FB: Midwest Conference

[gbpuckfan]

Mac first possession - a first down, then a punt

UWW - easy drive for TD

7-0 early UWW

[fulbakdad]

4th and 10 from the 13 and you go for it??

hmmmmmm

[gbpuckfan]

As someone only somewhat familiar with the MIAC through various non-conference encounters - and certainly non familiar with all of the ins and outs of the Mac history - my thoughts:

* I think it IS unusual for a team not to be in a conference for all of the sports that conference offers. I can't think of any MWC team that doesn't play in the conference for a sport MWC has. SNC, LU and LFC are in the NCHA for hockey, but MWC doesn't offer. Same when LU was with the WIAC for wrestling a few years back.

* Schools talk all the time about conferences & teams in terms of similar academics, etc. I don't think that's a big deal or a factor in most cases. Usually, it's distance, size of school, etc that are the first things. Every conference has schools with varying academic profiles, but for cost reasons, distance, etc. those are secondary to the other issues. Most fans don't care about the ACT score of the center/pitcher/bolero/goalie at another school.

* It doesn't bother me that Mac joined the MWC, or even that they won it. If the schools think it's a good fit, like the ability for division play (until CU leaves), frees up dates for more non-conference, etc - that's all fine with me

* Bottom line, though, it does seem odd to that Mac wouldn't be in the MIAC for football. Either you are in a league or not. Getting your butt kicked? Hire better coaches, get better facilities, or find a league that better suits you overall.

SNC was going 1-9 in football not all that long ago. Changed coaches. Built a new stadium. Invested in the program. Now, this season's 6-4 seems disappointing. It CAN be done.

* I can see how, based on travel, tradition, etc. that Mac wants to stay in the MIAC. And isn't a good fit for MWC for everything. But then when you join a league that hasn't had the same level of success on a national level in football that the MIAC has had, don't be surprised that someone is going to be critical of being 'carpetbaggers' or 'cherrypicking' for football. (And perhaps shame on the MWC schools for not being good enough to beat them)

I hope MAC comes back today and makes a good showing. That would be good for the MWC. No sour grapes here. But I can understand the criticism.

[fulbakdad]

21-0 still in the first quarter.  Think I have some chores to do......

[gbpuckfan]

UWW announcers already talking about next week...

It's cold outside, so maybe those are just layers but I think that's a fat lady warming up...

[BoBo]

UWW announcers already talking about next week...

It's cold outside, so maybe those are just layers but I think that's a fat lady warming up...

They're students...what do you expect?

[gbpuckfan]

Final
Mac 2
UWW 55

[BoBo]

Final
Mac 2
UWW 55

The score may have gotten out of hand, but Mac never quit...give them credit...the QB #1 is elusive, but he simply lacked enough playmakers around him to be overly effective...they moved the ball pretty good at times between the 20's, though.  UWW went to their backups with 4 minutes left in the third quarter.

[scottie]

Monkey Stomp??

[57Johnnie]

Monkey Stomp??

Double!

[badgerwarhawk]

Congrats and good luck to the Scots. 

[grboob]

No comment

[bleedpurple]

Congrats to Macalester on a fine season.  You earned UW-W's respect both by never quitting on the field and in how you conducted yourselves.  It is obvious, the team is filled with fine young me.

A final column on MAC/UW-W:

"Mutual Respect"

www.warhawkfootball.com

[fulbakdad]

I agree Purple, congrats to MAC.  They beat IC (who just can't seem to win the big game it has seemed for the last 4 years....) and deserved to move forward.

I didn't think our Conference was very strong as a whole this year.  The leading teams the last 3 years seemed to me to be much stronger than what we saw.  I kind of thought what happened on Sat was what was going to happen....

Oh well.  Let's see what happens in the future.

[grboob]

Any word out there in Packerland, about what happened to to the St Norbert's HC???