FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

The league dropped it.  To say it was as popular as getting poked in the eye with a sharp stick is being kind.  It was basically driven by two factors. One being financial and the other the difficultly some programs were having in getting a full schedule.  Both improved and, frankly, I think coaches had their fill of it. 

One really unpopular thing was when the league decided the second game would be the game that counted in the conference standings essentially for the sake of drama. 

[D O.C.]

Thx.
WW & UWO having to play non DIII games is what made me ask.
Perhaps too late because it seems the NWC and SCIAC are going to enter a deal where they guarantee DIII games by playing each other but I've been thinking the NWC and WIAC should have.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

They could have at least spent a few minutes on the Gagliardi Trophy, and what it means. Don't they usually? It's about STUDENT athletes, not semi pro athletes who happen to attend college. All nominees were outstanding individuals. It's something that is representative of D III athletics.

ESPN has commented on the Gagliardi Trophy during the Stagg Bowl exactly once... one time... the year Kevin Burke won it for the second time (2015). I would know since they asked me to get them some video from the event since they don't come to it. It was late in the 4th quarter, I believe, coming out of a commercial break when they "snuck" it in to the broadcast. I was starting to get frustrated for the lost time trying to get them some material when I finally spotted it.

As for the halftime: they have been ignoring the DIII game at halftime of the DIII game for about as long as they have covered the game. As a former sports/news producer, I would love to give you an excuse as to why... but I can't. Clearly money talks and those at ESPN would rather a) assume people watching the DIII game care about upcoming bowls and b) they rather not dedicate any kind of resources towards a halftime show (meaning having people actually watch and breakdown the game). SportsCenter actually dedicate some significant time - even over producing the lead-up to the highlights.

[Pat Coleman]

That's why that was on the bingo card!

[UWO Titan 78]

I couldn't be more proud to be a Titan. Congrats to the Titans on a superb season. I'm sure the loss hurts right now, but all of you current players will someday reflect on this journey with nothing but pride. Thank you for bringing the spotlight onto a great program and a great university. All of the alumni and former players couldn't be more proud of what you accomplished and how you went about doing it. I played against the great LAX teams in the 90's. I watched and admired the great UWW teams in their decade of dominance. Hopefully now it is our turn for a run. Hail Titans!

[DFWCrufan]

So we played the Bingo card  game but made it into a drinking game.. bad move.. first ten minutes.. the screens got blurry... never again my friend never again.

[AppletonRocks]

They could have at least spent a few minutes on the Gagliardi Trophy, and what it means. Don't they usually? It's about STUDENT athletes, not semi pro athletes who happen to attend college. All nominees were outstanding individuals. It's something that is representative of D III athletics.

ESPN has commented on the Gagliardi Trophy during the Stagg Bowl exactly once... one time... the year Kevin Burke won it for the second time (2015). I would know since they asked me to get them some video from the event since they don't come to it. It was late in the 4th quarter, I believe, coming out of a commercial break when they "snuck" it in to the broadcast. I was starting to get frustrated for the lost time trying to get them some material when I finally spotted it.

As for the halftime: they have been ignoring the DIII game at halftime of the DIII game for about as long as they have covered the game. As a former sports/news producer, I would love to give you an excuse as to why... but I can't. Clearly money talks and those at ESPN would rather a) assume people watching the DIII game care about upcoming bowls and b) they rather not dedicate any kind of resources towards a halftime show (meaning having people actually watch and breakdown the game). SportsCenter actually dedicate some significant time - even over producing the lead-up to the highlights.

My late grandfather said it best....money talks and **** walks.   I wonder how much money it would take to sponsor 10 minutes of real D-3 coverage.  .0001 of the NCAA D1 basketball budget?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Division II has poured in a lot of their money (since they have a nice surplus; helps to be smaller) into sponsoring coverage on CBS Sports and maybe others... it isn't actually that cheap. And remember, Division III can only operate within it's budget of which 75% or more goes towards the championships... ESPN actually PAYS to broadcast the Stagg Bowl. They then decide how to utilize their time. Sucks, but they aren't going to pour in more money if they can't recoop it via a lot of things.

[BoBo]

What would have been a glorious save from the pond goes bad quickly. Poor scoundrel didn't even hit the ball.

Shout out to retagent, our resident golf expert, is this a 1 or 2  shot penalty?

Watch:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4TxahKAqlg&feature=youtu.be

Helluva divot, nevertheless!!

[UWO Titan 78]

The good news is that by my count the Titans return 9 starters on offense. The bad news is they graduate 10 starters on defense. They have always had a deep rotation on defense and Coach Cerroni continually produces top defenses, so I'm not too concerned. Hopefully the offense can carry the squad early as the defense gets more experience, and hopefully this deep run will help with recruiting. Has anybody else looked at returning starters for the other WIAC teams?

[emma17]

The good news is that by my count the Titans return 9 starters on offense. The bad news is they graduate 10 starters on defense. They have always had a deep rotation on defense and Coach Cerroni continually produces top defenses, so I'm not too concerned. Hopefully the offense can carry the squad early as the defense gets more experience, and hopefully this deep run will help with recruiting. Has anybody else looked at returning starters for the other WIAC teams?

If it's true that defense wins championships, UWO is in big trouble in 2017 when the Warhawks come a calling 
UWW is young at the skilled positions.  Losing a great tight end and some O linemen, but they had great rotation.
D loses some great D linemen. 

[badgerwarhawk]

Using the eleven players who started in JCU game the WARHAWKS return either 9 or 10 of 11 offensive starters.  We definitely lose an offensive lineman.  Marcus Hudson was listed as a senior on the roster but I've been told he had junior eligibility this past season.  So I'm not sure if he returns or not.   Defense is another story and we'll have to replace 7 of the 11 starters including 3 of 4 defensive linemen, 1 linebacker, 1 corner and both safeties.  We also rotate quite a bit so we've got backups who have seen significant time on both sides of the ball.  7 of 11 offensively and 9 of 11 defensively return from the primary backups.     

[badgerwarhawk]

Nine WIAC student/athletes receive D3football.com Academic All American status.

http://www.wiacsports.com/news/2016/12/19/FB_1219162447.aspx

[Pat Coleman]

Nine WIAC student/athletes receive D3football.com Academic All American status.

http://www.wiacsports.com/news/2016/12/19/FB_1219162447.aspx

I agree that they are all student-athletes, but just for the record, it's not an academic award.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Nine WIAC student/athletes receive D3football.com Academic All American status.

http://www.wiacsports.com/news/2016/12/19/FB_1219162447.aspx

I agree that they are all student-athletes, but just for the record, it's not an academic award.

Not per se, but don't they have to have a certain GPA to be eligible?