FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[MasterJedi]

So far on the main site the poll has a disgusting 23% favoring UWW/UMU being on opposite sides saying that "if nobody else can stop them the committee should". Basically not supporting possibly the two best teams playing in the championship. In any sport people should never artificially force a rematch to not happen. A lot of those votes are probably coming from East region teams who have for years called for this because it's "fair". 

For what it's worth, I was impressed the number was so low. I expected higher.

I would have voted for "Yes, Whitewater's loss correctly sent them to the highest seed in the semis."

That would have placed them in the top left side of the bracket then, which would have been on the opposite side.

[AO]

So far on the main site the poll has a disgusting 23% favoring UWW/UMU being on opposite sides saying that "if nobody else can stop them the committee should". Basically not supporting possibly the two best teams playing in the championship. In any sport people should never artificially force a rematch to not happen. A lot of those votes are probably coming from East region teams who have for years called for this because it's "fair". 

For what it's worth, I was impressed the number was so low. I expected higher.

I would have voted for "Yes, Whitewater's loss correctly sent them to the highest seed in the semis."

That would have placed them in the top left side of the bracket then, which would have been on the opposite side.

I'm not talking the 1-32 seeding since that obviously doesn't happen.  The 1-4 does happen and since St. Thomas and Linfield are the 2 and 3, it makes sense that Whitewater has to face the 1.

[jknezek]

Yeah. I simply didn't vote in that one because none of the justifications jibe with my thoughts. If you think of the 4 1 seeds as they were regionally ranked, and the fact that UWW topped the 4th ranked 1 seed, it makes perfect sense they ended up at what was reasonably the top ranked 1 seed (per criteria. No one tops an undefeated UMU this year based on the "previous years performance" criteria). That's all. I don't see it as the committee forcing a non-Stagg match up, just the organic outcome of the seeding and a set of "upsets" that leaves UWW standing where UWO or Wheaton could have also been.

And yes, upset is loosely used when applied to any game UWW wins...

[emma17]

Similarly, I didn't find the descriptions jived w how I'd describe my vote.
That said, I have no problem if the committee looked at this year as a great opportunity to put the 2 on the same side.
I know most won't agree, but I do think there is a public perception / marketing aspect / good for the sport component that is acceptable to include in bracketing (this year in particular w UWW's loss).

[MasterJedi]

So far on the main site the poll has a disgusting 23% favoring UWW/UMU being on opposite sides saying that "if nobody else can stop them the committee should". Basically not supporting possibly the two best teams playing in the championship. In any sport people should never artificially force a rematch to not happen. A lot of those votes are probably coming from East region teams who have for years called for this because it's "fair". 

For what it's worth, I was impressed the number was so low. I expected higher.

I would have voted for "Yes, Whitewater's loss correctly sent them to the highest seed in the semis."

That would have placed them in the top left side of the bracket then, which would have been on the opposite side.

I'm not talking the 1-32 seeding since that obviously doesn't happen.  The 1-4 does happen and since St. Thomas and Linfield are the 2 and 3, it makes sense that Whitewater has to face the 1.

Are we sure mount is the overall #1 seed? For years the overall #1 has been on the top left side of the bracket.

[jknezek]

It's a fair assumption they are, but I don't think we know for sure... I'm also not sure top left is the overall 1 seed every year. See 2012 when UMU was bottom right and 9-0 Linfield sat top left.

http://static.psbin.com/w/p/d6bwcg8y6h8uj9/2012-football-bracket.pdf

[retagent]

Since UWW and UMU have been on opposite sides of the bracket for 10(?) years, were you against the committee intentionally putting them there? It would seem like there may have been some manipulation in order to get that situation, far more than this year, which is an anomaly. But, then, that's just my opinion, and you know what they say about that.

[Pat Coleman]

It's a fair assumption they are, but I don't think we know for sure... I'm also not sure top left is the overall 1 seed every year. See 2012 when UMU was bottom right and 9-0 Linfield sat top left.

http://static.psbin.com/w/p/d6bwcg8y6h8uj9/2012-football-bracket.pdf

I've lost faith in the committee maintaining that tradition in laying out the bracket.

[cubs]

Great game on Saturday. Hats off to both teams on a wonderful exhibition of WIAC and D3 football. I am still proud to be a Titan. I said here earlier that it would be tough to beat the Warhawks twice in a season. In both losses this year, the Titans were hurt by their special teams. I watched the game on the net, so my account is not from the stadium. The Warhawks were the better team. Not by much, but they were. UWW won the turnover battle and the day on special teams (I thought the punt game was critical too). UWW dominated the first half, and Oshkosh was lucky to be in the game. Some really huge defensive stops kept us in it. The Titan defense never ceases to amaze me when they can bow their neck and keep teams out of the endzone (especially a team like the UWW) when they give them a short field. I thought Oshkosh played as well as they could. They kept the game close, and had a chance to win the game. The talent gap is closing, but UWW still has more talent top to bottom.

My feelings on Coach Cerroni's comments. They guy was clearly hurting after the loss. This was the best team he's ever had (and he's had a previous conference champion that was a final four team), and he was hurting after a brutal playoff loss to the defending national champions that you had beaten earlier in the season to win the best league in all of D3. Darn right he was salty. I played there over 20 years ago, and I was salty after the game (ask my wife and kids). Losing Coach Smith was a big loss for the program (and he went to your chief rival). He's not the first HC to use the media as a platform to get more money for assistants or more "buy-in" from the administration. The Badger coaches have been complaining to the media about their assistant coaches paychecks for a long time too. Coach Cerroni has built a program the University, alums, and the community can be proud of. Hopefully he continues to get the support for us to continue to build it.

Best of luck to the Warhawks. Represent the WIAC and bring it home again. I hope we get a shot at beating the national champs again next year.

PS. I redshirted back in the early 90s. I was 17 years old when I entered UWO, and I was not physically ready to compete with the defenses at LaX, Point, and UWW. I could've played in the CCIW right away, but my high school coach told me that the WSUC was the best small-college conference in the land and I wanted that challenge. That year in the weight room really helped.

I agree with a lot of what you said....  +K!!!

[hazzben]

FWIW, I don't think UWW is the one who should be upset about facing Mount in the Semi's. I think they're the superior team, from the 3.5 UWW games I've watched this year.

But for either team, if you win, you'll face an entire roster (albeit not coaching staffs) who have never had to navigate the Stagg Bowl week. So yeah, tough matchup this week. But major advantage to the winner when it comes to the Title Game.

[Teamski]

I am curious how many UWW fans are going to make the trip to Alliance.  That place will be packed!  I would love to be there to see if the fans don't tear each other up.  Anyways, good luck to the Warhawks.  I will be rooting for you guys!  Born and raised in Milwaukee makes me partial to Wisconsin teams and a Packer stock owner, hey.   

-Ski

[jamtod]

FWIW, I don't think UWW is the one who should be upset about facing Mount in the Semi's. I think they're the superior team, from the 3.5 UWW games I've watched this year.

But for either team, if you win, you'll face an entire roster (albeit not coaching staffs) who have never had to navigate the Stagg Bowl week. So yeah, tough matchup this week. But major advantage to the winner when it comes to the Title Game.

Not completely true. St Thomas Seniors (and super-senior Punter/WR Pete Fitzsimmons) were there for the 2012 Stagg Bowl.
Guys that showed up on the stat sheet for the Stagg Bowl include RB Jack Kaiser (backup now has been injured most of the season and appears to have been re-injured on Saturday. He got 16 carries in that Stagg as the starter was injured) and Kicker Paul Graupner.  Several others played in that game as well.

[NewHawk]

I am curious how many UWW fans are going to make the trip to Alliance.  That place will be packed!  I would love to be there to see if the fans don't tear each other up.  Anyways, good luck to the Warhawks.  I will be rooting for you guys!  Born and raised in Milwaukee makes me partial to Wisconsin teams and a Packer stock owner, hey.   

-Ski

I think UWW will be well represented at the game.  UWW has traveled exceptionally well this year, although the other playoff games were a lot closer.  Wheatons visitor stands were packed to full with a large number of purple people in the overflow home stands. There was a bigger crowd of purple at Oshkosh.  UWW had the only band there as well, which made the visitors section really electric.  While everyone will be dressed in purple Saturday, I think the Wisconsin shade is going to be there is good numbers.  Plus you can add on a trip to the NFL Hall of Fame while visiting

[USee]

So far on the main site the poll has a disgusting 23% favoring UWW/UMU being on opposite sides saying that "if nobody else can stop them the committee should". Basically not supporting possibly the two best teams playing in the championship. In any sport people should never artificially force a rematch to not happen. A lot of those votes are probably coming from East region teams who have for years called for this because it's "fair". 

You would have a much better argument if both teams were undefeated this year. They aren't so this is what happens. Doesn't mean they aren't the two best teams right now, but the season means something and the brackets were constructed based on the results they had in front of them. There is no conspiracy here, no committee member in the grassy knoll.

[pg04]

"A disgusting 23%" lol.