MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[stoutguy]

Personally, I used to like the double-headers. If you're going to drive halfway across the state for a game, you might as well watch two.

then fly to Mexico for two weeks

What's Mexico got that Wisconsin doesn't? It's balmy out there right now--and I'm not talking about the people, although...--and we have really good beer. In most parts of the state, contrary to popular opinion, you don't need a passport. And you can drink the water. What's not to like?

Happy trails anyway.

In real sports:
It's nice to see that Buchanan can have three Yellowjackets sitting on the bench and still put together eight players who can have an effective game. Jason Proue may have looked like he got into foul trouble--and I guess having three or four fouls IS trouble--but at least one was for having a Lacrosse player draped over his back. That's a tough call. He played well. Smith and Hill were outstanding, even though Hill doesn't seem to realize he's not 6'9". The guy will see three players collapsing on him and STILL try to drive to the basket. Sometimes he makes it; sometimes he just disappears. Who turned out the lights? The surprise, for me, was to see Jake Smith drop two 3s. Whoda thunk? You see the big guy out on the line and think, well, he's not sneaking under the basket for a wide-open layup, and then he arcs a 3. I love that guy.

I can't find a box score anywhere for the game. I suppose UWS won't be able to post it until a work study student with computer skills gets back from break.

If you like these doubleheaders so much I was going to invite you to make the trip to Menomonie for one this year.  (But then I checked the schedule and see that Stout/Superior  are Wed. games this year.  I was going to bet you that the Stout women and the Supeior men win and then you would have to buy me two of those good german beers (maybe a boot) at the watering hole that Jake loves so much. 

[phoenix_rising]

I don't think Stout and Superior ever play weekend games; Stout is one of the few schools within the 200 mile limit for mid-week games, or whateverthehell that rule is. We do want to get down to some games, though. Probably wait until Trisha Van Vreede is back on her feet--back on the court. She didn't play yesterday, did she?

Oops. That's probably a women's board question. I'll risk it.

I wouldn't be totally surprised if E didn't try to get to the Lacrosse game on Saturday. If she goes, I'll instruct her to pay off my debts.

[stoutguy]

Van Vreede did not play yesterday but I think she is about ready.  Mary S. is playing very well.  Tell E to look me up and I won't even make her pay off your debts.  Do you still owe me something?

[Just Bill]

Sorry Stoutguy, but I like the doubleheaders.  I don't get to many games anymore, but when I go I'd rather make one trip to see two games.

[stoutguy]

Sorry Stoutguy, but I like the doubleheaders.  I don't get to many games anymore, but when I go I'd rather make one trip to see two games.

Yes, and I'm guessing that quite a few people share that.  I liked the idea at first also, but after doing them every week, they have just gotten old for me.  The players and coaches, as a group, I think, would agree with my complaints.

[janesvilleflash]

Sorry Stoutguy, but I like the doubleheaders.  I don't get to many games anymore, but when I go I'd rather make one trip to see two games.

Yes, and I'm guessing that quite a few people share that.  I liked the idea at first also, but after doing them every week, I have just gotten too old for them. 

There, a more accurate reason.

[Greek Tragedy]

As a fan, I like them.  I get to travel somewhere and see two games, sometimes for the price of one, or in Oshkosh and Point's case, for one and a half (though Oshkosh screws you and charges you $10 even if the women's game is already over!). 

I know that Jack hated the double headers because one team has to sit there for 3 1/2 hours before playing.  I definitely realize its a long day for all the people associated with putting a game together, but I think it's more convenient for the fans.  I mean, what's better than going up to Menomonie on a Saturday and seeing the place packed for the women's and men's games? 

Though I live outside of Point, I like the old schedule when the men played one day and the women played at home the following day.  It gave the fans a chance to see both games instead of one team traveling the same day as the other team playing at home.

I don't know how expenses go, but how does both teams traveling at the same time NOT save money?  I know there are probably some compaints about the earlier starts (3 and 5 instead of 5 and 7) but at least it gets the kids home at an earlier hour.

As for the standings, I'm not too shocked about it.  Obviously every team is beatable and I guess Point is only a game out of what I thought they might be (1-2 instead of 2-1).  Oshkosh, Whitewater and La Crosse in the first three games and two on the road.  We have a chance to turn things around with two more tricky games at home.

I listened to the postgame show last night and Semling complained about the scheduling with Point getting no conference home games (and a bye as well) in December.  I don't think I agree with him.  We did play like 5 games on the road (nonconference) and we won 4 of those.  I would think our team has enough character and built up enough confidence to not have to play a conference game at home in December in order to "feel good about ourselves". 

It's way too early to worry about the a 1-2 start.  Yeah, we're 2 1/2 games back of Oshkosh already, but it's a long season.  The Oshkosh fans and maybe some of the players are probably still in a state of shock being 4-0 in conference! lol 

Hey Stoutguy, yeah, traveling with the team and doing them every week would get a little "old", but that's part of the job.  I would think you like your job enough to not let it bother you too much.  I played socccer in college and, believe me, I loved playing, but at the end of the season, yeah, I want to stop too! 

[Mr. Downtown]

I'm just interested on how it was before having doubleheaders? Or, how some people would make a change cause I think Stoutguy has a point here about the doubleheaders. For broadcasters, often times they have to travel all over the state (in the winter time), call two games, and then head back. I know some broadcasters travel with the teams and such, but it can be aggravating.

Also, when Pam Ruder was still coaching in Oshkosh, the women's and men's teams took seperate bus's. I don't know how Oshkosh does it today, or what other schools do, but with some of these team's rosters (such as Stout) I find it hard to believe that they are taking one means of transportation for these games.

If that's the case, how is that school saving money? If both teams are having road games on a particular weekend, I would have to imagine it would cost roughly the same, or in same cases, if the Stout men's team plays at River Falls, and the Women's team plays at Stevens Point, that it would be a cheaper bill, then let's say, playing a doubleheader at Whitewater.

I know the WIAC did this to help save money, and help scheduling. Perhaps another reason too, is to have more fans in attendence for the Women's games on Saturday's? Like oldschool said, because many schools off ticket discounts for both games, perhaps fans are deciding to also come in and cheer on the Women, and then wait for the Men (With exception of Stout these days).

One more thing, concerning Stevens Point, which I don't think playing doubleheaders even matters. They might one of the schools that could play a Men's and a Women's game at the same time.

[Greek Tragedy]

Even if Stout has 20+ players on it's roster, I would guess they would take one bus.  Don't those buses hold 60 or more people?  That's interesting that Oshkosh would allow her to do that if money is an issue.  But maybe money wasn't an issue in the past! lol...

I'm not sure if your point about the Stout men playing at River Falls and the women playing at Point would be cheaper than a double header in Whitewater really makes too much sense.  You have to realize that there would be two bills to Whitewater regardless then.  They both still have to play in Whitewater sometime during the season, so why not send them both at the same time on one bus?  Maybe I'm missing something here, but why isn't it cheaper?

As for Stoutguy's complaints, do you have a choice to do the men or women?  If there weren't double headers every weekend, does that mean there would be a chance that you could do the women's game at home one weekend and then choose to do the men's game at home the following weekend without traveling? 

I don't know what all goes into running things when it comes to games, but not sure how that would work playing two games at the same time in Point (ticket personnel, "security", concessions etc).  I know Point doesn't get the numbers Stout does for women's games, but I know a fair number of fans that would be upset if they played the games at the same time, especially on a weekend!

[Mr. Downtown]

They both still have to play in Whitewater sometime during the season, so why not send them both at the same time on one bus?

Ah, that's why its cheaper. Thanks for making me see the light, oldschool.

Point having two games at the same time would be crazy. With many schools only having one court to share, Point avoid's having time conflicts. Which, as a broadcaster, can be very fustrating having to tell fans who are listening or watching back at home that the 5pm game is now set for a 5:30pm start, or whenever.

I don't know if this has happened at Point, but let's say the women's team goes into a double overtime game, the men's team could therotically start at the time slot. So if the Point broadcasters were to do only the men's game, they can still go at the 5pm time like they were scheduled to do.

The Student-Athletes and the Fans are always #1 & 2 of the WIAC Headquarters interest, but with how many radio stations in Wisconsin that broadcast games, how many schools that are streamming the games live, and with When We Were Young Productions broadcasting games on a Tape delay basis, there will have to come a time in which the conference sits down with top media officals and go over the scheduling process and figure out how they can have the max number of broadcasts, while still making it easy for the fans and the students. The WIAC interests in the media world are growing every year (if you have had the chance to attend a Media Day conference, Gary always states that), so it would be interesting if this topic was approached again.

I'm sure its tough to make decisions like this on a D-III level scale, while looking out your office windows and see the Kohl Center. If the conference could afford it, I bet they would have the WIAC Network, broadcasting all the games live in Wisconsin.

[stoutguy]

Sorry Stoutguy, but I like the doubleheaders.  I don't get to many games anymore, but when I go I'd rather make one trip to see two games.

Yes, and I'm guessing that quite a few people share that.  I liked the idea at first also, but after doing them every week, I have just gotten too old for them. 

There, a more accurate reason.

Okay, smartass, quit playing with my cute quotes or I am going to tell Pat to pull your pass.  But you know what, I did feel kind of old by the end of that men's game last.  I started at 7:30 Sat. morning and finished that night with the MHS/Rice Lake game. 

[stoutguy]

Downtown,

We do travel with the team but imagine the joy of being on the bus when one team wins, the other gets beat.  That mix is no fun for anyone.  And I repeat, money is not being saved by doubleheaders.  How about this example: Stout stays overnight with both teams in Oshkosh because it is mandated that we travel together.

[phoenix_rising]

The complaint I heard about teams traveling together was that the men stretched out one to a seat and the women had to jam three in a seat.

Why would any team but Whitewater or Platteville going to Superior or Superior going to Whitewater or Platteville have to stay overnight? Good lord; knowing what scholarly students these players are, most trips would be perfect for getting that hour per class of study time in.

[Greek Tragedy]

They both still have to play in Whitewater sometime during the season, so why not send them both at the same time on one bus?

Ah, that's why its cheaper. Thanks for making me see the light, oldschool.

Not sure if that was a tongue in cheek comment. 

BTW, from what I know, the men's game starts 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.  So, if it goes 3 OTs and finishes at 5:30, the men's game wouldn't start until 6:00 pm, even though they are played in different gyms.  When the game was done at 4:35 yesterday, there was already a sizable crowd in Quandt ready for a 5:05 tipoff.

Janesvilleflash,

Nice work on Stoutguy's "quote"! lol.

[Just Bill]

If Oshkosh was travelling separately to doubleheaders back in the day, they were violating WIAC rules.

When doubleheaders were created, some schools said "We can afford two busses! Let's do it that way!"  The administrators came down and said "If we're doing this to save money, then we're not letting teams take two busses to one site."  At that point they mandated that men's and women's teams travel together for DH's.

The complaint I heard about teams traveling together was that the men stretched out one to a seat and the women had to jam three in a seat.

I know WIAC women's coaches who would make sure they got to the bus before the men did and count the total number of seats to make sure each team had half.  You want to bring 20 players and 6 assistant coaches? Fine, but you're still getting the same number of seats!