FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

Carroll is moving into the CCIW next season, so they may be feeling some pressure from their new conference mates to schedule tougher. Carroll has never scheduled a WIAC opponent in the D3Football.com era, but in their defense they only had one non-conference date possible as an MWC member.

Ripon opened against UW-Oshkosh from 2006 to 2009, but haven't played a WIAC school since.

We steamrolled Ripon 57-0 in 2006. My first collegiate start (Yes, I am reminiscing). We finished 3-4 in the WIAC and Ripon went on to win the CCIW that year.
UWO 44 Ripon 6 in 2007. UWO finished 4-3 in the WIAC.
UWO 14 Ripon 13 in 2008 . UWO finished 2-5 in the WIAC.
UWO 40 Ripon 16 in 2009. UWO finished 2-5 in the WIAC.

I'm not sure CCIW teams have much to gain from playing a WIAC team.

Ripon isn't in the CCIW....  They are in the MWC with the likes of SNC, Beloit, Monmouth, etc...

[BoBo]

La Crosse playing that blockbuster non-conference triumvirate of Luther, Ripon and Carroll might get the Eagles feeling some heat from their conference mates about their weak scheduling, as well. 

[hazzben]

Carroll is moving into the CCIW next season, so they may be feeling some pressure from their new conference mates to schedule tougher. Carroll has never scheduled a WIAC opponent in the D3Football.com era, but in their defense they only had one non-conference date possible as an MWC member.

Ripon opened against UW-Oshkosh from 2006 to 2009, but haven't played a WIAC school since.

We steamrolled Ripon 57-0 in 2006. My first collegiate start (Yes, I am reminiscing). We finished 3-4 in the WIAC and Ripon went on to win the CCIW that year.
UWO 44 Ripon 6 in 2007. UWO finished 4-3 in the WIAC.
UWO 14 Ripon 13 in 2008 . UWO finished 2-5 in the WIAC.
UWO 40 Ripon 16 in 2009. UWO finished 2-5 in the WIAC.

I'm not sure CCIW teams have much to gain from playing a WIAC team.

Ripon isn't in the CCIW....  They are in the MWC with the likes of SNC, Beloit, Monmouth, etc...

Yeah, there's a world of difference between the MWC and the CCIW, and their respective champs for that matter. Outside of the Tanney led Monmouth teams, the MWC is usually 1st round cannon fodder. The CCIW champ is usually a region final or semi-final threat most years.

[ScreamingEagles]

Do you really think one year of weak scheduling would get criticism from the other conference schools?  If so, then line UWSP up for some as they play St. Norbert, Albion and Adrian out of conference this year.

Part of this schedule is also budget related - shorter trips that don't (necessarily) require overnight stays will save the program money.  We've played in Texas twice in the last few years, each time taking a bus (!) due to lack of funding.  Nobody benefits from 48 hours on a bus with a football game sandwiched in the middle.

[bleedpurple]

Do you really think one year of weak scheduling would get criticism from the other conference schools?  If so, then line UWSP up for some as they play St. Norbert, Albion and Adrian out of conference this year.

Part of this schedule is also budget related - shorter trips that don't (necessarily) require overnight stays will save the program money.  We've played in Texas twice in the last few years, each time taking a bus (!) due to lack of funding.  Nobody benefits from 48 hours on a bus with a football game sandwiched in the middle.

I was going to ask the same question. There are lots of things to care about within a university, an athletic department, and a football program. I don't see the non-conference schedule of another school being on that list.

Personally, I was glad to see UW-L get Ripon and Carroll.  I would love UW-W to get a game against one of them every year if it meant not having to play Bellhaven, Waldorf, or Dakota State.

[bleedpurple]

Is it too soon for conference prognostications?
Is UWO the preseason favorite w all their returning talent?

I'm sure UW-O would consider themselves the favorites. 

[oshfb]

Carroll is moving into the CCIW next season, so they may be feeling some pressure from their new conference mates to schedule tougher. Carroll has never scheduled a WIAC opponent in the D3Football.com era, but in their defense they only had one non-conference date possible as an MWC member.

Ripon opened against UW-Oshkosh from 2006 to 2009, but haven't played a WIAC school since.

We steamrolled Ripon 57-0 in 2006. My first collegiate start (Yes, I am reminiscing). We finished 3-4 in the WIAC and Ripon went on to win the CCIW that year.
UWO 44 Ripon 6 in 2007. UWO finished 4-3 in the WIAC.
UWO 14 Ripon 13 in 2008 . UWO finished 2-5 in the WIAC.
UWO 40 Ripon 16 in 2009. UWO finished 2-5 in the WIAC.

I'm not sure CCIW teams have much to gain from playing a WIAC team.

Ripon isn't in the CCIW....  They are in the MWC with the likes of SNC, Beloit, Monmouth, etc...

Yeah, there's a world of difference between the MWC and the CCIW, and their respective champs for that matter. Outside of the Tanney led Monmouth teams, the MWC is usually 1st round cannon fodder. The CCIW champ is usually a region final or semi-final threat most years.

I mistook the conferences, my apologies. I didn't intend to knock the likes of Wheaton or North Central. I did intend to knock the likes of SNC and Ripon.

[emma17]

Is it too soon for conference prognostications?
Is UWO the preseason favorite w all their returning talent?

I'm sure UW-O would consider themselves the favorites. 

Or would they?  I get the feeling they like thinking of themselves as the under-privileged vs the highly advantaged UWW. After all, UWW pays their O coordinator as much as UWO pays their head coach.

I should wait for Kickoff to come out before making any final predictions, but I won't be surprised if the WIAC coaches pick UWO as the conference favorite.

[cubs]

Is it too soon for conference prognostications?
Is UWO the preseason favorite w all their returning talent?

I'm sure UW-O would consider themselves the favorites. 

Or would they?  I get the feeling they like thinking of themselves as the under-privileged vs the highly advantaged UWW. After all, UWW pays their O coordinator as much as UWO pays their head coach.

I should wait for Kickoff to come out before making any final predictions, but I won't be surprised if the WIAC coaches pick UWO as the conference favorite.

In what is a VERY unscientific approach, looking at the 2015 All WIAC squad, this is what each team returns:

Whitewater- 5 1st Team, 3 2nd Team, and 1 Honorable Mention Selection
Oshkosh- 5* 1st Team, 6 2nd Team, and 3 Honorable Mention Selectionns

*Might be four if Hecker is unable to come back in time from ACL surgery.

With that said, seems to be a bit of talent returning for both teams.  Whitewater's O-Line should be their strength (I know, shocker!!!) with three returning All WIAC selections (2-1st, 1-2nd) while UWO's strength should be the five returning All WIAC selections (3-1st, 2-2nd) on defense.

[emma17]

^^
That looks scientific enough for me when it comes to ranking football teams.
Thanks for posting the numbers.

[hazzben]

Yeah, there's a world of difference between the MWC and the CCIW, and their respective champs for that matter. Outside of the Tanney led Monmouth teams, the MWC is usually 1st round cannon fodder. The CCIW champ is usually a region final or semi-final threat most years.

I mistook the conferences, my apologies. I didn't intend to knock the likes of Wheaton or North Central. I did intend to knock the likes of SNC and Ripon.

That made me chuckle

[palum]

Is it too soon for conference prognostications?
Is UWO the preseason favorite w all their returning talent?

I'm sure UW-O would consider themselves the favorites. 

Or would they?  I get the feeling they like thinking of themselves as the under-privileged vs the highly advantaged UWW. After all, UWW pays their O coordinator as much as UWO pays their head coach.

I should wait for Kickoff to come out before making any final predictions, but I won't be surprised if the WIAC coaches pick UWO as the conference favorite.

In what is a VERY unscientific approach, looking at the 2015 All WIAC squad, this is what each team returns:

Whitewater- 5 1st Team, 3 2nd Team, and 1 Honorable Mention Selection
Oshkosh- 5* 1st Team, 6 2nd Team, and 3 Honorable Mention Selectionns

*Might be four if Hecker is unable to come back in time from ACL surgery.

With that said, seems to be a bit of talent returning for both teams.  Whitewater's O-Line should be their strength (I know, shocker!!!) with three returning All WIAC selections (2-1st, 1-2nd) while UWO's strength should be the five returning All WIAC selections (3-1st, 2-2nd) on defense.

Platteville returns 2 1st team  2 2nd team and 4 HM. They only lose 3 starters on  offense and 2 of them are WRS were they are loaded. Big loses on defense are DE Andrew Robinson and LB Andrew Belken. They have a good foundation returning from an 8-2 team that only lost to Oshkosh and WW.

[bulk19]

News from the UWEC Blugold football website:

UW-Eau Claire Blugold left tackle Isiah Cage (Sr., 6'5", 335-lbs, from Chicago, IL) has been invited to the UW-Madison Pro Day on March 9... The Blugold captain, an All-WIAC honorable mention selection, has received attention from 10 teams.

New head coach Dan Larson has added five assistants to his coaching staff:
1) Matt Ebner, defensive coordinator = the former Blugold DE and assistant coach spent the last three seasons as the defensive coordinator at UWRF. 
2) Michael McHugh, offensive line = comes along with Larson from UM Duluth, as part of a staff that won D2 titles in 2008 and 2010. Most recently the tight ends coach at Duluth.
3) Anthony Aker, wide recievers = spent the last four years as an assistant at UWSP, including the last three as WR coach.
4) Zach Ruot, strength and conditioning = previously coached at Luther College.
5) Al Sega, defensive line = a former Blugold and assistant has also spent time on the coaching staff at UMD.

[BoBo]

NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Joe Worth, WR, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

http://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/nfl-draft-diamonds-prospect-interview-joe-worth-wr-university-wisconsin-whitewater/


NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jordan Ratliffe, RB, University of Wisconsin- Whitewater

http://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/nfl-draft-diamonds-prospect-interview-jordan-ratliffe-rb-university-of-wisconsin-whitewater/


NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Nick Wirsching, LS, Oshkosh

http://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/nfl-draft-diamonds-prospect-interview-nick-wirsching-ls-wisconsin-oshkosh/

These were the only WIAC prospects I came across.

[cubs]

What about DE Karlen from UWSP?

UWSP DE Aaron Karen showing out at Minnesota Regional Combine running a 4.63 in 40. Would've tied for second best at NFLCombine.