FB: American Rivers Conference

[DutchFan2004]

This last post brings up a topic.  Why do you think teams play better at home.  I have seen a pattern since becoming a Dutch and IIAC fan.  Wartburg with the exception of 2005 has played well on the road and at home against Central.  Loras, UD, Luther, and Simpson have all played the Dutch much better at home than on the road.  Cornell with a home performance last year at home played very well.  I was just wondering what everyones thoughts are or were. 

I do remember Simpson winning at Central Last Year   8) 8)

Yes that is true.  And the trip before that to Pella for Simpson ended the streak did it not?  I am not sure why it happened but the previous two game were both at Simpson.  I know it is pretty general and broad sense that I used.  There are years and games it does not apply.  5 words post was some what enlightening.  Long trips do seem to affect teams though. 

[footballdaddy]

I don't know if Wartburg has "quiet confidence" or not, but I do know that that Knights haven't played their best game yet.

[DutchFan2004]

I did some research on the IIAC web site.  2005-2008 results are here for the conference games


2008

Wartburg   7-1   home 4-0  Away  3-1

BV              6-2             2-2            4-0

Simpson    5-3              2-2            3-1

Loras         5-3             3-1            2-2

Central      4-4              1-3           3-1

Luther        4-4             2-2           2-2

Coe           4-4              0-4           4-0

UD             1-7              1-3           0-4

Cornell       0-8             0-4          0-4


2007

Central    8-0              4-0           4-0

Wartburg  7-1              3-1          4-0

Coe          5-3              3-1           2-2

UD           5-3              2-2            3-1

Luther      4-4              3-1           1-3

BV             3-5             2-2            1-3

Simpson    3-5            2-2             1-3

Loras         1-7           0-4             1-3

Cornell      0-8           0-4               0-4

2006

Central    8-0            4-0              4-0

Wartburg  6-2           3-1              3-1

Coe          5-3            1-3              4-0

UD           5-3            3-1                2-2

BV          4-4              2-2               2-2

Loras       4-4            3-1               1-3

Simpson   3-5            2-2              1-3

Luther      1-7            1-3              0-4

Cornell      0-8           0-4              0-4


2005 

Coe        7-1             4-0              3-1

Central   7-1              3-1             4-0

Wartburg 6-2            3-1             3-1

Luther     5-3            3-1              2-2

BV            4-4           2-2              2-2

Simpson  3-5            3-1            0-4

Loras      2-6            1-3             1-3

Cornell     1-7           1-3             0-4

UD           1-7             1-3            0-4


Totals

Central     27-5         12-4         15-1

Wartburg  26-6         13-3         13-3

Coe           21-11       8-8           13-3

BV             17-15       9-7           8-8

Luther       14-18       9-7          5-11

Simpson    14-18       9-7          5-11

UD             12-20       7-9          5-11

Loras         12-20       7-9          5-11

Cornell       1-31        1-15        0-16

Not sure you can draw a lot of conclusions from this data. 

[Thunderbolt]

I don't know if Wartburg has "quiet confidence" or not, but I do know that that Knights haven't played their best game yet.

The Knights have the coaching staff, a proven QB and running game in place. A favorable early conference schedule is allowing the rest of the troops to get up to speed. I think you might see a statement game from them this week.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I am doing my pregame scouting and I find out that this week is homecoming at Simpson and that they will be honoring the 1969 football team for the 40th anniversary of their trip to the Mineral Water Bowl.  I am embarrassed to admit I have no recollection of the 1969 Mineral Water Bowl even though Simpson lost to St. John's 21-0.  You have to figure those St John's guys were sending letters to the the Des Moines Register editor or that they had worked out some other way to trash talk before there was a Post Patterns.

[Purple Heys]

Any of you Luther-ites know or recall Shaun Meinecke, Luther 2001...former Track All-American in the Decathlon?

http://www.longbeachstate.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/100209aab.html

He will be working with Senorita Heys on her hurdles as she moves into the Heptahlon.  Good to see her get a little IIAC influence...it's been good for Jr.   

[doolittledog]

How common is it to play football in the fall and then run track in the spring for IIAC players?  I know Dubuque has done that quite a bit in the past.  Not sure about other schools in our conference.  And of those.  How many considered themselves a two sport athelete vs. a football player that ran track...or a track athelete that played football???

[Storm Chaser]

Hard to judge much with the conditions Saturday. They put the ball on the ground a lot, but only lost one I believe. They do have a couple real studs in the middle of their defense, but overall they missed a ton of tackles that killed them. They played better in the 2nd half, but never looked good. The Norse special teams gave them the ball at the Luther 13 and 17 yard line and screwed up an extra point. The offense turned it over on the Luther 30. Good teams don't let you do that and win by 10.

Other things that I observed:  Glowgowski was very animated on the sidedline during the first half while the team seemed rather peg-legged.  I thought that they turned up their intensity in the second half when they started scoring.  Simpson's QB threw a tight ball, despite the conditions, but at least a dozen of his balls sailed making it difficult for the receivers because they couldn't elevate in the mud and couldn't grasp the wet balls overhead.  I'm not sure if it was part of the Simpson strategy to throw the ball out of bounds whenever the QB felt pressure in the pocket, but there were a good half-dozen balls that landed on the track.  I didn't think that either line was able to get a push because of the mud, so running between the tackles was ineffective, but counter plays and bootlegs seemed to work.  Simpson will play better when on turf and when they don't have to overnight.

5 Words or More

Simpson has not been good on the road to date - conditions certainly didn't favor Storms passing game which is a little more vertical than Luthers, it looked like QB had a very hard time hanging onto the ball. Kickoff return to start 2nd half kind of got Simpson back in game, then Storm defense throws a 3 and out. It looked like they were mounting a come back but fumble at the 4 yard line pretty much killed any momentum.  Luther field by late third quarter bordered on unplayable, it wasn't good to start the game and got progressively worse.  Maybe Norse were used to the slop.  Hopefully Storm is much more ready for the evil hoard from Dutchland come Saturday.

[Purple Heys]

How common is it to play football in the fall and then run track in the spring for IIAC players?  I know Dubuque has done that quite a bit in the past.  Not sure about other schools in our conference.  And of those.  How many considered themselves a two sport athelete vs. a football player that ran track...or a track athelete that played football???

Central - Brondyke

Bertlesen - BV

Both successful at both

[DutchFan2004]

How common is it to play football in the fall and then run track in the spring for IIAC players?  I know Dubuque has done that quite a bit in the past.  Not sure about other schools in our conference.  And of those.  How many considered themselves a two sport athelete vs. a football player that ran track...or a track athelete that played football???

Central - Brondyke

Bertlesen - BV

Both successful at both

Guy Dierx in 07 was a 6 time all american in track and was a starting cornerback  if memory serves correctly. 

[Purple Heys]

I don't know if Wartburg has "quiet confidence" or not, but I do know that that Knights haven't played their best game yet.

The Knights have the coaching staff, a proven QB and running game in place. A favorable early conference schedule is allowing the rest of the troops to get up to speed. I think you might see a statement game from them this week.

I think it's fair to say the Kaniggets are getting it together by the week.  That's why I thought we had a chance to sting them before they got everything rolling.

That said, the meat of the schedule will be coming up...BV, Coe, and the DBQ before they reach Central...they'll be challenged to get through that unscathed.

[Purple Heys]

Fun fact.

This season, Wartburg was the 1st team in a over year to beat the Rams and then win the following game.  Dubuque is the most recent victim.

I'm not sure if the Cornell Curse will affect the Dutch this weekend...but maybe the Storm has reason to take hope...   

[coocooforcoekohawk]

I did some research on the IIAC web site.  2005-2008 results are here for the conference games

Totals

Central     27-5         12-4         15-1

Wartburg  26-6         13-3         13-3

Coe           21-11       8-8           13-3

BV             17-15       9-7           8-8

Luther       14-18       9-7          5-11

Simpson    14-18       9-7          5-11

UD             12-20       7-9          5-11

Loras         12-20       7-9          5-11

Cornell       1-31        1-15        0-16

Not sure you can draw a lot of conclusions from this data. 

Here is your conclusion.  Don't schedule Central, Wartburg, or Coe for homecoming.

[dutchfan1]

Go Pack, Go! I'm a Packer fan, NOT a Favre fan. 

(A little NFL can creep in now and then, right?)

[DutchHawk]

Im liking how the Dutch are playing, but I dont feel any cockiness about it really. We have been playing really well and will have to keep it up to win every game. I do feel confident in saying that IF we can keep playing to at least the level we are I don't see us losing. Thats a caps lock if for a reason. I dont think Coach Mac is lettin the guys get anything into their heads though. One week at a time!

Go Dutch