FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[footballfan413]

I can't imagine the justification for passing up the opportunity to have more time for your team and coaches to work together utilizing passing, catching, kicking drills, learning offensive and defensive scheme, (especially your freshman,)  etc... but that is just my opinion, I could be wrong!!!    And if you are right and holding spring practice is the exception rather than the rule, well, then that is just better for the teams that pursue the opportunity!   

[tmerton]

I can't imagine the justification for passing up the opportunity to have more time for your team and coaches to work together utilizing passing, catching, kicking drills, learning offensive and defensive scheme, (especially your freshman,)  etc... but that is just my opinion, I could be wrong!!!    And if you are right and holding spring practice is the exception rather than the rule, well, then that is just better for the teams that pursue the opportunity!   

It's called, "If we wanted to have spring practice we'd be D2."  At many D3 schools football players play a spring sport; they might also take a semester abroad.  I assume that most D3 schools wouldn't require fb players to do spring practice if it interferred with other activities, but they might eventually feel the need to crank things up in this regard to keep up with the Joneses. 

[voice]

The addition of NCAA Division III "Spring Practice" has been a valuable addition to most teams.
While most "upper echelon" teams utilize the opportunity for the additional on-the-field instruction, their are still conferences that forbid the NCAA approved segment of Division III football.  While teams such as St. Johns elect not to hold spring practice, coaches from teams that do have nothing but positive things to say about the extra coaching opportunity.  UWW head coach Bob Berezowitz indicated several times last year that spring practice allowed his team to be "ahead of the curve" when fall practice opened in August.

Most teams schedule their spring workouts outside of class time which poses the question why a number of schools deny their teams the opportunity for spring practice sessions.  Could it be a lack of commitment to its athletic teams?

[footballfan413]

I can't imagine the justification for passing up the opportunity to have more time for your team and coaches to work together utilizing passing, catching, kicking drills, learning offensive and defensive scheme, (especially your freshman,)  etc... but that is just my opinion, I could be wrong!!!    And if you are right and holding spring practice is the exception rather than the rule, well, then that is just better for the teams that pursue the opportunity!   

It's called, "If we wanted to have spring practice we'd be D2."  At many D3 schools football players play a spring sport; they might also take a semester abroad.  I assume that most D3 schools wouldn't require fb players to do spring practice if it interferred with other activities, but they might eventually feel the need to crank things up in this regard to keep up with the Joneses. 

I understand your point.  D-3 prides itself on the attitude that these are "Academic-Athletes."  They play for the love of the game and not for the money.  However, I have to agree with Voice.  According to Warhawkfootball.com,  the Hawks spring practice schedule will consist of thirteen 90 minute sessions.  Certainly enough to be of benefit but not enough of a time committment to take away from the athlete's academics.  Two sport athletes at D-3 are still the exception, not the rule, aren't they?

[tmerton]

... coaches from teams that do have nothing but positive things to say about the extra coaching opportunity.  UWW head coach Bob Berezowitz indicated several times last year that spring practice allowed his team to be "ahead of the curve" when fall practice opened in August.

Most teams schedule their spring workouts outside of class time which poses the question why a number of schools deny their teams the opportunity for spring practice sessions.  Could it be a lack of commitment to its athletic teams?

Not surprising that a head football coach would like it - what's not for them to like?  Still, there are coaching issues.  At SJU, for example, the defensive coordinator is the head baseball coach, the linebacker coach is the head wrestling coach, another coach coaches track and field, etc.

In the end, I can't agree that not having spring football practice shows a lack of commitment to a school's athletic teams.  As I say, this is D3; it's not just supposed to be D1, 1AA or D2 on a smaller scale.

[pastprime]

The coach's that can make it come.  The players who can come, practice.  What's so hard about that?  Alot of players that play the higher divisions of football also participate in spring sports, particularly track.  I don't see why excuses have to me made.  Participate or don't, fine either way.  It just appears it has finially been made legal.

[footballfan413]

"Not surprising that a head football coach would like it - what's not for them to like?  Still, there are coaching issues.  At SJU, for example, the defensive coordinator is the head baseball coach, the linebacker coach is the head wrestling coach, another coach coaches track and field, etc."


WOW, is that true?  I never realized that happens at the college level!  

[Olinemom]

I can't imagine the justification for passing up the opportunity to have more time for your team and coaches to work together utilizing passing, catching, kicking drills, learning offensive and defensive scheme, (especially your freshman,)  etc... but that is just my opinion, I could be wrong!!!    And if you are right and holding spring practice is the exception rather than the rule, well, then that is just better for the teams that pursue the opportunity!   

I know we have spring practice.  It starts sometime soon.  Linfield also has spring practice. 

[tmerton]

The coach's that can make it come.  The players who can come, practice.  What's so hard about that?  Alot of players that play the higher divisions of football also participate in spring sports, particularly track.  I don't see why excuses have to me made.  Participate or don't, fine either way.  It just appears it has finially been made legal.

Thanks for telling me how it works. You need some 1AA or d2 schools in the state so you can feel more comfortable with your d1 wannabe status.

[CaptainKurt]

Are we serioulsy arguing spring practices??  I'd almost rather read something written by O'Reilly.

[pastprime]

The coach's that can make it come.  The players who can come, practice.  What's so hard about that?  Alot of players that play the higher divisions of football also participate in spring sports, particularly track.  I don't see why excuses have to me made.  Participate or don't, fine either way.  It just appears it has finially been made legal.

Thanks for telling me how it works. You need some 1AA or d2 schools in the state so you can feel more comfortable with your d1 wannabe status.

I have read this response about a dozen times and I have finally come up with a response.  In the voice of Gilbert Godfrey, "What the ....?"

[wiacfbgrad]

One quick question,

Does anyone know whether Emendorfer's job is in jeopardy at UW-P?  Looking back at his record, he has had nothing but losing seasons (one season was 5-5) since he has taken the head coach position.  I know that they would probably be .500 or better in many other conferences, but in the WIAC, they just aren't producing.  How can the AD handle this?  I thought losing was the same reason Kinder was ousted in the 90's. 

Just curious.

[janesvilleflash]

Perhaps SJU and some of the other schools who think spring practice "takes away" from the students other obligations and free time should opt out of the NCAA playoffs as well. After all, that takes away a lot more time than the spring practice does. I think the SJU championship team would disagree though.

[padmofu]

I know this is a little out of the blue, but would anyone happen to have an idea of how I might come across a tape of a game from the 2005 season? I missed the 2005 Drake-UWP game and unfortunately the university station chose not to tape it as they do with the conference games. If anyone can help me, please let me know. Thanks

[Pat Coleman]

I suspect SJU's practice (i.e., no spring practice) is the rule, not the exception, for D3 teams.  But since I don't know for sure, does anyone know if spring practice has caught on? 

You assume wrong.

http://www.d3football.com/notables.php?date=2005-04-12