Many occasions call for getting feet wet first and slowly easing into the water.

Quite the opposite happened for the UW-Eau Claire football team as three straight weeks of ranked opponents forced the Blugolds to cannonball into the 2014 season.

It has taken its toll as three losses and a slew of injuries have the Blugolds in much need of a break.

Luckily, they have just that as head coach Todd Glaser’s squad will get the weekend off before conference play starts next weekend.

“It always comes at a good spot, where some kids who have been sitting out the last couple of weeks are going to finally be able to get healthy, and hopefully we’ll get them back in the next week,” Glaser said. “Hopefully the kids can catch their breaths a bit.”

There are three losses on the board, but the Blugolds have proven they can play with the nation’s best. A late interception stopped a potential game-winning drive at then No. 11 St. Thomas (Minn.) on Sept. 6, and two late scores from No. 20 Wheaton (Ill.) Saturday sealed the deal late.

All three were physical football contests, which also included a loss to St. John’s (Minn.), and took a toll on the players, making the bye week a welcomed sight.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” wide receiver Chris Cummings said.

Glaser said his team learned that while it can play with some of the top teams in the nation, they’ve got to put it together for four quarters on both sides of the ball to get on the left-hand side of the wins and losses column.

“You have to play at a high level at all times against good teams,” Glaser said. “We’re going to see good teams every week.”

That is certainly the case as the Blugolds welcome the high-flying spread offense of No. 13 UW-Platteville to Carson Park for homecoming with a bout against No.1 and defending national champion UW-Whitewater on Oct. 18 looming.

But Glaser hopes a few days away from the gridiron will freshen up his team before they take an even bigger dive into WIAC play.

“We’ll give them a couple days off next week and come back refreshed and ready to go for the conference grind,” Glaser said.

The Blugolds and Pioneers are set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Carson Park.