FB: American Rivers Conference

[Klopenhiemer]

A more honest assessment of this season is that Loras is probably just a little bit better than Coe.

Yes, judging by how the rest of things played out.

To add my 2-cents worth ... it seems to me the Coe-Loras game was decided long before that last play when Coe "let" Loras stay in the game for far too long.

GO SPARTANS!  Beat Coe.

Though their final call was the biggest blunder, that crew made plenty of weak calls all day:  2-3 roughing the passer calls on Coe (give me a break), one of Coe's coaches is kicked out of the game (for what??),  a sideline penalty on Coe (when they are supposed to give a warning first-while the Loras coach is OUT ON THE FIELD), the Loras QB ditched the ball 2-3 times and the refs called them incomplete passes-but there was NOBODY there.  The list goes on... This was definitely a turning point in the season-in my opinion.   Interestingly enough, some Loras fans that were near us afterward agreed that they had been awarded a "gift" from the officials.  Yeah, I guess you had to be there.  

If he was outside the tackle box (he wasn't, duh!)then he can throw it to the north poll for all the refs care, its still an incomplete pass.  Still sour grapes on the ref crew huh?  Write a letter to the commish (did that), write a letter to editor (didn't have to, he agreed with me), write a letter on a billboard and post it on I-80 (would if I could afford it.), griping on here gets you nowhere.  Just stating the facts. 

You sound alittle "testy" today, K.  Go ahead and take out your frustrations on me if you want.  I have broad shoulders.  I understand you're feeling bad after Saturday.

Did you state that you were outside of the tackle box?  No you left that door open for us to run through.  Odds are you are sitting at your desk saying wow that was a stupid comment I made.  Lets find a way to cover it up and make myself look educated in the football community. 

Testy, no this is how I am on a daily basis.  I am uptight, out of sight, in your eye kind of guy. 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Congratulations to the Knights on winning the IIAC.  I hope you can rest and heal up and get prepared this week for a good playoff showing.  Time to peak and do the IIAC proud.

I also want to say congrats on winning the title!  It got interesting for a time this season, but Wartburg did live up to the preseason coaches' poll.  It has been a fun year overall as lots of interesting things have happened in both the IIAC and MIAC.  Good to see that the Knights found a running game late in the year when the weather dictated that they had to.  That's what good teams do!

Hopefully Carleton wins the MIAC for all the underdog fans out there!

I am also happy that Luther has not surpassed my preseason expectations of winning 3-4 games by winning the 5th game on Saturday.  Hopefully they can find some offense or special teams play to pull out a win against the Duhawks on Saturday.  The Coe game still haunts a little, but when you play a bunch of close games some are probably going to go against you.

Luther has now had a .500 conference finish in 5 of the last 6 seasons.  Not a big deal to Luther fans who were around when Coach Edsel was running the program, but things did not look very good to me in August.

The team that did not finish .500 or better (2006) may have been as talented as any of the Hefty era.  However, the 2006 defense was not even close to the 2008 edition.

Congrats as well to Central if they can get past Simpson to finish 7-3.  7-3 is a down year in Pella, but the Dutch will have shown once again how that program is tougher mentally and better coached than most programs in the country.  Tennessee and Michigan are just two examples of how even great programs can go in the tank when things don't go their way.

I was at the Iowa game on Saturday and have no voice today.  I am waiting to see if the Hawks can be consistent the rest of the way.  What a fun weekend of college football!

[kohawkfan]

Wow.  A Coe fan calling out other schools for having classless fans and poor academics.  
Never thought I'd see the day.

Oh, and by the way Kohawkfan, you are simply proving the points of other posters by continuing to gripe about the "raw deal" your team got in that Loras game.  If you weren't there, you don't know.    I'll agree with what has already been said, if the Coe players are still thinking about that game a month and a half later, then I don't think you have to look very far to see where Coe's season has gone off the rails.  I don't think the players are still thinking about that game.    

[LCNorse]

I think it is pretty easy to tell others to deal with horrible refing in a "classy" way when it wasn't your team that may have gotten the short end of the deal...If your team was in the same position you may hope that you would react in a classy manor...however when your in that situation you never know how you will react...so if Coe fans or if the Coe program believes that a really tough loss may have affected the rest of the season...then I would say they know their program a little better than the rest of us...

However, one thing that I have heard many times in my playing career is that you should never let a tough loss beat you more than once...ie you have to be able to respond the following week.

As for Central fans telling other posters to be classy...I have a hard time listening to that...I've dealt with my fair share of unclassy(not even sure that's a word) central people...for example I remember a quote from a certain head coach after a OT loss to Luther back in '04 "thats what happens when you let a bad team hang around"...

[kohawkfan]

A more honest assessment of this season is that Loras is probably just a little bit better than Coe.

Yes, judging by how the rest of things played out.

To add my 2-cents worth ... it seems to me the Coe-Loras game was decided long before that last play when Coe "let" Loras stay in the game for far too long.

GO SPARTANS!  Beat Coe.

Though their final call was the biggest blunder, that crew made plenty of weak calls all day:  2-3 roughing the passer calls on Coe (give me a break), one of Coe's coaches is kicked out of the game (for what??),  a sideline penalty on Coe (when they are supposed to give a warning first-while the Loras coach is OUT ON THE FIELD), the Loras QB ditched the ball 2-3 times and the refs called them incomplete passes-but there was NOBODY there.  The list goes on... This was definitely a turning point in the season-in my opinion.   Interestingly enough, some Loras fans that were near us afterward agreed that they had been awarded a "gift" from the officials.  Yeah, I guess you had to be there.  

If he was outside the tackle box (he wasn't, duh!)then he can throw it to the north poll for all the refs care, its still an incomplete pass.  Still sour grapes on the ref crew huh?  Write a letter to the commish (did that), write a letter to editor (didn't have to, he agreed with me), write a letter on a billboard and post it on I-80 (would if I could afford it.), griping on here gets you nowhere.  Just stating the facts. 

You sound alittle "testy" today, K.  Go ahead and take out your frustrations on me if you want.  I have broad shoulders.  I understand you're feeling bad after Saturday.

Did you state that you were outside of the tackle box?  I was correcting your mistake.  Let me guess, exerise science major?   No you left that door open for us to run through.  Odds are you are sitting at your desk saying wow that was a stupid comment I made.  Lets find a way to cover it up and make myself look educated in the football community. 

Testy, no this is how I am on a daily basis.  I am uptight, out of sight, in your eye kind of guy. 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Congratulations to the Knights for taking the IIAC title.  It was a rough season and it looks to be a tough first round of the playoffs.  Sounds like they got something going on the ground for once.  This was the second week in a row that the Knights had more rushing than passing yards (only the second time this year).  Hopefully they can keep that up as it will be important in the playoffs.  200 yards on the ground and a good day from Yordi (250 to 300) can win playoff games for the Knights.

I will admit right now, it has been awhile since I have posted.  I have been reading, but always just about 5 pages behind and then a weekend would hit and I would be busy with Winona State football (such a disappointing season) and then I would just be behind again.  Luckily I am caught up and hopefully if the Knights play in the Midwest I can travel to the game and see one in person this year.  I did get to tune in to bits and pieces on the radio a few times this year, but this board has kept me up to speed.

For all the non-Wartburg fans feel free to jump on the IIAC Bandwagon (not necessarily a Wartburg Bandwagon).  Just like many of us cheered for the Dutch last year, this year we can all cheer for the Knights to gain some respect for the IIAC in all of D3.

What happened to Winona?  Was it just the additions of the old NCC schools (Mankato, UMD, St. Cloud, Augustana), or was there a huge talent drop from previous years?

[sportsknight]

Oh, and by the way Kohawkfan, you are simply proving the points of other posters by continuing to gripe about the "raw deal" your team got in that Loras game.  If you weren't there, you don't know.    

Did anyone else's mind's eye conjure up Nancy Kerrigan's "Why?" moment when they read that?

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Biggest turning Point in the season for any team:  Coe - getting robbed of the Loras win by the refs and never really recovering fully after that.   - Coe was never right all season long.. this loss did nothing for them
Your favorite IIAC mascott:  Charlie Kohawk 
Best food and drink after a game:  Used to be Paddy O'Rourke's for me... now it's most deffinately Mulligan's. 

The Loras "loss" (I don't think the Coe scoreboard ever did show Loras's postgame points.) was horrific for the Kohawk morale.  It was Coe's first home conference game, in front of a big homecoming crowd, with morons for officials who decided the outcome of the game!  I don't know any teams that wouldn't have had an effect on.  But it is what it is...  
I only hope whomever is in charge makes a mental note:  Never, ever hire a guy named Goosic and his crew from Altoona for another IIAC game ANYWHERE.

That game was September 27th -- you've played 5 games since then. Yeah, I agree, Coe got a raw deal, but get past it. Maybe the reason Coe has lost 3 game since is because they are still focused on what is in the rearview mirror.

How sad that that moment defined the Coe football team in 2008.

DF, I don't believe I said "defining" anywhere in my post.  "Turning Points" were the category and there's a big difference.   The offense had 3 nice tds in the Loras game.  Things were looking up and then... well, you know the rest.
So you're saying that if this had been Central's homecoming game and 1st conference home game they wouldn't have been effected?  I've seen some of your fans-the refs probably would have never made it outta Pella.   

Remind me to smite you again tomorrow. Between your red ink and constant whining, i owe you another.
I was there when Luther gifted Coe a win. It balances out.

Gifted a win?  I don't think so.  Coe should have won in regulation.  Are you sure you were there?  

I was there and Coe should feel very lucky.  Most teams do when they recover a fumble on a kickoff return by a fellow teammate and run for a TD.  Most teams also feel lucky when the opposing team decides to field a punt inside the 10 and fumbles into the end zone where Coe fell on it for a TD.  Coe took advantage, but most of us have played enough to remember times where things weren't working well and some breaks really made the difference.  To say that the Luther Defense played pretty well that day is being nice.

The 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes were a very good team that did some great things by going 8-0 in the Big Ten and winning at Michigan and at Penn State when both schools had good teams that year.  Earlier this year I mentioned that among the great moments that year was a game against Purdue in which the Iowa Defense and Iowa Offense really struggled against Purdue.  They won the game 31-28 by blocking a FG and running it back for a TD, blocking a punt and recovering it for a TD, Dallas Clark had a 95-yard TD reception on 3rd down, and Brad Banks hit Clark for the game winning TD on 4th down late in the game.  To make sure they won, a little used Iowa DB picked off Purdue after the Purdue receiver let a pass go right through his hands.

Iowa made the plays, but everyone wearing the black jerseys that day knew they had gotten pretty lucky.  Joe Tiller had to have felt like Purdue gifted that game.  It was amazing to watch as an Iowa fan!

[DBQ1965]

So ... page 1500 is within reach!

[old ends]

So ... page 1500 is within reach!

Just trying to help you get there

[Klopenhiemer]

A more honest assessment of this season is that Loras is probably just a little bit better than Coe.

Yes, judging by how the rest of things played out.

To add my 2-cents worth ... it seems to me the Coe-Loras game was decided long before that last play when Coe "let" Loras stay in the game for far too long.

GO SPARTANS!  Beat Coe.

Though their final call was the biggest blunder, that crew made plenty of weak calls all day:  2-3 roughing the passer calls on Coe (give me a break), one of Coe's coaches is kicked out of the game (for what??),  a sideline penalty on Coe (when they are supposed to give a warning first-while the Loras coach is OUT ON THE FIELD), the Loras QB ditched the ball 2-3 times and the refs called them incomplete passes-but there was NOBODY there.  The list goes on... This was definitely a turning point in the season-in my opinion.   Interestingly enough, some Loras fans that were near us afterward agreed that they had been awarded a "gift" from the officials.  Yeah, I guess you had to be there.  

If he was outside the tackle box (he wasn't, duh!)then he can throw it to the north poll for all the refs care, its still an incomplete pass.  Still sour grapes on the ref crew huh?  Write a letter to the commish (did that), write a letter to editor (didn't have to, he agreed with me), write a letter on a billboard and post it on I-80 (would if I could afford it.), griping on here gets you nowhere.  Just stating the facts. 

You sound alittle "testy" today, K.  Go ahead and take out your frustrations on me if you want.  I have broad shoulders.  I understand you're feeling bad after Saturday.

Did you state that you were outside of the tackle box?  I was correcting your mistake.  Let me guess, exerise science major?   No you left that door open for us to run through.  Odds are you are sitting at your desk saying wow that was a stupid comment I made.  Lets find a way to cover it up and make myself look educated in the football community. 

Testy, no this is how I am on a daily basis.  I am uptight, out of sight, in your eye kind of guy. 

Nope.  I was a marketing major.  I wanted to be in the business world not in a gym.  After my playing days were done I had about enough of being around athletic equipment and gyms.  But now I seem to go to one everyday and cuss that one as well

[Klopenhiemer]

Congratulations to the Knights for taking the IIAC title.  It was a rough season and it looks to be a tough first round of the playoffs.  Sounds like they got something going on the ground for once.  This was the second week in a row that the Knights had more rushing than passing yards (only the second time this year).  Hopefully they can keep that up as it will be important in the playoffs.  200 yards on the ground and a good day from Yordi (250 to 300) can win playoff games for the Knights.

I will admit right now, it has been awhile since I have posted.  I have been reading, but always just about 5 pages behind and then a weekend would hit and I would be busy with Winona State football (such a disappointing season) and then I would just be behind again.  Luckily I am caught up and hopefully if the Knights play in the Midwest I can travel to the game and see one in person this year.  I did get to tune in to bits and pieces on the radio a few times this year, but this board has kept me up to speed.

For all the non-Wartburg fans feel free to jump on the IIAC Bandwagon (not necessarily a Wartburg Bandwagon).  Just like many of us cheered for the Dutch last year, this year we can all cheer for the Knights to gain some respect for the IIAC in all of D3.

What happened to Winona?  Was it just the additions of the old NCC schools (Mankato, UMD, St. Cloud, Augustana), or was there a huge talent drop from previous years?

I am sure others can give a better explanation.  But my sources in the NSIC have said that lower tier teams such as SW MN State and Wayne State have improved quite a bit.  SMSU finished 6-5 for the first winning season since 1999.  Wayne State near the top of the conference now.  They must have put something the water.  When I played against them they were terrible. 

[Klopenhiemer]

Congratulations to the Knights on winning the IIAC.  I hope you can rest and heal up and get prepared this week for a good playoff showing.  Time to peak and do the IIAC proud.

I also want to say congrats on winning the title!  It got interesting for a time this season, but Wartburg did live up to the preseason coaches' poll.  It has been a fun year overall as lots of interesting things have happened in both the IIAC and MIAC.  Good to see that the Knights found a running game late in the year when the weather dictated that they had to.  That's what good teams do!

Hopefully Carleton wins the MIAC for all the underdog fans out there!

I am also happy that Luther has not surpassed my preseason expectations of winning 3-4 games by winning the 5th game on Saturday.  Hopefully they can find some offense or special teams play to pull out a win against the Duhawks on Saturday.  The Coe game still haunts a little, but when you play a bunch of close games some are probably going to go against you.

Luther has now had a .500 conference finish in 5 of the last 6 seasons.  Not a big deal to Luther fans who were around when Coach Edsel was running the program, but things did not look very good to me in August.

The team that did not finish .500 or better (2006) may have been as talented as any of the Hefty era.  However, the 2006 defense was not even close to the 2008 edition.

Congrats as well to Central if they can get past Simpson to finish 7-3.  7-3 is a down year in Pella, but the Dutch will have shown once again how that program is tougher mentally and better coached than most programs in the country.  Tennessee and Michigan are just two examples of how even great programs can go in the tank when things don't go their way.

I was at the Iowa game on Saturday and have no voice today.  I am waiting to see if the Hawks can be consistent the rest of the way.  What a fun weekend of college football!

[Klopenhiemer]

Oh, and by the way Kohawkfan, you are simply proving the points of other posters by continuing to gripe about the "raw deal" your team got in that Loras game.  If you weren't there, you don't know.    

Did anyone else's mind's eye conjure up Nancy Kerrigan's "Why?" moment when they read that?

[Klopenhiemer]

Well I was trying to get us to 1500 but someone else will have that honor I can think of anything else to post.