FB: American Rivers Conference

[Storm-what?]

Two questions regarding Luther athletics. First of all- what is going on there? They have traditionally had at least repectible programs. They are usually strong in soccer and a Powerhouse in women's tennis. Their fall lineup looks like this so far:
Football: 1-6
Volleyball: 0-8
Mens soccer: 3-4-1
Womens soccer: 5-2-1
Wome's Xc: 1st place
W tennis: 3rd place

2nd question- There are schools in the conference that bend standards for great athletes and ones that don't usually. I would classify Luther as a school that doesn't do too much bending. So, that being said, how do they maintain such a strong wrestling program? Just great coaching? Even top recruiting is difficult at that level if you can't accept some of your top recruits?

[Crimson and Bold]

DutchFan,
  the linebacker that came off actually broke his fibula.  He's a tough kid and wanted to make the effort to play on it for the rest of the game, but understandably didn't.  He was definitely missed in the clutch moments of the game.  However, there is a bright side;  the freshman linebackers that played in his spot got a shot and took advantage of it.  They played very well and are poised to be some of the best that Coe has seen.  

Being a Kohawk fan this year has been both exciting and disappointing.  A break here and there (by break I mean made field goals; two against wartburg and one in overtime on saturday against Central) and it's Coe that's talking about the Pool C or Pool B bid and maybe even another conference championship.  

Anybody who was at the game on Saturday could tell that having Tekippe back was huge!  He made a few mistakes due to rust and nothing against Bobby, but the offense just looked crisper and mroe confident.  It should make for an interesting season next year with both DeMoulin and Tekippe coming back.  Look for Coe to be a threat next year, even with the loss of a huge senior class.

[Dsquared]

How in the WORLD does Tekippe have any eligibility left?  Did he take a full redshirt year his only year at Wartburg?  I can't remember what point of his freshman year he had his worst shoulder problems in...

Tekippe, if you are reading this, I hope that you didn't turn into an @$$ when you went to Coe... and I'm still waiting for another story to top either the Iowa City wandering story OR the falling into a hole at CF Homecoming story

[Walston Hoover]

Do they call him Van Wilder yet?

[Floyd in Iowa City]

I am pretty sure Tekippe was a senior QB at North Fayette in the fall of 2001.  This fall is his 5th year out of high school.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Two questions regarding Luther athletics. First of all- what is going on there? They have traditionally had at least repectible programs. They are usually strong in soccer and a Powerhouse in women's tennis. Their fall lineup looks like this so far:
Football: 1-6
Volleyball: 0-8
Mens soccer: 3-4-1
Womens soccer: 5-2-1
Wome's Xc: 1st place
W tennis: 3rd place

2nd question- There are schools in the conference that bend standards for great athletes and ones that don't usually. I would classify Luther as a school that doesn't do too much bending. So, that being said, how do they maintain such a strong wrestling program? Just great coaching? Even top recruiting is difficult at that level if you can't accept some of your top recruits?

Football has been up and down since the 1970s.  The worst years were the late 1990s, but the talent level is much better right now than it was 10 years ago.  They were 5-3 in the league the previous three seasons, but they haven't gotten it done this year.  The troubles this year have more to do with not making plays to win games and what I will just be nice and call "momentum" than an overall lack of talent.  The defense has been a concern the last two years given how they were playing at least the previous few years.  The coaching staff has some issues to resolve on defense and special teams going into next year.

Both the men and women won the cross-country titles this fall, so I don't think there should be too much concern there.

The great women's tennis coach retired at Luther after last year, so that may explain why Luther did not win the title for only the 2nd time in the last 25 years.  It may be hard to sustain the success that the program has had thus far.

Dynasties and great runs don't last forever.  Other schools get better, coaches retire, and other factors change.  The great runs of Luther men's track (1963-1986), men's cross country (1964-1992), and baseball (1891-1939) ended just as Wartburg's run in baseball (1997-2006) and wrestling (1993-2006) will probably end some day.

Admissions standards and financial aid packages are different from school to school (and at times a big part of recruiting), but there are other factors at times.  Decorah is not very close to any large population, and that can be both a good and a bad thing.  The Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area and the Des Moines area continue to grow so that Coe, Cornell, and Simpson continue to have more athletes in their own backyard, but on the other hand Luther also attracts lots of kids because of the campus, quality academics, and surrounding Decorah area. 

Big population areas tend to produce more kickers and punters than smaller population areas.  Then again, B.V. has had as many kickers with a strong leg as anyone else in recent years.

[KoHawk01]

To all the Loras fans:

     What's happened this year???  They aren't the same team I saw against Coe.  They beat a tough UD team and get a W against Cornell.  They played possibly the toughest non-conference schedule.  Then it all got away after the Wartburg game, which they should've won!! I dont see how they can lose the games they did with some of the players they have.  I feel they have the best linebacker in the conference in Brock Hall and a solid supporting cast around him.  I can't see how they can go and look AMAZING against the KoHawks and end up like this!!!

I have heard that their offense struggles @ times and is turnover prone.... Someone please elaborate on this!!   



Congrats to all on a GREAT year so far .... hope the last week is as exciting as the first 9!

[lorbec47]

KoHawk:

It can be summed up in big plays and turnovers. Taking nothing away from BV or Simpson, they had some opportunities handed to them on a golden platter, especially Simpson. BV connected on those 3 long passes for TD's, which just totally deflate a team. Basically against UD, Coe, and Cornell, they didn't turn the ball over and eliminated big plays. (For the most part.) It's been frustrating to watch, but I know that Coach Ostey will bounce back. I think Loras will beat Luther to end the year, lil bro just isn't going to go out like that.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Two questions regarding Luther athletics. First of all- what is going on there? They have traditionally had at least repectible programs. They are usually strong in soccer and a Powerhouse in women's tennis. Their fall lineup looks like this so far:
Football: 1-6
Volleyball: 0-8
Mens soccer: 3-4-1
Womens soccer: 5-2-1
Wome's Xc: 1st place
W tennis: 3rd place

On the men's side, Luther has won the all-sport trophy 20 times in the 45-year history of the award, but they haven't won it since 1989.  Here is the last five years from the conference website:
2006 - 3rd
2005 - 2nd
2004 - 3rd
2003 - 3rd
2002 - 3rd

The women have won the all-sports trophy 9 times in the last 21 years, but haven't won since 2000.  Here is the last five years from the conference website:
2006 - 3rd
2005 - 2nd
2004 - 3rd
2003 - 3rd
2002 - 2nd

In general, volleyball and men's basketball are the sports that have consistently been a problem in recent years (volleyball clearly belongs in its own class) as it relates to the all-sports trophy.  Football and baseball have shown signs of life in recent years, but football has taken a step backwards this year.  The Luther swim programs are having great seasons as of late, but those aren't counted towards the standings.

[Walston Hoover]

To all the Loras fans:

     What's happened this year???  They aren't the same team I saw against Coe.  They beat a tough UD team and get a W against Cornell.  They played possibly the toughest non-conference schedule.  Then it all got away after the Wartburg game, which they should've won!! I dont see how they can lose the games they did with some of the players they have.  I feel they have the best linebacker in the conference in Brock Hall and a solid supporting cast around him.  I can't see how they can go and look AMAZING against the KoHawks and end up like this!!!

I have heard that their offense struggles @ times and is turnover prone.... Someone please elaborate on this!!   



Congrats to all on a GREAT year so far .... hope the last week is as exciting as the first 9!

How in the H3!! do you come up with Loras "should've won" the Wartburg game. Does the -1 yards rushing for the contest not show how dominating the Duhawks OL actually was up front?

[Alfredeneumann]

I think in the case of soccer the rest of the conference HAS caught and passed Luther. A lot of schools give soccer the same coaching support as any other sport +  because years ago LC was getting players from MN, WI and now with  IA players (and a clutch international player here or there) others have made the big step up and passed LC

NCAA Men's Soccer - Wartburg & Loras, at Gustavus Adolphus College
Loras vs. Gustavus, Saturday, 11 AM
Wartburg vs. North Park, Saturday, 1:30 PM

But hey, LC has a great music program.

[DutchFan2004]

Kohawk01,

I think it was definately turnovers in the Central game.  Loras just could not hang on to the ball.  I felt sorry for them.  The defense was on the field a lot, but even then Central really ran the ball on them.  There D didn't stop us at all.  I wondered the same thing after last Saturday in CR.  How did Coe give up 32 points to Loras. I guess you chalk it up to any given day.  That must have been Loras' day.

[Dsquared]

Ouch Alfred... better not give them TOO much credit.  Whenever Winston steps aside, where will they be then?  Big time burn on Mrs. Neumann's alma mater... I like where your head's at!!

[Dsquared]

Would somebody PLEASE explain to me how COE COLLEGE is in the NCAA volleyball tournament field?  PLEASE!!!!  Or please tell me that iowaconference.com screwed up!!!

[Charlie Kohawk]

Would somebody PLEASE explain to me how COE COLLEGE is in the NCAA volleyball tournament field?  PLEASE!!!!  Or please tell me that iowaconference.com screwed up!!!

The Kohawk volleyball team is 26-7, overall, tops in the IIAC. Along the way, they beat the defending national champs twice and Central and Simpson each once. They're ranked fourth in the central region, ahead of #5 Simpson and #6 Central. That's how.