The Milwaukee Post

September 20, 2013 • Milwaukee Post • 11 Badgers got robbed at Arizona State Referees completely botched UW's chances in the end The Badgers got screwed. They lost 32-30 to Arizona State because they had to beat both the Sun Devils and the zebras. It's not an opinion. It's a fact. The Wisconsin players certainly didn't do anything wrong. In fact, Joel Stave and the offense might have been coached too well. They did exactly what they had practiced as far as stopping the clock after getting the ball in the center of the field. The coaches certainly didn't do anything wrong. They got the players to do exactly what they wanted them to do in a pressure situation on the road. It was the kind of performance that gets such coaches big money at a coaches clinic. Every coach at any level could only hope that their players would execute as the Badgers players did late in the game at Arizona State. Gary Andersen and his staff never considered that the officials would be horrific. It's understandable that they would make such a conclusion. It's no different than assuming that if someone is putting gas in your car that they don't mess up by pumping it into the back seat. I wouldn't think it necessary to tell the person that the gas goes into the gas tank, and it's not Andersen's fault that he didn't inform the officials what they were going to do. The Badgers got screwed. The person most responsible is the official in the white hat – the referee – who's in charge of the crew of zebras. It would be bad enough if he had brought the officials together after the clock went to 0:00 and decided the game was over. Such an action would be worthy of a suspension for a few games. By running off the field without any discussion with his crew, he performed like a bad junior high referee doing his first game and should get fired. There is no need to talk about the game anymore. The Badgers got screwed. It's a fact and should be treated as such, just like Ron Dayne is the alltime leading rusher in NCAA history. On the other hand, the behavior of Brett Bielema's wife should be dis- cussed. After the game, she tweeted "#Karma" on her Twitter account. I can't understand how she could do such a thing. She might be mad about her husband's departure from Madison, but I can't believe she thought the Arizona State finish deserved such a tweet. The Badgers got hosed. It was a terrible finish. No team should ever experience what they experienced, and yet she still wanted to tell the world that they deserved it in some way. Her husband coached many of the players who got robbed at game's end. I would assume that she knew some of the players. Even with that emotional attachment to the players, she still felt it necessary to tell everyone there was justice in the finish. How? It's anger that I can't comprehend. And I hold Bielema somewhat responsible. It's one thing if she made such a tweet following the Michigan-Notre Dame game. He knows his wife and how she feels about things. In an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal, he said that he was watching the game with her and that she was responding to a small pocket of ruthless people who hound her on social media. I don't see "HOMER" on SPORTS STEVE "The HOMER" TRUE how he and his wife could have been feeling anything other than sadness for players they supposedly cared about at Wisconsin. I also have no problem with any Badgers fan who wants to see Arkansas lose every game for the foreseeable future. It crossed my mind. And the most important lesson from the debacle in the desert: Melvin Gordon must get 25 touches a game. He should not be sharing time with anyone. No three-headed monster at running back for the Badgers. They've got one star and two backups. (Steve "The Homer" True, host of "Homer and Thunder Show," heard from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays on 540 ESPN, can be reached at homer@espnmilwaukee.com.) MATC to offer certificate for water professionals Program in response to growing demand in water industry Post Staff MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Area Technical College will begin offering a new certificate program in response to the growing demand for water industry professionals. MATC, the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and The Water Council have collaborated to develop a water technician certificate that is being offered at the school. The 17- to 19-credit certificate prepares students for careers in the rapidly growing water industry. Courses also may be applied to MATC's Environmental Health and Water Quality Technology associate degree and a number of other related associate degrees and technical diplomas. "Having a strong educational foundation for future professionals is essential for the continued growth of this industry. MATC is committed to providing the education and training area residents need to secure employment in water careers," MATC President Michael L. Burke said. "Milwaukee has taken the international lead in water initiatives. I appreciate the insight of leaders from the Water Council and Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board who were instrumental in the development of the certificate." Members of The Water Council, which strives to align the regional freshwater research community and water-related industries – while establishing southeast Wisconsin as the world water hub for freshwater research, economic development and education – were instrumental in identifying the foundational skills necessary for careers in the water industry sector. Working with industry representatives helps ensure students are receiving the requisite education and training to successfully enter the workforce upon completion of this certificate, according to The Water Council. "The bottom line is that this significant step only occurred because there was a strong commitment in collaboration between industry, education and workforce," The Water Council President and CEO Dean Amhaus said. "Leveraging a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Water Technician Certificate occurred because the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and Milwaukee Area Technical College, as well as Waukesha County Technical College and Gateway Technical College, understood that their strength was through a partnership." The Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board was awarded a $1 million grant from the Department of Labor as part of the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. The grant provides funding for job seekers to take advantage of training and get practical experience through internships with employers. The partnership will collaborate to build a strong workforce pipeline for the water industry. The development of the water technician certificate was supported with funds through the U.S. Department of Labor by a Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge Grant to the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board. "MAWIB recognizes the water industry is a fast growing sector with significant career opportunities. The collaboration between MAWIB, MATC and The Water Council presents a great opportunity to create a career pathway in the Water Sector," MAWIB President and CEO Donald Sykes said. "Together, we worked with more than 50 water-related industry employers for input as to the fundamental skills needed to enter into water industry jobs. We are pleased that this industry-recognized credential, in one of the most promising employment sectors, will serve as a foundation to water industry careers."

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