FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

frank uible · April 20, 2007, 05:50:01 AM

Would anyone care to comment on the wisdom of Wisconsin-La Crosse's decision reported in the newspaper to receive $7500 from the University of Northern Iowa (or possibly Drake or both UNI and Drake together) in return for cancelling the 2007 Wisconsin-La Crosse/Drake football game? As a part of the cancellation did Wisconsin-La Crosse give up a game payment from Drake for being a visiting opponent? If so, how much would that payment have been? How much in travel expenses to Des Moines will Wisconsin-La Crosse save by the cancellation? Were there other factors involved in Wisconsin-La Crosse's decision? If so, what were they?

badgerwarhawk · April 20, 2007, 09:53:47 AM

Perhaps a factor involved in LaCrosse's decision is as simple as Drake didn't want to play. If that were the case it would leave LaCrosse with few options. Either force Drake to play or enforce the penalty in the contract for one program canceling. I can't think of way to force them when they're willing to pay the penalty.

chmarx · April 21, 2007, 08:05:40 PM

Short term, it might make sense to demand that Drake honor their commitment. But long term, we would probably never play them again.

Des Moines is only four hours away, and any replacment game may well involve more travel expense.

Do you remember that Madison let Western Michigan out of a game contract IN AUGUST last year? There was some sort of conference opportunity. The Mid American Conference promised to provide Wisconsin a D1 opponent.

I think that most athletic directors don't want to be dicks about contracts for fear of losing future opponents.

BoBo · April 21, 2007, 09:11:36 PM

...like they had any choice in the matter. Making Drake honor their committment probably wasn't an option for UWL, since these contracts, without a doubt (due to Drake's higher classification), include a clause that permit buyouts from the game. I'm certain Drake exercised what it was justified in doing. UWL had no recourse but to take the money and start looking again for another game. Better that it happens in April, then in August, too.

voice · April 22, 2007, 09:18:57 PM

UW-Whitewater's Derek Stanley is prominently mentioned in this week's Sporting News Draft Preview edition. The talented wide receiver is listed as one of the publications top Day-2 prospects at wide receiver. Stanley is listed as #19 on Sporting News' list of wide receivers and fourth on the list of Day 2 Draft prospects. In a sidebar article on the wide receiver page, Sporting news calls Stanley a small receiver who dominated at the lower level. Stanley has the quick feet and playing speed to make the jump to the NFL. On the other side of the page, the ranking of Stanley at #19 indicates the 5'9 3/4, 173 pound speedster is a dangerous open-field runner who could be great on special teams, but will need to sharpen his receiving skills.

Stanley is the only WIAC player to earn a mention in the Sporting News Draft Edition.

frank uible · April 22, 2007, 09:33:50 PM

Ordinarily being undersized and also from DIII does not cause a forecast that a prospect will be drafted.

CaptainKurt · April 22, 2007, 10:37:46 PM

Frank, of the 2449 posts you have made on here, that one is probably the lamest.

Derek Stanley goes before Ted Ginn Jr. Holler.

BoBo · April 22, 2007, 11:41:03 PM

ditto (the first sentence that is, not too sure about the second)

chmarx · April 23, 2007, 03:40:13 AM

I wish him well, but I'll be shocked if Stanley is drafted.

frank uible · April 23, 2007, 05:01:14 AM

I think that I have found the beginnings of a fan club. Maybe I should open a website. What do you all think?

footballfan413 · April 23, 2007, 08:28:23 AM

Drafted..........free agent signing............does it really matter? Long as he puts pen to paper!!

Got three words for you, Derek. NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE!!!! Good luck to you this weekend. We will be watching! Good luck to all the WIAC players in their quest to keep playing.

frank uible · April 23, 2007, 09:50:15 AM

It matters. As a general proposition, a prospect at least slightly improves his chances of making an NFL roster when he has a say in selecting the team with which he will try-out as a free agent signee (assuming that he has more than one team desirous of signing him) as opposed to trying-out with the team which has selected him in a late round of the draft.

ihavesomething2say · April 23, 2007, 01:40:39 PM

frank uible... you bring up a good point with getting to choose your team but I think its better to get drafted because teams hate cutting draft picks because its shows that they made a mistake. I team would be more willing to keep you if you were a draft pick.

CaptainKurt · April 23, 2007, 02:32:27 PM

The Detroit Lions will trade up to #1 to draft Stanley and end their shoddy track record of drafting over-hyped WR's in the first round and finally get it right this time.

footballfan413 · April 23, 2007, 03:26:47 PM

Quote from: frank uible on April 23, 2007, 09:50:15 AM
It matters. As a general proposition, a prospect at least slightly improves his chances of making an NFL roster when he has a say in selecting the team with which he will try-out as a free agent signee (assuming that he has more than one team desirous of signing him) as opposed to trying-out with the team which has selected him in a late round of the draft.

Quote from: ihavesomething2say on April 23, 2007, 01:40:39 PM
frank uible... you bring up a good point with getting to choose your team but I think its better to get drafted because teams hate cutting draft picks because its shows that they made a mistake. I team would be more willing to keep you if you were a draft pick.

You boys both make great points and I agree. There are advantages to both for different reasons. And that makes my point as well. Bottom line is he gets a shot at proving himself, in my IMO. This is only the first step after all.