. 

After we take the Axe back it has to sting when the WIAC loses the 2015 pre-season rankings.

Trust me, playing the WIAC in the playoffs a couple of times this year won't help your cause for the strongest conference rankings. River Falls, Eau Claire, and LaCrosse, the preferred opponents of your better teams won't be there.  And the axe? I'm surprised you even remember it exists. You haven't gotten a sniff of it since 2003. 

[AO]

You're throwing the middle team out of the mix, which if you are trying to measure conference strength top to bottom, you absolutely have to do.

You may be trying to measure conference strength a different way to meet your own agenda. I get that. This is our agenda-free measurement. I don't have a dog in the fight, and this Minnesota boy certainly doesn't have a WIAC dog in it.

In regards to this actually happening, I think the MIAC is doing a pretty good job of scheduling the few non-conference games they have. I also think we'll see another couple MIAC-WIAC matchups in the playoffs this year. 

After we take the Axe back it has to sting when the WIAC loses the 2015 pre-season rankings.

Trust me, playing the WIAC in the playoffs a couple of times this year won't help your cause for the strongest conference rankings. River Falls, Eau Claire, and LaCrosse, the preferred opponents of your better teams won't be there.  And the axe? I'm surprised you even remember it exists. You haven't gotten a sniff of it since 2003. 

That's pretty tough talk considering the Badgers were just beaten by the lesser Northwestern. 

The west side WIAC teams are preferred due to location, not weakness.   If the Plattevilles and other second tier WIACs want to play a MIAC team I'd suggest not getting knocked out of the playoffs before the opportunity comes.

[badgerwarhawk]

WHITEWATER has attempted to schedule upper tier MIAC teams and found absolutely no interest whatsoever.  Probably because it was too far to travel. 

[AO]

WHITEWATER has attempted to schedule upper tier MIAC teams and found absolutely no interest whatsoever.  Probably because it was too far to travel.

it's a shame the Northern Sun doesn't play non-conference games anymore.  Would have been fun to see the Warhawks play St. Cloud again or maybe Mankato or Concordia St. Paul.

[KitchenSink]

It would fit nicely if CCIW teams would match up with Whitewater.

But I am guessing the interest there is limp, as well.

[02 Warhawk]

It would fit nicely if CCIW teams would match up with Whitewater.

But I am guessing the interest there is limp, as well.

Yep, and it doesn't stop with the MIAC and CCIW.

[MasterJedi]

It would fit nicely if CCIW teams would match up with Whitewater.

But I am guessing the interest there is limp, as well.

Yep, and it doesn't stop with the MIAC and CCIW.

And then you have UWW scheduling Finlandia in their inagural season. Shows that coach and team will have more of (for lack of a better term) balls then other neighboring teams and coaches when they know they will probably blown out. Who wants to bed someone will ridicule UWW for playing this game next year?

[02 Warhawk]

WHITEWATER has attempted to schedule upper tier MIAC teams and found absolutely no interest whatsoever.  Probably because it was too far to travel.

it's a shame the Northern Sun doesn't play non-conference games anymore.  Would have been fun to see the Warhawks play St. Cloud again or maybe Mankato or Concordia St. Paul.

I agree, that would be fun. I wonder how the playoff committee would view that game, or would they even recongize it since it's not against a DIII program?

Much like playing against the NAIA (a win won't help you, but a lost can hurt).

[NewHawk]

WHITEWATER has attempted to schedule upper tier MIAC teams and found absolutely no interest whatsoever.  Probably because it was too far to travel.

it's a shame the Northern Sun doesn't play non-conference games anymore.  Would have been fun to see the Warhawks play St. Cloud again or maybe Mankato or Concordia St. Paul.

I agree, that would be fun. I wonder how the playoff committee would view that game, or would they even recongize it since it's not against a DIII program?

Much like playing against the NAIA (a win won't help you, but a lost can hurt).

I'm just hoping they stay closer than NJ. Some of the closer teams need to step up and schedule the Warhawks. There are several not so good teams around Chicago that should step up. Haven't they heard, "to be the best you have to beat the best"

[02 Warhawk]

WHITEWATER has attempted to schedule upper tier MIAC teams and found absolutely no interest whatsoever.  Probably because it was too far to travel.

it's a shame the Northern Sun doesn't play non-conference games anymore.  Would have been fun to see the Warhawks play St. Cloud again or maybe Mankato or Concordia St. Paul.

I agree, that would be fun. I wonder how the playoff committee would view that game, or would they even recongize it since it's not against a DIII program?

Much like playing against the NAIA (a win won't help you, but a lost can hurt).

I'm just hoping they stay closer than NJ. Some of the closer teams need to step up and schedule the Warhawks. There are several not so good teams around Chicago that should step up. Haven't they heard, "to be the best you have to beat the best"

I can see that teams are unwilling to schedule a guaranteed loss when it can easily be avoided....I get that. However, looking at how the selection committee has been selecting Pool C teams, they are trending towards rewarding the conference runner-ups that schedule a tougher road. Rather than going wih a one-loss team that had a easy non-conference schedule.

But there is risk involved. If a team schedules a tough non-conference game, then loses twice unexpectedly during conference play, then they're screwed. It's risky but can be rewarding come playoff time.

[BoBo]

It would fit nicely if CCIW teams would match up with Whitewater.

But I am guessing the interest there is limp, as well.

Yep, and it doesn't stop with the MIAC and CCIW.

And then you have UWW scheduling Finlandia in their inagural season. Shows that coach and team will have more of (for lack of a better term) balls then other neighboring teams and coaches when they know they will probably blown out. Who wants to bed someone will ridicule UWW for playing this game next year?

Probably be blown out? That's a pretty strong analysis of this game, Master. That's the kind of bulletin board material a new program needs to get fired up and motivated to start their program off on the right foot. Kind of places you near the same level as AO's pedestal when he says "I think the MIAC is doing a pretty good job of scheduling the few non-conference games they have."

[BoBo]

WHITEWATER has attempted to schedule upper tier MIAC teams and found absolutely no interest whatsoever.  Probably because it was too far to travel.

it's a shame the Northern Sun doesn't play non-conference games anymore.  Would have been fun to see the Warhawks play St. Cloud again or maybe Mankato or Concordia St. Paul.

I agree, that would be fun. I wonder how the playoff committee would view that game, or would they even recongize it since it's not against a DIII program?

Much like playing against the NAIA (a win won't help you, but a lost can hurt).

I'm just hoping they stay closer than NJ. Some of the closer teams need to step up and schedule the Warhawks. There are several not so good teams around Chicago that should step up. Haven't they heard, "to be the best you have to beat the best"

I can see that teams are unwilling to schedule a guaranteed loss when it can easily be avoided....I get that. However, looking at how the selection committee has been selecting Pool C teams, they are trending towards rewarding the conference runner-ups that schedule a tougher road. Rather than going wih a one-loss team that had a easy non-conference schedule.

But there is risk involved. If a team schedules a tough non-conference game, then loses twice unexpectedly during conference play, then they're screwed. It's risky but can be rewarding come playoff time.

Then they were only good enough in their eyes only.

[bleedpurple]

"5 Things to Watch: UW-W at UW-Stout"
and
"How did you know?": WIAC Predictions

Both now posted at www.warhawkfootball.com