FB: American Rivers Conference

[Old Dutch]

For the IIAC Motto contest ...

There were some really good entries ... and predictably ... a couple of tasteless ones.

The finalists are:

Thunderbolt:  United we stand.  Divided we're still better than most.

dutchfan1:  We write the stories of the IIAC.

TheOne89.1:  (adapting a line in a great movie)  "Is this heaven.  No, its the Iowa Conference."

Footballdaddy:  IIAC:  We put the hyphen in student-athlete.

So ... which one do you vote for?  Cast your ballot on here and remember --

This is not Illinois politics ... so no bribes aand vote only once.

Oh man, that wasn't even my best submission! 

I agree DF1, who picked these finalists, if its got to be one of yours, I'd take

"When you lose say little....when you win say even less"

although the Dutch Nation quote "We can beat you on the field . . " is soo good its been around for ever!

[Old Dutch]

ok as long as were posting best Christmas movies you got to consider "A Claymation Christmas" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87wGHfAi17Q&NR=1

It was only a TV special for a couple years but we liked it so much that once my VHS wore out we bought the DVD.  And now as empty Nesters we'll still watch it!!

[Old Dutch]

ok, one last post before I go to bed, my scotch/rocks is all watered down anyway.  Tebow will win the Heisman.  Not because he's the best but because the Big 12 vote will split the Midwest and West coast votes and the East goes with the Florida team.  Its really not about the best player, just about the most popular to the media.  Just like the BCS.

[sportsknight]

For any of you fellas whose wives are actually allowing to watch football again today, the D2 championship looks like a good one so far.  Minnesota-Duluth and NW Missouri State are scoreless just before half.  Obviously its already been stated on here the connection between Wartburg and UMD in that Bulldog Head Coach/Athletic Director Bob Nielsen is a former Wartburg head coach.

NWMSU also has plenty of Iowa connections.  In addition to having 19 Iowans on their roster (including starting QB Joel Osborn of Harlan), Bearcat head coach Mel Tjeerdsma began his coaching career at Denison High School out in western Iowa in 1975.  From there he went to Northwestern College up in Orange City, spending 8 years as their offensive coordinator.  For another Wartburg connection, former Wartburg volleyball players Shelby and Lindsay Schneider had an older brother that played at NWMSU.

Edit:  Duluth just scored on a big pass TD to make it 7-0.

Oh yeah, and GO PANTHERS!

[DBQ1965]

Okay ... I needed an "IIAC Motto" so that I could create an IIAC Group on ESPN's "College Bowl Mania."  That now is done and all you IIAC fans are invited to enjoy a little fun and friendly competition by matching your ability to pick this year's bowl winners with other IIAC folk.

I've created a group named IIAC Forever.  Whether you are from Wartburg, Cornell, or any of the teams inbetween ... to join in this friendly competition, simply click or this link ...

http://games.espn.go.com/bowlmania/frontpage

If you don't already have an account with ESPN.com ... you can sign-up to get an account (its free!) ... and then join the group, IIAC Forever.  You will need the password IIAC'08 to join the group.

Let's see which IIACer can pick the most winners with the most "confidence points" beginning with the EagleBank Bowl next Saturday and finishing with the BCS National Champtionship Game on January 8.

Let me know if you have any trouble signing up or finding the IIAC Forever group.

"United we stand.  Divided, we're still better than most."

[sportsknight]

Duluth has converted a couple NWMSU turnovers into TDs and now lead 21-0 a couple minutes into the 4th.  Back here in D3, it looks like we're going to have a 4th straight UW-Whitewater vs. Mount Union Stagg Bowl.  The Purple Raiders rolled over Wheaton 45-24 today and Whitewater leads UMHB 32-10 with about 12 minutes left in the 4th.  That's still a lot of time left, but maybe not enough to get 3 scores.  UWW was on the board just 17 seconds into that game when they got a quick safety.

[warthog]

From my view; Losing a third round playoff game to the team who will be playing for the national championship is better than I had expected after the Augsburg and Buena Vista  losses.  Coach Willis, the coaching staff and the Wartburg players are to be commended for getting things on track.

[doolittledog]

It was supposed to be just my son and me watching the D2 championship game followed by watching UNI and Richmond.  My wife then decided I needed to drive our girls and her to their dance recital dress rehearsal.  So I have spent the last 3 hours in Vinton watching a bunch of little girls in tutus prance around the stage...something I will be able to do again tomorrow during their real recital.  

While a 4th straight Stagg Bowl with UWW and Mt. Union might be a bit boring...I am happy to see the team that knocked Wartburg out is into the final game.  And that Wartburg played UWW closer than UMHB!!!

[coco]

ok as long as were posting best Christmas movies you got to consider "A Claymation Christmas" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87wGHfAi17Q&NR=1

It was only a TV special for a couple years but we liked it so much that once my VHS wore out we bought the DVD.  And now as empty Nesters we'll still watch it!!

Old Dutch,
That Claymation guy grew up here in 'Catland, and was Mrs C's neighbor and classmate all through school. He made some cute children's stuff.
My trivia for the day.

[DBQ1965]

UNI and Northwest Missouri State have got to be at the top of the "hard luck" playoff teams.

[TheOne89.1]

http://www.d2championship.com/

Congrats to MN Duluth for winning the championship.  Definitely helps make the NSIC look better and that loss for WSU at the end of the season not so bad.

Nice work by Fred Jackson today.  55 total yards and a TD.  I am going against a guy in Fantasy who has Lynch so I was hoping a little more looks Jackson's way, but what a great way to represent Coe and the rest of the IIAC.

[sportsknight]

UNI and Northwest Missouri State have got to be at the top of the "hard luck" playoff teams.

I don't know about that.  Northwest dug their own grave by turning the ball over a few times and not being able to cash in when they got deep into UMD territory a couple times.

UNI doesn't get to claim luck at all in their game.  The last 2:00 of that game was a perfect example of playing to not lose, rather than playing to win.  Between that and their awful clock management, UNI pissed that thing away and they have nobody to blame but the guy in the mirror.  The play call on that final play was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen happen on a football field. 

[DBQ1965]

UNI and Northwest Missouri State have got to be at the top of the "hard luck" playoff teams.

I don't know about that.  Northwest dug their own grave by turning the ball over a few times and not being able to cash in when they got deep into UMD territory a couple times.

UNI doesn't get to claim luck at all in their game.  The last 2:00 of that game was a perfect example of playing to not lose, rather than playing to win.  Between that and their awful clock management, UNI pissed that thing away and they have nobody to blame but the guy in the mirror.  The play call on that final play was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen happen on a football field. 

I was referring to NWMS being 0-4 in championship title games and UNI being 1-5 (or is it1-6) in playoff games.

[BeaverOfYore]

Another IIAC connection to the D-2 title game - UMD graduate assistant Mike Lang (defensive secondary) played corner for the Beavers from '01-'04.

[BeaverOfYore]

+k to all IIACers online when I posted #200.  Woohoo!