FB: American Rivers Conference

[retagent]

I think he's trying to say that not all coaches are smart enough to recognize that getting the ball to a game breaker is the best way to win. He's actually praising the UD coach - as well as Zweifel.

I got your back on this one emma.

[footballdaddy]

Unfortunately, I just read the article today in my local paper. I was going to stir up some "stuff" but I'm, as usual, late to the party.

That being said, I wonder if the writer is a WIAC grad, since he seems to have the dismissive attitude that many over there exude. Someone with the inclination and time might be able to actually go back and research the WIAC/IIAC matchups of the past few years. I don't argue that the WIAC isn't probably a stronger league, but I would put the IIAC and the MIAC just a half step below - and not the inferior leagues that make superstars out of average players - as the WIACers would have us believe.

Glad to see the off season hasn't slowed you down Retagent.

For the record, this WIAC guy (nor any WIACer i know) doesn't believe Zweifel's success came from playing lesser competition. However I do believe a large part of his success (in terms of # of catches) had to do w the offensive scheme. There are many very talented college receivers that could put up monster #'s of catches if an offensive plan allowed for it.
That's not to take anything away from the kid, but no doubt scouts feel the same way.

FBD is that you?? 

It really sucks that all Dubuque did was throw the ball to Zweifel.

Signed,

Justin Spaulding   216-1,340 yds 13TD 1st team IIAC RB leading rusher in the IIAC
Demacus Fleming 63-995 yds 8TD  1st team IIAC WR 2nd leading reciever in the IIAC
Miles Hookstead   33-349 yds 6TD  2nd team IIAC TE...there was no 1st team IIAC TE

Come on now, I'm not ripping on Zweifel, I love how he plays and I think he has great talent and I sure hope he makes it big in the NFL.  The point remains, a lot of passes have been thrown to him over his career because the coaching staff had the philosophy of getting him the ball.  There are lots of great receivers that didn't play for a coaching staff with that same philosophy.

Emma, neither you nor I will ever be accused of starting local chapters of the Michael Zweifel fan club, but I agree that he is a good receiver. But the fact remains, to catch that many balls, you have to be thrown that many balls. Yes, UD's scheme was to spread the ball around, but there was no secret who option #1 was. From  what I saw personally, a large percentage of his catches were the quick out/possesion type of routes. I don't think he was a huge threat for YAC. He could function well in a West Coast type of offense such as what the Packers run. He should have a decent shot at getting an offer if he's willing to sacrifice himself on special teams.

[badgerwarhawk]

Someone with the inclination and time might be able to actually go back and research the WIAC/IIAC matchups of the past few years.

Being the curious sort that I am I had the inclination and last night I had the time to do the research.  Our conference record of an entire season's schedule goes back to 1998.  Since that time the WIAC is 13-8 against the IIAC.

Team Records:

WIAC:
Oshkosh...2-3
Platteville...8-0
Stevens Point...2-0
WHITEWATER...2-0
River Falls...0-1
LaCrosse...0-2
EauClaire...1-0

IIAC:
Central...4-3
Buena Vista...0-4
Dubuque...0-4
Wartburg...3-1
Coe...1-0
Simpson...0-1

By Season:
2011- WIAC 2-0
2010- WIAC 2-0
2009- WIAC 2-1
2008- IIAC 2-1
2007- None
2006- None
2005- WIAC 2-0
2004- None
2003- None
2002- IIAC 2-0
2001- IIAC 2-1
2000- None
1999- IIAC 1-0
1998- WIAC 1-0

There it is make of it what you will.  Personally I think the IIAC is a pretty decent league and I wish the two conferences could get together and schedule more games.

Having known Michael Z since he was in grade school and considering myself a friend of his family I'm really happy that he's had as much success as he has had and wish him nothing but good luck in the future whether that lies in football or not.  He's an outstanding individual on and off the field.   

[02 Warhawk]

The writer is one of the Packer beat writers and knows professional football.  He would probably admit he doesn't know or watch college football, especially D3 football, to any large degree due to the job requirements of following pro football. Overall, the Journal Sentinal coverage of WIAC sports is about what you would expect from a large city newspaper..nearly nonexistant. I wouldn't read much into his opinions, none of us who regularly read the paper think that highly of their coverage of d3 sports.

I'm not reading too much into it.  I realize the writer has next to no knowledge of D3 sports.   I wouldn't expect him to, that's not part of his job.  He could have spent about 2 minutes or so of research though, to see Zweifel had similar numbers at River Falls as he did at Dubuque.  That isn't an IIAC vs WIAC argument, it's an argument that the focus of the story 'Michael Zweifel' was deserving of a camp invite to the Packers.

That seems to be the case for most writers covering DIII sports, especially when it's covered by larger media outfits.

[wartknight]

Someone with the inclination and time might be able to actually go back and research the WIAC/IIAC matchups of the past few years.

Being the curious sort that I am I had the inclination and last night I had the time to do the research.  Our conference record of an entire season's schedule goes back to 1998.  Since that time the WIAC is 13-8 against the IIAC.

Team Records:

WIAC:
Oshkosh...2-3
Platteville...8-0
Stevens Point...2-0
WHITEWATER...2-0
River Falls...0-1
LaCrosse...0-2
EauClaire...1-0

IIAC:
Central...4-3
Buena Vista...0-4
Dubuque...0-4
Wartburg...3-1
Coe...1-0
Simpson...0-1

By Season:
2011- WIAC 2-0
2010- WIAC 2-0
2009- WIAC 2-1
2008- IIAC 2-1
2007- None
2006- None
2005- WIAC 2-0
2004- None
2003- None
2002- IIAC 2-0
2001- IIAC 2-1
2000- None
1999- IIAC 1-0
1998- WIAC 1-0

There it is make of it what you will.  Personally I think the IIAC is a pretty decent league and I wish the two conferences could get together and schedule more games.

Using WIAC conf records back to 2001 as a basis for ranking the 3 top teams, those 3(4-tie between LC & EC) had a combined 5-2 (used your info provided) record against the IIAC. The IIAC top 3 (assumed Warts,Central,Coe) had a combined 8-4 record against the WIAC. What does this mean? Absolutely nothing, other than the top teams do pretty well against non-conf opp, which you would expect & I just had a little time to waste.

[02 Warhawk]

Someone with the inclination and time might be able to actually go back and research the WIAC/IIAC matchups of the past few years.

Being the curious sort that I am I had the inclination and last night I had the time to do the research.  Our conference record of an entire season's schedule goes back to 1998.  Since that time the WIAC is 13-8 against the IIAC.

Team Records:

WIAC:
Oshkosh...2-3
Platteville...8-0
Stevens Point...2-0
WHITEWATER...2-0
River Falls...0-1
LaCrosse...0-2
EauClaire...1-0

IIAC:
Central...4-3
Buena Vista...0-4
Dubuque...0-4
Wartburg...3-1
Coe...1-0
Simpson...0-1

By Season:
2011- WIAC 2-0
2010- WIAC 2-0
2009- WIAC 2-1
2008- IIAC 2-1
2007- None
2006- None
2005- WIAC 2-0
2004- None
2003- None
2002- IIAC 2-0
2001- IIAC 2-1
2000- None
1999- IIAC 1-0
1998- WIAC 1-0

There it is make of it what you will.  Personally I think the IIAC is a pretty decent league and I wish the two conferences could get together and schedule more games.

Using WIAC conf records back to 2001 as a basis for ranking the 3 top teams, those 3(4-tie between LC & EC) had a combined 5-2 (used your info provided) record against the IIAC. The IIAC top 3 (assumed Warts,Central,Coe) had a combined 8-4 record against the WIAC. What does this mean? Absolutely nothing, other than the top teams do pretty well against non-conf opp, which you would expect & I just had a little time to waste.

I would say there's a handful of DIII conferences whose #2, 3 and 4 teams are better than the WIAC's 2, 3 and 4 teams. IIAC, MIAC, CCIW, OAC and ASC to name a few. But I'll take the bottom 1/3 of the WIAC over any other conference's bottom 1/3 any year. The gap between Whitewater and the bottom of the WIAC is probably the closest in DII, when compared to other conference's best and worst teams.

[footballfan413]

A HUGE congrats to Michael Z and the family on his rookie camp invite to the land of green and yellow!  The best of luck to him.  He is an outstanding young man and much deserving of this opportunity! 

[DoubleDomer]

Luther isn't going to beat them 7 out 10 either, imo.

Hard to argue there; an IIAC team (like Luther) that's finished .500 in 2 of the past 3 seasons is likely to win 8 of 10 from UWRF, which has won 2 games, total, in the past 2 season.

[02 Warhawk]

Luther isn't going to beat them 7 out 10 either, imo.

Hard to argue there; an IIAC team (like Luther) that's finished .500 in 2 of the past 3 seasons is likely to win 8 of 10 from UWRF, which has won 2 games, total, in the past 2 season.

Take a look at who UWRF played (especially their nonconference games) and you'll get a good understanding why they only won 2 games in the past two season. Just brutal:

- St. Thomas (twice)
- Trine (twice)
- Ohio Northern
- Then all the WIAC schools

I would say UWRF wins at least five of 10 meetings with Luther.

[Purple Heys]

IIAC folk:  We've fallen victim to one of the classic blunders, The most famous of which is "Never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line" - even lesser known is this: "Never start a discussion of Conference Superiority with the WIAC".

[Purple Heys]

But just to stoke it up and draw the ire of our Cheesy-headed friends - cuz that's what I do from time to time - Folks from Iowa are Iowans, Minnesota - Minnesotans, California - Californians (or Left-Coast Liberal Wack-jobs if you prefer).

Wisconsin = ?

Wisconsans?  That makes no sense.  Wisconsinans?  Really?  Wisconsinians? Pfft.  Wisconsinites? Sounds like a luggage brand or a Kitchen countertop material.

Help me out here.

Iowans, Minnesotans, or LCLWJ's feel free to jump in.

[hazzben]

But just to stoke it up and draw the ire of our Cheesy-headed friends - cuz that's what I do from time to time - Folks from Iowa are Iowans, Minnesota - Minnesotans, California - Californians (or Left-Coast Liberal Wack-jobs if you prefer).

Wisconsin = ?

Wisconsans?  That makes no sense.  Wisconsinans?  Really?  Wisconsinians? Pfft.  Wisconsinites? Sounds like a luggage brand or a Kitchen countertop material.

Help me out here.

Iowans, Minnesotans, or LCLWJ's feel free to jump in.

I've always preferred to call them Sconies. And most don't seem to mind one bit from the reactions I've observed.

[warthog]

Mrs. Warthog and I just returned from visiting all the Warthog children and grandchildren in Waverly and Cedar Falls.  We checked on the progress being made on the new home being built by Little Warthog's family.  Today the roofing part of the process was started.  I was fully expecting to see the next great Knight running back up there slinging shingles and running the air gun.   

Could anyone on the D3 board tell me the name of the last great Amish running back?  That's right the roofing is being put on by a crew of Amish men.  Talk about a downer.  I thought for sure I'd have a scoop for everyone.  Well maybe this year the Wartburg recruiting malfeasance will involve improper summer employment opportunities for an electrician or a plumber rather than a roofer.

I'll keep you posted.

[hazzben]

Mrs. Warthog and I just returned from visiting all the Warthog children and grandchildren in Waverly and Cedar Falls.  We checked on the progress being made on the new home being built by Little Warthog's family.  Today the roofing part of the process was started.  I was fully expecting to see the next great Knight running back up there slinging shingles and running the air gun.   

Could anyone on the D3 board tell me the name of the last great Amish running back?  That's right the roofing is being put on by a crew of Amish men.  Talk about a downer.  I thought for sure I'd have a scoop for everyone.  Well maybe this year the Wartburg recruiting malfeasance will involve improper summer employment opportunities for an electrician or a plumber rather than a roofer.

I'll keep you posted.

The amish may not make great running backs, but they can build a mean coffee table! At least you can be confident the roof over Little Warts head should keep him dry 

[doolittledog]

Mrs. Warthog and I just returned from visiting all the Warthog children and grandchildren in Waverly and Cedar Falls.  We checked on the progress being made on the new home being built by Little Warthog's family.  Today the roofing part of the process was started.  I was fully expecting to see the next great Knight running back up there slinging shingles and running the air gun.   

Could anyone on the D3 board tell me the name of the last great Amish running back?  That's right the roofing is being put on by a crew of Amish men.  Talk about a downer.  I thought for sure I'd have a scoop for everyone.  Well maybe this year the Wartburg recruiting malfeasance will involve improper summer employment opportunities for an electrician or a plumber rather than a roofer.

I'll keep you posted.

The amish may not make great running backs, but they can build a mean coffee table! At least you can be confident the roof over Little Warts head should keep him dry 

So if I'm a scam artist, I name my company Jedediah Yoder roofing company, grow a beard and wear a straw hat, answer "ya" a lot to peoples questions and I get to charge double for my services.  Which would afford me the opportunity to go to twice as many UD games as most years

Ok, yeah, I would probably get found out pretty quickly. 

As far as IIAC football goes, I can tell you guys are rubbing off on mrs doolittle.  SHE is the one talking about tailgating this fall all they way in May!!!