FB: American Rivers Conference

lorbec47 · August 31, 2005, 02:04:39 PM

Floyd-
The teams were very similar in talent. Loras dominated the stat book, but got kind of conservative after an early lead. A couple of 2nd half turnovers did the Duhawks in. It should be a good game again, and the crowd was huge last year.

Floyd in Iowa City · August 31, 2005, 02:55:36 PM

I wondered just because sometimes programs like St. Ambrose act like NAIA is so much better than the Iowa Conference because of scholarship money, practice rules, etc., but I enjoy following the Iowa Conference and MIAC teams for football much more than any local NAIA conferences. The NAIA league that St. Ambrose is in just does not have much name recognition or depth IMO compared to the Iowa Conference.

How is Loras looking on offense so far? Last year was a tough season given how many experienced players returned on both sides of the ball.

thehouse76 · August 31, 2005, 03:12:04 PM

I think Loras will have a good year given that they give into the program. I dont believe they will have to learn anything all that new. The sceme will be similar to any other year and with any other team. Establish the run and open things up with some play action and pass the ball when needed. I am really looking forward to seeing them play with a new attitude. I see the team with a touch of old school (with coach B players) and a lot of new school with coach K and the staff that is pretty much in tact from past years. The coaching staff at Loras is very good and looking to be able to use some things that no one has seen before, hopefully it all works out. Now as far as Concordia goes, I would like to think that the conference they come from isnt as good as the Iowa Conference is, so if they went 0-10 last year Loras shouldnt have too many problems with them unless Concordia promotes the roids, which i doubt. Loras may be a young team, but they do have some good players thats athletism can make them go a long way. Conference Championship, i am not so sure, but if they can get some good plays and establish themselves early, the playoffs are possible for them. Good Luck to all the schools and hopefully it will be an injury free weekend for all teams.

lorbec47 · August 31, 2005, 03:51:04 PM

The conference Concordia plays in isn't as tough. (Cornell beat their conference champ last season.) Loras should be fine on offense. Having seen most of their scrimmage last week, they have some good, young talent. The defense will also be very tough again this year. I've got an itching that 7-8 IIAC teams win this weekend. Good luck to all.

sc_stormchaser · August 31, 2005, 05:09:33 PM

A couple of IIAC teams will be playing teams from the IBC this week and it made me wonder... with all of the new NCAA rules on "hostile" mascots, will the Illini-Badger Conference have to change their name?

Picks this week:
Simpson over Illinois Wesleyan, but I wonder how the Titan players will respond to the death of one of their captains. In fact, I think the funeral was today. It would be pretty tough to turn around and play on Saturday.

Augustana over Central - Augustana rolled last year. Can the Dutch stop the run? Because that's all Augustana does.

BV over Bethel - I always like to hear the Minnesota schools making excuses!

Coe over Westminster - who the hell is Westminster??

Loras won't give Concordia their first win in over a year.

Luther, Wartburg, Cornell and UW-P

dutchfan1 · August 31, 2005, 07:03:15 PM

"Coe over Westminster - who the hell is Westminster??" -- No kidding! It would really be nice to see Coe schedule some decent non-conference pre-season competition. I think it would help their overall SOS/Quality of Win ratio. I think the KoHawks have potential to be a quality team, but it seems as though they are afraid to go into the season with a loss, so they tend to schedule patsy teams in the preseason.

thehouse76 · August 31, 2005, 08:03:11 PM

yeah, what is it with Coe scheduling teams that might as well put ther cheerleaders on the field to play? It has been several years of the same thing as though they look at a team and will only schedule them if they havent won a game in like 20 years. I respect wartburg and central for really seeing what their kids have on the field instead of looking at game tape the night of the game and saying yeah we are great on all things, you dont know what you have unless you go against a quality opponent. If you want a practice, put your JV out there and play.

warthog · August 31, 2005, 08:48:19 PM

Floyd in Iowa City:

I have to agree with you on the St.Ambrose situation. I can't be too impressed with a conference (the Mid-States Football Association) that features two former Iowa Conference rejects William Penn and Iowa Wesleyan.

warthog · August 31, 2005, 09:24:13 PM

I find it amusing that the poll on this page lists Central as a potential surprise conference champion.

I personally wouldn't find it suprising at all. Over the last fifty years Central has won or shared 23 IIAC titles.

The next closest is Wartburg with 10 titles.8) No one else is in double figures. Luther has 6. Simpson has 5. BV, Dubuque, Wm Penn and Parsons each have 3. Relative newcomer Coe has 2. UIU has 1. Loras and Cornell have been shut out, however to be fair neither have been members for fifty years.

No, Central winning the title would be business as usual in the IIAC.

lorbec47 · September 01, 2005, 07:29:55 AM

Warthog--Oh, there's no doubt that Central was the POWER in the IIAC. Maybe they will resurface this year, but I know people are just basing this opinion over the last 2 years. Almost half of the titles is amazing.

Pakk · September 01, 2005, 10:09:37 AM

Thank you Warthog. As a former Dutch player I appreciate your response. Obviously the Dutch have not been the Dutch the past 2 seasons. But I agree with you, how could it be a surprise if Central wins the title. My sources tell me Central is on the way back up. I'm not expecting huge things this season, but in the next few years it should be business as normal. Central, Wartburg, fighting it out, and then everyone else. My fondest memories of any football were our two 1 point games with Wartburg in 1994. We beat them 14-13 regular season, they beat us 22-21 post-season. I've always respected Wartburg.

vinnysboy · September 01, 2005, 12:35:36 PM

Does anybody have an opinion on Dubuque- Platteville? Are any other IIAC teams playing WIAC teams? DO you guys really think Dubuque is gonna be that bad with all of that senior leadership?

sc_stormchaser · September 01, 2005, 01:08:19 PM

Vinnysboy- It's really hard to pick UD when they have been so bad for so long. And those seniors that you talk about have won a total of 3 games the past three years (only one conference win). They'll have some confidence until UW-P puts up a couple of TDs in the first quarter. The seniors will be saying, "Here we go again." Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge supporter of the IIAC, but I have to be realistic in my picks.

vinnysboy · September 01, 2005, 01:58:31 PM

They are a lot better than when they 1st got there I mean they beat a good Coe tam last year they just have to come together better. By the way I'm coming from FLA. to see the simpson Vs Dubuque game. I've got some seniors I made a promise to. See you on the 24

sc_stormchaser · September 01, 2005, 03:16:17 PM

Sorry, I won't be around that weekend. The last time UD beat SC was '86 and if it happens this year I'll be very glad that I was out of the state. And yes, I probably just jinxed the Storm. I wish UD the best of luck this weekend. It's great when an IIAC team beats a WIAC team.