FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Your link proves my point - you list what you consider to be only two "bad losses" out of the 7 teams the WIAC had in the playoffs at that point... Add on Whitewater's run in 2005 and 2006, and La Crosse's "bad loss" to Whitewater in 2006, and that would still only leave you with three bad losses out of 10... 

I hardly think that "three bad apples spoils the whole barrel" mentality should fairly be construed into labeling the conference teams as "pretty much known as playoff chokers from 1999-Nov. 2005," which are your words...

Now, if you beleive that statement, then I once again ask you to name the chokers in the list of 10 teams....

It seems you are making your argument about chokers based on what you perceive others to think about this conference - but that isn't your opinion, right -which is why I provided the results, for those who may not be aware of what the WIAC has done since 1999, and the teams they have lost to... I don't perceive that to be choking...

First of all, I think that TWO bad losses compared to ... how many wins again? how many upset wins? ... does speak volumes to the perception of the conference from 1999-2004.

I am not claiming Lax's loss as a bad loss. It was on the road to the top seed. I think you don't understand the concept. Not all losses are bad losses.

I can understand you wanting to pin all this on me, since I'm the one who is pointing out what the rest of Division III was thinking at the time. Of course, in our rankings of conferences, we put the WIAC No. 1 even during that playoff drought. That should've given you some indication as to my personal thinking.

Badgerwarhawk: UWL's 1999 loss at home by 21 is a worthy inclusion on that list.

[bulk19]

Pat - I understand the concept of "bad losses," which are outcomes based on what it says by rankings, stats, home field, and odds on paper before the game is played...

I also am not trying to pin anything on you; I realize you have perennially rated the WIAC as a top conference, and was waiting for you to repeat those thoughts, to differentiate yourself from those whose perceptions you are/werereporting about...

As for dragging this argument out, I was merely trying to provide a few facts about this conference's 1999-2006 playoff performances to put things into perspective; the losses have been to top caliber teams. So if others around the country perceive that this conference has choked, based on 1999-2004 results, so be it. I just don't think that perception is reality... I think that discredits both the WIAC teams and the teams who beat them...

I tend to give credit to the teams that beat the WIAC teams, and once again look to the long-time success of UWL, and three titles, as to what this conference represents... My timeframe goes further back than 1999...

I'll also take every one of the WIAC teams that "choked" in the playoffs from 1999-2006 against the majority of teams in the country, many of whom were on the outside looking in, during the playoffs those years...

And for those who may make the argument about expanded playoffs and all that since 1999? So? Does the NCAA expansion in hoops, for example, diminish what UCLA did during its run when there weren't 64 teams participating? Do we throw out all the #1 rankings for D1 football teams prior to when we had the BCS formula?? I don't think so... A championship is a championship, no matter how many teams participated, or what the format is or was...

[Pat Coleman]

As much as I would like to have my perception be the perception shared by all, I know it's not the case. The WIAC had to fight that perception.

The points you're making about the unfortunate timing of the WIAC's games against eventual champions are the same ones we made in defense of our continuing to rank the conference No. 1.

[Warhawk 96]

I'm ready for some football aren't you? I wonder which teams in division three would be able to win in Japan had we sent them instead of the "best" our country could offer

[Pat Coleman]

That's funny -- that was going to be my poll question for the front page after the championship game.

Assuming we win.

[1_For_27]

is the game going to be broadcasted at all?  and if so where and when???

[voice]

According to Todd Bell, Media Director for Team USA, the game is scheduled to be telecast on the NFL Network sometime on Monday, July 17th.  He did not know the exact time.

[bulk19]

For those interested in the Stout coaching staff shakeup -

Coach Todd Strop, whose contract at the university expired July 1, is now able to comment on the situation, and does so in an interview in today's Eau Claire Leader-Telegram...

[Ralph Turner]

For those interested in the Stout coaching staff shakeup -

Coach Todd Strop, whose contract at the university expired July 1, is now able to comment on the situation, and does so in an interview in today's Eau Claire Leader-Telegram...

Strop Interview

[BoBo]

According to Todd Bell, Media Director for Team USA, the game is scheduled to be telecast on the NFL Network sometime on Monday, July 17th.  He did not know the exact time.

Interestingly, on his blog http://www.ifafworldcup.blogspot.com/, globalgridiron says Japan has a good shot at winning.  Claims he is in Japan and has watched every game.  His prediction (as strange as it sounds) is Japan 27-24 if it doesn't rain, USA 18-13 if it rains (rain is expected).  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Pat Coleman]

A different blogger further down thinks USA 24, Japan 10. Seems more realistic.

[BoBo]

Korea beats France 3-0 on a 29 yard field goal with 2:09 remaining in the game for 5th place in the IFAF World Cup.  It was only the 2nd victory in international play for the Koreans.  They get the win despite being out gained on offense, 78 net yards to 231 for France.  France was penalized 9 times for 107 yds, the Koreans 0 for 0 - there's the ball game!  The Koreans actually had a slight edge in time of possession, too.  Attendance is not listed. http://wc2007.info/777/stats/stats07.html

Germany wins the bronze by defeating Sweden 7-0 in the rain.  The lone score was on a 85 yard punt return for TD in the 3rd quarter.  Sweden 123 total net yards, Germany 112. Once again, attendance not listed http://wc2007.info/777/stats/stats08.html

The approaching typhoon rains appeared to affected both games.

USA/Japan kick off in about 2 hours.  Championship game preview here:
http://wc2007.info/cgi-bin/news_e.cgi?37

[Warhawk 96]

If USA wins, then that means that everyone in the B bracket won their final matches.......which would mean that Japan, possibly inadvertently, possibly not, stacked the brackets in their favor and still lost. That would kind of be like when Rocky went to Russia and won in Rocky 4

[Warhawk 96]

Oh yeah, and if Japan loses they should have to lower the price of the playstation 3 to a reasonable level, say eh $250

[BoBo]

96, you can have your Sony.  Let's put Toyota on the hook, too.  I want a more reasonably affordable Lexus.