FB: American Rivers Conference

[Charlie Kohawk]

Usually I am offended that Hlas has a media job because he lacks imagination or the desire to do any research......oh yeah and he acts like a douche in person, but this was a nice little piece.

Gotta stand up for my friend here. Hlas may seem like a "douche" to people who don't know him, but he's well-respected in the business and the best writer the Gazette has. He should have left for a bigger market long ago. We're lucky to have him.

[repete]

For me personally, I just don't like the WIAC.  Public schools with 6,000-12,000 enrollments should be Div. II in my opinion... 
 

I think that's a perspective more common in the upper midwest where often the big land-grant universities are often d-1, the smaller state schools are d2 and the most private schools are d3 or NAIA. It's a lot more mixed elsewhere, especially in the east. from a minnesota angle, the enrollments and campuses of the WIAC appear a lot more like those in the d2 NSIC,

BUT size isn't everything in d3 and as long as they play by d3 rules, that's good for me. Plus, if you look at the average enrollment of the schools that have won the title since the last WIAC victory, it's under 2,200 (by rough estimate)...

[Purple Heys]

Purple Heys:

I'm not intending to be causing any havoc here, however, USD beat Yale last year quite convincingly.  I think that puts them in a slightly different talent level than the average DIII team.  Yet, as always, there are acceptions to "the rule".  Many posters around these boards have had these DIII vs. DIAA or "whomever" discussions before.  Everyone has their opinion, but it is an interesting discussion.

You're right about that, where the line starts to blur, the conversation gets interesting.

Looking at comparative scores USD beat NAIA's APU at APU 28-0 and UW-W beat APU 28-7 at Whitewater.  It would have been interesting to see UW-W and USD play.  While USD did beat Yale, they lost to a 6-5 UC-Davis team.  It is important to note that Yale does not offer athletic aid (like USD and D3) and UC-Davis does...

I could talk further on this but really it doesn't affect the IIAC so much, unless, for example, Central starts playing Drake.

[Purple Heys]

Cornell unveils their new Home uniforms this weekend.  If anybody out there is going...can you get some pictures?  I am going to the Loras game, but I want to see 'em before.

How 'bout some love for the Hogs?

Who are the best O-lineman and D-lineman in the IIAC?

Let's hear from you out there (I feel like Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton tonight...from Baja to the Canadian Rockies)

[Airborne Dutch]

If you include potential, (slightly biased opinion) Spenser Remick and Owen Haberman are up there. Remick is strong. Ridiculously strong. Haberman is one of the largest O-Line to come to Central in awhile. Remick was a spot player when Schuring had his first MVP run in 2005 and a full-time starter in 2006 during Schuring's 2nd run. The success of the running back is a direct reflection of the quality of the O-Line. I don't know much about Luther, but if we are talking awards wise, then Stavast has to be near the top in the conference. Three first team player in your first three years. Very respectable.

[the_mayne_event]

Jordan Wilkens (DE, Coe) has to be mentioned as one of the best d-linemen in the conference.

[Walston Hoover]

Vinny King.
Oh wait.

[WartTrainer]

Wartburgs Eric Bruhn and I was  impressed with Luke Stover from Simpson after last weeks game.

[dbljay21]

If you include potential, (slightly biased opinion) Spenser Remick and Owen Haberman are up there. Remick is strong. Ridiculously strong. Haberman is one of the largest O-Line to come to Central in awhile. Remick was a spot player when Schuring had his first MVP run in 2005 and a full-time starter in 2006 during Schuring's 2nd run. The success of the running back is a direct reflection of the quality of the O-Line. I don't know much about Luther, but if we are talking awards wise, then Stavast has to be near the top in the conference. Three first team player in your first three years. Very respectable.

Airborne:
I was coaching at Luther for Stavast's first two years and I can definitely say that he is one of the best offensive lineman in the conference.  He always graded out highly from the gameday film and is a natural leader on the field.  I don't know about any others to include on a list of current players because I don't get to see the games as often as I would like. 

Two guys from recent years that need to be mentioned are Vinny King (previously mentioned by Walston) and Scott Romens.  I can speak from experience that Vinny King was a guy you had to gameplan for as an offense.  And from talking to other coaches and players, Scott Romens was highly respected throughout the conference.  These were two guys that were excellent at their positions.

[the_mayne_event]

i agree, stavast is a stud

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Vinny King.
Oh wait.

Vince King was just in the Gazette, sort of!  Both of the King boys seem to be able to play DL.

Nice to see some mention of Vince. 

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070905/SPORTS/70905001/1008/sports

[DutchHawk]

STavast is a stud, and Wartburg always has horses up front. Remick from Central has squatted 705 and he is just a junior. Coming in his max was somewhere around 310. Thats 400 pounds in a little under 3 years...and the kid is freakishly athletic.

[TheOne89.1]

Who are the best O-linman and D-lineman in the IIAC?

I haven't seen all four play together yet, but the Waterloo Courier had an article on Wartburg's four D-linemen.  Koehler said "this is as good as any in the six years I've been here", putting them up there with King and Zearley.  Having gone against Vince many a time in college, I still haven't see a D-lineman as good as him at the D3 level.  He would often get the ball from the center before the QB would.  So I would put those guys up as one hell of a D-line.

And looks like the O-lines at UD and Luther must be decent since the Spartans had 320 yards on the ground last week and the Norse had Sherden rush for 152.  Of course I can't leave out the Knights hogs up front with Wubben and Hogan as solid leaders, Morrison is one hell of an O-line coach who gets that unit in top form every year.

[Walston Hoover]

Morrison's first OL unit taught him everything he knows. Good and Bad. 8)

[DutchHawk]

Boy...as good as Zearley and King?? I think they were on a level all their own.  I would have figured some preseason all america mention if they were that level. Not knocking the current group...just saying how good that group was.