I see that Wartburg ranks 4th among the 450 D3 colleges in Learfield Fall Director's Cup standings.  That's probably the best any ARC college has ever done.  Wartburg is only led by John's Hopkins, Williams and MIT.

It's nice to see Wartburg's Christopher Winter being named d3football.com's Coach of the Year.

Is it tougher to lose a close one, particularly one in which it appeared so closely within the Knights' grasp?  4th and 7?  Ouch!

Someone yesterday described Wartburg's season as "magical."  It surely was (GOAT), and I suppose that's why I'm "living easier" with the loss than I thought I would.

After the game on TV, I went to the campus for a performance of Hansel's "Messiah."  It was a sell-out and a reminder that our colleges are full of wonderful young people with diverse talents.  "...Athlete and band"  and "loud clashing cymbals," as the Lutheran hymn describes it.  We are blessed in Iowa.

Schipper Strong:  Definitely Not!

45-17 -- how beautiful. Wartburg is in the Final Four!  An impressive performance in every aspect of the game.  This team has the talent to win all the marbles.

Hunter Clasen deserves some kind of trophy today (3 touchdowns today and 18 for the year).

Parker Rochford gets the game ball -- a 70 yard pick six that was amazing.

I shouldn't raise this issue again (Pat Coleman doesn't like it), but I must because it's an issue so germane to the discussion about competitiveness in and between conferences -- and the issue is 5th-year players.  The Wisconsin (WIAC) conference teams are full of 5th-year players every year, partly just because the tuition is so heavily subsidized by the state.  While ARC colleges take great pride in graduating very high percentages in four years, that's not the case everywhere.  I know there are always a lot of 5th-year players in the Northwest Conference.  Covid changed all that for other conferences, including the ARC -- and, frankly, the reason Wartburg is so damn good this year is because of a bevy of 5th-year players.  Central will tell you the same thing was true for them last year.  Once the "Covid players" have graduated in the ARC we will return to "normal" -- and that's not very competitive with the WIAC.  So, the WIAC colleges have many thousands of students, are highly subsidized by the state, and as a practice allow/encourage students to take five year to exhaust their eligibility.  It's not a level playing field.  "Never was"...and soon won't be again.

Losing our quarterback I thought was the end, but I forgot that defense wins championships!

Sweet win for Wartburg.  If I recall correctly, all the analysts on d3football.com picked the Eagles, so that sweetens the win a bit more.  Of course, with Aurora's win that means there won't be a Wisconsin univ in the second round. Breaks my heart.

Well, all we can do now is tie the strings and play the game.  All the analysts on D3.com are picking Lacrosse.  I just hope there's some home field advantage despite the freezing temps.

I have to say it:  I think Wartburg got a particularly tough draw for the first game of the playoffs.  Lacrosse is ranked #7 in the final poll, so you've got # 7 playing at # 12.  Meanwhile, St John's will massacre their first draw by at least 50.

Happel is the best.  Reminds me of Duane Schroeder.

I see that Wartburg finally got a little boost in the poll, to # 15 this week.  Bravo.  Overdue, I think, but that's the challenge when no one loses who is more highly ranked. 

Never thought I'd ever have more faith in the Dutch than Schipper Strong, but I pick the Dutch over the Spartans -- almost any day, but surely this year.

81-9...Wartburg over Simpson.  Embarrassing.  Well, Simpson's women's soccer team beat Wartburg in overtime.

I gotta say I was shocked that Coe beat the Dutch.  (Disappointed, too, for obvious reasons.)  Having said that, I thought Central looked pretty impressive this year.  Hey, compare the Dutch with everyone else!  You can't expect to win all the marbles every year!  Well, maybe you can; but you probably shouldn't!  Great college, fine team, probably be 2nd or 3rd...and you can buy great pastry just down the street.  Life is good!

Our local HyVee is offering cents off gas to match the number of points put on the scoreboard by Wartburg.  Yes, one has to buy $ 50 worth of groceries on Tuesday after the game, but that's not tough.  So, last week, when I filled up I got 65 cents a gallon off and now 65 again.  Twenty gallons equals $ 13 savings.  I'm thinking they probably didn't expect the offense to be this successful...