FB: American Rivers Conference

[Floyd in Iowa City]

http://www.startribune.com/513/story/420227.html

I don't know how many people are interested in stories about spring football, but I always find stories like this interesting when all schools at Division III are supposed to be playing at the same competitive level.

According to the Star Tribune article, the MIAC now permits its member schools to offer 7 spring practices.  The NCAA Division III rule is that schools can have up to 16 practices, so the MIAC is only offering half of what other leagues may be doing.

The Iowa Conference does not allow any dates for spring football according to the Luther AD.

Iowa Conference Baseball has historically had a similar problem over recent years in that other Division III conferences have strong fall practice schedules with the coaches being present, yet the IIAC only allows very limited contact at fall baseball practices between coaches and players.

Division III athletics are a different animal than Division I in many ways, and especially in certain sports like football.  However, I have never been able to understand a conference like the Iowa Conference utilizing rules that other leagues use within the Division III level.  Academics are very important, but the MIAC certainly has schools with strong academic standards just like Luther, Cornell, Wartburg, Central, etc.

Many of the MIAC schools are already drawing athletes from a bigger population base than many of the IIAC schools.  Why let them have another long-term advantage?  The Iowa Conference is a very strong league in many sports, but over the long haul these sorts of practices will hurt the conference when it comes time for NCAA selections or NCAA postseason competition.

[Charlie Kohawk]

Former Coe College standout Fredrick Jackson rushed for 154 yards and the Rhein Fire found the endzone twice in the third quarter to overturn a halftime deficit and beat the Cologne Centurions 21-10 in their season finale.

But it was not enough to send the Fire to Yello Strom World Bowl XIV because of the Frankfurt Galaxy's victory at the Berlin Thunder earlier in the evening.

After forcing a Cologne punt, the Fire scored on their first offensive play when Jackson, allocated by the Buffalo Bills, broke through the left side of the line, bounced to the outside and galloped 80 yards for a touchdown.

He finished with 154 yards on 22 carries, one reception for two yards, two punt returns for one yard, and one 16-yard kickoff return. Jackson was voted the game's MVP by the media for the second time this season. While he was shown on the sidelines late in the game flashing an X sign to his twin brother, Patrick, and talking about returning to Cedar Rapids, he'll first report to the Bills.

[warthog]

Floyd:
I agree that IIAC powers that be should allow spring practice of some sort.  The teams are lifting together, doing speed and agility drills together, why not put on the pads and have a few practices together?  It seems like a great time to introduce some new formations to the offense and some new coverages on defense .  It would also send the individual players home for the summer with an idea what they should be working on over the summer.  Except for a few players having to choose between a spring sport and spring football , I can't think of a negative.

[Pat Coleman]

The D-III rules prohibit pads, so that would be part of the problem.

[wildcat11]

Fred Jackson NFLE game highlights!!

Fred Jackson highlights Vs. Cologne Centurions

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The link above is the to Fred Jackson's highlights of his last NFLE game of 2006.   I missed his 80-yard TD run on the first play for Rhein but I was able to get the clip during halftime highlights...so the beginning is a little disjointed.  Enjoy.

[Charlie Kohawk]

wildcat11 you are my hero. Karma for life my friend.

[CaliRamRL6]

Nice work wildcat11! I got to hear a two second blurb about a fellow El Camino High School product (Mike Kracalik #72).

[Charlie Kohawk]

This just in: Fred Jackson named NFL Europe offensive player of the week.

http://www.nfleurope.com/news/story/9456334

[coocooforcoekohawk]

shouldn't this board be alive with recruit talk for the upcoming season?

[KoHawk01]

I've got no dirt on recruiting for the upcoming season  ... sorry to all!!

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Three Kohawks made the All Central Region baseball team.

A total of 13 IIAC students made the list.

Go to the IIAC baseball board for more info.

http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=4542.msg526046#msg526046

This may be old news for most of you since the all region teams were announced back on May 22nd.

[Walston Hoover]

You won't find much recruit talk in the IIAC-most of the coaches want to keep who they are brining in under wraps since technically, everyone is available.

[Confused77]

I agree with Walston. I kid could say he is going to Luther in March and change his mind in July and go to Wartburg if he wants to.

Sometimes you are recruiting a kid right up until the day everyone reports. You never know who you get until they check in for camp. Thats why I get a good laugh out of schools releasing names of players that have "signed" or "committed"

[royalachilles]

I was wondering if anyone had a take on Simpson football this year.  I am a Des Moines resident, but have a son playing in the MIAC and Simpson is on the schedule this year. How did there season end up last year, and what does the returning team look like.  And lastly, I believe they have speed turf in their stadium, is that correct?

[Pat Coleman]

http://www.d3football.com/school_info.php?school=Simpson&year=2006