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?
1. Does the past matter? (Mount Union’s titles, last year’s Wesley-UWW result, Saturday’s games)
-Yes, you dont get where you are with out being good in the past. Are last years results indicative of what may happen Saturday? No, but this seasons are. With that each team has had great seasons to date and nothing that happens on Saturday will take that away from the teams.
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?
-SJF’s biggest strength is their balance on offense and their defense. On offense they mix up the run/pass and playaction extremely well. Its tough to stop one or the other consistantly due to the OC’s playcalling. Their defense has a great secondary, Stepnick is one of the better CB’s in the NCAA. He’s got a great instinct for the ball and really shuts down WR’s. It will be interesting to see him matched up vs Garcon.
3. Which “unsung heroes” will be key to their team’s chances Saturday?
-See Stepnick above. He doesnt get alot of pub, but he’s been great since he was inserted in the starting lineup as a freshman.
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?
Weather wont matter much, and considering that SJF has to play on the hill at Brockport and the extremely long grass at Ithaca I dont think the field will be an issue.
5. Kmic, Robinson, Beaver … who’s the best back left? Kleppe, Robinson, Stickley … best D-Lineman left?
-Cant pick one over the other. All three are great and if you were to put them in each other teams lineups I dont think you’ll see that much of a difference in production.
6. Who has the most to prove?
-SJF and the East Region. They need a good outing, win or lose, to show that the East isnt a joke.
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.
-umm…nevermind.
8. How do the teams match up, in specific areas? Who is healthy and/or banged-up?
-I think the match up will be SJF’s O-line and RB duo vs the MUC Defense. This line has quietly been carrying the SJF offense. They dont allow many sacks, they are big and athletic and very smart. They will decide if SJF plays well at MUC this weekend.
christanmary,
I agree…nice post
Heart and dedication really defines the MUC program. Players who sign up to be a part of the program know going in they may not see the field as a starter until their junior or senior year because of the players ahead of them.
None of the existing starters wants to be a part of a team loss. They have the tradition of past teams to strive for. That loss last year played more into their championship run than any other reason IMO.
The underlying motto of “eleven as one” defines the team concept and all participate in the wins. Constant motivating factor.
In ’03 their win over Bridgewater(66-0) was as much a reason for the loss in the Stagg the next week to SJU. I in no way am taking anything away from SJU’S effort and win because they out played MUC the whole way. But my point is MUC seemed to feel they just neeeded to just show up to win the game. I don’t think there are any of those thoughts since.
SJF is a new opponent so the midnight oil will be burning in preperation for the game. If there are weaknesses they will find them. If changes need to be made during the game I have not seen a another team adapt “on the fly” like the Raiders and their coaches. Plenty of depth on the roster also assures a rotation of fresh players during the game too. (Ex. The OAC first team RB from last year is having difficulty even getting on the field this year because there are two RB’s ahead of him on the depth chart. Most every player on the playoff roster plays in every game though.
I also notice there was a some type of controversy about Pierre Garcon during a game against SJF when he was at Norwich. Well, he is now with the Raiders as you may know. I am sure he will be ready to put up another 3 or was it 4 TD’s in this game too.
Looking forward to Saturday and plan to make the trip from MN to see the game. For a good burger and a beer there is “The Neighborhood” across the street from the campus on State Street.. It is nothing fancy but they do make a mean burger. Bloody Marys aren’t bad either. They also have a great brunch in the Hoover-Price campus center before the game too. All you can eat and a good variety. Buffet and cook to order choices. No alcohol however. It has just been remodeled and is a nice facility. You can also pick up all the MUC gear you want at the bookstore….LOL. Be the first on your block to have a Raider hat or game jersey signed by LK!
Thats loser talk, crying about the shoes. UWW could have went barefoot and beat that team last year. I mean come on it was like 38-0 in second quarter, their coach emptied the bench early or score could have been worse. They might have scorer a 100.
As for MU it boils down too talent and coaching. They dont have anymore courage or heart then any other team. Their coach recruits best players and has a great winning system. LK reminds me of Jim Tressel, I wonder why he hasnt ever made move upward. He gets to a school that can recruit itself like Ohio State he would be succesful.
NO one was crying Flush so don’t bring it here!!! Read it again
The past does matter.
It may not seem to matter but if something goes wrong all of a sudden things start to snowball. The weather seems colder, those national championship banners seem more prominent and things tend to go downhill from there.
As long as SJF plays mistake free football they’re in the game and the mystique stays away. Once adversity happens we will see what they’re really made of and if the past rears it’s ugly head.
Best of luck to all the teams in the Final Four.
It would be nice to have different teams in the Stagg Bowl this year. Go Wesley and go SJFC.
Purple Crush,
If Wesley and SJF happen to find their way to Virginia imagine how Brockport would feel playing both of the teams in the Stagg Bowl.
I looked at the Mount Union OL today on-line, and we’re going to have major battle upfront… I know I am going out on a limb with this, but the game will be won in the trenches without a doubt. Size vs. Speed.
GoFisher,
SJF isnt lacking in size on the D-line. Pyz is 6-0 265, Mahony is 6-4 295 and Becton is 6-5 355.
Size isnt an issue this week…
I realize.. im just saying that Fisher’s D-Line has historically been built to out quick their opponents which matches up well with larger O-Lines…. I really like the front 4 they start with, especially #92. From what I see, they can cause a lot of frustration with quick play and line stunts…. could be an underrated matchup.
You guys are talking a lot about size vs speed. Both are obviously a good thing to have in their own way. However, you need athleticism/control with size, and you need good blocking for speed to be a factor…..The size difference isnt lopsided enough to show a clear advantage.
Flush the Johnnies
Not sure about your comment that jacobs is better than pentello. Pentello’s stats make him one of the best rated QB’s in the history of D3. In addition, if you look at his stats vs. MUC, and compare jacobs stats vs. MUC, it’s not even up for debate. Jacobs is a good D3 QB. Pentello was a great D3 QB.
He never beat MU, Jacobs will in two weeks.
Maybe I am in a unique position having seen both MUC and UWW. I watched Justen Stickley and Nate Kmic toy with my team and then watched a great battle between UWW and ST Johns.
My first observation is this: Grass vs turf is a big deal in my opinion. MUC is the fastest team i have seen in a long time. not just the skill guys, the offensive line as a group has the fastest 2 steps i have seen. they run the stretch play as well as I have seen it run and Kmic gets a lot of yards as the OLine outflanks the Dline in the first two steps.
As far as Kmic vs Beavers, they are both awesome backs. But on a slow or muddy track i would take Beavers as he is a little more physical as an RB. On a fast track or in Alliance I would take Kmic and his oline.
On the DLine Stickley is an impact player on every snap. But I haven’t seen a Dlineman dominate a game like I saw Kleppe vs the Johnnies. They couldn’t block him. He is powerful and explosive. i don’t think i would want to have to block either one.
I am looking forward to adding a second UWW game and wesley to my arsenal this weekend.
Yet another Delaware State News article about Wesley… this one about a different Robinson than most of you know, Jeremy Robinson, the team’s leader in rushing touchdowns, 14.
http://www.newszap.com/articles/2006/12/04/dm/central_delaware/sports/dsnsp02.txt
I haven’t posted before and I’ve done a lot of thinking about this topic.
1. Like everybody else has said the past matters. Everything matters from MU’s past dominance and their ability to make other teams crumble to Wesley forgetting their shoes last year.
2. I have watched many Whitewater games this year and most of my comments will pertain to them. I feel their are two notable on-field strengths for Whitewater. First the defense. We all know about Kleppe. He’s an animal. And I don’t believe he’s as large as the program lists. Whitewater has the fastest, largest linebacking core in the nation. I haven’t seen an offensive backfield player out run Raebel this year. Not to mention Borzick. This is his first year at Whitewater and now he is starting both ways at LB and FB. Second, is Whitewaters ability to make big plays without using the “star” players. Stanley has been getting covered crazy, by multiple defenders. I’m talking about Douglas and Gifford making big catches and stepping up. Not to mention Mrkvicka and Pittz. Mrkvicka has outstanding hands. Pittz is a very good, young back. He is a very suitable second string runner for Whitewater.
Whitewater’s on-field weakness is penalties. They commit too many. I didn’t have a chance to attend Saturday’s game vs. St. Johns. I taped it because it ran live on local cable. I watched it afterwards and was dumbfounded at the facemasks, personal fouls and defensive encroachment. 13 penalties vs. St. Johns is way too many. That’s what I believe Whitewater needs clean up this Saturday. Giving away free yards makes it difficult to win.
3. Whitewater’s “unsung heroes” will be the defensive backfield. We all hear about Jacobs, Beaver, Stanley and the defensive front seven. I’m talking about the rear four. Close on passes, wrap up tackles and don’t let anyone behind you. It sounds simpler than it is but they are my “unsung heroes”.
4. Weather will be a factor. In Wisconsin it is currently 9 degrees with a wind chill of -6 degrees. I wish it will be this cold when Wesley gets here. They won’t get off the plane. But it won’t. Mid 30’s. Obviously weather matters, like it did last year. Sorry to beat a dead horse but look at Wesley’s traction. As for precipitation, slight advantage to the northern most teams. Whitewater and SJF may see snow sooner in their seasons than MU and Wesley but with the correct equipment, ie: shoes, everyone is fairly equal. And the grass vs. turf debate. I’m not sure. I haven’t played on turf in good weather or bad. I would imagine turf is better in bad weather because it won’t give way as easy. But is synthetic grass (turf) better in snow and rain. Is it more slippery or less?
5. As for this question I will admit I’m semi biased. Beaver is the best back left. His surgically reparied collar bone is probably stronger than before the injury and I know Beaver can get over the pain of it while playing. He sees the holes quick and makes the appropriate cuts at exactly the moment to break it large. Kleppe is the best defensive lineman. Kleppe is a bull. If you under estimate his size he’ll rush you straight up and win. Next play he’ll hook you and be on your quarterback before you turn around. He has amazing dedication and skill.
6. I’m not being biased on this question but I still believe the answer is Whitewater. By being runners-up last year they have the most to prove. Brez has already announced his retirement and Saturday will be his last home game ever. The team needs to step up and win Brez’s last home game and the schools first football National Championship.
7. I attended Whitewater for four years and have seen most of it. The Super 8 Motel and AmeriHost are ok at best. They are regular “joe schmo” hotels. Nothing fancy, a bed, pool and small breakfast. As for eating and nightlife. Fast food restaurants include McDonald’s, Culvers, Taco Bell, Cousins, Subway, KFC, Rocky Rococo, Pizza Hut and several Chinese restaurants. There are a couple sit down places as well. Novak’s and Jessicas have simple sit down menus and Randy’s has a more specialized sit down menu. Like any college town there are many bars. Downstairs, Mad Boar (favorite), Coyote Grill, Pumpers, Mitchells, Denny K’s and College Pub to name a few. I wouldn’t get food at any of them but the beer is cold.
I’ve traveled to several cities to watch Whitewater play and no other city tailgates like we do. There are always large crowds grilling out, eating and drinking, eager to talk football. I’ll be eating white chicken chili and drinking cold beer this weekend if anyone wants to stop by.
8. I think the teams match up just fine. A rematch of last years semis between Whitewater and Wesley and a possible Stagg Bowl rematch. I have an inside sourse to Whitewater who says everybody is good to go with no major injuries that hold them from playing.
I’m excited for this weekend and have already taken off of work for Salem, VA. I wish all teams injury free play and luck.
Pound the Rock.
RE: Kmic on Grass
He didn’t seem to have a problem in Salem last year on the grass. 🙂
Cumulative Stats for Kmic and Beaver:
Kmic:
RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G
————————————————————————-
Nate Kmic 13 269 1920 37 1883 7.0 23 80 144.8
Justin Beaver 8 225 1267 51 1216 5.4 4 97 152.0
Beaver was out for a period with the separated shoulder, but he is averaging 28 attempts per game while Kmic is averaging just over 20. Kmic also split time during the season with Wray, Barge and Morring (each who had over 400 yards rushing each). Underwood and Pittz each had over 400 yards for UWW. Thing that sticks out to me is Kmic has made the end zone more than Beaver. Even only playing 8 games, Beaver only has 4 TDs.
I really think they are both great backs, but if I had my druthers, I would take Kmic. He still has 2 more years to play and can only get better.
7. Just want to add that Travis Jack’s is a new bar that opened last spring on Main Street and it is great. Good food, mostly sandwiches, and really good Bloody Mary’s. Also Karina’s is a hole-in-the wall, Mexian restaurant a block off Main across from the Boar with great food.
Kirasdad, stats can be misleading. Beaver has taken the ball down field many, many, many times only to have the TD go to the FB, TE or WR. In the red zone, UWW has a tendency to mix it up and take whatever the defense gives them and many times, that is not Beaver trotting into the end zone.
Kirasdad,
Thank you for that numer comparison(sp?). I would just like to say that some of those differences, especially the TD’s come from scheme. I’m not sure what MUC’s running scheme is, if it’s zone like ours or good ol’ hat on hat blocking up front. Maybe it’s just a simple difference between those two schemes up front. I do know that during the season we would pound it through the four quarters and as most good backs will do ours would get alot more yards on the D late in the game. We haven’t had that chance the past few weeks. I realize that’s not a great argument for that, but still a bit of an explanation. As far as the TD’s, when we get down towards the goal line “Z” likes to give the ball to the FB’s. I’m not sure on the numers there, but I do know that Reuland had more than five TD’s in aout seven games. I also know that Borzick has something like three TD’s. “Z” also likes to run a QB boot off of that FB dive. Both of those plays work great as well as a handoff to Beaver, he just chooses to run the other ones down at the goal line.
Just a little insight into that stuff; and don’t forget intangibles, like how has each RB opened up the passing game. I know that Pete Schmitt has had a very good year (our TE) and since alot of defenses like to put LB’s on the TE I would venture to say that some of his catches could have benifited from play actions.
Just a couple points for you. Kmic is still a great running back, but, despite the numbers, my biased view says Beaver. (BTW, that 8 games played may be off by one, I’m not sure how they do it, but Justin did dress for the first round game, but didn’t play). There are my viewpoints, talk amongst yourselves.
kirasdad-my point on grass vs turf is I think it takes away a little of MUC’s adavantage. Their speed shows up on turf a lot more than it will on grass. Doesn’t mean they aren’t still much better than their opponent. I never said Kmic had a problem on grass. I just said I would take Beavers on a sloppy field more than Kmic. Nate would not be sitting on the sidelines on my team in any case!
to wiac watcher’s point: on UWW’s lone touchdown drive last week, beaver did the bulk of the work and got free on a couple runs he hadn’t been able to do previously. When they got to the goal line, Beaver’s backup got the TD carry. Reminded me of Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs.
Lest we forget …Salem is natural turf as Kirasdad mentioned. It didn’t slow the Raiders down then and it shouldn’t in the future. If they can get past St. John Fisher, first things first. They have opportunities in the regular season to get there feet down on the grass. The field in Salem last year was in worse condition than I can recall but both teams play on it.
Kimic has many of his TD’s on runs other than the goal line so he isn’t just scoring on short yardage plays either. 52 & 28 yds alone come to mind in the last game I saw against Wheaton.
Those linebackers and tackles mentioned earlier for WW were in last years Stagg and I didn’t see any of them catch Kmic from behind. 95 yds to be sure.
Give me KMIC, I saw a pretty good SJU defense hold Beaver to 70?
USEE
I too have seen the Raiders(3) and WW(2) this year. Sorry we missed in WW last week.
Good points, Raiderguy. But maybe a little less arrogance next time.
Actually, the LB’s comment that I read was regarding THIS year’s games and Borzick wasn’t on the team last year. He is a transfer from ISU.
On second thought, guess the post wasn’t that bad. Just the one paragraph where you had to rub the Hawks fans nose’s in the 95 yard TD run. LOL! Would love to get a 2nd shot at him. He is a great running back. Hope they both take care of business this weekend.
I think the thing that will help Wesley the most is winning a close game against their rival Salisbury. I made this statement back then. I feel that they have a good chance to pull the upset. However, it is a tall order to beat UWW on their home field and Mt Union on any field back to back.
Raiderguy,
sorry I missed you as well. I wish I had known you were in the house, could have looked you up.
The point on a slow track (slippery, muddy, soft grass, etc) is simply that I think it affects a team that relies on its speed disproptionately. So, while I don’t think its “slows the raiders down” any more or less than another team, I think there is no question it has a bigger impact on them than it does some other teams.
I have something to get off of my chest. This is based on an argument that I was having with some of my friends last night. We always hear that DIII athletes play for the love of the game and are non scholarship athletes(which is true). However, I attended a D3 school in the 1990’s. All of the top notch sports stars received grants (some of them were “full ride” grants). I dont see much difference between scholarships and grants other than their names. I am interested in others thoughts. Good luck to all four teams.
Wait, Borzick played at ISU. So the Puppy-Kickers at Mount Union aren’t the ones with the D1 transfers this year? (just kidding y’all, seems like we are always the target of that one…).
DIII Atheletes can receive “grants” but they can not be taken away if the player stops playing. They are supposed to be “need-based” as far as I am aware.
We as Mount fans have been spoiled over the last 10-12 years. When your team is always playing in the semi’s or the championship game, it can become very easy to expect/demand that it always be that way. When Mount was going through their amazing run from 1996 to the 2003 Stagg, it was almost as if they would/could not lose. Winning 54, and then 55 games in a row is the most amazing accomplishment. An overtime loss to Rowan in the 99 semi’s prevented the record from being even more unbelievable.
That rotten St. John’s team completely took that invincible belief and attitude away from us in the Stagg of 2003. Beating Bridgewater 66-0 was the WORSE thing that could have happened to the 03 team. Then, in 2004 MHB just put an exclamation point on the idea that nothing is a given. Mount’s loss in the regular season last year to ONU (after a 99? game regular season winning streak) REALLY brought most of us fans back to earth. Still, the team rebounded with a great run, and win against WW in the Stagg.
All of that was to make this point. I believe that if both teams (Mount and SJF) play to their capabilities, Mount wins by two touchdowns. However, stranger things have happened and this poster knows that the Raiders could be beat.
You are dreaming if you think the score will be that bad. Stop being a HOMER and get real, clone!
Let’s stop ragging on eachother and stop giving predictions and ripping people who are making predictions, last time I checked this column didn’t ask for any predictions, just information that the other three teams might not know about yours.
Personally, I think this is great, educated (well everyone but me that is:)), discussions about football without people flapping their gums and making ridiculous statements because their fanatics. It’s ok to be a fanatic for your team, but this is for fans of football. So go to the other forum and talk that s*** over there. (anyone else notice that I am kinda long winded over here)
Thanks U-Dub-Dub. Not that it will probably do much good. Too much testosterone flying around this site right now.
Mill125:
You are right, lots of D-III players are given grants, scholarships and other assorted colllege funds that are not technically “Athletic Schorlarships”. However, to be fair, these are also given to Music and Band members, Great Students, People involved in work studies etc. Most private schools (and public for that matter), have lots of money to award to worthy students. If you go to a school’s website, you will find that usually 90% of students are on some kind of aid. We would all like to believe that no athletes at D-III are getting money just because they can throw a football, but it would be pretty hard to police that kind of activity. Who’s to say that Joe QB isn’t deserving of free books because he was a good student in high school.
Re: USee
Pittz came in to score that touchdown because Beaver was getting his shoulder checked out on the sidelines.
Re: Kira’s Dad
You did this last season too. You seem to like to compare players and their stats. I know that many people look at statistics as a barometer to a players ability, but that’s not always the case. Beaver has the intangibles necessary (not saying Kmic doesn’t) to be the best back in D3. Heart, dedication, personality, poise, patience, intelligence, guts….everything that doesn’t go in a box score. So Kmic has 8 TD’s and Beaver has 4…who cares? So Kmic has TD runs of 58 and 52 yards this year and Beaver has TD runs of 97 and 59….who cares? Kmic may have two years left, but Beaver has one, too.
Also, now that the comparisons have started (ahhhhhhhh here we go again), if you give Jacobs as many attempts as Pentello had this season, Jacobs has just as good or better numbers. When he gets pulled at halftime for a fourth of the games and when you have a running attack like Whitewater, Jacobs doesn’t need to put up gaudy numbers. The last two games UWW has played in tight games and Jacobs came through when it mattered the most. I want him on the field in the fourth quarter, not a freshman. That being said, when Pentello is a senior, yeah, you aren’t kidding I’d take him on the field. All stats aside, Jacobs was also the WIAC Player of the Year TWICE….and as we all know, that’s very, very difficult to do in the WIAC.
Hopefully you don’t take any of my comments personal, just thought I’d put in my own two cents.
Who are the band members in DIII programs getting full ride grants? I must have missed that one…music and band members get scholarships offered from their respective music departments I would think…unless they need to get the money from elsewhere I suppose if the department doesnt have a budget…the post seems to be talking about folks getting grants even if they weren’t good students in high school…in other words, only b/c they play football…and this does happen..more than people know…but there’s no DIII band member getting any where near the financial aid that some of these kids get…that i’ll promise you…
lilpeds00,
Sorry, since they have no common opponents, I was just trying to bring some real world statistics into the discussion. I wasn’t trying to say one was better than the other based on stats, just giving folks something to look at. I will try to remember that next year and won’t post any stats. The one stat I will bring up is Kmic has 1 Ring and Beaver has 0 rings. Oh and Kmic has 25 TDs (23 rushing and 2 receiving) not eight.
Apologies in advance that this reply does not pertain to the final four teams. It does pertain to the final four individuals under consideration for the Gagliardi Trophy. Whoever wins will deserve the honor, given their on-and-off-field achievements. My personal choice would be Jordan Neal since I’ve seen him play. He’s a gutty and passionate player (a description which assuredly descibes the other three candidates). His spirit of sportsmanship was evident as he quickly congratulated Mary Hardin-Baylor players for their first-round victory when time expired.
Pat et al, I hope you provide all of us an opportunity to promote our favorites and to offer us an insight into the candidates we have not been privy to see in person.
As a Linfield fan and knowing the issues teams at this level have traveling, the final 4 should be at a neutral site. The NCAA is a money machine and could help make this work. This system is not like the pro’s in which each team has a conference and for the most part play the same teams and the best team is decided on the field and in the end play’s at home. If your undefeated you should not be rewarded with traveling to Wisc Whitewater to play… it may be a great town some of the year so many leave in October??
As far as Last year, Wesley got to Whitewater and found the turf to be iced over and could not find any sporting goods stores that could help them outfit the team with shoes they could get traction with and consequently Whitewater which new what they were in for, controlled the game. Hopefully if the conditions are the same this year Wesley demands to move the game indoors to a local venue in Wisconsin to atleast play in conditions that will allow the best team to win the game.
MUCnash
I never said that any band members got full ride grants. What I said was: Band members, regular students, athletes, etc. all have the ability to get financial aid. Some get more than others, it depends on need and achievments. My point was that even though they aren’t technically called “Athletic Scholarships”, many athletes get financial aid. Just like all the other students. If you buy a copy of LoveJoy’s Guide to college campuses, you will see that close to 90% of all students at private schools get some type of financial aid package.
Allright,
This has been a pretty good thread so far, but we’ve got some knuckleheadedness seeping in the last dozen or so posts.
If we get back on track, I’ll leave them alone … but I really am serious about keeping this one respectful and insightful.
I have better things to do with my time, but if it devolves into another bunch of pissing matches and name calling, I’ll remove that stuff from this thread.
Of course, wherever I relocate the knuckleheaded posts, I’ll probably join in. 🙂
Sorry Kieth. My kids’ knuckleheadedness has been rubbing off on me.
Thanks Keith, I was having some really good reading till the last 10 or 12 posts. Yes, I keep up with MUC but am very interested in the other teams also. Any team can win on any day. Stats don’t mean a thing, just let the guys play and have a good time.
UW-Whitewater hopefully has the number 3 as their lucky charm. If they beat Wesley, it would be Brez’s third time to a National Championship game, once as a QB when we played together in 1966 in Tulsa, OK in the N.A.I.A championship game and came up short, last year when the Warhawks came up short by 7 to MU, and hopefully, this year, his third time for all the marbles, the end result will be different. Home game this Saturday, last appearance for him at Perkins Stadium and totally the last collegiate football game for him in Salem. The players remeber the disappointment of finishing #2 and could end a lot of wonderment by breaking the jinx, the third time around. If the players learned in one year what the team of 1966 learned 40 years ago, then the difference between finishing #1 and #2 will be enough motivation to make Brez’s third trip to the title game, a victory for him, much less for themselves. Motivation will be a major factor.
Kirasdad,
No problem. If I were you I’d bring up the whole 1 ring to 0 with Kmic and Beaver, seeing as we were talking about the individuals, not the teams….
I think the key for UW-Whitewater against Wesley is to limit the big plays. Their defensive backfield can be succeptible at times, but if they keep everyone in front of them they should be ok. Whitewater’s defense is made to create turnovers, so if teams have to go 8, 10 or 12 plays to score, chances are they’ll turn the ball over to UWW.
St. John’s had a great game plan against Whitewater and Kofoed made some unreal throws. St. John’s had 80 plays to Whitewater’s 54 and had it 37 minutes compared to Whitewater’s 23 minutes. But Whitewater’s offense had just enough to get it done.
I kind of see the same thing happening this weekend. Their past two game were close and I think this will be the same kind of game. It’ll come down to who can take care of the ball and who can take advantage of given opportunities.
lilpeds
Wesley burned UMHB on plays where the defenders let Clarke catch the ball underneath. Only trouble was they had trouble catching him once he caught it. I too think if Wesley gets big plays UW-W may have trouble catching up runnning the ball.
I can only comment on the UW-W and Wesley teams, as I am a UMHB alum and have seen both. It strikes me that UW-W has a more steady, focused attack and they stay focused and on their game the whole 60 minutes. You can’t slack up even for a second with them. Wesley on the other hand is a team I have seen twice (both of the games against UMHB) and they go in spurts. When they are on one of their tirades, it is extremely difficult to stop them. But after they go on a tear, they slack up awhile until they feel they need to do it again. They are very talented and high-energy, but I think they will need to keep the intensity up the whole game if they want to take out UW-W. Last week I saw Wesley score 28 unanswered points against UMHB, but then allow UMHB to score twice in a row on them unanswered. They took a breather. They can’t afford to do that this Saturday against UW-W. Since Wesley beat my team, I will cheer for them this week, but they gotta stay intensely focused the whole game to pull it out. IMHO, this game will be a tough fight, and the score will be pretty close.
Purple Crush,
Do the rest of us a favor and take it somewhere else. You’re embarrasing yourself and respectful UMHB fans.
PA_wesleyfan,
I was worried about Wesley’s passing game and said that if Warrick handles the blitz they would win. Coach Drass said “nobody can run on UMHB” so he had a great game plan. Last year Wesley threw deep over passes to win, this year underneath stuff. UMHB did make the proper adjustments at halftime. But waiting to halftime was what got them beat because they held Wesley the second half. UWW you better be ready. In fact if the game were played on turf and warm weather I would predict Wesley to win. That Robinson dude on the DL is a monster. Justin Beaver better bring his A game. Wesley did a good job on UMHB’s big strong backs.
PC:
I think the point lg1970 was trying to make is just to keep the dialogue in a respectful tone which was the reason D3Keith started this string. At least that is what I think he or she means.
PurpleCrush, seriously, I don’t mind reading that, but this is not the place for that, like Kieth said.
Kirasdad, don’t worry about posting the stats, that is part of the eqaision(sp?, I know that’s wrong, some one help me please) so I say go ahead and keep posting those, I just don’t think that you can use the numers as your full argument.
PA_Wesley fan, I’m not sure how throwing underneath will work against our linebackers, especially the way our front four is playing and our LB’s are very good, not to gloat or anything. I guess we’ll have to wait till saturday to find out for sure. I can guarantee you this, that our coaches will see that and gameplan against it.
As far as grants, here in Whitewater, and the WIAC schools in general, the tuition is very reasonale, I am paying about 2,500 a semester. I do know, that some loans are given out to some players who may not have the financial means neccesary.
BTW, that is not the same UDubDub as me on PostPatterns, if any of you were wondering. I know who it is, but I don’t want to tattle.