BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Spence]

Wishful thinking? Hardly. The last time Marietta ran into a supposed unbeatable WIAC juggernaut, they beat Jordan Zimmerman on the way to the title in 2006.

I'm basically past really caring about it from a "good of D3 perspective" because I think looking at it from a "good for Whitewater" perspective is a lot more interesting.

If no one at Whitewater is thinking about how to make the school better through athletics (which seems to be their main chess piece right now), then someone should be fired. Someone has to be getting paid to be thinking like that and the investments they've already made suggest someone is. It may not actually happen that they move up, but someone should certainly be looking at the option.

With Milwaukee now out of its growth stage, its even a better idea to compete directly with them. Basically same academic profile. Not like Milwaukee is a real destination city, either. No real impediments to growth at Whitewater either other than capital (obviously). Plenty of room, not tough to get to raw land. To me, that's your real competition if you're UWW as a university.

Just interesting to think of how many different ways it makes sense considering the Warhawks here that are swearing up and down that it doesn't and couldn't happen and shouldn't happen.

Clearly it *could*. And the more one looks at it, the more it would make sense. So really it's just giving UWW leadership the benefit of doubt to say that someone probably is at least thinking about it.

[badgerwarhawk]

The Pope "could" become a Lutheran too. 

[Spence]

The Pope "could" become a Lutheran too.

If that's all you've got, then you've got nothing.

But hell, I'd take what I said as a compliment; I'm saying I think Whitewater could make in D-I.

Seems to be the people here that don't think very much of it.

[ShineTime]

All I know is whitewater is so dominant in football that its kind of boring.  Whitewater definitely has recruiting advantage with location and I think its showing more than ever.  The talent in this state overall is in southern wisconsin.

[bleedpurple]

The Pope "could" become a Lutheran too.

If that's all you've got, then you've got nothing.

But hell, I'd take what I said as a compliment; I'm saying I think Whitewater could make in D-I.

Seems to be the people here that don't think very much of it.

It seems to me your compliment is a bit back-handed. It doesn't sound like you are complimenting UW-W for their accomplishments as much as you are saying, "With all those advantages, they could, should, and might move up to a higher division".  I think what you are missing (from UW-W fans' perspective) is that higher division does not mean better.  As you know, the non-scholarship athlete that attends a D3 school is a very special kid. They play for the love of the game, they are true student-athletes, and they possess a certain humility that seems to be more and more lacking in kids at the higher levels.  Pouring resources into scholarships, doubling and tripling travel times to games, and leaving a conference they have been affiliated with for 100 years will not "make the school better" in my opinion.  If you talk to the athletes who have participated in athletics at UW-W over the last 5 decades, they will tell you that being a part of UW-W has been instrumental in helping them to be successful in life.  It seems to me, UW-W is accomplishing their mission just fine. 

[Spence]

All I know is whitewater is so dominant in football that its kind of boring.  Whitewater definitely has recruiting advantage with location and I think its showing more than ever.  The talent in this state overall is in southern wisconsin.

So are most of the people. Kind of like Canada.

[Spence]

The Pope "could" become a Lutheran too.

If that's all you've got, then you've got nothing.

But hell, I'd take what I said as a compliment; I'm saying I think Whitewater could make in D-I.

Seems to be the people here that don't think very much of it.

It seems to me your compliment is a bit back-handed. It doesn't sound like you are complimenting UW-W for their accomplishments as much as you are saying, "With all those advantages, they could, should, and might move up to a higher division".  I think what you are missing (from UW-W fans' perspective) is that higher division does not mean better.  As you know, the non-scholarship athlete that attends a D3 school is a very special kid. They play for the love of the game, they are true student-athletes, and they possess a certain humility that seems to be more and more lacking in kids at the higher levels.  Pouring resources into scholarships, doubling and tripling travel times to games, and leaving a conference they have been affiliated with for 100 years will not "make the school better" in my opinion.  If you talk to the athletes who have participated in athletics at UW-W over the last 5 decades, they will tell you that being a part of UW-W has been instrumental in helping them to be successful in life.  It seems to me, UW-W is accomplishing their mission just fine.

You're right, I'm not complimenting anyone. I'm looking at it from an inside view -- thinking "if I worked for Whitewater, what would I think would help Whitewater prosper, improve, grow". In that, it seems Milwaukee is the primary competitor with Whitewater for students in the southern and southeastern parts of the state primarily, and secondarily statewide.

To me what North Dakota State did this is even more impressive -- national championship in football, NCAA D1 tournament in basketball and baseball -- in North Dakota. Not exactly a hotbed for any of those sports. That's what D1 gets you, exposure outside your local area. NDSU could never have had that kind of success in D-II. By the way, NDSU has a pretty comparable enrollment to UW-Whitewater.

No reason Whitewater couldn't do something similar to what NDSU has.

[02 Warhawk]

The Pope "could" become a Lutheran too.

If that's all you've got, then you've got nothing.

But hell, I'd take what I said as a compliment; I'm saying I think Whitewater could make in D-I.

Seems to be the people here that don't think very much of it.

It seems to me your compliment is a bit back-handed. It doesn't sound like you are complimenting UW-W for their accomplishments as much as you are saying, "With all those advantages, they could, should, and might move up to a higher division".  I think what you are missing (from UW-W fans' perspective) is that higher division does not mean better.  As you know, the non-scholarship athlete that attends a D3 school is a very special kid. They play for the love of the game, they are true student-athletes, and they possess a certain humility that seems to be more and more lacking in kids at the higher levels.  Pouring resources into scholarships, doubling and tripling travel times to games, and leaving a conference they have been affiliated with for 100 years will not "make the school better" in my opinion.  If you talk to the athletes who have participated in athletics at UW-W over the last 5 decades, they will tell you that being a part of UW-W has been instrumental in helping them to be successful in life.  It seems to me, UW-W is accomplishing their mission just fine.

You're right, I'm not complimenting anyone. I'm looking at it from an inside view -- thinking "if I worked for Whitewater, what would I think would help Whitewater prosper, improve, grow". In that, it seems Milwaukee is the primary competitor with Whitewater for students in the southern and southeastern parts of the state primarily, and secondarily statewide.

To me what North Dakota State did this is even more impressive -- national championship in football, NCAA D1 tournament in basketball and baseball -- in North Dakota. Not exactly a hotbed for any of those sports. That's what D1 gets you, exposure outside your local area. NDSU could never have had that kind of success in D-II. By the way, NDSU has a pretty comparable enrollment to UW-Whitewater.

No reason Whitewater couldn't do something similar to what NDSU has.

I'm sure Whitewater appreciates your concern, but I think the current administration has things pretty much under control.

[emma17]

Spence
I don't mind having the discussion about moving up in division, however I want to understand why you think it's better for Whitewater to move up.
You suggest they can "prosper and grow". Are you referring to the university, the city or both?
Why do you feel UWW is looking to prosper and grow beyond where they are at?  Don't confuse that last question w UWW not wanting to improve.  You seem to be taking the concept of continuous improvement to a different level- matching UWW vs Milwaukee in some sort of battle to be the #2 dog.
Isn't it possible that the UW system is pleased w the current structure?

Don't get me wrong, from an entertainment value perspective it would be a blast to see UWW move up and play big time competition w national exposure and espn game day crews.
But for what reason other than entertainment?  Dollars? That's a loooong term commitment and one that directly impacts UW Madison.
What are the reasons UWW would want to move up?

[Spence]

Simply put, because it would make them more competitive with Milwaukee, and the more common choice over Oshkosh, Stevens Point, etc. It's a leg up.

I don't know why you wouldn't be wanting to prosper and grow (either in numbers or in $$ or in application volume -- translating to one of the other two most likely). Pleased and standing pat are two different things.

Nothing Whitewater does is going to make much difference for Madison. Whitewater could be D-I and it would hardly matter. They don't offer what Madison offers.

[emma17]

Again- why do you feel the UW system (we are talking more than just UWW here) thinks its in the best interest of the state of Wisconsin to have UWW be more competitive w Milwaukee and be the choice over other state schools?

[Spence]

Not a relevant question. We're talking about Whitewater.

Is there some reason you think it would be a net negative to the state for Whitewater to be a more competitive school?

[BigPoppa]

Simply put, because it would make them more competitive with Milwaukee, and the more common choice over Oshkosh, Stevens Point, etc. It's a leg up.

Not a relevant question? Spence... you are talking in circles.You brought up the Whitewater vs Milwaukee item and then when someone returned to it, you brushed it aside as meaningless. Which is it?

[Spence]

Simply put, because it would make them more competitive with Milwaukee, and the more common choice over Oshkosh, Stevens Point, etc. It's a leg up.

Not a relevant question? Spence... you are talking in circles.You brought up the Whitewater vs Milwaukee item and then when someone returned to it, you brushed it aside as meaningless. Which is it?

Huh? The question was about what the UW system "thinks" (as if there would be one single opinion on that). That's not a relevant question unless someone wants to make the case that Whitewater being more competitive would be a net negative to the system somehow.

Politics being what it is, there may well be more supporters of UWM in the state government than UWW (more voters in Milwaukee). But the board of regents isn't very Milwaukee-centric at all, and I imagine if they sanctioned a move the state legislature would go along with it. And the Board of Regents would have no reason not to sanction it.

Hence...not a relevant question.

[ShineTime]

Let's focus on who point is going to have left to pitch next year.