FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[USee]

I Googled #8 for UWW and came across Jordan Wells, and glad I did as it brings back fond memories. He was one of a group of three great receivers (Rusch, Wells and Brandes) and made a big contribution in 2008 and 2009. He actually led the receivers in TD's in 2009. QB Donovan completed 72% of his passes that year- and his backup, Matt Blanchard, 71% (that's why he was backup).

The 2009 Stagg Bowl vs Mt was an incredible all-around experience.

that 10 year war was peak D3FB, all time D3 squads going at it each year with only four years of eligibility

Yep.  It seems like a Mount/UW-W Stagg Bowl in the year the Stagg Bowl returns to Salem would be fitting!

Sure would. In those days, the selection committee did a great job keeping the teams on opposite sides of the bracket. I'm assuming the committee wouldn't prioritize that this year. If UWW makes the playoffs, we may have a 2015 repeat in terms of homefield (not result of course).

You might be right. But in my mind it's an open question. If we win out, people might be shocked how highly we are "seeded". I'm pretty sure the #1 overall seed last year was a one loss St. John's. if UMHB and St. John's win out and John Carroll takes care of business (even being competitive against Mount and winning the others), our criteria will still be very strong, in spite of a last play loss on a 51 yard FG.

Difference is last year the returning champ had 1 loss headed into the tourney. NCC is likely an undefeated returning champ. I don't remember the full history here but I think if they aren't the #1 seed that would be unprecedented no?

[bleedpurple]

I Googled #8 for UWW and came across Jordan Wells, and glad I did as it brings back fond memories. He was one of a group of three great receivers (Rusch, Wells and Brandes) and made a big contribution in 2008 and 2009. He actually led the receivers in TD's in 2009. QB Donovan completed 72% of his passes that year- and his backup, Matt Blanchard, 71% (that's why he was backup).

The 2009 Stagg Bowl vs Mt was an incredible all-around experience.

that 10 year war was peak D3FB, all time D3 squads going at it each year with only four years of eligibility

Yep.  It seems like a Mount/UW-W Stagg Bowl in the year the Stagg Bowl returns to Salem would be fitting!

Sure would. In those days, the selection committee did a great job keeping the teams on opposite sides of the bracket. I'm assuming the committee wouldn't prioritize that this year. If UWW makes the playoffs, we may have a 2015 repeat in terms of homefield (not result of course).

You might be right. But in my mind it's an open question. If we win out, people might be shocked how highly we are "seeded". I'm pretty sure the #1 overall seed last year was a one loss St. John's. if UMHB and St. John's win out and John Carroll takes care of business (even being competitive against Mount and winning the others), our criteria will still be very strong, in spite of a last play loss on a 51 yard FG.

Difference is last year the returning champ had 1 loss headed into the tourney. NCC is likely an undefeated returning champ. I don't remember the full history here but I think if they aren't the #1 seed that would be unprecedented no?

Not sure, actually. But, I wasn't implying that UW-W would be the #1 seed this year. Looking back on 2015, we got sent to Wheaton in Rd. 2. Our only non-conference game that counted was a win against 2-8 Bellhaven. This year, we also have a loss, but our non-con games were all wins against UMHB, St. John's, and John Carroll. If UMHB beats Hardin-Simmons and St. John's doesn't stumble again, that looks very likely to be three wins against regionally ranked teams. Add in our overall strength of schedule and i'd like to think our criteria would get us a better seed than 2015.  However, one thing I know for sure, "what I'd like to think" doesn't always match up with "what is". 

[Pat Coleman]

The committee's No. 1 overall seed has been an interesting construct over the years. It isn't always the defending champ even if the champ is unbeaten. But it's also a moot point because it's not like you get to host the Stagg Bowl with it.

[uwwcontra2007]

A question for WW fans I plan on going to the WW-Platteville game Saturday. I used to park in the lot down by the baseball stadium for free. It's been 3-4 years is that lat still there and given the large crowds WW gets do you have to  pay to park? Thanks

One place I've parked in recent years, even on a Football Saturday, is near Upham Hall.  The lot entrance is right on Prairie St, or you can enter on Starin.  It's a bit of a walk to get to the stadium, but it's a great walk past the bookstore and the north part of campus.

I will be seeing you there!  You'll find me with a big silver sousaphone on, as it's Alumni Band day!

[palum]

A question for WW fans I plan on going to the WW-Platteville game Saturday. I used to park in the lot down by the baseball stadium for free. It's been 3-4 years is that lat still there and given the large crowds WW gets do you have to  pay to park? Thanks

One place I've parked in recent years, even on a Football Saturday, is near Upham Hall.  The lot entrance is right on Prairie St, or you can enter on Starin.  It's a bit of a walk to get to the stadium, but it's a great walk past the bookstore and the north part of campus.

I will be seeing you there!  You'll find me with a big silver sousaphone on, as it's Alumni Band day!

Thanks for the info I'll be wearing orange

[retagent]

A question for WW fans I plan on going to the WW-Platteville game Saturday. I used to park in the lot down by the baseball stadium for free. It's been 3-4 years is that lat still there and given the large crowds WW gets do you have to  pay to park? Thanks

One place I've parked in recent years, even on a Football Saturday, is near Upham Hall.  The lot entrance is right on Prairie St, or you can enter on Starin.  It's a bit of a walk to get to the stadium, but it's a great walk past the bookstore and the north part of campus.

I will be seeing you there!  You'll find me with a big silver sousaphone on, as it's Alumni Band day!

A big "Thanks" for the retro Sousaphone reference.

[bleedpurple]

So, if I'm reading the WIAC tie-breaker correctly, if River Falls, La Crosse, and Whitewater all make the playoffs this year and next year they tie for the championship at 7-1, and their head to head records with each other are all 1-1, then to determine the Pool A team, we will be down to "Random selection by the commissioner."

[uwwcontra2007]

A question for WW fans I plan on going to the WW-Platteville game Saturday. I used to park in the lot down by the baseball stadium for free. It's been 3-4 years is that lat still there and given the large crowds WW gets do you have to  pay to park? Thanks

One place I've parked in recent years, even on a Football Saturday, is near Upham Hall.  The lot entrance is right on Prairie St, or you can enter on Starin.  It's a bit of a walk to get to the stadium, but it's a great walk past the bookstore and the north part of campus.

I will be seeing you there!  You'll find me with a big silver sousaphone on, as it's Alumni Band day!

A big "Thanks" for the retro Sousaphone reference.

I mean.... I would rather play one of UWW's Contras (hence the screen name), but the Sousaphone is mine, and has more applications in a performing musician's world.

See you all tomorrow!

[emma17]

So, if I'm reading the WIAC tie-breaker correctly, if River Falls, La Crosse, and Whitewater all make the playoffs this year and next year they tie for the championship at 7-1, and their head to head records with each other are all 1-1, then to determine the Pool A team, we will be down to "Random selection by the commissioner."

I wouldn't want to be the commissioner in that scenario.
Are we settled on the protocol for a three team tie-break for this year if it happens?

[bleedpurple]

So, if I'm reading the WIAC tie-breaker correctly, if River Falls, La Crosse, and Whitewater all make the playoffs this year and next year they tie for the championship at 7-1, and their head to head records with each other are all 1-1, then to determine the Pool A team, we will be down to "Random selection by the commissioner."

I wouldn't want to be the commissioner in that scenario.
Are we settled on the protocol for a three team tie-break for this year if it happens?

I think so.  If it occcurs the way we'd expect, (UW-RF, UW-W, and UW-L tied at 6-1), the WIAC Handbooks says:

The first criteria is: "Head to Head results between all tied teams".  All three would have 1-1 records for this scenario to play out. So we move to the next criteria:

'Tied teams are to be eliminated in reverse order of their last playoff beginning with the 1991 season."

La Crosse and UW-W both went to the playoffs last year, so River Falls will be awarded the Pool A bid.

La Crosse and UW-W will both enter Pool C with the Regional and ultimately the national committee to decide whether to take neither of them, one of them, or both of them.  They both would have pretty strong cases, especially UW-W. 

[Pat Coleman]

And that would leave the Region 6 committee with a conundrum -- rank UWL higher based on the H2H, or perhaps UWW higher because UWW is probably a better at-large candidate nationally?

Chatted about this type of thing with the committee chair this week in our bonus podcast:
https://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2023/10/26/atn-podcast-340-a-chat-with-the-chair/

[bleedpurple]

And that would leave the Region 6 committee with a conundrum -- rank UWL higher based on the H2H, or perhaps UWW higher because UWW is probably a better at-large candidate nationally?

Chatted about this type of thing with the committee chair this week in our bonus podcast:
https://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2023/10/26/atn-podcast-340-a-chat-with-the-chair/

Yes, great job on that podcast, Pat!  You did a great job of pressing into the real issues and questions people who follow D-III want to know. I love how bold you were in challenging their thinking in a couple of areas!  Well done!

I'd recommend giving it a listen!

[timmyturtle]

If RF beats LaCrosse and we have a 3 way tie and RF gets the AQ, there is no way to reasonably argue that La Crosse should be regionally ranked ahead of UWW, you would have to sell your soul to the "head to head is the only thing that counts" argument which opens the door for Hardin Simmons to walk right through if they lose to Mary Hardin.  Additionally, there is no way La Crosse stays ranked ahead of UWW if they lose to River Falls, head to head obviously counts when you both have the same number of losses, more losses matter more than head to head.

[Pat Coleman]

The committee can count H2H however they want. There's no guidelines on when it counts and when it doesn't.

[bleedpurple]

If RF beats LaCrosse and we have a 3 way tie and RF gets the AQ, there is no way to reasonably argue that La Crosse should be regionally ranked ahead of UWW, you would have to sell your soul to the "head to head is the only thing that counts" argument which opens the door for Hardin Simmons to walk right through if they lose to Mary Hardin.  Additionally, there is no way La Crosse stays ranked ahead of UWW if they lose to River Falls, head to head obviously counts when you both have the same number of losses, more losses matter more than head to head.

Pat is right. The committee can do whatever they want.  And you are right, too. A committee would indeed have to be sold out on the idea of "head to head is the only thing that counts" to pick a 6-2 La Crosse with a likely 1-1  or 1-2 record (depending on Hardin-Simmons) against regionally ranked opponents over a 9-1 UW-W with a likely 3-1 or 4-1 record (depending on UMHB) against regionally ranked opponents
The good news is the National Chair seemed to make it clear he wanted the RAC's to look at the "Full picture" (IE all of the Primary Criteria) in ranking the teams in each region.