FB: American Rivers Conference

[DBQ1965]

On a Grand Rapids to Minneapolis to Peoria to Grand Rapids road trip the past 7 days, we drove past Waverly but the timing wasn't right for a stop at The Fainting Goat.  Maybe next time. 

Along the way through Iowa saw signs for Wartburg College, Coe College and Cornell College ... but couldn't convince friend wife that UD was "on the way" to Peoria.  Rats!

GO SPARTANS!

I was born and raised in Peoria, and still come back 3-4 times a year to visit my 90+ year-old parents.  What's your Peoria connection?

My wife grew up in EP and her folks were from Peoria originally ... and lived out their final years there.  I have visited in Peoria many times in the 43 years of our marriage.

[5 Words or Less]

2010 Conference Preview – 5WOM
(Disclaimer:  I don't know nothin')

Buena Vista – In 2008, the Beavers were on a roll and nearly won the conference, but graduation losses slowed the offense in 2009 and they scored some 50 fewer points.   The return of 2008 Sophomore all-conference running back Cory Donscheski or emergence of another productive runner would help the Beavers 2010 chances because teams will have difficulty scoring against their traditionally stout defense.  

Central – Central has A LOT of talent.  Too much talent to not win the IIAC.  'nuf said.  One thing that I've noticed is the similarity in coaching philosophies between Schipper and McMartin.  They both seem to place a strong emphasis on ball control (ie limiting turnovers), avoiding self destruction (big plays and penalties) and maintaining dominant field position.  Special teams, specifically punting, plays a huge roll in starting field position – and since the odds of your opponent scoring decreases exponentially with distance from the goal line, a strong legged punter is a coaches best friend.  I don't find it incoincidental that Schipper's punters won all conference honors 7 times between 1977 (the first year punters were acknowledged) and 1996 (35%).  McMartin has been fortunate to have an all conference punter every year he's been at the helm (Wasoba '04, Ver Meer '05 & '06, Brondyke '07-'09). It certainly didn't hurt to have the College President serving as kicking coach in years past, but now that David Roe has retired, and new President Mark Putnam is waist deep in reaccreditation, I wonder if Central's streak of special teams wizards might come to an end.  Then again ... even if it does, the Dutch will likely keep their winning ways – Coach Kackmarynski had a 0.712 winning percentage and never had an all conference punter and only one all conference kicker (see disclaimer).

Coe – Coe had a remarkable year in 2009.  During the preseason many were decrying that Steve Staker was "a second choice" and that the hire of Tyler Staker as Offensive Coordinator was borderline nepotism.  Well, the Staker's certainly quieted the nattering nabobs of negativism by playing into the second round of the NCAA playoffs and garnering National Coach of the Year honors.  Congratulations to all Kohawks involved, success should continue in 2010. QB Brad Boyle should have another near pick free season.  I've heard nothing but compliments on his steady play, timing and decision making.  Will Frank Weymiller make another 15 sacks (3rd most in D3 – 2009) this season?  Likely not, but the return of Hemry, Clear, Randal and Carr won't allow teams to double team the talented sophomore.  Add Elliot Raussa at kicker and the Kohawks should be in the mix for another NCAA birth.

Cornell – Swammi say Brautigam's IIAC era over after 2010.  Odds are Vince will continue coaching the Rams in 2011, but the Rams will no longer be in the IIAC.  Does anyone else think it's odd how the schedules just flip-flopped the away and home order from '09 and '10?  Might the potential departure of Cornell's football team pose some long term scheduling issues and the flip-flop freed up commitments?  Perhaps ... but enough of the conspiracy theory.  Brautigam inherits a team with potential, despite the record that they've compiled recently.  The Rams desperately need depth to rise in the standings.  Recruiting Iowa is becoming more difficult with each passing year because of the  dropping high-school age demographic.  Add Upper Iowa and UD to the mix, two schools that traditionally have recruited out of state but are making inroads within Iowa, and the return on investment (ie recruiting time and budget) drops.  Fortunately for Vinny B, Cornell's student body is 80% out of state and he's experienced with finding lots of out of state kids willing to play football in Iowa.  The challenge he'll face is that Cornell's admissions standards are higher than most and the athletically gifted pool of acamagicians is overfished.

Dubuque – This was supposed to be a quick preview, but the more I type, the more I type.  UD finished '09 strong by winning 3 of 4 games at the end of the season.  I listened to Zweifel's post game interview after winning the Luther game where he said, "This was the first game that I felt like we came together as a team."  (darn the timing – go Norse).  Zweifel no doubt will look to continue that mantra this fall and having 4 returning all conference players, one all American will help lead the Spartans.  Zweifel also said that their special teams played better not forcing the defense into playing on a short field.  Even so, Stan needs to work with his kicker to improve the 2-4, 22 yard long field goal performance in '09 for the team to contend.

Loras – I heard a report from a Loras alum 2 years ago that the incoming freshman class was a talented group of skill players but without much size.  This seems right with 2010 Junior QB Vaughn Gesing leading the offense.  Unfortunately, size does matter in football and when half of your ten O-Linemen are listed at under 200 pounds, scoring points is difficult.

Luther – The Norse should finish somewhere between 0-10 and 15-0 this season.  The defense will be good, but not as big as last year.  The offense really needs to step up and put points on the board.  The Norse were 8th in the league in scoring last season, scoring an average of 17.6 ppg.  IMHO the reason for this is that the team didn't keep its offense on the field enough averaging 15.1 first downs per game (last in the league).  It's hard to score if you don't have the ball.

Simpson – The Storm's defense yielded 35 ppg and were last in the league against the rush, defensive passing efficiency, opponents 1st downs, and opponents 3rd down conversions.  This must give Coach Glowgowski a certain amount of indigestion, since he was the DC at USD when they had the #2 rated defense in D2.  The problem seems to be that the Storm recruit the same linemen as the Duhawks; the average weight of the 7 returning defensive linemen is 218 pounds.

Wartburg – When I look over the Knight's roster, I notice a number of surnames of parents who graduated from Luther.  This does not bode well for the future success of Wartburg football.  

[doolittledog]

Thanks for the preview 5WOL/5WOM and for your predicted conference standings.  Now I'm really getting ready for some football. 

34 days until kickoff for UD...36 days for everyone else in the conference.

[DBQ1965]

5 Word Or Less ...

Thanks for your analysis of the up-coming season.  But more than that ... thanks for your reference to one Spiro T. Agnew!  Did any of the rest you catch that?

[wartknight]

2010 Conference Preview – 5WOM
(Disclaimer:  I don't know nothin')


Wartburg – When I look over the Knight's roster, I notice a number of surnames of parents who graduated from Luther.  This does not bode well for the future success of Wartburg football.  

I still wouldn't count out the Knights!!

[footballdaddy]

5 Word Or Less ...

Thanks for your analysis of the up-coming season.  But more than that ... thanks for your reference to one Spiro T. Agnew!  Did any of the rest you catch that?

Yes, I did catch the reference to Spiro's lasting contribution to our culture. Unless you count corruption also.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

5 Word Or Less ...

Thanks for your analysis of the up-coming season.  But more than that ... thanks for your reference to one Spiro T. Agnew!  Did any of the rest you catch that?

Yes, I did catch the reference to Spiro's lasting contribution to our culture. Unless you count corruption also.

I didn't see nothin'

[DBQ1965]

5 Word Or Less ...

Thanks for your analysis of the up-coming season.  But more than that ... thanks for your reference to one Spiro T. Agnew!  Did any of the rest you catch that?

Yes, I did catch the reference to Spiro's lasting contribution to our culture. Unless you count corruption also.

I didn't see nothin'

In the Coe synopsis no less ... "nattering nabobs of negativism"

[AZDutchman]

The Iowa Barnstormers beat the Arizona Rattlers 67-47.
I'm getting a little hungry for some football and went Arena Football style last night. 

[doolittledog]

The Iowa Barnstormers beat the Arizona Rattlers 67-47.
I'm getting a little hungry for some football and went Arena Football style last night. 

And for an IIAC connection to that game.  Former BVU WR Jesse Schmidt had 7 receptions for 103 yard and 3 touchdowns on the night. 

[Alfredeneumann]

I actually think if most schools took the time to install lighting at their place that September games are a good time to have night games.  Homecoming games in early to mid-October made sense for a 4pm start.  After that, I think it's too cold around these parts for night games. 

Dubuque gets 5 night games this year.  I'm not sure what to think of that. 

The Knights 1 night game is enough for me. I prefer the day game atmosphere. Their night game will be fun though; A quality foe, maybe the best QB in D3 & a 75 year football celebration.....On another D3 note, a nice article about the Wart's Josh V (D3 & Knight's pg - A little biased-Josh is my son's(wartIII) roomie @ the Wart.)....on a personal note, I am posting from central/northern mn on a family vacation - relaxing/fishing & the week will be more relaxing as wart jr (may knight grad)was offered & accepeted a position in CR starting in a couple of weeks. Mom & dad are sure relieved & proud, especialy with the tough job market!!

Congrats to Wart Jr.!! I know how relieved you and the Mrs. are. After a summer of interviews, AEN Jr. (also WC grad) got a job yesterday as an account rep and will be staying in Waverly and calling on clients in NE Ia, his boss will be in DM. I guess I'll have to mow my own yard now.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

5 Word Or Less ...

Thanks for your analysis of the up-coming season.  But more than that ... thanks for your reference to one Spiro T. Agnew!  Did any of the rest you catch that?

Yes, I did catch the reference to Spiro's lasting contribution to our culture. Unless you count corruption also.

I didn't see nothin'

In the Coe synopsis no less ... "nattering nabobs of negativism"

That's a line from "Laugh-in."

[Alfredeneumann]

5 Word Or Less ...

Thanks for your analysis of the up-coming season.  But more than that ... thanks for your reference to one Spiro T. Agnew!  Did any of the rest you catch that?

Yes, I did catch the reference to Spiro's lasting contribution to our culture. Unless you count corruption also.

I didn't see nothin'

In the Coe synopsis no less ... "nattering nabobs of negativism"

That's a line from "Laugh-in."

-K for the c'hawk.
It was originally Spiro T. Agnew.
http://www.answers.com/topic/nattering-nabobs-of-negativism

[doolittledog]

It was originally Spiro T. Agnew.
http://www.answers.com/topic/nattering-nabobs-of-negativism

I love that link.

I want to use the Spiro Agnew line "an effete corps of impudent snobs." The next time Central and Wartburg fans tell Dubuque fans to win a conference title before talking up their team  

33 days until kickoff, 33 days until kickoff, 33 days until...

[5 Words or Less]

49,776 minutes until kickoff