FB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

Some "conference only" stats to chew on with 1 week left in the conference...

SCORING OFFENSE   G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6 31  5  29    1     0     1    234   39.0
2. Simpson College    6 26  2  20    3     0     0    188   31.3
3. Coe College           6 25  3  23    1     0     0    184   30.7
4. Buena Vista Univ.  6 19  7  17    1      0    0     154   25.7
5. Wartburg College   6 19 4   13    2     0     0    143   23.8
6. Central College      6 17 6   16    0     0     1    138    23.0
7. Luther College       6 18 0   14    0     0     0    122    20.3
8. Loras College        6   2 2     2    0     0     0      20     3.3

TOTAL OFFENSE        G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6  798  1921 440  2719   6.2   30  453.2
2. Simpson College    6 1011 1696  480 2707   5.6    26 451.2
3. Coe College           6 1101 1330  444 2431   5.5    24 405.2
4. Wartburg College   6 1154 1161  410 2315   5.6    18 385.8
5. Buena Vista Univ.  6   664 1556  425 2220    5.2   18 370.0
6. Luther College       6 1551   295  403 1846    4.6   17 307.7
7. Central College      6   710   804  380 1514   4.0   14 252.3
8. Loras College        6   398    532  337  930    2.8    2 155.0

SCORING DEFENSE  G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Central College     6  9    7   6     0    0     0     81    13.5
2. Coe College          6 15   2 14     0    0     0    110    18.3
3. Wartburg College  6 17   2 15     1    0     1    127    21.2
Buena Vista Univ.    6 17   3 12      2    0    0    127    21.2
Dubuque, Univ. of   6 18   0 15      2    0     0   127     21.2
6. Simpson College  6 23   4 20      1    0     0    172    28.7
7. Luther College      6 22  7 22      0    0     1    177    29.5
8. Loras College       6 36  4 30      2    0      0    262   43.7

TOTAL DEFENSE        G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6  713   902  371  1615    4.4  18  269.2
2. Central College      6  697   919   432 1616    3.7    8  269.3
3. Luther College       6  869 1126   398  1995   5.0   20  332.5
4. Buena Vista Univ.  6  994 1048    421 2042   4.9   16  340.3
5. Coe College          6 1022 1138    427 2160    5.1  14  360.0
6. Wartburg College  6 1024 1188    436 2212    5.1  17 368.7
7. Simpson College   6   751 1729    407 2480    6.1  23 413.3
8. Loras College      6   1317 1245    427 2562    6.0 33 427.0

[Phred]

Can someone tell me what has happened at Loras. I remember the days when it was automatic they would be 5-5, maybe a good year 6-4. Never great but you always had to prepare for them. Now I think we could ask Corso for plays on Saturday

Short memory.  Loras, time ago, could beat every team in the IIAC.  They played their second team on Saturdays against IIaC teams and then their first team on Sundays in an old catholic league.
Won both going away.  Then I believe they dropped football and eventually came back to the IIAC.

Don't know except possibly found that football didn't determine excellence in higher education.

[Klompen]

I thought that the defense did a better job on the 3rd and long and 4th down attempts.  Of course it didn't take much to improve on some of our prior games, we didn't get all the stops, but it seemed improved to me.

That was the worst job central has done on 3&long all season... Not sure what you were seeing.

I guess I must be looking at different statistics.  Central stats say Simpson converted on 7/15 3rd down conversions, BV on 10/16, Wartburg was 8/21.  Now that doesn't specify which were 3rd and long vs 3rd and short, but I'm not convinced we did the worst of the season on Saturday because the play by play shows 1 successful 3rd and 19 and two 3rd and 9 that went for 1st downs.  I know that is an improvement, but if you believe differently I can go with that.  I will just file it away in the same round file as Willie's fluke play loss to Central last year.

[notlongago]

Some "conference only" stats to chew on with 1 week left in the conference...

SCORING OFFENSE   G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6 31  5  29    1     0     1    234   39.0
2. Simpson College    6 26  2  20    3     0     0    188   31.3
3. Coe College           6 25  3  23    1     0     0    184   30.7
4. Buena Vista Univ.  6 19  7  17    1      0    0     154   25.7
5. Wartburg College   6 19 4   13    2     0     0    143   23.8
6. Central College      6 17 6   16    0     0     1    138    23.0
7. Luther College       6 18 0   14    0     0     0    122    20.3
8. Loras College        6   2 2     2    0     0     0      20     3.3

TOTAL OFFENSE        G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6  798  1921 440  2719   6.2   30  453.2
2. Simpson College    6 1011 1696  480 2707   5.6    26 451.2
3. Coe College           6 1101 1330  444 2431   5.5    24 405.2
4. Wartburg College   6 1154 1161  410 2315   5.6    18 385.8
5. Buena Vista Univ.  6   664 1556  425 2220    5.2   18 370.0
6. Luther College       6 1551   295  403 1846    4.6   17 307.7
7. Central College      6   710   804  380 1514   4.0   14 252.3
8. Loras College        6   398    532  337  930    2.8    2 155.0

SCORING DEFENSE  G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Central College     6  9    7   6     0    0     0     81    13.5
2. Coe College          6 15   2 14     0    0     0    110    18.3
3. Wartburg College  6 17   2 15     1    0     1    127    21.2
Buena Vista Univ.    6 17   3 12      2    0    0    127    21.2
Dubuque, Univ. of   6 18   0 15      2    0     0   127     21.2
6. Simpson College  6 23   4 20      1    0     0    172    28.7
7. Luther College      6 22  7 22      0    0     1    177    29.5
8. Loras College       6 36  4 30      2    0      0    262   43.7

TOTAL DEFENSE        G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6  713   902  371  1615    4.4  18  269.2
2. Central College      6  697   919   432 1616    3.7    8  269.3
3. Luther College       6  869 1126   398  1995   5.0   20  332.5
4. Buena Vista Univ.  6  994 1048    421 2042   4.9   16  340.3
5. Coe College          6 1022 1138    427 2160    5.1  14  360.0
6. Wartburg College  6 1024 1188    436 2212    5.1  17 368.7
7. Simpson College   6   751 1729    407 2480    6.1  23 413.3
8. Loras College      6   1317 1245    427 2562    6.0 33 427.0

Evidently defense doesn't win championships.

[Klompen]

Glad to hear we at least lost to WB with a top QB playing, makes me feel marginally better.  No, not really, it only makes me think I should feel better.   

I read that we held the running back to negative yardage on several carries as well.  Impressive stat until you remember all the long runs by the qb.  Guess those may have been on the third and long downs where we couldn not hold the line, huh?

[Klompen]

Minus 11 yards on 19 carries had to hurt Domeyer's per carry average, maybe it sets a record for fewest per carry yards earned by someone not in a qb position.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I thought that the defense did a better job on the 3rd and long and 4th down attempts.  Of course it didn't take much to improve on some of our prior games, we didn't get all the stops, but it seemed improved to me.

That was the worst job central has done on 3&long all season... Not sure what you were seeing.

I guess I must be looking at different statistics.  Central stats say Simpson converted on 7/15 3rd down conversions, BV on 10/16, Wartburg was 8/21.  Now that doesn't specify which were 3rd and long vs 3rd and short, but I'm not convinced we did the worst of the season on Saturday because the play by play shows 1 successful 3rd and 19 and two 3rd and 9 that went for 1st downs.   I know that is an improvement, but if you believe differently I can go with that.  I will just file it away in the same round file as Willie's fluke play loss to Central last year.

Don't confuse me with facts.  My gut told me that Central had them stopped several times and then they converted.  But that was last week.  This week they need to beat Coe to get to 6-4 and avoid the dreaded 5-5.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Central's senior heavy defense has had a pretty good season so far.  I will be rooting from afar for them to end their careers with a shut-out against the Kohawks.  The cliché is always that you need to control the line of scrimmage.  You can't argue with that except that it seems like on the rare plays where Central's opponents get passed the line of scrimmage, they go for at least 20 yards.  None of that on Saturday please.

[doolittledog]

University of Dubuque Football Coaches Show: November 12, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42SATHYuDSw

Loras players talking smack in the pregame was maybe not the best idea for the Duhawks 

[Willie University]

University of Dubuque Football Coaches Show: November 12, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42SATHYuDSw

Loras players talking smack in the pregame was maybe not the best idea for the Duhawks 

They have always talked smack. It stems from years of Bob Bierie pregame talks about ....in summary....how much he hates UD. Maybe Bobbie B came back last Friday to try to motivate the duhawks. But, they got dominated all over the field instead. So, not only do they have to live with that, they also need to tuck their tails anywhere off Loras campus 

[bleedpurple]

University of Dubuque Football Coaches Show: November 12, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42SATHYuDSw

Loras players talking smack in the pregame was maybe not the best idea for the Duhawks 

They have always talked smack. It stems from years of Bob Bierie pregame talks about ....in summary....how much he hates UD. Maybe Bobbie B came back last Friday to try to motivate the duhawks. But, they got dominated all over the field instead. So, not only do they have to live with that, they also need to tuck their tails anywhere off Loras campus 

Loras in 1-20 in their last 21 conference games. Just what do players on a team that pathetic actually say when they talk smack?  "We might score a touchdown on you bozos today if you put enough of your scrubs in the game!"

[warthog]

Some "conference only" stats to chew on with 1 week left in the conference...

SCORING OFFENSE   G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6 31  5  29    1     0     1    234   39.0
2. Simpson College    6 26  2  20    3     0     0    188   31.3
3. Coe College           6 25  3  23    1     0     0    184   30.7
4. Buena Vista Univ.  6 19  7  17    1      0    0     154   25.7
5. Wartburg College   6 19 4   13    2     0     0    143   23.8
6. Central College      6 17 6   16    0     0     1    138    23.0
7. Luther College       6 18 0   14    0     0     0    122    20.3
8. Loras College        6   2 2     2    0     0     0      20     3.3

TOTAL OFFENSE        G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6  798  1921 440  2719   6.2   30  453.2
2. Simpson College    6 1011 1696  480 2707   5.6    26 451.2
3. Coe College           6 1101 1330  444 2431   5.5    24 405.2
4. Wartburg College   6 1154 1161  410 2315   5.6    18 385.8
5. Buena Vista Univ.  6   664 1556  425 2220    5.2   18 370.0
6. Luther College       6 1551   295  403 1846    4.6   17 307.7
7. Central College      6   710   804  380 1514   4.0   14 252.3
8. Loras College        6   398    532  337  930    2.8    2 155.0

SCORING DEFENSE  G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Central College     6  9    7   6     0    0     0     81    13.5
2. Coe College          6 15   2 14     0    0     0    110    18.3
3. Wartburg College  6 17   2 15     1    0     1    127    21.2
Buena Vista Univ.    6 17   3 12      2    0    0    127    21.2
Dubuque, Univ. of   6 18   0 15      2    0     0   127     21.2
6. Simpson College  6 23   4 20      1    0     0    172    28.7
7. Luther College      6 22  7 22      0    0     1    177    29.5
8. Loras College       6 36  4 30      2    0      0    262   43.7

TOTAL DEFENSE        G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6  713   902  371  1615    4.4  18  269.2
2. Central College      6  697   919   432 1616    3.7    8  269.3
3. Luther College       6  869 1126   398  1995   5.0   20  332.5
4. Buena Vista Univ.  6  994 1048    421 2042   4.9   16  340.3
5. Coe College          6 1022 1138    427 2160    5.1  14  360.0
6. Wartburg College  6 1024 1188    436 2212    5.1  17 368.7
7. Simpson College   6   751 1729    407 2480    6.1  23 413.3
8. Loras College      6   1317 1245    427 2562    6.0 33 427.0

Wartburg's numbers seem somewhat dismal for the conference champions, but I assume the Knights will move up a few spots after this weekend's game at Loras. 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Some "conference only" stats to chew on with 1 week left in the conference...

SCORING OFFENSE   G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6 31  5  29    1     0     1    234   39.0
2. Simpson College    6 26  2  20    3     0     0    188   31.3
3. Coe College           6 25  3  23    1     0     0    184   30.7
4. Buena Vista Univ.  6 19  7  17    1      0    0     154   25.7
5. Wartburg College   6 19 4   13    2     0     0    143   23.8
6. Central College      6 17 6   16    0     0     1    138    23.0
7. Luther College       6 18 0   14    0     0     0    122    20.3
8. Loras College        6   2 2     2    0     0     0      20     3.3

TOTAL OFFENSE        G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6  798  1921 440  2719   6.2   30  453.2
2. Simpson College    6 1011 1696  480 2707   5.6    26 451.2
3. Coe College           6 1101 1330  444 2431   5.5    24 405.2
4. Wartburg College   6 1154 1161  410 2315   5.6    18 385.8
5. Buena Vista Univ.  6   664 1556  425 2220    5.2   18 370.0
6. Luther College       6 1551   295  403 1846    4.6   17 307.7
7. Central College      6   710   804  380 1514   4.0   14 252.3
8. Loras College        6   398    532  337  930    2.8    2 155.0

SCORING DEFENSE  G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Central College     6  9    7   6     0    0     0     81    13.5
2. Coe College          6 15   2 14     0    0     0    110    18.3
3. Wartburg College  6 17   2 15     1    0     1    127    21.2
Buena Vista Univ.    6 17   3 12      2    0    0    127    21.2
Dubuque, Univ. of   6 18   0 15      2    0     0   127     21.2
6. Simpson College  6 23   4 20      1    0     0    172    28.7
7. Luther College      6 22  7 22      0    0     1    177    29.5
8. Loras College       6 36  4 30      2    0      0    262   43.7

TOTAL DEFENSE        G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Dubuque, Univ. of  6  713   902  371  1615    4.4  18  269.2
2. Central College      6  697   919   432 1616    3.7    8  269.3
3. Luther College       6  869 1126   398  1995   5.0   20  332.5
4. Buena Vista Univ.  6  994 1048    421 2042   4.9   16  340.3
5. Coe College          6 1022 1138    427 2160    5.1  14  360.0
6. Wartburg College  6 1024 1188    436 2212    5.1  17 368.7
7. Simpson College   6   751 1729    407 2480    6.1  23 413.3
8. Loras College      6   1317 1245    427 2562    6.0 33 427.0

Wartburg's numbers seem somewhat dismal for the conference champions, but I assume the Knights will move up a few spots after this weekend's game at Loras. 

The odds are good!

I had to go back on the IIAC website and see if any other offense had as bad of a year as the 2013 Loras Offense has to this point.  The answer since 2001 is no. 

Dubuque in 2002 and 2004 averaged 7.6 ppg in league games while Cornell averaged 8.6 ppg in 2006.

Dubuque was last in the league in overall scoring from 2001-2004.  Cornell was overall last in the league in scoring from 2005-2011 when they left the league.  Luther was last in the league in scoring in 2012.

Luther was also 1st (2004), 2nd (2005), or 3rd in the league (2006, 2007) in scoring during the last 4 years of the Hefty era.  It now seems like a long time ago, although the offense showed some improvement in 2013.

There might be some points in Decorah this weekend as well when Simpson comes to town!

[doolittledog]

Thanks Floyd for looking that up.  Loras averaging less that 1/2 what the previous low on offense over the past 13 years is really something. 

I think there are a lot of factors in the decline at Loras.  There was a time when Loras had a fairly significant pipeline to the Catholic leagues in the Chicagoland area as well as the heavily Catholic areas in Eastern Iowa.  Those pipelines are drying up.  One factor is I don't think those kids necessarily think they HAVE to play for a Catholic college as much as those kids did in the past.  Also, a decade or so ago, if you were a kid in one of those Catholic leagues in Chicagoland if you wanted to play football within close proximity at a Catholic school your choices were pretty much St. Norbert, Loras, or St. Ambrose.  Now there are a number of Catholic colleges that have added football.  St. Francis and St. Xavier in Illinois.  Marion and St. Frances IN.  in Indiana among others have added football.  Those schools are taking numbers away from Loras.  Also, I think the facilities arms race is passing Loras by, and with the smallest endowment in the IIAC, Loras will likely fall farther behind in their facilities.  Not just athletic facilities but as a campus as a whole.

Now, that said, maybe Loras hires a great coach and they rapidly rise up the ranks of the IIAC.  Who knows.   

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I was all excited way back when I first saw the schedule and thought that Central would be playing Coe at home in the last game of the season for the conference championship.  I probably would have made the trip especially since it looks like the weather will be mild.  Funny how things work out.  It should still be a pretty good game between two teams trying to save disappointing seasons.  If Central can avoid dumb penalties and screw ups trying to get the ball from the center to the qb and then on to a running back I think they have a good shot at coming out on top and starting the next streak of winning seasons.  Go Dutch!

And on another note, I predict Wartburg gets sent to Texas as a kind of balance for MHB's trip to Iowa a couple of years ago.