FB: American Rivers Conference

[Thunderbolt]

 I may as well throw my darts at the board too.

Wartburg (8-0) already dread being a Knight fan in the playoffs.

Central (6-2) I know the best teams always graduate the most talent, but I still think there was something special in last years class, that can't be handed down or transferred in.

Coe (6-2) Their defense is that good. They have good wide outs and just need someone to trust them to make plays.

Simpson (5-3) Still a notch below.

Luther (4-4) The more things change, the more they stay the same. At least this year.

Dubuque(3-5) I could see them trading spots with Simpson too.

Cornell (2-6) I hope they can beat Loras in the Rock Bowl, or they will have to wait for BV the last game of the year. They will not win in Decorah on senior day.

BV (1-7) The schedule maker hates BV. Two trips to Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and Mt. Vernon. I hate to say it but the Norse could be their best shot.

Loras (1-7) They don't seem to be keeping up with the Jones.

[footballdaddy]

My prediction is the same as last year. The winner of the Wartburg-Central game is conference champion. It will be unusual that after the first week of the conference season, everyone will be competing for second place.

[Walston Hoover]

NSIC will be upping their scholarships offered I believe in the near future.
Not uncommon for a kid to get a small amount of money ($500 or less). Referred to as a "bone" by coaches at D2 schools.
It would be one thing to bring in a group of 51 if you had a strong tradition and a lot of guys wanted to be a part of it. Obviously we know that not to be the case at UIU. I've seen them play a couple times since they moved to D2, they are still a very bad football team.

[New Storm]

My Predictions
1. Wartburg  - enough has been said
2. Central- could reverse top 2
3. Coe and Simpson both new coaches make an early impression on the leaque
5. UD lost alot
6.BV and Luther both lost some key players
8. Loras and Cornell- I know Cornell is being regarded as the new age but till they do it

[DBQ1965]

Ever the optimist ... and with a UD Spartan Blue loyaly mixed with a modicum of realism and the magic of doolittledog's lawnmower ... here are my remote picks from west Michigan.

1.  Wartburg ... 8-0 and undeafeat in the IIAC.
2.  Central ... 7-1 with their one loss coming at home ... to guess who?
3.  UD ... at 6-2 in the conference, they will be the surprise team given what they lost from last year's team.
4.  Coe ... 5-3 with the difference between #3 and #4  being a Kohawk loss in their final game.
5.  Simpson ... 4-4 while getting used to a new system.
6.  BV ... 3-5 with inconsistent play this season.
7.  Cornell ... 2-6 maybe even a bigger surprise  with 2 conference wins.
8.  Loras ... 1-7 and Luther 1-7 tied for last place.

Now someone with better math skills than I have (any math skills are better than mine) will tell me what I've laid out is mathematically impossible.  If that is indeed the case ... so be it.  The order remains the same.

[doolittledog]

Ever the optimist ... and with a UD Spartan Blue loyaly mixed with a modicum of realism and the magic of doolittledog's lawnmower ... here are my remote picks from west Michigan.

1.  Wartburg ... 8-0 and undeafeat in the IIAC.
2.  Central ... 7-1 with their one loss coming at home ... to guess who?
3.  UD ... at 6-2 in the conference, they will be the surprise team given what they lost from last year's team.
4.  Coe ... 5-3 with the difference between #3 and #4  being a Kohawk loss in their final game.
5.  Simpson ... 4-4 while getting used to a new system.
6.  BV ... 3-5 with inconsistent play this season.
7.  Cornell ... 2-6 maybe even a bigger surprise  with 2 conference wins.
8.  Loras ... 1-7 and Luther 1-7 tied for last place.

Now someone with better math skills than I have (any math skills are better than mine) will tell me what I've laid out is mathematically impossible.  If that is indeed the case ... so be it.  The order remains the same.

Those picks make as much sense as any I have seen.  Being a Dubuque fan I could see the Spartans finishing 3-5....just as I could see them going 8-0!!!

[sportsknight]

Hello again all.

Just back from a few days in Texarkana, TX so I've spent the better part of the past hour or so catching up on all the posting that went on while I was away (although I did mostly skip over anything that had to do with soccer). 

Couple quick thoughts...
-  That whole thing with the guy from Minnesota getting killed over in China is a bad deal.  Thanks for the update that he was a former Wartburg regent, DF2K4.  I knew the name sounded familiar for some reason.

-  I have absolutely zero to add to the parenting discussion.

-  Go Cubs.

-  In looking thru the predictions put up already, it seems like a lot of you are VERY down on Loras this year and I'm a bit curious why that is.  They definitely had a bad year last year, but they do bring quite a few people back (including some that were hurt last season).  I'd be pretty surprised to see them anywhere below #7 in the standings this year, much less in the cellar where many of you have placed them.

-  It is still pretty much expected that if you are driving slower than the majority of other drivers on the road, you should move into the right-hand lane right?  After driving through Arkansas today I'm wondering if this changed and I missed the memo.

[Klopenhiemer]

Hello again all.

Just back from a few days in Texarkana, TX so I've spent the better part of the past hour or so catching up on all the posting that went on while I was away (although I did mostly skip over anything that had to do with soccer). 

Couple quick thoughts...
-  That whole thing with the guy from Minnesota getting killed over in China is a bad deal.  Thanks for the update that he was a former Wartburg regent, DF2K4.  I knew the name sounded familiar for some reason.

-  I have absolutely zero to add to the parenting discussion.

-  Go Cubs.

-  In looking thru the predictions put up already, it seems like a lot of you are VERY down on Loras this year and I'm a bit curious why that is.  They definitely had a bad year last year, but they do bring quite a few people back (including some that were hurt last season).  I'd be pretty surprised to see them anywhere below #7 in the standings this year, much less in the cellar where many of you have placed them.

-  It is still pretty much expected that if you are driving slower than the majority of other drivers on the road, you should move into the right-hand lane right?  After driving through Arkansas today I'm wondering if this changed and I missed the memo.

No you did not miss the memo.  You have just touched on one of my biggest frustrations in the world of driving.  People are becoming increasingly stupid while driving their motor vehicles and its causing a lot of problems on the road. 

Oh here is another love of my life.  Mind you I drive 3,000 miles a month, so I see a lot of things on the road.  I love seeing the family all nessled into their family truckster on heading out on some great adventure.  They have just stopped at McD's for some burgers.  Mom is so into her self and into her own world she doesnt realize that the kids are crying for their food.  So here big daddy driving the car, trying to get a DVD into the player, pass out burgers to the booger eaters, and still keep the car out the ditch.  All the while his princess wife sits in the front seat grooming and primping herself.  God bless the family vacation!

[Klopenhiemer]

2008 Predicitions

1.  Wartburg:  Willis returns and the Knights reclaim the top
2.  Coe:  With Staker being from the inside, they rise up this season
3.  Central:  To much to replace the QB
4.  Loras:  They have a lot and Coach O has them heading in the right direction
5.  Simpson:  Young team and young coach do good things this season
6.  BV:  Up's and downs make the Beavers season this year
7.  UD:  They will play much better than this pick
8.  Luther:  New coach and to many holes to fill in kep positions
9.  Cornell:  They do get a conference win this season, and do play better than the final standing will ever show.  Next year is their chance to move off the bottom. 

My suprise team for this season will be Loras.  After reading and listening to people I think they have a shot to make some noise.  They have a lot of kids coming back.  UD I think will have a great season, it just might not have a lot of wins.  They will play hard and competitive football, they just have to many holes to fill this season.  Look for them to be back towards the top in a years time.  Central will win games because their execution and coaching, but the QB position posses to much of a hurdle at this point in time.  The Warts will claim the crown behind Yordi and company.  Willis will slide right back into the coaching shoes and this should be a good season for the Wartburg faithful. 

[DBQ1965]

I haven't posted this for a while ... and I think there was one addition since the last posting.
So just to make sure it is up-to-date ... is there anyone who needs to be added?

IIAC FAN BASE
UD:  doolittledog, DBQ1965, Spurrier, WillieU, Keith45

Central:  dutchFan2004, Dutchfan1, Klompen, KCDutch, Dutchlb, oldbeake, Airborne Dutch, D1HawkD3CUI, Old Dutch, DutchHawk, fannosaurus rex

Wartburg:  Walston Hoover, sportsknight, Wartburg Fan, footballdaddy, TheOne89.1, warthog, davedevine, Alfredeneumann, wartknight

Luther:  Ram2, LCNorse, FloydinIowaCity

BV:  The Show, Klopenheimer, BeaverOfYore

Coe:  Charlie Kohawk, coocooforcokohawks, Kohawk Krazy, the_mayne_event, Kohawk Remedy, koecrazy87

Cornell:  Purple Heys, Ash Park, ShowMe, ramfan27, 5 Words or Less

Loras:  du-sz, Confused77

Simpson:  Storm-what?, sc-stormchaser, New Storm

[Kohawk Remedy]

I haven't posted this for a while ... and I think there was one addition since the last posting.
So just to make sure it is up-to-date ... is there anyone who needs to be added?

IIAC FAN BASE
UD:  doolittledog, DBQ1965, Spurrier, WillieU, Keith45

Central:  dutchFan2004, Dutchfan1, Klompen, KCDutch, Dutchlb, oldbeake, Airborne Dutch, D1HawkD3CUI, Old Dutch, DutchHawk, fannosaurus rex

Wartburg:  Walston Hoover, sportsknight, Wartburg Fan, footballdaddy, TheOne89.1, warthog, davedevine, Alfredeneumann, wartknight

Luther:  Ram2, LCNorse, FloydinIowaCity

BV:  The Show, Klopenheimer, BeaverOfYore

Coe:  Charlie Kohawk, coocooforcokohawks, Kohawk Krazy, the_mayne_event, Kohawk Remedy, koecrazy87

Cornell:  Purple Heys, Ash Park, ShowMe, ramfan27, 5 Words or Less

Loras:  du-sz, Confused77

Simpson:  Storm-what?, sc-stormchaser, New Storm

I believe you could add DougiePetersFan (spelling?) to the coe faithfull

[Thunderbolt]

 DBQ1965- You can make me a Norse fan.

As for my reasoning (guessing) on Loras. I didn't like the way they finished last season. After playing Wartburg tough, they gave up 30pts. to BV, 28 to UD and 45 to Coe. They may be headed in the right direction, but they are in the far right lane.

[the_mayne_event]

Predictions - wins at the bottom are thrown together, so you could flip 5-8.
sorry cornell, maybe next year.
1.  wartburg - didnt loose much, but who's going to run teh ball??? (9-1)
1.  coe - loses to wartburg (come on Coe, break the trend).  defense shuts out until offense can gel.  finds a QB that can just not throw ints and they will be fine (9-1)
3.  Central - lost wayy to much, more then players-- tons of leadership gone from the team that found ways to win, won't find them this year. (8-2)
----------------
4.  UD - lost way to much -- mr. everything will need to be replaced (5-5)
5.  Simpson - question mark team of the year, where do they go?/what do they do? (5-5)
----------------
6.  Loras -  they have some things, but not much of anything... could lose more (4-6)
7.  BV - second question mark of the conference i believe they will play good at home vs. the teams with new coaches, but won't fair so well on teh road (4-6)
8.  Luther -  lost a ton, lost a coach.  maybe better in the long run, but not right away (2-8)
----------------
9.  Cornell - only win comes in 1st game of the year.  maybe taking a step forward, who knows...but they have to get that monkey off their back - i dont think it happens this year.

[TheOne89.1]

I love seeing the family all nessled into their family truckster on heading out on some great adventure.

"You think you hate it now, but wait till you drive it."

Predictions for 2008

1. Wartburg - Willis is back and I'm a homer
2. Central - Will always be pre-predicted 1 or 2 (in my book) until they finish 3rd or worse
3. UD - New field, older experienced team ready to make some noise
4. Luther - New coach, new tricks
5. Coe - 3rd last year, can't fall too far
6. Simpson - D2 QB transfer could spark some offense
7. Loras - Dropping quickly
8. Cornell - Wanted to put them up higher, could see them as high as 5...always seem to root for them
9. BV - Someone had to be last

This is just a quick prediction.  Nothing solid to base my decisions on.  Pretty much listed 1 thru 9 then went back and added captions.  Gotta start somewhere and will definitely change as the season goes on.

[Klompen]

Predictions for 2008

1.  Central and Wartburg in a tie - Central graduated some special players and Willis is back - not sure which one will win early meeting, but both might stumble somewhere
3. Simpson - surprise team of 2008
4. UD and Coe - New fields helps attract new recruits, returners have had a taste of winning
6. Luther - giving a new coach a shot here, the bottom 4 could go in any order about as much as the top 5 in a tight conference.
7. Loras
8. Cornell - finally gets out of the cellar, but doesn't climb too high
9. BV - Low recruiting numbers a year ago doesn't leave much to build on