FB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

... How is the other $24+ million towards athletics improvements planned to be spent? 


Air Norse is a possibility

LC just finished updating their baseball and softball stadiums this year, I'd say that was part of $24M towards athletics.

And another part of the equation is the resurfacing of the tennis courts...
https://twitter.com/norsesports/status/866743713434927105

[5 Words or Less]

... Luther isn't the most progressive in terms of their athletic expenditures, so I doubt a new field will be coming any time soon...

... it's soon.   

[doolittledog]

I find myself pondering that article and the $26 million in improvements to the Luther athletics facilities. 

http://www.lutherchips.com/3721/news/community-voices-opinions-in-response-to-artificial-blue-turf-field/

$1.7 million towards installing turf, work on the track, and landscaping.
Let's say it was $1.8 million for the improvements to the baseball and softball fields.
How about $500k for the tennis courts resurfacing.

That would only be $4million towards a total of $26 million going towards athletic facilities improvements.  That is a big time figure.  Are there articles out there detailing the plans for these upgrades?  I also find it interesting that $26 million are going in to athletics facilities but the money for the artificial surface at the football field was to be raised separately.

102 days until the 2017 season kicks off...100 days if you are BVU. 

[doolittledog]

If there are any track & field fans out there, from the D3 Outdoor Championships

http://results.deltatiming.com/ncaa/tf/2017-ncaa-d3-outdoor-championships

Men's standings
32 - Central
33 - Dubuque
42 - Simpson
42 - Loras
72 - NWU

Women's standings
07 - NWU
17 - Wartburg
20 - Dubuque
39 - Loras

[doolittledog]

It's official.  Blue turf going in at Luther.

http://www.luther.edu/headlines/?story_id=760779

Article mentions the Boise St trademark of blue turf and that Luther has permission to use blue turf.  Luther will be the only D3 school with blue turf.  Will be eco-friendly.  Will surpass all other IIAC schools for quality.  Hope this will help recruiting and retention. 

[HansenRatings]

Hope this will help recruiting and retention.

I don't. 

[5 Words or Less]

Will IIAC ban Luther Blues?

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/lisa-horne-does-blue-turf-give-boise-state-competitive-advantage-080111

   

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Can you find the football player in this picture?

[5 Words or Less]

NCAA: Uniforms can match field

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/9032290/ncaa-keep-boise-state-broncos-wearing-blue-blue-field

[DBQ1965]

Street and Smith out with D3 pre-season rankings,   Coe is at #22.  Minimal ink.  I know these rankings don't mean much ... so let the jawing begin.  Go Spartans!

[doolittledog]

Coe : Young, motivated coaching staff + facilities improvements = consistent winner?

Dubuque : 8-2 in 2016 with only 7 seniors on the team = conference title in 2017?

Luther : Blue turf + blue uniforms + option football = a climb up the conference standings?

Simpson : year 2 of the Jeter era = ?

BVU : year 1 of the Mollring era = ?

Loras : meh

NWU : ?

Central & Wartburg : should be competitive, this could be their year, yada yada yada



 

[doolittledog]

Nebraska Wesleyan football announced 31 recruits on their page today.

http://nwusports.com/news/2017/6/8/football-recruits-release.aspx

24 from Nebraska and 7 from Colorado.  One transfer from the Cornhuskers.  One prep that played in the Nebraska Shrine Bowl.

[DBQ1965]

I believe that in one more yezr, Nebraska  Wesleyan will be the dangerous sleeper in the IIAC.

[HansenRatings]

Early preseason projections line up pretty well with what Doolittle said above:

Team	Rating	Overall	Conference
Coe	0.9271	7.7-2.3	6.2-1.8
Central	0.9206	7.6-2.4	6.1-1.9
Dubuque	0.9048	7.0-3.0	5.8-2.2
Wartburg	0.8998	7.0-3.0	5.8-2.2
Simpson	0.6426	4.4-5.6	3.2-4.8
NWU	0.5627	3.0-7.0	2.7-5.3
BVU	0.5406	2.7-6.3	2.5-5.5
Luther	0.5223	3.2-6.8	2.4-5.6
Loras	0.3210	2.1-7.9	1.3-6.7

Without running the full season simulation to get exact numbers for Pool A, I would estimate that Coe has no better than 25% odds. Then ~70% odds split relatively evenly between Central, UD, & Wartburg (I actually suspect the returning starter adjustment will tighten these teams up even more, because I think Coe & Central lost more production than either UD or Wartburg). About 5%  odds split evenly between Simpson, NWU, BVU, & Luther. And Loras has no chance (put it on the billboard if you think it matters Duhawks).

[doolittledog]

See Mr Hansen posted preseason projections and decided i better dine in at Culver's instead of the drive-thru. I look up after reading his post and see a couple in Simpson gear sitting down in the booth next to me. Considered telling them Hansen predicts another long season for their Storm but then thought I better not. She had a cane and could probably make short work of me if angry