FB: American Rivers Conference

[DBQ1965]

Part of the advantage of having a theological seminary on your campus is the football coaches and players can crash the seminary spring shindig bbq!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nmstory/4575627167/in/set-72157623861275453/

The story goes that this is part of UD trying to entice DBQ1965 to come back to UD....free food, free admission to UD sporting events...the seminary now offers classes for UCC seminarians as well as Presbyterians...that kind of stuff.  Though it seems DBQ1965 and family are happy in semi-retirement in Michigan

Will they throw in a free UD windbreaker?

[AUPepBand]

Pep bought a 1992 Dodge Grand Caravan on Sept. 1, 2001 from a couple from near Sioux City, IA; flew to DesMoines and drove it back to Alfred, New York. That first solo cross-country trip was a good indicator that the vehicle was a keeper and that there'd be lots of magical stories to tell about its adventures. But Pep is now thinking of retiring the Pep Bandwagon but thinks she should go out with a "Bang!" Thus, I solicit the opinions from Iowa folk from whence the bandwagon cometh.

...so Pep was taking the Bandwagon for a spin the other day, while the "other van" was getting an idiot light checked out. So Pep was thinking again about what might be an appropriate "send-off" for this storied van that has taken Pep far and wide ever so faithfully since just before 9/1/01.

Pep has considered:

1) Park it somewhere "down by the river" where he can live in it during retirement
2) Enter it in the Demolition Derby at the Allegany County Fair in July
3) Drive it back to its roots...Oregon, although most of its early life was on straight and narrow Iowa roads
4) Buy an "anywhere" bus ticket for insurance, then drive the Bandwagon across the country this summer, hitting every state possible and when it dies, take a bus back to Saxonville.



Current odometer reading: 318,???

Pep welcomes his fellow D3 football posters' thoughts.

[doolittledog]

I had a friend that left his barely running Green Hornet in the dorm parking lot at Dubuque after graduation.  After many letters to him (this was pre email days) asking him to remove his vehicle, he sent UD a note saying they could consider the car his first "gift" to the University. 

Maybe your son could donate his old beater back to the pep band at his alma mater...I'm sure those kids would take great care of it

That, or the "road trip till it dies" option sounds good...or parking it "down by the river" or in your back yard for future living quarters also would be a good option!!!

[CaliRamRL6]

Go with option 4! Drive that thing until it dies. Another option is giving it to the student body for the homecoming pep rally. They can spray paint it and beat the crap out of it to get the fans all jacked up.

[footballdaddy]

Obviously the thing to do is have "brick-out" for charity. Take bets from people on how long it takes to blow the engine after dropping a brick on the accelerator. Pay the winner a suitable prize and then donate the rest to the charity of your choice. (Shriner's Hospital or St. Jude's Children's hospital?) It helps to have the drive wheels off the ground and put the car in gear before dropping the brick. Be sure to have some crowd control in case of shrapnel. I know it may be hard to do this to an old friend, but the ends justify the means.

[Old Dutch]

Actually the most appropriate end to a beloved 1992 Caravan would be at another Iowa homage to high style and class, the Leisure Suit party at the Surf Ballroom, better hurry though because thats is Friday night in Clear Lake, http://www.surfballroom.com/images/disco2010.jpg.  

Can't you just see a classic Caravan packed full of a dozen clowns in leisure suits headed down I-35 and piling out one by one with a bemused State Trooper wondering how (or why) this thing got to rolling 80 MPH in his jurisdiction?!?!?!?  Let them confiscate it and put some official Po-Po decals on it  for future D.A.R.E presentations.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Just don't leave it anywhere near Time Square.

[doolittledog]

I was working in Fayette County today and took a drive past our old friends at Upper Iowa.  Lots of construction going on.  Probably 5-6 buildings under construction.  The radio was saying they are putting $75 million into their Fayette campus.  That said, it's still a mish mash of a bunch of different styled buildings up there.  The athletic facilities look nice.  Eisheid stadium is looking good and they have a nice tree lined walk from the campus over to the stadium, the baseball and softball fields are nice, soccer and tennis are right on campus now.  The problem is the campus is in Fayette, a very run down looking town in the middle of nowhere.  I'm a small town Iowa kid and I wouldn't even want to go there.  How UIU is able to recruit California and Florida kids is a mystery to me. 

Mt. Vernon is a similar sized city to Fayette, but where Mt. Vernon has a nice historical feel to it and the Cornell campus is very much a part of town...and you are only 15 minutes from both Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, in Fayette the houses have a run down look to them, there are a lot of trailers and no signs directing you towards campus, and you are a long ways to any city of any size.  The plus side is Fayette is only a few miles from Hub City Brewing Co.  So they have that going for them   That and I was able to walk right into Eisheid Stadium and take some pictures!!!  Also, is there some mystery parking lot I am unaware of?  The gravel parking lot I parked in right behind the home side seating maybe held 30 cars...maybe.  And I would guess the fans sitting on the visitors side would have to walk over to the home side seating to be able to use the rest rooms and buy some snacks at the concession stand.  Though they did have some nice benches under some trees to rest on after that long walk...or for the home fans to use if they just couldn't stand to watch their team lose yet another game

[Willie University]

Nice story about the Breitbach's of Balltown graduating their 5th child from UD this weekend. I had no idea that the restaurant and the University of Dubuque were both founded in 1852. I knew UD was of course, just not the restaurant 

http://www.dbq.edu/news/news1.cfm?ID=455

By the way, I think D-dog gives a great comparison of cornell and fayette. My thoughts exactly. I played on UIU's football field before building the current stadium--wow, was that a dump. The new stadium, at the time it was constructed, was very nice. Now, however, the visitor seating, no bathrooms, or concessions, lack of parking, etc... all that D-dog mentioned leave a lot to be desired.

And he brings up another point and something that makes me proud of the decisions being made when building UD's new facilities------everything FLOWS, the architecture of the new matches the architecture of the old.

FL and CA recruits and UIU campus. Have you seen their brochures? They make it look like a D1 campus. Most the kids don't visit and they pay close to nothing to attend so I can understand why they go there.

Small college in a small town---I think it's just a matter of choice. Some kids like that environment or being "close to a bigger city" but me personally, I think being at a small college in a larger city like UD and Dubuque has a lot more to offer but again, that is my opinion  The only thing I don't like about it is the eye sore about 6 blocks east of UD's campus on the hill 

Willie U

[AUPepBand]

Thanks to all the posters who offered their suggestions as to the imminent demise of Pep's 1992 Grand Caravan. Pep is leaning toward a cross-country trip, with stops along the way to see every D3 football venue possible.

Now in the fine state of Iowa, what D3 football stadiums are a must-see?

Last summer, Pep, during a seven-day seven-theme park through the Midwest with Pep Jr. and a friend of his, Pep visited Perkins Stadium on the campus of WI-Whitewater. The trip then went west and we spent a rainy night in Dubuque, IA. From there, down to Des Moines, en route to Kansas City. Stops along the way included the "Field of Dreams" (the corn was at perfect height....just like in the movie!), and a visit to Parkersburg where Pep had occasion to personally express his condolences to the widow of legendary High School Coach Ed Thomas. Pep felt very much at home in Iowa...met some great folks along the way, most of them "outstanding in their (corn)field."

Pep would rather enjoy another such trip through the Bread Basket.

[Purple Heys]

Now in the fine state of Iowa, what D3 football stadiums are a must-see?

Dubuque's Chipotle Stadium would be tops on my list - I attended Game #1 there...nice D3 venue

Next I would direct you to the W at Wartburg.  I drove by there on my way from Minnesota to Mt. Vernon.  I made it a point to see it.  Very classic look.

I also think you should see what finally becomes of Grinnell's new facility.  I was there last year and even in mid-construction it looked nice.

Lastly, one should make it a point to see Central.  I have no idea whether it is scenic or whatever...but they've won so many games there, you just have to lay on the turf, roll around and hope you can absorb some of that success.   

One final word:  I personally like the charm of Ash Park and I will miss it.  I think there is something unique about the Trains that go rumbling by.  When they get to renovating the place I think it will be very nice.  You would need to see a game there, it is not the same just to drive by.

[doolittledog]

There are 10 D3 schools in Iowa.

Buena Vista in Storm Lake
Central in Pella
Coe in Cedar Rapids
Cornell in Mt. Vernon
U of Dubuque in Dubuque
Grinnell in Grinnell
Loras in Dubuque
Luther in Decorah
Simpson in Indianola
Wartburg in Waverly

They all have their charms, it just depends on how much time you have and from which direction you come into the state. 

If you are coming in to the state from Dubuque once again you can start off with UD, they are right on Hwy 20.  Loras is then just 6 blocks north from there.  Both schools have new stadiums that are pretty nice. 

Next, you could head west on Hwy 20...hit the Field of Dreams once again and then head west on Hwy 20 again to Waterloo, take Hwy 218 north 15 miles to Waverly and take in Wartburg College.  Yet another newer constructed stadium. 

From there you could take Hwy 218 south to Cedar Rapids and see Coe College and then just 15 miles east to Mt. Vernon on Hwy 30 is Cornell.  These 2 schools have the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi river.

From Mt. Vernon take Hwy 1 south into Iowa City...you could see Kinnick Stadium there and then take I-80 west and see Grinnell.

From Grinnell you are just a hop skip and a jump to Central College in Pella and then just head west and you run into Indianola and Simpson College. 

From Indianola you are just 15 miles south of Des Moines...and Adventure Land and their new water park.  You could also take in Drake and their football field that also hosts the Drake Relays.  They are non-scholie FCS...shich is pretty much D3

If you still have time to kick around Iowa you might as well hit the last 2 D3 schools.  Head north to Storm Lake for BV...their place is right on the lake and is a nice view.

After leaving BV you can head north to Lake Okiboji...don't let the U of Okiboji window stickers fool you   hang out there for a day and then take Hwy 9 east until you hit Decorah and Luther College.  USA Today voted Luther one of the 10 best places to watch a college football game a few years back. 

Now that you have seen all 10 D3 football venues in Iowa...and you are in the NE corner of our state...I have no idea where you should head from there

[dutchfan1]

Pep, you're welcome in Iowa anytime!

Depending on your time frame, decide whether or not you want to see an empty stadium, or a full house. My top 5 stadiums in the Iowa Conference are:

Luther -- very scenic, a beautiful setting for small college football
UD -- with all of the improvements to the stadium in recent years, it's a must see
Loras -- I know I am going to get flack from the UD posters, but I've always liked the feel of the Rock Bowl
Wartburg -- game day (at least v. Central) is always electric. It's kind of cool that the stadium is a cornerstone of the campus. Tour the W while you're there.
Central -- in my (highly biased) opinion, it's the perfect setting for college football. Come on game day - any game day - to cheer on a Dutch victory.  

[5 Words or Less]

Wartburg's prez proposes track resurfacing

http://www.wartburgcircuit.org/tabid/289/itemid/1302/Wartburg-announces-tuition-for-20102011.aspx

[doolittledog]

Wartburg's prez proposes track resurfacing

http://www.wartburgcircuit.org/tabid/289/itemid/1302/Wartburg-announces-tuition-for-20102011.aspx

President Colson noted a new track is essential for the long term health of the Knight football team.  "We are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit quality athletes to a school that has a pink track." Colson was quoted.