It's been a while since I've posted anything but couldn't resist getting back in the fray for the first Loras/UD game with conference implications in memory.  Honestly I'm just excited because it's great for both institutions and for Dubuque.  I was hoping the weather would be good so half of DBQ would show up but right now it doesn't look great for Sat.  I would guess there still will be a big crowd no matter.  My take on the game is that based on everything so far, it should be fun to watch.  I'm not sure Loras can claim to be the better team but I do believe that situations like this, with a bunch on the line and .8 miles separating the schools, anything can happen.  I've been saying for years that if Loras can have one season where everything bounces right for them, it might lead to better foot-holds in the big Catholic schools of the Chicago area and could quickly make Loras a powerhouse program.   Not saying it will happen, but it could and the new coach seems to be taking steps in the right direction.  I think recruits will be attracted to the system, everyone want to play like Oregon right?  The freshman QB Baumhover could have the best career in Loras history, he's off to a great start.

Loras takes down #2 Illinois Wesleyan tonight 80-75 and they have indeed had a very nice week.  They were down by 10+ in 2nd half but started shooting it better.  Could be interesting, they are balanced and hard to defend. 

Yep, it just went out.

I know it's cold every time Loras hosts this late, but it's going to be unusually cold this weekend.  Having never played soccer, I'm wondering what effect that kind of cold will have on play.  I'd like to see the actual talent of these teams and not just who can stomach being out there.  Trinity especially will feel like they're in the Klondike.   It could be 15 degrees at the start of the Warty/Trin. match-up.  Just wondering out-loud to those who have played in anything like this.

Last seconds of the Loras win.  Hopefully they can ride this to bigger things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvmUSkyEUkw

Loras takes down #5 Wheaton.  They play #2 on Sat., could be a really big week for the Duhawks.  Regarding their chances, they have played under their talent in recent years.  They would be better if their center Ruton(sp?) was back but word is he just lost his passion for the basketball and didn't want to play anymore.  There is still enough talent there to put a run together though, I think they showed that tonight.

Can someone confirm the Loras/Luther match time?  Loras' website says 1pm but so does the bracket and it has all times listed as Eastern.  Anyway I'm going and I'd like to make sure I know when it starts. Thanks.

...and Loras beats Luther by 13.  I honestly think if Loras could somehow make the conference tournament, they could do some damage.  Hopefully this gets them on a run and they can finish strong, I don't see any reason why they won't.

Haven't checked in during the basketball season but after taking in last evening's raucous affair, I thought I'd chime in.   I have seen most of Loras' games this year and they are a play or two from being .500  The night they beat Wartburg, Loras was the better team, I could see Loras putting together a good stretch and make the conf. tourney if only a few things go their way.  They are young but Mooney's leadership steadies the ship a little as the young guys are growing up.

The atmosphere was great and it was televised on 9.2 which will hopefully give both programs a tiny bit more exposure.  The student sections for both teams were large and rowdy with some entertaining chants.  One of my favorites was the UD section chanting "we've got the key" (referring to the key to the city that the football teams play for) and the Loras fans responding "we'll get jobs"   I'm sure there were some off-color moments but I didn't hear too much and I'd rather have an atmosphere like that than a dead one and I'm sure the players enjoyed it.

Quote from: warthog on October 29, 2012, 04:09:20 PM

Quote from: doolittledog on October 29, 2012, 03:55:47 PM

Quote from: Duhawkin on October 29, 2012, 03:32:22 PM
So many offensive mistakes cost us the game on Saturday....

On another note, looking forward to the cross-town game. We really have nothing to lose!

I haven't been to a football game at Loras since I was in school...which means a very very long time ago.  Where do you park?  Is there a tailgating scene?  If we sit on the visiting side are we out of luck as far as restrooms and concessions and all that stuff?  Are we better off sitting on the home side?

Our last trip there we were in a parking lot south of the stadium.  Easy walk from there. Yes, the Wartburg faithful setup tables, grills, flags, and chairs much like we do in Waverly.  Refreshments were also similar.  Visitor side. There are restrooms in the building that will be directly behind you. As long as the drop off down the limestone bluff doesn't bother you, the visitor side is kind of neat.  Take lawn chairs.

Good description from Warthog, there are typically away fans in the home bleachers because of the set-up so either side would be OK.
This always a fun week, I'm not sure the similar records will yield a close game but it really can be a toss-up when these teams play regardless of record.  I wish it was a night game, I just like them better but my guess is an early Nov. evening wouldn't be all that pleasant.

Quote from: doolittledog on October 11, 2012, 07:54:24 AM

Quote from: putmeincoach on October 10, 2012, 09:24:30 PM
if we agree Coe/Dubuque is the game of the week.....which other game may be closer than we think?

Last year, Luther/Wartburg was a 3 point game.  Maybe this happends again???

I know it's a big rival game, but after watching Loras beat Luther, and then getting distroyed by Coe, I just don't think Luther has it in them. 

Quote from: doolittledog on October 11, 2012, 08:12:59 AM

Quote from: duhawk on October 11, 2012, 07:50:27 AM

Go ahead and keep thinking your institution wouldn't defile the football field by putting soccer lines on it.
The greater truth is that not all colleges can go out to the back 40 and 'trow down some soccer lines in the cow pasture.  

To Doolittle's point about the visiting bleachers, my understanding is the Rockbowl was never intended to have visiting bleachers but Wahlert wanted to play there and high school rules mandate that there must be bleachers on opposite sides of the field.  I'll trust that UD fans have enough common sense to not fall off a cliff, plus it makes it nearly impossible for visiting fans to storm the field after a big win, it would take them 5 min. to get there.

I don't like soccer lines on a football field, but also agree with what you are saying.  Older schools in a larger metro area like Loras don't always have the luxury of expanding like other schools in our conference.  Though, I wonder if you could shake down Greg Gumbel for a few million and redo Clark/Faber field back into the Loras soccer facility.  That would be a great place to see a game...and see soccer on real grass, like it should be. 

As far as the visitor bleachers at Loras, I agree, most fans will have the common sense not to do anything stupid.  I was just thinking in this day and age where there is some sort of code for EVERYTHING that some fire marshall or attorney hoping to make a name for himself would have put the kibosh on bleachers way up there.  More a legality sort of thing than an actual need sort of thing.

It would be nice if Gumbel would pony up for that but that is the last green space on the Loras campus. 

I agree about the liability factor of the Rock Bowl, I guess it won't come up until someone falls off. 

Quote from: NewKnightDad on October 11, 2012, 08:40:37 AM

Quote from: duhawk on October 11, 2012, 07:34:40 AM

Quote from: NewKnightDad on October 10, 2012, 03:59:21 PM

Quote from: doolittledog on October 10, 2012, 03:51:40 PM

Quote from: notlongago on October 10, 2012, 03:33:16 PM

Quote from: NewKnightDad on October 10, 2012, 03:31:13 PM
Looks like Coe is looking at doing some more facility improvements in the future.  I pulled this off a website I work on daily that has information on project in the planning stages.

Campus Expansion Project; Provide For Playing Fields For Athletics And Intramurals, Acquire Properties To Convert To Green Space, Beautify Campus, Revitalize Northeast Side Neighborhood Including Adjoining Business District, Fieldhouse Performance Arena Improvements, FieldTurf All Weather Surface For Clark Field

Just more reason Central needs to fix their facilities. After this Wartburg will have the "W" over them, DBQ has...well everything, and Coe will have a nicer field at the minimum.

Buena Vista just completed a major renovation of their football stadium.  New field turf and track, lights, renovated concessions/restrooms, new scoreboard.  I think all that is left is to put in new visitor side seating. 

Simpson put in new turf last season, along with new ticket booths, concessions/restrooms which was phase 1 with phase 2 to be new seating. 

Has anyone questioned the safety and/or legality of Loras putting up visiting side bleachers on top of a cliff with no barriers to keep someone from falling a good 30ft or so???

Maybe some of the people on here that played in the Rock Bowl can verify also.

On the northwest corner of the field in the field of play a large rock (boulder)sticks up through the playing surface.  When we were on the field after the game with our son last year he pointed it out to us.  I can't believe they leave that thing there.

Talk about a school that needs a new playing surface.

Umm, that surface is 4 years old and was completely regraded before the fieldturf was put down, I've been down there many times and have never heard anyone from Loras mention it.  Maybe it's Jimmy Hoffa.

Check it out the next time you are there, I believe it is the NW corner in the field of play.  I saw it with my own eyes and could not believe it.

We sat on the home side last year, very scenic venue for a football game.

I'll check it out and let you know if I find it.

Quote from: warthog on October 10, 2012, 11:19:40 PM

Quote from: D3Dutchman on October 10, 2012, 10:16:35 PM
Speaking of new facilities / fields, if your respective school's field has soccer lines on it...it doesn't count.  Just sayin.

No greater truth has ever been posted on this site.

Go ahead and keep thinking your institution wouldn't defile the football field by putting soccer lines on it.
The greater truth is that not all colleges can go out to the back 40 and 'trow down some soccer lines in the cow pasture. 

To Doolittle's point about the visiting bleachers, my understanding is the Rockbowl was never intended to have visiting bleachers but Wahlert wanted to play there and high school rules mandate that there must be bleachers on opposite sides of the field.  I'll trust that UD fans have enough common sense to not fall off a cliff, plus it makes it nearly impossible for visiting fans to storm the field after a big win, it would take them 5 min. to get there. 

Quote from: NewKnightDad on October 10, 2012, 03:59:21 PM

Quote from: doolittledog on October 10, 2012, 03:51:40 PM

Quote from: notlongago on October 10, 2012, 03:33:16 PM

Quote from: NewKnightDad on October 10, 2012, 03:31:13 PM
Looks like Coe is looking at doing some more facility improvements in the future.  I pulled this off a website I work on daily that has information on project in the planning stages.

Campus Expansion Project; Provide For Playing Fields For Athletics And Intramurals, Acquire Properties To Convert To Green Space, Beautify Campus, Revitalize Northeast Side Neighborhood Including Adjoining Business District, Fieldhouse Performance Arena Improvements, FieldTurf All Weather Surface For Clark Field

Just more reason Central needs to fix their facilities. After this Wartburg will have the "W" over them, DBQ has...well everything, and Coe will have a nicer field at the minimum.

Buena Vista just completed a major renovation of their football stadium.  New field turf and track, lights, renovated concessions/restrooms, new scoreboard.  I think all that is left is to put in new visitor side seating. 

Simpson put in new turf last season, along with new ticket booths, concessions/restrooms which was phase 1 with phase 2 to be new seating. 

Has anyone questioned the safety and/or legality of Loras putting up visiting side bleachers on top of a cliff with no barriers to keep someone from falling a good 30ft or so???

Maybe some of the people on here that played in the Rock Bowl can verify also.

On the northwest corner of the field in the field of play a large rock (boulder)sticks up through the playing surface.  When we were on the field after the game with our son last year he pointed it out to us.  I can't believe they leave that thing there.

Talk about a school that needs a new playing surface.

Umm, that surface is 4 years old and was completely regraded before the fieldturf was put down, I've been down there many times and have never heard anyone from Loras mention it.  Maybe it's Jimmy Hoffa.