FB: American Rivers Conference

[Storm-what?]

Simpson definitely has some momentum and a great incoming class as well. The players seem to really like the new coaching staff- in 2-3 years it's going to realy start to show on the field, but I do agree that they'll be in the top 4 this fall.

[Storm-what?]

2008 Picks
Central
Wartburg
Coe
Simpson
UD
Luther
Loras
BV
Cornell

[sportsknight]

I agree with a lot of that, SK. It's tough for me to call Simpson a "surprise" team, though -- I remember the days when they were in the hunt every year. (Wow, am I that old??)

I can remember that era too DF1.  I had a cousin that played on a couple of those really dominant Simpson teams.  Going to a couple of his games was my first introduction (can you have a second introduction?) to IIAC football.

[the_mayne_event]

You heard it here first, I think Simpson will be the surprise team in the league this year.  I like them to finish 4th behind Wartburg, Central, and Dubuque.  I think that going through the coaching change and all the issues involved will galvanize the team and bring those guys together.

I think Wartburg wins the whole shooting match, with an early season win over a Central team still finding itself as the difference.  Dubuque gets third, Simpson 4th, and a log jam with Coe, Loras, BV and Luther all bunched together thru the 5-8 spots.  The Spartans have learned how to win and will keep it up for a little while.  Simpson makes the jump to 4th, and every one else loses to the top two, beats Cornell (except for one, I think the Rams win a game this year), and basically split against everyone else.

I agree with a lot of that, SK. It's tough for me to call Simpson a "surprise" team, though -- I remember the days when they were in the hunt every year. (Wow, am I that old??)

That being said, I agree with the top four -- Central, Wartburg (we'll be playing the Knights for Homecoming this season, and I'm giving the Dutch the nod....) UD, and Simpson.

From there I see BV, Coe, Luther and Loras duking it out. Cornell will bring up the rear. I do agree with SK in thinking they will win a game this season -- maybe vs. Loras?

It's interesting to call UD a pre-season contender. I guess you could call it their due, with respect to how far they have come in earning people's respect.

has coe not earned respect?  you talk about the respect UD has earned?  they have only finished in the top 3, what, 2 times in like forever?
Coe has been in the top 3 every year in the past 7 years or so besides one time.  they lost a ton of people before last season, and still finished in the top 3.
They return 90% of their defense on argueably the best d in the conference.  they have some questions on oline and qb.
they did have a coaching change, but so much winning has been instilled in the program since reaburn has been there, there is no need for them to fall off.  i doubt staker changes anything, besides running the ball more, which could have helped coe the last 2 years (using more power formations instead of always being out of the spread).  i would say most of all of their talant has been starting for the past 2-3 years.  
UD has gained some respect, but why has Coe all of a sudden lost people's respect?  they were in every game last year besides the Wartburg game, but that was some of the worst football in terms of agression i've ever seen from Coe.  They have lost 6 games in the past 2 years- a disappointment 2 years ago, a suprise(Good) last year, 8 in the past 3 and 11 (TOTAL) in the past 4.  what has UD done to over take Coe?  have 2 good years in the past 20?

[Thunderbolt]

 I'm a little surprised by the lack of love for Coe. They return 8 starters on offense and 7 on defense, from a 7-3 team that was 2nd in the conference in total defense.
Before everyone says,"new coach", How much do you think that really matters? It's not like they have to reinvent the wheel. These kids already know how to block and tackle, and have seen and played in most systems at one point or another.
In my opinion, the reason most new coaches take a few years to turn around a program, is because they are taking over poor teams. Thats not the case at Coe or Simpson, and Luther was a 500 team last year.

[Thunderbolt]

 I have got to learn to type faster.

[Klompen]

has what has UD done to over take Coe?  have 2 good years in the past 20?

Ah, but that is the fun of guessing before things get under way and they prove it on the field.  I give UD the nod because they have had two better seasons in the past two years.  Two years ago everyone said was because of Belleus, that team did nothing at Central, but they played the other teams well.  Last year's team took Central to 3 OTs, but stumbled against some teams that they maybe should have won.  Maybe I am giving them too much credit, but I think they have shown that they have momentum going, they seem to be retaining their athletes better, the coaching staff has been stable for awhile now.  So I am giving them a chance.  Coe, I think has improved since joining the IIAC, but sometimes I think the ball bounced their way and they lucked out.  Now, there is no doubt that you can say that about Central in most of last year's games, but they also have a long history of coming out on top, and they are MY team, so I believe no matter how much they lose to graduation.  

Coe also has a coaching change, even if it is from within.  Sometimes those don't work out as well as you might think.  Look at it this way, we just gave Coe something to prove, didn't we?  

[the_mayne_event]

has what has UD done to over take Coe?  have 2 good years in the past 20?

Ah, but that is the fun of guessing before things get under way and they prove it on the field.  I give UD the nod because they have had two better seasons in the past two years.  Two years ago everyone said was because of Belleus, that team did nothing at Central, but they played the other teams well.  Last year's team took Central to 3 OTs, but stumbled against some teams that they maybe should have won.  Maybe I am giving them too much credit, but I think they have shown that they have momentum going, they seem to be retaining their athletes better, the coaching staff has been stable for awhile now.  So I am giving them a chance.  Coe, I think has improved since joining the IIAC, but sometimes I think the ball bounced their way and they lucked out.  Now, there is no doubt that you can say that about Central in most of last year's games, but they also have a long history of coming out on top, and they are MY team, so I believe no matter how much they lose to graduation.  

Coe also has a coaching change, even if it is from within.  Sometimes those don't work out as well as you might think.  Look at it this way, we just gave Coe something to prove, didn't we?  

the ball also hasn't bounced their way (losing Tekippe 2 years ago, also in the same season, losing 2 starting linebackers in 1 game, vs Central)  3 years ago we lost our starting MLB in teh last game of the year (Before losing to Morehead in the playoffs)  that game COULD have entirely different w/o losing him before the game.  i don't think coe has had much of any luck in the past years -- solid recruiting, and coaching, and putting it together on the field.  they also showed that they don't drop off much after losing a ton of great players (last year).
Central is the team to beat, until someone does, they are the number 1 team in the conference, but they are not that much better then coe or wartburg.  wartburg is next in line, because coe hasn't found a way to beat them in the past 5 years, but we know how they beat us, we jsut can't seem to stop it.  you have to go with coe after those 2 because they ahve been there every year for the past however many.
UD is right behind them, they have started to change something, but wait til this year after they lost their only offense (pretty much) and see how that affects them.
every other team will struggle, and get wins against eachother

[doolittledog]

I listed Coe as #3    I did say there were some questions with their offense ranking 6th in scoring in conference play last season and then the hiring of a HC from the defensive side of the ball.  But I still think it's them and UD in a neck and neck race for 3rd next season. 

And remember, Central fans talking might try to rank teams by how they played against Central.  Coe lost in regulation while it took Central 3 OT's to get past Dubuque.  Therefore, Dutch fans just might rank UD ahead of Coe based on that and the fact Coe had a coaching change. 

Also, a lot of this is message board talking off the top of their head without really thinking too deeply into things while they are at work instead of a dark plot to disrespect what Coe has done recently!!!

[the_mayne_event]

I listed Coe as #3    I did say there were some questions with their offense ranking 6th in scoring in conference play last season and then the hiring of a HC from the defensive side of the ball.  But I still think it's them and UD in a neck and neck race for 3rd next season. 

i agree with you... but..
there offense was not quite as good as normal last year because they lost pretty much everything -- 3 starting WR's, both RB's (1 to graduation the other to traitoration) 4 linemen, TE -- people knew the offense wasn't going to be the strong point of the team

[Walston Hoover]

They return 90% of their defense on argueably the best d in the conference.  

Not close. They have arguably the 2nd best D in the conf. But year after year, the top defense is Wartburg. I can't remember the exact number, but I think 8 or 9 starters are back on that side of the ball.

[the_mayne_event]

They return 90% of their defense on argueably the best d in the conference.  

Not close. They have arguably the 2nd best D in the conf. But year after year, the top defense is Wartburg. I can't remember the exact number, but I think 8 or 9 starters are back on that side of the ball.

i agree that wartburg as the best defense in the conference, but i would put coe's with them and coe returns 9, but with the talant behind them they really return 10

[Klompen]

And remember, Central fans talking might try to rank teams by how they played against Central.  Coe lost in regulation while it took Central 3 OT's to get past Dubuque.  Therefore, Dutch fans just might rank UD ahead of Coe based on that and the fact Coe had a coaching change. 

Absolutely true in my selections.   Coe has played Central closely, or won, in recent years, so it is no disrespect to them at all.  But Dubuque really did not play Central well two years ago when everyone was talking about one key player, they lost that player and then took Central to 3 OTs.  You bet that plays into it, but it is also the fact that they showed the year before was not a fluke.  Then again, UD lost a late game that I thought they should have won, so who knows?

[Thunderbolt]

 It's Friday, and I just spent the last 3 hours pouring over IIAC stats and rosters. It's going to be a long summer!

[dutchfan1]

You heard it here first, I think Simpson will be the surprise team in the league this year.  I like them to finish 4th behind Wartburg, Central, and Dubuque.  I think that going through the coaching change and all the issues involved will galvanize the team and bring those guys together.

I think Wartburg wins the whole shooting match, with an early season win over a Central team still finding itself as the difference.  Dubuque gets third, Simpson 4th, and a log jam with Coe, Loras, BV and Luther all bunched together thru the 5-8 spots.  The Spartans have learned how to win and will keep it up for a little while.  Simpson makes the jump to 4th, and every one else loses to the top two, beats Cornell (except for one, I think the Rams win a game this year), and basically split against everyone else.

I agree with a lot of that, SK. It's tough for me to call Simpson a "surprise" team, though -- I remember the days when they were in the hunt every year. (Wow, am I that old??)

That being said, I agree with the top four -- Central, Wartburg (we'll be playing the Knights for Homecoming this season, and I'm giving the Dutch the nod....) UD, and Simpson.

From there I see BV, Coe, Luther and Loras duking it out. Cornell will bring up the rear. I do agree with SK in thinking they will win a game this season -- maybe vs. Loras?

It's interesting to call UD a pre-season contender. I guess you could call it their due, with respect to how far they have come in earning people's respect.

has coe not earned respect?  you talk about the respect UD has earned?  they have only finished in the top 3, what, 2 times in like forever?
Coe has been in the top 3 every year in the past 7 years or so besides one time.  they lost a ton of people before last season, and still finished in the top 3.
They return 90% of their defense on argueably the best d in the conference.  they have some questions on oline and qb.
they did have a coaching change, but so much winning has been instilled in the program since reaburn has been there, there is no need for them to fall off.  i doubt staker changes anything, besides running the ball more, which could have helped coe the last 2 years (using more power formations instead of always being out of the spread).  i would say most of all of their talant has been starting for the past 2-3 years.  
UD has gained some respect, but why has Coe all of a sudden lost people's respect?  they were in every game last year besides the Wartburg game, but that was some of the worst football in terms of agression i've ever seen from Coe.  They have lost 6 games in the past 2 years- a disappointment 2 years ago, a suprise(Good) last year, 8 in the past 3 and 11 (TOTAL) in the past 4.  what has UD done to over take Coe?  have 2 good years in the past 20?

Sure, Coe's earned respect. They are a team that are always poised for greatness, and top out at the 3rd best team in the conference. Tons of unconverted talent. In a "what have you done for me lately" ratings game, Coe definitely has the talent, but right now, UD has the ambition.

I think the coaching hire plays into my thoughs, too. I think Staker is a great guy, and a fine coach from my limited understanding, but I don't think he is going to be the guy to take the Kohawks to the next level. If he comes out this year and beats the big dogs (Central and Wartburg) and proves that they are here to play in the big leagues, I'll revise my thoughts on this. I just don't see that happening in 2008.


I think it's hilarious that you are crying foul about my thoughts on Coe when the same thing happens to Central every season. The Dutch come out and run the table, and as soon as the season ends, Wartburg is the team to beat the next year. It's hilarious, and it happens every season. It just adds to the motivation to stay at the top -- it's always fun proving your critics wrong, right?