OK, so I’ve had the idea for this thread all day today. I was hoping to give us, as D3 fans and alumni in general, the benefit of the doubt, that we were all highly-evolved enough not to need it. But we do.
So here’s the deal. This is the new home for discussion about Wesley at UW-Whitewater and St. John Fisher at Mount Union, with a caveat: Your posts have to have some sort of value to them: perspective, insight, well-thought-out reasoning or a question you need answered.
What you’ll get in return is a respectful environment where personal attacks and smack are limited, if not entirely absent. I’ll personally make sure of it.
For those who want to carry on with the immature stuff, the whining about not being respected, the jabs at other posters … we’ll still have other threads for that on the Daily Dose and Post Patterns (I’ll probably be on those threads too). But this isn’t the place for that.
If you’re a fanatical fan of one team and you honestly don’t know anything about the other, save your score predictions. You can be helpful here with the amount of insight you must have from watching the same team each week.
In a way, this thread is an experiment. People seem like they really value, and want, a respectful, intelligent atmosphere. But we’ll find out how much that is really wanted by how much you post here. Perhaps we all like to mix it up a little more than we want to admit.
In any case, here are a few questions to start off the mature, thoughtful discussion about these games:
1. Does the past matter? (Mount Union’s titles, last year’s Wesley-UWW result, Saturday’s games)
2. What’s each team’s biggest on-field strength, or on-field weakness? What will they need to do that they normally don’t do to win Saturday?
3. Which “unsung heroes” will be key to their team’s chances Saturday?
4. These are four cold-weather teams. Will weather matter? Whose style would be most affected by precipitation. Whitewater is a grass field, but the other three teams are turf. The Stagg Bowl is on grass. Factor or non-factor?
5. Kmic, Robinson, Beaver … who’s the best back left? Kleppe, Robinson, Stickley … best D-Lineman left?
6. Who has the most to prove?
7. D3 fans help out your fellow D3 fans … where to eat/stay and things not to miss on game day (besides the game) in Alliance and Whitewater.
8. How do the teams match up, in specific areas? Who is healthy and/or banged-up?
I’ll bite.
Question 2 – Does the past matter? Specifically, does last year’s UWW/Wesley semifinal?
I was there last year, I’ll be there this year. A few thoughts…
1. This is a different Wesley team. I think Keith would agree with me. Last year saw two main receiving threats in Beavers and Lee, with a running game tossed in there as well. Wesley 2006 is much more diversified in their offense. 5 running backs with more than 38 carries – they could have two with 1,000 yards before it’s all over. They knew UMHB’s strengths and exploited their weaknesses.
2. Wesley still shows signs of immaturity…there will be NO room for such immaturity in Whitewater.
3. Bob Berezowitz’s last game at home. Wesley gets blown out in 2005. Both sides have a tremendous amount of reason to play like animals.
4. Wesley DE Bryan Robinson is a house. UMHB ran away from the left side of the line ALL day…that is, they ran to the opposite side of Bryan Robinson with regularity. It seemingly bored Robinson, so he went in and played fullback too. Just 6’3 285 all-American defensive end blocking on offense…not too shabby. Wesley even put him in motion…
5. Seemingly no injuries of dramatic note for Wesley – at least none visible to the naked eye. The starting defensive RT Jamal Williams was slow to get up on one play this weekend and all his replacement did was make a few tackles and, oh yeah, return a fumble 38 yards for a score.
6. Extended forecast indicates weather should be decent…always subject to change.
1. I think the past matters in terms of the level of confidence a team like MU carries with them into a game. A confident football team, is tough to beat. With that being said, Fisher brings a swagger with them to Ohio as well. Albeit a newly born swagger, but how incredible has this run been for this program. AMAZING!!!
2. Fisher is an opportunistic football team… if the opponent makes a mistake, they pounce and close like any championship football team would.
Being at Fisher on Saturday, as excited as Fisher was to have beaten Rowan which vaulted them into the Final Four, I still noticed an ‘unfinished business’ attitude from the players and coaches. As young as this team is, they know that is it not good enough to just get there. That is what makes Fisher dangerous. It was good to see.
Can’t say anything about Kmic or Beaver for I have not seen them play, but Robinson’s knack is that he is PATIENT… that is his strong suit… his patience puts the offense in the best possible position to be successful.
Here are my keys to victory for Fisher against Mount Union:
If Fisher turns the ball over more than once, they are in trouble.
Special Teams needs to play a BIG role.
Stop the run!!! If Fisher allows Kmic to get to the second level, they are going to have problems.
Get James Reile in involved in the passing game. Will be the unsung hero if Fisher pulls it out.
FORGET THE HISTORY of your opponent. Just play football.
Relentless pursuit of the football on defense!!
Can someone tell me if you can pre-purchase tickets for the Fisher/MCU game on Saturday?
Good stuff Keith and definitely needed, again I apologize for the behavior of all the new SJFC posters. But to get things started here are some quick thoughts on the only team I know a decent amount about…
Will the past matter? I don’t see how it won’t, people can say all day that intimidation won’t be a factor but with the amount of players and coaches who have followed this site for a while, they have all read repeatedly of how dominant Mount Union is. Going into Ohio in December should be an experience and a half. I have said before in Post Patterns I hope Fisher will be able to overcome the “deer in the headlights” type attitude and find a way to play their game, give Mt. Union all they’ve got, and see what happens.
What will Fisher need to do this Saturday? Aside from executing a darn near perfect gameplan I think turnovers are so crucial. Fisher offense doesn’t turn it over often but there have been games (i.e. First Springfield game where they inexplicably fumbled the ball 7 times and lost 4 of those fumbles), we can’t have that against Mount Union. I don’t know how many times MU turns it over on Offense but if they are prone to any aspect of turnovers such as liable to throw interceptions, we need to exploit it.
Unsung hero? For Fisher the TE Harmon I believe could be an X-factor that MU could possibly overlook. Utilize the TE and add an extra dimension for them to think about. This could open things up to free Robby a touch, he will need all the help he can get.
This brings me to my next subject of best back left… I love watching Robinson play, and when he is on he is incredibly hard to take down, it seems like his legs just never stop moving. I am also very interested to see Beaver in person (don’t know much about Kmic). Now if Fisher were to win and UWW wins as expected I would be able to see Beaver first hand. If UWW and MU wins as expected I will still be able to compare Beaver’s performance against MU to Robinson’s. Although one game by no means makes it ok to judge who is ultimately the better back, it will just be interesting to see.
Who has the most to prove? The East, we need to win one eventually to remove the stigma that has been forming about how weak the region is, before it becomes a complex and we will never be able to get over the hump lol
More to say later but I’m glad this thread has started….
Each school gets a guaranteed number of tickets so you can start with that allotment. I know they have put upwards of 8,000 at Mount so if they sell out of seats there is still standing room available.
I’ll take a shot at what I know at least, some I won’t answer just because I don’t really have an informed take:
1. The past does matter in two different ways— A) The mystique of Mount Union’s team seems to take down a lot of teams (Or at least makes the beating worse). St. John Fisher may be the next team to fall in line. B) Wesley’s disastrous trip to Whitewater last year will help them…or at least they’ll be ready to play with more than one pair of shoes!
2. St. John Fisher’s Biggest Strength is Robinson, hands down. However, their defense has been very solid the last several weeks (and throughout the season). However, the weakness is that they have not seen Mount Union before and their defense may fall to a offensive scheme that is a little strange (ie. Springfield)
3. Rob Kramer’s Poise for Fisher will go a long way in determining how well they play…
4. I really don’t think weather should be a factor for any of them, but Wesley better be prepared…
5. Kmic, just from what I saw on TV last year, and what I’ve heard this year just sounds like he has the most “potential energy” (and most time left to show it). Robinson is solid as we all know.
6. St. John Fisher (and the east!) has what I think is obviously the most to prove. Not necessarily to win, but they need to be close to give any credence to the east region…..
7. Can’t help there!
Keith, with No. 5 you took my next front-page poll. 🙂
I think the running game battle between SJFC on offense and MUC on defense is the matchup of the day between both games.
Gonna disagree with one thing Portgrad said — the biggest strength in the playoff run for Fisher has been Kramer, although less so yesterday. His efficiency has been the real deal, and of late, I think it’s opened up the defenses of SJF’s opponents in such a way that the focus finally got released from the middle and Robinson. Robinson’s TD numbers are a little deceiving, especially in the Union and Springfield games — it was Kramer’s play between the 20s that got the ball moving almost at will for the Cardinals.
That’s OK to disagree, I see where you are coming from Frank. However, talent wise I think Robinson is their biggest Offensive weapon — but Teams are obviously focused on him, so Kramer must be on target (and will have to be again this weekend if they have any shot — one INT could seriously mean the game). I kind of took the question in a different direction I suppose.
One thing that hasn’t really been talked about. Wesley has shown that they can come back from a deficit not once but twice in the playoffs. Remember that Dickinson put up 14 pts and 200 plus yrds in the first 16 minutes and then totaled 60 the rest of the way. And this week giving up that early fumble for a T.D.
Hadn’t really thought about this either but with B. Robinson in the backfield and Lanouette at T.E. and Schatz at wideout , thats like having eight O linemen and Barnes at FB is a heck of a blocker too. Imagine seeing that come at you. And they throw with that lineup too…
Well Overall I wish good luck to all 4 teams. However it would be nice for both road teams to win so there was a Chance Brockport would be put on a graphic or something as being the teams common opponent 🙂
A Graphic on TV (Something like “Wesley Crushed Brockport State, while St. John Fisher had a harder time”) is what I meant…. But I digress…. Back to the regularly scheduled Discussion already in progress.
“Some I won’t answer just because I don’t really have an informed take:”
“That’s OK to disagree, I see where you are coming from Frank.”
Wow, this thread is already a rousing success 🙂
Pat, re: No. 5 … that’s funny. You should still use it as a poll. It was my least favorite question because it didn’t actually have to do with Saturday’s games.
UWW will win but the game, it will be closer than last year. UWW 28 Wesley 14. Here are some factors that work against Wesley; grass, cold, away game and Berezowitz’s last game at home.
The Mount will win as well 34-17. The Mount is tough to beat at home and “old coach” will have them ready.
However SJF fans remember, UMHB went to Alliance and beat the Beasts of the East in 04. SJF will have to play a mistake free game to have a chance. I don’t think SJF will win but the Mount can be beat in Alliance.
The Cru will be tough again next year and maybe, just maybe, beat Wesley. UMHB needs to improve on the following to be contenders again.
Improve Pass Defense/Pass Offense. The running game isn’t much good when you are losing by 3 td’s late in the game.
After watching both UW-Whitewater and Wesley play against UMHB and getting the opportunity to examine their offenses, I believe Whitewater has the edge in this game by one touchdown. Whitewater will want to send their coach off with a bang.
The biggest MUC achilles heel is PENALTIES. Averages around 100 yds per game.
Offensively, they were statistically balanced in the regular reason but the playoffs have been all run, run and run some more. If SJF can not stop Kmic then Kehres will run him all day long.
I’m really looking forward to seeing a new team come into Alliance. I’ve seen enough of Rowan over the years.
D3Keith:
Good classy thread.
1. The past is the past. You learn what you can from it and move on. The only thing that helps is being somewhat more comfortable with the situation. It should allow you to make adjustments.
2. I do not know about UWW, but Wesley strength stems for its ability to be so multi-deminsional. They depend on passing a more but their running game is strong enough that your defense has to pay attention to the run.
3. Special teams!
4. Weather should not be a factor but I think bad weather hurts Wesley’s “field turf” offense. I pointed out in an early post to a different thread that Wesley has played badly in bad weather ever since they got the field turf but are undefeated at home on that field.
5. I do not know anything about the running backs but Beavers numbers kind of say it all for me. I have seen a lot of Robinson and he is very impressive. CMU and UMHB both tried to stay away from him. You might have noticed he was moved from right to left end on almost every play Saturday depending on what Wesley thought UMHB might do offensively. I understand Kleppe is great also. It will be fun the watch Saturday.
6. No doubt about it, Wesley especially after that bad showing last year and this year with the same two teams in the same place. It should be an “energy” factor for Wesley.
7. Since my wife and I will be at the game places to stay and places to eat, have fun, etc. would be most welcome. We are both in our sixties so college pickup bars will not help us much, I didn’t do so well in them when I was in college either.
8. Reports from the trainer at Wesley are “nicks, bumps and bruises” but nothing unusual for this time of year. After 13 games that is to be expected. I think both teams match up well. Who could ask for more: #3 playing #2 for a trip to the Stagg Bowl! If that does not do for you then nothing could do it for you.
Pat:
They even threw Robinson a pass in both the Dickinson and CMU games. He dropped the one against Dickinson and caught the one against CMU for about a five yard gain. You are dead on center about the maturity thing.
I remember being in similar shoes last year as some of the SJF posters are in now. I am referring to the knowledgable, respectful ones, of course. Ignore the others. Respect must be earned on the field, not demanded on a blog. Just keep winning. That is the key to recieving credit. Last year UWW was the upstarts of the play-offs. Every week it was a new group of posters on the WIAC boards, i.e. Central, SJU, Linfield and yes, MUC fans, telling the Warhawks how history and tradition showed how every game would end their season and, “no WIAC team would be playing in December, let alone Virginia.” It was frustating at times. There are so many similarities right from the lopsided scores (with the exception being the Cats,) to the confident swagger. We, too, thought that MUC was king of the Stagg Bowl cuz they hadn’t played the Hawks yet. BUT, they showed exactly why they are the gold standard of D-3 football. They are incredible talented, well coached and diciplined. Very hard to play well against them for 4 complete quarters. A few mistakes and they pounce. Can SJF win, of course they can BUT the odds are not with them. Odds are never with the opponent of a MUC team. Alteast not in the last 10-15 years of so. This is a different year for the Hawks. They have survived so far being, “the hunted,” and it hasn’t been easy, especially in the post season. They have delt with many serious injuries to quite a few starters and every team bringing payback. Wesley will come Saturday looking for payback and then some. Last season, no one expected the Hawks to be in the Stagg Bowl except the players, coaches and fans much like the SJF program. Every win was gravy after they beat UWL during conference play. Enjoy your success, SJF fans, because with great success comes great expections and the pressure is tough. My respect for perenial national contenders has grow enormously during this year. Tough to get there, even tougher to sustain. I expect this game on Saturday against Wesley to be just as difficult as the last 2 but great teams find a way to win and, hopeully, the Hawks will do just that and get another crack at the Raiders.
IMHO, the past does matter. I can’t speak directly to the matchups this weekend but in last years Stagg Bowl, the past did matter. Again IMHO, the fact that MU had been to Salem was an advantage for MU. I know MU/UWW fans would argue this point until the end of time but as I have mentioned previously, I felt like UWW had more talent (on paper) than MU last year. However, last year in Salem, they played the game on the field. MU’s previous experience in Salem was one contributing factor for the W.
I have often joked on Post Patterns about the upcoming MU/UWW rematch. Even though this is a different year with different teams, I do think it would be interesting to see how they match up this time around and if UWW being in Salem last year would make a difference. On the other hand, some new blood in Salem could be fun as well. Looking forward to Salem, no matter who is there.
“MU’s previous experience in Salem was one contributing factor for the W.”
Couldn’t agree more. BTW, congrats to all four of the National Semi-Final Teams. Great year no matter what the outcome of Saturday’s games.
OK, love tests:
1. Does the past matter? (Mount Union’s titles, last year’s Wesley-UWW result, Saturday’s games) –
Yes and no, depends on the opponent and the home team. Did Mt. Union prove something last year and is just trying to get back to acheive a goal? Is Fisher starry-eyed and will they lay down as soon as MU scores? Don’t know much about MU so can’t comment on the first statement but even though they have a history of repeating it takes a special character to get up for a repeat. As for Fisher, if they had been undefeated then this would probably go bad for them. However, the experience with Springfield has taught them a great lesson. Those fumbles in part stemmed from a switch in centers mid game and the replacement of quarterbacks due to injury. The defensive lapse was part poor tackling/injuries but to a larger extent a revamp of defensive responsibilities. Coaching and players alike learned who they were and what it takes to win as a team. They have been down to UR & Ithaca and have refocused to blow them out. I am sure Mt. Union is a great team but Fisher will get it done.
2. What’s each team’s biggest on-field strength, or on-field weakness? What will they need to do that they normally don’t do to win Saturday?
MU’s biggest weakness is the chance they do not have the same drive as last year. I said “chance”, that’s what makes a repeat tough. Their strength is confidence and a sence of ownership of the title (and of course a great team).
Fisher’s weakness is inexperience in both the coaching staff and team at this level. Their strength is their inexperience at this level – they don’t know enough about this level to get too worried about it.
3. Which “unsung heroes” will be key to their team’s chances Saturday?
Don’t know MU. Fisher will need great games from Kramer, Robinson and Lang to do this. However, Fisher is a true team and the rest of the supporting cast will need to step up as they have been. I have never seen a team effort like last week where every facet of the team was performing. Nobody from Fisher has to have a super game to win, the team needs to know that. If everyone does the job they did last week, no doubt they will come out on top. Ok, I will say Harmon just to keep consistant with my last few weeks remarks but I want to add the rest of the receivers who somehow I left out in previous comments. Jackson, Marion, Smith and Kelly, great routes/hands & can run after the receiption. My hope is MU keys on one or two, cause the others will run wild.
4. These are four cold-weather teams. Will weather matter? Whose style would be most affected by precipitation. Whitewater is a grass field, but the other three teams are turf. The Stagg Bowl is on grass. Factor or non-factor?
This week no factor. It’s as far as I am looking.
5. Kmic, Robinson, Beaver … who’s the best back left? Kleppe, Robinson, Stickley … best D-Lineman left?
Impossible to answer, no common opponents differing offensive schemes. Who knows, they are all great. Any other comment is just blowing smoke.
6. Who has the most to prove?
This is obvious, just scan the D3 comments, The East and specificly Fisher gets no respect as a top team. We will find out Saturday.
7. D3 fans help out your fellow D3 fans … where to eat/stay and things not to miss on game day (besides the game) in Alliance and Whitewater.
Any help would be appreciated.
8. How do the teams match up, in specific areas? Who is healthy and/or banged-up?
Fisher lost two starters to broken bones at Springfield, tough turf. Two or three more with naging injuries from the first Springfield game (tough team). I think someone said no excuses in Football. It’s Ok, same starters from last week start this week. We will be fine.
Couple of comments: Mt. Union was a medium tier team in the 80’s and suddenly jumped the step to top level team with 4 championships in the 90’s, do you think they are the only team and coaching staff that can suddenly arrive on the national scene.
The Fisher Offense took a hugh step forward two years ago, last year was OK but not great and then this year vaulted forward. Coincidently, an offensive back coach from two years ago who was not here last year, returned as offensive coordinator. Not to take anything away from last year’s coordinator because he has done a great job for UR, this year’s offense is a tribute to this young man and he gets better every game. He deserved offensive coordinator of the year.
The Fisher Defense who gets very little respect but has vastly improved every game and deserves to be called a great defense now. Keep improving and you will be fine. Don’t try to overplay, stay in control and keep to your responsibilities, trust your teammates – they will do their part.
Final comment to the Fisher Team. I have some experience here. I was 5-1 against National Champions(too bad I wasn’t better against lesser talent). I was also always the underdog. You have to love the chance to beat the unbeaten. Give them their due, they will score on you. They will get turn-overs and they may get the lead on you. The difference between them blowing you out and you beating them will be your composure and support to those that make mistakes. You need yourself and those that make the mistakes working as a team to beat MU. Just keep putting it to them. Remember you have come from behind before and I fully expect against a great team MU you will have to do it again. Keep battling and you will take them down.
Lastly to the Fisher and East fans. Can’t believe the statements – “don’t know if we will beat them or not”. Dare to dream and support this team. They read this. Who cares if we turn out to be wrong. D3 has been wrong about us before and they will be wrong again. So what we are fanatics, you think people that ignored all the stats and picked Rowan over us, were thinking logically, NOT!!
SJFC 24 MU 21 MU leads 14-0 at half.
The past does matter. It can matter a lot, or just a little – depending on how teams manage the ramp-up to the game. A coach can turn it into “Us against the world/Goliath/etc”, with some senior leadership can overcome most of it. On the other hand, it can eat away at a team’s insides. Every once in a while, it’s the formula for an upstart to pull a stunner.
Seen UWW three times – clearly their biggest weakness is hurting themselves – way too many penalties, dropped passes or fumbling trying to stretch for an extra yard. Strength seems to be an ability to play in many styles of game. Unsungs – could be a third or fourth WR like Gifford who made a big grab against StJ.
Weather and field also matter. Has Wesley played a cold weather game? I mean cold – 30 d cold, not 45 or 50. Home field does matter – Wesley looks to be very talented, and they may be able to function fine, we’ll find out soon.
Best guy here or there – who knows? I know if Kleppe stays onsides, he’s pretty dang impressive. Anyway, it’s a team game, so what’s more important is the numbers on the scoreboard.
Most to prove – prob’ly St John Fisher. Heck, they have to share a name with the Gagliardi legend. Playing the MU monster. In Alliance. No chance, right? Well, imagine the sweet taste of beating all of those odds. Cinderella storyline in process….
Finally, Whitewater has changed way too much in 20+ years since my four years on campus – But I have stopped at a little burger and frozen custard place east of downtown called Frosty’s that I liked. Might not be the best day for custard, but if you are warmed by a victory, who knows….
I have no prediction but I still believe that if Whitewater plays well on both offense and defense there is not a team that can beat them but they have not done that in the last few weeks. Everyone believes they should be blowing people out but the teams they are playing are also improved and like I said the Warhawks have not come with their “A” game in a few weeks. This week they will have to put it together or the season could be over. I believe this week they will POUND THE ROCK and play some awesome defense hopefully enabling us to take over the Roanoke Marriott again for a few days……
Crush,
Mount Union is in the North. Rowan is the so-called “Beast of the East.”
I completely agree with wiac regarding the comparison between UWW 05 and SJF 06. Both are very good teams that played well through the playoffs. Although part of me wants to see a SJF upset over MUC, I don’t know if it would mean as much to are guys if they were to play somebody other than MUC in Salem. As many have said, they are the gold standard, and it comes down to the old saying that if you wanna be the best, you have to beat the best. Obviously, UWW still has some business to take care of this weekend against a very talented Wesley team that has been rolling all season. UWW really has to get back to form on both sides of the ball, and they absolutely have to get their special teams play back on track. Two blocked kicks and a snap over the holders head in the past two weeks after being just short of automatic in the regular season. Maybe the the nerves of the playoffs are getting to the freshman kicker. Maybe it’s just sloppy play. Whatever it is, it needs to be fixed if they want to make a run at the title.
Good luck to all the teams. Looking forward to another great weekend of D3 Playoff Football.
WHAT TO DO IN THE WHITEWATER AREA: if ur coming to the game this saturday, and looking for something to do……I saw an earlier post wondering what there is to do. Frosty’s was already mentioned. It is an amazing custard place far east part of town. You can shop along our historic main street area. A lot of old little shops that offer some cool stuff. Obviously plenty of sports bars! And, if ur willing to make a 15 min drive west of whitewater, and are a fan of Nascar, Matt Kenseth’s Museum is in Cambridge WI. (his home town) Has winning cars, and lots of memoribilia………………….As for the WW/Wesley game, how much of a factor will the grass be??? Wesley is use to playing of field turf. Whitewater’s home field advantage may be more than just its students/community. I dont even want to hear “this time they will bring the right shoes.” Conditions should be much different from last year.
Maybe I missed something, but can anybody help me out as to why Micheli was playing in the second half? Was Jorris hurt or was LK just changing it up hoping for a spark?
Does the past matter?
We can debate it all we want but one history lesson is certain: Things happen in the final four that even the experts can’t predict.
Example No. 1 (Keith, prepare to wince): Who knew a 66-0 blow out of Bridgewater was on tap in the semis, prompting questions if this was one of the best MU teams ever? And who knew that 66-0 victor would lose by 18 a week later in the finals? (For the eight of nine d3 prognosticators picking MU in the finals, the predicted MOV was an average of 25 points — making a 43-point gap with the outcome.)
Example No. 2: No. 7 West seed PLU’s domination of the Beast of the East in 1999. Read into this what you want, be it the depth of the West that year or the fact that good teams can get on great rolls late in the year.
So stick by your teams, in less than two weeks, it all will be clear …
Oops, somehow deleted the reference to 2003 in Example 1.
Good questions. My answers are:
1 – The past DOES matter. The past works for Mt. Union because other teams do, to some extent view them as “unbeatable”, or “the team that will win”. It matters more in the regular season and the early rounds of the playoffs.
And, UW Whitewater will consider the past as lost opportunity and will wish to rectify it.
2 – Mt. Union and UWW have tough as nails schedules, have great players and are without a loss. I don’t know much about the others.
Weakness, hmmm…
3 – The unsung heros will be those players who can do their job with the fewest mistakes.
4 – These teams are so good you could play the games on gravel, in the snow, and in the dark – the conditions will no effect on the teams.
5 – Beaver and Kmic are hands down the best. I’d take any one of the three on my team.
As far as the D line – all of them.
6 – UWW, SJF and Wesley.
7 – I have no idea – somewhere that has good pizza, BBQ, and beer close by.
8 – SJF and Wesley are underdogs for sure, but anything can happen.
I can only comment on the schools I have seen, but, SJF is the only one I haven’t seen in the last two years:
1. History can matter, but, it doesn’t have to. I think if you look at the difference between scores the first time UW-W played somebody and the second (e.g. UW-L and SJU) you can see the revenge factor in full effect. I would expect the same out of Wesley this weekend.
2. This is pretty general, but, I would go with:
Wesley = Athleticism
Mt. Union = Mystique
UW-W = Unity
3. I can mostly speak for UW-W here, but, I would go with Mrkvicka, Schmitt, and Gifford on offense. And Blaze, Farley, and Murray on the D.
Another unsung hero would be the Mt. Union offensive line IMHO. You never hear anything about them, but, when I saw them at the Stagg Bowl last year I swear it was 25 yards between the tackles. Just huge with seemingly 5 yard splits.
4. Seems like Wesley’s passing an awful lot this year. Could be a factor in the cold.
5. RBs = tie. D-line, I think all three are awesome and each bring a little something different to the table. I am a huge Kleppe fan, but, I will say this… if Stickley is the same guy I am remembering… he was a beast in the Stagg Bowl last year and Robinson could play on Sunday some day.
6. St. John Fisher and more power to ’em!
7. @ UW-W, go to the Boar. There are several fan friendly bars in town, but, this is my favorite. They broadcasted the game live last time I was there.
8. I don’t want to jinx anyone, so I plead the 5th.
Good luck to all,
OSC
1. Does the past matter? (Mount Union’s titles, last year’s Wesley-UWW result, Saturday’s games)
-It only depends on how much each team reacts to the past. Is SJF’s inexperience enough to “ignore” the past? I have also seen teams in MUC’s position think that their history is good enough and if they just show up they will win (I don’t think this is the case as they have come this far in the playoffs). Wesley could take last year’s blowout and come out with their tails between their legs or use it as motivation; and on the other side UWW could just as well think that they blew them out last year, it will be just as easy…. I think you all know where I’m coimg from here.
2. What’s each team’s biggest on-field strength, or on-field weakness? What will they need to do that they normally don’t do to win Saturday?
-Since I have only seen UWW this year, I think their biggest weakness is themselves, penalties, turnovers, not coming out hard enough. I see a very good team that when they come out and play hard, I don’t think there is anyone out there that can beat them.
3. Which “unsung heroes” will be key to their team’s chances Saturday?
-I don’t think our defense has any “unsung heroes.” However, If I were to pick one on that side, I would say the other defensive linemen. If Wesley comes out and double teams Kleppe the other D-lineman will have to step up. On Offense I think it is the other WR’s (Mrkvicka, Douglas, Gifford, etc….). They are good recievers and once again if they are going to come out and double up Stanley, these guys need to step up. One more I think is our fullbacks, Reuland was a very good FB, and these guys need to step up again and pund the rock two more times.
4. These are four cold-weather teams. Will weather matter? Whose style would be most affected by precipitation. Whitewater is a grass field, but the other three teams are turf. The Stagg Bowl is on grass. Factor or non-factor?
-They are predicting mild weather compared to what we have had on Saturday, so I don’t think that will matter.
5. Kmic, Robinson, Beaver … who’s the best back left? Kleppe, Robinson, Stickley … best D-Lineman left?
-I’m not gonna speculate on this one, seeing as I have only seen Kleppe and Beaver. However, since Robinson plays RE (I think), I am looking forward to see how he matches up against our strong side, the left side. (gotta put this one in here-“LEFT SIDE-STRONG SIDE!!!!)
6. Who has the most to prove?
-Once again no sure on this one, but I would have to say SJF, being reletively new on the scene and Wesley, considering what happened last year.
7. D3 fans help out your fellow D3 fans … where to eat/stay and things not to miss on game day (besides the game) in Alliance and Whitewater.
– For Friday night, Janesville is just up the road, they got some good restraunts (Fudruckers is always good, just off HWY 14, as well as the traditional Olive Garden, Fazolli’s, McDonalds, etc…..) On saturday, before the game, if you want a good breakfast, Novak’s is the place to go, right on the corner of Main and Whitewater streets. But then again, in Wisconsin we tailgate.
8. How do the teams match up, in specific areas? Who is healthy and/or banged-up?
-Not sure on this one again, but I do know DT Alex Thompson hasn’t looked the same with that club on his hand.
LK has the ability and the players to modify a gameplan on the spot. His goal was to keep Pentello on the sidelines via ball control and he did just that.
If LK does that against UWW they will lose bottom line. Jacobs is better then Pentello so it will be interesting to see his strategy in that game. I just hope hope both teams come out of this week healthy. Would hate to see a guy hurt in 40 point blowout.
Some really great insightful posts here! I think the past does matter to an extent. it matters to a team like MUC who has been so dominent and deserves all the credit they get. SJFC is walking right into the toughest place to play in D3 football. I have a feeling the exposure to such a great team in such a difficult atmosphere may get the best of them. I think this might be a fair statement. If SJFC comes out of Saturday with a defeat it will merely prove they are a really good team, who had a great season, and who felt the MUC heat and could not beat it. Yet if they do win I think it will show them to be a GREAT team who did what only great teams can do; go against the best, not get shaken and come out on top. I just think with MUC history and how good they are again this year it will be a difficult task. MUC penalties could play a role in this one? Who knows? Good luck to all four schools, you all deserve to be where you are.
Having seen Robinson play against Union I have to think that he will be the key against MUC. SJF has certainly not faced such a dominant run defense as MUC’s and if he can run against them it will open things up for Kramer. If MUC shuts him down I think it’s no contest.
BTW,these 2 teams will play eachother in regular season openers in 2008 and 2009.
This Fischer talk is gonna fuel MU. You just watch. Keep in mind when stuff gets posted on this site, all the players are on here from these teams are reading this stuff.
Flush the Johnnies,
“Jacobs is better then Pentello so it will be interesting to see his strategy in that game.”
I don’t know about that one…
Being the daughter of a football coach, I have been exposed to 24 seasons of football (high school, D2 and over the past 16 years D3) and never have I seen a team with such dedication and heart as this year’s Fisher Football Cardinals. You posed the question, “does the past matter” and I must say, to this years Cardinals and for that matter, for any former Cardinal, it does matter. Over the years Fisher has struggled as a team to get respect. They have gone from a winless D3 team, to one of the greastest teams in the league. I believe that these 2006 players are playing not only for themselves, but for the respect and integrity of all the former Fisher Football players who have contributed to making the program what is is today. If there are two things that Fisher does have over Mount Union they are heart and courage. At this stage in the game, those two attributes can make the difference between a win and a loss. I believe Fisher has the passion and the drive behind them to make a win happen on Saturday. I wish all teams on Saturday the best of luck and no matter what happens, all teams will walk away winners. The skills, confidence and courage they have learned from their years of playing football will serve them greatly in their future.
Flush the Jonnies I hear ya but I don’t really think so. I think MUC is just very confident and respectful. This is nothing new for them; a team who is having success hoping to come into their barn and knock them off. I think they get this each year, and even if those comments are not posted on the web they probubly hear people hoping, and trying to convince themselves that they can beat MUC. Plus I don’t think anyone can say, statisitcally, hopefully, or in any other way that SJFC can role into MUC and just handle MUC. I think MUC has had so much success and has such grounded pride that they know deep inside what they are playing for, and nothing anyone can say will divert that focus. To win as much as they have, the intrinsic motivation must be huge. I think SJFC fans are doing what any fans do before thay go into MUC, they hope, they debate, and they talk smack that they in fact have the team that will defeat MUC. Who the heck knows what is going to happen. The only team to get psyched from talk and being looked over is SJFC because inside they know just how big of a challenge they are facing. HUGE
Hey all…Im new to the site…I think its great that folks are so behind their DIII teams…In DIII, a lot of it comes down to pure love for the game, as it is kind of a rare thing when one of these young guys makes the pros…I will say that Im an MUC alum, as if my screen name didnt give it away, already…MUC won three national titles while I went to school there in 97, 98, and 01…so I have seen a lot of great MUC teams…and I had the chance to see this year’s team earlier in the year…
The past matters to MUC players because they want to be apart of the tradition and the history…It drives the MUC players so much…Mount has shown before that they are up for a repeat…and this year’s keys are Kmic and the MUC defense…I was most impressed by both of them against Capital in the regular season…
I will say that I always preferred the MUC teams that had lost once in the regular season heading into the playoffs because they were so darn hungry…last year’s team was hungry….they got beat by Ohio Northern and then just went in guns blazing thru the rest of the season and the playoffs…doesnt mean the 2006 team wont get it done, b/c I think they have a great shot…but that edge I know helped some of the past teams…
As for SJF and MUC, I dont know SKF really at all..( Im from the Rowan years)…but those who know the teams have to ask the question if SJF is as good as Capital…the crusaders played one heck of a season, and only lost twice to us…if they had a different draw, you never know where they might have ended up…I believe they could hang with the other three teams left in the tourney…Cap was also used to playing in Alliance and are familair with MUC…it worked in their favor…
Good luck to all the teams..and hope to see the Purple Raiders in VA!!!
oh yeah, and it does figure to be darn cold in allianceon saturday and you never know when the white stuff from above might fall on mt union stadium…games in the snow are always up for grabs if you ask me…
I believe the caption below the MUC player on the d3 home page is incorrect…. That MUC players name is Justen Stickley… You have Jason Stickley in the caption under the photo. I just figure if he gets to be on the front page…. He deserves to have his name correct. Good luck to all.
cristanmary, great post! The only thing I could say regarding it is that I don’t think it is fair to say one team has more heart and courage than another. I think we all hear what you are saying and appreciate it. MUC have obsticles they have overcome that show their heart and courage. So even though I am going for SFJC I think we need to be careful when pointing out personal team traits when comparing teams before they play. MUC has the biggest bullseye on its back each and every week. And it says a ton for a team that can just keep on winning the way they do. Maybe after Saturday we may be able to make an argument favoring one or the others heart and courage. Until then the field awaits both teams.
Flush the Johnnies: “Jacobs is better then Pentello so it will be interesting to see his strategy in that game.”
Kira’sDad: I don’t know about that one…
Now why do we have to go there? Both guys have some amazing numbers. We could compare awards and numbers all day, etc. etc. But I think Kieth wanted it civil in here, so please try not to delve into the world of comparing and trying to dignify contrasting opinions between players.
Great site!
I completely agree with your post, and I didnt mean to offend any of the players for MUC insinuating that they dont have passion or courage for the game. Anyone who knows about the game of football, would probably agree that each and every player has to have some sort of passion to be able to do what they do, week in and week out. However, I think a lot of the posts have been focusing mostly on statistics. MUC may well be the statistical winner in this game. But what I have come to learn through many years of waching football games, is that sometimes it isnt the best team that wins, but rather the team that wants it the most. I know the MUC wants to win, but I also know that Fisher is eager to prove themselves to the nation. It will be a great game between two very tough teams.
My main concern going into Saturday’s SJFC-MUC matchup is the MUC “mystique” factor. Look, it’s football any one of these teams can line up and beat the other on any given Saturday. If they couldn’t they wouldn’t have gotten this far in the first place. In my mind you can throw all the numbers, player comparisons, and predicitons out the window when the ref blows the first whistle on Saturday. What you can’t throw out the window though is that “mystique” factor. The players and coaches from my Alma Mater will have to do a much better job in preperation this week, and on the field Saturday, of dealing with MUC’s “Mystique” than some of my fellow SJFC posters have done on this site so far. “Mystique” causes you to do weird things, it causes you to lose emotional control, it causes you to get over-zealous in your determination to prove yourself worthy of a task, it causes you to lose your composure. When those things start happening in a football game so do turnovers, blown assignments, and missed opportunities. If “Mystique” happens to the Cardinals on Saturday it could be a long afternoon. If however they are able to keep their emotions and composure in check, concentrate on their asssignments and execution of those assigments they should have as good a chance as anyone has had of knocking off the giant. Best of luck to all the teams this weekend. Here’s to hoping SJFC can pull off what many think is the impossible.
1. I think for Wesley’s players last years loss is still in their minds. But that can work two ways. First will draw off of that for inspiration? You can bet on it. Second if the field is slick and a few things go wrong early will they think to themselves here we go again.
2. Wesley’s strengths are their multiple offense weapons and the ability to score from anywhere on the field on any given play. Their special teams are as good as any I have seen in the years I have been folowing the team. One thing I think they can’t do is force the ball to Clarke deep in double coverage. A couple of times last week the UMHB defenders had opportunities to intercept Warwick passes but dropped them.
3. One unsung hero this week for Wesley may be FB Chris Barnes. I think a lot depends on him keeping Ryan Kleppe off the running backs in the back field and protecting Warwick from him. Barnes is an excellent blocker who can catch passes as well. Also I think if the speed running game isn’t working you can look for Jeremy Robinson for some power running. He had one of the most exciting 10 yr runs I have seen last week that iced the game. And he did rush for 40 yrds on his own last week against UMHB.
4. I don’t know if this team will be as effected as last years team if the conditions are bad. Clarke has a lot of yards after catches across the middle on underneath patterns but they still do go deep to him. But if the linemen have trouble protecting it could be tough.
5. Haven’t seen enough of any one else to comment on the RB’s… Bryan Robinson has stepped his game up even higher the last few weeks but I think you have to have other people occupied to get your best player his tackles.
6. Wesley and SJF will more tha likely be the underdogs so you have to think they would have more to prove. But that being said I don’t think Wesley will be satisfied with just keeping it close. And yet for Wesley to get this far two consecutive years I think solidifies that they belong.
7. Wesley has posted on their site about travel arrangements for fans and some contact no’s
8. Is the harsh weather having any effect on Justin Beaver’s previous injury enough to slow him down? I think Wesley’s ability to stop the run and the O’s being able to slow down Kleppe or use his agressiveness against him will tell alot about the outcome of the game. And if Wesley’s O get rolling we could have another shocked opponent.
Here’s a good article about Wesley and their experiences last year in Whitewater from The Delaware State News:
http://www.newszap.com/articles/2006/12/04/dm/central_delaware/sports/dsnspt02.txt