FB: American Rivers Conference

[Ash Park]

I still think Cornell is/will be a much improved team regardless of what the haters think. I agree that Northwestern is not anywhere close to IIAC toughness so I hope the rams tune it up this week as they prepare for Alma who will be a lot closer to an IIAC team than Northwestern. Last year the Rams beat Alma in Michigan 32-31. Go Rams!

[AO]

Watch out IIAC, the wing-T is looking tough.

Take it easy...that was Northwestern and you won by 1:) Congrats to Freddy and all the IIAC teams that won yesterday!

In case you couldn't tell by the Eagle, I'm a Northwestern fan.  Perhaps my prediction of a couple IIAC victories by Cornell holds a little more weight now. 

Beating Northwestern by 1 means increased likelihood of winning IIAC Games? Northwestern would be lucky to finish .500 playing High School teams.
AO, I respect your enthusiasm and support for your school, but Northwestern would perpetually finish dead last in nearly any conference in D3 especially a conference as tough as the IIAC. Maybe NWC could win a game or two a year in the MWC, but no chance in hell in the MIAC, WIAC, or IIAC.

Lets look to the past for guidance on the future, shall we?

Last year Cornell beat Northwestern by 16 and went on to an 0-8 finish in the IIAC. So by beating NWC by 15 fewer points this year, Cornell will do better against the IIAC?

Your logic makes as much sense as the construction sequence on 235.

I'm not trying to be a big cornell backer as they clearly didn't have much success in their conference games last year, but Northwestern isn't exactly below winning a game or two in the MIAC as they beat Augsburg (who has played wartburg tough the past couple years).  Augsburg is obviously another cellar dweller the past couple years, but it's the only MIAC team Northwestern has or will play this past year, or this year, so what can you do.

Best of luck to all the Iowa teams the rest of the regular season.  I can't guarantee the same success the IIAC has had against Bethel and St. Thomas to continue into the postseason as the playoff wins have belonged to the MIAC.

[Purple Heys]

I still think Cornell is/will be a much improved team regardless of what the haters think. I agree that Northwestern is not anywhere close to IIAC toughness so I hope the rams tune it up this week as they prepare for Alma who will be a lot closer to an IIAC team than Northwestern. Last year the Rams beat Alma in Michigan 32-31. Go Rams!

Winning is winning.  Last time I checked they don't award style points for determining league championships

Learning to win, then learning to expect to win is a process.
For Cornell it is all about attitude adjustment.  Just as teams expect to win, there is the other side of the coin where teams expect to lose.  This is the Cornell most of think you know.  There are less of those type of players at Cornell today.

Michigan thought it was getting a tune-up game against an 1-AA Team (now the FCS).  But did not get the fact that they were playing a team that was a winner and expected to win every time out.  It was an epic mistake.

I am not saying this is the year Cornell takes down Central or Wartburg or even Coe...they may not even win an IIAC this year again...but their attitude will be different.  And they have more ability than last year.  Expect to get competed against.

But flipping that coin is a process that takes time.  Cornell is recruiting a different type of player these days.  And they are training them a different.  It is making a difference.  With more players with ability, the have the opportunity to swing the balance their way.  The IIAC is a tough place to turn that around but I believe in Coach Dillon...more important his players believe in him and the college game is a game of emotion.

We fans want our teams to be respected.  The players at Cornell, or anywhere for that matter, don't need or want your respect.  They earn their own respect for themselves and from their teammates by playing to the best of their ability.

[Purple Heys]

On second thought, forget the whole thing...please take Cornell lightly, don't prepare during the week before, have your team stay out all night before the game, and give the starters a rest.

[Purple Heys]

I still think Cornell is/will be a much improved team regardless of what the haters think. I agree that Northwestern is not anywhere close to IIAC toughness so I hope the rams tune it up this week as they prepare for Alma who will be a lot closer to an IIAC team than Northwestern. Last year the Rams beat Alma in Michigan 32-31. Go Rams!

Winning is winning.  Last time I checked they don't award style points for determining league championships

This is not saying Cornell will win the league.

This is an intentional dig at Central and their "Fabulous" 10-0 league record on the with a pair OT wins.  Sometimes it goes your way...

Yes, Central won and went unbeaten...

For all the good that did them when they got bumped, at home, in the playoffs by a 2nd place team...in a close game when their luck runs out.  (Alright, I know who the Johnnies are)  But Central should still have won.

I'm on record with the Dutch to repeat, but if I were a Central fan I would be concerned by a team that was 2  or 3 plays from 2 losses in league that comes out the gate with middling offensive performance.

They'll need to pick it up a bit or there may be an orange tint on the league title flag

[DutchFan2004]

Ash Park,

I don't hate Cornell.  I wish nothing but the best for all the IIAC except the day the play the Dutch.  I don't hate any of the IIAC teams.  Do I want to beat them all yes as do you with the Rams.  If you think I am hard on them sorry I think I am just practical.

Purple Heys,

I do not take any IIAC team lightly.  I think if Cornell were in other conferences they might not bet in the bottom half.  

[Charlie Kohawk]

Reviewing the stats from around the league, how about that return to action by Tyler Sherden? 31 carries for 152 yards and a 29-yard TD plus three kickoff returns for 86 yards. Nice comeback!

[Ash Park]

Ash Park,

I don't hate Cornell.  I wish nothing but the best for all the IIAC except the day the play the Dutch.  I don't hate any of the IIAC teams.  Do I want to beat them all yes as do you with the Rams.  If you think I am hard on them sorry I think I am just practical.

Purple Heys,

I do not take any IIAC team lightly.  I think if Cornell were in other conferences they might not bet in the bottom half.  

Dutchfan,

I wasn't talking directly to you so no worries there. I do not think you are hard on them.

[Purple Heys]

Let's pretend I am now a Mount Union fan...then further still let's pretend I have the same attitude towards lesser teams that a couple of the Central poster have...I think it would go something like this:

To DutchHawk and DutchFan2004,

Hey great you won your league, what's that league rated...12th or 13th...wow.  Whoa, you went like 10 and 0.  Gee you'd think you never lost a game in like two years or something.  Here's a thought:  Try winning a playoff game.  You even got served up a 2nd place team at your place last year.  Until you actually advance in the postseason, consider dropping yourself from any top ten lists.  Hope we see you at the Stagg Bowl...just make sure you buy your tickets to the game, because spectators don't get in free.

[DutchFan2004]

Purple Heys,


You would be right on in your evaluation.  Winning the IIAC is great but when the measurement is the Walnut and Bronze trophy then we do fall short.  Truth is harsh sometimes and I would love nothing more than to put some W's in the playoffs.  Nothing would please me more than to win some playoff games.  I do like your goals of the Stagg Bowl.  It would be a real treat to have the attitude of MUC that a bad season is not reaching the Stagg or better yet not winning.  You can either be a big fish in a small pond or try to be the big fish in the ocean.  You think because we seem to tell it like it is we are haters of the Rams far from it.  I would love to see the play elevated there and I think it is.  Teams that improve make the conference champs better and prepare them for the playoffs better.  10-0 records are nice but if you don't win in the playoffs it doesn't mean a thing.  The conference rankings are IMHO not conference rankings.  They rate you how you do in the playoffs.  Not a true ranking of how good the teams are.  I have made the point that the bottom teams in the IIAC are much better than the bottom teams of higher ranked conferences.  If the IIAC continiues to draw #1 or #2 seeds every year than the IIAC champs better raise there games so that they can become the #1 or #2 seeds so we can get the lower seeds and maybe get farther or maybe win the West.  Until  the IIAC gets some playoff wins we will be a middle of the pack conference.  Your ripping on the Dutch in your view from the MUC point of you use sure makes Cornell even look worse.   

[coocooforcoekohawk]

BUENA VISTA DEFEATS BETHEL U 24 - 16!!! 

# 24 GONZO

BV played tough D all day and it showed...O Stepped it up a little in the 2nd half but they need a little more for conference play.  They are looking like the real deal.  GREAT WIN TODAY!

Also great job to Central, Wartburg, and whoever won today....Still pumped about the win.

I guess no one else is going to comment.

Great job B.V. by far the biggest win for the IIAC this weekend.



way to go knight fans, Beavers have a big day and MNbeev still congratulates you, but all you guys can talk about is how meaningless other teams wins are.

[sportsknight]

Holy crap!  Is it just me, or does everyone need to chill the hell out around here?  Its only Week One, folks...save the smack talkin' for when the conference season starts rolling.

[Wartburg Fan]

I agree with sportsknight it only the first week. I think it was a good first week for the  IIAC  7-2 isn't that bad congrat's to all the wins.

[repete]

Purple Heys,If the IIAC continiues to draw #1 or #2 seeds every year than the IIAC champs better raise there games so that they can become the #1 or #2 seeds so we can get the lower seeds and maybe get farther or maybe win the West.

History doesn't seem to hold that up. Central was a 2 last year and had homefield. The league has had a couple of No. 1s in recent history and the last two haven't fared well -- losing their playoff openers.

[DutchHawk]

Wow, no kidding. I wasnt trying to start WW3 or anything in here, just saying that jumping to greatness conclusions this early in the season is a bit much. After being in Pella on Saturday its easy to see the Dutch have some improvements to make if they are going to go undefeated again this year. Im not trying to be hard on Cornell just saying that we should wait for all this look out talk. I dont think anyone ever said the IIAC is the greatest conference ever, although its not bad. Losing a close playoff game to St. Johns last year and the eventual runner up by 20 the year before isnt exactly soft playoff draws. (Wesley lost on the same field to UWW by more than 50 in the semis that year for comparison).

The reason the MIAC is so much better in the playoffs is SJU, they are an amazing program that I have a ton of respect for.

Talking from MUC point of view was an immature way to say it, everyone knows they are the definition of greatness in D3, but hey that just makes what you say carry even less water.

In conclusion it was a great week for the IIAC, I was happy to see BV and Simpson pull off some big wins, as well as Cornell to start on the right foot. I dont want to see any IIAC team lose except when they are playing Central. Best of luck to everyone next week!