FB: American Rivers Conference

[5 Words or Less]

Here's the direct link http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisnorton

Yesterday afternoon Chris was injured during his football game. He was transported to the Decorah Hospital, where he was then helicoptered to Mayo clinic.  X-rays showed that he fractured his neck, and that his spinal cord was compressed; therefore he was not able to move anything from the neck down. He was placed in traction, and soon after had a 3 hour surgery which the neurologist was very pleased with. Around 2:00 this morning he was out of surgery and resting. This morning we came up to visit him. He got his breathing tubes removed, and he proudly showed us that he was able to move both of his arms. He has already improved a lot quicker than everyone had expected. It is very promising news since this is below the injury site. Last night a lot of people were here to help support Chris, including parents and players, family friends, our minister, and a lot of the Luther faculty. The support they gave has helped us all tremendously.

Another encouraging moment: When chris  was at the hospital yesterday he kept asking who won the Iowa game, he also wants to know what the plan is for today.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, we still have a long long road to recovery, but are truly blessed for all of the progress this far.

We understand many people would like to come visit, but this week he really needs his rest to help him heal faster. For updates you can check this site. We will continue to update this frequently.

During his recovery process we will need a lot of support, so will chris.

Thanks, Alex (his older sister)

[5 Words or Less]

Dear Coach McMartin;

Saturday's game was a rough one on many levels.  I think both teams have several phases of the game that need attention in order to move forward... but I'm not writing this note to discuss football, rather I'd like to send a personal note of thanks for the humanity that you demonstrated during the 19-minute injury time out for Chris Norton.

I didn't have the best view of what the paramedics, trainers and Coach Durnin were doing on the field, but as Chris lay there motionless, I understood the gravity of what was going on.  I can only imagine the thoughts of concern that his teammates shared as they knelt beside this young man.  My heart went out to his parents as they stood, helplessly waiting, just yards from their son.  In this moment of need you did the right thing by coming to their side to comfort and console.  I'm certain that you were able to convey a certain strength to his parents during those critical minutes.

Sincerely yours,
5 Words or More

[footballdaddy]

Another example of Coach Mac's class.

I'm very pleasd at the news that Chris is already showing some progress. I'd like nothing more than to see him take the field with his teamates in two weeks at Waverly.

Congrats to the Knights entering the Top 25 at #13. 

[5 Words or Less]

The play that Chirs was injured on was a routine kickoff coverage play in the third quarter.  Luther's kickoff was high and short with the up back receiving the ball near the Luther sideline.  The play-by-play summary says that Preston West receive the ball at the Central 31 and returned it return 13 yards to the Central 44 before being tackled by Bruce Clark.

I wasn't watching Chirs Norton specifially, but the area that he fell was about where initial contact was made, ie the Central 40.  The area cleared pretty quickly except for young Mr. Norton who was face down and motionless and another Luther defender who was laying over top of him, dazed, but was able to walk off under his own power.

[NewKnightDad]

Continued prayers for Chris.

Coach Mac always has been a class act. 

FBD, I will email you soon.

[bleedpurple]

HELP WANTED:

Looking for Pollsters for a "soon to be unveiled" D3 TOP 25 FAN POLL.

Publishing site: www.uwwfootball.blogspot.com

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Commit to submit a ballot ranking the D3 Teams 1-25 by stated deadline. I'm thinking that will be midnight on Mondays.
2. Research the teams and try to be as unbiased as possible in ranking them.
3. Think through your own philosophy as to how much to weigh previous ranking, won/loss record, your sense as to who would win head to head, national performances in recent years, quality wins, and whatever reasonable criteria you care to choose.   
4. Submit a ballot EVERY WEEK by the deadline. Missing a deadline will be cause to forfeit your spot. Create and submit your ballot BEFORE viewing the D3football.com poll. You can look at previous weeks polls to get you started if you are having a hard time filling out the last few slots.

PURPOSE OF POLL

This poll is to promote meaningful and fun discussion on d3boards.com.  It is simply something that will be fun to contrast with D3football.com's poll. D3football.com's poll is the one legitimate poll we have in D3 football in my opinion.  This poll is not even intended to become #2. I just think it would be an interesting point of comparison and discussion. 

HOW TO APPLY

Send me a private message. In your message indicate:
1. you are applying to be a pollster.
2. What team/conference you follow.
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WHO WILL BE CHOSEN?

The first 25 respondents will be our initial group of pollsters.  This group will remain the D3 FOOTBALL FAN POLL TOP 25 pollsters unless they resign their position or miss a deadline.  Pollsters, I will never post your names on the boards.  If you choose to, that is fine. If you are beyond the first 25 responses, your name will be placed on a "waiting list".  If there are fewer than 25 respondents by midnight on Wednesday, we will go with what we have and continue to have "open" slots to be filled.

Remember FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! 

[Walston Hoover]

Man what a story about Chris Norton. Hope and pray he can recover fast and get back to being a normal college kid.
I know a few of his teachers down here at Bondurant and by all accounts he is a great kid from a great family and the Bluejays are following his progress closely from down here as well.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I am a big Central fan but I have absolutely no problem with the fact that a Central player was flagged for a rare "illegal helmet contact" penalty a few plays after the injury at Luther Saturday.

Based on absolutely nothing but my very limited observations and even more limited intuition, it seems to me to be a rule that referees and coaches should enforce more frequently.  And please, don't anyone read between the lines and think that I am saying anything about how the injury happened Saturday.  I didn't see it and that isn't my point.  My point is, there is a rule against "illegal helmet contact" and I think the sport of football would be improved and the players would be safer if the coaches and referees would enforce it. 

[footballdaddy]

I would much rather be gloating about Wartburg's win on Saturday, but I'm having a bit of a time about Chris Norton's injury. My best friend in high school sufferd a similar spinal injury in a construction accident when he was 20 so I know what the consequences can be. All I can say is that God has a plan that sometimes takes us in a totally different path than we ever thought we would take. I pray that Chris makes a full recovery and is able to lead the life he wants.

[Charlie Kohawk]

It was probably the guy at the gate that unless you were wearing crimson and gold he would not let you in a little early to put some blankets down to reserve some seats.

Far be it from Coe to exercise crowd control at its own stadium. Wartburg fans were allowed to reserve plenty of seats, just not 10 minutes before the gates opened. With it being Homecoming and lots of activity around the stadium (5k, parade, brat tent, etc.), this was not your normal football Saturday. I know you think the world revolves around you, but it doesn't.

[warthog]

It was probably the guy at the gate that unless you were wearing crimson and gold he would not let you in a little early to put some blankets down to reserve some seats.

Far be it from Coe to exercise crowd control at its own stadium. Wartburg fans were allowed to reserve plenty of seats, just not 10 minutes before the gates opened. With it being Homecoming and lots of activity around the stadium (5k, parade, brat tent, etc.), this was not your normal football Saturday. I know you think the world revolves around you, but it doesn't.

I have to agree with Charlie Kohawk.  Some of our Wartburg fans think the world revolves around them.  I'm sorry they are a little geographically challenged.  After all we are on the world, so it can't revolve around us.  It is the moon, stars and all the other heavenly bodies that revolve around us.  Geez, NewKnightDad get it right next time. 

[footballdaddy]

The doctor told me if I didn't lose a couple of pound I'd have my own gravitational pull. Does that count?

[footballdaddy]

It was probably the guy at the gate that unless you were wearing crimson and gold he would not let you in a little early to put some blankets down to reserve some seats.

Far be it from Coe to exercise crowd control at its own stadium. Wartburg fans were allowed to reserve plenty of seats, just not 10 minutes before the gates opened. With it being Homecoming and lots of activity around the stadium (5k, parade, brat tent, etc.), this was not your normal football Saturday. I know you think the world revolves around you, but it doesn't.

Final score from the Blanket Bowl:
Coe         1
Wartburg 0

[doolittledog]

I understand that being the Coe homecoming game making sure that it is Coe fans sitting in the home stands and not letting Wartburg fans in early to put a blanket down.  The wisecracks from Coe employees might be going a bit far...but that's better than getting hit over the head with a garden tool

Over the past 5 years, Coe has brought in more money than every school in the conference not named the University of Dubuque.  Even with limited space for practice fields, you would think they could put some visiting side seating in.  9 rows between the 25 yard lines wouldn't take up that much space.  Then all those little portable bleachers they have they could put behind the endzones and put students and overflow fans into those seats. 

Using the formula Klopenheimer gave us for figuring out seating capacity...the rows times the width divided by 1.5...the Coe home stand should seat about 1,700.  That's a lot of people standing around the sidelines to get a crowd of 5,000

[Kohawk Krazy]

I think some of you forget how much the Floods of 2008 impacted Coe financially compared to the eight other schools in the league.  I think this might have something to do with what is going on.