FB: American Rivers Conference

[notlongago]

Wow, really didn't expect that showing from DBQ....getting blown off the field by a team picked to finish second-to-last in their conference. Should be a good game between the spartans and the Dutch in a couple weeks. Both have had remarkably similar seasons thus far. (wins vs auggie, embarrassing WIACC losses...even though the Dutch lost to pre-season #2 as opposed to pre-season #7  , and both could come in with 2 losses and the season already on the line.)

Actually, take a closer look. I will guarantee you that Stevens Points will be competing for the 2nd spot along with Platteville and Osh Kosh. I have seen all 3 teams play and all can beat each other on any given day. Look at their record from last year and many close losses. Then, look at their history and you will see Stevens Point has been a powerhouse for years (again, we all know Whitewater is the best).

In fact, if I was a betting man, I would say the final WIAC standings will look similar to this:

1.UWW
2. Osh Kosh or Stevens Point
3. UW-Platteville (losing their starting QB for the season VS UD hurts the rest of their seasons prospects in my opinion.....we will see.

Pre-season rankings don't mean squat. Last year UD was picked to finish 7th and we know how that turned out.

I'd take your bet. And yes I know SP has had some good years (The year Central beat em I think they were #5/6 in the nation coming off a year where they beat WW), but at this point in the season, WW and Oshkosh look much more dynamic....they may finish 3rd or 4th (with the injury to plattevilles QB)....but we shall see. I think either way we can both agree on a few things at this point:
1) WIAC is on another level compared to the IIAC
2) The IIAC can kiss their pool C bid bye bye. haha

[Willie University]

Yes, we definitely agree on those last 2 points! Unfortunately.

[doolittledog]

We have all talked about how scrimmages mean different things to different teams and coaching staffs.  Dubuque beat Oshkosh when they scrimmaged a few weeks ago.  Maybe Dubuque took the scrimmage more seriously than Oshkosh did.  That is why the dismantling Dubuque got from Platteville and Stevens Point really stood out to us.   

You are correct, the WIAC is at another level compared to the IIAC this year and we can forget about a pool C bid this season. 

[putmeincoach]

Oshkosh has a lot of returners - those returners may not have played all that much in a scrimmage - from what I've heard they become much more beatable as a second unit

[putmeincoach]

ps - looking forward to IIAC play and lettting the WIAC beat up on each other until playoffs - maybe the IIAC Champ can sneak up on them at the end of the year

[warthog]

Coming back from Milwaukee on Sunday, the Warthog clan stops at a convenience store along US Highway 151 just east of Platteville for fuel.  The guy behind the counter looks at Little Warthog and me in our Wartburg shirts and says, "Here are two more of you people.  I've seen lots of shirts from Wartburg over the past three days."  All the Wartmobiles must get similar gas mileage, that would require a stop at this particular convenience store.

Probaly because most ran out of beer instead of fuel.

We're thinking alike.  My guess was there was a sign at the convenience store in big letters that read "ALCOHOL" that attracted Wartburg fans like a moth to a flame

We didn't need anymore rocket fuel.  We had plenty of Spotted Cow from New Glarus on board.  The clerk at the convenience store was unloading a new delivery of cheese curds.  They were squeaky fresh so we got a few pounds of them.

[footballdaddy]

Coming back from Milwaukee on Sunday, the Warthog clan stops at a convenience store along US Highway 151 just east of Platteville for fuel.  The guy behind the counter looks at Little Warthog and me in our Wartburg shirts and says, "Here are two more of you people.  I've seen lots of shirts from Wartburg over the past three days."  All the Wartmobiles must get similar gas mileage, that would require a stop at this particular convenience store.

Probaly because most ran out of beer instead of fuel.

We're thinking alike.  My guess was there was a sign at the convenience store in big letters that read "ALCOHOL" that attracted Wartburg fans like a moth to a flame

We didn't need anymore rocket fuel.  We had plenty of Spotted Cow from New Glarus on board.  The clerk at the convenience store was unloading a new delivery of cheese curds.  They were squeaky fresh so we got a few pounds of them.

AHHHH, yes! The other reason to stop in America's Dairyland!

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I was going to be the first to do my pickem so I went to IIAC site to get the schedule.  It is a little busy with all of the sports for men and women crowded on the same page.  Did I read it right?  Are Central and loathsome Simpson really the only two IIAC teams playing this Saturday?

[doolittledog]

I was going to be the first to do my pickem so I went to IIAC site to get the schedule.  It is a little busy with all of the sports for men and women crowded on the same page.  Did I read it right?  Are Central and loathsome Simpson really the only two IIAC teams playing this Saturday?

You read it right...
Simpson @ Eureka
Central @ Albion

[Klompen]

Oshkosh has a lot of returners - those returners may not have played all that much in a scrimmage - from what I've heard they become much more beatable as a second unit

No doubt about that.  Central is 0-47 against starters and 28-0 the rest of the Oshkosh team. 

When Central stood head and shoulders above the rest of the conference, or even Central and Wartburg only at the top of the conference, we were competitive with both the best of the WIAC and MIAC.  The more parity in the conference, the less competitive our top team will be against the other conference solo or near solo standout teams.  You just can't spread the talent that thin and expect to compete on the national level.  It makes for an exciting season, but a short post season.  When the best all want to play for the best, you have a national power. 

IMHO  Coach Schipper retired and the other coaches were able to start having a little success with recruiting top players away from Central.  Throw in a roofing job or two and one Central 50-50 season and suddenly their are 4 teams competing for the top and none standing out as much as we would like to believe.  Unitl one team really starts to dominate the conference again, only then will a runner up be considered for a pool C bid.  May I recommend Central to fill the shoes, they have the most experience.   

[Bird Dog]

Wow, really didn't expect that showing from DBQ....getting blown off the field by a team picked to finish second-to-last in their conference. Should be a good game between the spartans and the Dutch in a couple weeks. Both have had remarkably similar seasons thus far. (wins vs auggie, embarrassing WIACC losses...even though the Dutch lost to pre-season #2 as opposed to pre-season #7  , and both could come in with 2 losses and the season already on the line.)

Actually, take a closer look. I will guarantee you that Stevens Points will be competing for the 2nd spot along with Platteville and Osh Kosh. I have seen all 3 teams play and all can beat each other on any given day. Look at their record from last year and many close losses. Then, look at their history and you will see Stevens Point has been a powerhouse for years (again, we all know Whitewater is the best).

In fact, if I was a betting man, I would say the final WIAC standings will look similar to this:

1.UWW
2. Osh Kosh or Stevens Point
3. UW-Platteville (losing their starting QB for the season VS UD hurts the rest of their seasons prospects in my opinion.....we will see.

Pre-season rankings don't mean squat. Last year UD was picked to finish 7th and we know how that turned out.

Was it my imagination or did I hear that U.W.W. got beat on a last second play at someplace called Buff State?  Hook and pitch with a second lateral to win in the last minute.  Buff St. held UWW to two field goals.

U.W.W. falls from number one to number 4.

B.S. moves from unranked, receiving no votes to 19th.  The little engine that could.  Let's go IIAC.

[DutchFan2004]

We have all talked about how scrimmages mean different things to different teams and coaching staffs.  Dubuque beat Oshkosh when they scrimmaged a few weeks ago.  Maybe Dubuque took the scrimmage more seriously than Oshkosh did.  That is why the dismantling Dubuque got from Platteville and Stevens Point really stood out to us.   

You are correct, the WIAC is at another level compared to the IIAC this year and we can forget about a pool C bid this season.

I think as a whole for the years I have been posting on here the WIAC as a whole is in another league than the IIAC.  I would say if there was a WIAC/IIAC challange the WIAC would lose 2 maybe 3 games a year if the ball bounced the IIAC's way.  This year I would say we here in the IIAC would be lucky to steal 1. 

That said it would be 1 vs 1.  and so on. 

[hazzben]

We have all talked about how scrimmages mean different things to different teams and coaching staffs.  Dubuque beat Oshkosh when they scrimmaged a few weeks ago.  Maybe Dubuque took the scrimmage more seriously than Oshkosh did.  That is why the dismantling Dubuque got from Platteville and Stevens Point really stood out to us.   

You are correct, the WIAC is at another level compared to the IIAC this year and we can forget about a pool C bid this season.

I think as a whole for the years I have been posting on here the WIAC as a whole is in another league than the IIAC.  I would say if there was a WIAC/IIAC challange the WIAC would lose 2 maybe 3 games a year if the ball bounced the IIAC's way.  This year I would say we here in the IIAC would be lucky to steal 1. 

That said it would be 1 vs 1.  and so on.

You're not the only conference that would struggle in a top to bottom matchup with the WIAC  Their bottom 3 teams could win multiple conferences in a given year.

[wartknight]

While not football related, Wartburg wrestling coach Jim Miller will step down after the 2012-2013 year. He will still remain @ the school in some capacity. Co-head coach Eric Keller will take over the program. Coach Miller has done an incredible job, but I am confident Keller will continue the tradition.

[notlongago]

We have all talked about how scrimmages mean different things to different teams and coaching staffs.  Dubuque beat Oshkosh when they scrimmaged a few weeks ago.  Maybe Dubuque took the scrimmage more seriously than Oshkosh did.  That is why the dismantling Dubuque got from Platteville and Stevens Point really stood out to us.   

You are correct, the WIAC is at another level compared to the IIAC this year and we can forget about a pool C bid this season.

I think as a whole for the years I have been posting on here the WIAC as a whole is in another league than the IIAC.  I would say if there was a WIAC/IIAC challange the WIAC would lose 2 maybe 3 games a year if the ball bounced the IIAC's way.  This year I would say we here in the IIAC would be lucky to steal 1. 

That said it would be 1 vs 1.  and so on.

Oh I wouldn't go that far. Central has beaten SP when they were highly ranked, beaten Oshkosh, played a horrible game there last year and still almost came out with the dub when oshkosh finished in 2nd. BV is usually over matched, but you gotta believe the past few years Coe and Wartburg would be right in the mix with their top 3-4 teams....this year is definitely an anomaly