FB: American Rivers Conference

[Schipper Strong]

Was the booing due to Central calling all their TO's and still trying get that last score when the game was over? Hard to tell online.

It was loudest when we called a TO, then again when Schminke got out of bounds with one second left. Was the outcome going to change? Absolutely not. Did these 5th year seniors get a couple extra plays of the game they love so much? Yes! That is heart! Nothing went our way the second half, NOTHING! But they wanted those plays anyway.

[Schipper Strong]

Was the booing due to Central calling all their TO's and still trying get that last score when the game was over? Hard to tell online.

100%

Sportsmanship I will take Central's every day of the week.

[Schipper Strong]

Congratulations to Blaine Hawkins for breaking the NCAA TD passes in a season record today. I suspect that was also part of why the Dutch tried so hard to add one more to the total at the end. Thank you to all the 5th year seniors and to any 4th year seniors that choose not to pursue the 5th year. It was fun watching you play. What a memorable season.

[BoBo]

Was the booing due to Central calling all their TO's and still trying get that last score when the game was over? Hard to tell online.

It was loudest when we called a TO, then again when Schminke got out of bounds with one second left. Was the outcome going to change? Absolutely not. Did these 5th year seniors get a couple extra plays of the game they love so much? Yes! That is heart! Nothing went our way the second half, NOTHING! But they wanted those plays anyway.

Central called 2 TO's. Plus after every pass play that was caught, the receiver made a b-line to the boundary trying to stop the clock too. It was a struggle for the UWW dbacks to keep them in-bounds and the receivers busting a$$ to get out-of-bounds. I was pissed just watching it at home.

Central fans (or any fans) would have had the exact same reaction had the table been turned.

Does Central have any backups that are underclassmen who might benefit from a little playing time? I'm sure they love the game as well.

[02 Warhawk]

Whitewater by 19.  This ain't the ARC.

Central has an excellent team and will deservedly be ranked in the 5-8 range when the dust has settled.

What we saw today is a lesson that North Central learned starting around 10-12 years ago.  The Cardinals had built an excellent program that consistently won and took a step or two in the playoffs.  Many in the fan base thought we were as good as the Purple Powers.  We weren't.  We landed a punch or two but Whitewater beat the Cardinals by 31 (2007) and by 10 (2010).  When you are blowing through most of your regular season opponents, advancing in the playoffs, and beating teams ranked in that #5-#20 range, it is hard to internalize that there is another gear, that a select cadre of elite teams lives there, and that, as good as your team might be, there is a large chasm before you can step up to that level.

In 2013, Mount Union beat North Central 41-40 in the snow in Alliance.  I said on the CCIW board at the time that the Purple Raiders had what was considered a weak team for their program and that North Central had what was easily the best team and most talent in school history.  And even then, it wasn't enough.  That's what drove home to me how big the gap is between the small number of elite teams in D3 and some high quality top ten teams.

Central graduates some really special players, most notably the quarterback (who is at a minimum a slam dunk Gagliardi finalist.)  Now the Dutch have an opportunity to sustain their current level and turn it into a baseline.  It won't be easy but the seeds are there -- you've seen what it takes.  Having Wartburg as a foil year-in and year-out will help.  And I think D3 is stronger the more teams we have approaching the drawbridge to that elite level, so I would love to see the Dutch take that step.

As to bodily organs:  There is heart.  And there is the heart of a champion.  We saw that on display both in Whitewater and in Alliance today.

This x100. However, at the same time not too many fans are going to say "we don't belong, so we shouldn't even show up." Of course they are going to get behind their team and think they're good enough. Especially when they beat a very good Wheaton team. But Playing on the road, against a power team, is a very different animal. I honestly thought we would win, but not by this much I underestimated our defense.

This happens every year to us UWW fans, as we are often told things like "yeah you beat  teams  x, y, z......but you haven't seen us yet!" all we can do is say "yeah sure" and let them find out for themselves on game day. Then they start comparing stats, and I just shake my head. Central reminded me of UWP in the WIAC. Pass heavy offense....struggle against good teams on defense.

[02 Warhawk]

Congratulations to Blaine Hawkins for breaking the NCAA TD passes in a season record today. I suspect that was also part of why the Dutch tried so hard to add one more to the total at the end. Thank you to all the 5th year seniors and to any 4th year seniors that choose not to pursue the 5th year. It was fun watching you play. What a memorable season.

Very classy of Whitewater to take time and announce this impressive achievement over the PA system.

Congrats to BH...very impressive season.

[Schipper Strong]

Congratulations to Blaine Hawkins for breaking the NCAA TD passes in a season record today. I suspect that was also part of why the Dutch tried so hard to add one more to the total at the end. Thank you to all the 5th year seniors and to any 4th year seniors that choose not to pursue the 5th year. It was fun watching you play. What a memorable season.

Very classy of Whitewater to take time and announce this impressive achievement over the PA system.

Congrats to BH...very impressive season.

So why the fury at trying to tack on one more?

[02 Warhawk]

Congratulations to Blaine Hawkins for breaking the NCAA TD passes in a season record today. I suspect that was also part of why the Dutch tried so hard to add one more to the total at the end. Thank you to all the 5th year seniors and to any 4th year seniors that choose not to pursue the 5th year. It was fun watching you play. What a memorable season.

Very classy of Whitewater to take time and announce this impressive achievement over the PA system.

Congrats to BH...very impressive season.

So why the fury at trying to tack on one more?

I really didn't give a crap, it was against a our backups. Just some antsy UWW fans took exception.

Who really cares...fans will be fans.

[BoBo]

Congratulations to Blaine Hawkins for breaking the NCAA TD passes in a season record today. I suspect that was also part of why the Dutch tried so hard to add one more to the total at the end. Thank you to all the 5th year seniors and to any 4th year seniors that choose not to pursue the 5th year. It was fun watching you play. What a memorable season.

Very classy of Whitewater to take time and announce this impressive achievement over the PA system.

Congrats to BH...very impressive season.

So why the fury at trying to tack on one more?

There was a basketball game to get to across the parking lot. 

[hazzben]

To be fair, people were all over Glenn Caruso a few years ago for doing something similar in the Stagg against Mount. LK was less than impressed. That said, I like JM at Central and would never want him out in the same category as GC. However, this isn't the first time a purple power has been less than impressed in this scenario.

[USee]

Let em play. Agree with O2, who cares. Aurora scored 3 TD's against Wheaton's 2's when the game was 63-13. I didn't like it, but can't blame a coach for letting his guys play out the string.

[D O.C.]

SStrong FWIW Wyatt Smith broke Elliott's 110 career TDs today.

[hazzben]

Let em play. Agree with O2, who cares. Aurora scored 3 TD's against Wheaton's 2's when the game was 63-13. I didn't like it, but can't blame a coach for letting his guys play out the string.

I don't disagree with this. Football is unique in that when it's done it is really done. Let em get a few more plays with their buddies.

[BoBo]

SStrong FWIW Wyatt Smith broke Elliott's 110 career TDs today.

Woop-dee-do ... an L is still an L

[02 Warhawk]

SStrong FWIW Wyatt Smith broke Elliott's 110 career TDs today.

Woop-dee-do ... an L is still an L

Easy there big fella....let em have this. It's a big accomplishment.