FB: American Rivers Conference

[Ash Park]

Time rile some folks up...

I'm sold on Central continuing to be a preseason favorite.  Bottom line:  They win with almost frustrating reliability in the IIAC.  My opinion, hands down the best coaching staff in the IIAC.

On paper I should be sold that Wartburg should be as well...but...for the time I have been paying attention, the Kaniggets have found a way to NOT make it.  They have had their chances.  Maybe Willis is the key.  If the Kaniggets do not make the playoffs this season, THAT will make them the surprise team and could put them IMHO as being disappointing.

Dubuque, impressed me last year, but they lost significant talent in key locations.  This year is a test of their staying power.  And in a way, I am rooting for them because I see their success as demonstration of the possibilities.

Coe...listen to their faithful and you would think this is their year.  I don't buy it.  For the same reason one might cite as to why Cornell won't win a game, one can cite that Coe won't win this conference.  The teams that Coe would compete for the IIAC title are just better than Coe.  Wartburg is a better defensive team and brings back significant offensive firepower.  Central fits in new pieces and doesn't seem to skip a beat.  Both teams have better coaching.  How does one make an argument for Coe over either of these teams without seeming as delusional as ShowMe?

As for the rest...I'll piss you guys off in the next installment

I am also sold on Central being the favorite. I like how they do things there and I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff. I think with Willis back at Wartburg he will bring back that something that I think Wartburg has been missing the past few years. Not sure what that something is but to me when willis was there Wartburg had a certain swagger and I personally did not see that the past few years.

This will be an interesting year for both Coe and UD to see how they respond to their respective losses of a head coach and some key players for UD.

[ShowMe]

Time rile some folks up...

Coe...listen to their faithful and you would think this is their year.  I don't buy it.  For the same reason one might cite as to why Cornell won't win a game, one can cite that Coe won't win this conference.  The teams that Coe would compete for the IIAC title are just better than Coe.  Wartburg is a better defensive team and brings back significant offensive firepower.  Central fits in new pieces and doesn't seem to skip a beat.  Both teams have better coaching.  How does one make an argument for Coe over either of these teams without seeming as delusional as ShowMe?

As for the rest...I'll piss you guys off in the next installment

That was a good one! LOL

But I get the last laugh and you get to enjoy, a win win

Take it easy on Coe they're the first test!

[ShowMe]

My perspective;

#1 Central has to be considered the favorite to win the IIAC title because of past performance. They are well coached, has a good farm club, lots of players and lots of talent.

I too coached football for several years and enjoyed every moment. I was very successful with an .850 winning percentage. I learned some valuable lessons too. One thing I learned, it's very difficult to coach a lot of talent. There's more opportunity to make mistakes. The first challenge is selecting the correct talent, second putting the talent in the right position. It takes some special coaching and can get confusing at times.

When a program has had a lot of success, you become the big fish in a small pond. Central has reached a plateau, winning conference championships is no longer exciting, thus their fans lose patient with teams on the bottom.  I argue, Central has the most to lose this season. They are replacing some key starters and made their longest run into the playoffs last season, reached a #3 ranking and is has lots of respect. If Central cannot break into the final four for the national championship. They will not reach true potential, become the legend with all of their accomplishments. Thus a small fish in the big pond and now we know the  reason the coach is managing expectations in the season preview . 

Central has earned my respect and #1 IIAC ranking. I also learned as a coach that the best team can be beat! While it may seem complex, it's actually simple to do.

#2 is next

[doolittledog]

I will have to stay up late tonight!!!

[footballdaddy]

My perspective;

#1 Central has to be considered the favorite to win the IIAC title because of past performance. They are well coached, has a good farm club, lots of players and lots of talent.

I too coached football for several years and enjoyed every moment. I was very successful with an .850 winning percentage. I learned some valuable lessons too. One thing I learned, it's very difficult to coach a lot of talent. There's more opportunity to make mistakes. The first challenge is selecting the correct talent, second putting the talent in the right position. It takes some special coaching and can get confusing at times.

When a program has had a lot of success, you become the big fish in a small pond. Central has reached a plateau, winning conference championships is no longer exciting, thus their fans lose patient with teams on the bottom.  I argue, Central has the most to lose this season. They are replacing some key starters and made their longest run into the playoffs last season, reached a #3 ranking and is has lots of respect. If Central cannot break into the final four for the national championship. They will not reach true potential, become the legend with all of their accomplishments. Thus a small fish in the big pond and now we know the  reason the coach is managing expectations in the season preview . 

Central has earned my respect and #1 IIAC ranking. I also learned as a coach that the best team can be beat! While it may seem complex, it's actually simple to do.

#2 is next

WOW

I belive for the first time in my life, I'm speechless.

[Klopenhiemer]

In regards to missing a sport or missing coaching.  I fall into that realm of the world.  I can almost taste how much I miss being away from the game.  I have no ambition to have kids for a few more years, but commented to my wife the other day about having one.  Just thinking about the thought of having someone to teach something to is exciting.  Then I think about the financial burden and the fact that my whole life would be turned upside down, and the birth control seems like a great option right now   Sorry if that is to much information.  Just a little Friday night humor!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Klop,

I was already 40 when #1 son came along - sometimes I regreted the lack of energy, but overall I was a much better dad at that age than I would have been in my 20s or 30s.

Not having a kid is no excuse for not coaching kids.  While coaching your own is special, it also has special tensions.  My most enjoyable coaching experiences were probably with teams I filled in on 'cause they couldn't find a parent to do it - and since I made it CLEAR that that I was neither paid nor a (player's) parent, the parents were immediately on my side!

[Charlie Kohawk]

Coe always contends. This year will be no different.

[doolittledog]

Parenthood is not to be taken lightly and it isn't for everyone.  

There is a saying that if you wait to have enough money to have children you will never have any!!!

Of course another saying goes...children are a great comfort in your old age and they help you reach it faster too!!!

Parenting can be a strange thing.  I had a great time today doing something simple by taking my daughter grocery shopping.  We went to the bank first and she asked me if we could go into the bank instead of the drive through because she had never been in the bank before.  We then stopped for gas and I let her put the gas in.  Later at the store we had a great time talking while we shopped together.  It occured to me later that just the 2 of us had never done that before.  It was great to have that one on one time together.  We are normally all together as one big family and not often do we do things 1 on 1 like that.  

That for me was a great day today.  When I was single and in my 20's that would not have been my idea of a great day!!!  It is strange how your perspectives change as you get older and have a family.  

Don't rush into anything but don't be afraid of that next step in your life either.  

Sorry about this post as well.  Probably more info than you wanted to hear.  

[Mr. Ypsi]

And another saying along the same lines:

Insanity is herititary - you get it from your kids.

Mine comes mainly from #2 son, but #1 is not blameless!

[But it is worth it.]

[OzJohnnie]

There are two perspectives on kids: They are the reward for a fulfilling life or the impediment to a fulfilling life.

(Literally as I typed the period at the end of the sentence above my three year old ran up to me and told me she was so busting that she couldn't make it to the toilet and did 'wee' on the bathroom floor.  So after cleaning up that mess I've moved from a 'former' type of guy to a 'later'.  Karma.)

[doolittledog]

I've been there Oz.  Amazing how hard it is to make to the potty sometimes!!!

The dad of a friend of mine once told me in high school.  "Kids can drive you crazy 90% of the time.  The 10% of the time they don't makes it all worth it." 

Another analogy I have is I have an uncle that never had children.  When my sister and I were young we once remarked to my dad how our uncle had a great car and a lot of really great stuff at his house.  My dads reply was that our uncle didn't have 4 kids!!!  Fast forward 30 years and we drive a car with almost 200,000 miles on it and a lot of our kids toys we picked up at garage sales.  We don't have a lot of nice stuff at our house but I wouldn't trade our lives for more gadgets but no kids.  But again, that is our choice.  It's not for everyone.  My uncle is happy in his choice to have not had children.  Plus, he now lives near us again and lets us hang out at his place and enjoy all the cool things he gets...and he gives us his old tv's and dvd players that he thinks aren't so cool anymore!!!

Back to college football...We are under 30 days now till the IIAC kicks off!!! Woo Hoo!!!

[Wartburg Fan]

 Just got back from Council Bluffs, having to be out there for work for a week. Just trying to get caught up on all the posting. From football to toilet counting to coaching ( won't talk about my experence in that area) to kids, there is alot to get caught up on.


  Go Evil Empire !!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

[DutchFan2004]

Parenthood is not to be taken lightly and it isn't for everyone.  

There is a saying that if you wait to have enough money to have children you will never have any!!!

Of course another saying goes...children are a great comfort in your old age and they help you reach it faster too!!!

Parenting can be a strange thing.  I had a great time today doing something simple by taking my daughter grocery shopping.  We went to the bank first and she asked me if we could go into the bank instead of the drive through because she had never been in the bank before.  We then stopped for gas and I let her put the gas in.  Later at the store we had a great time talking while we shopped together.  It occured to me later that just the 2 of us had never done that before.  It was great to have that one on one time together.  We are normally all together as one big family and not often do we do things 1 on 1 like that.  

That for me was a great day today.  When I was single and in my 20's that would not have been my idea of a great day!!!  It is strange how your perspectives change as you get older and have a family.  

Don't rush into anything but don't be afraid of that next step in your life either.  

Sorry about this post as well.  Probably more info than you wanted to hear.  

great post!!!!  Some younger posters need to hear this IMHO.  Parenthood is hard but worth it.  You get out of life what you put into it.  You and others have touched on it.  There is nothing more rewarding that parenthood and sometimes nothing more hard in life.  In the end I think it is worth it. 

[DutchFan2004]

I've been there Oz.  Amazing how hard it is to make to the potty sometimes!!!

The dad of a friend of mine once told me in high school.  "Kids can drive you crazy 90% of the time.  The 10% of the time they don't makes it all worth it." 

Another analogy I have is I have an uncle that never had children.  When my sister and I were young we once remarked to my dad how our uncle had a great car and a lot of really great stuff at his house.  My dads reply was that our uncle didn't have 4 kids!!!  Fast forward 30 years and we drive a car with almost 200,000 miles on it and a lot of our kids toys we picked up at garage sales.  We don't have a lot of nice stuff at our house but I wouldn't trade our lives for more gadgets but no kids.  But again, that is our choice.  It's not for everyone.  My uncle is happy in his choice to have not had children.  Plus, he now lives near us again and lets us hang out at his place and enjoy all the cool things he gets...and he gives us his old tv's and dvd players that he thinks aren't so cool anymore!!!

Back to college football...We are under 30 days now till the IIAC kicks off!!! Woo Hoo!!!

OZ been there done that.  You are a good dad. 

Doolittle also been there done that.  I can say that you will get your nice stuff as the kids get older and leave the nest.  My wife and I are now able to get some nicer stuff.  After being frugal with having 4 kids and trying to afford that we can now treat ourselves with things now and then.  It is still sometimes hard to part with the money for them as we still think of ourselves in the parent supporting mode.