FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WW]

Back from Blugold 35-3 victory over Loras. Commoner fans take on the Blugolds.

As expected the defense was the star of today's game. Had a pick 6 right before half and for the most part kept Loras in check. Only 3 points Loras came away with was a FG on a drive that started at the Eau Claire 8 yard line following an INT. Nice goal line stand. Surprised they actually kicked the FG as they were down to the 3.

Offense was lackluster and except for a handful of big running plays here and there were held in check for the most part. Have not looked at the box score, but expect it to show better numbers than how we looked. I know it's a new coach and system, so hopefully as the season goes we begin to gel and execute better.

Had some chances on down field pass  plays, but our QB over threw the receiver each time.

We seemed undersized compared to Loras in all areas. I'm afraid we are going to have a tough time when we are playing against better talented teams who we are undersized against.

I know we have been trending up, but I'm afraid we may take a step back this year. My initial game 1 overreaction is I have have a hard time finding another win on the schedule. Hopefully I get surprised.

Aurora put up 600 yards and 50 points on St. Norbert. Blugolds would be my pick to win Saturday.

[WW]

The Warhawks looked pretty good. Obviously the WW defensive playbook Stan got from Craig Smith didn't help much again. LOL
The Hawks looked good and as an alum I think coach Bullis has this thing going. Hopefully this will be the year they get back to the Stagg Bowl.

WW defensive playbook-gate continues to be over rated.

It really is.  The team essentially blew it off before we even played  last year.  I can tell you that no one connected to program spent one second thinking about it this year.

Ya, these coach grudges never mean a damn thing to the kids

[emma17]

The Warhawks looked pretty good. Obviously the WW defensive playbook Stan got from Craig Smith didn't help much again. LOL
The Hawks looked good and as an alum I think coach Bullis has this thing going. Hopefully this will be the year they get back to the Stagg Bowl.

WW defensive playbook-gate continues to be over rated.

It really is.  The team essentially blew it off before we even played  last year.  I can tell you that no one connected to program spent one second thinking about it this year.

Ya, these coach grudges never mean a damn thing to the kids

Based on the variety of comments on the playbook thing, I think the issue needs to be more narrowly defined.
-Does anybody think the players thought about it before or during the game? I'm sure we'd all agree the answer is no.
-Does anyone think UD used any portion of the playbook to develop their gameplan? I'm not sure but I think there'd be very little value anyway. It's in this question that some of us have joked.
-Does anyone think the UWW staff put any thought into the playbook thing before or during the game? BW says no one connected to the program put one second of thought into it this year.
I would bet the other side of that. I'm surely not saying UWW staff was worried schematically. But I'd be highly surprised if Coach Bullis hadn't thought a single second about the involvement of former UWW coaches in this. I don't think it made one iota difference in the gameplan for either team, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a feeling of betrayal on some level.

[WW]

The Warhawks looked pretty good. Obviously the WW defensive playbook Stan got from Craig Smith didn't help much again. LOL
The Hawks looked good and as an alum I think coach Bullis has this thing going. Hopefully this will be the year they get back to the Stagg Bowl.

WW defensive playbook-gate continues to be over rated.

It really is.  The team essentially blew it off before we even played  last year.  I can tell you that no one connected to program spent one second thinking about it this year.

Ya, these coach grudges never mean a damn thing to the kids

Based on the variety of comments on the playbook thing, I think the issue needs to be more narrowly defined.
-Does anybody think the players thought about it before or during the game? I'm sure we'd all agree the answer is no.
-Does anyone think UD used any portion of the playbook to develop their gameplan? I'm not sure but I think there'd be very little value anyway. It's in this question that some of us have joked.
-Does anyone think the UWW staff put any thought into the playbook thing before or during the game? BW says no one connected to the program put one second of thought into it this year.
I would bet the other side of that. I'm surely not saying UWW staff was worried schematically. But I'd be highly surprised if Coach Bullis hadn't thought a single second about the involvement of former UWW coaches in this. I don't think it made one iota difference in the gameplan for either team, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a feeling of betrayal on some level.

I forget the details but weren't the perceived "bad guys" in this deal on the UWL staff? It's in that game I might expect a slight effect on the outcome (ie, going for two with a 30-point lead late, that kind of thing).

[02 Warhawk]

The Warhawks looked pretty good. Obviously the WW defensive playbook Stan got from Craig Smith didn't help much again. LOL
The Hawks looked good and as an alum I think coach Bullis has this thing going. Hopefully this will be the year they get back to the Stagg Bowl.

WW defensive playbook-gate continues to be over rated.

It really is.  The team essentially blew it off before we even played  last year.  I can tell you that no one connected to program spent one second thinking about it this year.

Ya, these coach grudges never mean a damn thing to the kids

Based on the variety of comments on the playbook thing, I think the issue needs to be more narrowly defined.
-Does anybody think the players thought about it before or during the game? I'm sure we'd all agree the answer is no.
-Does anyone think UD used any portion of the playbook to develop their gameplan? I'm not sure but I think there'd be very little value anyway. It's in this question that some of us have joked.
-Does anyone think the UWW staff put any thought into the playbook thing before or during the game? BW says no one connected to the program put one second of thought into it this year.
I would bet the other side of that. I'm surely not saying UWW staff was worried schematically. But I'd be highly surprised if Coach Bullis hadn't thought a single second about the involvement of former UWW coaches in this. I don't think it made one iota difference in the gameplan for either team, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a feeling of betrayal on some level.

I forget the details but weren't the perceived "bad guys" in this deal on the UWL staff? It's in that game I might expect a slight effect on the outcome (ie, going for two with a 30-point lead late, that kind of thing).

I thought Smith gave it to Dubuque when that ****** left Whitewater. Then Dubuque passed it on to a few UWW foes....like UWL. Then someone on the UWL coaching staff was caught with it as emails were made public. I think someone was fired too at UWL. Or something like that.

It pissed me off that he did something like that. Obviously it didn't make much of difference, but the act alone is what chaps my @$$. Talk about burning bridges with the intent to do something malicious to a former employer after being let go.

['95 Blugold]

Back from Blugold 35-3 victory over Loras. Commoner fans take on the Blugolds.

As expected the defense was the star of today's game. Had a pick 6 right before half and for the most part kept Loras in check. Only 3 points Loras came away with was a FG on a drive that started at the Eau Claire 8 yard line following an INT. Nice goal line stand. Surprised they actually kicked the FG as they were down to the 3.

Offense was lackluster and except for a handful of big running plays here and there were held in check for the most part. Have not looked at the box score, but expect it to show better numbers than how we looked. I know it's a new coach and system, so hopefully as the season goes we begin to gel and execute better.

Had some chances on down field pass  plays, but our QB over threw the receiver each time.

We seemed undersized compared to Loras in all areas. I'm afraid we are going to have a tough time when we are playing against better talented teams who we are undersized against.

I know we have been trending up, but I'm afraid we may take a step back this year. My initial game 1 overreaction is I have have a hard time finding another win on the schedule. Hopefully I get surprised.

Aurora put up 600 yards and 50 points on St. Norbert. Blugolds would be my pick to win Saturday.

I sure hope so, but St. Norbert will be looking to avenge last year's loss at Eau Claire. Blugolds had the game all but wrapped up until a boneheaded play call with just over 2 minutes left sparked a late St. Norbert rally in the final two minutes of regulation. Thankfully Eau Clarie pulled it out in Double OT. I don't think St. Norbert is as strong as they were last year and our defense is still very solid. I'm cautiously optimistic heading into Saturday. Hopefully I'll be able to stream and watch online.

[emma17]

The Warhawks looked pretty good. Obviously the WW defensive playbook Stan got from Craig Smith didn't help much again. LOL
The Hawks looked good and as an alum I think coach Bullis has this thing going. Hopefully this will be the year they get back to the Stagg Bowl.

WW defensive playbook-gate continues to be over rated.

It really is.  The team essentially blew it off before we even played  last year.  I can tell you that no one connected to program spent one second thinking about it this year.

Ya, these coach grudges never mean a damn thing to the kids

Based on the variety of comments on the playbook thing, I think the issue needs to be more narrowly defined.
-Does anybody think the players thought about it before or during the game? I'm sure we'd all agree the answer is no.
-Does anyone think UD used any portion of the playbook to develop their gameplan? I'm not sure but I think there'd be very little value anyway. It's in this question that some of us have joked.
-Does anyone think the UWW staff put any thought into the playbook thing before or during the game? BW says no one connected to the program put one second of thought into it this year.
I would bet the other side of that. I'm surely not saying UWW staff was worried schematically. But I'd be highly surprised if Coach Bullis hadn't thought a single second about the involvement of former UWW coaches in this. I don't think it made one iota difference in the gameplan for either team, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a feeling of betrayal on some level.

I forget the details but weren't the perceived "bad guys" in this deal on the UWL staff? It's in that game I might expect a slight effect on the outcome (ie, going for two with a 30-point lead late, that kind of thing).

I thought Smith gave it to Dubuque when that ****** left Whitewater. Then Dubuque passed it on to a few UWW foes....like UWL. Then someone on the UWL coaching staff was caught with it as emails were made public. I think someone was fired too at UWL. Or something like that.

It pissed me off that he did something like that. Obviously it didn't make much of difference, but the act alone is what chaps my @$$. Talk about burning bridges with the intent to do something malicious to a former employer after being let go.

Along these same lines 02, when Coach Bullis got the head coaching job, he had to hire the DC and OC. If I'm remembering correctly, the DC (Erickson) was friends with the OC (Smith) prior to Bullis hiring both. If I'm connecting the dots properly, it would have been Erickson's defensive playbook that Smith took and passed on to a former UWW coach at Dubuque (my recollection is there are two former UWW coaches with Dubuque), which was then sent on to UWL.
Again, I'm not trying to make a big deal of the game impact of this, but I'm with you 02 in that it seems to have all the makings of a really disloyal action from both a football and friendship perspective. I may be way off on this, for all I know Erickson and Bullis may not have an issue that Smith took and shared the playbook.
I know it's not at the same level, but when I coached youth, I put together very detailed and extensive playbooks. I would not have appreciated it if one of the coaches took and shared the books with future opponents and I likely wouldn't forget about it a year later.

[Brad]

Here we go with week 2. Great work by the WIAC in week one. Lets see what we can do in week two!

First up:
UWW vs CM- I was not impressed with CM offense Saturday against UWL. Now I do think that UWL has a legit defense. I will be interested on how UWW continues to handle the QB rotations. I just do not see this being a game. UWW 38-7.

UWO vs Salisbury- I do not know one thing about Salisbury so this will be a total bias WIAC pick. UWO wins 42-10

UWEC vs St. Norberts- Reading through the box score from UWEC and reading about UWEC offense, it does not look like they did much. They had 6 plays for over 200 yards other than that they did not have much to them. The QB play looks shaky for UWEC. UWEC plays some very good defense and after seeing Norbs giving up 50 last week I would think UWEC wins this 28-14

UW Stout vs Gustie- Stout was the most impressive WIAC week 1. They have weapons on the outside. Gustie was not tested week one by playing Martin Luther. Stout should handle this one 31-14.

Stevens Point vs Wabash- Point is the one team that I know very little about. If someone on this board could fill me or us in that would be great. Wabash in the past has been a good football team. It was a decent game last year. I think Wabash pulls an upset here 28-24

Game of the week #1
UWL vs IW- We have a top 25 preseason match up in La Crosse. It was a great game last year with UWL coming out on top. I have heard that IW has returned their top WR and QB from last year. UWL did not impress me on offense last Saturday. I am expecting a low scoring game going to IW with a score of 21-14.

Game of the week #2
UWRF vs Bethel: This would be a huge step for UWRF to have a chance at a top 15 program. I have been waiting for them to take a step for 5 years now. Bethel pounded Simpson last week 42-10. UWRF pounded UMM who is awful. Home opener for UWRF in a program game I think they turn the corner 28-17. This will be the game I attend this weekend. (wife works weekends so can drive where ever I want to catch a game  )

Best of luck to WIAC this week!

[83 Little Giant]

Here we go with week 2. Great work by the WIAC in week one. Lets see what we can do in week two!

Stevens Point vs Wabash- Point is the one team that I know very little about. If someone on this board could fill me or us in that would be great. Wabash in the past has been a good football team. It was a decent game last year. I think Wabash pulls an upset here 28-24

Best of luck to WIAC this week!

Wabash is starting late out of the gate with no game in week #1.  Not sure if a Wabash win would be an upset per se given their national ranking, but a win on the road versus a WIAC team would be considered a big win in the eyes of Wabash supporters.  Wabash has a lot of defensive gaps to fill but returns a strong running game.  Point used both QBs in a what looks to have been a close contest on the road at John Carroll. If Point can get its passing game going (which in my opinion has been Wabash's historical defensive weakness), the game will be a toss-up.   In the NCAC Pick'em, Wally has Wabash as a double-digit favorite.  I am going to take the points and hope that Wabash ends up with a well-earned road win.  Wish I was making the trip to Wisconsin this weekend but will be doing the live-stream instead. 

[MRMIKESMITH]

Here we go with week 2. Great work by the WIAC in week one. Lets see what we can do in week two!

First up:

UWO vs Salisbury- I do not know one thing about Salisbury so this will be a total bias WIAC pick. UWO wins 42-10

Not so fast my friend, the Seagulls of Salisbury will slow down the game similar to how Army did against Michigan, with Seagulls coming out with the win, Salisbury 24 v. UW-Oshkosh 21 in a thriller on the Shore. Bias pick nevertheless

[WW]

Here we go with week 2. Great work by the WIAC in week one. Lets see what we can do in week two!

First up:
UWW vs CM- I was not impressed with CM offense Saturday against UWL. Now I do think that UWL has a legit defense. I will be interested on how UWW continues to handle the QB rotations. I just do not see this being a game. UWW 38-7.

UWO vs Salisbury- I do not know one thing about Salisbury so this will be a total bias WIAC pick. UWO wins 42-10

UWEC vs St. Norberts- Reading through the box score from UWEC and reading about UWEC offense, it does not look like they did much. They had 6 plays for over 200 yards other than that they did not have much to them. The QB play looks shaky for UWEC. UWEC plays some very good defense and after seeing Norbs giving up 50 last week I would think UWEC wins this 28-14

UW Stout vs Gustie- Stout was the most impressive WIAC week 1. They have weapons on the outside. Gustie was not tested week one by playing Martin Luther. Stout should handle this one 31-14.

Stevens Point vs Wabash- Point is the one team that I know very little about. If someone on this board could fill me or us in that would be great. Wabash in the past has been a good football team. It was a decent game last year. I think Wabash pulls an upset here 28-24

Game of the week #1
UWL vs IW- We have a top 25 preseason match up in La Crosse. It was a great game last year with UWL coming out on top. I have heard that IW has returned their top WR and QB from last year. UWL did not impress me on offense last Saturday. I am expecting a low scoring game going to IW with a score of 21-14.

Game of the week #2
UWRF vs Bethel: This would be a huge step for UWRF to have a chance at a top 15 program. I have been waiting for them to take a step for 5 years now. Bethel pounded Simpson last week 42-10. UWRF pounded UMM who is awful. Home opener for UWRF in a program game I think they turn the corner 28-17. This will be the game I attend this weekend. (wife works weekends so can drive where ever I want to catch a game  )

Best of luck to WIAC this week!

I think C-M will put up a better fight than Dubuque. I also think Oles did nothing to lose what appears to be a pretty good grip on QB1 even though Meylor played significant downs. Bottom line, though: 10 series for Oles, 4 for Meylor. UWW wins comfortably.

Salisbury manages to miss the playoffs most years but they're right on the brink of being a top Eastern program. I think they beat UWO, which was better than the 1-point win over Carthage appears, but still is missing some of the pieces to re-take its place among the nation's best again, particularly up front.

I see a UWEC win too, but in a track meet. Bet the over.... WAY over...

Yeah, Stout's my sleeper this year. I think they own this one.

Point gave JCU a pretty good scrap, but lost QB1 Herro to injury late in that one. I don't know his status, but Urmanski, the backup, has experience, and if I remember right had the job last year for a while before going down with an injury. Point can win with him. I'll go with the Pointers here.

Just not feeling UWL quite yet, although beating C-M should not be easily dismissed. Not much of a book on IWU given this is their opener, but its a quality program from a quality conference. Coin flip, but leaning IWU.

I like Bethel here, and really think they are right on a par with their more celebrated conference members, although I still scratch my head about last year's relatively close affair between these two. I just don't think UWRF has the horses.

[hazzben]

I like Bethel here, and really think they are right on a par with their more celebrated conference members, although I still scratch my head about last year's relatively close affair between these two. I just don't think UWRF has the horses.

Bethel's QB Roste was starting his first game vs. UWRF last year. And he got knocked out and didn't finish. I think that's the major story line. Healthy Roste with a year of starting under his belt is a major difference from a year ago IMO.

[Bofadeeznuts]

I dont know much about Salisbury either. But I do know I enjoy salisbury steak. In fact I think I'm going to have that tonight with mashed taters, gravy, pickles, ring bologna, squash and sardines. And maybe top it off with to or tree dozen Budweisers.

[USee]

Just not feeling UWL quite yet, although beating C-M should not be easily dismissed. Not much of a book on IWU given this is their opener, but its a quality program from a quality conference. Coin flip, but leaning IWU.

IWU will bring a veteran offense with a 3 yr starter at QB and a group of WR's that I believe will be considered one of the better groups in the country. They run a ton of RPO and the QB is very good at it. He is a bit of a gunslinger and can make some crazy good throws and occasionally some crazy stupid ones. Their WR's are tall and strong. They will  challenge anybody and I expect them to throw it around a lot. RB is new and 3 OL are new, but all the OL that will play have experience and were part of the 2 deep last year. This offense will test any defense I believe. They have a new Def Coordinator with some interesting pieces. I have heard mixed things about what they will do on defense (the same as last year vs more of a bump and run pressure type scheme). They have 2 good corners a couple good DL and 2 veteran LB's. The others that will play are mostly returning players from the 2 deep.  IWU is a team that could challenge NCC and Wheaton for the conference title this year in the CCIW.

I can't decide if this will be a shootout or a defensive battle.

[emma17]

Here we go with week 2. Great work by the WIAC in week one. Lets see what we can do in week two!

First up:
UWW vs CM- I was not impressed with CM offense Saturday against UWL. Now I do think that UWL has a legit defense. I will be interested on how UWW continues to handle the QB rotations. I just do not see this being a game. UWW 38-7.

UWO vs Salisbury- I do not know one thing about Salisbury so this will be a total bias WIAC pick. UWO wins 42-10

UWEC vs St. Norberts- Reading through the box score from UWEC and reading about UWEC offense, it does not look like they did much. They had 6 plays for over 200 yards other than that they did not have much to them. The QB play looks shaky for UWEC. UWEC plays some very good defense and after seeing Norbs giving up 50 last week I would think UWEC wins this 28-14

UW Stout vs Gustie- Stout was the most impressive WIAC week 1. They have weapons on the outside. Gustie was not tested week one by playing Martin Luther. Stout should handle this one 31-14.

Stevens Point vs Wabash- Point is the one team that I know very little about. If someone on this board could fill me or us in that would be great. Wabash in the past has been a good football team. It was a decent game last year. I think Wabash pulls an upset here 28-24

Game of the week #1
UWL vs IW- We have a top 25 preseason match up in La Crosse. It was a great game last year with UWL coming out on top. I have heard that IW has returned their top WR and QB from last year. UWL did not impress me on offense last Saturday. I am expecting a low scoring game going to IW with a score of 21-14.

Game of the week #2
UWRF vs Bethel: This would be a huge step for UWRF to have a chance at a top 15 program. I have been waiting for them to take a step for 5 years now. Bethel pounded Simpson last week 42-10. UWRF pounded UMM who is awful. Home opener for UWRF in a program game I think they turn the corner 28-17. This will be the game I attend this weekend. (wife works weekends so can drive where ever I want to catch a game  )

Best of luck to WIAC this week!

Your picks were very good last week Brad, I see your logic in these as well, except 1- watch out for Salisbury as some others have said. They take the air out of the ball and make it tough for the opposing offense to get opportunities.