FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BoBo]

55-2 final said the scoreboard.  But it certainly didn't feel that way from watching the game online.

The Warhawk defense really had the look of a sieve for most of the game...and the Mac qb #1 made them look very average for much of the day. On the tv everything was so predictable with him (even those two announcers on UWWTV could see that and commented about it)...he always rolled out to the right unless he was flushed out of the pocket the other way. He ran the ball effectively and was very elusive and hard to bring down. I think we only got him for 1 sack, but that was late in the game, but also resulted in a fumble that UWW recovered. But, otherwise he moved his team well between the 20's quite well.  Twenty-two first downs isn't bad...better than this defense should be allowing. Too many conversions on 3rd and long and I do remember at least one long 4th and 10 that Mac converted a first down with a 20 yard pass completion. Just IMO a very porous effort today. His receivers didn't do him much help as they dropped a number of passes, especially early on. Could of been the case of the jitters. But with such a small turnout of only 1100, it must have been all those empty bleachers on the west side of the stadium that got them nervous.

BTW, what happened at the start of the 3rd period. I don't think I've ever seen a Whitewater team in recent memory come out of the locker room so unglued as they did today. That was really strange and disconcerting for a team that is the defending champion and #1 team in the land. It was odd to say the least. Then the sack, then the fiasco on the punt resulting in the safety. Looked like the keystone cops had invaded and took over the guys wearing black. Luckily, Mac wasn't much better and couldn't capitalize offensively on the good fortune.  Sure it was 34-0 at the time, but it looked like the team with 34 really had 0 and vice versa.

Offensively, we moved the ball pretty much at will. Whenever you can score TD's the first 5 times you have the ball in only 36 plays, there's not much to complain about. Really thought we would make it 6 for 6 just before the half, but ran out of time. Put a completely healthy #1 back in at WR and that's a tough to stop offense. I was a bit concerned with how quickly (7 minutes remaining in the 3rd) Coach LL began taking the starters out. Chris Nelson didn't appear quite as sharp as he did earlier in the season when he played a lot of downs. And the RB's rotation went Moore and Ratliffe in the first half, Givens and Patterson in the second.  I hope that's not what we should come to expect from here on out. But, at least for today, Givens ran decisively with the two nice TD runs. I had predicted 2 50+ TD runs out of these backs today, got only 1, but I'm still satisfied.

A win is a win; perfection is wasn't though.  Just gotta keep on doing what we do and good things will happen. Congrats to Mac for putting up a good fight regardless what the scoreboard said in the end.

[BoBo]

Main page has recaps from the Wesley bracket, the UMHB bracket, and the UMU bracket. 

Seems to be something missing here...can't quite figure out what it could be...

I know, D3football really seems to be in a "funk"... 

Is that what it's called?  They need to snap out of it soon!! 

[emma17]

Excellent summary Bobo, the game looked the same way in person.  I was happy for Mac as they showed some grit, especially that QB. His receivers prevented a couple of scores.

The last couple of games seem to indicate UWW will not be able to rely on the D as it has in the past.  The O will need to play big. 

Whatever it takes to win and advance. 

[voice]

It was good to see the old "pound the rock" mentality in UWW's 55-2 win over Macalester in the fog at the Perk. Yes I know the rushing attack was against a defense that was struggling.

Jordan Ratliffe was the starter and workhorse with 13 carries for 100 yards (7.7 yard ave) and 3 tds.
Ryan Givens exploded for 97 yards on 8 carries (12.1 yd ave) including two long 4th quarter tds.
Dennis Moore added 65 yds on 7 carries (9.3 yd ave).
Nick Patterson chipped in with 57 yds on 8 carries (5.9 ave)

With weather to head in the deep freeze, a strong rushing attack has been a key in advancing on the Road to Salem in the past.

If the Hawks continue with its "four-headed monster" rushing attack it will likely open up the passing attack with Jake Kumerow's availability in question.

[badgerwarhawk]

Put the cannon in the parking lot!!  Everyone will still hear it, and it won't violate the ridiculous NCAA rule!  The cannon is one of the best parts of being at the Perk!!!

Actually we tried that.  Not in the parking lot but we put it up on the hillside outside the stadium.  That didn't work either.  The NCAA rep said that it couldn't be seen and/or heard from the stadium. 

[Pat Coleman]

Main page has recaps from the Wesley bracket, the UMHB bracket, and the UMU bracket. 

Seems to be something missing here...can't quite figure out what it could be...

Yep. Your patience.

I'm basically doing this solo every game day and it's impossible to write a recap while driving home from a game.

[bleedpurple]

Main page has recaps from the Wesley bracket, the UMHB bracket, and the UMU bracket. 

Seems to be something missing here...can't quite figure out what it could be...

Yep. Your patience.

I'm basically doing this solo every game day and it's impossible to write a recap while driving home from a game.

Wow. That's pretty amazing. Well, you do a great job and make such a difference for D3 followers. And we are spoiled for sure and you probably don't get enough "thank you's". So thank you. And clever response, too! 

[Brian R. Carroll]

 Obviously, we are very fortunate to have this kind of coverage.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Obviously, we are very fortunate to have this kind of coverage.

AMEN!!  When IWU won the national title in men's basketball in 1997, I didn't even know it until months later when I got the alumni magazine (I live far enough away that IWU doesn't even appear in the agate in newspapers here).

[Desertraider]

Main page has recaps from the Wesley bracket, the UMHB bracket, and the UMU bracket. 

Seems to be something missing here...can't quite figure out what it could be...

Yep. Your patience.

I'm basically doing this solo every game day and it's impossible to write a recap while driving home from a game.

Maybe use the "UWW won...again...surprise...update at 11" in lieu of a recap.  I did notice that and thought it was odd as well. Forgot about the solo thing and the 'free time' thing. You really do a great job Pat...even if we have to wait for a day or 2. I mean what is this 1993?

[bleedpurple]

Even though the day was dreary and the score was lopsided, much of what is so great about D-III athletics was on display in Whitewater on Saturday.

"Mutual Respect"

www.warhawkfootball.com

[voice]

Thank you Jeff Seisser for the photo of me on the sideline last Saturday. It made my day even more exciting. God willing I'll be back in my wheelchair again for the Wabash game. Thanks again Duck!!!

[BoBo]

Main page has recaps from the Wesley bracket, the UMHB bracket, and the UMU bracket. 

Seems to be something missing here...can't quite figure out what it could be...

Yep. Your patience.

I'm basically doing this solo every game day and it's impossible to write a recap while driving home from a game.

I get admonished and you get the praise and online chest bumps and high fives from your adoring fans.  I see how it is ... just making what I considered a harmless observation - who knew it would touch a nerve. My bad!!

[voice]

One of the more quizzical aspects of NCAA Division 3 football early round playoff games is the annual lack of attendance.  I have been bothered by low attendance numbers since Whitewater burst onto the national scene in 2005.

Here's a sample of attendance figures from last Saturday's playoff openers:

Macalaster at Whitewater 1100 (Warhawks led nation in regular season at 9,426 per game).
Franklin at Wabash  1258 (State rivalry game. Wabash averaged  4,953 during regular season).
Adrian at Mount Union  1443 (Mount averaged 5,744 per game during regular season)
Centre at John Carroll  1290  (JC averaged 2,938 during regular season)
St. Scholastica at St. Johns The Johnnies have in the past refused to release an attendance figure in 1st Round game. - Reports indicate less than 2,000 on Saturday. (St. Johns averaged a nation-wide second best 8,775 per game).

I fully understand there are reasons for the paltry attendance but as passionate as D3 football fans are the numbers leave me scratching my head.

A Voices Eye on Football Blogspot Reader's Poll back in mid-November-2010 asked the question: What is the reason for the poor attendance at Perkins Stadium for the Warhawks first round playoff game vs. Franklin College (1,448)?
Here are the final results of the poll
1. Deer Hunting/Thanksgiving recess (54%)
2. Too Cold (28%)
3. Increased cost of tickets including students (25%)
4. Why go because the Hawks will win anyway (19%)
5. Not interested after the regular season (3%)
6. Over saturation of live media coverage of game (3%)

Among the other "reasons"......
1.   There are only so many free tickets (500 free to UWW students and a significant number of the free tickets were not accessed.)
2.   Students must pay to be admitted to NCAA playoff games
3.   Students home for the holidays (especially in the second round)

I fully understand that a multitude of reasons exist for both students and adults but I continue to wonder how an average of 9,426 per game are at Perkins Stadium during the regular season but only 1000 were at Saturday's Round 1 game vs. Macalester.

[voice]

Wabash will bring in a defense to the Perk on Saturday that registered six sacks and 11 quarterback hits propelling Wabash to a 33-14 victory over Franklin.  They won't be a patsy!!  Just saying!!