FB: American Rivers Conference

[Klompen]

J2nd complication: just found out that my nephew blew his knee on a little across the middle pass --  no pads...no contact to speak of....a little honest bump from the D and came down funky.  A real shame; he had ivested a ton to prepare for the season!

Oops: was speaking about the older nephew, sorry.

Don't know yet about the younger.  I think he would like to give it a try, but is loving his Central FB experience so far, so who's to guess.
[/quote]
Ouch!  That is a blow he, and we, didn't need with so few returners this year anyway.  That's a shame, he has such talent and we could have really used him in both sports.  As far as BB goes, we just have to get to that place mentally and I had high hopes that last year's team would have turned that corner with so many seniors on the team, but they lacked the winning attitude in too many games.  They won games I thought they would lose then lost the ones that I thought should have been easy.  Oh well, no time to let that sport get me down with football right around the corner.

[Airborne Dutch]

Mav45, would your nephew be from the Decorah region? That sux about the knee and when it took place. This is the worst time to have them. You prepare all year and when the season is two weeks away, it all goes down the drain. I like the discussion about the athletes. Sometimes you have to have the right mix. There are guys who may not have the fastest 40s or the highest bench presses, but they could still be damn good football players. It works the other way too. I guy could be a tremendous athlete, but if can't put it together on the field, then he's not an asset to the team. That might have been Dubuque's problem for awhile. No one has ever doubted their athletic talent, but they just haven't had the right mix. I think we seeing a definite change in that.

[sportsknight]

I'm in on the Pick 'Em.  I'd vote against weighting games, and a suitable tiebreaker might be who does the best in just the non-con for only the conference games.  That or preseason standings predictions.  I'll leave the tiebreaker decisions to the rest of you.  After all, you'll be the ones settling the tie for second place! 

[TheOne89.1]

And by no means am I saying it's better or you have to be smarter or anything like that, it's just different and not everyone will succeed, just like being a Cubs fan is not for everyone because most people like seeing their team succeed at least some of the time.  (I know cruel joke, but as a Cards fan I must, though its probably not the best year to make this joke as the cubs are 1st in the division.)

Even I (a cubs fan) had to chuckle at that.  It's starting to get to be that time of year when I get a little apprehensive.  This is the time of year for the Cubbies to start their downward spiral.  I got a good feeling though....things may be different.

[Alfredeneumann]

WCF Courier article on Luther
http://wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/08/20/sports/local/10553336.txt
"Paul Hefty's laid-back, carefree approach of the past six seasons has been replaced by Mike Durnin's demanding and intense persona.

"Coach Hefty, you saw more as a friend," defensive lineman Brandon Rickertsen said Tuesday morning during the team's media day. "Coach Durnin is more of a true coach. He gets on you, yells at you. He demands perfection.

"I loved playing for Hefty, but we needed someone a little more strict, a little more in your face."


Ouch.... "true coach" tossed Hefty off the boat.

[Klompen]

WCF Courier article on Luther
http://wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/08/20/sports/local/10553336.txt
"Paul Hefty's laid-back, carefree approach of the past six seasons has been replaced by Mike Durnin's demanding and intense persona.

"Coach Hefty, you saw more as a friend," defensive lineman Brandon Rickertsen said Tuesday morning during the team's media day. "Coach Durnin is more of a true coach. He gets on you, yells at you. He demands perfection.

"I loved playing for Hefty, but we needed someone a little more strict, a little more in your face."


Ouch.... "true coach" tossed Hefty off the boat.

Ouch is right!  Off the boat and under the bus by new coach and current players.  It made me laugh though because it reminded me of a Central student body cheer from when Hefty was a player at Luther.  His sister attended Central and during the game the kids would point to her and cheer, "Hefty, Hefty, Hefty" then point to him and cheer, "wimpy, wimpy, wimpy" from the old Hefty trashbags commercial of the time.      Apparently his players might have felt the same way. 

[Klopenhiemer]

Looking at the Cornell roster it's dissappointing to see a freshman class with only 5 Iowa High School players. I truly believe that this conference is one with quality players from Iowa High Schools. Look at how Central, Coe and  Wartburg have had recent success with Iowa kids. Until Cornell can do a better job of getting Iowa kids they may continue to struggle.

I think Cornell would love to have more Iowans on their team.  It seems to me that Iowans don't want to play for a program with a losing history.  Dubuque, for years had a hard time recruiting local kids...not through a lack of trying.  Now that Dubuque has a winning team there are more and more Iowa kids showing up on their roster.  There have been plenty of posters on here that said there was no way they would have played for Dubuque because they didn't want to work their butt off and go 0-10.

I don't think having a roster loaded with Iowa kids is the secret ingrediant to a winning program.  I think what you need is an experianced core of talented football players.  A lot of juniors and seniors on your roster.  Also a roster over 100 players.  While Iowans are nice to have...and I think having Iowans on the roster can help the out-of-state kids adjust to school here.  In the end you need a big roster with a lot of Juniors and Seniors with experiance. 

Well said and I agree with all that you said.  I think Brautigan has done a great job in turning the program around.  I have not been around all that long watching the IIAC but was that part of the problem too, the coaching for UD in years past?

I would answer that question a couple different ways. First, there have been some fine coaches that coached at UD over the past 15 or so years that did not see the success that UD has seen recently. Coach B was very instrumental in the "resurrection" of the winning tradition that UD had in the past. A very long and difficult process and he and his staff and those football players that "believed" should be commended for sticking it out and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Now, think about it on a larger scale (which for those of you posting on here back when I started will remember- the lance harbor days, etc..) What has helped the football program and ALL athletic programs has been the transformation of UD as a whole. Back in the late 90's, UD took drastic measures to ensure it's future and success today. As an institution, academic programs have gotten national attention, fundraising has been among the top in the state, region, and country, and the campus has practically doubled in size and not only size, but the facilities at UD are absolutely amazing. No cut corners nor "mix-matched" buildings. Everything architecturally matches and carries the UD theme throughout.

That, in a nut shell, is the "other" ingredient that has led to the Spartan success in recent years.

Willie U

Outstanding point/post Willie.  +k to you.  I think you prove a point that I took into consideration when I was making my college decision.  I visited schools that seemed like a hodge podge of crap.  One building here and one there one new and old old.  Nothing is wrong with having new and old buildings, but when they do not even come close to matching it makes for mixed emotions. 

There is no doubt that BV has a nice looking campus.  Storm Lake on the other hand has its downfalls but on the surface it is a pleasant place.  I felt at home on the campus and felt proud to say I had a degree from there when I took my last drive through the campus/Storm Lake.  Though I wish we would have won more football games I was proud of the program and proud to back it to this day. 

There is something to be said for winning football games and conference championship.  But the point is, only so many teams and so many kids and experience this honor.  For the rest of us who did not get to rise to the top, you better have liked the school and felt good about being there, because there was a heck of a lot more to get done on the campus than win football games, like get an education (I never learned to spell )  and move on to a professional work life. 

From what I have heard, the people are as impressed with the UD experience now while visiting the campus then they were a few years ago.  This goes a long way towards convincing a recruit to come to a up and coming or middle of the road team. 

[DutchFan2004]

WCF Courier article on Luther
http://wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/08/20/sports/local/10553336.txt
"Paul Hefty's laid-back, carefree approach of the past six seasons has been replaced by Mike Durnin's demanding and intense persona.

"Coach Hefty, you saw more as a friend," defensive lineman Brandon Rickertsen said Tuesday morning during the team's media day. "Coach Durnin is more of a true coach. He gets on you, yells at you. He demands perfection.

"I loved playing for Hefty, but we needed someone a little more strict, a little more in your face."


Ouch.... "true coach" tossed Hefty off the boat.

May be why some of the players are not returning. 

[DutchFan2004]

Looking at the Cornell roster it's dissappointing to see a freshman class with only 5 Iowa High School players. I truly believe that this conference is one with quality players from Iowa High Schools. Look at how Central, Coe and  Wartburg have had recent success with Iowa kids. Until Cornell can do a better job of getting Iowa kids they may continue to struggle.

I think Cornell would love to have more Iowans on their team.  It seems to me that Iowans don't want to play for a program with a losing history.  Dubuque, for years had a hard time recruiting local kids...not through a lack of trying.  Now that Dubuque has a winning team there are more and more Iowa kids showing up on their roster.  There have been plenty of posters on here that said there was no way they would have played for Dubuque because they didn't want to work their butt off and go 0-10.

I don't think having a roster loaded with Iowa kids is the secret ingrediant to a winning program.  I think what you need is an experianced core of talented football players.  A lot of juniors and seniors on your roster.  Also a roster over 100 players.  While Iowans are nice to have...and I think having Iowans on the roster can help the out-of-state kids adjust to school here.  In the end you need a big roster with a lot of Juniors and Seniors with experiance. 

Well said and I agree with all that you said.  I think Brautigan has done a great job in turning the program around.  I have not been around all that long watching the IIAC but was that part of the problem too, the coaching for UD in years past?

I would answer that question a couple different ways. First, there have been some fine coaches that coached at UD over the past 15 or so years that did not see the success that UD has seen recently. Coach B was very instrumental in the "resurrection" of the winning tradition that UD had in the past. A very long and difficult process and he and his staff and those football players that "believed" should be commended for sticking it out and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Now, think about it on a larger scale (which for those of you posting on here back when I started will remember- the lance harbor days, etc..) What has helped the football program and ALL athletic programs has been the transformation of UD as a whole. Back in the late 90's, UD took drastic measures to ensure it's future and success today. As an institution, academic programs have gotten national attention, fundraising has been among the top in the state, region, and country, and the campus has practically doubled in size and not only size, but the facilities at UD are absolutely amazing. No cut corners nor "mix-matched" buildings. Everything architecturally matches and carries the UD theme throughout.

That, in a nut shell, is the "other" ingredient that has led to the Spartan success in recent years.

Willie U

Outstanding point/post Willie.  +k to you.  I think you prove a point that I took into consideration when I was making my college decision.  I visited schools that seemed like a hodge podge of crap.  One building here and one there one new and old old.  Nothing is wrong with having new and old buildings, but when they do not even come close to matching it makes for mixed emotions. 

There is no doubt that BV has a nice looking campus.  Storm Lake on the other hand has its downfalls but on the surface it is a pleasant place.  I felt at home on the campus and felt proud to say I had a degree from there when I took my last drive through the campus/Storm Lake.  Though I wish we would have won more football games I was proud of the program and proud to back it to this day. 

There is something to be said for winning football games and conference championship.  But the point is, only so many teams and so many kids and experience this honor.  For the rest of us who did not get to rise to the top, you better have liked the school and felt good about being there, because there was a heck of a lot more to get done on the campus than win football games, like get an education (I never learned to spell )  and move on to a professional work life. 

From what I have heard, the people are as impressed with the UD experience now while visiting the campus then they were a few years ago.  This goes a long way towards convincing a recruit to come to a up and coming or middle of the road team. 

Well said.  I think this is the whole reason for the D3 experience in a nut shell.  Yes these kids are working hard, yes football (or any other sport) is important to them, but they have to pick the school best for them to get the degree they want.  This may play into some of the kids choices for schools.  Football is important but the degree is the most important.  It will be what is used to make their living the rest of their lives. 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

WCF Courier article on Luther
http://wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/08/20/sports/local/10553336.txt
"Paul Hefty's laid-back, carefree approach of the past six seasons has been replaced by Mike Durnin's demanding and intense persona.

"Coach Hefty, you saw more as a friend," defensive lineman Brandon Rickertsen said Tuesday morning during the team's media day. "Coach Durnin is more of a true coach. He gets on you, yells at you. He demands perfection.

"I loved playing for Hefty, but we needed someone a little more strict, a little more in your face."


Ouch.... "true coach" tossed Hefty off the boat.

May be why some of the players are not returning. 

Kind of sad if some yelling or hard work is why some players did not return.  From the sounds of things, it is not like Bob Knight is now coaching the Norse.

It sounded like the ex-Whitewater Offensive Coordinator was the most intense by far during the hiring process, so they didn't hire the guy who would have been the opposite of Hefty from an intensity standpoint.

[Klopenhiemer]

WCF Courier article on Luther
http://wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/08/20/sports/local/10553336.txt
"Paul Hefty's laid-back, carefree approach of the past six seasons has been replaced by Mike Durnin's demanding and intense persona.

"Coach Hefty, you saw more as a friend," defensive lineman Brandon Rickertsen said Tuesday morning during the team's media day. "Coach Durnin is more of a true coach. He gets on you, yells at you. He demands perfection.

"I loved playing for Hefty, but we needed someone a little more strict, a little more in your face."


Ouch.... "true coach" tossed Hefty off the boat.

Wow....Thats an interesting statement.  I hope Hefty survived being thrown under the bus. 

[Klopenhiemer]

I'm in on the Pick 'Em.  I'd vote against weighting games, and a suitable tiebreaker might be who does the best in just the non-con for only the conference games.  That or preseason standings predictions.  I'll leave the tiebreaker decisions to the rest of you.  After all, you'll be the ones settling the tie for second place! 

Im in on the pick em's.  I agree with SK in not weighting games, but I will leave that to everyone else to decide.  A tie breaker idea could be adding in the score of each game each week.  The person who gets the running point total the closest would get the grand prize.  This might be to much work though. 

[LCNorse]

WCF Courier article on Luther
http://wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/08/20/sports/local/10553336.txt
"Paul Hefty's laid-back, carefree approach of the past six seasons has been replaced by Mike Durnin's demanding and intense persona.

"Coach Hefty, you saw more as a friend," defensive lineman Brandon Rickertsen said Tuesday morning during the team's media day. "Coach Durnin is more of a true coach. He gets on you, yells at you. He demands perfection.

"I loved playing for Hefty, but we needed someone a little more strict, a little more in your face."


Ouch.... "true coach" tossed Hefty off the boat.

May be why some of the players are not returning. 

Kind of sad if some yelling or hard work is why some players did not return.  From the sounds of things, it is not like Bob Knight is now coaching the Norse.

It sounded like the ex-Whitewater Offensive Coordinator was the most intense by far during the hiring process, so they didn't hire the guy who would have been the opposite of Hefty from an intensity standpoint.

All I think he was trying to say was the program under Hefty was much more of a laid back personality and now with Durnin it has become more strict, just two different coaching styles, I wouldn't look into it to much. I do agree though that it is prob why some players aren't playing this year. I know when I was there that a lot of the players didn't want to play in the "traditional" type of program so they came to Luther. From the sounds of it that has changed.

[dutchfan1]

I'm in on the Pick 'Em.  I'd vote against weighting games, and a suitable tiebreaker might be who does the best in just the non-con for only the conference games.  That or preseason standings predictions.  I'll leave the tiebreaker decisions to the rest of you.  After all, you'll be the ones settling the tie for second place! 

"That GIRL" is in, too. I'll take your money anyday. Plus, I have a record to defend.

SK, are you already conceding defeat?

[Thunderbolt]

 I'll agree with LCNorse, I don't think that probably came out the way the young man meant it to. I doubt you could find any players there that truly disliked Hefty.
One thing that always amazed me about Hefty, moments after a bad loss, he would be talking to the radio guys live. He would be full of energy, full of optimism, point out all the improvments and all the good things. The man could polish a turd like no one I've ever met. As far as I could tell, his love for his players and of Luther football was genuine.