Quote from: D3fanboy on February 25, 2026, 02:20:13 PM

Quote from: bleedpurple on February 24, 2026, 07:31:35 PMNext year will be much easier for the WIAC schools to fill their non-conference schedule as they will only need to schedule two games. Conference play will begin week three, there will be a conference bye week 6 and then week 10 will be pit 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5. The regular season champion will be declared after week 9.

WIAC doing it all wrong.  take a page from the MN conference.  play 1v2, 3v4, 5v6 etc and blow up the NPI

I think the thinking behind the format (which now will not happen) is that this format maximizes the opportunity for multiple at large bids. I'm sure they definitely didn't want a 3 v 4 game.

Quote from: bleedpurple on February 24, 2026, 07:31:35 PMNext year will be much easier for the WIAC schools to fill their non-conference schedule as they will only need to schedule two games. Conference play will begin week three, there will be a conference bye week 6 and then week 10 will be pit 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5. The regular season champion will be declared after week 9.

OK. Got the scoop at the basketball game last night. The above was exactly the proposal that was approved by the WIAC last fall. Then there was "another vote' and it was voted down. Don't know any more details. But apparently it is a no go.  But at least it appears I truly have held off dementia....for now.

Quote from: Retired Old Rat on February 25, 2026, 12:49:23 PM

Quote from: bleedpurple on February 24, 2026, 07:31:35 PMNext year will be much easier for the WIAC schools to fill their non-conference schedule as they will only need to schedule two games. Conference play will begin week three, there will be a conference bye week 6 and then week 10 will be pit 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5. The regular season champion will be declared after week 9.

So, teams will play each other twice?  Never a fan of that.

This is the information I got. However, this information is from last November. Potentially it wasn't set in stone and they are moving in a different direction? If Pat says coaches are looking for week three games, then it's possible:
1. My source got a couple of the details mixed up.
2. People in the conference share your opinion and they chose to go in another direction.
3. I know more than coaches. In other words, probably #1 or 2.

My apologies if I shared misinformation!

Next year will be much easier for the WIAC schools to fill their non-conference schedule as they will only need to schedule two games. Conference play will begin week three, there will be a conference bye week 6 and then week 10 will be pit 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5. The regular season champion will be declared after week 9.

Congratulations Fred and the Falcons! A very special team this year.

Congratulations Fredfalcon. You stood by your guys through thick and thin. Enjoy the rest of the ride!

I have no idea how much the bitter conditions will affect the midwest games, but to me (irrespective of Hansen Ratings type data), there is about a 20% chance NCC will be eliminated in the playoffs before Wheaton. I do think River Falls will win, but that's probably because I saw them play in person and have not seen Wheaton. They are big and fast, but more than that their execution was brilliant when I saw them. I'm probably the only one, but I truly think Bethel/NCC is a toss up.

Quote from: USee on December 09, 2025, 02:53:01 PMWhen you can run the ball and are focused on stopping the run, you can be competitive in most games.

A truth that transcends every level of ball!

Quote from: emma17 on December 09, 2025, 12:00:02 PM

Quote from: bleedpurple on December 09, 2025, 08:20:08 AMInteresting discussions for sure. 

Since we are kind of opening this up to "all things football" on this board for now, I'm going a bit further off the rails.

I know we have some Bears fans among our brethren. Since you won't see many fans of either team acknowledge that the other has any redeemable value, for whatever reason, I'm prompted to break the trend: The Bears are good. They aren't just a future threat. They are good right now. Excellent coaching, excellent running game, a defense that turns teams over and a dynamic quarterback that is getting better.

Fred Falcon please reel us back in. I clearly need guardrails!

Excellent secondary topic.
Thanks for the acknowledgment of the Bears' improvement. GB played terrific and Love made some great throws to beat the blitz/man coverage. I felt the return of J Johnson to the Bears' secondary was detrimental- he looked unwilling to make contact and somewhat lost.
Loved the commitment by both teams to run the ball (w a running back). Only 4 carries in first quarter by Bears, then they made the commitment. Hard hitting on both sides- seemed like a great atmosphere.

Go Falcons.

Agreed. It was a great game. Both teams played well. The Packers/Bears rivalry may have huge NFC relevance for years to come!

RobertGoulet: I don't think anyone would want to play them in the playoffs. Not saying they'd be the favorite. But, at this point, I think every possible playoff game they'd be involved in, there would be a world in which they could win it.

Interesting discussions for sure. 

Since we are kind of opening this up to "all things football" on this board for now, I'm going a bit further off the rails.

I know we have some Bears fans among our brethren. Since you won't see many fans of either team acknowledge that the other has any redeemable value, for whatever reason, I'm prompted to break the trend: The Bears are good. They aren't just a future threat. They are good right now. Excellent coaching, excellent running game, a defense that turns teams over and a dynamic quarterback that is getting better.

Fred Falcon please reel us back in. I clearly need guardrails!

Quote from: Fido0650 on December 06, 2025, 07:31:37 PMTime to contact a crime scene clean up company to clean up the inside of the Mount Union house. What happened today at Kehres Stadium was nothing short of criminal.  GD gets more out of his stinking piece of gum than he tries to get out of his players.  I am hoping that this will be the song that people will be singing to GD after the first of the new year.
Nah,nah, hey, hey good bye!

He has had enough time to prove to everyone that he deserves to be the head coach of Mount Union.  Starting at the top and working down, get that crime scene cleaning company to really scrub down the Mount Union house. Any  head coach that was not part of the Kehres family household, would be gone by now.  Do not prolong what needs to be done.

This might be the first time in history there is this much calling for the firing of a coach that is 67-5 with 0 conference losses.

Quote from: 02 Warhawk on November 28, 2025, 01:33:41 PM

Quote from: emma17 on November 25, 2025, 05:58:07 PMSo UWW vs DePauw. I saw a bit of their game vs. Wabash- they sure looked like they know their way around a football field- pass and run. QB w awesome numbers.

I have to/like to believe the UWRF experience will help UWW in this game.

Yeah, this would be a layup for UWW back in their hey day. Nowadays, this is very winnable for DePauw. No longer taking UWW wins for granted.

Just hope UWw comes to play.

Even if this would have been a layup back in our "hey day", I'm pretty sure you would have talked yourself into being nervous by kickoff! 

Quote from: olddog on November 26, 2025, 11:55:17 AMFred....how many point favorite do you have RF over CU?

You are correct about the size issues it is a huge delta, CU is smallest good team on the west coast, always have been. In watching a little tape on RF, the only thing that will be interesting is CU speed, how much faster are they then RF...RF should win this one. Will CU team speed give RF an issue and how will RF coaches adjust, most teams try to run straight at them, play action etc.

I don't think UW-RF will have to adjust much. They do what they do. The burden is on CU to try to stop them. Trust me, it won't be easy.

Quote from: MUC 2008 on November 25, 2025, 10:33:56 PM

Quote from: Dr. Acula on November 25, 2025, 10:02:46 PMAt a minimum VK is on deck to be paid 7 figures to be a DC at a P4.  People can make nepo jokes but VK can flat out coach.  Toledo sucked on defense before he got there.  And as has been mentioned for Thanksgiving purposes he has a ring so gets a prime seat at the main table.

His 2016 coaching job needs to be studied - Mount had essentially a brand new roster and Mount went to the semis and lost to a team who ended up being ineligible.

VK has always been a great coach who stepped into "impossible to fill" shoes in his dad and kinda filled them. No one is Larry, but he did a great job given all the circumstances. Taking Mount to the semi's in 20116 was really impressive.  The whole "...lost to a team who ended up being ineligible." thing is a bit besides the point. The CRU had a great team that year and I'm pretty sure they would have been just as great had the violation not occurred.

Quote from: art76 on November 24, 2025, 09:04:53 PMI think there are at least two possibilities concerning how the MIAC does this year in the playoffs. Both the Johnnies and the Royals literally rip through their opponents this weekend showcasing how good they are as teams, (and how good the MIAC is), or they squeak out wins and/or are defeated and everyone will jump on the bandwagon of how weak the MIAC is/was this year. Obviously, the supporters of our teams are hoping for the former.

I don't do ESPN+ so I am not able to put eyes on opposing teams to get a gander at how they might fare against BU, but I don't think the Kohawks will have the answer for the Royals multi-faceted offense. Further, I have come around throughout the year on the defensive line play. While anything can happen in a football game, it is my opinion that Bethel and St. John's will both be playing WIAC teams next weekend.

If the Royals and Johnnies are what they usually are, they will roll this weekend. Next week looks to have a lot of fun games all across the board if the favorites take care of business this weekend.