FB: American Rivers Conference

[Floyd in Iowa City]

NorseFan,

The Loras win over Simpson last week was big, but I am not sure how well that will translate into a Duhawk win this week.  This is still some version of the Duhawk Offense that was shutout by Central and B.V.  I have a lot of respect for the Loras Defense even though I have not seen the Duhawks since last year, but from a distance the offense has not had the kind of season to make me think that they will beat Wartburg again this year.

I think Loras needs to be +3 in turnovers to win.

I don't know about last week, but Simpson played Luther tough a couple of weeks ago and by all accounts played very tough against Central in the rivalry game.  I know they are now 1-4 in the league, but I still think they have a better team than Cornell.  Then again, I also thought Simpson would beat Loras for the 13th straight time or whatever it would have been.  It is amazing that the streak lasted that long.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Wartburg fans,

By the way, those t-shirts you made up for homecoming, at least you were creative without being offensive, well done.

[dbljay21]

6 a.m in the Windy City and its time for some picks...

Coe over UD by 3 touchdowns...sorry dowjone$, but the Spartans just don't have it this year

Simpson over Cornell...Storm has something to prove

Luther over BV...Norse offense is playing well and BV doesn't have a good defense

Wartburg over Loras...the Knights have conference championship on their minds and take care of business

White Sox in 6 over Astros...Ozzie Guillen is a genius and the Sox are hitting on all cylinders.

[qbdriver]

Anyone down in Cedar Rapids........ coocooforcoekohawk or Charlie,

Is it true that the Kohawks are getting field turf on both their gamefield and practice field?  God only knows how they need it.  That field is terrible to play on. For being such a good school, they have the worst facility in the league and no where for visiting fans to sit.  It's about time. 

And I heard they might be getting lights?  and hosting 4A HS games each week and playoff games.  This could get scary in regards to recruiting with Cedar Rapids being an attractive place for students to come.   One of the big reasons they loose so many recruits has to do with their facilities.   Eby Field House is a barn and the visitor locker rooms......   

Also Warthog, Wartknight, Walston Hoover and WartTrainer, Is Wartburg on the move as well?  I heard they were tearing down their old athletic complex and building a multi million dollar facility.  Is this true?  If it is the Knights will be tough for many years to come and continue the dynasty. 

With Central starting their field turf and new stadium project this November and Loras even catching up with the times, the rest of the league needs to make some moves and get their development offices raising more money.

Overall it's good for our league and will only help get us more respect around the country. 

[coocooforcoekohawk]

96diver,

I haven't heard anything except that K.Raymond left us his entire estate.  If Phife' hasn't spent all of it already it would be nice to use some of that cash to get field turf and some stands for the visitors.  Last year one third of the Coe stands were filled with Central fans.  So to visitors, I encourage you to sit on the Coe side of the field and to get there early to fill them until Coe decides to do something about their lack of seating.  Don't worry about moving the blankets that supposedly entitle people to reserve their seats.  It is ridiculous that is the way things are done at the K.R. Clark bleachers.

[sportsknight]

Good question Warthog. I couldn't see from my vantage point, but that may explain why Willis was ripping the officials after the game. That confused me since every other break in the game benefited Wartburg.

From my spot on the Wartburg sideline, I couldn't tell if any of the Coe players were offsides or not.  I think that Coe did an excellent job of executing that onside, and that was why they got the ball, rather than being ahead of the line at all.

As for Willis getting after the refs after the game, that one would be because one of the Kohawk players punched one of the Knights on the final play of the game and (with at least 15 seconds still on the clock) the refs did absolutely nothing about it.  Willis was shouting about it on the sidelines, then took off after the refs while the players were shaking hands.

I'd agree with you that a lot of the breaks went Wartburg's way, but I wouldn't say that the calls did.  The flag that brought back the fake field goal in the first quarter was borderline at best...I'd compare it to getting pulled over for speeding when you're going 57 in a 55.

As far as Wartburg upgrading facilities, the Board of Regents approved plans for a new "Rec center" that will take the place of the current Physical Education Center.  I believe they want to break ground in March, or whenever the Wartburg basketball/wrestling seasons end.  I would be in agreement that the current PEC could use a facelift, but the plan they've approved will displace a full academic year of athletics here.  The volleyball, wrestling, basketball, and tennis teams will have to find somewhere else to play during that time period, and almost all teams will have to find somewhere else to practice.  I have absolutely no idea what they're going to do about locker rooms for football games, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  All in the name of progress...

Warthog, I believe the Dubuquers spell it "greyhound."  I don't know if the "e" adds some sophistication to the fact that you're putting money on which of the eight ugliest dogs you've ever seen will run the fastest, but to each his own...

Predictions for the week...
Simpson over Cornell, but not as much of a walk for the Storm as people might think...
Coe gets revenge over Dubuque in the CRapids...
Luther over BV if its low-scoring, but if its a shootout, I'll take the Beavers...
And Wartburg over Loras at the new Rock Bowl, where the view might be better than the game, what with all the fall colors on the banks of the Big Muddy.

[DuhawkFan00]

In response to all of the talk about new stadiums, i have to give props to the newly renovated Rock Bowl.  This new complex is amazing.  The new field turf is surrounded by a brand new purple track.  All new stands allow room for 4,000 fans and an enormous press box overlooks it all.  Not to mention that lights are in the process of going up right now.  The brand new score board is also home to, as i understand, the only jumbotron big screen in D3 football....I have to say it looks awesome and will hopefully entice some good recruits in the future.  If you haven't been there, i recomend you make the trip!

[The Show]

What's the word on Sherdan this week?  I think Pearson is still a little banged up for BV as well...  Havn't decided if I'll make the trip yet or not.

[DutchFan2004]

Sportsknight,


What was the penalty for?

[Charlie Kohawk]

Some of you guys really like to stir up trouble, don't ya? Coocoo, I'm not even sure whose side you're on sometimes. What are you doing encouraging visiting fans to disrupt our home field advantage?

I only have two things to add about last week's game and then I'm done with Wartburg (at least until they play Central, anyway):

1 – No punches were thrown at the end of the game, as the tape clearly demonstrates. Perhaps the reason the refs took no action was because nothing happened.

2 – The homecoming shirts weren't all that creative, but they were offensive, at least to Andy Tekippe. Andy is a tough kid, as he showed on Saturday, but I don't think any player should be singled out or criticized for transferring from one school to another. If anything, I credit Coe's coaches for leaving the door open for him. I understand there are other coaches who close the door on players who shun their initial recruiting efforts.

As for the rumored improvements to the football field, that's news to me. I have heard some talk about field turf – which makes sense to me since Coe doesn't have a separate soccer field – but I don't think the administration is convinced it's a justifiable expense. I could be wrong – and I hope I am – but I expect Coe will play on natural grass for the foreseeable future.

The K. Raymond Clark estate will chiefly benefit the endowment, strengthening the college's fiscal foundation. While some of the money will be used to maintain Coe facilities, I can't see the college making large investments in athletic facilities. Unlike some IIAC schools, academics comes before athletics at Coe and always will.

With that off my chest, here are my picks for Saturday:
Coe exacts revenge for last year and takes out its frustrations from last week on Dubuque.
Luther over BV, with or without Sherden.
Simpson assumes its rightful spot above Cornell in the standings with a home win.
Wartburg over Loras. (Come on Duhawks, make a liar out of me!)

[DutchFan2004]

Charlie Kohawk,


I like your last bit of encouragement to the Loras team.  That was cute. 

[lorfan86]

Duhawkfan000?

The purple track isn't in yet, but it will be soon. As for the lights, next summer. This will be huge considering that Wahlert may play there games at the Rockbowl, and getting alot more kids on campus.

[dutchfan1]

I was one of the people who sat in the Coe stands last year. (To be fair, I was sitting with my aunt and uncle, who were there to support one of the coaches for Coe.) The visitor stands in Cedar Rapids are almost non-existant....although Wartburg has the same problem, as does Simpson. How many schools truly travel well? I know that Central travels well, as does Wartburg, Coe, and from my experience Simpson (to the Central games, anyway.) Point being: for most schools, visiting stands aren't a huge necessity -- very nice to accomodate the visitors, but not something that is often utilized. I think Central has great guest accomodations, but we have the luxury of adequate room. I don't get the impression that Coe, Wartburg and Simpson have that space to spare, and so they chose to focus on their home fans. Regardless, fans will do what they have to do -- including taking space in the home team sections.

I'm curious -- what were the Wartburg homecoming shirts this year? I spoke to a Wartburg alum who was unaware of anything offensive. CK, I'm curious about the wording. Personally, I think that shirts that are deliberately offensive are classless and say more about the people wearing them than anything else. That being said, I can't say that Central fans have never crossed the line, either, which is unfortunate.

This week's predictions:
Coe over UD
BV over Luther
Simpson over Cornell
Wartburg over Loras
And finally, Central stomps all over the Bye.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Charlie,

I have gone to Pella this year and Waverly.  It is an insult to our IIAC competitors to expect them to sit on a few portable bleachers that you have to sit on the top two rows in order to see the game over their own team.  There were almost 6000 people at Walston Hoover last weekend and yet it was more than accomodating to the Coe and Wartburg fans.  A.N. Kuyper is also an excellent faciltiy for visiting spectators.  Now, I know K. Raymond Clark was built when we were in the lamest conference in D3 and did not need to accomodate visiting team fans since they did not want to travel to see the beat down that the Kohawks would put on them year after year.  Now, however, we are in a conference of excellence and we need to update our facility.  We are going to start losing recruits to Loras, yeah Loras, that is unacceptable.  Where would we put 6000 spectators.  Between the old Phi Tau house and the TKE house out on fourteenth st.?  K. Ray seats only 1000 people and the concession stand, which I used to run, is a joke.  The swimmers work their butts off down there but can't accomadate traffic during the first quarter let alone half time.  We need to move the practice field to the block between D and E avenues and build something bigger on the visitors side and make that the Coe side.  It will be hard to keep coach D.W. out of the Homeport during practice but that is a risk we need to take.  So in review, field turf and a new facility on the east side of the field to be used as the Kohawk side.  The way things are now Coe should never be aloud to host a playoff game.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

dutchfan1

the t-shirts said "Can't play at Wartburg go to Coe" I thought there was nothing wrong with those shirts.