FB: American Rivers Conference

[Schipper Strong]

I watched a little Simpson football today to try to get an idea of what to expect Saturday. I learned if you make a big play, at least defensively for the Storm you get a lightening bolt when you get off the field for electrifying the game or something. What are the Dutch to do? Give out Klompen? I couldn't resist the visit to my D3 board roots!

Simpson has improved. They look opportunistic on defense, who knew a lightning bolt would give them such a charge? The special teams looked really solid and made a huge difference in the score swinging as it did from last year against Loras. I guess we will see on Saturday. We really shot ourselves in the foot against WB. We will have to be sharper Saturday.

[DriftlessDuhawk]

2023
Loras beats Simpson 82-16

2024
Simpson beats Loras 66-14

The older I get, the less this game makes sense. But it's a fun ride.

Yeah, this is pretty much rock bottom for the program. I certainly feel bad for any alumni who are returning to campus next week who have not seen the record or watched the team play this season. They are in a rude awakening...

[DriftlessDuhawk]

Hey Driftless, this wasn't meant as a dig at Loras.  Just meant to show what a difference a year can make and what a crazy game this is. 

No offense taken doolittle. I have reached the point no fan of a team ever wants to reach with their team. Complete apathy. This season is over and I can hope that at some point it will get turned around in future seasons. I'm not exactly sure what the path is for the Loras football program. They may need a shake-up with who is in charge or at least this has to be a massive wake-up call that the way they do things is not working. Whichever it is I would be fine with. As with all college sports you need an administration that wants to win. Wanting to win means that sometimes an AD/President needs to make their job a little harder and look to hire someone new or invest in a program to the point that they feel is needed for it to succeed. I am interested to see how the Loras athletic department/administration handles this year. It will be a good indication as to whether or not I will ever get to cheer for a football program that can be a winner.

[doolittledog]

It's Thursday and I'm already in homecoming mode.  Taking tomorrow off work and heading over to Dubuque.  Highly unlikely I get much work done today.  My dads cousin, who is a 1964 UD grad will be there, so along with visiting with our kids and my old friends, this will be a noteworthy weekend. 

[DBQ1965]

Who is your Dad's cousin?  Since I am class of 65, I might have known him.

[doolittledog]

Her!  Jo Clark, or Jo Deckert.

And in old IIAC connections, her parents were both Central grads.

[DBQ1965]

Doolittledog ... Jo Clark sounds familiar.  Was she a Zeta?

[doolittledog]

Doolittledog ... Jo Clark sounds familiar.  Was she a Zeta?

She was a Gamma

[Schipper Strong]

Two weeks ago Central recognized the 50 year anniversary of the 1974 national championship team. Saturday the Dutch will recognize the 40 year anniversary of the 2nd place team. We also had the second place team in 1988. It has been way too long since we were in the Stagg Bowl. Come on current Dutch! Time to start taking the steps that will in time bring us back there. Beat the resurgent Storm on Saturday.

[Schipper Strong]

Another great game by the Dutch today. I wasn't sure if Simpson had improved or if Loras has actually slipped as much as the flip flopped Simpson-Loras game scores indicated. From what I saw from Simpson today and what I watched of the Loras Simpson game; my conclusion is that much like Central against Wartburg, we both caused most of our own woe in those games.

Central run defense was outstanding again today holding Simpson to 13 yards rushing even with deep substitutions in the second half. Simpson got the first two offensive touchdowns against the Dutch in ARC play after the Dutch built a 52-0 lead. We have a lot of young players that are quite talented, as did Simpson. Simpson's freshmen are getting more reps in varsity action and will form the base of an improved team for the Storm in the next few years. Central's future is looking very good as well the JV has two wins under their belt and will fill graduation vacancies nicely next year. With nine 5th year players and seniors who will not have Covid year allowances, there will be a lot of holes.

For anyone that may have watched the game on the computer or listened on Pella's radio station, I hope you enjoyed the two guest speakers that were interviewed. At halftime they interviewed Craig Bohl, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association and during the second half they interviewed Andrea Joyce, NBC sportscaster, one of the first women to hold the position. They talked between announcing plays. Both were very interesting and Andrea had some richly interesting stories from her extensive career covering 17 Olympics and Tom Landry opening the door to the locker room and saying "She's coming in boys" during her first year.

[doolittledog]

Great time in Dubuque this weekend.  Spent time with family.  Spent time with friends.  We had great weather and were fortunate enough to get to watch our team get a victory.  On to the bye week for UD. 

[DriftlessDuhawk]

Loras falls to Coe in a very predictable homecoming loss this weekend. The injuries just keep piling up for the Du's. QB1/RB1/RB2/WR2/RT/LT/CB1/LB2/DL2 all did not play this week. While I have made my opinions known on this board on how I view the team I'm not sure there is a team in the country who could overcome this. That being said I thought the team played hard and they have not quit, so kudos to them for that.

This being said I was more interested to see how Coe played. They obviously run the ball well and were able to lean on and overpower the Duhawks up front (who hasn't this year?). That being said when the Kohawks had to pass the ball I was quite honestly not impressed. Did Coe need its passing game to win the game? No. But for a team that some think is the best in the league, I did not see an offense that will be able to scare playoff teams at multiple levels. Maybe it was an off day for the Coe passing game but I came away from the game being less impressed than I thought I would be. 

[Schipper Strong]

This being said I was more interested to see how Coe played. They obviously run the ball well and were able to lean on and overpower the Duhawks up front (who hasn't this year?). That being said when the Kohawks had to pass the ball I was quite honestly not impressed. Did Coe need its passing game to win the game? No. But for a team that some think is the best in the league, I did not see an offense that will be able to scare playoff teams at multiple levels. Maybe it was an off day for the Coe passing game but I came away from the game being less impressed than I thought I would be. 

I was surprised by the Coe-Loras score. Loras has really struggled this year and I expected a wider spread in this game. I think Loras might be onto something with the QB they used against Coe. Enough so that I chose Loras in the pick-ems this week. Coe is definitely the team to beat this week, given that they play the Dutch. 🤣 I am going against the pick-ems landslide favorites Coe and Wartburg this week. Coe has an advantage playing at home, but Central is playing for a shot at Pool C and have to win. I expected more out of Simpson Saturday and against Central, they had nothing. Central and Coe both have outstanding defenses against the rush. If it comes down to passing offense, I am going with Central. Central has been impressive against everyone except Wartburg, who still hasn't impressed me. Yes, they beat us, but we gave them the defensive TD that was the difference in the game. The offense was capable of far more, but they had their wings clipped after the only two passes Ketchum did not complete that day. Central will have to contain their nerves when playing Coe and I expect that they will. Hoffman is getting back to normal after a broken thumb to start the season and I trust he will do well.

Go Dutch!

[DriftlessDuhawk]

I was surprised by the Coe-Loras score. Loras has really struggled this year and I expected a wider spread in this game. I think Loras might be onto something with the QB they used against Coe.

I agree that the sophomore looked better than the other backup QBs who have played for the Duhawks this year. Not sure how they were able to win the recruiting battle for him...

[doolittledog]

With Dubuque on their bye week I will have fun switching back and forth between games on the American Rivers Network app. Good luck to everyone today.