FB: American Rivers Conference

[Ash Park]

Congratulations to the Wartburg Knights on spoiling the Spartans homecoming. I started watching towards the end of the 3rd quarter. That was an extremely fun game to watch and looked like a great atmosphere. I noticed Stan Zweifel after the game was screaming at the refs and was very upset with them. One of his assistant coaches was holding him back. Obviously I know he was upset about the loss but can anyone tell me why he was going ballistic towards the refs?? I know there were some calls against UD in the 4th but the video didn't really allow me to see if they were good/bad calls...guessing by his reaction afterwards that he did not agree with them. Anyway, it was a great game to watch and congrats again to the knights on shaking things up in the IIAC. Things just got really interesting within the conference.

[Klompen]

AZD, I know you mean funny as in ironic that I would say that they looked hung over, but I agree it wasn't funny.  What is also funny as in ironic, is that that hung over looking team is in first place now that WB beat UD.  I was surprised to see so many big offensive plays out of WB, I thought that was UD's thing.  But who knows any more.  I sure would not have thought of the Central team I saw today as a first place team.  They have a lot to prove to their fans and themselves now.  Hopefully, like after the UD/Central game, the Dutch will learn from this and come out on fire next time.  But they have got to be ready to play every single game, not just every other one.

Congrats to WB, I didn't think you would win today, but I guess the tied for first place Central Dutch appreciates it.  Their fate is in their own hands now, but they better stop playing football like they have to dribble the ball.

[Klompen]

I noticed the same thing, Ash Park.  I wondered why he was screaming at the refs too.  No matter what the case, the game was over and yelling at the refs only made him look like a poor loser to me.  UD had their chances, but they didn't convert in the red zone as they needed to and they gave up WAY too many big plays on defense.  It was a great game to watch since I didn't really have a horse in this race.  I like UD, but it helped Central for WB to win, so I couldn't lose too much.  Once again, big props to the UD video team for the best internet game coverage I have seen.  Don't know how you do it, but I wish you would teach everyone else in the conference, including Central.  That is really amazing and the parents from a long distance away have to really appreaciate the clarity.  Now if you would just separate the radio announcers from the game announcer, it would be perfect.

Congratulations to both UD and Wartburg on a great game, reminded me a lot of Central and Coe last week.  Had we played last week like we did today, it would have been another thrashing like UD gave us.

[hazzben]

Congratulations to the Wartburg Knights on spoiling the Spartans homecoming. I started watching towards the end of the 3rd quarter. That was an extremely fun game to watch and looked like a great atmosphere. I noticed Stan Zweifel after the game was screaming at the refs and was very upset with them. One of his assistant coaches was holding him back. Obviously I know he was upset about the loss but can anyone tell me why he was going ballistic towards the refs?? I know there were some calls against UD in the 4th but the video didn't really allow me to see if they were good/bad calls...guessing by his reaction afterwards that he did not agree with them. Anyway, it was a great game to watch and congrats again to the knights on shaking things up in the IIAC. Things just got really interesting within the conference.

Noticed the same thing about Zweifel. He was going pretty ballistic. I have no idea if he's normally a hot head or if this was just a close, hard fought game that it really hurt to lose. I'll assume it's the latter.

And Zweifel the WR is putting up video game type numbers each and every week! 18 rec for 159 yds and 2 TD's...are you kidding me!?! I wonder if he'll get any consideration for All-American 

And Wartburg v. Central and Coe v. Dubuque just got really interesting. Could you imagine a 4 way tie for first place in the IIAC with 3 teams at 8-2. Of course, it could just as easily end up with two at 9-1, but what fun would that be!

[AZDutchman]

Klompen, It's funny that you mentioned the freshmen. I was noticing #74 on the side lines. I'm not sure who it was, but he is a freshman. He had more energy than anyone and he wasn't even in the game. He was jumping all over the place.
I can't seem to let go of this walking off the field (among other things). I thought it was a universal code, at all levels/in all sports, to hustle on and off the field. I've been quietly noticing Central players walking in the other games. I have to wonder if the coaches are over looking this and in a position of having to accept this. All I know is that it drives me completely bonkers. 
I would have thought it to be funny to see #74 called into the game to replace someone as they were walking off the field. 

[NewKnightDad]

I just got home, what a game!!!

Dubuque has a solid football team and could make a lot of noise in the playoffs.  Here is to UD and WB running the table the rest of the year! 

One note, if facilities is an arms race the IIAC has another super power in the conference, they have leap frogged way towards the top.

My orange colored glasses still see the "W" as the best but UD is not done spending money.

Glad to see you at our tailgate today Doolittle and it was nice to meet your wife today as well.

Maybe more about he game in the morning.

[Outside the Crate]

Okay, yesterday I said I was going back into my shell (Crate), but I really have to say the Dubuque-Wartburg game today may well be the best small college football game I've ever attended.  Great atmosphere, full house with lots of Wartburg fans, countless hard-fought and big plays by both teams...and a photo finish!

As for the Dubuque coach, I can only imagine the level of his disappointment, but laying one on the refs is not one of his better moments.  As always, there were calls on both sides that will be reviewed by the film watchers in the week ahead.  I predict they'll at least be conference co-champions.

Given all Wartburg's injuries (and more this evening), I should be surprised they won; but, I'm learning not to underestimate Rick Willis.  Second, one has to take one's hat off to the Dubuque coach -- he's built a remarkably fine team in pretty short order.

On a completely different matter, there's an excellent LA Times column about last week's Cal Lutheran - Redlands game that's worth reading.  It's referenced somewhere else on the D3 website -- should be easy to find.

[Pat Coleman]

It's on our front page, under What We're Reading. Or on any SCIAC team's page.

[Klompen]

AZD, I thought Central had been through an invasion of the body snatchers and that the UD team was really Central.     Before the first Central score I got to the point where I was yelling "Put in Osborn" and "Give Osborn a chance".  Who scored the first TD?  Osborn!  Then they didn't use him again for the longest time and when they did, he had a couple of really nice carries.  An alert BV coaching team caught onto that and they really started watching out for him, but I was still impressed with what the young man accomplished.  In addition to scoring the first TD, I think it also helped put light a fire under Doehrmann who finally showed a little steam after watching some of Osborn's success.  Preston West also had some great carries today.  While I am a big Nate Snead fan, BV looked like they had one guy who was to go after him even if it looked like the play was going elsewhere.  He couldn't do much early and Central did not do a good job of mixing things up early.  Snead is a great QB, but I don't think anyone on either side thought anyone other than him would try to get the 4th and one.  I was still a little surprised he didn't get it, because like the coaches, we have all come the rely on him, but is was an obvious call that they stopped us cold on. 

As to players walking off the field, that is just one of the differences between this team and the reputation building teams of the Schipper era.  None of those guys walked off the field.  I remember one that regularly limped off and then when right back in again pretty much every week, but nobody walked off.  Maybe that's why at one point I was yelling that there were probably some second stringers that would gladly take some playing time.  No wonder I can hardly talk tonight.   

Today I felt embarassed by the way the team was playing.  I'm not even sure I felt that way the year that Cornell almost beat us.  Thank goodness Cornell got called for a dumb penalty that allowed us one more chance to tie the game and force OT.  That team played superbly in OT or I might have felt that way.  Purple Heys would have never let us Dutch fans live that one down.  Today Central lucked out against a BV team that came to play.  I'm not sure which fans were more shocked to see BV up 16-0, the Dutch or BV, but I know which ones were happier. 

[Fannosaurus Rex]

AZD, I thought Central had been through an invasion of the body snatchers and that the UD team was really Central.     Before the first Central score I got to the point where I was yelling "Put in Osborn" and "Give Osborn a chance".  Who scored the first TD?  Osborn!  Then they didn't use him again for the longest time and when they did, he had a couple of really nice carries.  An alert BV coaching team caught onto that and they really started watching out for him, but I was still impressed with what the young man accomplished.  In addition to scoring the first TD, I think it also helped put light a fire under Doehrmann who finally showed a little steam after watching some of Osborn's success.  Preston West also had some great carries today.  While I am a big Nate Snead fan, BV looked like they had one guy who was to go after him even if it looked like the play was going elsewhere.  He couldn't do much early and Central did not do a good job of mixing things up early.  Snead is a great QB, but I don't think anyone on either side thought anyone other than him would try to get the 4th and one.  I was still a little surprised he didn't get it, because like the coaches, we have all come the rely on him, but is was an obvious call that they stopped us cold on. 

As to players walking off the field, that is just one of the differences between this team and the reputation building teams of the Schipper era.  None of those guys walked off the field.  I remember one that regularly limped off and then when right back in again pretty much every week, but nobody walked off.  Maybe that's why at one point I was yelling that there were probably some second stringers that would gladly take some playing time.  No wonder I can hardly talk tonight.   

Today I felt embarassed by the way the team was playing.  I'm not even sure I felt that way the year that Cornell almost beat us.  Thank goodness Cornell got called for a dumb penalty that allowed us one more chance to tie the game and force OT.  That team played superbly in OT or I might have felt that way.  Purple Heys would have never let us Dutch fans live that one down.  Today Central lucked out against a BV team that came to play.  I'm not sure which fans were more shocked to see BV up 16-0, the Dutch or BV, but I know which ones were happier.

Geeze!  It almost sounds like I'm glad I missed it.  Except that the reason I missed it is that I went to the track and lost $.  I did see the end of the Warts Sparts game.  What a thriller!  And what a thrill that there is a 4 way tie for first in the IIAC.  The best seasons are the ones where Central wins all of its games by 30.  But this one isn't bad.   

[warthog]

I'm not quite ready to be critical of whatever Coach Zweifel had to say at the end of tonight's game.  There were plenty of close calls that may have sent a coach, fan, or player to the deep end.  Wartburg's Willis had plenty to say to the officials after the 3rd quarter touchdown that was setup by a questionable pass interference in the end zone with about 4:30 on the clock.  I don't think anyone on the Wartburg side of the field thought the call should have gone against the Knights.  We believed the UD receiver ran over the Wartburg d-back.  I would assume Coach W. felt the same way since he really was jawing while they walked to the other end of the field for the kickoff.  If Coach W's conversation had showed up on the video it probably wouldn't have been any more flattering than Coach Z's.  This was a high pressure game with raw emotions pouring out on field as well as on both sidelines.  Neither coach started a brawl, they simply said what was on their mind.  I'd say under the circumstances we give them break.

[Willie University]

Congrats to the Knights on the win today although to be completely honest, I don't think the best team won today. The Knights are good, not trying to take anything away from that fact but take away the big plays and the Spartans controlled the game. But, you still won and I am a man of respect and will give you that.

As for Coach Z, what obviously no one on this board SAW was that earlier in the game when the same official that Coach Z was giving an earful to at the end of the game made a completely unprofessional and provoking gesture to Coach Z. Great thing is that it was caught on tape and hopefully that said official will be repromanded. Coach Z is passionate and to be honest, I respect that he only gave him a earful at the end of the game because he deserved so much more. Totally classless of any official.

It was definitely the game of the day in D3 today and although the Spartans lost the game, they certainly did not lose respect or credibility as a contender in D3.

Willie U

[warthog]

We had a great time on our trip to Dubuque today.  When arriving in the Key City we made a side trip into Wisconsin to checkout the leaves and make some stops for cheese, summer sausage, and Spotted Cow.  When we arrived back to campus the lots north of Chalmers Field were full.  We were directed up the street towards the stadium.  When we got there a parade was coming in our direction.  The traffic director motioned us to the parking lot behind the Spartan side of the stadium.  Not exactly rousing tailgating in that lot.

I did spot Mr. and Mrs. doolittledog across the field in their seats on the 20 yardline.  I tried repeatedly to get their attention by waving by UD "TEAM" hat.  I thought a single blue hat waving in a crowd of orange and black might catch their attention.  It didn't work.  They appeared to be having lots of fun as the UD pepband blasted music in their ears from about four feet away.

I hope this emotionally draining game doesn't have a negative impact on the Spartans and Knights as they prepare for their next game.  If we've learned anything this year, we all now know any IIAC team can win on any given Saturday.

[warthog]

Congrats to the Knights on the win today although to be completely honest, I don't think the best team won today. The Knights are good, not trying to take anything away from that fact but take away the big plays and the Spartans controlled the game. But, you still won and I am a man of respect and will give you that.

As for Coach Z, what obviously no one on this board SAW was that earlier in the game when the same official that Coach Z was giving an earful to at the end of the game made a completely unprofessional and provoking gesture to Coach Z. Great thing is that it was caught on tape and hopefully that said official will be repromanded. Coach Z is passionate and to be honest, I respect that he only gave him a earful at the end of the game because he deserved so much more. Totally classless of any official.

It was definitely the game of the day in D3 today and although the Spartans lost the game, they certainly did not lose respect or credibility as a contender in D3.

Willie U

Once again it appears Willie and I will have to disagree.

Now, Willie and I once again agree

[Willie University]

Yes, warthog, we will have to disagree on the first point. I just hope by some chance of fate that the Spartans and Knights could meet again. I am honestly not bitter or sore loser, we lost but it was more us losing then the Knights winning. Regardless, games over, W's and L's tallied and time to move on.

I did look for you in the stands...blue hat and orange attire, couldn't spot you though. If you were wondering were I was, I was in the middle of leading the Spartan cheers all day......as I have done since my playing days were done... 

Amazing atmosphere at Chalmers Field today and I was proud to be a Spartan.

Willie U