FB: American Rivers Conference

[5 Words or Less]

I just got back from Carlson Stadium.  I was pleased with the spirit that Luther showed after spotting Central 21 in the first quarter.  In fact, there were times that I thought that the Norse might pull this one off, but turnovers crushed those hopes.

I do need to give a shout out to the Dutch players.   Chris Norton had been pushing his his wheel chair around the track all game long to improve his view.  I'm sure Central's upperclassmen remember the 19 minutes when he lay motionless two years ago, so after the game they all went over to the Luther sideline after the game to shake hands.  That was a nice thing to do.

Sincerely yours,
5 Words or More   

[Klompen]

5WOL, Luther was invaded by the same body snatchers that had the Dutch last weekend.  We could not have scripted a worse 1st qtr last week, going 3 and out if we were LUCKY, but too often turning the ball over in BV's redzone and spotting them an easy score.  With the final play in the first and the way we started the 2nd, I was afraid the body snatchers realized they were occupying the wrong uniforms and jumped from the Norse ship.  It was so like being trapped in a nightmare last week.  Just as 5 TOs doomed the Dutch last week, it did the same for the Norse today.  Best of luck with the remainder of the season.  Hope all the players injured today will be okay, they announced one was a top wrestler on the Pella station. 

As to Chris Norton, that is one guy that the Dutch should take some inspiration from to finish out the rest of the season, hopefully on a win streak.  Not only the Dutch, but the whole conference knows that could have been anyone of them if the same freak football hit occurred.  I'm sure those upperclassmen will remember those 19 minutes the rest of their lives.

[DutchFan2004]

After seeing Oshkosh beating UWW I don't feel as bad as I did with the whooping UWO put on the Dutch.

[doolittledog]

I got to witness yet another agonizing loss by my Spartans today.  I know it's woulda coulda shoulda, but this team is soooooo close to being 4-0 in the conference right now.  I feel horrible for those young men working so hard out there.  I know better days are ahead for you. 

As hard as watching a loss like that is to take, it was made better by the warm welcome my daughter and I received by the Wartburg faithful.  NKD, fbd, wartnight and others welcomed us in, they even loaded my daughter up with sugar AND...AND...told her that losing a tooth on your way to a big event like a Wartburg game meant the tooth fairy was going to bring her $5.00 instead of the $2.00 she would normally get.  What great guys   I was able to talk with warthog during half time, always great to catch up with him.  Overall, a great Saturday out, just wish the score of the game had been a bit different. 

[Klompen]

I can relate Doolittle, The Dutch lost by 3 to Simpson and 5 to BV, but coulda, woulda, and shoulda are only the ghosts of games past that will haunt the players and fans for the ifs, ands, and buts that would have changed things.  They serve no other real purpose.  Simpson was a good game, in spite of the outcome, but BV was inexcusable.  They made the most of what we gave them, but I'm not convinced they "forced" us to be so generous with the football.  It sure put them under a lot more pressure, now they have to prove they can handle it.  I hope they get a little of the "find a way" mentality that the Dutch had when a certain OC for another team was our QB.  Even more, I would like to see TC back at Central.  He, IMHO, was the best QB Central ever had.

[footballdaddy]

I got to witness yet another agonizing loss by my Spartans today.  I know it's woulda coulda shoulda, but this team is soooooo close to being 4-0 in the conference right now.  I feel horrible for those young men working so hard out there.  I know better days are ahead for you. 

As hard as watching a loss like that is to take, it was made better by the warm welcome my daughter and I received by the Wartburg faithful.  NKD, fbd, wartnight and others welcomed us in, they even loaded my daughter up with sugar AND...AND...told her that losing a tooth on your way to a big event like a Wartburg game meant the tooth fairy was going to bring her $5.00 instead of the $2.00 she would normally get.  What great guys   I was able to talk with warthog during half time, always great to catch up with him.  Overall, a great Saturday out, just wish the score of the game had been a bit different.

DDog, we enjoyed being able to spend time with you again. That game wasn't any easier on the Knight faithful. Just glad we got out alive from that one.

If your daughter was any cuter there would have to be some kind of warning label on her. She is such a well behaved young lady. I wish you could have found some cotton candy to make her day. Best of luck to you and your family.

[Old Dutch]

Looks like the Dutch finally decided to bring the A game on O and D.  YOu have to get to more games OD,  Dutch up 14-0 early in first.

I was at the Disaster in Dubuque last year, so pretty sure there's no luck in my presence.  Probably AZ Dutchman's Mom was otherwise occupied and not at the computer.  It wasn't pretty, but we'll take  the win.  I was glad to see Eisler (sp?) being given the reigns, Boehrm will be a hell of a threat at receiver, and the passing game was adequate, undoubtedly will get better.

Heard from the Dutch faithful the the Defense has been exceptionally depleted by the injury bug.  Thought they looked pretty good today, provided three picks to give the O short field help.  Then again, this wasn't the most potent offense to defend.  Hopefully some of the injured get back soon, at minimum in time for the Wartburg game!

The O-line is my biggest fear now.  Looked like the coaches were trying to find a way to light a fire under them.  At one point in the third qtr 3 starters were on the sideline, didn't seem to help any on the field.  The worst part was they didn't seem to care.  A real laid back attitude IMHO.  They all need to get some sense of urgency.  There was rarely a problem with motivation back in the day because Schipper HATED to lose.  And so did we.  50% of teams will have to accept a loss on any Saturday.  But to lose should never be acceptable.

[Old Dutch]

After seeing Oshkosh beating UWW I don't feel as bad as I did with the whooping UWO put on the Dutch.

I think thats great, not just for the reassurance for the Dutch, but now if they can do it again*, and get someone to beat down the Mount, we get to watch a whole new Stagg Bowl!

*assuming no committee would keep a two loss UWW out of the playoffs!

[Charlie Kohawk]

How about them Kohawks?! 

[Outside the Crate]

The buzz at church this morning was questioning the example of the Dubuque coach in not shaking the Wartburg coach's hand after the game.  Lots of people in the large crowd watched Coach Willis go all the way across the field, and the radio jockeys picked up on it, too.  Love isn't required but courtesy is, I think.

[Charlie Kohawk]

The buzz at church this morning was questioning the example of the Dubuque coach in not shaking the Wartburg coach's hand after the game.  Lots of people in the large crowd watched Coach Willis go all the way across the field, and the radio jockeys picked up on it, too.  Love isn't required but courtesy is, I think.

Seems to be a trend. No handshake the Saturday prior either.

[Norsanity]

Central brings their A game for all but the last play of the 1st qtr, leading 21-0, then switches to BV game fumbling the ball deep in Norse territory and very early in the 2nd, Luther takes is in.  21-7.  Then Dutch O goes backwards on nezt series.  Defense holds, but now Dutch starting deep in Norse territory at 4 yd line.  Please don't turn it over!

A game?  Sure it wasn't C game vs an F team.

Changes need to made around here--
When does basketball start?

[doolittledog]

The buzz at church this morning was questioning the example of the Dubuque coach in not shaking the Wartburg coach's hand after the game.  Lots of people in the large crowd watched Coach Willis go all the way across the field, and the radio jockeys picked up on it, too.  Love isn't required but courtesy is, I think.

We noticed that as well.  No excuse at all for not showing sportsmanship.  It should start at the top and work it's way down. 

That said, this isn't normally something I like on this board because anybody can play the "look what I saw that sucked" game. It doesn't do any good because both sides can play it.  Coach Z walked off without shaking hands...inexcusable.  At the same time we saw taunting by the Wartburg players after the game while Dubuque was lined up to shake hands, also inexcusable.  We took that as the excitement of just winning a game and shrugged our shoulders at it.  Maybe the same thing could be said of Zweifel, an emotional man that had more than he could take and was walking away to collect himself.  Probably not ideal of how he should have behaved, but if you get right down to it neither was the taunting that we witnessed. 

We could have talked at coffee hour after church this morning about poor sportsmanship from Wartburg but we chose not to, because guess what, both sides are guilty of it if you look for it.  A perfect example is you can throw out the Dubuque coach walking away without shaking hands.  I won't make any excuses for how Coach Z behaved because it was wrong.  But you might want to look in the mirror a bit because it was easy to see the Wartburg players taunting afterwards, easy to hear Coach Willis dropping words in Coach Z's face that would make a sailor blush, and easy to see Wartburg players jawing at the refs the entire game. 

We shouldn't let a few bad examples take away from an overall good day.  Homecoming...large crowd...exciting game...well played game...big plays on offense, big hits on defense, fun had by both sets of fans...great weather.  Look at the positives and take away from that, because both sides, if they want, could find negatives from the other side. 

[NewKnightDad]

The buzz at church this morning was questioning the example of the Dubuque coach in not shaking the Wartburg coach's hand after the game.  Lots of people in the large crowd watched Coach Willis go all the way across the field, and the radio jockeys picked up on it, too.  Love isn't required but courtesy is, I think.

We noticed that as well.  No excuse at all for not showing sportsmanship.  It should start at the top and work it's way down. 

That said, this isn't normally something I like on this board because anybody can play the "look what I saw that sucked" game. It doesn't do any good because both sides can play it.  Coach Z walked off without shaking hands...inexcusable.  At the same time we saw taunting by the Wartburg players after the game while Dubuque was lined up to shake hands, also inexcusable.  We took that as the excitement of just winning a game and shrugged our shoulders at it.  Maybe the same thing could be said of Zweifel, an emotional man that had more than he could take and was walking away to collect himself.  Probably not ideal of how he should have behaved, but if you get right down to it neither was the taunting that we witnessed. 

We could have talked at coffee hour after church this morning about poor sportsmanship from Wartburg but we chose not to, because guess what, both sides are guilty of it if you look for it.  A perfect example is you can throw out the Dubuque coach walking away without shaking hands.  I won't make any excuses for how Coach Z behaved because it was wrong.  But you might want to look in the mirror a bit because it was easy to see the Wartburg players taunting afterwards, easy to hear Coach Willis dropping words in Coach Z's face that would make a sailor blush, and easy to see Wartburg players jawing at the refs the entire game. 

We shouldn't let a few bad examples take away from an overall good day.  Homecoming...large crowd...exciting game...well played game...big plays on offense, big hits on defense, fun had by both sets of fans...great weather.  Look at the positives and take away from that, because both sides, if they want, could find negatives from the other side.

I think this might grow into a great rivalry, these coaches are cut from the same cloth.  I am not saying that Willis will not shake Coach Z's hand if he ever beats Wartburg  but both hate to lose.

DLD it was great having you and your daughter at our tailgate Saturday.  Add all the sugar in the world and you couldn't make her any sweeter than she already is.  Be careful because they grow up way too fast. 

[Mrs.Doolittle]

I think this might grow into a great rivalry, these coaches are cut from the same cloth.  I am not saying that Willis will not shake Coach Z's hand if he ever beats Wartburg  but both hate to lose.

DLD it was great having you and your daughter at our tailgate Saturday.  Add all the sugar in the world and you couldn't make her any sweeter than she already is.  Be careful because they grow up way too fast. 

They had a great time.... wish I could have joined them.  Thanks for the sweet comment about our daughter.