FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[02 Warhawk]

News is coming out that Oshkosh is paying $25K for a "football program" out of Florida (University of Faith) to fill out its 2017 schedule. From what I'm reading it appears some admin people at UWO believe it's necessary to get that 10th game to be playoff eligible. But apparently playing 10 games in a season isn't a requirement to make the playoffs.

On top of that, this Florida "football program" won't even count as a game because they're not even considered a real collegiate football program. They would be better off playing a NAIA team...literally. What that exactly means, I'm not sure.

I'm hoping Pat comes on and offers some insight, and possibly verify what's going on. Or at very least, get my facts straight. 

[jknezek]

You don't need 10 games to make the playoffs. You win the conference AQ, you qualify. Heck, Wesley got in with 7 DIII games one year through Pool B. Now if we are talking about Pool C, 10 games helps. But a 10th game against a non-D3 is so far down the criteria, let alone some fly by night club program, that it certainly won't help and may actually hurt. In their pre-NJAC days, Wesley had to round out schedules with Virginia College of Lynchburg, and at least once, or maybe twice on the schedule but only played once, some place called College of Faith in NC. Those games did nothing for Wesley's playoff chances, being in Pool B with some big wins solved Wesley's problem. I think either the facts are odd, or UWO needs to brush up on their Football Playoffs Handbook.

[02 Warhawk]

You don't need 10 games to make the playoffs. You win the conference AQ, you qualify. Heck, Wesley got in with 7 DIII games one year through Pool B. Now if we are talking about Pool C, 10 games helps. But a 10th game against a non-D3 is so far down the criteria, let alone some fly by night club program, that it certainly won't help and may actually hurt. In their pre-NJAC days, Wesley had to round out schedules with Virginia College of Lynchburg, and at least once, or maybe twice on the schedule but only played once, some place called College of Faith in NC. Those games did nothing for Wesley's playoff chances, being in Pool B with some big wins solved Wesley's problem. I think either the facts are odd, or UWO needs to brush up on their Football Playoffs Handbook.

Exactly. Either UWO made a huge mistake, or something is not quite right with this story. Hence, Pat setting the record straight....hopefully.

Here's the article from the Advance-Titan

Some interesting excerpts from the article:

In order to fill a required 10-game schedule for the 2017 season, the UW Oshkosh football team will be facing a university from Florida to help fill its non-conference schedule — but with a catch.

UWO will be paying the University of Faith-Florida Glory Eagles $25,000 to travel up to play at Titan Stadium.

According to an email from Assistant Chancellor and Chief Communications Officer Jamie Ceman, in order for a team to become playoff-eligible in the ranks of Division III football, there must be a minimum of 10 games per season on the docket.

"In D-III football a team needs to play at least 10 games in their regular season to be considered to have had a rigorous enough schedule for postseason play," Ceman said. "We have seven teams in our conference; therefore, [we] need to find three additional games to play each season."

Not sure if the student that wrote this misinterpreted the above quote from Ceman, or if Ceman (and the UWO admin) really believed that was a requirement?

[jknezek]

I hope it was misquoted or misunderstood. It would be scary to have administrators that ignorant of the facts.

[Pat Coleman]

I am guessing the student misinterpreted the statement, and the statement itself is pretty specious.

[AO]

The college football subreddit has had a lot of fun researching the College/University of Faith. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/2fk0z4/oc_are_there_two_fake_schools_operating_on_the/

https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/5h0a23/catchingup_with_the_fake_schools_that_played/

If D3 had a better strength of schedule stat, Oshkosh would take a big hit for putting them on the schedule.  I'm not particularly bothered that a team fills out its 10 game schedule with a JV team but it should count against them.

[badgerwarhawk]

In 1992, after Superior had dropped football, we paid Livingstone College (NC)  to come to WHITEWATER and fill our schedule.  We won the game 9-0.

[jknezek]

In 1992, after Superior had dropped football, we paid Livingstone College (NC)  to come to WHITEWATER and fill our schedule.  We won the game 9-0.

Yes. But Livingstone College is actually a thing. It's a real college, with a campus. That is a far cry from the University of Faith. Take a look at the school website.

http://universityoffaithfl.org/

[HansenRatings]

One thing, even if the student report misinterpreted the quote, is that the "game" is non-countable according to the NCAA (according to a list distributed by the NCAA to member institutions). So for all intents and purposes, UWO is only playing 9 games next year.

[badgerwarhawk]

In 1992, after Superior had dropped football, we paid Livingstone College (NC)  to come to WHITEWATER and fill our schedule.  We won the game 9-0.

Yes. But Livingstone College is actually a thing. It's a real college, with a campus. That is a far cry from the University of Faith. Take a look at the school website.

http://universityoffaithfl.org/

I didn't mean to compare University of Faith, which my company blocks access to their website, to Livingstone.  Only meant to comment that at one time we had to pay someone too.   I guess you do what you have to do.

But either way the quoted comment shows a complete lack of knowledge of the rules on multiple fronts.  Which, frankly, surprises me.  After all Oshkosh just finished playing NAIA Robert Morris in 2014 and 2015.  So you would think they would be more familiar with it and I don't think the quote is that confusing.   

[jknezek]

I didn't mean to compare University of Faith, which my company blocks access to their website, to Livingstone.  Only meant to comment that at one time we had to pay someone too.   I guess you do what you have to do.

Mine probably should too. I don't mind a school that has to pay. I don't like schools paying and propping up these entities that may, but probably are not, legitimate schools of higher education that probably do not have what we would consider a legitimate athletic department. So many people were screwed by the for-profit college model, I hate that there are still these types of things out there taking money from kids and parents who think the degree will be worth something.

[badgerwarhawk]

I didn't mean to compare University of Faith, which my company blocks access to their website, to Livingstone.  Only meant to comment that at one time we had to pay someone too.   I guess you do what you have to do.

Mine probably should too. I don't mind a school that has to pay. I don't like schools paying and propping up these entities that may, but probably are not, legitimate schools of higher education that probably do not have what we would consider a legitimate athletic department. So many people were screwed by the for-profit college model, I hate that there are still these types of things out there taking money from kids and parents who think the degree will be worth something.

I can't argue with that. 

[Pat Coleman]

One thing, even if the student report misinterpreted the quote, is that the "game" is non-countable according to the NCAA (according to a list distributed by the NCAA to member institutions). So for all intents and purposes, UWO is only playing 9 games next year.

At the moment, it's only eight, actually. I am not aware of any non-conference opponent for UWO other than John Carroll and Oshkosh has yet to put a schedule on its website.

[Just Bill]

One thing, even if the student report misinterpreted the quote, is that the "game" is non-countable according to the NCAA (according to a list distributed by the NCAA to member institutions). So for all intents and purposes, UWO is only playing 9 games next year.

Here's the list you referred to..

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/ForSIDs/CountOppDefinition.pdf

[Just Bill]

In 1992, after Superior had dropped football, we paid Livingstone College (NC)  to come to WHITEWATER and fill our schedule.  We won the game 9-0.

Yes. But Livingstone College is actually a thing. It's a real college, with a campus. That is a far cry from the University of Faith. Take a look at the school website.

http://universityoffaithfl.org/

I'm sure Harvard and Yale probably use a free website from Wix.com as well...