FB: American Rivers Conference

coocooforcoekohawk · July 02, 2009, 12:08:42 PM

Quote from: sportsknight on July 02, 2009, 11:36:06 AM
if Yordi can find some decent guys to throw to

I agree Yordi will find guys to make passes at, I mean to.

doolittledog · July 02, 2009, 12:12:04 PM

I'm sure my opinions will change over the summer as we start hearing rumors from camp and what not.

Wartburg probably has to be considered the preseason favorite. But they have a lot to replace on D.

Central, despite a below average season a year ago, has to be considered a threat.

BV, who knows. Solid season last year and were beginning to show promise at the end of the previous campaign. Are they for real???

Simpson, came on strong last year under a new coach. Seems to be recruiting well. Will the momentum stay in Indianola???

Loras loses McGrew. He was a workhorse, but as the Denver Broncos and Iowa Hawkeyes have shown, Give a back a good O-line and they can get some yards. Maybe Loras has an ok year. I'm beginning to think the Loras/UD rivalry will start to resemble the recent Iowa/ISU rivalry....home team wins. That might not be good enough for Loras fans who are used to beating UD. Osty could be in trouble with a loss at UD this year.

Luther...I wonder if they seemed more impressive last year because we were hearing rumblings out of Decorah about kids quitting the team and then they came out and beat Central. The fact is they went 5-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play last season...exactly the same as the Norse had done the year before.

Coe...losing both non-con games put a downer on the season. And losing games at home looks bad. But the reality is they went 4-4 in conference play with a new coach. The Kohawks had gone 5-3 in conference play each of the two previous seasons. This could be a telling year for the future of Coe.

Dubuque??? I have no idea. I am cautiously optimistic. But I think results might be a year of two down the line for the Spartans. Or, they could have a year like Simpson had last season. I wouldn't be upset by that scenario

Cornell...while the Rams haven't been winning games, they haven't been getting their butts kicked either. They play most everyone tough, they just can't finish a game out. Maybe this will be the year.

Walston Hoover · July 02, 2009, 01:06:26 PM

Quote from: coocooforcoekohawk on July 02, 2009, 12:08:42 PM
Quote from: sportsknight on July 02, 2009, 11:36:06 AM
if Yordi can find some decent guys to throw to

I agree Yordi will find guys to make passes at, I mean to.

Careful, that kind of talk will get a guy arrested.

DBQ1965 · July 02, 2009, 01:15:52 PM

This story was in the Wednesday edition of the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. Is this a sign of things to come?

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=248426

REMEMBER THE SPARTANS!

Purple Heys · July 02, 2009, 05:04:30 PM

Some interesting comments so far on your respective teams' incoming challenges...

While none of can be sure how this will play out I find it interesting to learn just how much some of the teams were hit by graduation.

I'd say Coe, Loras, and Wartburg were hit the hardest.

Wartburg has to replace quite a bit of experience on defense. While the numbers nor team performance may not reflect it on 2008 over 2007, my observation from watching both defensive squads was that the 2007 was better than the 2008 crew. Based only my viewing of the 2007 and 2008 Wartburg/Cornell games...I felt the 2007 squad attacked better and was stouter versus the run. 2008 may have been more opportunistic and perhaps that's where they based their success. I think this makes this year's Wartburg team more susceptible to the rest of the league. The losses on Defense combined with the losses of playmaking receivers, mean the Kaniggets may need to rely on the run more. In their favor is the positive outlook for a resurgent running game. But I think this year's Wartburg team will have a tougher time staging miracle comebacks without the likes of Vedder, Bauder and Hoerner. Couple that with a defense that may not have the ability to assert itself early in the season while they find themselves means the could be ripe for early season upset.

Coe loses an entire offensive line, and studs on the defensive line and defensive backfield...as well as the best return man in the conference, IMHO. This perhaps is where Coe will find that the field position benefits of an outstanding return man are not fully appreciated until they are gone. Breitbach also lined up at receiver and drew plenty of attention. He leaves a large hole to fill. Coe's linebacking group is as good as you'll find anywhere, but the hosses up front are an LB's best friend.

Loras loses McGrew. He was such a big part of the offense, and return teams as well as being the punter with the threat to keep drives alive. All that is gone. Presuming there is no stud to pick that up where it was left off, Loras moves back down the standings again. Not likely they'll find one guy to account for 2300 yards total offense...it's tough enough to find 2 who could.

doolittledog · July 02, 2009, 07:01:28 PM

Quote from: DBQ1965 on July 02, 2009, 01:15:52 PM
This story was in the Wednesday edition of the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. Is this a sign of things to come?

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=248426

REMEMBER THE SPARTANS!

I think that has more to do with the WIAC being public schools and the Wisconsin public asking what the state schools were doing to cut costs.

doolittledog · July 02, 2009, 07:09:43 PM

I can't find a link to the original article.

Oelwein Daily Register Pre-Season Small College Football All-Iowa Team

QB
1st Team
10 Nick Yordi QB 6-2/180 JR Wartburg College

2nd Team
10 Colton Hansen QB 6-2/190 JR University of Dubuque

RB
1st Team
2 Jaren Maybin RB 5-11/180 JR Iowa Wesleyan College

2nd Team
14   Sam Epsteen RB    5-8/185 SR     Upper Iowa University

FB/TE
1st Team
FB Steve Platek FB 6-0/218 JR Drake University

2nd team
30   Kinon O'Neal FB 5-10/235 JR Upper Iowa University

WR
1st Team
7 Michael Hayward WR 6-3/200 SO St. Ambrose University
6 Beau Kildow WR 5-10/180 JR Morningside College
2   La'Mont Williams WR    6-1/205 RS JR     Upper Iowa University

2nd Team
WR Lawrence Moore WR 5-9/158 SO Iowa Wesleyan College
80 DeMacus Fleming WR 6-0/180 University of Dubuque
11 Skyler Crouch WR 6-5/229 JR William Penn University

OL
1st Team
74 Quinn McVey OL 6-4/291 SO Drake University
56   Curtis Goddard OL    6-3/295 RS SR     Upper Iowa University
66   Ervin Kehoss OL    6-2/280 RS JR     Upper Iowa University
53 Eric Mora OL 6-1/321 SR Drake University
71   Justice Clegg OL    6-5/315 RS SR     Upper Iowa University

2nd Team
76   Louis Kuisle OL    6-3/300 RS SR     Upper Iowa University
72 Tremane Wren OL 6-3/285 RS SO Upper Iowa University
69 Matt Sutton OL 6-3/315 SR St. Ambrose University
65 Ogden, Logan OL 6-2/265 SO Northwestern College
73 Bill Carroll OL 6-4/285 JR Simpson College

KR
1st Team
25 Brandon Farris DB 5-11/190 FR Grand View University

2nd Team
7   Dominique Jackson DB    6-0/185 SR     Upper Iowa University

PK
1st Team
26 C.J. Gradoville PK 6-2/180 FR Morningside College

2nd Team
20 Elliot Rausa PK 6-0/165 SO Coe College

P
1st Team
87 Kurtis Brondyke P 6-3/190 SO Central College

2nd Team
82 Peter Olsen P 6-1/220 JR Morningside College

DL
1st Team
94   Cameron Copeland DL   6-1/245     SR     Upper Iowa University
50 Andrew Asbell DL 6-3/233 SO Drake University
98 Bobby Kuennen* DL 6-4/260 JR Luther College
95 Dain Taylor DL 6-2/239 JR Drake University

2nd Team
45 Kris Austin DL 6-2/256, JR William Penn University
96 Vernon Moore DL 5-10/240 SO Morningside College
53 Shane Wong DL 6-1/215 FR Central College
Kenny Kikilas DL 6-2/205 Loras College

LB
1st Team
58   Aaron Miller LB   6-0/232     SR     Upper Iowa University
43 Cameron Willkomm LB 6-0/240 JR Graceland University
16 Justin Taylor LB 6-0/230 JR Morningside College

2nd Team
34 Tate Harrison LB 6-2/256 JR Coe College
44 Grant Hegstad LB 6-3/220 JR Northwestern College
34 Ben Hansen LB 6-1/213 JR Buena Vista University

DB
1st Team
22 Skye Buckner-Petty DB 6-0 188 RS SR Drake University
1   Brandon Clarke DB   5-9/190     RS SR Upper Iowa University
3   Nate Curran DB   6-0/200     RS JR Upper Iowa University
7   Dominique Jackson DB   6-0/185     SR     Upper Iowa University

2nd Team
3 Gerald Knighten DB 5-9/173 JR Iowa Wesleyan College
10 Terrance Flukers DB 5-10/165 SO William Penn University
32 Colin Green DB 5-10/175 JR St. Ambrose University
25 Daniel Williams DB 5-11/173 RS SR Upper Iowa University

Honorable Mention
8 Caleb Van Otterloo DB 6-0/165 SO Northwestern College
15 Don Bladt DB 6-3/200 JR Cornell College
37 Trevor Theobald DB 6-2/215 JR Luther College
3 Josh Patterson DB 6-0/170 SO Luther College
31 Josh Van Den Hul DB 5-9/163 FR Wartburg College
22   Jordan Otdoerfer RB   5-8/180 SO     Upper Iowa University
20 Malm, Taylor RB 5-9/182 SO Northwestern College
20 Jake Peterson RB 5-11/200 JR Morningside College
5 Cory Donscheski RB 5-10/175 SR Buena Vista University
3 Sam Hammes RB 6-0/198 JR Coe College
26 Trevon Greene LB 5-10/208 JR William Penn University
33 Keegan Smith TE 6-2/215 SO Graceland University
12 Alex Macey TE 6-6/245 JR Cornell College
79 Ryan Laffey OL 5-11/255 JR Simpson College
65 Morgan OíConnor OL 6-0/240 SO Wartburg College
65 Austin Kerwin OL 6-3/265 SR Graceland University
75 John Stoltenberg OL 6-4/255 JR Luther College
Matt Maginot OL 6-2/235 JR Loras College
Michael Schaefer OL 6-2/220 JR Loras College
20 James Rowenhorst DB 6-2/175 FR Dordt College

Purple Heys · July 02, 2009, 07:44:43 PM

http://www.dbq.edu/udathletics/news.cfm?ID=1175&team=Football

Thanks Double D!

Klopenhiemer · July 02, 2009, 08:02:36 PM

Quote from: sportsknight on July 02, 2009, 11:36:06 AM
I think Wartburg has to be the favorite going into the season. The Knights have a lot to replace on defense, but if Yordi can find some decent guys to throw to, the offense should be good enough to cover the D for a couple games.

I really believe Simpson is going to make another jump in the standings this year. They won't surprise anybody anymore, but it soulds like Glo has a good thing going there.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Central. They fell back to Earth in a big way last year, but it should be interesting to see how they respond this season. I see them falling somewhere in the 3-4-5 range in the standings, but no worse than 5th.

Coe will probably fall in next. They have a lot to replace in some pretty key spots, and I think that inexperience will keep them from being a contender. A lot of people might see them as being a "hard-luck" team this year because they'll be in a lot of games, but won't have enough to pull out Ws in most of them.

BV will fall right in that 2nd tier as well. Good enough to beat the Luthers and Cornells, .500 against the Coes and Dubuques, but not enough to run with Wartburg and Simpson.

Dubuque is the other big question mark this year. Just how far have they fallen since '07? Just how much of a difference will Z make? I can easily see them finishing anywhere from 2nd to 2nd last in the league depending on the answers to those two questions.

Loras falls back to Earth in a big way this year. You can't lose a guy that meant as much to your team as McGrew meant to Loras, and not expect a drop-off. Coach Osty might start feeling the heat this year, especially depending on how his boys fare against the cross-towners.

Luther will be Luther. They'll put a scare into a few teams, but won't be able to sustan a full 60 minutes well enough to win more than they lose.

Cornell will be Cornell. Which means winless. I really thought they'd get over the hump last year, but unless they shore up that defense and find a running game to replace Hardiman, it ain't gonna happen this year.

I dont mean to be the marble buster SK, because I agree with a lot of what you are saying, but to say that BV can not run with the Dubuque's is not quite true. The last time that I checked, BV had only lost to UD once this decade and they have fared well against Loras in recent years as well.

Now history does say that BV will be 5-5 for a few years and then make another stab at the top. I will not dispute that, I think the better wording would have been that they will not hang with the Burgers, Dutch, and Storm.

DutchFan2004 · July 02, 2009, 09:49:25 PM

I would agree that Wartburg will miss there D experience but don't overlook the loss of their wide receiver core and tight end. Yes the QB is back but experienced players catching the ball helps out the QB more than a lot of people give credit for. I think that Wartburg found that out some when that good group of recievers graduated and left Hoskins with some young players to catch the ball. Central lost their QB and receivers last year so there was a lot to replace. Central will be better this next year, most of it due to having playing time coming back. I haven't given a lot of thought to the other teams yet. Luther's win over the Dutch was a big win for them, but with that said for the last three times we played in Decorah there were two losses and two OT games one with a win and one a loss. The Dutch defend Schipper Stadium pretty well so having the Norse at home will favor the Dutch this year. Simpson could very well compete for the top spot based on last years team. BV could also be up there but we will have to see. The late season down turn for BV may have lingering effects. UD has to learn a new system, could be better could be worse, could be the same. Loras to me is a huge question mark. Coe will they be able to put a bad season behind them and retool and rebuild or will they slip back into the second division for some time to come. Cornell well sorry Purple Heys but what can you say except wait and see what happens. I thought they really stepped it up when they played the Dutch. I thought they had us but the Dutch got lucky to pull a W out. If they feed the big dog down the middle and he can stay healthy I think they can move the ball. The question is can they put points on the board. Cornell has moved the ball on Central they just dont see to put points on the board till last year.

This all points to an wide open season when you boil it down. Good luck to all and hope that the non con goes well for all the IIAC teams.

Purple Heys · July 02, 2009, 10:41:41 PM

I think things are more wide open in the IIAC than it's been in the last few years...

Purple Heys · July 02, 2009, 10:50:19 PM

No need to apologize DF2k4...Cornell was 0-10...we got worse the one benchmark that counts despite progress in many areas.

Winning is the benchmark.

On the flip side our success will be defined not by a championship which is the benchmark for the Dutch and the Kaniggets.

One IIAC win. That's it.

I don't think I am being overly optimistic or Purple-blinded to believe, in this year's IIAC, with this Ram team, that we will end that drought.

Who we beat...I can't say...But I say we win one and it won't be lucky.

Klopenhiemer · July 02, 2009, 10:56:29 PM

Quote from: Purple Heys on July 02, 2009, 10:50:19 PM
No need to apologize DF2k4...Cornell was 0-10...we got worse the one benchmark that counts despite progress in many areas.

Winning is the benchmark.

On the flip side our success will be defined not by a championship which is the benchmark for the Dutch and the Kaniggets.

One IIAC win. That's it.

I don't think I am being overly optimistic or Purple-blinded to believe, in this year's IIAC, with this Ram team, that we will end that drought.

Who we beat...I can't say...But I say we win one and it won't be lucky.

Heys...I hope the Rams get a win this season in conference play if nothing more for your son and the senior class that has stuck it out. Its not easy going 0-10 and coming back and expecting anything in all reality. I do believe that Cornell might have been a better team last year than the team that started 2-0 two years ago. Its to bad the benchmarks that we grade from do not measure that as you have said.

Storm Chaser · July 02, 2009, 11:42:03 PM

Oelwein Daily Register Pre-Season Small College Football All-Iowa Team

Interesting - or maybe comical. The hometown newspaper, since Fayette isn't big enough to have anything resembling a real newspaper, names nearly the entire Upper Iowa team to their Pre-Season All- Iowa Team. Surprise Surprise. Nothing against any of the players listed but to give this any credence is laughable. I haven't spent any time actually researching each player but it makes me wonder if many of the other non- Upper Iowa players that are listed have some connection to Oelwein / Fayette County. Grandma lives there, played in same high school conference, who knows?? William Penn has quite a few named as well which has to make you look a little cross-eyed. A total of only 2 from Wartburg given their recent history looks suspect as well and I'm no great defender of the men in orange. IMHO

doolittledog · July 03, 2009, 08:20:25 AM

I thought that Oelwein list might get the tongues wagging on here. I was thinking along the lines of Storm Chaser in being curious if most of the non-UIU players on the list might be from around the Oelwein area or come from schools that play Oelwein. At least they are giving some pub to the small colleges. I'll take whatever we can get.

FB: American Rivers Conference

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