FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[voice]

The best player that I have seen in the past 10 years in the WIAC is Derrick LeVake. He was a man among boys playing his left tackle position for Whitewater in the mid-1990s.  He WAS good!

[three3s]

Are we serious here? What are we gauging the best WIAC player on? The only thing that matters is where you can end up at the end of all of this.  Just because you can have a good game or a good year doesn't make you the best player.  I didn't think we were asking who was the best leader in the WIAC (macaldo) . If you had to answer that question asked how can you not leave it at Tony Beckham. He is a player that is playing at the ultimate level the NFL (after having a torn ACL). Obviously the higher level has answered that question for us. He is the best everyone else is just a good d3 football player.

[wiacfbgrad]

The best player in the WIAC in the past 10 years would have to be Clint Kriewaldt.  Hands down.  The awards, the stats, the professional career (is he still playing for the Steelers this year?).  I don't know what he was like off the field, but he was dominant on the field.

On the topic of Platteville (or as some people would like to say- Cuba City community college).  I am really amazed that Emendorfer's head hasn't rolled yet.  In the first 3 years of his job, he was always saying that it wasn't his recruiting class, and when he gets his players, they will be great.  Now after 2 or 3 years, he is still no better than Kinder used to be.  But then again, I don't know if the changes should start from higher up, such as the AD.  

I remember when Emendorfer was hired, the other coach they were looking at was a quarterback's coach out of Iowa State.  The AD said they didn't want him because he thought the coach wouldn't know what it was like to work on a limited D3 budget.  That coach went 5-5 last year and is currently 7-2 this year.  His team- UW-Oshkosh!  Looks like UWP dropped the ball on that one too!

[John Gleich]

Re: Kriewaldt

He is still playing for the Steelers... he played in the game against the Packers yesterday and actually got two tackles (I heard his name while the game was going on and figured it was probably him... and it was).

Here are his stats for the year:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4827

[Eagle Cynic]

To defend Mocadlo-

The topic was the best WIAC player, not the best WIAC player to play in the pros.  I don't know who has played college ball on this chat board but if you have, you know how big of a decision it is to go on playing football afterward...
not only do you have to put in countless hours working out and travelling but you
1)  have to put relationships on hold;
2)  you have to weigh whether or not you're life would be better with competitive football in it. 
3)  Is it worth waking up and feeling broken for months at a time? 
4)  Is it worth sacrificing a future of playing ball with your kids because your ankles and knees have so much scar tissue you can't bear to jog on them?

Also being a leader is a part of a great player. I don't know how Beckham was up there at Stout (Yes he is very good and I'm impressed with him) but if you don't believe me, look at Tom Brady now I hate the Patriots, but that guy isn't as talented at football as he is at leading a group of guys. 

If you forgot, Mocadlo was some degree of all-conference as a Freshman then was hurt for a little bit, then overlooked (one of Larry Terry's worst mistakes)  His last couple of years were outstanding.  He has the stats, the leadership and the reputation for being a classy, hard-nosed football player. He put up like 170 against Mount Union in 2003. Who else can claim that in the past 15 years?

I bet in 20 years, more guys are going to remember being run over by Mocadlo than being picked off by T-Beck.  I know impossible to prove but think about it,  every QB throws INT's but not every LB and DB and most DL can say that one guy looked him straight in the eye and put his lights out. 

[warhawkguy]

Are we serious here? What are we gauging the best WIAC player on? The only thing that matters is where you can end up at the end of all of this.  Just because you can have a good game or a good year doesn't make you the best player.  I didn't think we were asking who was the best leader in the WIAC (macaldo) . If you had to answer that question asked how can you not leave it at Tony Beckham. He is a player that is playing at the ultimate level the NFL (after having a torn ACL). Obviously the higher level has answered that question for us. He is the best everyone else is just a good d3 football player.

Before you say that you should check out Mike Maslowski's (sp?) NFL career.  He started several years for the Chief so if that's the gauge you're going to use he's got it over on Beckham.  Not to mention the LaCrosse offensive lineman who was an all-pro offensive guard more  (Newkirk, maybe?).  He did play over 10 years ago however.

As SP mentioned Kriewaldt is another with a longer, more productive NFL career.

Tony Beckham was an excellent player, I won't argue that but there have been others with longer NFL careers.  And how do you top a player who achieved All-Pro status?

[hawkshawkshawks]

Eagle Cynic to say mocadlo is even close to kriewaldt, beckham, and maslowski is just plain stupid.  These guys have played in the NFL no team would give any of the guys especially macadlo any more than a tokin workout.

[WSUFan]

That would be Tom Newberry, who was a second round selection and the 50th overall pick by the L.A. Rams in the 1986 draft. I believe he was a 3-time All-Pro selection.

In 2002, Maslowski set the franchise record for K.C. by recording 162 tackles (109 solo) breaking Gary Spani's mark that stood since 1979.

[three3s]

Oh no I don't take anything away from any d3 athlete that has made it or is still playing pro ball.  I did not nor need to look up the history of all athletes playing in the pros in the last 10 yrs from d3.  I do know that macolda (pardon sp) he did not have the opportunity to play pro. I am very close friends with his teammates and I have the understanding that he is not what we call "natural"  ???If he was and this is false I send my deepest condolences.  I have played with the best of many athletes and have put my life on hold, and for those that don't I have no problem with them.  Everyone has to make chooses in their lives.  Playing pro ball does not mean that you will not be able to play with your children, or you will wake up in pain everyday.  How many pro athletes do you know personally? I know quit a few and they all seem to walk ok, but they are a small few.  The Tom Brady comparison is crazy though, a qb as a leader that wins super bowls.  Is a lot different then a running back that barely won the WIAC?  I love d3 football so lets just let it stand that we have a lot of great athletes in the past 10 yrs.  I have no problem with your RB i mean nothing personal i just have a strong feeling about him being called one of the best. SORRY

[WSUFan]

As good as Mocadlo was and as much fun as it was watching him run, I still think Ted Pretasky was a better running back. It's very probable he had a better offensive line in front of him too.

You're right about one thing Eagle Cynic, Terry missed the boat when he overlooked Mocadlo during that time.

[WIACPOWER]

Hey...how about some picks for next weeks WIAC gmaes??

[Eagle Cynic]

I've only heard legends about Pretasky, I never got to see him play.  

I was ignorant to the whole "non-natural" thing when I was there, but if he was I think he cleaned it up later in his career.  He is devoted to a healthy body and lifestyle.  If you knew him, you'd know what I mean.  

My comments before were to exaggerate what can happen to a career football player.  Heck the average span for an RB in the League is only like 2.2 years.  I don't know if you played college ball or not, but if you did, just think back to what your RB looked like the Sunday after a game.  Covered in ice bags and ace bandages, sometimes a sling, sometimes a cast.  Those guys deserve some respect for what they put their bodies through.

Maslowski was the leader of the Chiefs D when they had those great couple seasons in like 2002,2003 I think.  Look at what's happened since he went down with the knee injury.  Last year's D flat out sucked without him there to lead.  (i'm a chiefs fan 1st, packers 2nd just to let you all know)  
From what I know, when Mas played at UWL, he ran the town and the WIAC.  The bars, the women, the football...ah what a dream!  Those were the days.  That's what it will be like in WW next year if they can pull this thing off and keep it rolling.  Except in WW all there is are 100s of 6 foot blonde chicks (freaky).

[Eagle Cynic]

Oh yeah, Once again, I don't use a pro career as my only measuring stick. 

Look at all those pros who can't figure out what a block in the back is on a punt return.  They're all idiots (mostly).   If they let all D3 guys play pro football, it would be a more pure game. 

I'm upset that they take prototypical body types rather than talent.  For instance, Samkon Gado.  3rd string at Liberty college.  Why did he make the pros?  Sure he did a fine job (26 carries for like 63 yards) but he looked the part. 

If you remember BJ Tucker from the Badgers a couple years back, did that guy ever make a play?  NO! but he could run a 4.2 40.  He was terrible and started for a top Big Ten team.  There are guys like that littered through the League and nothing pisses me off more.  (Except bogus pass interference calls)  How many WIAC guys beat up on guys like that in high school?

[hawkshawkshawks]

Any thoughts on who the hawks would play if they do become the #1 seed in the North (what should happen).

[warhawkguy]

That would be Tom Newberry, who was a second round selection and the 50th overall pick by the L.A. Rams in the 1986 draft. I believe he was a 3-time All-Pro selection.

In 2002, Maslowski set the franchise record for K.C. by recording 162 tackles (109 solo) breaking Gary Spani's mark that stood since 1979.

Maslowski might have had the most productive NFL career of any WIAC player.  I think he had a pretty good idea of how to play the game at the pro level.

Thanks, Newberry is the guy I mean but for the life of me I couldn't think of his name.  The guy was a stud. 

Another lineman who started out at WHITEWATER[/color] before transferring to the UW and becoming all Big Ten and eventually a fixture in the Philadelphia Eagle line for several years was Joe Panos.

But I'm comfortable with the idea that the WIAC has had several outstanding players, particularly if you don't use the next level as a guage.  Though I think it's silly not to.  If success in life after college is the guage there a virtually hundreds.