FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[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.

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.

I would have been shocked if ANY team had four First Team All-Americans on defense, UW-W included.  But it matters not. The season's getting close!

[dachampishere]

Just read on the journal Sentinel that Ricky Finco is no longer with the Dub, as he transferred to the University of Wisconsin and per NCAA rules will have to sit out this year.
How will this effect the offense. I wish Ricky Finco the best at UW,as the last warhawk that I know who transferred to Wisconsin Joe Panos had a great career at UW and played in the Pros as well.

[BoBo]

Just read on the journal Sentinel that Ricky Finco is no longer with the Dub, as he transferred to the University of Wisconsin and per NCAA rules will have to sit out this year.
How will this effect the offense. I wish Ricky Finco the best at UW,as the last warhawk that I know who transferred to Wisconsin Joe Panos had a great career at UW and played in the Pros as well.

Paul Chryst responds to a media question at his pre-camp 8/9/15 press conference about Finco and the young man from Stevens Point. The question from Jeff Potrykus of the Journal Sentinal is asked at about the 8:25 mark of the video. What I heard Chryst say is that these transfers are more or as much about academics as it is about football. The Badgers are glad to take them since they are good football players. Listen and see what you think. Finco's athleticism I think really surprised Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl. I mean that TD reception was a thing of beauty. I don't think they knew what UWW had in #5. There wasn't a whole lot of film of him showing that talent level. It's kind of a bummer for him that he isn't like 6'2" or so. He would've been on scholarship already. Now that he is joining the Badgers, he reminds you a little of Kenzel Doe - just because of their similar stature - Doe is a little thicker - but neither is taller that 5'8". It is a year off, but I wonder if they plan a role for Finco similar to the role Doe played with UW? I see where Doe just got signed by the Steelers and he made his debut with them last night in the HOF Game - I didn't see it but heard he had a 13 yard punt return - little guys are still getting their shot at the big time!! 

One final thought...It's ironic that you mentioned Joe Panos being a UWW transfer to UW (wasn't he the Badger co-captain of the '94 Rose Bowl winning team?), because Panos' boy George (6'5" 315#) is a redshirt freshman Guard on the Badgers and was a teammate of Finco at Arrowhead HS, as is Billy Hirschfeld, 6'6" 285# RS FR DE for UW.

Link: http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/080915aab.html

[voice]

Just a change of pace this morning. Working on my Website, I just posted a story on my No. 1 game-week memory of a game played at UW-Whitewater's Perkins Stadium

http://voiceseyeonwarhawkfootball.blogspot.com/2015/08/hawks-58-wesley-6-in-2005-my-no-1-game.html

[02 Warhawk]

Just a change of pace this morning. Working on my Website, I just posted a story on my No. 1 game-week memory of a game played at UW-Whitewater's Perkins Stadium

http://voiceseyeonwarhawkfootball.blogspot.com/2015/08/hawks-58-wesley-6-in-2005-my-no-1-game.html

Very cool. I was at that game, it was loads of fun. Infact, that was the first game I attended following my graduation three years earlier.

I remember listening to you and Gary on the radio in my apartment in Downers Grove, IL the week before when they were at Linfield. After they won I found out the semi's was in UWW, so I knew I had to get up there for the game. It was very exciting knowing my alma matter was going toe-to-toe with the big boys of D3, and a game away from the championship game. No way was I going to miss that one.

[NewHawk]

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.

Yea, I've heard horror stories about them from former UWW players and "long-time" UWW fans.

We have been following UWW for only the past 2 years...it's has been a fun ride going 32-0. It's is hard to imagine losing athough I got a preview of the feeling sitting in the snow last year at River Falls. I am just going to enjoy the ride and keep yelling Go Hawks 

I know UWW's run can can't last forever, so hopefully 30-40 years from now we can look back at Whitewater being "something special" in the (late) 2000's and 2010's.

[KitchenSink]

Just a change of pace this morning. Working on my Website, I just posted a story on my No. 1 game-week memory of a game played at UW-Whitewater's Perkins Stadium

http://voiceseyeonwarhawkfootball.blogspot.com/2015/08/hawks-58-wesley-6-in-2005-my-no-1-game.html

Very cool. I was at that game, it was loads of fun. Infact, that was the first game I attended following my graduation three years earlier.

I remember listening to you and Gary on the radio in my apartment in Downers Grove, IL the week before when they were at Linfield. After they won I found out the semi's was in UWW, so I knew I had to get up there for the game. It was very exciting knowing my alma matter was going toe-to-toe with the big boys of D3, and a game away from the championship game. No way was I going to miss that one.

I didn't go to that Wesley game, but I had a similar gut reaction before the game against St John's 2 weeks prior.  St John's had the legendary coach and the pedigree, but knowing that it was an actual playoff tournament and not some silly vote, definitely worth seeing.  The Hawks laid the lumber to the Johnnies, and the next thing I knew it was regular drives on Fall Saturdays, and some message board on the web .....

PS - I was at the Wesley game in 2006.  "This year will be different!"  No, it wasn't.  BOOM!!!

[BoBo]

Just a change of pace this morning. Working on my Website, I just posted a story on my No. 1 game-week memory of a game played at UW-Whitewater's Perkins Stadium

http://voiceseyeonwarhawkfootball.blogspot.com/2015/08/hawks-58-wesley-6-in-2005-my-no-1-game.html

Thanks voice for the re-visit of that classic moment in time. It's amazing how one game can epitomize or define an era. I think that was one of the games for me, too. Funny how a simple game can take on a life of it's own in the years following, the way that one has. It's brought out so many funny moments on these pages over the last decade. I also liked the Wabash playoff game in Dec '07 in the heavy snow storm or the @ UMHB playoff game in Dec '08 with that freakish, gale force wind knocking the Cru's second half kickoff backwards, leading to their complete collapse. The football Gods have nearly always smiled in the Warhawks favor.

[badgerwarhawk]

Who can forget it?  I hadn't transitioned into my role as the game clock operator yet so I was the person entering the rushing and passing yardage on the board.  All 537 yards of it. 

Also this is the game that proved you're only as good as the shoes you're wearing. 

[OzJohnnie]

"And, the older boy, bless his soul, is preparing for his career.  Yeah, last season he was a pixie-dust spreader on the Tilt-O-Whirl. He thinks that maybe next year, He'll be guessing people's weight or barking for the Yak woman."

[emma17]

Some/many times I just don't get your humor Oz.
Why the Christmas Vacation line?
It's a funny bit, but what's the connection?

[OzJohnnie]

My twisted head, I guess.  It was the vision I had when BW listed his career progressing from board stats man to game clock operator.

"You ever see her? She's got these big horns growing right out above her ears. Yeah, she's ugly as sin, but a sweet gal. And, a hell of a good cook."

[badgerwarhawk]

That's what I thought.  Though it took me a little while to figure out. 

[emma17]

Got it- I see where you're going w that Oz.

On another note, perhaps the Jets' cage match will provide an opportunity for one of Aaron Rogers' backups.

[bleedpurple]

Got it- I see where you're going w that Oz.

On another note, perhaps the Jets' cage match will provide an opportunity for one of Aaron Rogers' backups.

Maybe so. Hundley's going to need a home.