FB: American Rivers Conference

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Give Coaches Willis, Winter, Hawken, and Burant this week to prepare for the unconventional Luther offensive attack and all will be good for the Knights this coming Saturday.  They might get burned on a play or two early, but I can assure you they have developed several different schemes to hold the Norse in check. 

Mabe's in Decorah or The Irish Shanty in Gunder for a post-game meal.  Decisions-decisions-decisions.

They did just enough, I guess.  What did you do for the meal?

[Floyd in Iowa City]

DUTCH WIN!  huge goal line stand late, after a PI call in the endzone, block the game typing FG, returns the block for a 10 point margin. The Dutch defense is proving to be one of the best in the conference.  Probably is the best, but Warty fans would have an argument.  The offense is not holding up their end, but did got one good drive in for a score when it mattered.  Nice Win!

That was a big win and B.V. now gets Loras to finally get a win.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Looking forward to the big Dubuque/Wartburg game this weekend.  My wife and kids will be there, so hoping we might see a bit warmer temps than the 45 degrees being called for in the 7 day forcast.  If the sun is out and it isn't too windy even 45 will be ok. 

Looking at conference only stats...and only 3 games in, even that isn't too telling of a stat line.  Wartburg has played BVU, Luther, and Simpson.  Dubuque has played Central, Coe, and Luther. 

Total Offense
1 - Wartburg
2 - Dubuque

Scoring Offense
1 - Dubuque
2 - Wartburg

Total Defense
1- Dubuque   (starting 7 sophomores)
7 - Wartburg 

Scoring Defense
4 - Dubuque
5 - Wartburg

What does that all mean?  Absolutely nothing!  The game will be decided on the field Saturday afternoon in Dubuque 

The Luther Defense was lit up by Dubuque.  They did not play that great against Wartburg, but it was a 24-21 game that the Norse had chances.  I'm not sure whether the Spartans or Knights have the better defense, but I would lean towards the Knights on that front.  Don't mess with Zweifel!

[Klompen]

I guess if anyone can be counted on to block a critical kick, it is nice having a reigning heptathalon and decathalon national champion on the special team!  Way to go Miller.  Not that Young's run wasn't equally fantastic.

Not sure if you are trying to give credit for the block here but Eric Larson blocked the FG - I think Miller was the previous decathalon national champion from Central - Larson is the current
[/quote]

Yep, my goof, I knew that too, but at my advanced age, I am getting really bad with names lately.  Indeed it was Larson and I am ashamed of my error.  I hate getting old!  But it beats the alternative.

[Mrs.Doolittle]

week 7 results are posted on the pick-ems board

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Circle the wagons, Simpson is coming to town.

[doolittledog]

Give Coaches Willis, Winter, Hawken, and Burant this week to prepare for the unconventional Luther offensive attack and all will be good for the Knights this coming Saturday.  They might get burned on a play or two early, but I can assure you they have developed several different schemes to hold the Norse in check. 

Mabe's in Decorah or The Irish Shanty in Gunder for a post-game meal.  Decisions-decisions-decisions.

They did just enough, I guess.  What did you do for the meal?

We should have warthog review the game he attends AND the meal he eats afterwards!!!

[warthog]

doolittle:

Haven't got the hang of the quotes button.

We had dinner this weekend at the Bluff Lake Catfish Farm near Maquoketa.  A little rustic, but very good.

Inconsistant passing game.  Penalties-penalties-penalties at critical situations.  Still some question marks.  The next three Saturdays will determine if my Knights are contenders or pretenders.

[NewKnightDad]

doolittle:

Haven't got the hang of the quotes button.

We had dinner this weekend at the Bluff Lake Catfish Farm near Maquoketa.  A little rustic, but very good.

Inconsistant passing game.  Penalties-penalties-penalties at critical situations.  Still some question marks.  The next three Saturdays will determine if my Knights are contenders or pretenders.

For those of you who have not been to the Bluff Lake catfish farm I highly recommend you go.  A little hard to find but worth it.

The Knight's will be ready Saturday, the o-line needs to step up and establish a run game.  Give Jacobsmeyer and Schrader a run game to support a decent passing game and good things will happen.  The Knight's need to play their standard hard hitting defense and not give up the big play.

Dubuque is a very good team and has played a difficult schedule already this season.  Uncle Stan has changed the culture there and he has turned them into contenders every year. 

The last time the Knight's were in Dubuque was a shoot out with the Knight's bringing home a hard fought victory.  That was my son's senior year and I have some great pictures from that game, sorry I won't be making the trip again this year.

Let's go Knights!!!!

[Floyd in Iowa City]

doolittle:

Haven't got the hang of the quotes button.

We had dinner this weekend at the Bluff Lake Catfish Farm near Maquoketa.  A little rustic, but very good.

Inconsistant passing game.  Penalties-penalties-penalties at critical situations.  Still some question marks.  The next three Saturdays will determine if my Knights are contenders or pretenders.

For those of you who have not been to the Bluff Lake catfish farm I highly recommend you go.  A little hard to find but worth it.

The Knight's will be ready Saturday, the o-line needs to step up and establish a run game.  Give Jacobsmeyer and Schrader a run game to support a decent passing game and good things will happen.  The Knight's need to play their standard hard hitting defense and not give up the big play.

Dubuque is a very good team and has played a difficult schedule already this season.  Uncle Stan has changed the culture there and he has turned them into contenders every year. 

The last time the Knight's were in Dubuque was a shoot out with the Knight's bringing home a hard fought victory.  That was my son's senior year and I have some great pictures from that game, sorry I won't be making the trip again this year.

Let's go Knights!!!!

I have seen a lot of Luther-Wartburg games over the years and I thought the Norse had more chances at big plays in the run game than in most of the other games that I can remember since Wartburg started being relevant in football again in 1990.  I am not saying the Norse had a lot of explosive plays, but they were there and the 300-plus yards on the ground was fun to watch.

Even when the Norse had guys like Sherden and Jefferson carrying the ball, it seemed like in the past Luther had to really grind the ball to get the big rushing numbers or to win the game.

Wartburg has taken care of business though in conference action.

Dubuque is a whole different animal from what the Norse roster has right now.  The only good news on that front for Wartburg is that the Spartans can't run the option like the Norse.   Zweifel probably could put that attack in a week though if he wanted.

However I have heard some Wartburg people concerned about pass defense in previous games.  I remember the Spartans throwing the ball at will on the Norse, so good luck on that front.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

"Luther College's Iowa Conference-leading rushing offense will challenge the top-ranked rushing defense of Central College Saturday in Pella."

http://www.central.edu/athletics/story.cfm?storyID=4883

It sounds like a major game until you read the Norse are 2-4, the Dutch are 3-3 and Central leads the all-time series now, 51-22-1.

I remember a couple Norse wins over Central in Decorah in the last decade, but it feels like the Norse haven't won in Pella since the 1960s and early 1970s when the two programs were the dominant teams in the league.

For me the Central game has usually been a fun one to see even though the Dutch almost always have won the game.  Someday the Norse might actualy win a couple in a row, but I have had a lot respect for the Dutch program over the years.

[DBQ1965]

Good story about UD football in this week's West column of Around the Nation.

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2013/dubuque-spartans-pass-big-test

GO SPARTANS!

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Not only is Central leading the all-time series agains the Norse 51-22-1, but a good chunck of the Luther wins came during a stretch between 1948 and 1963.

During that stretch the Norse were 10-2 against the Dutch.  I think that 1963 team is the last of the undefeated Norse squads.

Luther has not won in Pella since 1976!   They haven't played the Dutch close in Pella since the 2005 and 2007 games.

[doolittledog]

University of Dubuque Football Coaches Show - October 22, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCzbCoM5hUg

Recaps the UD/Coe game and previews the UD/Wartburg. 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

I still would love to know what went on when Coach Zweifel interviewed at Luther?

The current Norse staff has made a good first impression, but clearly the last hire did not compare to Stan.

Zweifel is fun to listen to on these coaches shows as he has no problems actually sharing information and showing what he feels pretty confident about!  So many coaches do these shows without really saying anything.