FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

UD over Central this weekend. Wartburg over an inspired Coe team.
This fall has gone fast. 2 weeks left in the HS season and not much more than that in the IIAC.

[DutchFan2004]

Walston,

No playoffs for you this year?  I thought the season just got started for Dowling then.

[oldNorse]

.......a little more history of Waldorf football.

Waldorf was a two year college for most of its history.  They had great JC teams and often were in junior college play-offs.  They beat the U of Minnesota JV team one year.  I have been told they changed to a four year school to help stabilize their enrollment.  The are not in a football conference so they have to fill the open dates of others, playing Drake, UW-Steven's Point, UIU and IIAC schools, etc.  Makes for a very tough schedule.  Waldorf is a NAIA school but I believe is moving toward NCAA affiliation.  They have about 500 students.  Same church affiliation as Luther and Wartburg.

Dave Bolsdorf was their long-time coach and college chaplain.  He retired two years ago.  Their field is named after him.

........Is Luther using Sherden too much?
Talked to the LC trainer today and he said Tyler feels just fine.  It would be nice to hit a few more receivers to take a bit of the pressure off.

[doolittledog]

.......a little more history of Waldorf football.

  Waldorf is a NAIA school but I believe is moving toward NCAA affiliation.  They have about 500 students.  Same church affiliation as Luther and Wartburg.

If Waldorf moved to D3 and the IIAC that would give BV a rival for that rivalry week we have been talking about on here.  We could have 3 big weekends.  Try to work out an IIAC vs. MIAC weekend to start the season.  Each school could then have their homecoming game.  Then end the season with a rivalry game.  I suppose Luther, Wartburg and Waldorf could also play for the Lutheran Cup or something if they wanted. 

[dbljay21]

........Is Luther using Sherden too much?
Talked to the LC trainer today and he said Tyler feels just fine.  It would be nice to hit a few more receivers to take a bit of the pressure off.

As much as Sherden touches the ball, the play-action pass should be available for the Norse offense.  I only remember the Norse going deep off of the play-action once on Saturday and that was in the first quarter and the QB almost threw an INT...   The Norse definitely need more balance on offense

[dbljay21]

.......a little more history of Waldorf football.

  Waldorf is a NAIA school but I believe is moving toward NCAA affiliation.  They have about 500 students.  Same church affiliation as Luther and Wartburg.

If Waldorf moved to D3 and the IIAC that would give BV a rival for that rivalry week we have been talking about on here.  We could have 3 big weekends.  Try to work out an IIAC vs. MIAC weekend to start the season.  Each school could then have their homecoming game.  Then end the season with a rivalry game.  I suppose Luther, Wartburg and Waldorf could also play for the Lutheran Cup or something if they wanted. 

I think that would be great for the conference...even number of teams, a rivalry weekend and one less non-conference game 

[dbljay21]

If Coe beats Wartburg that puts the Central vs Dubuque game as the de facto "Conference Championship Game"....who would have thought that 4 or 5 years ago...

I would have never thought that this scenario would happen...but Coe still does have to beat Wartburg at Walston-Hoover for it to become reality.

And +K to you for the use of the word "de facto"...

[TheOne89.1]

If Waldorf moved to D3 and the IIAC that would give BV a rival for that rivalry week we have been talking about on here.  We could have 3 big weekends.  Try to work out an IIAC vs. MIAC weekend to start the season.  Each school could then have their homecoming game.  Then end the season with a rivalry game.  I suppose Luther, Wartburg and Waldorf could also play for the Lutheran Cup or something if they wanted. 

I like that idea.  Like dbljay21 said, even number of teams plus we wouldn't have to play a random non-conference game.  The one non-conference game could be against a MIAC school.  I know Volleyball has the Border Battle every year.  It could be the same thing in Football.  As we all know every game is important, but when there is a tradition or rivalry on the line, the fans and alumni get into it more which brings the players level of play up and create from some exciting football.

[MNbeev]

Waldorf has one win this year over a currently winless Iowa Wesleyan team. It sure doesn't seem like they're lighting the world on fire.

2004: 3 wins
2005: 2 wins
2006: 2 wins

Yes, you are correct they are not lighting in world, stadium or field on fire, they are though Improving, or taking steps forward with their program.  And when playing teams like Drake, any UW- team, yea one win seems to be a pretty good number considering the teams they are playing.  Luther will probably roll'em but who knows.  Also I do agree that having Waldorf in the conference would be great, BV would have a rival and then Cornell might win a conference game...kidding...Low blow there sorry, sorry, and there would be an even number.  It makes sense Forest City is in a great Location for another conference team a little north but closer then BV to any other School.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

.......a little more history of Waldorf football.

Waldorf was a two year college for most of its history.  They had great JC teams and often were in junior college play-offs.  They beat the U of Minnesota JV team one year.  I have been told they changed to a four year school to help stabilize their enrollment.  The are not in a football conference so they have to fill the open dates of others, playing Drake, UW-Steven's Point, UIU and IIAC schools, etc.  Makes for a very tough schedule.  Waldorf is a NAIA school but I believe is moving toward NCAA affiliation.  They have about 500 students.  Same church affiliation as Luther and Wartburg.

Dave Bolsdorf was their long-time coach and college chaplain.  He retired two years ago.  Their field is named after him.

........Is Luther using Sherden too much?
Talked to the LC trainer today and he said Tyler feels just fine.  It would be nice to hit a few more receivers to take a bit of the pressure off.

It sounds like Sherden is doing better than he was 1-2 weeks ago.  His performance on Saturday looked healthier as well.

Waldorf has 53 players listed on their football roster on the school website with 19 being either juniors or seniors.  It looks like they still use redshirting.

They appear to be a running team from the stats that I have seen.  Can the B.V. posters comment more on what they saw from them in previous years?

Besides the smaller enrollment, Waldorf also only offers six men's teams and six women's teams.  Luther offers 10 men's sports and 9 on the women's side.  Wasn't the Iowa Conference rule on fielding a team in all official IIAC sports ($$$) a big reason Upper Iowa left?

[doolittledog]

I remember reading that was a big reason William Penn left.  Not sure about Upper Iowa. 

[sc_stormchaser]

MNbeev- you must be much closer to the Waldorf program, so I respect your opinion. They certainly play some strong teams year after year, but other than BV, the scores aren't really getting any closer. As for them joining the IIAC...I don't see it happening. Petersons.com shows 172 entering students at Waldorf last year. Wartburg had more freshman on the football roster.  There's no way they could field all of the sports needed for the IIAC. Are they really trying to switch to NCAA? I hadn't heard any talk. That type of school should stay NAIA.

[oldNorse]

.....Waldorf in IIAC.

I don't think it is in Waldorf's best interest to join the IIAC and have heard nothing about any such inclinations. 
Seems they would be better off in the conference with Martin Luther College, Principia, Trinity, etc.
Stormchaser is right, 173 new students doesn't make for IIAC competition.

However.....Waldorf is a great college and knows their mission in higher education.

[Purple Heys]

Cornell Faithful,

I’ve been pulling for Cornell to make progress this season. I’ve made some bold predictions too.

Why were there so much enthusiasm, pride and predictions that Cornell would win games? What is different about this team from the last 3 years? What is wrong?

Looking at the results, Cornell is stuck in the pattern of giving up the leagues player of the week, the stat game for the leagues MVP candidates and highlighting the league record books.

If you back out the stats from the 2 non conference games, the stats show a history of the same pattern, failing to win.

It’s time to win. You have 4 games to show any improvement, forget the first 2 games. I believe someone on the board summed those games up, 2 victories by 2 points and I’ll add some good stats for bragging rights only. Stop speaking of moral victories in close games, you need to solve problems not use them as excuses for signs of improvement. It’s the wins and losses that count and this team is losing and headed to another 2-8 season. .

If the team played its best players then that sends a message about the talent. If the team is not playing its best talent, then why not, you have a history and should have learned a lesson about the current talent, its 2-8 and haven’t won a conference game. Its time to put your new talent (hope) on the field, it can’t hurt; it’s time to walk the talk. 

The losses are very painful to watch, listen and read about. It’s going to be tough to recruit and keep young players.

Hmmm...I won't try to presage any motivation for your post here, allow me to address your points.

Why were there so much enthusiasm, pride and predictions that Cornell would win games? What is different about this team from the last 3 years?  New coach, new strength program, what appears to be new committment for the adminstration to the program, upgraded facilities.   What is wrong?  Nothing that a break here or an avoided mistake there might have changed.  The Loras game was a winnable game...the Luther game became attainable when Sherden went down, but we didn't take advantage and Luther stepped up instead of us. A 4-2 record at this point would have set a lot of minds a different direction both outside and inside the program.

Looking at the results, Cornell is stuck in the pattern of giving up the leagues player of the week, the stat game for the leagues MVP candidates and highlighting the league record books.  Can't argue with that, other than the Loras game and the 2nd half of the Luther game seemed to reflect the preseason offensive output.  The BV game and the DBQ were disasters.   And I don't like the P.O.W. trend either. 

It’s time to win. You have 4 games to show any improvement, forget the first 2 games. I believe someone on the board summed those games up, 2 victories by 2 points and I’ll add some good stats for bragging rights only. Stop speaking of moral victories in close games, you need to solve problems not use them as excuses for signs of improvement. It’s the wins and losses that count and this team is losing and headed to another 2-8 season. .   When you start with a team that was 2-8 that was only marginally competitive in any league game, you don't start by claiming to compete for league titles.  You start by attaining competitive balance in talent and performance.  Winning is a learned habit, unfortunately Losing can be as well.  There is a mindset to overcome.  There are no moral victories, but there is measurable and demonstrated improvement.  The Rams were competitive vs. Loras and Luther this year, whereas last year they were not.  Though disappointing to lose I was hoping the Rams would gain some confidence going into the BV game.  IMHO Luther and Loras are better than BV...Unfortunately the last two games clearly were a step backward for the program.

If the team played its best players then that sends a message about the talent. If the team is not playing its best talent, then why not, you have a history and should have learned a lesson about the current talent, its 2-8 and haven’t won a conference game. Its time to put your new talent (hope) on the field, it can’t hurt; it’s time to walk the talk.  This is an interesting and unusual observation...who do you think is better and not playing?  I don't accept your claim that better players are sitting idly by while the team languishes...Coach Dillon has no vested interest in steering things into the ground.  This is a team that Coach Dillon didn't get a head start on recruiting for 2006, although I believe 4 or 5 of the 12 2006 recruits from that class are starters.  His next class has got some good talent and 20-some odd recruits...several of these players see extensive action.  But I will tell you one thing...D3 or not, it's tough for a kid right out of high school to step in and contribute, especially behind and against man-strong young men who are faster and stronger than they played in high school.  College Football represents a distallation of talent upward...the players are better, faster, stronger than in high school even in D3...I am wondering what talk you are walking...

The losses are very painful to watch, listen and read about. It’s going to be tough to recruit and keep young players.  No one likes losing...if this team did enjoy losing, my son would not be playing here.  I don't agree with your second point.  There are plenty of players looking for a chance to play somewhere...Cornell draws from all over the U.S.  Cornell is reaching out to them.  Ultimately the team with better talent has a better chance.  I, for one, believe that Coach Dillon is making progress in the talent level and he can honestly say players have a good chance to play early in their career at Cornell.

[DutchFan2004]

Well my understanding is that UIU could not field the required number of teams.