FB: American Rivers Conference

[Stagg Again!!]

Maybe IWU was reading the press clippings about how it's harder to win in the CCIW than the 1st round of the playoffs???

Who knows.  Wartburg always comes prepared to play, the Knights aren't always flashy or a sexy team, but they buckle up the chin strap and play hard.  It looked like IWU was looking ahead to the next week and paid the price.

I think the IIAC and CCIW might be more evenly matched now that most people realize.  Last year Coe, the IIAC champ lost by 3 points in the 1st round of the playoffs to the CCIW co-champ in Elmhurst.  Last year Augustana went 4-3 in the CCIW and in the non-con portion of the schedule they lost to Central and Dubuque, two teams that went 4-3 in IIAC play.

IWU had a good season, a number of good seasons lately, actually.  They took a blow today, but they will have more good days ahead of them.

Maybe, but I doubt it.  There is only one other time I can recall IWU ever being 'upset' in the playoffs, and they have occasionally pulled upsets themselves.  The 'upset' was 2011, against Monmouth.  They had a 2nd team AA senior QB named Alex Tanney (I believe he is still on an NFL taxi squad); we had a sophomore Rob Gallik, who has become quite good, but no Alex Tanney.  IWU was favored, but everyone recognized that with Tanney, Monmouth had at least a 'puncher's chance'.  They won in triple OT.  (Tanney went 32-43, 336 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT; Gallik went 21-43, 280 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs.)

Even in the regular season, we rarely lose games where we are favored.  Overly believing press clippings (a strange concept in D3 anyway! ) just isn't a program trait.  Today's meltdown was/is totally inexplicable to me.  Certainly a significant part of it is due to Wartburg.  But we also just stunk up the place and I am at a loss to explain why.

That all said, Congratulations goes out to Wartburg for a great road win.  I recall the NCC wins at Concordia (WI) in 2006, at Franklin in 2007, and at Cal Lutheran in 2012.  Those were iteratively big steps for the Cardinals in terms of their development as a program, and they were darned fun.  Now, take the momentum up to Minnesota and show Bethel what you've got!!!

[wartknight]

Maybe IWU was reading the press clippings about how it's harder to win in the CCIW than the 1st round of the playoffs???

Who knows.  Wartburg always comes prepared to play, the Knights aren't always flashy or a sexy team, but they buckle up the chin strap and play hard.  It looked like IWU was looking ahead to the next week and paid the price.

I think the IIAC and CCIW might be more evenly matched now that most people realize.  Last year Coe, the IIAC champ lost by 3 points in the 1st round of the playoffs to the CCIW co-champ in Elmhurst.  Last year Augustana went 4-3 in the CCIW and in the non-con portion of the schedule they lost to Central and Dubuque, two teams that went 4-3 in IIAC play.

IWU had a good season, a number of good seasons lately, actually.  They took a blow today, but they will have more good days ahead of them.

Maybe, but I doubt it.  There is only one other time I can recall IWU ever being 'upset' in the playoffs, and they have occasionally pulled upsets themselves.  The 'upset' was 2011, against Monmouth.  They had a 2nd team AA senior QB named Alex Tanney (I believe he is still on an NFL taxi squad); we had a sophomore Rob Gallik, who has become quite good, but no Alex Tanney.  IWU was favored, but everyone recognized that with Tanney, Monmouth had at least a 'puncher's chance'.  They won in triple OT.  (Tanney went 32-43, 336 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT; Gallik went 21-43, 280 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs.)

Even in the regular season, we rarely lose games where we are favored.  Overly believing press clippings (a strange concept in D3 anyway! ) just isn't a program trait.  Today's meltdown was/is totally inexplicable to me.  Certainly a significant part of it is due to Wartburg.  But we also just stunk up the place and I am at a loss to explain why.

That same Alex Tanney was 0-3 against Wartburg including a playoff loss. 

Any chance they move the Wartburg @ Bethel game to the HHH Dome next week like they did this weeks game? 

I would almost certainly make the trip if that was the case.

Early forecast - mid 30's & dry. Balmy compared to yesterday!!
NKD - What do the odds makers have it @ for you making the trek Sat?

[grboob]

Mr Ypsi,

You maybe partially correct about the Monmouth upset of IWU in 2011.  However, I want to give you the facts.

Alex Tanney is in his second year with a NFL team ---he is the 3rd QB on The Dallas Cowboy team , an a member of there practice squad.

Also, you might not know that Monmouth actually did use a "Punchers Chance" in beating IWU by running the ball 3 straight downs (by Trey Yocum) in the 3rd OT to advance to the 2nd round of the Playoffs.  Tanney did not pass the ball in that series.

A Proud Michigan State University Spartan Fan

[BC79BU08]

Maybe IWU was reading the press clippings about how it's harder to win in the CCIW than the 1st round of the playoffs???

Who knows.  Wartburg always comes prepared to play, the Knights aren't always flashy or a sexy team, but they buckle up the chin strap and play hard.  It looked like IWU was looking ahead to the next week and paid the price.

I think the IIAC and CCIW might be more evenly matched now that most people realize.  Last year Coe, the IIAC champ lost by 3 points in the 1st round of the playoffs to the CCIW co-champ in Elmhurst.  Last year Augustana went 4-3 in the CCIW and in the non-con portion of the schedule they lost to Central and Dubuque, two teams that went 4-3 in IIAC play.

IWU had a good season, a number of good seasons lately, actually.  They took a blow today, but they will have more good days ahead of them.

Maybe, but I doubt it.  There is only one other time I can recall IWU ever being 'upset' in the playoffs, and they have occasionally pulled upsets themselves.  The 'upset' was 2011, against Monmouth.  They had a 2nd team AA senior QB named Alex Tanney (I believe he is still on an NFL taxi squad); we had a sophomore Rob Gallik, who has become quite good, but no Alex Tanney.  IWU was favored, but everyone recognized that with Tanney, Monmouth had at least a 'puncher's chance'.  They won in triple OT.  (Tanney went 32-43, 336 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT; Gallik went 21-43, 280 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs.)

Even in the regular season, we rarely lose games where we are favored.  Overly believing press clippings (a strange concept in D3 anyway! ) just isn't a program trait.  Today's meltdown was/is totally inexplicable to me.  Certainly a significant part of it is due to Wartburg.  But we also just stunk up the place and I am at a loss to explain why.

That same Alex Tanney was 0-3 against Wartburg including a playoff loss. 

Any chance they move the Wartburg @ Bethel game to the HHH Dome next week like they did this weeks game? 

I would almost certainly make the trip if that was the case.

Early forecast - mid 30's & dry. Balmy compared to yesterday!!
NKD - What do the odds makers have it @ for you making the trek Sat?

0% chance of the game being in the Dome - High School football Championships are scheduled.  The following week is a Monster Truck show.  Game will be outside somewhere...

[USee]

Belated congrats to Wartburg for a dominant win over IWU on Saturday. Your defensive front is the real deal and you controlled the LOS on both sides. You made a pretty good IWU team look really bad. Good luck this week. If you play like you did Saturday, you will be in the game vs Bethel the whole way.

[DBQ1965]

IWU took it on the chin from 2 IIAC teams this weekend ... Wartburg in football and Loras in basketball.

[NewKnightDad]

Maybe IWU was reading the press clippings about how it's harder to win in the CCIW than the 1st round of the playoffs???

Who knows.  Wartburg always comes prepared to play, the Knights aren't always flashy or a sexy team, but they buckle up the chin strap and play hard.  It looked like IWU was looking ahead to the next week and paid the price.

I think the IIAC and CCIW might be more evenly matched now that most people realize.  Last year Coe, the IIAC champ lost by 3 points in the 1st round of the playoffs to the CCIW co-champ in Elmhurst.  Last year Augustana went 4-3 in the CCIW and in the non-con portion of the schedule they lost to Central and Dubuque, two teams that went 4-3 in IIAC play.

IWU had a good season, a number of good seasons lately, actually.  They took a blow today, but they will have more good days ahead of them.

Maybe, but I doubt it.  There is only one other time I can recall IWU ever being 'upset' in the playoffs, and they have occasionally pulled upsets themselves.  The 'upset' was 2011, against Monmouth.  They had a 2nd team AA senior QB named Alex Tanney (I believe he is still on an NFL taxi squad); we had a sophomore Rob Gallik, who has become quite good, but no Alex Tanney.  IWU was favored, but everyone recognized that with Tanney, Monmouth had at least a 'puncher's chance'.  They won in triple OT.  (Tanney went 32-43, 336 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT; Gallik went 21-43, 280 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs.)

Even in the regular season, we rarely lose games where we are favored.  Overly believing press clippings (a strange concept in D3 anyway! ) just isn't a program trait.  Today's meltdown was/is totally inexplicable to me.  Certainly a significant part of it is due to Wartburg.  But we also just stunk up the place and I am at a loss to explain why.

That same Alex Tanney was 0-3 against Wartburg including a playoff loss. 

Any chance they move the Wartburg @ Bethel game to the HHH Dome next week like they did this weeks game? 

I would almost certainly make the trip if that was the case.

Early forecast - mid 30's & dry. Balmy compared to yesterday!!
NKD - What do the odds makers have it @ for you making the trek Sat?

Odds are not very good unless boy talks mom into letting us out of family commitments.   

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Big congrats to Wartburg.  Keep it rollin

On to more general "hot stove" topics, this disturbed me for a couple of reasons.  http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/dodger-stadium-introduces-frozen-beer-foam-machine-231108417.html

I finally decided that the biggest one is, you shouldn't need anything to keep your poured beer cold for an extended period of time.  You should drink it!

[doolittledog]

You could take a 30 minute power nap after 7 innings and 7 beers...and still have a cold beer that way

[wildcat11]

Great win, Wartburg.  I've been a fan since our 02-03 battles.  Best of luck!

[edolee]

For those interested in the Wartburg vs IWU game this weekend, you should download the  new ATN podcast.  The game was the primary topic right at the top of the show.  While the hosts were very gracious and complimentary, it was clear that they were seriously surprised that Wartburg showed up, let alone cleaned house.  I guess I was not aware that the Iowa Conference was thought of so poorly when it comes to Football.  Do people think that this is a fair characterization?  I have little doubt the WIAC and MIAC are stronger conferences, but it does not seem to me that there is THAT much difference. 

Would be nice to see Wartburg get some revenge on Bethel this weekend and keep the IIAC banner flying!

Ed

[Mr. Ypsi]

For those interested in the Wartburg vs IWU game this weekend, you should download the  new ATN podcast.  The game was the primary topic right at the top of the show.  While the hosts were very gracious and complimentary, it was clear that they were seriously surprised that Wartburg showed up, let alone cleaned house.  I guess I was not aware that the Iowa Conference was thought of so poorly when it comes to Football.  Do people think that this is a fair characterization?  I have little doubt the WIAC and MIAC are stronger conferences, but it does not seem to me that there is THAT much difference. 

Would be nice to see Wartburg get some revenge on Bethel this weekend and keep the IIAC banner flying!

Ed

IIAC is regarded as a middle of the road conference (all-time playoff record now 13-20).  In contrast, WIAC is now 43-13, MIAC now 40-21, CCIW now 25-23.  Playoffs of course only look at the top 1 or 2 teams in a conference; the general perception is that WIAC and MIAC are both top 3-4 conferences overall, CCIW generally about 6th, IIAC in the mid teens.

I, too, thought IWU would win, but Wartburg was definitely the better team on Saturday.  Which is the better team in general is still an open question in my mind, because that was NOT the Titans I watched all season!  Of their SEVEN turnovers, IMO only 2-3 were takeaways; the rest were flat-out giveaways.  Our 1,009 yard rusher was mercifully benched after losing 6 yards on his first 4 carries.  Our usually sure-handed receivers flat-out dropped at least 10 'completions'.  My theory is that the Titans were abducted by aliens and imposters played the game!

[doolittledog]

The IIAC has been dropping as far as national perception due to a number of 1st and 2nd round playoff exits over the past few years.  I think Wartburg back in '08 was maybe the last IIAC team to make it past the 2nd round.  Now considered a mid-teens conference, it wasn't that long ago the IIAC were thought of around 8-10 in the rankings. 

It will take 3-4 years of the IIAC champ to consistently make it to at least the 2nd round with a few 3rd round appearances for that perception to change. 

2 years ago Dubuque got punished by NCC in the 1st round.  Last year Coe and Elmhurst went right down to the wire, with Elmhurst getting the narrow win in a 1st round matchup.  This year Wartburg put a hurting on IWU.  Maybe some out there will take notice.   

[USee]

Ypsi, There is NO QUESTION Wartburg is a better team than IWU. It's ridiculous to even suggest anything different. If you can't show up in the most important game of the season, at home, in the playoffs, then you aren't better than the other team under any circumstances. When would IWU have been a better team? If they played at homecoming? Parent's weekend? Come on man.

[D O.C.]

So there!