FB: American Rivers Conference

[D3Dutchman]

Credit to the Dutch.  Looks they're makin' some hay.  Keep getting better.

[Willie University]

Oy vey, UD took one on the chin today.  Time to forget about this game and concentrate on the rest of the season. 

Dubuque lost, Iowa lost, my wife got sunburned something fierce, this will not go down as my best day ever...but I was able to run into WillieU as he came over and chatted with my family for a bit at the end of the game.  Nice guy and he looks like he would still be able to put on the pads and play, unlike this former pep band member that has let food and drink expand my waistline beyond imagination. 

On to next week and hopefully better days for this conference.

It was a pleasure to meet you, mrs DD, and your nephew as well. Thanks for the compliment, however knees, back, and shoulders would last about 1 qtr at age 41. I agree with DD's sentiments, UD took one on the chin. However, I think much was learned today on both sides of the ball. I personally think the turning point came in the 2nd qtr when a mental mistake fair catching the ball on the 1 or 2 yard line after a great defensive stand and the UD enusing 3 and out gave platteville short field and they capitalized to take the lead. Platteville is a great football team and will score points on anyone. I believe they will be a contender for 2nd spot in the WIAC.

The Spartans battled back with an impressive performance led by Hanus and the O-line. Sean Anderson had "M. Zweifel" type stats and made some great catches. I think the spartans have enough weapons on offense to be very dangerous again. Down by 10 with a couple minutes to play, I wonder what "if" we could have gotten that onside kick? Quick score and possible another onside and one more shot, would have been the greatest comeback I have ever witnessed! Oh well, I'd rather play quality opponents in non-conference play to get ready for IIAC then a couple cupcakes and 3-0 record.

Willie U

[Klompen]

As a Central fan, I am not going to count out anyone, particularly any team that loses to a WIAC or MIAC quality team.  I think Central is going to have to battle in every game and play particularly strong against Coe, Dubuque and Wartburg.  Willie, I guess it all depends who you play, I would put Oshkosh up there as a contender for 2nd in the WIAC as well.  Given the nonconference performance of our "top" teams against the WIAC and MIAC I think we had best be happy to have a conference AQ as these conferences have set themselves up well for a 2-team argument. 

Wartburg fans, all I saw was the score and it looked like a beating from that alone.  All games have breaks that could have gone one way or another and made a difference in the outcome, with the exception of Central's game last week, that was a beating.      Lots of games are closer than the final score shows, but in my experience, breaks go one way or another because one team creates them and the other suffers them.  Bad breaks and field position are part of being outplayed.  But these are the games that show where those areas that need work are and make you a better team.

[RoyalBU]

So the WIAC and MIAC are not being kind to the IIAC teams this year.  Not sure I'm surprised, I think with UD recruiting a little more locally and the IIAC teams spreading the talent around more, it's harder to find that team that really can compete and win with these tough conferences.  But I give credit for scheduling challenging teams, you always learn more, sadly even in a loss.  I'm sure that Central and WB both learned more in the beatings they took than WB learned last week.  It doesn't feel as good though.    

So it looks like Coe is the only team left in the IIAC with a shot at an early ranking. 

AZD, saw jr. out there today, granted he was sprawled out on the field at the time, but he was out there.     The woman sitting next to me said, "My, that 71 is a big player isn't he.  Must be why he is pushing the defense aside close to the goal line.   

I would hardly call the game today a beating. I saw two evenly matched teams-breaks and short field went the wrong way

While I wouldn't call it a beating, I also wouldn't call it two evenly matched teams that boiled down to a couple of "breaks"....and I don't mean that with any dis-respect. I think Wartburg has a solid squad. It seemed like 2 teams with strong defenses, with Bethel making the plays when it counted on both sides of the ball. There was a huge difference on 3rd & 4th down conversions. Bethel was 6 for 15 on 3rd, while Wartburg was 2 for 13 on 3rd...and 0 for 2 on 4th.  Neither team could run the ball. The difference on offense was Bethel's passing game and not having any turnovers.

I was concerned with turnovers for Bethel coming into the game with a new QB and it being their first game of the year. While the QB wasn't spectacular, he got the job done and didn't have any huge mistakes. I'll take that for his first start on the road against a good defense.

[DBQ1965]

As a Central fan, I am not going to count out anyone, particularly any team that loses to a WIAC or MIAC quality team.  I think Central is going to have to battle in every game and play particularly strong against Coe, Dubuque and Wartburg.  Willie, I guess it all depends who you play, I would put Oshkosh up there as a contender for 2nd in the WIAC as well.  Given the nonconference performance of our "top" teams against the WIAC and MIAC I think we had best be happy to have a conference AQ as these conferences have set themselves up well for a 2-team argument. 

I drove down to Albion yesterday to see that game against then #10 Wheaton.  Central will have its hands full in 2 weeks ... on the road no less.

[Klompen]

As a Central fan, I am not going to count out anyone, particularly any team that loses to a WIAC or MIAC quality team.  I think Central is going to have to battle in every game and play particularly strong against Coe, Dubuque and Wartburg.  Willie, I guess it all depends who you play, I would put Oshkosh up there as a contender for 2nd in the WIAC as well.  Given the nonconference performance of our "top" teams against the WIAC and MIAC I think we had best be happy to have a conference AQ as these conferences have set themselves up well for a 2-team argument. 

I drove down to Albion yesterday to see that game against then #10 Wheaton.  Central will have its hands full in 2 weeks ... on the road no less.

You are right, that was remiss of me.  I forgot we have a third non-conference game and that one will certainly be a challenge after a very long bus ride.  Good thing we won yesterday, it would be really difficult to get the team up to start with two losses, have a week off, then have to go to Albion, who beat Wheaton.  Not sure I put a lot of stock in rankings this early, but it will be a tough game for sure. 

[CaliRamRL6]

I skip town for a nice visit to the in-laws and come back to some vandalism. Someone decided to put a magnet on my garage that said "Once a Kohawk, Always a Kohawk" with a huge Kohawks logo. I need to track down this vandal so I can pay him/her back.

[DBQ1965]

This has nothing to do with IIAC football, but clearly has "Iowa" implications.  Watching the Denver - Pittsburgh game tonight ... I wonder ... did the Hawkeyes make a mistake giving up their more traditional uniforms for what I would describe at that ghastly black-and-gold?

[doolittledog]

I skip town for a nice visit to the in-laws and come back to some vandalism. Someone decided to put a magnet on my garage that said "Once a Kohawk, Always a Kohawk" with a huge Kohawks logo. I need to track down this vandal so I can pay him/her back.

Carefull...he's bigger than you...though quite a big older

[doolittledog]

This has nothing to do with IIAC football, but clearly has "Iowa" implications.  Watching the Denver - Pittsburgh game tonight ... I wonder ... did the Hawkeyes make a mistake giving up their more traditional uniforms for what I would describe at that ghastly black-and-gold?

That was a one time "throw back" uniform.  Next week we see the traditional Hawkeye uniform...hopefully with a better result.  If the Hawkeyes were to lose to both of the other state schools in the same year I might have to move out of state to get away from all the gloating from my neighbors 

[CaliRamRL6]

I skip town for a nice visit to the in-laws and come back to some vandalism. Someone decided to put a magnet on my garage that said "Once a Kohawk, Always a Kohawk" with a huge Kohawks logo. I need to track down this vandal so I can pay him/her back.

Carefull...he's bigger than you...though quite a big older

Haha. I don't think he'd put in the effort to drive from North Liberty.

[Norsanity]

Norse fan here. A lot of positives looking ahead for Norse fb. Played 2 really tough teams and doesn't look like anyone in iiac is great. Title team will have 2 losses. Only bad teams are Loras and bv.

[Norsanity]

Is Idaho soccer a duhawk soccer player jealous that even though soccer is great at Lora's no one cares about soccer?

[doolittledog]

Welcome Norsanity.  I have a feeling it's about to get interesting around here

[5 Words or Less]

D'oh - Glass house dead ahead