FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Guys- it's not weird if you look at the residuals from the 2014 All-American team.  I don't think Mount Union has four of the best defensive players in the nation at their positions and I think that'll bear out at the end of the year.  But if you use last year's postseason awards as the logical starting point for forming this year's preseason list, it makes perfect sense.

You're defending this thing like you authored the list!!  Something that makes such perfect sense doesn't usually strike up this kind of discussion with this many people. It's being debated because it doesn't make sense.

I think it's being debated because people don't like the list.  I didn't like it when I first looked at it either.  Then I took a closer look and I can understand why the list looks the way that it does.  In fact, it's obvious why the list looks the way it does.  Like I said, I don't think Mount Union is going to have six first team AAs in December (unless they have a ridiculous season, even by Mount Union standards), but it's pretty clear why they have six first team preseason AAs. 

[Pat Coleman]

I mean, I don't now what players could have done in the offseason to pass the players in front of them.

The instances in which that does happen are generally related to a couple possibilities -- someone has a great postseason that isn't accounted for in the previous year's All-Region voting (Brady Grayvold, anyone?) or a previously worthy player returns from an injury.

Something that makes such perfect sense doesn't usually strike up this kind of discussion with this many people. It's being debated because it doesn't make sense.

So this is the first time you've seen an All-American list? They all get debated. That's the point.

[BoBo]

Odds and ends

NFL Camp reports:

According to Jason Wilde, ESPN Wisconsin senior NFL writer, Matt Blanchard is currently working ahead of Nick Hundley as Packers #3 QB.

Also reports out of Cinncinati, from Corey Harvey ESPN NFL Nation reporter covering the Bengals and others on the scene: enjoyed watching the new #84 (Jake Kumerow); had a few nice grabs including a deep route for a TD; looked sharp in the spring, too; may be one name to keep an eye on this camp. 

Also, from the MAC Football Media Day:

Buffalo slotted in as the #5 (of 7) position in the Mid-American Conference East Division Preseason Poll - Bowling Green, Ohio, Akron, and UMass ahead of the Bulls.

Quote from his new QB Joe Licata talking about LL's career record, "109-6 is very impressive. I'm going to do everything I can to not be part of number 7." 

Does the WIAC have a media day? Or is that a thing of the past?

[UniqueInsight38]

Being selected a pre-season All American is great but being selected a post season All American is better.  In the 2014 season of the eleven players named to the offensive first team just over half (6) finished the season on the first team.  One finished on the second team and two others were designated honorable mention.  One other was injured and did not play. However being named to the pre-season second team seems to be the kiss of death.  Of those eleven only three either moved up to the first team (1) or remained on the second team (2).  The other eight were not named. 

Strong programs are strong programs for many reasons not the least of which is having better players.

From a former player's perspective, being an All-American in the postseason usually puts you on the pre-season list the next year.  Also being a postseason All-American in D-3 at any team level - first, second, or third still means you were one of the best. 

In the spring of 1997, I played in an All-American game in New Jersy with Mike Maslowski, the UW-LX center(?), and an OLB from UW-Stout.  We played at a different level than most of the other players.  The national defensive player of the year in 1996 would not have made first team all-conference in the WSUC that year.  The quality/level of play at that time in the WSUC was superior compared to other conferences.  I wonder if their is still a large disparity in quality of play between the D3 conferences and players? 

[voice]

Here's an excerpt from CincyJungle.com's Day 1 Training Camp Report: "Jake Kumerow, who bleeds effort and physicality, should have a clear path toward the 53-man roster, especially now that his broken finger has healed. He caught most oases on target, and a ridiculous first step near sensationalism."

[BoBo]

voice, one more story including Kumerow, this one from bleacher report naming each teams best undrafted free agent in NFL camps this year: for the Bengals....Jake Kumerow.

Link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2536803-every-nfl-teams-best-undrafted-free-agent-in-camp-this-year/page/8

[BoBo]

Being selected a pre-season All American is great but being selected a post season All American is better.  In the 2014 season of the eleven players named to the offensive first team just over half (6) finished the season on the first team.  One finished on the second team and two others were designated honorable mention.  One other was injured and did not play. However being named to the pre-season second team seems to be the kiss of death.  Of those eleven only three either moved up to the first team (1) or remained on the second team (2).  The other eight were not named. 

Strong programs are strong programs for many reasons not the least of which is having better players.

From a former player's perspective, being an All-American in the postseason usually puts you on the pre-season list the next year.  Also being a postseason All-American in D-3 at any team level - first, second, or third still means you were one of the best. 

In the spring of 1997, I played in an All-American game in New Jersy with Mike Maslowski, the UW-LX center(?), and an OLB from UW-Stout.  We played at a different level than most of the other players.  The national defensive player of the year in 1996 would not have made first team all-conference in the WSUC that year.  The quality/level of play at that time in the WSUC was superior compared to other conferences.  I wonder if their is still a large disparity in quality of play between the D3 conferences and players?

Wasn't Mike Maslowski a LB with La Crosse and with the Chiefs in the NFL?  His career was cut short by a terrible knee injury where his MCL and PCL were completely torn away from the bone. I don't remember the Stout OLB.

The WSUC/WIAC has always (it seems) had tremendous talent throughout the years. I just wonder why it didn't convert to better success in the post season overall, prior to the 2000's? La Crosse won national championships Maslowski's junior year and during the Tom Newberry period ('85?) and had a couple other teams make some noise in the post season, but really no one else did.  Any thoughts why?

[OzJohnnie]

[bleedpurple]

4 FIRST TEAM All-Americans on a defense that gave up 552 yards in the biggest game of their lives 7 months ago. Right.

There are 247 teams in Division III. You can lose to the No. 1 team and still be a really damn good team with good players, BP.

Pat, I agree with your statement.

And obviously Mount has great players. I wasn't implying otherwise.  And I understand Wally's explanation that the starting point of last years honors led to the team being what it is. But regardless of process, the bottom line is still the final product. And 4 guys on one unit from 1 of 247 teams implies near epic greatness to me (has there EVER been 5 on one unit from one team?).  I'm not saying it's an outrage or scandalous or incomprehensible. Just sticking with my original statement. In the context I put it in, you have to admit it's a little odd. And I'd guess in your heart of hearts you know that while the individual selections are defensible, the composit picture it paints of Mount's defense is probably misleading.

[bulk19]

I must stick up for the WIAC on the preseason selections... Ha.

I haven't done my research yet to see how many starters UWW has coming back this year, but what I want to know is how come they, each and every Warhawk, isn't a preseason All-American? Come On!

It's not outrageous, or scandalous, but yet another case of the WIAC getting ripped off as usual! 

[Pat Coleman]

4 FIRST TEAM All-Americans on a defense that gave up 552 yards in the biggest game of their lives 7 months ago. Right.

There are 247 teams in Division III. You can lose to the No. 1 team and still be a really damn good team with good players, BP.

Pat, I agree with your statement.

And obviously Mount has great players. I wasn't implying otherwise.  And I understand Wally's explanation that the starting point of last years honors led to the team being what it is. But regardless of process, the bottom line is still the final product. And 4 guys on one unit from 1 of 247 teams implies near epic greatness to me (has there EVER been 5 on one unit from one team?).  I'm not saying it's an outrage or scandalous or incomprehensible. Just sticking with my original statement. In the context I put it in, you have to admit it's a little odd. And I'd guess in your heart of hearts you know that while the individual selections are defensible, the composit picture it paints of Mount's defense is probably misleading.

I think if you're coming from a Whitewater perspective, you might not understand that compared to the rest of D-III, Mount Union's defense is damn good. I mean, we believe Whitewater's defense is really good too, right? But they did give up 34 points to Mount Union. They gave up 33 to Wartburg! Elite teams score on other elite teams. If Mount Union's defense isn't national-level good, then nobody's is.

[Pat Coleman]

I must stick up for the WIAC on the preseason selections... Ha.

I haven't done my research yet to see how many starters UWW has coming back this year, but what I want to know is how come they, each and every Warhawk, isn't a preseason All-American? Come On!

It's not outrageous, or scandalous, but yet another case of the WIAC getting ripped off as usual! 

I know this was facetious, but I have it handy in working on Kickoff.

Returning offensive line starters (name, year, position):
Johnny Wiederholt, Sr., T
Conner Peters, Sr., G
Spencer Shier, Jr., C
Eli Sloneker, Sr., G
Tony Koepnick, Jr., T

Returning offensive QB/RB starters (name, year, position):
Jordan Ratliffe, Sr., RB
Logan Solano, Jr., FB (H-Back)

Returning offensive receivers/TE starters (name, year, position):
None

Returning defensive line starters (name, year, position):
Brandon Tamsett, Jr., DT
Zach Franz, Sr., DT
John Flood, Jr., DE

Returning linebacker starters (name, year, position):
Matt Seitz, So., LB
Justin Dischler, Sr., LB
Paul Foster, Jr., LB

Returning secondary starters (name, year, position):
Ryan Winske, Sr., S

Returning Special Teamers (name, year, position, K or P):
Lake Bachar, Jr., P
Will Meyer, So., K

[wildcat11]

I must stick up for the WIAC on the preseason selections... Ha.

I haven't done my research yet to see how many starters UWW has coming back this year, but what I want to know is how come they, each and every Warhawk, isn't a preseason All-American? Come On!

It's not outrageous, or scandalous, but yet another case of the WIAC getting ripped off as usual! 

I know this was facetious, but I have it handy in working on Kickoff.

Returning offensive line starters (name, year, position):
Johnny Wiederholt, Sr., T
Conner Peters, Sr., G
Spencer Shier, Jr., C
Eli Sloneker, Sr., G
Tony Koepnick, Jr., T

Returning offensive QB/RB starters (name, year, position):
Jordan Ratliffe, Sr., RB
Logan Solano, Jr., FB (H-Back)

Returning offensive receivers/TE starters (name, year, position):
None

Returning defensive line starters (name, year, position):
Brandon Tamsett, Jr., DT
Zach Franz, Sr., DT
John Flood, Jr., DE

Returning linebacker starters (name, year, position):
Matt Seitz, So., LB
Justin Dischler, Sr., LB
Paul Foster, Jr., LB

Returning secondary starters (name, year, position):
Ryan Winske, Sr., S

Returning Special Teamers (name, year, position, K or P):
Lake Bachar, Jr., P
Will Meyer, So., K

...soooo UWW is gonna be pretty darn good again.

[voice]

Hi, I'm Tom Pattison and I'm excited to be able to launch my Voice's Eye on Warhawk Football Blog this morning.

This is the latest of my UW-Whitewater football sites by way of Oh Baby Sports Productions.

Previously I operated Warhawkfootball.com and my Voices Eye on Football Blog.

I will be posting virtually everyday during training camp and throughout the season.

Please check in daily. GO WARHAWKS

http://voiceseyeonwarhawkfootball.blogspot.com/

[Just the stats]

The WSUC/WIAC has always (it seems) had tremendous talent throughout the years. I just wonder why it didn't convert to better success in the post season overall, prior to the 2000's? La Crosse won national championships Maslowski's junior year and during the Tom Newberry period ('85?) and had a couple other teams make some noise in the post season, but really no one else did.  Any thoughts why?

I would argue the WSUC made a lot of noise nationally when they played in the NAIA. La Crosse won two national championships, Stevens Point made it to the title game, and River Falls and Platteville each had a playoff appearance in the 1970s and 80s. For those on here too young to have seen La Crosse in the 1980s, you missed something special.