FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[palum]

In its preseason College Football issue Athlon Sports ranked the new coaching hires it gave Buffalo an A for hiring Lance Leipold. They said " Buffalo hit a home run by getting Leipold away from Wisconsin-Whitewater." The same article gave Wisconsin a B+ for hiring Paul Chryst.  The link to the article:

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/grading-college-footballs-head-coach-hires-2015

[bulk19]

Hey Bobo?
How you doing on the UWL statistical correction???
As Gidget the Taco Bell chihuahua once said: Here, leezard leezard leezard!!!

[02 Warhawk]

[emma17]

Oh no- he grips the ball like Vince Evans!
Maybe it was a quick pass😀

[palum]

From Platteville's website
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — After nearly two decades as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville athletic director, Mark Molesworth announced that he will retire, effective Jan. 8, 2016.

Mark is a class act he will be hard to replace.  Link to the announcement

http://athletics.uwplatt.edu/general_releases/Mark-s_Retirement

[badgerwarhawk]

From Platteville's website
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — After nearly two decades as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville athletic director, Mark Molesworth announced that he will retire, effective Jan. 8, 2016.

Mark is a class act he will be hard to replace.  Link to the announcement

http://athletics.uwplatt.edu/general_releases/Mark-s_Retirement

Isn't Emendorfer the heir apparent? 

[palum]

From Platteville's website
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — After nearly two decades as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville athletic director, Mark Molesworth announced that he will retire, effective Jan. 8, 2016.

Mark is a class act he will be hard to replace.  Link to the announcement

http://athletics.uwplatt.edu/general_releases/Mark-s_Retirement

Isn't Emendorfer the heir apparent?

Thats a good question the last 2 ADs have been non coaches but clearly Emendorfer has been there long enough to know how Platteville works.

[Just Bill]

Here's hoping the state government allows them to hire anybody. They haven't so far with their vacant SID and athletic training positions.

Retiring to the Keys and becoming a dive master doesn't sound too bad to me. Congrats, Mark!

[bleedpurple]

From Platteville's website
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — After nearly two decades as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville athletic director, Mark Molesworth announced that he will retire, effective Jan. 8, 2016.

Mark is a class act he will be hard to replace.  Link to the announcement

http://athletics.uwplatt.edu/general_releases/Mark-s_Retirement

Isn't Emendorfer the heir apparent?

Thats a good question the last 2 ADs have been non coaches but clearly Emendorfer has been there long enough to know how Platteville works.

I would love to see Coach Mike get it if he wants it.  He is a good guy.  If he gave up football to do it, it could very well mean a change in UW-W's coaching staff for 2016.  It's all good though because that would mean an opportunity for another good guy and UW-W is extremely well prepared for that eventuality.

[emma17]

UWW didn't lose many seniors, but those it did lose were fantastic players and teammates.
In this list I'm using the word "great" intentionally.
2 Great receivers
2 Great corners
1 Great QB
1 Nearly great defensive end

What position will be the hardest to replace?
What side of the ball will be stronger in 2015?

[wally_wabash]

UWW didn't lose many seniors, but those it did lose were fantastic players and teammates.
In this list I'm using the word "great" intentionally.
2 Great receivers
2 Great corners
1 Great QB
1 Nearly great defensive end

What position will be the hardest to replace?
What side of the ball will be stronger in 2015?

HC, OC, DC. 

[hazzben]

UWW didn't lose many seniors, but those it did lose were fantastic players and teammates.
In this list I'm using the word "great" intentionally.
2 Great receivers
2 Great corners
1 Great QB
1 Nearly great defensive end

What position will be the hardest to replace?
What side of the ball will be stronger in 2015?

I watched 4 UWW games last year from start to finish, so my perspective is limited.

That said, QB and the WR's. The former because he was excellent, a winner and its simply a premium position where experience is crucial. The latter because one of these guys is getting legit NFL looks, which you don't just replace at the D3 level. And because you need a rapport between QB and WR's, and UWW definitely had that last year. Even the best QB's are better when they've got proven go to options in the passing game that they know will just go and beat a DB when they have to.

And this is coming from a defense guy. To that point, UWW's defensive philosophy seems to start up front with great front 7 play. Take away any semblance of a run game and force a team to be one dimensional. Obviously that works best when you've got great corners. But in the past they've been built around the play of their front 7, from what I've seen.

[bleedpurple]

UWW didn't lose many seniors, but those it did lose were fantastic players and teammates.
In this list I'm using the word "great" intentionally.
2 Great receivers
2 Great corners
1 Great QB
1 Nearly great defensive end

What position will be the hardest to replace?
What side of the ball will be stronger in 2015?

Chris Nelson is highly regarded by both the old staff and the new staff. He is good and Gehant may have been the surprise of the spring practices.  The Hawks will be fine at QB. Will Chris play at the level Berhendt played at? Boy, that's asking a lot, but I wouldn't rule it out.  I think the defensive front seven will again be a strength of the team.  All the linebackers are back and with Jace coaching them and another year in the program, you can expect a big jump there. Seitz could one day be the best linebacker the WIAC has seen in awhile.  The D-Line has plenty back. Hopefully Clunis is healthy after missing the end of the year last year. I keep forgetting to ask about him.

That leaves wide receiver and cornerback as positions where kids will have to step up.

At CB, replacing McLin and Grayvold won't be easy. I have always been impressed with Morang. He isn't big but he plays big and has great instincts and break on the ball. But it is important for a couple of young guys to step up. Several had a good deal of experience last year. The Hawks also have a D-II transfer safety who is athletic enough and has the hips to be a CB. From what I hear, he is a playmaker and should be an impact player. But I don't know if he will be moved to corner or stay at safety. It sounds like he had a good spring, but as always, being a D-II transfer doesn't always mean he is better than the players already developing in the program. We will see...

At WR, Finco will be in the mix from the beginning of the season (A good thing!), and Joe Worth has the physical attributes to be a difference maker. Both have enough experience to expect excellent production from them.  From what I understand, there are a couple of other kids who are real athletes in the mix. Having said that, it is unrealistic to think about them being Jake and Justin. But they don't need to be. If they simply fulfill their own potential, the offense will be prolific. The entire offensive line returns and adds an All-America lineman from two years ago (Skibba) to the mix.  Their top four running backs return, plus a freshman who may well be in the category of previous greats in terms of talent. It will be interesting to see how that shakes out given the experience and talent returning at running back. This team may well run the ball better than last year's team.  Plus there are FOUR really talented tight ends. From what I understand, a couple of young guys really showed up big in the spring. So, yes, it's beyond hard to "replace" what the Hawk had at WR last year. I would go so far as saying it won't happen.  But it is with just as much conviction that I say it doesn't need to.

One more notable: As of now, not one single player left the program due to the turnover of the coaching staff. Not one.

To go to the bottom line and answer your questions, my guesses are:

1. WR will be the hardest to "replace".
2. Both sides of the ball will be pretty equally strong.

How would you have answered that question for 2014 as far as the stronger side of the ball?

[emma17]

^^
Haz- good point on the rapport between QB and receiver- that group had an obvious comfort level with each other.

Bleed-thanks for the insight.
I was impressed w Nelson when he got his chances. Finco had a terrific second half of the season and I hope his career takes the same trajectory as Aaron Rusch's did- each having excellent Stagg Bowl games as freshmen.
I agree that WR will be the toughest replacement- the two seniors were complementary players, each w unique and rare skill sets.

As for your question I certainly feel the defense was weaker than the offense, perhaps much weaker.
The D Line played well along w corners. The LB's inexperience was obvious especially in the playoff run. The safeties struggled a bit as well and that position can certainly use a player that can cover ground- so I'm encouraged to hear about the transfer.
I have a feeling UWW will be fine at corner.

[KitchenSink]

Marcus Hudson get a fair amount of playing time early in the 2014 season (as a freshman).  Ricky Finco's playing time increased during the season, whether it was a health issue or him just developing.  Worth is solid, and Ryan Storto also was in the mix.  Would be nice if one or two of those guys took a big step-up to become the feature, but they should be fairly solid.  They usually manage to bring in a couple of intriguing kids to round things out.  I think WR will be OK.