FB: American Rivers Conference

[Klopenhiemer]

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?

This is what makes this so fun.  How boreing would this be everyone did the following. 

1. Warburg
2. Central
3. Coe

I like to see people thinking outside the box and giving other ideas and thoughts.  Doolittle is right.  There is a lot of time killing at work happening on these message boards. 

That is why I picked Cornell as my suprise team this year.  Most would agree that Simpson is the "best" cadidate for this title.  But I honestly think the Storm have a chance at cracking the top 3 this season.  Lets see what happens. 

I really hope that Cornell does win 3 conference games this season, just as long as its not against the Beavers!  That will add for some great conversations this fall. 

Thunderbolt, pouring over rosters and stats, I am with you.  I poured over the last 10 years of POY's trying to remember how we played against those guys in my 4 years. 

I know I need a life

[Klompen]

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? 

I had noticed the same thing DF1, it doesn't matter than Central went undefeated 2 years straight.  WB is the team to beat once again.  Fine by me, I like the fact that the critics give the guys incentive, particularly against WB.  I know the standard thinking is that the "arch rival" team is the team located in closest proximity, or that you have a storied history with, such as that "oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi" thing, but I have always viewed our "rival" as whatever team has challenged or beat us the most in recent years.  I remember when Penn was the rival school, but when we were beating them regularly by 60 points, it was Simpson or Wartburg that got the blood boiling.  I always hear about WB/Luther and their rivalry, but I can't help but think that if WB fans could only pick one game, that more would pick the Central game than Luther.  But that's just my $.02 and it isn't always worth that.

[The Show]

I'll disagree with you Klop.  I still think Cornell only wins its nonconference games, again.

Also, is UD changing its offensive scheme this year since Jackson graduated?  QB Sweep left and right may not be as effective without him...   

So far, I'm seeing it:

1. Wartburg
2. Central
3. ? TBD
4. ? TBD
5. ? TBD
6. Loras
7. Dubuque
8. Luther
9. Cornell

[doolittledog]

I'll disagree with you Klop.  I still think Cornell only wins its nonconference games, again.

Also, is UD changing its offensive scheme this year since Jackson graduated?  QB Sweep left and right may not be as effective without him...   

So far, I'm seeing it:

1. Wartburg
2. Central
3. ? TBD
4. ? TBD
5. ? TBD
6. Loras
7. Dubuque
8. Luther
9. Cornell

Jackson has left as has Joe Austin the OC at Dubuque.  Austin left to become the HC at Hanover. 

The new OC at Dubuque had been the wide recievers coach as well as the track coach at UD.  Colton Hansen is the heir apparent at QB in Dubuque.  He was a first team all-state QB at Olin so look for UD to throw down field more.  I think they go more to the spread instead of the spread option that they turned to last season. 

To look at some of Hansens stats go to http://www.iahsaa.org/football/ARCHIVES/FB.1.IND.GAME,SEASON,%20CAREER.pdf

He is near the top in many passing categories for the state high school records. 

As for Central running the table and then Wartburg being the majority opinion to take the conference the next season...there are more Wartburg posters than on here than any other school has...so being homers I would think they would be picked for the top most years.  I don't pick Dubuque but in the back of my head I could convince myself to not be surprised next year if they run the table and make it to the playoffs.  Most posters believe there school COULD win the title...doesn't mean they are disrespecting what any other school has accomplished. 

[The Show]

Most posters believe there school COULD win the title...doesn't mean they are disrespecting what any other school has accomplished. 

BINGO!


Thanks for the info. on the QB as well.

[Wartburg Fan]

 Just want to say that my prayer go out to Larry Tryon's family. Mr Tryon passed away Friday. He was a great football coach and a member of the Iowa Coach's Hall of fame and for the BV fan he played football for BV.

[BeaverOfYore]

Didn't anyone else notice this story in yesterday's Register?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805090404

[Walston Hoover]

Nice Story. Matt Ditch is probably the highest profile male athlete in the IIAC to do that the last 10 years.
For female athletes, its tough to argue with what Jenni Donahue did while at Wartburg.
All-American in track, All conference in Volleyball, and a multi year starter on some very good basketball teams.
I know of a lot of 2-sport guys-
Jake Olsen, Chris Winter to name a few. Those guys had pretty good careers.

[DBQ1965]

Didn't anyone else notice this story in yesterday's Register?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805090404

Thanks for that.  For those of us who don't see the DMR on a daily basis, its good to have things brought to our attention.

[footballdaddy]

Any IIAC coverage is good. I've been in a week long email convo with a Des Moines sports personality. I "bugged" him enough that he finally said that there will never be enough interest in Iowa colleges to get any more coverae than they already get, and you will never get anything other than Central or Simpson. After that he politely told me to get lost. I suggest we "sound off" on this issure . Maybe we can show them what no interest really means.

[doolittledog]

I missed 33 yesterday.

33 - UD record for first downs in 1 game.  33 first downs against Blackburn in 2005.  Dubuque won the game 49-6  One of the few times they set a record and also won the game!!!

[Klopenhiemer]

Any IIAC coverage is good. I've been in a week long email convo with a Des Moines sports personality. I "bugged" him enough that he finally said that there will never be enough interest in Iowa colleges to get any more coverae than they already get, and you will never get anything other than Central or Simpson. After that he politely told me to get lost. I suggest we "sound off" on this issure . Maybe we can show them what no interest really means.

FBdaddy I think you should post his email and all of us should pepper him with emails asking him why he has came to these stark conclusions

[DBQ1965]

Any IIAC coverage is good. I've been in a week long email convo with a Des Moines sports personality. I "bugged" him enough that he finally said that there will never be enough interest in Iowa colleges to get any more coverae than they already get, and you will never get anything other than Central or Simpson. After that he politely told me to get lost. I suggest we "sound off" on this issure . Maybe we can show them what no interest really means.

FBdaddy I think you should post his email and all of us should pepper him with emails asking him why he has came to these stark conclusions

Good idea.  Maybe if he hears from someone all the way from Michigan ... !

[footballdaddy]

Well, when I tried to copy the email posts I sent them into cyberspace.

The short version is that there will never be any IIAC coverage because no one asks for it, so quit asking for it.

Let's clog up their inbox a little: soundoff@whotv.com

Be sure to tell them why we want the IIAC mentioned and that the IIAC extends beyond Central and Simpson. Explain that many central Iowa athletes play for all conference schools and that they deserve some mention when they do something outstanding. Let's see if we can move the needle a bit.

[DBQ1965]

Doolitttledog ...

I noticed the name Nick Brautigam from Wahlert High School among the qualifiers for the Iowa State Track Meet in the 400 and two relays.  Is he the son of the UD head football coach ... does he play football ... and would he dare go anywhere but UD?