FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WarhawkDad]

I can't figure this cannon guy thing out.  Two years ago we shot the cannon off from inside the stadium at all four home playoff games without any comment.  Last year we shot it off at the first three, again within the stadium, and  then we couldn't for the final game.  This year we've shot it off from within the stadium for the first two games and couldn't for the third.  It will be interesting what happens for the MHB game.  If we're unable to locate him within the stadium he will be on the hill.

There has been an NCAA observer at every playoff game for three years.  If the problem was with the NCAA how do you explain this? 

In an ironic twist after each firing of the cannon the smoke drifted over the Wabash bleachers.  Well, with the wind I'm not sure "drifted" is the right word.

Here's a post that cites the timing: Not until the 2007 quarterfinals, when an NCAA observer finally decided to enforce the rule on the books. If you read on you can see me getting nice and pissy with you guys in my younger days.

LOL, I don't even remember writing that.

and they say that memory is not the first thing to go!       

[02 Warhawk]

I find it amazing that Burke had thrown 18 ints in the past two seasons (30 games), and 1/3 of those came against UWW (2 games).

UWW: 6 Ints in 2 games
Field: 12 Ints in 28 games

I realize UWW's D is very good, but I wonder how much Whitewater has gotten into the head of Mount Union? I don't think that it's a coincidence that Burke's two worst games of his career both came against the same team (on the same stage).

[emma17]

Great game w seniors stepping up big time. There aren't many seniors on this team but those we have will be sorely missed.

On the negative side, I sure hope the quality of UWW's kick coverage and kick return teams isn't indicative of the talent that will be starting next year. UWW was destroyed by Mt in that aspect.

That's what happens when the ball is fielded at the 10-15 yard line. Kicker needs to have more leg on that baby to get it either in the endzone or a lot closer to it. Helps out the coverage team when the runner isn't always getting an extra 10-15 yards right off the bat.

Not sure I follow this logic.
If the ball is kicked a shorter distance, the kick coverage team has less distance to run before reaching the return man.  The fact that the kicks were short and the returns were long (avg 25 yds) is even less encouraging. 

[02 Warhawk]

You are right about that Emma.   As far as looking at next year (even though I am still glowing in the aftermath of the victory!  ), UWW will be loosing a quarterback, but Nelson has looked pretty good in limited playing time; we will be loosing two awesome wide receivers, two awesome starting corners, a starting safety and a starting defensive end.  Obviously we have a coaching staff to replace/hire as well.  But from an overall talent standpoint we are better than most in terms of how many we graduate.   

In my opinion the hardest to replace will be the wide receivers and corners.  While we have a group of young defensive backs several who gained a great deal of playing time during the season and even in the playoffs in nickel and dime packages, it will be hard to replace the talent we had a DB.

WHD

Possible starters for 2015 (New starters bolded)

QB: Nelson
RB: Moore/Ratliff/Patterson 
WR: Worth/Finco/Hudson/Storto
TE: Campbell/Solano
*T: Skibba/Wiederholt/Koepnick
G: Peters/Siloneker
C: Shier

DT: Tamsett/Regan/Franz
DE: Clunis/Flood
LB: Dischler/Sietz/Foster
CB: Morang/Mason
S: Winske/Young/Shilcox

K: Lake "The Hammer" Bachar/Meyer
P: Lake "The Hammer" Bachar

UWW's front seven should be stellar next season, as well as UWW's running game and o-line. Just need some members of the secondary and WRs to step up next year....similar to how the LBs stepped up this season 


* Great problem to have, three very good tackles rotating in two spots

[footballfan413]

I have a question and maybe Pat can answer it.   Why was Burke, the losing QB, suppose to appear at the presser anyway?   Is this new because in 05-07, I believe, only the winning players were interviewed after the game.  I confirmed that with one of the interviewees from the 07 game. 

Sometimes we have to look heartache in the face and man up as much as this country wants to make us all a winner life does not work that way.

Players from both teams are slated to appear if requested by the media. I don't have my audio archives from 2005-07 handy but I would be very surprised if no players were at the news conference.

For example, Keith McMillan quotes Micheli, Kmic and Kostelink in this 2007 story (although he could have gotten some of this from the locker room):
http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2007/mount-union-reign-washed-out

Trying to track down any of our audio archives from the old server.

Thanks for the clarification, Pat.  #33 confirmed to me that only he and members of the Warhawk team and staff were interviewed in the trailer for the official press conference right after the game on 07.   

There are two separate news conferences. They don't mix two teams in together after the game. The losing team (generally) goes first, clears out, then after a few minutes the winning team is interviewed.

Ah, yes, that is the answer I was looking for.  So a news conference is standard for both teams and a missing starting QB from the losing team would stick out like a sore thumb.  The journalists reaction makes more sense to me now. 

[MasterJedi]

You are right about that Emma.   As far as looking at next year (even though I am still glowing in the aftermath of the victory!  ), UWW will be loosing a quarterback, but Nelson has looked pretty good in limited playing time; we will be loosing two awesome wide receivers, two awesome starting corners, a starting safety and a starting defensive end.  Obviously we have a coaching staff to replace/hire as well.  But from an overall talent standpoint we are better than most in terms of how many we graduate.   

In my opinion the hardest to replace will be the wide receivers and corners.  While we have a group of young defensive backs several who gained a great deal of playing time during the season and even in the playoffs in nickel and dime packages, it will be hard to replace the talent we had a DB.

WHD

Possible starters for 2015 (New starters bolded)

QB: Nelson
RB: Moore/Ratliff/Patterson 
WR: Worth/Finco/Hudson/Storto
TE: Campbell/Solano
*T: Skibba/Wiederholt/Koepnick
G: Peters/Siloneker
C: Shier

DT: Tamsett/Regan/Franz
DE: Clunis/Flood
LB: Dischler/Sietz/Foster
CB: Morang/Mason
S: Winske/Young/Shilcox

K: Lake "The Hammer" Bachar/Meyer
P: Lake "The Hammer" Bachar

UWW's front seven should be stellar next season, as well as UWW's running game and o-line. Just need some members of the secondary and WRs to step up next year. 


* Great problem to have, three very good tackles rotating in two spots

I've been thinking about that, with Behrendt and Kumerow gone it kinda gets rid of that #1 target thing they had where he was so comfortable throwing to him. Nelson doesn't have that special connection so would probably be more willing to make throws to other recievers and spread it around. Though the WRs will still need to step it up and make the plays too.

[gordonmann]

Which led the student body to begin shouting "kaboom" after scores. 

That's brilliant. Love that.

[wesleydad]

Congrats to the Warhawks for a nice victory.  Missed the Stagg this year and chatting with many of the posters here.  Hope all had safe travels and see you next year at some point.

[emma17]

Congrats to the Warhawks for a nice victory.  Missed the Stagg this year and chatting with many of the posters here.  Hope all had safe travels and see you next year at some point.

Thanks WD
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you.

[emma17]

Wesleydad's post reminded me of the discussion of Coach Drass's comment.
From Buckeyeextra:

"I think Mount Union is going to kick somebody's (butt) next week," Wolverines coach Mike Drass said. "Why? Because they just beat a team up and down the field that won 12 games against some pretty good competition. I hope they win it, and I sincerely mean that."

[tigerfanalso]

Congrats to UWW on another great year. I just love how you guys refuse to allow MU another championship. MU dominants, but only until they reach the final game. Hopefully JC can figure away to beat them in regular season so D3 can find out how MU handles going on the road during post season play.   

[02 Warhawk]

UWW Stagg Bowl press conference

I love the 6:13 question, and Lance's response to a question at 10:00 

[WarhawkDad]

UWW Stagg Bowl press conference

I love the 6:13 question, and Lance's response to a question at 10:00 

When I watched it on Friday night, it brought an immediate huge smile to my face.   For all of Lance's class......you could always see the competitive edge smoldering under the surface and he always controlled it, including in this answer, but it is absolutely classic.

[emma17]

UWW Stagg Bowl press conference

I love the 6:13 question, and Lance's response to a question at 10:00 

When I watched it on Friday night, it brought an immediate huge smile to my face.   For all of Lance's class......you could always see the competitive edge smoldering under the surface and he always controlled it, including in this answer, but it is absolutely classic.

That was interesting, thanks for the link 02.
Warhawk Dad I like your assessment.  You can see he holds back although I imagine he really wanted to unload on the ridiculously wrong comment made by Drass.  In fact, if LL did speak his mind about Drass's comment, it's likely his answer would form the basis for some very much needed changes to the current Pool C selection process. 

[SaintsFAN]

Wesleydad's post reminded me of the discussion of Coach Drass's comment.
From Buckeyeextra:

"I think Mount Union is going to kick somebody's (butt) next week," Wolverines coach Mike Drass said. "Why? Because they just beat a team up and down the field that won 12 games against some pretty good competition. I hope they win it, and I sincerely mean that."

I don't feel like there's anything offensive about that quote.  Guy just coached his team in a game in which their doors were blown completely off.  I don't even think he was referring just to Whitewater as the game against Linfield hadn't kicked off yet.

My .02