Best D3 Conferences

[HScoach]

1.  WIAC
2.  OAC
3.  CCIW


IMHO what sets the WIAC above the OAC isn't the top half of the conference, it's the bottom half.  The bottom of the OAC (especially Wilmington, Muskingum and Marietta) are consistently horrendous.  I can't see any scenario where any of them could beat the last place team in the WIAC.   I believe the top of the OAC could very easily compete with the top of the WIAC.  Just not the bottom.

I think the CCIW is very similar to the OAC in that it has a few crap teams at the bottom and some great ones at the top.  The CCIW pads their records by playing a bunch of scrubs in their 3 preseason games, but historically the CCIW competed very well in the playoffs.  Only thing keeping the CCIW behind the OAC in my mind is our #1 has been better than their #1 for 15 years+.  Outside of Mount versus their champ, I think the two conferences are equal.

[UofMUC2006]

Uof Muc- You won't get an arguement from me supporting the WIAC as the top conference this year, it was a down year for them for sure.  One thing to give the WIAC credit for though is the large number of top teams they played this year.  Take a look some day at the number of ranked teams.  WIAC schools this year played Mt, NCC, Wheaton, St. John's, St. Thomas, Ohio Northern and some other good teams.  WIAC schools schedule tough competition to their credit.

Plus i think the bottom three teams in the WIAC would wipe the floor with the bottom three teams in the OAC. Even though UWRF only one won game this year....take a look at their non-conference schedule, they lost to three playoff teams, including only losing to ONU by 14.

I think that's why the WIAC is considered the toughest conference each year....The gap between UWW and UWRF is a lot closer than say UMU and Willmington.

Very good points there.  WIAC teams did play a very good non-conference schedule.  And you do make a good point about the gap between UWW and UWRF vs UMU and Wilmington.  I'm sure UWRF would stomp Wilmington. They are pretty awful. 

As fun as arguing conferences can be unless every single team in a conference plays every team in another conference there is no possible way to answer other than giving somewhat informed guesses. 

I'm just thankful that this isn't like SEC arguments.  I can't stand those SEC jackwagons.  It's good to read actual arguments instead of "you can't hang with the speed of the SEC!!!"

[jaypeter]

As fun as arguing conferences can be unless every single team in a conference plays every team in another conference there is no possible way to answer other than giving somewhat informed guesses. 

Nah, we just need to take a page out of basketball's book...have a conference challenge series each year.  Think of how interesting it would be for the OAC and WIAC to play each other next year for opening non-conference games (I'm dreaming, here, I'm not forgetting about the scheduled games):

UWW vs. UMU
ONU vs. Stevens Point
Stout vs. Baldwin Wallace
Otterbein vs. Platteville
Oshkosh vs. Capital
John Carroll vs. La Crosse
Eau Claire vs. Heidelberg
Muskingum vs. River Falls
Marietta vs. Wilmington in a non-conference game (if the WIAC can do it, why not the OAC?)

It would sure solve the problem of how much difficulty some of the top teams have in scheduling a non-conference opponent.  While these wouldn't be regional games for the selection committee to look at, it would sure be fun to watch and dissect afterwards!

[emma17]

Great idea JayPeter.  To bring your dream a little closer to a reality I'd like to see- how about a 1 vs 4 match rather than 1 v 1 in the Conf Challenge.    I am not a big proponent of nationally ranked top 5 teams squaring off in non- con games, too much to lose and not enough to gain given pool c uncertainty. 

[UofMUC2006]

jaypeter I love the idea I think it would be a great way to start the season. The only problem is it still doesn't solve the question "which conference is better."  I truly believe that question cannot be answered definitively unless every team plays each other from the other conference and compare the records.  That would be really fun.

Marietta vs. Wilmington in a non-conference game (if the WIAC can do it, why not the OAC?)

This about made me lose my coke.  You almost owed me a laptop!

[wally_wabash]

Marietta vs. Wilmington in a non-conference game (if the WIAC can do it, why not the OAC?)

Because on the list of worst ideas ever, conference teams playing non-conference games against one another lands somewhere between Disco Demolition Night and crystal pepsi.  We should never, ever encourage such things, even in the hypothetical.   

[jaypeter]

Relax, Wally, relax!  It's Wilmington and Marietta! 

"If Marietta and Wilmington played a game and nobody paid attention, would it make a sound?"

OK, maybe I should go easy on these guys.  Without a full conference, Mount Union would probably have to schedule DII and NAIA schools to fill their schedule.

[Just Bill]

The WIAC has been attempting to create a "conference challenge" type event for years to help with their scheduling issues.  No takers.

[Pat Coleman]

Technically, to create an even matchup of teams like that between the two conferences, you'd need to drop out the two middle teams from the OAC, not the two bottom ones.

[George Thompson]

First I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.

PLAYOFF SELECTION - Part 1

I expressed earlier my concern about the current NCAA Division III playoff selection format.   There are some interesting facts behind the debate of the NCAA playoff selection, strength of conferences and strength of regions.   I will present these findings over a few postings this week.   Since 1999, some definite patterns have emerged.

National Champions, by Regions:

North:  6 all by Mount Union

West:  6.    3 by Wisconsin- Whitewater, 1 by Pacific Lutheran, St. John's,  and Linfield each.  

South:   0

East:     0
                                                                                                                                   ----------------------------------------------

Reached the Stagg Bowl:                    

North:  10 all by Mount Union

West:  10.    6 by Wisconsin- Whitewater, 2 by St. John's, 1 by Pacific Lutheran  and Linfield each.  

South:   3.   1 each by Bridgewater, Trinity and Mary-Hardin Baylor                          

East:    1, by Rowan

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, it is obvious that only a handful of teams reach the Stagg Bowl.    Of course, for six years, it has been the same two teams.

Second, the North (Mount Union) and the West regions dominate


Next up:   Region playoff records.

[02 Warhawk]

I think this thread is the best location for this.

I started a WIAC blog a month or so ago, and for the past few weeks i've been working on a post explaining the why I believe the WIAC is considered one of the better conferences in DIII. It's not a "thump my chest" article on why other conferences suck, and WIAC is king. It's not like that. I talk about some of the advantages the state of wisconsin offers that other states don't. I also touch on some common misconceptions about the WIAC.

I hope you like

"The Powers That Be"
www.wiacfootball.blogspot.com

[retagent]

Just a couple of points on your blog "report." First, many people make this mistake, but it's MOOT point, not Mute point. Look it up.

Second, you dismiss the arguement regarding the high cost of tuition at private colleges, compared with the state college system of which the WIAC is a part. You quote a WIAC coach when "informing" about relative costs. Do you have any other evidence? I say he's wrong. Now it's a tie. Which one of us is right? You also call those who make this arguement "haters." I know that's a popular charge  that the left side of the political spectrum uses when they don't want to engage in valid arguementation. What is the response to such a charge? "No, I'm not." If you've got the facts, convince me, don't insult me. I would be more likely to listen to your reasoned arguement if you would treat me with respect.

[dahlby]

02 Warhawk:

I think that you have done a very commendable job of stating your opinion and backing it up with the information you have gathered, not to say that there are not opposing views, which those that have should take the time to back up their beliefs with a brief similiar to what you have done.

Plus K for your efforts!

[02 Warhawk]

Just a couple of points on your blog "report." First, many people make this mistake, but it's MOOT point, not Mute point. Look it up.

Second, you dismiss the arguement regarding the high cost of tuition at private colleges, compared with the state college system of which the WIAC is a part. You quote a WIAC coach when "informing" about relative costs. Do you have any other evidence? I say he's wrong. Now it's a tie. Which one of us is right? You also call those who make this arguement "haters." I know that's a popular charge  that the left side of the political spectrum uses when they don't want to engage in valid arguementation. What is the response to such a charge? "No, I'm not." If you've got the facts, convince me, don't insult me. I would be more likely to listen to your reasoned arguement if you would treat me with respect.

First, many people make this mistake, but it's Argument, not Arguement. Look it up.

Second, I wish I would have gotten more evidence. I sent 26 emails to coaches, athletic directors, SIDs, and the WIAC office asking their "opinions" on this topic. Unfortunately, Coach Miech was the only person who got back to me. Considering he provided me with some facts, and all you can offer up is "I say he's wrong"....I think my choice is clear on who's side I'm leaning towards. If you think he's wrong...take it up with him. I'm not totally dismissing the notion of high costs in private schools. I'm just saying, the gab in costs (when factoring in aid) between public and private schools may not be a big as people think. Besides there's bigger factors on what makes a football program succeed, like coaching....not tuition costs and admission standards.

Hater 

[02 Warhawk]

02 Warhawk:

I think that you have done a very commendable job of stating your opinion and backing it up with the information you have gathered, not to say that there are not opposing views, which those that have should take the time to back up their beliefs with a brief similiar to what you have done.

Plus K for your efforts!

Thanks dahlby, I appreciate it.