FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bleedpurple]

UWSP getting upgrades to practice facilities.

https://wsau.com/2023/05/11/uwsp-gifted-1-million-for-field-rennovations/

Cool. I've got to believe that'll help recruiting.

Coaching staff wise, Point has the flavor of UW-0 West and Eau Claire has the flavor of UW-W North.  And both seem to be significantly upping their commitment level to football. This conference seems to be doing nothing but getting stronger!

[fredfalcon]

Was hoping after last year there would be a regular scheduling between UWRF and Saint John's. Or with Bethel. But that does not appear to be a possibility.

UWRF just.had a prospect camp at which well over seven hundred kids attended. I have heard there were over 800 but have not confirmed that with coach Walker. All were from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

[palum]

A website called Footballscoop.com has an article about UW EC's new Sonnetag Complex which will include an indoor practice facility that will be among the 10 largest college indoor facilities in the country. I had heard that EC's new coach wanted the University to commit more to the football program. Looks like he is getting his wish..

[BiggieSmalls]

A website called Footballscoop.com has an article about UW EC's new Sonnetag Complex which will include an indoor practice facility that will be among the 10 largest college indoor facilities in the country. I had heard that EC's new coach wanted the University to commit more to the football program. Looks like he is getting his wish..

Here is the article link FWIW:

https://footballscoop.com/news/d-iii-program-building-one-of-the-largest-indoor-practice-facilities-in-college-football

[The Third Division]

What do you all remember about the UW-Superior team that existed until 30 years ago?

[02 Warhawk]

What do you all remember about the UW-Superior team that existed until 30 years ago?

I bet bleed has some UW-Sup stories.

I remember vaguely hearing that UWW would have to take a train to get up there back in the day. Lack of roads or something like that.

[BDB]

What do you all remember about the UW-Superior team that existed until 30 years ago?

This will tell you a lot about the final days of the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-7OKe5HtkI

Another local news compilation from 1992: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gYVLjsBumQ

I remember the QB was very good, a transfer in from Utah of all places. I think he ended up going to Oshkosh.

There's a brand new project being built where the old football stadium stands: https://uwsyellowjackets.com/news/2022/9/14/general-uw-superior-announces-construction-of-new-on-campus-stadium.aspx

I can tell you that even without football in the fall the intercollegiate sports scene is very active. The school moved Homecoming back in the calendar to early November when the men's and women's basketball and men's and women's hockey teams are in full swing. They make sure they are all playing at home during Homecoming.

The hockey arena is very nice and  right on campus. They maintain being a WIAC member for hockey. Moving to the UMAC was smart for other sports given the size and location of the school. I have opined on the MIAC page before that I think St. Scholastica should have stayed in the UMAC for similar reasons, but that's just me.

[The Third Division]

Did some digging. Here's what I found.

The program started in 1897 and was one of the founding members of what was at the time known as the Wisconsin State University Conference that formed in 1913.

All that's known about the team was that in their early years, they were better. They won 6 conference championships, the last of which taking place in 1946.

From 1922-1929, they were led by Ira Tubbs to a 37-19-6 record equaling a 65% winning percentage.

From 1930-1942, they were led by Ted Whereatt who ended up being the programs winningest head coach at 63 wins as well as amassing the highest win percentage of 67%

The program's longest tenured coach was Mertz Mortorelli who despite being the second winningest coach of the program's history, coaching from 1954-69 and then again from 1975-1983, also amassed the programs most losses at 172. That made for a win percentage of .263.

In fact, after the program moved to D3 in 1973, their winning percentage for nearly 20 years was 11.2 percent (22 wins vs 173 losses and a tie). You could have said they were one of the worst programs in the country.

The program shut down towards the beginning of the 1992 season due to injury and lack of players.

As to why the program sucked in the last half century, I'm not sure. But I have to guess that location was a factor. The 3 nearest schools to superior are all a 2.5 drive away.

But why wasn't location a factor in the earlier years when cars were slower and we didn't have the highway system??? Perhaps the earlier players bolstered some other breed of patience or something.

[badgerwarhawk]

What do you all remember about the UW-Superior team that existed until 30 years ago?

I recall that they didn't have a large enough roster to compete. Then despite the fact the league required members to have a football program they were allowed to continue as a league member without one. 

[palum]

Congratulations to UW Platteville's Offensive Coordinator Brent Allen on his being part of this year's UW Whitewater's Hall of Fame class.

[repete]

I shared this a while ago, but Mertz Motorelli, who coached just about every thing at UWS, was a great character and a wonderful man. The story I recall was from early '80s when he was driving a football recruit around campus and when he took a corner too sharply. his door popped open and he rolled out of the car.
Superior used to get some great kids from NW Wis.
... just not enough of them.

[kubiack78]

//https://youtu.be/xQKduMjGA-M

Bad memories and a long bus ride home. That's what I remember about superior

[Gray Fox]

//https://youtu.be/xQKduMjGA-M

Bad memories and a long bus ride home. That's what I remember about superior

And bad spelling on the TV "JAKCETS".

[emma17]

Not a WIAC team in the preseason top 10, wonder how long it's been since that happened?
It will be interesting to see the conference rankings this season. Although I do believe the WIAC is the toughest from top to bottom, they may not have the top end strength- at least to start the season.

I'm glad for the #11 ranking for UWW, they've got a lot more important things to focus on- especially that offense. Hopefully 2023 is the back to the future year for the UWW offensive scheme.

[TheChucker]

Not a WIAC team in the preseason top 10, wonder how long it's been since that happened?
It will be interesting to see the conference rankings this season. Although I do believe the WIAC is the toughest from top to bottom, they may not have the top end strength- at least to start the season.

I'm glad for the #11 ranking for UWW, they've got a lot more important things to focus on- especially that offense. Hopefully 2023 is the back to the future year for the UWW offensive scheme.

Yeah, I noticed that too. I'm guessing it's a wait-and-see with the UWW staff. Both Whitewater and La Crosse will have a chance to vault into the top 10 early with some big games vs. St. Johns, UMHB and Hardin Simmons.