FB: American Rivers Conference

[Purple Heys]

Speaking of Vegas and odds and all that...

What's the Over/Under on the number of posts Scottie's going to log here on the IIAC board until he finally slinks back to the MWC board?

 

[Purple Heys]

My $0.02 worth..

That was a dazzling run by the Kaniggets...just as last year we all had the opportunity to pull together and have some fun as another designated "OUR" team forged on.

We met some new "buddies" (Pointers and Scots and Warhawks) and they got a dose of our unique brand of camaradarie...and I think some of them actually got it.

Anyway...

Just as last year's Central team had a series of escapes in IIAC play then proceeded to the National Quarterfinals, this year's Wartburg had a similar less-than-dominant run through the IIAC followed by a brilliant playoff series.

It helps us all think that we are all just a little bit closer (some more than others, admitttedly) to the top than we are to the bottom as it pertains to the D3 heap.

In summary:  Great job Kaniggets, good luck Warhawks.  Merry Christmas everyone, and let's look forward to a great offseason and another round of this madness for 2009.

Go Rams.

[scottie]

Glad to meet you Mr. Pot, I'm Kettle...and I'm not black.    8)

Well, if you're going to go back on and delete previous posts, then I guess you win.... 

P.S.  I don't slink....I strut.   Sometimes I shuffle if I hear a funky beat.  But my work here is almost done anyway.  Wartburg already got the early Christmas present, and there is too much to do this time of year.  Happy New Year, boys and girls!

[DutchFan2004]

Now that the season is over, here is a question for the Knight faithful.  Will Coach Willis continue in his dual roll as AD and HC of the Knight FB team?  Will he resign as AD?  Will he resign as HC of the football team?  I know that this is soon after the season but I wondered if there has been talk about the future of the football program throughout the season with the current coach or if Willis will be searching for Koehler's replacement now that the season is over. 

[Walston Hoover]

I don't think there was ever an interim tag on any of Coach WIllis's titles.
Not having any idea what the plans are, I would imagine he will remain as both. Probably won't have as active of role in recruiting in the offseason as he used to.

[Alfredeneumann]

I don't think there was ever an interim tag on any of Coach WIllis's titles.
Not having any idea what the plans are, I would imagine he will remain as both. Probably won't have as active of role in recruiting in the offseason as he used to.

The only time was when he was interim was softball coach and he took that team to the final 8. I think he will be football coach AD @ Wartburg unless he leaves WC to become head coach somewhere else or when a new president is in place and he/she instigates some changes.

[doolittledog]

spurrier, a couple of questions for you.

Your son was redshirted this year so I know he wasn't travelling this season.  But...is there are rule that allowed him to travel with the team to Hawaii last week?

Are you happy Cincy gets the Orange Bowl...almost your back yard?  Or were you hoping for a longer post season trip?

Ok, that was 3 questions

[davedevine]

i highly doubt that cincy took their entire squad to the Island, although it would have been nice for them.

that's at least another 50+ players who aren't on travel squad to pay for hotel & flight and i doubt they wanted to spend that kind of cash for the guys

speaking of which, i wish i was back in Maui right about now

[warthog]

What is the status of the search at Dubuque?

Now that the IIAC playoff run is over, we can concentrate on what happened there.  Unless there was something illegal or immoral going on, I believe the forced change will turnout to be a real blunder for the Spartan Nation. 

[Purple Heys]

What is the status of the search at Dubuque?

Now that the IIAC playoff run is over, we can concentrate on what happened there.  Unless there was something illegal or immoral going on, I believe the forced change will turnout to be a real blunder for the Spartan Nation. 

Is the current AD at UD the same one who hired Coach B?

[Purple Heys]

I will be interested to see who Coach Dillon brings in to fill the vacated DC, RB, and Special Teams coaching slots.  I would think that process needs to conclude PDQ for the recruiting season.

[Purple Heys]

Off topic but Cornell's Men's Basketball team is off to a nice start at 5-1...Cornell's Women's Basketball is 4-2.

Nice to see our teams have some success.  Keep it up folks!

[doolittledog]

What is the status of the search at Dubuque?

Now that the IIAC playoff run is over, we can concentrate on what happened there.  Unless there was something illegal or immoral going on, I believe the forced change will turnout to be a real blunder for the Spartan Nation. 

Is the current AD at UD the same one who hired Coach B?

Nope, Brautigams first season at UD was 2001.  Runkle became the AD in August of 2002.

From the UD website...Dan Runkle joined the University of the Dubuque in August of 2002. "Runk" came to the University of Dubuque after a 21-year career as Head Football and Assistant Professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN. He is the all-time winningest football coach at MSU, along with being the 14th winningest coach in NCAA Division II. Some of his accomplishments and accolades include: 1987 North Central Conference Coach of the Year, 1991 Football Gazzette Division II National Coach of the Year, and in 1993 he was inducted into the Illinois College Hall of Fame. During his tenure at MSU, Runkle worked with his student athletes to help them achieve a team GPA of 3.0 and to have a graduation rate of 93%. He was heavily involved in athletic staff-management and facilities planning

I have only talked to people around the fringes (sp?) at UD.  Not directly associated with the coach.  And that is only 3 people.  All of them thought Brautigam did a good job of not only coaching the kids but also teaching them about becoming good adults.  That seemed to be as much of what he was about as the coaching.  Now, with that said, they might not have known everything going on and maybe there is some behind the scenes behavioral stuff going on that never made it out to the public or to these people somewhat near the situation.  We probably will never know. 

My two guesses are... with all the money being spent on facilities at UD all of the coaches are under pressure to win and win now...or...Runkle being a former head football coach maybe didn't believe in the style of play Brautigam ran at UD. 

Good questions that I don't have an answer for. 

One question I do have an answer for is I believe my dog has now completed her business outside and can be let back in the house and I can get off here and back to bed!!!

[Klompen]

Basketball time now and I see UDub beat the Knights right out of the chute.  I hope Wartburg lost because the Spartans have a good team this year.  I'd hate to think the 'burg was going to have two awful bball seasons in a row.

Did you also see that Central beat the Spartans 70-53?  Central is picked to finish 7th.  Way to go Dutch.      I decided in a year that the football team started out 0-2 in the conference, the bb team must have stolen their gatorade.  After graduating 4 seniors that played a lot, most of them 4 year starters, barring injuries, it is a stunningly good start for the Dutch.

[Dsquared]

In regards to the Willis question, I think it has been pretty well answered... but from what I've heard from previous players and coaches, he was itching to get back into coaching almost immediately after he left that seat.  He's a football coach first and foremost, and just like Jim Miller on the mats, Willis brings a special persona to the WB sidelines.  Like AEN said... unless there is a new administration that comes in and wants to shake things up, I'd bet he keeps both the AD and HC tags.  If things get shaken up, I wouldn't be surprised if he stays in coaching and gives up the AD position.  The head coach position gives him a better opportunity to continue to move up through divisions if he so chooses to go that route.