FB: American Rivers Conference

Floyd in Iowa City · October 05, 2006, 11:31:11 AM

From the Player of the Week part of the IIAC website:

Walner Belleus, University of Dubuque, Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee
Belleus, a senior, amassed 331 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns to go along with nine tackles and an interception in Dubuque's 51-34 victory over Luther. He had six receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown, returned two kickoffs for 105 yards including an 88-yard touchdown and returned one punt for a 73-yard touchdown. Belleus returned the interception 22 yards, had one carry for eight yards and forced a fumble. [b](IIAC Male Athlete of the Week)[/b]

Dubuque might be dangerous in every game the rest of the year, but how many teams are actually going to kick or punt the ball to Walner? I was shocked that Luther kicked to him again after he already had the punt return TD. Coe and other teams might treat Walner like most Big Ten teams treated Tim Dwight after he burned Ohio State and Penn State for long returns in 1996.

Congrats though, Walner!

keith45 · October 05, 2006, 11:49:36 AM

How many good directional punters does the IIAC have? 1, maybe 2? He'll get his share of punts, whether on purpose or mistake....I wonder when we'll see the Walner Wide Receiver show this season...can you imagine him on offense, with the other receiver (Macintosh or something, and Jackson at the QB?

Floyd in Iowa City · October 05, 2006, 11:58:12 AM

I would favor the Storm even though the game is in Storm Lake. The Beavers have the more experienced QB and home field, but from what I saw last year the Storm have the better defensive front and recent tradition on their side. Neither team has had a consistent performance from the OL and the run game.

B.V. has played a slightly tougher schedule so far and has solid defensive numbers, but the offense is averaging 1.4 yards per carry (counting sacks) and is only completing 44 percent of the passes attempted. Simpson is averaging double the points per game than B.V. (18.5 to 9.0) and is averaging 3.0 yards per carry. The Storm also are only completing 43 percent of the passes attempted.

Simpson on defense is solid so far against the pass (previous opponents Bethel, Wartburg, and Cornell are all running teams though), but they are giving up 181 ypg on the ground. Can B.V. take advantage?

The Show · October 05, 2006, 12:05:20 PM

Both offenses are average. BV has the better defense. BV's schedule has been tougher so far. BV's Homecoming. I'll be in the stands...

Advantage -> BV

Floyd in Iowa City · October 05, 2006, 12:08:29 PM

Quote from: keith45 on October 05, 2006, 11:49:36 AM
How many good directional punters does the IIAC have? 1, maybe 2? He'll get his share of punts, whether on purpose or mistake....I wonder when we'll see the Walner Wide Receiver show this season...can you imagine him on offense, with the other receiver (Macintosh or something, and Jackson at the QB?

Keith,

Loras and Luther did not have to imagine him playing WR since he had 5 catches for 106 yards against the Duhawks and 6 catches for 123 yards against the Norse. The Spartans try to throw a lot of short passes to him and let him use his athletic ability to make plays in open space.

His best numbers on offense have come in the last couple of weeks, which might not be good for the rest of the league. What if he is just not getting the hang of the Spartan Offense since he has mostly been a DB and return guy before coming to Dubuque?

I am sure Coe will do what they can to get ready for him.

Walston Hoover · October 05, 2006, 12:23:20 PM

ANyone have any idea of how he ended up at UD? I've heard several stories, but no one can confirm anything.

keith45 · October 05, 2006, 12:25:19 PM

I have no idea...but being a senior transfer from a major D1, I'm thinking he didn't leave by his own will..and he was playing at Iowa, so playing time wasn't an issue..so, that is my way of saying, I have no idea!

lorbec47 · October 05, 2006, 12:58:55 PM

As far as directional punters go, Keith, I'd just kick the dang thing out of bounds!! I'd rather get my defense on the field then kick to Belleus. Guy's awesome.

I had heard from a former player at UD that Belleus had some trouble in the same class at Iowa and that's why he couldn't stay there. But, I don't want to speculate too much.

The Show · October 05, 2006, 01:27:55 PM

Iowa could have used some of his speed last week...

Floyd in Iowa City · October 05, 2006, 02:04:42 PM

The Norse and Hawks would have been better off on Saturday it he was still in Iowa City somehow! Not being able to go nickel or have any depth at DB with the injuries at safety was a problem last week and could be against Purdue as well. It should be a good game in both Iowa City and Ames this week.

It sometimes does seem like over half of college football is going to the spread offense and trying to get good athletes isolated in open space. I wish there were more teams that did play pro-style or option football and were more willing to slug it out behind a good OL and other tough blockers.

Several teams in 1997 used to punt out of bounds when Dwight was returning punts for the Hawks. It was a good strategy for the opponents that year even when the punts were only going for 25 yards as Dwight and the special teams were a more consistent threat against good teams than the Hawkeye Offense was (especially with backup QBs).

Floyd in Iowa City · October 05, 2006, 02:32:28 PM

The Central press release for Luther week:

http://www.central.edu/athletics/football/archive/100306a.htm

Central leads in the Luther series all time, 45-21-1, but that does not do justice to how the Dutch have owned the Norse since 1972. The Dutch are 31-3 over the last 34 with Luther wins coming in 1976, 1980, and 2004.

Luther won 10 of 11 from the late 1940s through the early 1960s, but that changed with the hiring of Ron Schipper. Luther still beat Schipper three times in a row from 1969-71, but it ended after that.

I also noticed on the previous press releases this year that all-time they lead Wartburg, 39-16 and B.V., 48-11. I assume that they have pretty nice records against about every IIAC school. I wonder what the Simpson series record is?

It still is and probably always will be a great football program.

NorseFan · October 05, 2006, 02:56:29 PM

I've heard stories as to why Walner is no longer at Iowa either but I'm curious why he chose UD over schools with a more prominent history. It is definately benefiting them.

NorseFan · October 05, 2006, 03:01:16 PM

Sorry Walston, didn't mean to echo your statement.

Dsquared · October 05, 2006, 03:30:07 PM

He's back from the grave!!! I have a slightly different name, but the user is all the same! Do any of you remember me? It's the good old O&B Attack!!!! Coming to you live from Kohawk country as I have assumed a new post in the non-academic world!

Step 1 to coming back from the grave... getting out of Ames and the capital of NO D3 football talk of Iowa.

Step 2... extra time at work = doing something besides catching up on emails, checking fantasy rosters, etc.

Step 3... Have a new friend who goes to Coe that you LOVE to give crap to, so you are thrown RIGHT back in to the heart of D3 football and back into your old post-ful ways!

Having completed my 3-step process, I feel ready to jump back into Post Patterns. Things have changed quite a bit since last I posted, but the comments look about the same. Catch me up to speed, everyone. Pollock, this means you... I'll be in the heart of Bavarian Iowa come 10 AM next Friday, and I expect to see you in all your glory.

NorseFan · October 05, 2006, 04:05:55 PM

Picks for the week:

Wartburg over Augsburg
BV over the Storm
Loras in the bowl over Cornell
Coe over UD. UD is improved but I don't think they are that good yet.

Luther homecoming will be a good game, i hope. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Luther will win in the same fashion they did 2 years ago. A come from behind stunner in double OT. GO NORSE!