FB: American Rivers Conference

[MNbeev]

Great to be back!  The season is almost here, and I am another Beaver faithful!

[DutchFan2004]

There's still plenty of time. The Suckow saga didn't happen until the last week of July.

That is why I suggested the week before the season starts to have the final preseason picks in.  The EVIL EMPIRE may try to get some more converts before fall practice starts.      We want it all fair don't we and want to wait for all contingent transfers to get settled.   

If I am not mistaken, Central will be the big winner in the transfer sweapstakes this offseason.  My sources tell the QB from SEP and Drake is coming to Pella.  Looks like he will be the starter as well. 

I would not count on that just yet.  He is a great transfer but there are two kids that will be sophmores that played some last year that will be in the QB mix as well.  Jared Lackey and Zach Bandow may have something to say about the starting QB postion this fall.  They have one year under their belt where the Drake transfer will have to learn the offense from the start and is behind a year.  The only starter that in my opinion is put in stone is Spencer Remick.  He will be on the Oline some place.  I think there are two other returning lineman that will be on the line someplace.  Lee Schroeder and Owen Haberman as they were both starters on the line last year.  There are a host of other letter winners back to fill in the gaps.  The cupboard is not totally bare in Pella.

[DutchFan2004]

Heys any word on Dallas Bush leaving? I know one person does not make a team but he was the only experienced QB coming back and in fact the only QB in the system if I'm not mistaken.

That would be a blow they need an experienced QB not a freshman

If that is true then I may have to revise my statement about the Rams and winning this year.  I don't know many freshman able to play in the IIAC and be successful. 

[Klopenhiemer]

Are you kidding me Klop? Dead last. Let's put it this way, I have a feeling BV will be wishing they hired coach Glo when they had the chance.

#1 QB and RB return. If I remember correctly, most of the OL has at least 2 years of experience. The youngest Kain graduated (are we all tapped out, or is there another Kain brother floating around  ), so the WR core is probably young, but I seem to remember a few underclassmen playing last year.

On the other side of the ball, the defense returns their leading tackler and pre-season All-American (for what's worth). After looking at last year's stats, 9 of the top 12 tacklers from last year's team return.

The non-conference schedule went from two playoff teams last year to a team with ZERO years of experience (Grand View) and a team that Cornell beat the past two years (no offense PH). Maybe that will help the young coaching staff and players (along with former players and fans) gain some confidence.

Here's my safe predication, they will not finish first or last.

I would be pleased with a 7-3 and it would be even better if one of the seven wins is against Central!

Stormchaser...As I said in an earlier post that DF1 posted, I was rocking the boat a little.  I honestly do not see Simpson finishing last.  Obviously I do not see Loras, Coe, or Cornell finishing in the places that I picked them.  Matter of fact, I do not see Central finishing where I placed them either.  

Case in point.  We have had this discussion many times over the last 3 months.  No new information has been released.  We know little regarding how spring ball went.  To that point, there was little that they could really do in spring ball.  There was no contact and it was a lot of drill work.  There are no new convincing points to choose one team over another than there were 2 months ago.  There is no Suckow saga or anything else brewing.  So being it was early in the morning, I did not want to start work, I figured the board needed a little spice.  

Note:  Time will tell regarding BV passing on Coach Glogowski.

Please see picks below.  This is honestly how I see things shaking out this year.  

Wartburg
Central
Coe
Simpson
UD
BV
Cornell
Loras
Luther

I will go on record saying the suprise team of the year will be Cornell.  They will beat Loras and Luther this year, and score 1 win over the other 6.  I am not ready to say who yet.  They will play hard and be in most games.  

Enlight of the new information pertaining the to QB postion at Cornell, I might be forced to change my picks/suprise team of the year.  I might have to back Loras now as the suprise team of the year.  I do think Simpson has a chance to make waves, but they will be under a new system and first year head coach.  There will be a learning curve and bumps in the road. 

Sorry Heys but the Heaven's Gate kool-aid was not quite strong enough to ride out this storm

[caddy1]

Any one out there have the # of returning Seniors -based off of last years rosters by school?

[DutchFan2004]

http://www.central.edu/athletics/football/letterwinners.html


Here is the Central's site of returning letter winners.  The year and how many letters they have won are listed. 

[Ash Park]

Heys any word on Dallas Bush leaving? I know one person does not make a team but he was the only experienced QB coming back and in fact the only QB in the system if I'm not mistaken.

That would be a blow they need an experienced QB not a freshman

If that is true then I may have to revise my statement about the Rams and winning this year.  I don't know many freshman able to play in the IIAC and be successful. 

As purple as my blinders are I am also a realist and would probably have to agree. It will be even tougher with a frosh qb. I hope for Dillon and his team that it isn't true. Dillon has not had much luck in his first two years with the QB situation. Some of you may remember that last year they were supposed to have a pretty decent qb in Ryan Mills returning. Unfortunately he decided around this time last year that he would stay in AZ and not return. Dillon was then forced to move kobler back to quarterback or else they would be in the situation they MIGHT be in now. Bush if you are reading this please stay! 

[Ash Park]

and by Bush I mean Dallas Bush not george.....i can't wait for him to leave 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ash Park,

Congratulations on reaching the level to 'applaud/smite' - use your new-found powers wisely, young grasshopper!

[Ash Park]

haha thank you Ypsi!

[caddy1]

Thanks DutchFan2004 - 17 seniors

[Purple Heys]

Heys any word on Dallas Bush leaving? I know one person does not make a team but he was the only experienced QB coming back and in fact the only QB in the system if I'm not mistaken.

That would be a blow they need an experienced QB not a freshman

If that is true then I may have to revise my statement about the Rams and winning this year.  I don't know many freshman able to play in the IIAC and be successful. 

As purple as my blinders are I am also a realist and would probably have to agree. It will be even tougher with a frosh qb. I hope for Dillon and his team that it isn't true. Dillon has not had much luck in his first two years with the QB situation. Some of you may remember that last year they were supposed to have a pretty decent qb in Ryan Mills returning. Unfortunately he decided around this time last year that he would stay in AZ and not return. Dillon was then forced to move kobler back to quarterback or else they would be in the situation they MIGHT be in now. Bush if you are reading this please stay! 

Well I am not in a position to speculate on young Mr. Bush...He's the presumed starter in an offense that is uniquely suited to his talents.  He is a talented runner/passer...in time he should become talented passer/runner.  Coach Dillon is an experienced offensive coach and I have confidence he can help Dallas be one of the better IIAC QB's before his time is done.

Behind him he's got an experienced backfield with Hardman and Thompson, both solid players who would be welcome additions to any IIAC roster.  He's got a big target at TE in Heys Jr.  who has the size and speed to worry most if not all IIAC DC's.  (tell me who wouldn't want a 6'5" 245lb TE with a bit of a mean streak) Returning outside receivers are good athletes who have shown they can get it done too.  Yeah there is a question mark with the OLine for now...

They have a chance with this group to make some noise.  There is high quality physical talent on offense that is capable of competing.  I honestly believe the defense has turned the corner as well.

I don't profess to be able to read into kids' minds here...but jeez, if I were a player, particularly the QB, I would want to be a part of this year at Cornell...if only for the opportunity to be part of the group that was responsible for turning things around.

[Wartburg Fan]

I don't know if it was the answer or not for replacing lewis but I did see that former player Dan Hammes was hired to coach running backs this season.

Ash Park where did you see that Dan Hammes is going to coach the running backs this season ?

[MNbeev]

16 seniors for the beavers.

[DBQ1965]

24 seniors for the Spartans.