WIAA to start Football earlier

[Up Football Fan]

Per the WIAA website today, they have decided to begin the football season earlier beginning in 2011.

This will disrupt alot of schedules for any schools from out of the state of Wisconsin that play Wisconsin schools. Many states play Wisconsin schools in football, not only Michigan. Talk about more headaches next year for U.P. schools. The exact date of the beginning of the football season is hard to determine by the way the announcement was worded on the site.

See link:

http://www.wiaawi.org/

[Hambone]

My understanding is that the first game will be one full week earlier, moving the first day of practice up one full week. The idiots at the WIAA insist on ending football season the Friday before the Wisconsin deer rifle hunting season, which always starts the first Saturday after November 15th. This also eliminates teams having to play three games in 9 days when the playoffs start. Normally the season ends on a Thursday, followed by games on Tuesday and Saturday the following week in the playoffs.

[Avalanche]

The WIAA staff put out the option to move state back one week and have it the Friday/Saturday of Thanksgiving week, but noted that they couldn't guarantee the use of Camp Randall because Wisconsin and the Big 10 were going to be scheduling games during that weekend now. Rather than potentially moving the Saturday state finals every other year, they chose to move the season up a week.

[upfootball]

Wouldnt it be better to have the games in Green Bay anyway? Where would you rather play if you were one of these kids? Never understood the fascination with Camp Randall over Lambeau.

[Up Football Fan]

For some of the Wisconsin schools that play alot of Michigan Schools, starting earlier will not be all that difficult

Look at Hurley, instead of beginning the season against Ironwood in week 1, next year that game would be week 2. Likewise all the other games simply can move one week down the Midget schedule, all the while staying in the same place for Michigan schools. The only issue would be their week 9 game in 2010 (against ETC). The Panther/Midgets can move their game to week 5 for Hurley (week 4 for ETC ) next year. IN 2010, Hurley plays Northland Pines in week 4 this year and they can play the Eagles in their new week 1 game of 2011.

Washburn does not have a week 9 game (so far) in 2010, so they would only need to find a new week 1 opponent for 2011.

Northland Pines is a school that would have an issue, since they play West Iron County in week 9 this year. Next year, they would need to find a way to fit that game into their schedules.

1 huge rivalry game that might be in jeopardy would be the M/M game. It's been played in week 8 for a number of years now. IF Bay Conference schedules stay the way they are Marinette's only open to play this game would be their week 8 next year, Menominee's week 7. The Maroons annually play Marquette in week 7, so their would have to be wholesale changes in the GNC schedules in order for the M/M game to continue next year.

[Up Football Fan]

Here is another attempt at explaining the earlier start date (from the LaCrosse paper). It also mentions beginning the season 5 days earlier in 2011, than in 2010. But it also states that schools may play their first games on Aug. 18th, 19th, or 20th (Thurs., Fri., or Sat.). How is that 5 days earlier? That is 7-8 days earlier (or in other words a full week). I'm not sure where this "5" days earlier comes from...Then again, we are talking the WIAA..

http://www.insidepreps.com/articles/201 ... 4wiaa2.txt

[Up Football Fan]

WIAA releases the 2011 and 2012 football calendars...see link:



http://www.wiaawi.org/football/2011_2012_FB_Seasons.pdf

[Up Football Fan]

Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) is not happy about the abrupt decision by the WIAA to move the season ahead next year. Hopefully they will be able to put some pressure on the pinheads at the WIAA to see if they can reverse this decision....and thus make the correct decision to extend the season by one week. If that means the State Finals need to take place on Friday at 2 locations, so be it. Michigan has gotten by just fine by having their state championship games during the Thanksgiving weekend AND during Deer season. See story from Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/preps/97712489.html

[Hueby]

So far many of the players I've asked around here really don't have an opinion on this. With all the off-season workouts some are ready to get the season started. The baseball players are still going strong and in past years I know enjoyed and looked forward to that short break between legion baseball and football.

[Up Football Fan]

More consternation from the coaches on the "earlier" start date. But many feel it's now getting too late this year to change anything for 2011. Or is it?


See link:

http://host.madison.com/sports/high-sch ... f321c.html

[Hambone]

The best way to solve this issue is for the idiots at the WIAA to realize that football season does not have to end the Friday before firearms deer season starts and let the season go one additional week at the end. If there are conflicts with Camp Randall Stadium, all of the WIAC schools have field turf and they a plenty big enough to host a state tournament.