FB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

Yes and no.  The UD football team had a senior class last year of 20 and most of those were out of staters.  About the same size senior class as most of the other IIAC schools.  The trick with getting kids to stay for 4 years is bringing in the right type of kids.  Dubuque had been bringing those into the school in recent years.  It didn't matter that they weren't in-state kids. 

If Wartburg or Central have 100 on their roster and 90 are from Iowa.  They still typically have 20 seniors on their roster most years.  Those two schools have won because they had better football players and coaching.  Not because they had players from Iowa...not because they had players that stuck around four years.  Once Dubuque had players stick around 4 years they became more successful.  It didn't matter that they were from out of state. 

[sportsknight]

Once Dubuque had players stick around 4 years they became more successful.  It didn't matter that they were from out of state. 

I'm 100% in agreement with you on this point.  I guess I'm in the school of thought as Zwiefel - that it will be easier to get players to stay for four years if they are more local.

[Willie University]

And let's not think foolishly, Zweifel is a smart man from what I know and has connections all over Iowa, Illinios, Wisconsin, & Minnesota and I am sure some other places. He certainly won't fill the roster with JUST iowa kids. His purpose was pointing out he would recruit harder locally and will probably have an easier road to success since he is already known very well in the states listed above and has a lot of contacts and relationships already built. Plus, it doesn't hurt he has spoken at clinics and worked at camps all over the midwest and not to mention, his books and videos reach even farther.

I am not worried about his recruiting ability or plans whatsoever.

Willie U

[oldNorse]

My take on the UD hire of Stan Z is that Luther, Loras, Wartburg, and Coe (including Upper Iowa) are going to have to recruit harder than ever before in iA, WI, IL and possibly MN.  At the Luther interview he said he simply wanted to be a head coach.  However loyal one can be to Coach B. who did a great job at UD, that team and its fans,  needs to turn the page.

It seems to me that the whole of the University of Dubuque is turning a corner.  Its buildings are upgraded, its academic program is better, alumni giving seems to have taken off ($128 million).  I congratulate President Bullock on what he is doing at UD.  As any school in the IIAC that upgrades itself academically and athletically we all benefit as a conference.

[DutchFan2004]

For the colleges and universitys of the IIAC I think it is a very positive thing that the players attrition (sp) be limited.  By that I mean yes it is important that the players that quit the football team stay there and obtain their degree.  I think that has been a problem for UD.  Not only do the players quit the team but they leave school.  There is a bunch of money lost when they totally leave.  I know many players at Central that quit playing ball that stayed there and got their degree.  That is something missing.  If Zwiefel can retain the players he recruits on and off the field that will help UD. 

[Klopenhiemer]

For the colleges and universitys of the IIAC I think it is a very positive thing that the players attrition (sp) be limited.  By that I mean yes it is important that the players that quit the football team stay there and obtain their degree.  I think that has been a problem for UD.  Not only do the players quit the team but they leave school.  There is a bunch of money lost when they totally leave.  I know many players at Central that quit playing ball that stayed there and got their degree.  That is something missing.  If Zwiefel can retain the players he recruits on and off the field that will help UD. 

Coach Z's job is to get the kids to school to play football.  While in the school he needs to take the proper steps to make sure that the kids stay and get their degree.  If they quite playing football, its not his duty to retain the kids, they have their own free will. 

[BeaverOfYore]

dbq1965,

here's a better question. . .did ud hire the best candidate available? or did ud hire the best candidate that the ad had ties with?

Here's your answer, why don't you give him a call when he gets to campus and talk to him yourself and you be the judge.

But, look at all the evidence provided to this point about his character, work ethic, football knowledge, and his track record of success.

As for Coach B, all Spartan fans acknowledge and agree with you on what he and his staff accomplished and definitely appreciate their tireless efforts and accomplishments. No one is debating that. But none of us can reverse a decision that was made and must move on. I am sure all of them already have  and are preparing to continue their coaching career. I was fired from my very first professional job when the company decided to downsize the division in half. I didn't think I deserved it, I was one of the top salespeople in the division but also having a type A personality, I wasn't afraid to speak my mind and my youth and immaturity definitely led to my being a part of that downsizing. It hit me hard for a day or so, then I got over it and realized when one door closes, another one opens and I enjoyed my unemployment wages for a while and got another great job not too long after. I also think I learned from mistakes I made and didn't dwell on things I couldn't control.

I am sure Coach B and staff have moved on so maybe you should too.

Willie U

Willie U laying the smack down this morning.  That type A personality is in full force that or the Starbucks has just kicked in.  

Believe me brother I know all about being a type A because I am one myself.  I sell for a living and have had great success and opened my mouth when I smelled a rat.  Thank god our business has kept going or I might have gotten the axe myself due to epxressing my frustrations regarding the company and the direction we are heading at times.  I guess being young means your stupid and those people with all the experience know everything right

Klop, I found some video evidence of your temper in a sales meeting on youtube.  Caution - strong language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI

[Walston Hoover]

What's going on???
My wife and I decided to call SNOW DAY for tomorrow so the weekend is starting early.
Relaxing on the couch with a glass of brandy after some chicken corn chowder tonight.
Watching reruns on NBC. Wish ISU had a FB coach but you can't have it all I guess.
Pretty content right now. I suppose a slanket would come in handy.

[snoop dawg]

WH.....Believe it or not we actually had a snow day in sunny So. Cal today.  Snow at 1000ft.  At least that is what my secretary told me.

[DutchFan2004]

For the colleges and universitys of the IIAC I think it is a very positive thing that the players attrition (sp) be limited.  By that I mean yes it is important that the players that quit the football team stay there and obtain their degree.  I think that has been a problem for UD.  Not only do the players quit the team but they leave school.  There is a bunch of money lost when they totally leave.  I know many players at Central that quit playing ball that stayed there and got their degree.  That is something missing.  If Zwiefel can retain the players he recruits on and off the field that will help UD. 

Coach Z's job is to get the kids to school to play football.  While in the school he needs to take the proper steps to make sure that the kids stay and get their degree.  If they quite playing football, its not his duty to retain the kids, they have their own free will. 

I think you are wrong here.  With D3 coaches they are there to help these athletes get there degree.  If the coach can not build enough bond for them to stay then they won't.  Yes it is a coaches job to get them to come and play for them.  I think a coach has a further responsibility to develop these kids.  This is not D1 and it is not a business.  If you are talking D1 then I agree with you Klop.  D1 is a business.  D3 is still for fun.  For the love of suiting up and playing.  All of the IIAC coaches stressed that my son pick the school that will get him to get his degree in his chosen field.  Football was secondary.  I still believe that.  You are correct about players having their own free will.  You can not keep a person where they don't want to belong.  That is a true statement.  The thing I was stressing was building loyalty to the school to the program.  Building life long relationships.  Building bridges that will last long past the college days.  If a coach does that he will succeed. 


I know that SK and WH will attest to Wartburg's attempts to build loyalty.  They have their loyalty song that the students and grads sing at their gatherings.  I always thought that was pretty nice.


Thiings like that build school pride and spirit.  That will also help build donations for the future of the college.  I think everyone at the D3 level is there to build and serve at the colleges pleasure.  Not just their little corner of it. 

[doolittledog]

Something tells me all this snow on the ground outside will lead to a lot of us taking 3 day weekends and a bit more talk on here today. 

DF2K4 - If football at the D3 level is for fun...you should have told your son and his friends to not work out so much during their off seasons.  Then UD might have been able to beat Central once or twice in the last 5 years

[Klopenhiemer]

For the colleges and universitys of the IIAC I think it is a very positive thing that the players attrition (sp) be limited.  By that I mean yes it is important that the players that quit the football team stay there and obtain their degree.  I think that has been a problem for UD.  Not only do the players quit the team but they leave school.  There is a bunch of money lost when they totally leave.  I know many players at Central that quit playing ball that stayed there and got their degree.  That is something missing.  If Zwiefel can retain the players he recruits on and off the field that will help UD. 

Coach Z's job is to get the kids to school to play football.  While in the school he needs to take the proper steps to make sure that the kids stay and get their degree.  If they quite playing football, its not his duty to retain the kids, they have their own free will. 

I think you are wrong here.  With D3 coaches they are there to help these athletes get there degree.  If the coach can not build enough bond for them to stay then they won't.  Yes it is a coaches job to get them to come and play for them.  I think a coach has a further responsibility to develop these kids.  This is not D1 and it is not a business.  If you are talking D1 then I agree with you Klop.  D1 is a business.  D3 is still for fun.  For the love of suiting up and playing.  All of the IIAC coaches stressed that my son pick the school that will get him to get his degree in his chosen field.  Football was secondary.  I still believe that.  You are correct about players having their own free will.  You can not keep a person where they don't want to belong.  That is a true statement.  The thing I was stressing was building loyalty to the school to the program.  Building life long relationships.  Building bridges that will last long past the college days.  If a coach does that he will succeed. 


I know that SK and WH will attest to Wartburg's attempts to build loyalty.  They have their loyalty song that the students and grads sing at their gatherings.  I always thought that was pretty nice.


Thiings like that build school pride and spirit.  That will also help build donations for the future of the college.  I think everyone at the D3 level is there to build and serve at the colleges pleasure.  Not just their little corner of it. 

I think that we are going to have to agree to disagree regarding this topic.  That is OK!  I do think that you are trivializing D3 in a way. 

D3 is not just for fun.  Fun sports are for the rec leagues that the city rec departments hosts.  Kids to not bawl their eyes out at the end of a rec season.  They do not train day in and day out and put their life on the line for rec seasons.  The coaches are volunteers and they hold a pracitce one a week if that in a rec league.  Lets not kid ourselves.  D3 football is a business because the men running these program are PAID.  Their kids eating depends upon the skill and ability of the young men that they coach.  If the team going into the tank then and they are fired I am sure that the head coach would not want to hear its okay, we were just playing for fun anyways. 

Ask Coach B, the former UD head man if its all about fun.  I know Willie U is pretty jacked up about this, but it sure seems that UD made a business decision regarding the hiring of Coach Z.  The coaches job is to recruit top talent to the program and retain that talent.  If the kid quits the football team its not the coaches job to make sure that he stays in school.  The coaches do need to build loyalty and a sense of being to keep these kids in the program.  But lets not kid outselves.  Are you telling me that McMartin visits dorm rooms of players who quit on him to make sure that they are still getting their education.  Correct me if I am wrong but I will but all I have in my bank account that he does not. 

I saw this first hand at BV.  Plenty of kids quit.  The coaches still said hi when they saw them, they were not active in their lives anymore.  Facts are facts, they have 90 others kids that they have to worry about retaining.  The few defactos are not on the coaches radar anymore. 

Doolittle makes a great point, if your son was playing just for fun, why did he work so hard.  You can not tell me that he did not have other things on his mind like winning a conference championship, going to the playoffs, solidifying himself as a great one at Central. 

Football is in your blood or it not.  You play it for fun and you play it because you love it, but you also play because something inside you drives you to keep playing.  If it was all about fun I would have played intermurals and called it a career. 

[DBQ1965]

According to weather radar, the storm has moved beyond Iowa ... but the snow is still coming down in Michigan ... and should stop by late this afternoon ... maybe.

Any snow totals from Dubuque, La Porte City, or elsewhere?

[Walston Hoover]

Mother-in-law just called from Parkersburg and they had 10 inches.
Had about 3 in Ankeny, but a couple tenths of ice underneath it has cancelled everything down here today. My wife gets the day off any time Ames cancels school.
I get the day off any time I choose.
Needless to say the next 10 probably won't be too productive while we work only 3 of them. Who knows? Maybe less. Sounds like more snow on Tuesday.

[doolittledog]

According to weather radar, the storm has moved beyond Iowa ... but the snow is still coming down in Michigan ... and should stop by late this afternoon ... maybe.

Any snow totals from Dubuque, La Porte City, or elsewhere?

I have no idea how much snow we got.  I will have to look that up.  What I do know so far is there are areas of my driveway I can see gravel...and areas of my driveway with drifts over 6 ft high.