FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[LadyBear]

I had family visit campus yesterday and I was told we might want to temper our national championship hopes. RJ3, I was told, looked amazing, but and  I will quote, " He's a Nascar engine with no car around him." Still early, so I will still keep my fingers crossed.

[02 Warhawk]

I have to agree with Wally. I imagine that the UWW success is mixture of these facts; their coaching ability created relationships with regional high school coaches who in turn support their high school players committing to UWW, the fact that geographically UWW is well positioned to exploit the fact that both WI & Mn have only 1 D1 football program each, as well as proximity to Chicago and Detroit metro areas, lastly success breeds success. I am not sure who wrote the statement regarding school enrollment size, but I believe D3 enrollment size has almost nothing to do with the football team's success. This isn't high school where teams are limited to their respective population. I read a couple years ago Notre Dame allowed a kicker to walk-on from their intramural program, but I don't imagine that happens very often if ever in D1 and while it may be more prevalent at the D3 level most of these teams are constituted before the school year even begins.

I've been saying all of that since day 1. Also, UWW is the only WIAC school in southeast WI. They are within a 2 hour drive from the Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago metro area. Great recruiting tool for kids who don't want to venture too far from home.

[Dr. Acula]

I just ordered Kickoff.  As I annoyingly mention annually this is IMO the least we can do to support this site.  It's $11.  I would venture to guess a whole lot of us think the message boards alone are worth that much just in work day entertainment.  And instead we get a whole heap of preseason info and stories for that $11. Thanks as always to Pat et al for all the work they do to cover something we all enjoy.

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks! A couple more will get the OAC into the top five conferences.
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2015/08/time-to-get-kickoff-2015

[reality check]

It's worth $11 alone for the SCIAC previews.

[mr_mom]

   Should I infer that you don't believe the D3 schools in GA, AL, MS, TN, NC and VA are really playing "college football"?

Hi Tiger!  No, just stoking the pot.  I'm a mathematician/software engineer.  Without Mark to back me up,  I am solely looking at numbers.  I throw them out and hope a discussion will ensue.

I live in Manassas, VA and -- altho a MUC-lifer, hope to see Bridgewater back in the mix soon!

And this is a whole lot better of what goes on during the off-season in D1.  <G>

Soon to announce the 2015 OAC Pickem contest ... need the free publicity.  :-)

[BoBo]

the fact that geographically UWW is well positioned to exploit the fact that both WI & Mn have only 1 D1 football program each, as well as proximity to Chicago and Detroit metro areas

Lady, seriously, UWW is well positioned to exploit the Detroit metro or East Dakota (Minnesota) areas? How? Whitewater, Wisconsin is no where near either of those areas. It would be a total misuse of time and effort recruiting those areas that are just too far away and that would provide little to no gain when they have one of the more fertile D3 recruiting areas in their back yard, their front yard and all around them. I don't think you understand the geography. They have a geographical advantage in the real estate they live in, why would they go somewhere where they no longer have that advantage? It makes no sense.

[LadyBear]

the fact that geographically UWW is well positioned to exploit the fact that both WI & Mn have only 1 D1 football program each, as well as proximity to Chicago and Detroit metro areas

Lady, seriously, UWW is well positioned to exploit the Detroit metro or East Dakota (Minnesota) areas? How? Whitewater, Wisconsin is no where near either of those areas. It would be a total misuse of time and effort recruiting those areas that are just too far away and that would provide little to no gain when they have one of the more fertile D3 recruiting areas in their back yard, their front yard and all around them. I don't think you understand the geography. They have a geographical advantage in the real estate they live in, why would they go somewhere where they no longer have that advantage? It makes no sense.

BoBo,

I am an elementary teacher and even my 5th grade students understand both the definition and the concept of region, but in case you had an excused absence that day;

re·gion: an area or division, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.

When I played for ONU, woman's basketball, we recruited regionally. That was defined by roughly 400 miles or no more than a 6 hour drive from our campus. When I wrote my post I imagined a program as successful as UWW probably has a recruiting radius even greater than that. I wasn't suggesting that they did recruit from those areas, but for reasons I mentioned they could.

I am unsure how closely you follow what I am assuming is your team, but I think it is you, not me, who doesn't "understand geography". You indicated that "They have a geographical advantage in the real estate they live in, why would they go somewhere where they no longer have that advantage? It makes no sense."

When I last saw a map the following areas are not in Wisconsin or as you described it "the real estate they live in"(unless Scott Walker annexed parts of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana):

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Oak Park, IL
St. Charles, IL
Wheaton, IL
Libertyville, IL
Westchester, IL
Northbrook, IL
Roselle, IL
Carol Stream, IL
Saint John, IN
Aurora, IL

These are to name just a few.

I am certain UWW may indeed recruit in their backyard, but that description is also accurately referenced as  "regionally", but I imagine by now even you have understood my lesson. I hope your team has a great season! God bless

[HScoach]

I had family visit campus yesterday and I was told we might want to temper our national championship hopes. RJ3, I was told, looked amazing, but and  I will quote, " He's a Nascar engine with no car around him." Still early, so I will still keep my fingers crossed.

Welcome to Ada, Mr Nascar.  It's been nearly 20 years since ONU had the playmakers to be a serious threat.    He should have brought some receivers with him.

[Pat Coleman]

the fact that geographically UWW is well positioned to exploit the fact that both WI & Mn have only 1 D1 football program each, as well as proximity to Chicago and Detroit metro areas

Lady, seriously, UWW is well positioned to exploit the Detroit metro or East Dakota (Minnesota) areas? How? Whitewater, Wisconsin is no where near either of those areas. It would be a total misuse of time and effort recruiting those areas that are just too far away and that would provide little to no gain when they have one of the more fertile D3 recruiting areas in their back yard, their front yard and all around them. I don't think you understand the geography. They have a geographical advantage in the real estate they live in, why would they go somewhere where they no longer have that advantage? It makes no sense.

BoBo,

I am an elementary teacher and even my 5th grade students understand both the definition and the concept of region, but in case you had an excused absence that day;

re·gion: an area or division, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.

When I played for ONU, woman's basketball, we recruited regionally. That was defined by roughly 400 miles or no more than a 6 hour drive from our campus. When I wrote my post I imagined a program as successful as UWW probably has a recruiting radius even greater than that. I wasn't suggesting that they did recruit from those areas, but for reasons I mentioned they could.

I think you're missing a huge point and that is the different nature of state schools and private schools. If you're in Detroit, you're not going to get the low in-state tuition at UWW. And Ohio Northern recruiting for women's basketball isn't really analogous to UW-Whitewater recruiting for football. UWW, like all of the WIAC schools, is limited by conference rule to 100 football players on the roster. Kids might come to Whitewater from further afield now that it has a reputation as a place to win a championship, but I don't believe that equates to it making sense for UWW to spend recruiting resources pounding the pavement in Detroit.

Proximity to Chicago, yes, definitely helps. Proximity to Detroit? I don't see it (and that's me speaking as a former resident of Ypsilanti, Mich.).

[BoBo]

I had family visit campus yesterday and I was told we might want to temper our national championship hopes. RJ3, I was told, looked amazing, but and  I will quote, " He's a Nascar engine with no car around him." Still early, so I will still keep my fingers crossed.

Welcome to Ada, Mr Nascar.  It's been nearly 20 years since ONU had the playmakers to be a serious threat.    He should have brought some receivers with him.

Coach, it's August, all teams fans think their team has hope.
In a month, it will look more like this.



A NASCAR with no engine.

[bleedpurple]

But please don't pretend that they are playing from the same deck of cards as the rest of the division.

I guess that's life, isn't it?  No two entities in any league or avenue of life play from exactly the same deck, do they?  I'm unsure why that is so bemoaned on these boards regarding D-III football. Why would anyone expect D-III football to be the only exception on the face of the earth?

Politics isn't fair. Most money wins.

D-I schools don't "play from the same deck" unless you believe Northwestern has an equal chance at a National Championship as the University of Alabama.

The NBA isn't a "level playing field", unless you seriously believe the chances of Milwaukee signing enough stars to win a championship is equal to that of Miami or LA.

MLB isn't a level playing field, unless you feel like the money spent by the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox leave them with the same deck as the Padres and the Marlins. 

The small local hardware store doesn't seem to deal from the same deck as Home Depot.

So why the obsession with the fact that D-III football is not the only exception to this seemingly universal rule?  UW-W has some advantages and created some others. So what? That's pretty much life in the big city.  At least Mount isn't 120-0 since 07. That is the alternate scenario if UW-W wasn't around. Prefer that?

[reality check]

I had family visit campus yesterday and I was told we might want to temper our national championship hopes. RJ3, I was told, looked amazing, but and  I will quote, " He's a Nascar engine with no car around him." Still early, so I will still keep my fingers crossed.

Welcome to Ada, Mr Nascar.  It's been nearly 20 years since ONU had the playmakers to be a serious threat.    He should have brought some receivers with him.

ahem, 15 years.

[LadyBear]

I had family visit campus yesterday and I was told we might want to temper our national championship hopes. RJ3, I was told, looked amazing, but and  I will quote, " He's a Nascar engine with no car around him." Still early, so I will still keep my fingers crossed.

Welcome to Ada, Mr Nascar.  It's been nearly 20 years since ONU had the playmakers to be a serious threat.    He should have brought some receivers with him.

ahem, 15 years.

Went to some high school games tonight, but I did want to say if Devon Price is healthy, he is as talented as any weapon in D3 football and Justin Magazine is a very talented back. While I am really impressed with RJ3's film, this is still a new offense he's learning and he will not have the time to learn it that he did in High School and at his JUCO, so I basically saying I have no idea how good we are going to be. 

[BoBo]

the fact that geographically UWW is well positioned to exploit the fact that both WI & Mn have only 1 D1 football program each, as well as proximity to Chicago and Detroit metro areas

Lady, seriously, UWW is well positioned to exploit the Detroit metro or East Dakota (Minnesota) areas? How? Whitewater, Wisconsin is no where near either of those areas. It would be a total misuse of time and effort recruiting those areas that are just too far away and that would provide little to no gain when they have one of the more fertile D3 recruiting areas in their back yard, their front yard and all around them. I don't think you understand the geography. They have a geographical advantage in the real estate they live in, why would they go somewhere where they no longer have that advantage? It makes no sense.

BoBo,

I am an elementary teacher and even my 5th grade students understand both the definition and the concept of region, but in case you had an excused absence that day;

re·gion: an area or division, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.

When I played for ONU, woman's basketball, we recruited regionally. That was defined by roughly 400 miles or no more than a 6 hour drive from our campus. When I wrote my post I imagined a program as successful as UWW probably has a recruiting radius even greater than that. I wasn't suggesting that they did recruit from those areas, but for reasons I mentioned they could.

I am unsure how closely you follow what I am assuming is your team, but I think it is you, not me, who doesn't "understand geography". You indicated that "They have a geographical advantage in the real estate they live in, why would they go somewhere where they no longer have that advantage? It makes no sense."

When I last saw a map the following areas are not in Wisconsin or as you described it "the real estate they live in"(unless Scott Walker annexed parts of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana):

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Oak Park, IL
St. Charles, IL
Wheaton, IL
Libertyville, IL
Westchester, IL
Northbrook, IL
Roselle, IL
Carol Stream, IL
Saint John, IN
Aurora, IL

These are to name just a few.

I am certain UWW may indeed recruit in their backyard, but that description is also accurately referenced as  "regionally", but I imagine by now even you have understood my lesson. I hope your team has a great season! God bless

Houston, we have a problem!! There are some issues here that require some immediate attention. Having nothing to do with this board, I PM'd the Lady with a tutorial on UWW recruiting strategies. Thank you very much!!