FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

Very similar numbers with Wartburg and Central there. I'm curious what the other teams in the conf. have for that.

[doolittledog]

Very similar numbers with Wartburg and Central there. I'm curious what the other teams in the conf. have for that.

Scroll up the last page to find UD figures

Ah screw it, here you go...

Offense:
2 Seniors
2 Juniors
3 Sophomores
4 Freshmen

Defense:
3 Seniors
4 Juniors
0 Sophomores
4 Freshmen

Those were the reported starters for the previous game against Cornell. 

Something tells me the veteran teams will end up at the top of the conference at the end of the year.  Hence, the better it is to retain players for 4 years instead of having constant turnover. 

Obligatory UD talk here...Watch out for UD in the future, we'll be tough   Hopefully sooner than you think!!!

[DutchHawk]

It seems as though that UD has always had young guys playing, yet they seem to thin out as the years progress. I think its important to for the new UD staff to keep these young guys around. Then we can watch out for them in the years to come perhaps...although you will always have to deal with Central 

[Willie University]

I don't know where I said that Zwiefel was the best coach in the country, let alone the IIAC.  I don't know that I said that UD would win the IIAC.  I said that they would have something to say about who wins the IIAC.  I think they are good enough for a big upset.  That being said UD was at that level already in the IIAC if you ask me.  So having a coach new or not or with the credentials of Coach Zwiefel doing or keeping UD where they are is not all that tough if you ask me.  Brautigan got UD to where they were competing and winning some games.  Even getting an upset now and again.  From where I thought Coe was (until their success this year) I thought UD would win that game.  The Coe UD game will be a huge factor in the IIAC Crown.  The Coe Central game has it, the Coe/Central Wartburg games have it, and the UD Wartburg game has it.  I think the conference is wide open now. 


As far as Zwiefel not getting UWW I have no idea.  There is a reason and we may never know why he didn't get it.  The decision really doesn't impact the IIAC other than he is now at UD. 

All I can say is that things happen for a reason and I for one, couldn't be happier to have Coach Z at UD. had he got the UWW job, winning a confernce championship or national championship would have been expected and I believe HE could have done it. Heck, most of the players on the teams that did after him were HIS recruits!!!

BUT, at UD, with the past 2-3 decades or so (with exception of 2 seasons) of losing seasons, to win a conference championship, playoff game, or national championship..........that makes HISTORY and those are the stories that are told for generations to come. And from what I know about him, I believe it can happen.

Call me an optimist....but I prefer to think of myself as a realist.
Willie U

As a UWW backer and knowing people in the program, I've got a couple of thoughts about Coach Z. First, I think he is a  good man and will do a good job at UD. He's got a great offensive mind and is a high energy guy. However, to say the 2007 National Championship team were mostly HIS recruits is very much a stretch. UWW was already  on the National scene, they have almost unbelievable facilities for D3, and they deploy several coaches on the recruiting trails. Stan did his part in the recruiting end, but to say the team was his recruits is just not accurate.

Regarding him not getting the UWW job, the school could not have been in a better position. The job is super attractive for some of the same reasons given above. The AD made a conscious decision to legitimately open the job up. He had a very hard decision to make between Coach Z and a former UWW QB who had D1 (University of Nebraska) and D2 Coaching experience. He made a decision he felt was best for the program and it was very unpopular in many quarters. I have heard much conjecture from those favoring Stan  as to the reasons he didn't get it. After some long conversations with people, I don't believe them to be true. The job was not Stan's to inherit. I personally wanted him to get the job, but knowing more of the story than I did, I can live with the decision.

Best of luck to Coach Z. and UD. I know Stan would love nothing more than a shot to play UWW after he has a chance to develop the program. I hope he gets his chance. Of course I hope he loses, but I hope he gets the chance!

Thanks Bleed Purple. I did "exaggerate" some and I apologize. I realize he wasn't the only UWW coach on the recruiting trail those years. But, as I am sure you will agree, many of the top recruits during his years at UWW and the championship years to follow included guys such as Justin Beaver and Coach Z had a significant role in recruiting those players. I don't think anyone, friend or foe will ever say that coach Z isn't one of the hardest working coaches on the recruiting trail.  Great thing is, you mention a great point.....UWW has by far the best facilities in the WIAC also and that also helped aid to the success. Now, UD is in the same position as UWW with the best facilities in the IIAC (IMHO) and i believe will aid him in his future success as well.

Like you said, I hope to someday see you in the playoffs vs UWW. But, of course, I hope for a different outcome 

PS- Footballdaddy---are you happy now, you finally have an explanation for your facination with why coach Z didn't get the UWW job. But, a piece of info bleedpurple did leave out.......Coach Z was one of the final 2. Coach Willis was not.

Willie U

[AZDutchman]

I don't think there is such a thing as a "good loss". One loss could knock you out of the playoffs...or if you do get in your the 8 seed going against UWW/MUC rather than Olivet. Just a small difference. I wont deny there are benefits to be had and lessons to be learned from a loss. If you happen to suffer one then a good coaching staff will turn it into a positive. Of course 10-0 is always better than 9-1 regardless of lessons learned Just my opinion for what its worth.

Of coarse a loss in the playoffs would be a bad thing. The loss I'm speaking of almost rarely comes. The season that I was speaking of, the 9-1 record came out to be a benefit over a 10-0 record. They tasted the loss and never wanted it again. Also, I don't believe coaches have the power to turn an entire team of individuals into a collective. They may suggest it, but it's up to the individuals themselves to believe in what they can do and work as one.
I hope I expressed that in the correct words. 

[AZDutchman]

"Wait a second...Mr. Ypsi is young and stupid at 61, Thunderbolt is young and stupid at 51,  and I happen to be young and stupid at 41.  I'm sensing a pattern here"
Doolittledog

Im' feeling old and stupid at 46?? Pattern broke.....

[warthog]

Thought for the day:

Baptists do the same things as Lutherans and Catholics, they just aren't supposed to have fun doing them.

- Lief Petersen

[footballdaddy]

PS- Footballdaddy---are you happy now, you finally have an explanation for your facination with why coach Z didn't get the UWW job. But, a piece of info bleedpurple did leave out.......Coach Z was one of the final 2. Coach Willis was not.

Willie U

I'm neither happy or unhappy. It's just that Zweifel seems to have a great number of backers here that assume that since he is now at UD that the program will turn around almost immediately, ie Jimmy Johnson at Dallas, while there could be a case of the results being something different ie Jimmy Johnson at the Dolphins.

And this has nothing to do with Willis. I'm happy he's where he is.

[footballfan413]

As a UWW backer and knowing people in the program, I've got a couple of thoughts about Coach Z. First, I think he is a  good man and will do a good job at UD. He's got a great offensive mind and is a high energy guy. However, to say the 2007 National Championship team were mostly HIS recruits is very much a stretch. UWW was already  on the National scene, they have almost unbelievable facilities for D3, and they deploy several coaches on the recruiting trails. Stan did his part in the recruiting end, but to say the team was his recruits is just not accurate.

Regarding him not getting the UWW job, the school could not have been in a better position. The job is super attractive for some of the same reasons given above. The AD made a conscious decision to legitimately open the job up. He had a very hard decision to make between Coach Z and a former UWW QB who had D1 (University of Nebraska) and D2 Coaching experience. He made a decision he felt was best for the program and it was very unpopular in many quarters. I have heard much conjecture from those favoring Stan  as to the reasons he didn't get it. After some long conversations with people, I don't believe them to be true. The job was not Stan's to inherit. I personally wanted him to get the job, but knowing more of the story than I did, I can live with the decision.

Best of luck to Coach Z. and UD. I know Stan would love nothing more than a shot to play UWW after he has a chance to develop the program. I hope he gets his chance. Of course I hope he loses, but I hope he gets the chance!

Stan was with UWW for 16 years and was the face of the recruiting department for a lot of that. Of course, it is a joint effort by the entire staff but as the top recuiter, he deserves much of the credit for recognizing and assembling the talent that took the Warhawks to the top of D-3.  He brought many of the names that you recognize from the 05-07 teams on ESPN to campus as freshman.  His efforts were helped in large part by the improvements that were made to the football and sports facilities during this decade and much of that credit goes to Coach Brez and stong booster and alumni support.   We are part of a state system so improvement are subject to a, "separate but equal," test so improvements above that must be made using private donations and Brez has brought in plenty over the years.  Even though retired from the HC position, Coach Brez still works tirelessly for donations to continue to improve facilities of all sports on campus.   But, IMHO, recognition of Coach Z's impact on the  recruitment of championhip level players through the 07 year, is not a stretch at all.  

[footballfan413]

PS- Footballdaddy---are you happy now, you finally have an explanation for your facination with why coach Z didn't get the UWW job. But, a piece of info bleedpurple did leave out.......Coach Z was one of the final 2. Coach Willis was not.

Willie U

I'm neither happy or unhappy. It's just that Zweifel seems to have a great number of backers here that assume that since he is now at UD that the program will turn around almost immediately, ie Jimmy Johnson at Dallas, while there could be a case of the results being something different ie Jimmy Johnson at the Dolphins.

And this has nothing to do with Willis. I'm happy he's where he is.

I am a backer that is optomistic that his impact can be immediate for two reasons.  He cleaned house when he arrived and he brought over 100 new recruits into camp in August.  But I guess we should define, "turnaround."   Being a 2-8 team in 08,  I am confident that he can top that in the first year and I would consider that an immediate turnaround but others may not.  

[doolittledog]

Oh crap, here we go again with the Zweifel talk

Well we are 2-2...one more win over the next 6 games and coach Z has turned it around!!!

5-5 will be great by my standards for this year.  Personally, since I will be at the homecoming game in 2 weeks...I would like 1 of those wins to come at that time

And I do think coach Z has done a fantastic job so far.  2-2 with a VERY young team and they hung in well in their 2 losses.  I will have more friends back for homecoming this year than when we were all first out of school and single and had loads of free time and money to go back to Dubuque and take in a game.  The alumni are happy and getting into the spirit of things. 

[doolittledog]

Dubuque Telegraph-Herald with an article about a former Loras QB now interning with the NY Jets.

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=258434

[badgerwarhawk]

WR DeMarcus Fleming, So., Dubuque
Fleming caught five passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns, outrunning defenders en route to touchdowns of 74,730 and 60 yards in a 42-19 win against Cornell.


That has to be some kind of record.  I know I couldn't run that far without being caught from behind.   

FWIW, I have never said Z's impact would be immediate.  That would be giving too little credit to the other solid programs in the IIAC.   However I remain confident that, with time, he will be successfull in Dubuque.  Right now I don't think he has the defense.  But give him time.

[dutchfan1]

Coach Z is so tough, when he does a push up, instead of pushing himself up, he pushes the earth down.

Coach Z destroyed the periodic table - he only recognizes the element of surprise.

Coach Z doesn't write play books, the words assemble themselves out of fear.

I love you WIAC guys - I really do. It's cool that you all think so highly of Coach Z and his cababilities. You guys keep talking about the "immediate impact" he is going to have on football in the Iowa Conference. I'm starting to wonder if this is a compliment to his amazing football mind, or if it's because you think that football in Iowa is desolate and void of all talent....

[Thunderbolt]

Coach Z is so tough, when he does a push up, instead of pushing himself up, he pushes the earth down.

Coach Z destroyed the periodic table - he only recognizes the element of surprise.

Coach Z doesn't write play books, the words assemble themselves out of fear.

I love you WIAC guys - I really do. It's cool that you all think so highly of Coach Z and his cababilities. You guys keep talking about the "immediate impact" he is going to have on football in the Iowa Conference. I'm starting to wonder if this is a compliment to his amazing football mind, or if it's because you think that football in Iowa is desolate and void of all talent....

UD, Loras, Cornell and Luther all have had Wisconsinites on their rosters as long as I have followed the IIAC. But some how, this year is different. To date, they have beat the same two teams that they beat last year. Rockford, ranked 234 out of 238, and maybe worse than that. And Cornell who hasn't won a conference game since 2005. To steal a moniker from one of our favorites-- SHOW ME!