FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

WW--It's just good to even be in the conversation at this point in the year! The Isthmus Bowl is most likely the reward for a win at Oshkosh.

I had to google Isthmus Bowl.  Sounds like a cool idea.  Would like to see a similar game between MIAC and American Rivers.

I had the same thought earlier this year. That'd be a fun and logical matchup.

Sounds like the MIAC has been approached but is opposed to a postseason bowl game on philosophical grounds.

[bleedpurple]

Maybe the biggest play of the game was UWL offensive lineman w a false start at UWW 1 yard line- forcing a field goal attempt.

It would be really cherry picking to say that play was any more crucial than the three consecutive plays before that in which the Warhawks stopped the Eagles from the one yard line. But it's pretty unsurprising to see you pick out a "biggest play of the game" that would give UW-W absolutely no credit.

I see it different. In four down territory from the 1, a coaching staff likely has a 4-play plan. Throw the fade on first and if it fails, go mono a mono on the next three plays. Since the last play of the plan didn't happen due to a silly false start, in my mind that mistake absolutely deserves consideration as the biggest play of the game. The perfect deep ball from Meylor to Holte is another for consideration.

Fair enough. However, if the Warhawk defense hadn't held the Eagles out of the end zone for three straight plays, the possible "biggest play of the game" never would have happened. To me all four could be given equal weight, since any one of them would have resulted in points on the board from UW-L. But beyond that, there was a ton of time left in the game at that point. We have no idea how things would have played out had they scored.  I would submit Egon Hein batting the ball away on the last play of the game as the "biggest play of the game." There were zeros on the clock after that one. The Eagles complete that pass and the outcome is determined without UW-W having recourse. Hard to get bigger than that.

[badgerwarhawk]

Maybe the biggest play of the game was UWL offensive lineman w a false start at UWW 1 yard line- forcing a field goal attempt.

It would be really cherry picking to say that play was any more crucial than the three consecutive plays before that in which the Warhawks stopped the Eagles from the one yard line. But it's pretty unsurprising to see you pick out a "biggest play of the game" that would give UW-W absolutely no credit.

I see it different. In four down territory from the 1, a coaching staff likely has a 4-play plan. Throw the fade on first and if it fails, go mono a mono on the next three plays. Since the last play of the plan didn't happen due to a silly false start, in my mind that mistake absolutely deserves consideration as the biggest play of the game. The perfect deep ball from Meylor to Holte is another for consideration.

Fair enough. However, if the Warhawk defense hadn't held the Eagles out of the end zone for three straight plays, the possible "biggest play of the game" never would have happened. To me all four could be given equal weight, since any one of them would have resulted in points on the board from UW-L. But beyond that, there was a ton of time left in the game at that point. We have no idea how things would have played out had they scored.  I would submit Egon Hein batting the ball away on the last play of the game as the "biggest play of the game." There were zeros on the clock after that one. The Eagles complete that pass and the outcome is determined without UW-W having recourse. Hard to get bigger than that.

Maybe the biggest play was when the field goal attempt failed.  I tend to agree with Bleed on this one.  Making a huge play which saves a W with 00's on the clock is about as big as you can get.  Any big play you make in the first quarter is important and you can say big but your opponent still has at least 45 minutes to recover from it.   

[02 Warhawk]

My vote is for the batted down ball. As soon as the ball was thrown, my eyes immediately darted to the endzone. I remember seeing their WR had our DB boxed out, putting himself in great position to make the catch. I think murmured "oh sh**" before the ball got there. With the ref right there on the goal line, not 10 feet from the UWL WR, he had a clear visual of the play. When the ball was batted down the WR just sat on the field with his head down and arms resting on his knees. He wasn't jumping up and down pleading for a flag. He knew it was a clean play, the ref correctly kept his flag in his pocket.

Just an all around great defensive play.

[OzJohnnie]

I also vote the ref's reluctant fingers the biggest play of the game.

[bleedpurple]

My vote is for the batted down ball. As soon as the ball was thrown, my eyes immediately darted to the endzone. I remember seeing their WR had our DB boxed out, putting himself in great position to make the catch. I think murmured "oh sh**" before the ball got there. With the ref right there on the goal line, not 10 feet from the UWL WR, he had a clear visual of the play. When the ball was batted down the WR just sat on the field with his head down and arms resting on his knees. He wasn't jumping up and down pleading for a flag. He knew it was a clean play, the ref correctly kept his flag in his pocket.

Just an all around great defensive play.

And when the ball left the QB's hand, didn't everything suddenly seem to go into super slow motion?  Time seemed suspended.

[02 Warhawk]

Lol. Pretty much. I think I was the only one in the stands not cheering as the play unfolded. I was sitting with my hands covering my mouth.

The game brought back nightmares of when UWSP scored a late TD to beat us on homecoming 17-16 in 2008. Same endzone too.

[badgerwarhawk]

My vote is for the batted down ball. As soon as the ball was thrown, my eyes immediately darted to the endzone. I remember seeing their WR had our DB boxed out, putting himself in great position to make the catch. I think murmured "oh sh**" before the ball got there. With the ref right there on the goal line, not 10 feet from the UWL WR, he had a clear visual of the play. When the ball was batted down the WR just sat on the field with his head down and arms resting on his knees. He wasn't jumping up and down pleading for a flag. He knew it was a clean play, the ref correctly kept his flag in his pocket.

Just an all around great defensive play.

And when the ball left the QB's hand, didn't everything suddenly seem to go into super slow motion?  Time seemed suspended.

Trust me time was moving.  I made sure of it.   

[bleedpurple]

My vote is for the batted down ball. As soon as the ball was thrown, my eyes immediately darted to the endzone. I remember seeing their WR had our DB boxed out, putting himself in great position to make the catch. I think murmured "oh sh**" before the ball got there. With the ref right there on the goal line, not 10 feet from the UWL WR, he had a clear visual of the play. When the ball was batted down the WR just sat on the field with his head down and arms resting on his knees. He wasn't jumping up and down pleading for a flag. He knew it was a clean play, the ref correctly kept his flag in his pocket.

Just an all around great defensive play.

And when the ball left the QB's hand, didn't everything suddenly seem to go into super slow motion?  Time seemed suspended.

Trust me time was moving.  I made sure of it.   

If you hadn't burned off three seconds when the QB extended the play, rolled right, and threw a pass 37 yards in the air, we might have had you pack up and go back to La Crosse on their bus! 

One thing that hasn't been mentioned, I LOVE the fact we sent six guys rushing the QB on that last play. We chased him backwards. Even though the line of scrimmage was the 18, he threw the ball moving backwards from the 34.

[emma17]

Maybe the biggest play of the game was UWL offensive lineman w a false start at UWW 1 yard line- forcing a field goal attempt.

It would be really cherry picking to say that play was any more crucial than the three consecutive plays before that in which the Warhawks stopped the Eagles from the one yard line. But it's pretty unsurprising to see you pick out a "biggest play of the game" that would give UW-W absolutely no credit.

I see it different. In four down territory from the 1, a coaching staff likely has a 4-play plan. Throw the fade on first and if it fails, go mono a mono on the next three plays. Since the last play of the plan didn't happen due to a silly false start, in my mind that mistake absolutely deserves consideration as the biggest play of the game. The perfect deep ball from Meylor to Holte is another for consideration.

Fair enough. However, if the Warhawk defense hadn't held the Eagles out of the end zone for three straight plays, the possible "biggest play of the game" never would have happened. To me all four could be given equal weight, since any one of them would have resulted in points on the board from UW-L. But beyond that, there was a ton of time left in the game at that point. We have no idea how things would have played out had they scored.  I would submit Egon Hein batting the ball away on the last play of the game as the "biggest play of the game." There were zeros on the clock after that one. The Eagles complete that pass and the outcome is determined without UW-W having recourse. Hard to get bigger than that.

Maybe the biggest play was when the field goal attempt failed.  I tend to agree with Bleed on this one.  Making a huge play which saves a W with 00's on the clock is about as big as you can get.  Any big play you make in the first quarter is important and you can say big but your opponent still has at least 45 minutes to recover from it.

I agree there are other candidates for THE play of the game, with Hein's last play pass defense an obvious consideration. I also understand the idea that there was a whole lot of time left at the point UWL had the false start. That said, we get to pick plays of the game with hindsight. Hein's pass breakup is never needed if the odds played out - which I believe favor UWL scoring from the 1 (assuming they ran the ball a third straight time and converted the extra point). I know UWW would have had to play differently from behind.

Anyway, I agree there are options for THE play, for me the false start is right there with them.
I also agree the defensive decision to rush the QB on the last play was huge and a difference maker. The D and D coaches are A+ this season.

[57Johnnie]

milehighreport.com
Denver OL reserves shine.

[WW]

New regional rankings are out... Oshkosh won't like it much and I can't blame 'em. Leapfrogged by the Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus. Each beat a lower tier conference team last week, and each got a boost in RRO when one of their vanquished NC foes slid into the regional rankings this week (Wartburg for GA, Huntingdon for UWO).

But Oshkosh was ranked last week and Gus was not. Why the flip-flop? The .007 SOS differential? Really? I get Gus replacing Whitworth in the top 8 although I thought River Falls had a considerable case. The Falcons' SOS is a little squishy.

In any event, it looks more certain than ever that it's UWO vs UWRF Saturday for a berth in the Butter Burger Bowl.

[USee]

The Six RAC knows what they are doing. They know 2 Wiac teams are in and no chance of a third.  So they are positioning for the chance that 2 MIAC teams will get the nod with potential home games in the mix

[WW]

The Six RAC knows what they are doing. They know 2 Wiac teams are in and no chance of a third.  So they are positioning for the chance that 2 MIAC teams will get the nod with potential home games in the mix

So you're saying they have an anti-WIAC bias, criteria be damned?

[USee]

The Six RAC knows what they are doing. They know 2 Wiac teams are in and no chance of a third.  So they are positioning for the chance that 2 MIAC teams will get the nod with potential home games in the mix

So you're saying they have an anti-WIAC bias, criteria be damned?

On the contrary,  the national committee is made up of RAC members from every region. I don't remember a time in history that 3 teams from one region got at large bids. If that's a reality (and maybe it isn't) the RAC's job is to position their region for the most success and a second MIAC team is a stronger bet than a third WIAC. The criteria are not a bible, they are a blueprint. And the bottom of the regional rankings isn't necessarily about merit, it's much more about what can be done to strengthen the resume of the top teams.

Plenty of examples of RAC's ranking the bottom teams based on merit to give team XXX a prayer and all it does is hurt their better teams by weakening resume for seeding and Pool C.