Around the Nation board

[footballfan413]

I've got gone, off the top of my head:

Kleppe
Stanley
Jacobs
Schmitt
Sakellaris
Reuland
Thompson
Berezowitz
Zwiefel

So maybe not everyone (or everyone good), but definitely enough where if you come out of the gate ranking UW-W No. 2 again, you're not respecting how good those guys were. I mean, that's probably five or six of their 10-12 best players last season, based on the games I saw.

I think you could very easily make a case for someone else winning the conference and UW-W falling back from unbeaten, given the transition to a new coach/coordinator (except for Borland), and the transition to a new QB, a new offense, etc. You could even go as far as the La Crosse game being on the road, looking for negatives.

You still have Beaver, you have Jones up to speed 1/3 or 1/2 way through the season, you have a good defense and you have four seniors on the OL. (I looked that up in last year's ATN, I thought it was three)

So, all that said, I think you'll be pleased with where they start the season in the top 25 I did for USA Today.

You'll probably hate who's ahead of them though

Well, when listed by name and not just position......................it is far more depressing!! (You forgot (AA) Widuch!)   
You are right, that is a lot of talent lost.  Just wanted to make the point that the cupboard is far from bare.  I absolutely expected their ranking to drop.  Just a question of how far.
     Despite my having $4.95 plus tax burning a hole in my pocket, I was unable to secure a copy of your Top 25 in the USA Today College Preview.  Looked for it at two drug stores, a conveniece store (no 7-11 around here,) Borders and Barnes and Noble.     All said they didn't carry it.  So I will have to take your word for it that I will be pleased with where you ranked UWW.  As for who is above them............we only have a problem if it is Wesley, UW-LC, or Coast Guard?  Coast Guard???

['gro]

until someone else steps up here are the top 3 LL matchups for next year

RPI @ Hobart 9/22
Hobart @ Union 11/3
RPI @ Union 11/10

3 interesting non conference games for LL teams

Springfield @ Union 9/8
Carnegie Mellon @ Hobart 9/15
Alfred @ Hobart 10/27

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Baldwin-Wallace vs. Capital might be the ODAC game to see; battle for No. 2 and possible Pool C, since No. 1 OAC is looking clearer than ever.

Did BW and Capital get shipped to the South Region?

[Sakman 1111]

Can't get too excited by pre-season polls but have a hard time not having UWW in the number two position. Have to agree with 413 on this one that I can understand a couple of teams being ranked ahead of them but don't think it is right. There is a lot of talent at Whitewater that will get a shot at playing and they are very good so don't put them in the bottom half of the top ten yet. Danny Jones and a couple of key transfers should be a great help. As 413 said placing Wesley,Coast Guard,etc. ahead of the Warhawks would be ridiculous......I understand why some might rank the Johnnies or MHB ahead of the Warhawks but in the long run of the season I believe UWW will handle them both. It does make for interesting conversation but I don't think most realize the amount of talent UWW has amassed the last couple of years.....I believe it will prove out in 2007......

[downtown48]

Sept. 15 Hardin-Simmons @ Linfield would be a great first trip out to McMinnville for you guys!   That should be a great game and should be a pretty good crowd that day too.  I'd skip the Nov. 3 tilt at Whitworth.  That one will be back to business as usual with the cat's avenging their first loss to those slaps in 30 years...not gonna be close.  On the bright side, the game should be decided before halftime and you could get some skiing in before a 7 or 8 O'Clock flight out.  Hope to see you in Mac in September!!

[union89]

until someone else steps up here are the top 3 LL matchups for next year

RPI @ Hobart 9/22
Hobart @ Union 11/3
RPI @ Union 11/10

3 interesting non conference games for LL teams

Springfield @ Union 9/8
Carnegie Mellon @ Hobart 9/15
Alfred @ Hobart 10/27

Union could end up 5-4 this year....could be ugly.....if RPI wins 'Shoozapalooza III', I hope 17 people are at the game.  If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound??

[Pat Coleman]

Wait -- RPI doesn't have an interesting non-conference game for next year? Shocker.

['gro]

Wait -- RPI doesn't have an interesting non-conference game for next year? Shocker.

tell me about it. the non conference sked and the fact that they never try to get a 10th game and my other pet peeves.

[BoBo]

With the D3 one, I consulted with Pat and Gordon, and we tried to determine who had the most back. I think there's still going to be plenty to quibble with ... I demonstrated this triangle to Pat: Mary Hardin-Baylor has practically everyone back, but they lost to Wesley pretty convincingly in the playoffs; Wesley has everyone back but the QB and star FS, but how can you put them ahead of Whitewater, which pummlled them the last two playoffs? But Whitewater lost almost everyone from those teams, plus Berez and Zwiefel.

Got to talk about this comment, Keith.  With all due respect, while the Hawks have lost some significant talent, it sure isn't,"almost everyone."  They lose 3 starters but return the majority of their top defense including 2 of the 3 LB's, ISU transfer Borzick and (AA) Raebel, and all the DB's including a starter that was lost for most of last season to injury.  They will need to shore up the D line with the loss of Kleppe, (irreplacable,)  and Thompson, however.  Big losses on offense but only one from the line and they will still be blocking for (AA) Justin Beaver.  In addition, they lose the QB, one WR and the TE and FB.  But the  FB was lost at the UMHB game last season due to injury.  They also return (AA) kicker Schebler and we all saw at the Stagg what Jordon Well can do on special teams and with the loss of Stanley, I believe we will see a lot more of him at WR. The coaching staff will have a new look but they come with some great credentials.   Big news regarding transfers and new recruits and some serious talent waiting for their turn has most of the talk around UWW being VERY optomistic.       

So Schebler and Raebel, both listed as seniors last year, are back in 2007?

Can't wait until these redshirts graduate. What a pain.

Yes, Pat.  Raebel is a part of the last class that the NCAA allowed to red-shirt at the D-3 level in 03 and will play his final season this fall but Schebler was a freshman last year.  Both players are correctly listed on the 06 roster on both Warhawkfootball.com and the UWW's official football web page as a junior and a freshman. 

A good example that making D3 preseason rankings based mainly upon what appears to be who is returning can be a risky business. I've enjoyed the efforts & thoughts that many have obviously put forth,.  However, once again, pre-season rankings, whether from the "amateurs" at the professional publications or the "professional" D3 football observers can only scratch the surface because there are so many unknowns that can never be taken into consideration.  I want to start the season already!

[tmerton]

Trying to get to St. John's, but not sure which game is the one this year (bethel/st. thomas/st. olaf).

Since you're talking about games at Saint John's, I'd suggest St. Olaf on 10/6.  Bethel is an away game this year (11/10 - last regular season game of the year - so might be a good one to add to your list).  The Concordia game on 9/22 should also be a good one, and the Tommies on 10/27 could be as well - and it will at least be a lot of fun.

[Pat Coleman]

A good example that making D3 preseason rankings based mainly upon what appears to be who is returning can be a risky business.

Well, we do ask the schools who is returning before we put out our poll.

[BoBo]

You may be the only one.  But, even then, a lot of bad information seems to be released from the schools.

[K-Mack]

I've got gone, off the top of my head:

Kleppe
Stanley
Jacobs
Schmitt
Sakellaris
Reuland
Thompson
Berezowitz
Zwiefel

So maybe not everyone (or everyone good), but definitely enough where if you come out of the gate ranking UW-W No. 2 again, you're not respecting how good those guys were. I mean, that's probably five or six of their 10-12 best players last season, based on the games I saw.

I think you could very easily make a case for someone else winning the conference and UW-W falling back from unbeaten, given the transition to a new coach/coordinator (except for Borland), and the transition to a new QB, a new offense, etc. You could even go as far as the La Crosse game being on the road, looking for negatives.

You still have Beaver, you have Jones up to speed 1/3 or 1/2 way through the season, you have a good defense and you have four seniors on the OL. (I looked that up in last year's ATN, I thought it was three)

So, all that said, I think you'll be pleased with where they start the season in the top 25 I did for USA Today.

You'll probably hate who's ahead of them though

Well, when listed by name and not just position......................it is far more depressing!! (You forgot (AA) Widuch!)   
You are right, that is a lot of talent lost.  Just wanted to make the point that the cupboard is far from bare.  I absolutely expected their ranking to drop.  Just a question of how far.
     Despite my having $4.95 plus tax burning a hole in my pocket, I was unable to secure a copy of your Top 25 in the USA Today College Preview.  Looked for it at two drug stores, a conveniece store (no 7-11 around here,) Borders and Barnes and Noble.     All said they didn't carry it.  So I will have to take your word for it that I will be pleased with where you ranked UWW.  As for who is above them............we only have a problem if it is Wesley, UW-LC, or Coast Guard?  Coast Guard???

That's weird, I saw it at The Sev (local code for 7-Eleven) Monday night (the night it was released)

If they carry USA Today and USA Today Sports Weekly, they'd carry this. I'm willing to discuss it, but ONE person out there has to buy it. And send an e-mail to mbambach@usatoday.com saying you really love the Division III coverage, and thank him for expanding from a half-page to a full page this year. 

As far as your other points ... Robb Widuch, D'oh! When you said Raebel and Borzick were back, I guess Mount Union's 4-2-5 formation took over my brain ... because you definitely run/ran a 4-3.

There are definitely a lot of unknowns, too many to make any Top 25 perfect. I have issues with my own, but it's what I settled on.

And I think it's safe to say they serve at least a -- cosmetic is not the right word -- purpose.

[K-Mack]

Baldwin-Wallace vs. Capital might be the ODAC game to see; battle for No. 2 and possible Pool C, since No. 1 OAC is looking clearer than ever.

Did BW and Capital get shipped to the South Region?

Um ... at least I got it right the second time

:embarassed shoulder shrug from Fresh Prince opening theme:

[K-Mack]

Sept. 15 Hardin-Simmons @ Linfield would be a great first trip out to McMinnville for you guys!   That should be a great game and should be a pretty good crowd that day too.  I'd skip the Nov. 3 tilt at Whitworth.  That one will be back to business as usual with the cat's avenging their first loss to those slaps in 30 years...not gonna be close.  On the bright side, the game should be decided before halftime and you could get some skiing in before a 7 or 8 O'Clock flight out.  Hope to see you in Mac in September!!

"Those slaps" 

Little-known fact ... I've been trying to get sent to Whitworth for years, since my parents live in the Spokane area (yes I'm from Jersey, yes I grew up in Boston, no you don't have the time it takes to hear my life story) ... I think I missed my big opportunity last November.

We had another great game lined up for that week (Rowan beat Cortland State 14-7 in OT) and I was eager to drive somewhere after several consecutive weeks of flying and not seeing my wife and children.

Going that far for us takes some serious advance planning, and we've rarely been willing to gamble on a game that might be a dud.

That said, McMinnville is required viewing for a true D3 conniesuer (now there's a word I can't spell)

Also, I've been to the Pine Bowl. Late Spring, my sister was graduating from WSU that weekend. Think I even saw Joel Clark throwing some passes to someone. Not sure why I didn't walk up and ask, may have been a fleeting moment or a locked fence I'd have had to ghetto-hop.

Just never been during a game. :guilty: