FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BoBo]

bw--obviously, Rindahl had a great game, and obviously, I'm prejudiced for the Falcon player. I was referring to the WIAC nomination. My take on the fourth q. performance of Rindahl, if you're referring to recovering the fumble which led to the winning td, is that recovering fumbles is largely a matter of luck: if a player is in the right place at the right time, he can recover a fumble. But maybe that's not what you meant.

Fred,
Remember, Rindahl not only recovered the one fumble to end LC's final attempt with :33 remaining in the 4 quarter, but 5 minutes earlier, he also forced the fumble on Donoval that led to the TD and two-point conversion that tied the game.  Forcing a fumble might also be a case of a defensive player being in the right place at the right time.  But, is luck involved in that, too?  I don't know.  Either way, it appeared he was in the right place at the right time, at least twice during that 4th quarter!

[BDB]

.. but 5 minutes earlier, he also forced the fumble on Donoval that led to the TD and two-point conversion that tied the game. 

You are so right Bobo. That was a monster play.

[Just Bill]

A very nice compliment for UW-Oshkosh (and the WIAC by association) from Huntingdon coach Mike Turk in Keith's Around the Nation column.

“The last four teams we played have combined for one loss coming into the day. Oshkosh, good god. I’ll be honest with you – they are the most disciplined machine. It’s incredible to watch. I made this statement during that game: ‘you know what, it’s not hard to figure out why Whitewater can beat Wesley like they do every year, because they have kids that can run with Wesley’s speed, and they have big kids that can match up physically, but they are so finely tuned it’s unreal.’ ”

[Pat Coleman]

Wow, that quote hit this board even more quickly than I thought it would.

[badgerwarhawk]

Come on LaCrosse get it done, your program deserves something better...... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_LA_CROSSE_STADIUM_WIOL-?SITE=WIJAN&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Fred, Rindahl intercepted a pass which set up a field goal, forced a fumble that led to the game tieing touchdown and recovered a fumble that doomed any hope LaCrosse harbored.  That's being in the right place three times.  Not taking away anything his teammates did but that has got to be something more than just luck.  However I readily admit that I am equally prejudiced for the WARHAWK players and I think you do present a solid case for your guy.   You could probably make a solid argument for all of the players nominated.

[Goal Line Stand]

Rindahl absolutely had a great game and congrats to him but as I said before, a lot of defensive players deserve credit for that incredible comeback.
Quote from www.warhawkfootball.com:
        "The offense may get the headlines, but it was the Warhawk defense that turned the momentum of the game by forcing four La Crosse turnover in the Eagles final five possessions of the game.  The Warhawks had a lengthy list of players making huge second half impact plays.  Impact plays like Ben Farley's 18 yard interception return of back-up quarterback Gus Almonroeder pass just three plays after UW-Whitewater linebacker AJ Raebel's vicious but legal sideline hit on starting quarterback Griffen Moe with 2:14 left and the score tied, 28-28. The turnover set up Jake Anderson's game-winning one-yard touchdown with 1:01 left in the game and Whitewater on top 35-28. Raebel finished the game with six tackles, two tackles for a loss including a quarterback sack and a forced fumble.  Impact plays like sophomore linebacker Jace Rindahl's forced fumble recovered by senior safety Andy Murray setting up the second Danny Jones to Matt Gifford touchdown pass of the fourth quarter, followed by the critical two-point conversion pass to Gifford to tie the game at 28-all with 3:55 remaining in the game.  Ben Farley led UW-Whitewater with nine tackles to go along with his interception. Gabe Schultz and Jace Rindahl each had eight tackles. Rindahl also finished with an interception, fumble recovery, forced fumble and one sack. Ryan Orgizovich had two sacks for UW-Whitewater, who finished the game with four."

And this from Jeff Siessor article in the Daily Jefferson County Union:
     "Raebel spearheaded the UW-W defense with two huge hits that literally and figuratively knocked the Eagles out.  After Whitewater had tied the score at 28-28 on Gifford's second touchdown, La Crosse quarterback Griffin Moe was forced out of the pocket on the ensuing drive. As Moe was headed for the sideline, Raebel delivered a vicious (but legal) hit knocking Moe out right in front of the UW-L bench. The Eagle's starting quarterback did not return, and his replacement, sophomore Gus Almonroeder, was picked off by the Warhawks' Ben Farley who returned the interception to the Eagles' 28-yard line with 2 minutes, 14 seconds remaining. Four plays later back-up tailback Jake Anderson crashed in from the 1 giving the Warhawks their first lead of the game, 35-28. La Crosse had one more chance, but Raebel would deny it, sacking Almonroeder while forcing a fumble that UW-W's Jace Rindahl recovered at the UW-L 32 with 22 seconds to go."
   
Without any one play, on offense and defense, the comeback doesn't happen.  It is a team sport!  Congrats to all.

[Barber Greene]

Raebel and Ogrizovich had a monster game. Hope the Warhawks fix whatever secondary problems that led to them getting torched though the air in the first three quarters. There were some coverage issues.

[Sakman 1111]

Goal Line Stand you are right on the money......

[BoBo]

The disscussion about the player of the week awards is interesting. To me, what it all means is that their are a lot a great individual performances by a lot of really good players each week in this conference.  It's got to be difficult to pick just one.  However, with that said, if you look back to each week so far this year, the player selected has been a member of a winning team effort.  Most of those games have been non-conference, and that's not to say that a player from a losing team effort won't win, but I think it helps to be part of the winning team.  But as the conference season heats up, I'm sure more players from a losing team effort will have performances that will be worthy of player of the week consideration. I always like to compare awards like this to the Academy Awards - where inwardly, the jealousy is probably widespread, but outwardly, with so many great performances, everyone says how great it was just to be nominated!  (Heavy emphasis on the latter, little emphasis on the former in this case!)

[ihavesomething2say]

Player of the week is kind of the same as all-conference at the end of the season.  The more you win the better your chances of getting awards.  If your team loses or you place in the bottom half of the conference the odds of you getting awards are marginal.  So if guys want to get the awards the need to win.  Just like in most sports whether it be high school, college or pro.  The winners get the awards.

[fredfalcon]

bw--I knew I had forgotten some of the details of Rindahl's performance, so you make a good case. At least a good conversation which all who joined made positive contributions to, has been held!

I hope Saturday's game is close and that nobody gets seriously injured.

[BoBo]

Fred, I think one one of the intriguing story lines for Sat. will be WW's pass defense (statistically #2/#7 in pass defense efficiency ) vs the RF's pass offense (#2/#5 pass efficiency).  LC burned WW's secondary many times in the first 3 quarters last week.  It will be interesting to see what RF can do.  Harmon is #1 in passing avg/game, but only #6 in passing efficiency, just behind WW's Jones.  Both teams have also been sack happy (#2 WW & #3 RF), with WW being stingy at #2 in sacks allowed and RF coming in at #6 in sacks allowed.  Could be an entertaining game to watch.

[repete]

A very nice compliment for UW-Oshkosh (and the WIAC by association) from Huntingdon coach Mike Turk in Keith's Around the Nation column.

Oshkosh, good god. I'll be honest with you – they are the most disciplined machine. It's incredible to watch. I made this statement during that game: 'you know what, it's not hard to figure out why Whitewater can beat Wesley like they do every year, because they have kids that can run with Wesley's speed, and they have big kids that can match up physically, but they are so finely tuned it's unreal.' "

Interesting quote, given the feeling in the Wesley camp and elsewhere that there seemed to be a mystical "matchup" factor that only applied to UWW vs. Wesley and not other teams in the West. Not once, but twice -- good footwear or bad. .

[stealth]

Pat,
Can I nominate the bus driver for WW for a 4-5 hour bus ride up to LC in the rain and back again that night with a bunch of jacked up players and coachs. 

Not nominated.

[rassler]

Interesting reading all...but, is there any other team in this conf. besides Whitewater?   I know, the point was made that the winners get the recognition, but if all we ever talk about is WW and LaX...makes for a boring read for WIAC fans.

I think RF is going to surprise WW giving them their first L on the season in conf. play.  Too many good teams in the WIAC and WW is coming off an emotional high...as mentioned, over and over and ...

I think another great game this week will be UWSP in Platteville.  UWP has had some tough luck in recent games, whereas UWSP has had some great luck.  I know luck is determined as much by effort as any mystical force. 

I am curious how UWP can stay with Schmitt when he is hurting the offense so much each week.  Look for a true freshman to come in soon...and hopefully...before UWP is out of contention. 

I think the UWEC vs UWL game will be huge.  Does LX respond well?  We'll see.  EC has a huge turnover margin and that was a weak spot for LX last week.

Stout vs Oshkosh @ UWO...got to say UWO is going to dominate...just a feeling I have.  I was not impressed with Stout last week vs platteville.  Special teams and defense not withstanding, UWS just doesn't have any offense.  The only TD the offense scored last week was late after UWP went for a 4th and long deep in UWP territory.