FB: American Rivers Conference

[Klompen]

Let talk football people! 

After two weeks of the season a few things seem to be appearant. 

Central and Wartburg are still at the top, but might not be as invincible as in years past. 

Coe is seems to be in a funk with the schedule that they have played, but can they rebound?

Loras and BV have gotten a couple of wins.  BV seems to be playing well right now and has a huge showdown in Storm Lake this weekend with the Knights. 

Simpson...Does anyone think they can play spoiler and pull out a few wins over the top half, or is Coach Glo's first year full of growing pains. 

What is everyone else thinking?

I do think that Wartburg and Central are still at the top, but I don't think they have been invincible for a couple of years.  Last year Central may have finished undefeated in conference play, but there were lots of games that could have gone the other way.  Wartburg and Central have both been beaten this year.  I think both are capable of running the table, but I'm not convinced they will.  Believing you can win a game is a big part of the battle and I think teams believe they have a chance this year. 

I do think Coe is down.  They played good teams in preseason, but not rated teams.  In conference they are 1-1 with the win being over Cornell and, although you can debate the outcome of the Loras game, not many would have expected it to come down to the wire like it did.  I actually think BV and Loras would have been said to have the tougher of the conference schedule if compared to Coe at this point in conference play.  We will find out if BV is for real this year this weekend.  If they pull off the win this weekend, the board will be lively next week.  If they lose everyone will just see it as business as usual. 

I do see Simpson as a possible spoiler this year.  I'm not sure they are playing real consistent, which comes with a new coach, but that means they are dangerous because you don't know which Simpson will show up.

Dubuque has taken an unexpected step backwards thus far, it will be interesting to see if they can turn things back around.  I expected after all the hype this summer that Cornell might win a game this year, but losing to Grinnell dashed my hopes for them.

Luther always scares me, they seem to have the Dutch's number when playing at home.  I hope their secret weapon remains a secret.      At least until after Saturday.   

[TheOne89.1]

E85 is garbage anyways.. when you compare it to the milage, it is like buying regular gas for 4 bucks, it is just nicer to get the perception that you are spending less on gas

WHen I fill up it is a wash. Get about 80% of the mileage of 89 octane with it and it is usually about 75% of the cost.

Doolittle made a comment about Wartburg fans abandoning the board after the loss to the Auggies-
Wartburg fans have been very thin on here since the beginning of summer with the exception of Saturdays to catch updates. If you went back, you may see a slight downtick in # of posts by Wartburg fans, but it wasn't much less than any other week.
It used to seem like there was more of us on here, and there may have been, but there was also far less posters from other schools so it seemed like we dominated the conversation more.
I know haven't posted the last 6 months nearly as much as I used to.
Devine is only here on Saturdays.
SK is pretty regular
Warthog is hit and miss
knightfan06 is off during the season
Dsquared finally showed up after a several month hiatus
Neumann is a regular
footballdaddy and Wartburg fan surprise us when they post.

I try to post often too, but thanks to knightfan06's season I am kept busy many Saturday's as well as during the week preparing for those Saturday's and other area high school games.  Spending 3 mornings a week at class has also cut back on my time to catch up on the board and post.  I want to catch up on the board before I post typically.  I hate to post something I read which is 10 pages behind only to be restating a point someone already has stated in between.  Or the topic hasn't been discussed for a handful of pages or so.

Due to my new busy work and personal life schedule I may not be able to make a Wartburg game this year.  Hopefully I can find some time because I would hate for that to happen.

[du-sz]

If I had to rate teams solely on what I've seen and heard this season, this is how I would rank them.  This weekend could really tell us whether Central and Wartburg are strong enough to retain the top spots or if the surprise teams like BV and Loras are poised to shake things up.  (Its a pretty imprecise offering, but there are still so many question marks out there. I love it!)

1. Wartburg (Playing well, taking advantage of opportunities, but they do have that loss)
2. BVU (Tough opener, but +30 points on IIAC opponents)
3. Central (Loss to W'Burg and almost disaster against average Albion team)
4. Simpson/Loras (Both could be spoilers, but still have holes)
6. Coe (Despite tough road, they have to get consistent and make plays when they need)
7. Luther (Nice win vs. UD, still not quite there yet)
8. UD (Struggling!, but you know they have athletes and could crawl back into the pack)
9. Cornell (Hold on to the ball, make some stops, & they could win 1 or 2)

[DutchFan2004]

It is to early to say that anything is finished yet.  I agree that Wartburg is still a top team.  Central till we see more still belongs there as well. (this weekend could change things with these two teams)  BV, Loras, and Simpson are fighting to move up.  Coe and UD are struggling to remain in the top part of the conference.  Luther is kind of out there and if they can win this weekend will be moving up.  Cornell is improving but still struggles not to shot itself in the foot.  Things can change rapidly.  BV will take a big step this weekend.  I remember 2005 as most of you do as well.  BV may be able to beat the Knights but will they close out the season or fall apart like 05.  Osty seems to keep his teams in the running early in the season at Loras and then fade will history repeat itself again there. 

[oldNorse]

DutchFan2004 and other Central followers,  if you can't make the trip to Decorah you can watch the game on streaming video.  Just log onn through the Luther Athletic page website.

Could/should be a good game.  Luther's D line is strong, Central's secondary has a great tradition as strong.  Don't know anything about the Dutch offense however.

[DutchFan2004]

DutchFan2004 and other Central followers,  if you can't make the trip to Decorah you can watch the game on streaming video.  Just log onn through the Luther Athletic page website.

Could/should be a good game.  Luther's D line is strong, Central's secondary has a great tradition as strong.  Don't know anything about the Dutch offense however.

Thanks if I can't get the plans changed I will watch it on the net. 

[DutchFan2004]

I remember that line from last year.  Had Mrs DF2k4, and both grandmas upset at the beating that son of DF2k4 took.  I am glad he was able to walk let alone finish the season after that game.   

Son always said it didn't hurt as much when they won.   

[Alfredeneumann]

Wartburg's Marcus Hemesath tabbed Draddy Trophy semifinalist

"Hemesath was among 37 NCAA Division III student-athletes and an overall group of 164 across all divisions to be on the list."

http://www.go-knights.net/news/Article.aspx?ID=2997


He is the only IIAC representative.

[Purple Heys]

Wartburg's Marcus Hemesath tabbed Draddy Trophy semifinalist

"Hemesath was among 37 NCAA Division III student-athletes and an overall group of 164 across all divisions to be on the list."

http://www.go-knights.net/news/Article.aspx?ID=2997

He is the only IIAC representative.

Congratulations on the nomination and good luck young man.   

[Charlie Kohawk]

Oh Manny!

[Purple Heys]

Just when you think, "This could be the Cubs' year".

[Purple Heys]

And now, Football.


BV  - Wartburg

Central  - Luther

The outcome of these games, more than the others, will tell us the state of affairs in the IIAC.

Is it business as usual, or does this whole thing get set on its ear should both Central and Wartburg lose?

Luther plays Central tough at Decorah from what I hear and Wartburg was far from scintillating against the Rams last weekend.


The other two games are put up or shut up games.

All have something to prove with this weekend's game.

What's it gonna be for Coe?  Pretender or Contender?  Can they rebound from the disappointment of last week?

Loras:  Are they in this for the long haul?  While beating the Rams may not prove that, losing to them will disprove it.

Simpson:  Coe could be a group of pissed off ballplayers.  Is this the wrong time to catch them?

Cornell:  Can they win one?  Can they protect the ball?  Can the good things from the Wartburg game be extended to an entire game?

Lastly, I am taking the DBQ over the Bye; even though I lost with UD the last 2 weeks in a row.   8)

[DBQ1965]

I know this is a football board, but I bet me and Heys are the only one's saying, "How 'bout the Dodgers?!"

Having grown up as a Giants fan ... I don't care about the damn Dodgers!

Congratulations, Giants, on your 50th consecutive year of failure.

                   
San Francisco Giants World Series Championship Trophy Case

OxyBob

That doesn't become you.

[Klompen]

DutchFan2004 and other Central followers,  if you can't make the trip to Decorah you can watch the game on streaming video.  Just log onn through the Luther Athletic page website.

Could/should be a good game.  Luther's D line is strong, Central's secondary has a great tradition as strong.  Don't know anything about the Dutch offense however.

Thanks so much for posting this OldNorse.  Really appreciate it since I won't be able to make the trip this weekend.  I was afraid I would have to spend the time listening to the game on the radio and cleaning up/organizing my basement, but now I have an excuse not to do that.     Plus, I was really hoping they were webcasting it because Luther has been an incredible opponent for Central on our recent visits up there.  Hopefully the coaching change will give us some breathing room this year.     Those cardiac finishes are too much to take and it appears, based on the last two games, that it could be another year of close ones. 

Who needs a stress test?  Just become a Central fan and go to their games!   

[Klompen]

Is it business as usual, or does this whole thing get set on its ear should both Central and Wartburg lose?

Lastly, I am taking the DBQ over the Bye; even though I lost with UD the last 2 weeks in a row.   8)

Oh man, can you imagine the posters that would come out of the woodwork if both Central and Wartburg would lose!  Guess Central better win.   

Heys, I think you should have paid more attention at Redlands, the Bye could play tough.      UD has been killing my pick-ems too.