FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

I attempted to move the discussion away from Pool C selections in my question to WW because I see he and USee have logical positions based on “criteria”.

I’m interested in where we think they rank. I’d rank them exactly where they are at 6- and wouldn’t be surprised if they could beat all 5. Not saying they will but could.
I don’t understand the position people take about not looking at 2019. They were a great team in 2019 and beat one of the most dominating Stagg Bowl champions we’ve seen in a long time. And then they went and returned a bunch of those players.
I’ve always been a “multi-year” body of work guy when it comes to rankings and seedings though.

I'm the opposite on the legacy of a team's impact on the current assessment.  It's seems to be treated as dispositive, ie, a team that was once good is always good.  I think it's a good primer for orienting one's initial perspective on the field but after that first look the criteria should be dropped and the teams judged on their current year performance only.  2019 was 2019.  This is 2021 so judge them on their performance in 2021.

SOS, etc, was added to provide transparency and rigour to a post-season nomination process that seemed far too "boys' club".  It was a mechanism to reduce the amount of 'voodoo' happening in the committee room.  But now by adding an explicit voodoo assessment, prior year performance however the committee judges it, and seemingly elevating it to the most important criteria as the more objective, transparent critiria don't provide clear differentiation, we are right back into the "boys' club" scenario.

If a team that dominated in 2019 also dominated in 2021 then the record will speak to that.  If the record does not speak to that then that is the problem of the team in 2021.  If the opportunities for out of conference play are limited then take those limited chances to make sure the record speaks clearly.  Don't play the bottom of the MWC and then cry poor and elevate the performance of 2019 as compensation.  It's hard?  Them's the breaks.

The fact is that if you want high seeds and guaranteed selections into pool C then you have to play top 10 teams with your open dates.  The mega teams will have to play the mega teams on the non-conference dates.  Mega teams that don't choose that path will risk losing out to middle of the pack teams who play slightly better competition. Call it the burden of being elite.  You have to be elite all year.

[wally_wabash]

Wheaton's 2019 playoff performance is entirely moot because that criteria applies only to undefeated teams. 

[USee]

It's moot relative to the committee and the criteria but it's relevant to amateurs like us on these boards.  Wheaton can't schedule like Aurora because they play in a league that's usually extremely tough to win. Scheduling for a lot of teams can be challenging. Wheaton scheduled NW about 4 years ago when they were on a run of 9 straight years at 9-2/6-4.  It's so happened this year the league was down and NW was no good. They played Monmouth a couple years and that worked out really well for SOS. I am sure Wheaton would be more than happy top lay Chicago, Lake forest and the like. When they call them it's crickets.  Coach Swider always wanted to schedule top tier teams from middle tier conferences.  Those teams don't want to play Wheaton anymore.  We'll see how Jesse Scott approaches scheduling. I do know in early 2020 he was looking to swap out NW for a tougher opponent but found no takers.

The 2019 discussion for Wheaton is interesting. They have the exact same defensive front 7 that was #1 defense in the country.  That front seven has played the same way this year. It stands to reason they are gonna be tough on any of the top 10 teams. They have 3 of 5 OL and same QB but they haven't been as good in passing game.  NCC throttled the pass game of this team. The QB is off from his 2019 numbers. I don't know why. For those reasons I think Wheaton should be ranked 6-8. 

[USee]

By the way the only time I have ever seen Wheaton references including "because they're Wheaton" or "because they're special" is in WW's posts. Its not a thing and never has been. I have no idea why he keeps saying it. They have never gotten any special treatment or preference by the committee, on here, by the d3.com team or anywhere.

[emma17]

Great way to end the undefeated regular season. Congratulations UWW football.

[MasterJedi]

River Falls punched their ticket as the third best team in the WIAC. Best season in over a quarter century.

[GBMAN]

Congrats UW-W football

[emma17]

River Falls punched their ticket as the third best team in the WIAC. Best season in over a quarter century.

I was a big fan of UWRF this season. Congrats to them for such a terrific season. I hope they finish strong next week vs CCIW.

[DuffMan]

Congrats to the Warhawks, yet again.  Nice to see RF have a good season, too.

[KitchenSink]

Nice win for LL, Kansas went into Texas today and got a win. Good for them.

Looking forward to playoffs at the Perk!

[bleedpurple]

Kansas 57
Texas 56

Kansas ends 56 game road Big 12 losing streak.
Kansas wins in Austin for the first time EVER!

LL doing his thing.

[emma17]

Nice win for LL, Kansas went into Texas today and got a win. Good for them.

Looking forward to playoffs at the Perk!

Set the recording for this game for 4 hours. At the 4 hour mark, Kansas scored their OT touchdown, and my recording ended. YouTube to the rescue but it was kind of nice to have the break before the 2 point conversion, gave the wife and I time to debate what we'd do.

I tapped into one of the Kansas fan chat rooms. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions and comments. At 14-0 it was LL for president. At 49-49 it was LL has to go. At 57-56 it was lifetime contract for LL!

[Just the stats]

For only the second time since 1996, there were no ties in the final WIAC standings. Every team lost to the school above it in the standings and beat those below it.

[57Johnnie]

Meinerz starting.

[02 Warhawk]

Wow, is it just me or is the bracket pretty lopsided? NCC and Mount won't break much of a sweat getting to the semi's. Meanwhile, on the other side, there could be at least 6 teams have a case to make it there. MHB, SJU, UWW, Wheaton, Linfield, Bethel  and maybe even Central. Brutal.

I like UWW's first two rounds, but Wheaton kind of scares me. Gonna be tough.