FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

If I'm not mistaken, Coe contacted Zweifel was contacted about the Coe opening, but turned it down.

He was probably making more money as a coordinator.

[DBQ1965]

Another reminder for College Bowl Mania ...

You have until the EagleBank Bowl kickoff on Saturday to get in on some friendly (or not so friendly) competition. 

I have set up a "IIAC Forever" group so we can have some fun.  The contest involves not only picking the winners of 34 bowl games ... but ranking the games on the basis of your "confidence" in your team picks winning.

To join ... try this link ... http://games.espn.go.com/bowlmania/frontpage ... and if it doesn't work, go to www.espn.com and click on College FB ... then look down the right-hand side of the page and click on "Bowl Mania."  That should get you to the sign-up page.  If you haven't registered with ESPN before, you will have to do so now ... its free!

Once you are registered, click on "Join a Group" and search for "IIAC Forever."  In order to join that group, you will need to use the password:  IIAC'08.

There are 5 of us signed up so far -- Luther has one representative in Thunderbolt ... Wartburg has two reps in Sportsknight and P. Mott ... and UD has 2 reps in doolittledog and UD Spartans (yours truly).   How about getting some hawks (Ko or Du) in there ... and what about the Beavers ... Dutch ... Rams ... and Storm?

Once the opening kickoff of the EagleBank Bowl hapens ... the groups are "locked" and no one gets in late. 

So ... act now.  Here is your chance to do some trash-talking to fellow IIACers ... or maybe get trashed yourself.

[Confused77]

Great hire for UD. Outstanding hire. The multiple zone offense is coming to UD. It shall be interesting.

What a great way to make a splash with hire. Coe should take note for when they are looking for a new coach in a few years. 

[badgerwarhawk]

Zweifel is an excellent hire for Dubuque and I guarantee you that within 2-3 years they will be contending with the top teams in the IIAC.  He's a tireless recruiter who knows talent when he sees it and knows how to sell a prospect on the university.  He's got a gazillion contacts with high school coaches who know and respect him.  With decent administrative support he'll produce a winner in quick fashion.   There is a new day dawning in the IIAC.

I've known Stan for many years and any discussion about his character issues is laughable. 

[Willie University]

Zweifel is an excellent hire for Dubuque and I guarantee you that within 2-3 years they will be contending with the top teams in the IIAC.  He's a tireless recruiter who knows talent when he sees it and knows how to sell a prospect on the university.  He's got a gazillion contacts with high school coaches who know and respect him.  With decent administrative support he'll produce a winner in quick fashion.   There is a new day dawning in the IIAC.

I've known Stan for many years and any discussion about his character issues is laughable. 

That is what I wanted to hear. It supports everything I have researched and read about Stan Zweifel. It's especially nice to hear from someone from Whitewater that has known him for a long time.

Thanks and good luck at the Stagg Bowl!

Willie U

[Willie University]

Link to the latest article after the press conference today:

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=226502

[Purple Heys]

Zweifel is an excellent hire for Dubuque and I guarantee you that within 2-3 years they will be contending with the top teams in the IIAC.  He's a tireless recruiter who knows talent when he sees it and knows how to sell a prospect on the university.  He's got a gazillion contacts with high school coaches who know and respect him.  With decent administrative support he'll produce a winner in quick fashion.   There is a new day dawning in the IIAC.

I've known Stan for many years and any discussion about his character issues is laughable. 

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit envious about this hire.  Congrats to UD on an inspired selection and being able to land a big one.   

A rising tide raises all boats...even our leaky vessel.  Despite what is otherwise said about the recent Rams' moves, they are going to help the program move forward too.  I am looking forward to a positive impact from a new voice.  We all have subjective metrics for success.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

You heard it here first:


Bob Nielson, next Iowa State Head Coach

[DustySJU]

You heard it here first:


Bob Nielson, next Iowa State Head Coach

dream on.....

[doolittledog]

Looking at my post from last night it looks pretty negative.  Sorry about that.  Just off initial thinking about Coach Z from when I first saw the rumor was this was a man that spent 15 or so years at Whitewater.  Was the players and fans choice to succeed Berozowitz and for some reason did not get the job.  Later he was a finalist for Luther and did not get that job either.  There had been some talk on the wisconsin board regarding him and I should not have brought that up.  At the time I was just curious as to why other schools had not chosen him while UD had. 

From everything I have read about him so far today he sounds like an outstanding hire and a very motivated man.  It should be fun watching next year how he molds this group of kids into the team that he wants.  It will also be fun watching over the next few seasons how he goes about recruiting. 

Now, I really can't wait for UD to post their 2009 schedule so I can plan some trips.  In the past, UD has posted theirs pretty late.  Hopefully that isn't the case this year!!!

[Klopenhiemer]

You heard it here first:


Bob Nielson, next Iowa State Head Coach

dream on.....

Might not be that far off Dusty....Rumor had it that we was thinking about taking a position with Upper Iowa in the athletic department because he was frustrated with UMD being a hockey oriented school.  Things might have changed since he won the national title. 

[Klopenhiemer]

Looking at my post from last night it looks pretty negative.  Sorry about that.  Just off initial thinking about Coach Z from when I first saw the rumor was this was a man that spent 15 or so years at Whitewater.  Was the players and fans choice to succeed Berozowitz and for some reason did not get the job.  Later he was a finalist for Luther and did not get that job either.  There had been some talk on the wisconsin board regarding him and I should not have brought that up.  At the time I was just curious as to why other schools had not chosen him while UD had. 

From everything I have read about him so far today he sounds like an outstanding hire and a very motivated man.  It should be fun watching next year how he molds this group of kids into the team that he wants.  It will also be fun watching over the next few seasons how he goes about recruiting. 

Now, I really can't wait for UD to post their 2009 schedule so I can plan some trips.  In the past, UD has posted theirs pretty late.  Hopefully that isn't the case this year!!!

I dont think you need to say sorry for anything.  I thought you brought up some good points.  It seemed as though Coach Z was the ultimate selection at Whitewater and Luther but they both passed him up.  I would be thinking the same thing in my head. 

I think PH hit the nail on the head that if UD improves drastically it will raise the bar for the rest of the conference, thus making us all stronger. 

I am not big on conspiracy theories, but with all the ties that Coach Z has with the UD management per say, this might have been in the works for a while. 

Has anyone heard anything regarding Coach B?  Has he applied for any jobs?  Where is his son going to be playing at in college?  I thought Central Michigan might have been a choice at one point. 

[sportsknight]

Congrats to the University of Dubuque and their vans on what sounds like a tremendous hiring.  I also would not be surprised to see the Spartans consistently among the IIAC top 3 after Zwiefel gets his feet underneath him in the next couple years.

If there is any one person that should be feeling a lot more pressure because of this hire, it is Steve Osterberger.  His recruiting advantage in the Tri-States may be coming to an end.  Up until now, being a Dubuque native and coaching at what the city has always perceived to be the superior institution has been enough for him to attract a certain level of local talent.  But with Stan Z. on the scene, I'd be very surprised if the number of Dubuque area kids (and Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin natives in general) on the UD roster doesn't start climbing rapidly.  The staff at UW-Platteville should probably be making a few extra phone calls over the next couple weeks, too.

I'd just like to take a minute to look at what this hire does for our league's standing around the country.  Here's a coach that, by all accounts, was a shoe-in to take over a perennial national finalist, that has now taken a job at a traditional bottom-feeder within the Iowa Conference.  Granted, I don't any of us expect UD to stay in the lower half of the IIAC based on their new facilities, their financial backing, and now their new head coach.  But all that said, Dan Runkle must have made one hell of a sales pitch to get Zwiefel to come to Spartan country (and I imagine Mr. Chalapty offered to open up the checkbook again too). 

Like PH said, a rising tide lifts all boats.  Not to knock anyone that has previously coached in the IIAC, but with the additions of Durnin, Glogowski, and now Zwiefel, I think most of us would agree that the quality of coaching the Iowa Conference is probably as high as it has ever been.  Hopefully this news, coupled with consecutive seasons of deep playoff runs, will continue to improve our league's image across the country.  Only good things can come from that, especially more Pool C bids and an IIAC representative in the Stagg Bowl (something that I think is very possible in the coming half decade).

[dutchfan1]

Now, I really can't wait for UD to post their 2009 schedule so I can plan some trips.   In the past, UD has posted theirs pretty late.  Hopefully that isn't the case this year!!!

...to the market, the apple orchard, and more dance recitals? Come on, Doolittle, is your wife going to let you actually attend games this year? (I hear the makings of a Christmas gift.....)

just kidding, buddy. Just kidding.

[doolittledog]

Now, I really can't wait for UD to post their 2009 schedule so I can plan some trips.   In the past, UD has posted theirs pretty late.  Hopefully that isn't the case this year!!!

...to the market, the apple orchard, and more dance recitals? Come on, Doolittle, is your wife going to let you actually attend games this year? (I hear the makings of a Christmas gift.....)

just kidding, buddy. Just kidding.

Well, I caught her looking at the UD bookstore website for clothes.  Christmas gifts for me???  She told me recently she has talked her parents into babysitting next fall...so she can go to the games with me.  So that sounds promising!!!