FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

Show-
I think the last 3 times We've played you at my namesake, there's been a BV defender that has broken a leg or torn a ligament. I've heard "dirty" claims each time. What seems weird to me is that over those same 5 years I haven't heard any other claims of that from teams that play Wartburg. I've heard physical, but never dirty. I may be opening up a whole new can of worms here, but I don't think any one goes out to block someone with the intention of taking them out of the game.
I blew a kids knee out in a JV game against UIU my freshman year and heard and felt it go when I cut-blocked the guy. It was the sickest I ever felt and I talked to the guy after the game. He understood that I didn't do it on purpose and told me not to feel bad since it was part of the game.

[The Show]

I didn't realize it had been the last 3 times BV played there...that must just be bad luck.  I don't think that many go out with the intentions to take someone out either.  I never had anyone take a cheap shot at me in my 4 years...at least none that I know of!  But like I said, I didn't witness it nor will I see game film on it, so hearsay is all you get...

[War Pig]

Hoover, I am a fan of championship football, sports gambling,  and particularly good defense.  I like Wartburg, but I also like Coe.  I wasn't as impressed with Luther although they are getting better.  

If Coe's offense gets on track they could really take off because there defense is real stingy.  The league should come down to the Coe/Wartburg game once again.  

[coocooforcoekohawk]

War Pig,
I must agree with you.  Coe has a chance to have a great season.  If we can get past B.V. next week, then it is on.  Wartburg/Coe may be a spectacular game.  After that Coe has an easier second half of an IIAC schedule than anyone else in the league.   
   If  Wartburg beats Coe, and Central beats Wartburg, Coe gets the automatic bid.  If that is the scenario expect Central to get an at large bid. 
    If Wartburg beats Central and Coe, then Wartburg will be the only IIAC team in the playoffs.  I don't see Coe getting an at large bid.  Wartburg cannot lose again and make the playoffs, neither can Central.  If Coe loses one game they will have to rely on an at large bid or help from Central.  That is not a position Coe wants to be in.
STAY FOCUSED KOHAWKS, don't forget about Dubuque last year.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

War Pig,

I know Wartburg, Coe, and Luther have gotten a lot of time on here, but I would have to throw Central in the mix at this point as they have been about as consistent as it relates to the scoreboard every week as anyone else.  

Without having seen them play, it looks as if they are running the ball better than in 2004 and the defense has been very stingy in allowing points.  They still play Cornell, Luther, Dubuque, Wartburg, and Buena Vista, and of the three tougher games only the Wartburg game is on the road.  They have shown the capabilities so far that they could win all five.

Until a team loses for the 2nd time, they should be considered to be clearly in the mix for the conference title.  There are five teams currently that have one loss or less, and only B.V. has yet to play more than one of the preseason top four.

There are no scores, stats, or anything else to make me think that anyone is clearly better than anyone else in the top half of the league or that it is only a two-team race because Coe and Wartburg have done it before.

Simpson might be 1-2 now, but they still could determine the winner(s) by how they play against other contenders down the stretch.  6-2 may also still win the title, but I am still going with the concept that a team in the upper half needs to win out to have real hope this year.

[dbljay21]

Until a team loses for the 2nd time, they should be considered to be clearly in the mix for the conference title.  There are five teams currently that have one loss or less, and only B.V. has yet to play more than one of the preseason top four.

Well said Floyd.  There is still a lot of football to be played and Coe is the only team that controls their own destiny. 

Moving on to this week, how does the Simpson team from this year compare to last years team?  Insights from anyone would be appreciated.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

coocooforcoekohawk,

I agree with your mentioning Central as a contender, but the Norse are still in it until they at least get beat again.  Does losing on the road at the end of the game to Coe somehow mean that the Luther win over Wartburg was a fluke?

Maybe you watched a different game than I did as I was only there for the second half, but it was 7-7 when I showed up and mostly a defensive struggle when I was there.  Both teams got yards, but I always had the feeling that both defenses were playing winning football.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Floyd
I have seen Luther and Central play Coe.  I honestly feel Central will beat Luther, that is why I dismissed them.  The end of the Coe/Luther game did not seem as close a call as the end of the Central/Coe game.  Two losses leaves you out, therefore I don't see Luther having a chance.  I can see Wartburg beating Coe and I can see Central beating Luther.  I also can see Coe running the table.  In my opinion, excluding Coe, the rank of the IIAC goes.
Central
Wartburg
Luther.
That being said, I am looking forward to Oct. 15 in Waverly.  Recent history is on Wartburgs side.  Until Coe beats the Knights, we will not be considered the best team in the IIAC.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

St. Olaf (beat Luther in week two) moved to 4-0 this past week after beating St. Thomas 53-27.  The Oles now have a clear path to being 7-0 when they play St. John's later in the season (they beat the Johnnies last year).  St. Olaf of the MIAC has had a very good offense against the three quality teams that they have played (Bethel, Luther, and St. Thomas) this season so far.

Bethel (beat B.V. but lost to Central) is still 2-2 and 1-1 in the MIAC after having bye on Saturday.  The Royals still have a good shot at being a top four school in their conference.

Augsburg (Wartburg beat them by 3 in week two) lost to Carleton, 21-19.  The Auggies have fallen to 0-4, but the loss to the Carleton Knights was at least the closest since the loss to the Wartburg Knights.

Millikin (3-1 overall, 0-1 in CCIW league play) lost to Carthage, 19-7.  Carthage is 4-0 on the season.  Millikin beat Wartburg 34-7 in the opener for the Knights.

Illinois Wesleyan of the CCIW (lost to Simpson in week 1) fell to 1-3 after a 20-15 loss to Elmhurst.

Augustana (lost to Central in week 1) is 3-1 and 1-0 on the season after a 50-6 win over North Park.  As usual, a win over Augustana is probably going to look like a good win when the season is all said and done.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Coocoo,

You may be right about Central being better than Luther as I have been respectful of the progress that the Dutch seem to be making so far this season.  However, I hate to think about how close Coe came to losing to Central if you thought that was a closer call than the Luther game.

The Norse were inside the Coe ten at the end of the game when they called the Luther WR for holding.  All non-blatant holding calls are interesting since it happens all of the time, but what made this more interesting was that Luther did not need to hold as they ran the right play for the situation.  It was a sweep to the outside just as Coe was run blitzing to the inside.  The Norse had numbers to the outside when the hold was called.

I am not making excuses for Luther but rather just pointing out that Coe came VERY close to losing that game at home during their homecoming.  Luther should not use the refs as an excuse but rather all of the missed chances the Norse Offense had to score after the defense forced turnovers around midfield.

Simpson and Central are going to be tough opponents over the next couple of weeks but Luther has at least a 50/50 chance to win each game if they are healthy and playing normal.  Even if Luther had beaten Coe I would be saying the same thing.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Floyd,
If Luther would have scored is irrelevant.  Coe would have had a chance to score after that.  Remember where the ball was at the end of the game.  Herzberger would have sent the game into overtime.  Then Coe's defense and Herzberger's leg would have closed the deal.  What I am getting at is that Luther and Coe played very even at the end of the game.  Central was taking the game over at the end of their Coe game. 

[War Pig]

The difference on Saturday for Coe was that their running attack came up big when it matter most on that 3rd down when Suckow busted the big run.  When Coe played Central they went three and out in a similar situation and they didn't put the game away when they should have. 

Does anyone win a prize for the first post on the historic "50th page"?

[NorseFan]

Where's Dowjone$?  I think we need some good insight and gramatical errors right about now.

[dutchfan1]

I know that I am a little late in posting this week, but big congrats to the Dutch for the weekend win over rival Simpson! The Dutch played really smart on both sides of the ball. I was impressed with the QB -- the offense seemed to gel at the right time. I think the Dutch are poised to make a decent run through the rest of the conference season.

I give Simpson credit -- they played well -- there were several tense moments in throughout the game. The Storm, I think, have the ability to play spoiler for any school out there.

By the way, for any Simpson fans out there: can we retire the FTD thing already? It's old, tired, and was plagarized from William Penn -- how sad do you have to be, anyway?

[DutchFan2004]

Floyd,

Thanks for the kind words for the Dutch.  They seem to be jelling and becoming better each week.  The D has been good through all 5 games.  What killed the Dutch on Saturday is they shot themselves with stupid penalties in the second half.  I don't think that any team in the IIAC can put themselves in holes like 1st and 15 or second and 12-15 and keep picking up first downs to sustain a drive.  Thats what the Dutch were doing against Simpson.  Simpson has to good of D as do most of the top teams in the IIAC this year.  If Central can stop with the false starts and not pick up the holding penalties they will be tuff the rest of the way.