FB: American Rivers Conference

[footballdaddy]

My prayers go out to justis also. Praying for a fast and complete recovery.

[footballfan413]

Tonight is one of those times you feel like you have been kicked in the belly and once again realize that who wins or loses football games is not really all that important.

It has become public knowledge that one of the young men on our local undefeated high school team has been diagnosed with cancer.  His last game was Friday night.  Next week he starts his first round of chemo.  We are told there are reasons to be optomistic concerning his long term health.  For that his family and teammates can be thankful.  Yet it seems a seventeen year old high school kid should be worried about battling an opposing offensive lineman rather than battling cancer.

Please offer up a prayer for Justis.

Warthog,  You are probably familiar with my son's story.  Keith wrote an article about him and another player facing down adversity last year. My son fought Testicular Cancer at the age of 24 from November 09 through May of 10.  It took 2 surgeries and 3 rounds of chem but our family is now 16 months cancer free!!  Please feel free to send me a PM if you think that Justis would like to hear from him.  I know A.J. would be happy to offer his support to him, one football player to another.  Justis and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers!   

[Ash Park]

http://news.cornellcollege.edu/2011/09/5-6-million-gift-to-help-fund-thomas-commons-renovation/

Why can't they just make that a 5 million dollar gift for the commons and take the rest and put it towards the football field/stadium ??

How did the upgrades at BV go? Did they just get field turf? Didn't Simpson replace their old turf and do some other upgrades as well?

[Fannosaurus Rex]

+K to everyone for making it to the start of conference play.  It makes me little nervous to have Luther coming to Pella tomorrow.  I still remember the 2008 game that Luther won in Decorah.  As I remember (and I misremember so much) the Norse freshman quarterback was brilliant that day.  I expected to hear much more about him than we have since then.  I hope he doesn't pick tomorrow to have another career day.  And then there is a pre-season All American linebacker to worry about.  Does anyone make an over/under for the number of tackles that guy will make tomorrow?  Looks like he has averaged 18 in the first two games.  Yikes!

[Bird Dog]

http://news.cornellcollege.edu/2011/09/5-6-million-gift-to-help-fund-thomas-commons-renovation/

Why can't they just make that a 5 million dollar gift for the commons and take the rest and put it towards the football field/stadium ??

How did the upgrades at BV go? Did they just get field turf? Didn't Simpson replace their old turf and do some other upgrades as well?

Now that they don't need to spend the additional $5+Mil on the commons I am sure they will have more money to spend on football and women's sports.

[doolittledog]

http://news.cornellcollege.edu/2011/09/5-6-million-gift-to-help-fund-thomas-commons-renovation/

Why can't they just make that a 5 million dollar gift for the commons and take the rest and put it towards the football field/stadium ??

How did the upgrades at BV go? Did they just get field turf? Didn't Simpson replace their old turf and do some other upgrades as well?

  Now that they don't need to spend the additional $5+Mil on the commons I am sure they will have more money to spend on football and women's sports.

I am curious now that the Cornell administration was able to take Cornell back to the MWC if they will start spending some money on athletics.  No more winning a conference title in basketball and then telling the coach he has to take a 20% pay cut because times are hard...and then announcing the completion of a $110 million capital campaign a few months later???  Or will they figure they can win more in the MWC without ever having to spend money???

Either way, I wish Cornell well.  I have always liked the school and came very close to choosing Cornell...way, way back in the day. 

[hazzben]

Wart, my prayers are with Justis. Reminds me of Logan Flannery's story. He got cancer during the summer before his senior season and had to go through all the trials of chemo and radiation as well. Here's to Justis making the same recovery Logan did and having a full life afterwards.

[OhIowa]

A 2-0 start for the Rams brings out another fair weather fan in me.  I've been a part of previous 2-0 starts only to see the conference schedule slam the door in our face.  Hopefully this year Cornell can break that 2 win barrier and begin build a little momentum.

Hopefully the administration doesn't have the mindset that going to the Midwest Conference can result in more success without pumping a few more dollars into the athletics budget.  Maybe some of the alum that had success in MWC when Coe and Cornell were the big dogs are just waiting for this move to happen in order to open the checkbooks.  Time will tell.

Definitely an interesting start to the season.  Excited to see how things take shape the next couple weeks.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

With the IIAC getting down to business this coming weekend, which teams fit the following?

Contenders: 

Pretenders:   

Rear enders: 

With the results we saw in week 2 vs week 1 I think it is still too early to tell what is likely to play out this season. 

One would think Coe will turn things around...or perhaps Coe is looking at a repeat of 2008. 

Central and Wartburg I would guess will be their normal selves...but I don't know.

Dubuque...I wear royal blue glasses...I'm optimistic but I am not holding my breath just yet.

Luther, probably a decent team but if they start off 0-3 they might nose dive

Simpson...a very different team in week 2 compared to week 1

Loras...middle of the road most likely...pretender

BVU...I'm beginning to think they are a rear ender...but I thought that about Simpson after week 1 and the Storms performance in week 2 has me reconsidering that.

Cornell...we are used to just pencilling the Rams into the 9th spot.  We've seen them open up 2-0 in the past...but I think they have a few more wins in them...perhaps right on the line between rear ender and pretender.

I would say congrats to Wartburg at this point as they are 2-0, but I guess I am not seeing enough yet to think that Coe and Central are 10-point dogs on paper to the Knights.

Dubuque is the team that seems as good or better than what I thought back in late July.

B.V. might be worse than what I thought in July.  Coe might be also, but history says that they will bounce back.

Luther has got to turn this around quickly.  No matter how old the QB is, 0-3 can turn ugly pretty quickly.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Even though the Norse(men) are 0-2, it is time to bring on the Dutch(men)!  In a series that the winner over the last 30 years is almost always from that nice little town in central Iowa, many of the games in over the years have been good games.

Perhaps that Norse can beat the Dutch for the 2nd time in Chris Reynolds career?

Can Luther beat the Dutch in Pella?  That hasn't happened in quite some time.  The last time I took in a game in Pella was when the Norse played the Dutch tough in 2007.  The Norse Offense was very good at times that day with Tyler Sherden getting to run on field turf for even more quickness/speed, but the Dutch were much better on special teams (especially punting) and had the better QB.  Iowa State also beat Iowa in Ames that day, so some things just keep happening.

Lots of coaches tell players to respect the opponent.  That is easy to do when playing Central in football.

Go Norse!

[OhIowa]

http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=15454688

Not sure how many of you have heard or read this story, but I just came across this.  Pretty scary stuff.  2 years ago at the Cornell-Grinnell football game, we went through a similar situation with an official during the game.  Prayers with Brett as well as Justis.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

And speaking of special teams, I am relieved to see Central's two new kickers are off to solid starts.  Since one of my New Year's resolutions for this year is to not be superstitious, I don't mind saying that the place kicker is a perfect 8 for 8 on extra-points and 1 for 2 on field goals and the bad one was well kicked and just missed by a hair.  The punter seems to get them off quick and high and has a 42.3 yard average compared to 42.5 for Wartburg's All American.  That part of the game seems to be in good hands, or feet I suppose would be more accurate.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

And speaking of special teams, I am relieved to see Central's two new kickers are off to solid starts.  Since one of my New Year's resolutions for this year is to not be superstitious, I don't mind saying that the place kicker is a perfect 8 for 8 on extra-points and 1 for 2 on field goals and the bad one was well kicked and just missed by a hair.  The punter seems to get them off quick and high and has a 42.3 yard average compared to 42.5 for Wartburg's All American.  That part of the game seems to be in good hands, or feet I suppose would be more accurate.

I heard Coach Durnin also mention the Central punter in that he is having a very good season so far.

[DutchFan2004]

Even though the Norse(men) are 0-2, it is time to bring on the Dutch(men)!  In a series that the winner over the last 30 years is almost always from that nice little town in central Iowa, many of the games in over the years have been good games.

Perhaps that Norse can beat the Dutch for the 2nd time in Chris Reynolds career?

Can Luther beat the Dutch in Pella?  That hasn't happened in quite some time.  The last time I took in a game in Pella was when the Norse played the Dutch tough in 2007.  The Norse Offense was very good at times that day with Tyler Sherden getting to run on field turf for even more quickness/speed, but the Dutch were much better on special teams (especially punting) and had the better QB.  Iowa State also beat Iowa in Ames that day, so some things just keep happening.

Lots of coaches tell players to respect the opponent.  That is easy to do when playing Central in football.

Go Norse!

i remember that game too!  The Norse gave us all we wanted.  You had a huge Dline that year and put some big hits on Tim.  Hope it is a good game and hope no one gets hurt tomorrow. 

[Klompen]

Prayers for Justis, Brett, Chris Norton and so many people, football players or not, dealing with illness and injuries.  It is a tough road for all.  Can't help but think of Chris with Central and Luther playing again tomorrow.  What an example he has set for all of us to aspire to in battling our own health issues or other problems. 

Good luck to the Dutch tomorrow as Luther has not been a tough opponent most of the recent years.  Central has a lot of young, inexperienced linemen on both sides of the ball.  That is something an opportunistic Chris Reynolds could take advantage of.  Luther has the tools and I'm sure none of the Dutch are taking them lightly, even at 0-2. 

I am also impressed with the early showing of the punter and kicker.  Both are doing quite well, but then again, is anyone really surprised that Central's coaching staff wouldn't put a lot of focus on this aspect of the game?  Central has had the benefit of great special teams play for so long, that you knew they would have found someone to step up to the challenge.  Now the special team question seams to be can we just hang onto the ball after a kickoff?  I'm looking for a day of fewer mistakes and continued improvement.

Hope everyone gets to take in a game, in person or over the web tomorrow and that every player plays hard and stays healthy.  Go Dutch!