FB: American Rivers Conference

[Purple Heys]

Man,

I'm all ginned up and ready to see and talk some football and its still weeks away.

We sent Jr. a care package (no carne asada this time) but we did send a bug zapper in the shape of a tennis racket.

That'll keep him occupied.

[sportsknight]

Our friend Warthog got his picture in this week's edition of the Dyersville Commercial newspaper.  The photo shows him enjoying some of the selections at Park Farm Winery, and true to form, Warthog is wearing an orange shirt and visor. 

Warthog,
Let me know if you're going to be at the Booster Club golf outing in a couple weeks.  I'll bring a copy of the paper along, and if you can't make it that day, I'll just leave it off at Lil Warthog's place.

[warthog]

sportsknight: 

Sure enough, the folks in Dyersville now know I'm a wino.

I'll miss this year's outing.  Work obligations keep me at home this year.  I assume there will still be a delegation from SE Iowa up for the day.   

[doolittledog]

Our friend Warthog got his picture in this week's edition of the Dyersville Commercial newspaper.  The photo shows him enjoying some of the selections at Park Farm Winery, and true to form, Warthog is wearing an orange shirt and visor.  

Warthog,
Let me know if you're going to be at the Booster Club golf outing in a couple weeks.  I'll bring a copy of the paper along, and if you can't make it that day, I'll just leave it off at Lil Warthog's place.

Mrs Doolittle and I visited the Park Farm Winery last year after the Dubuque/Rockford game.  We were talking to the wife of the founder of the place.  She was very friendly and telling us the history of the place.  When we told her we were in town for the UD game the conversation instantly stopped.  We figured she must be an old school Dubuquer..the kind that think Loras is the only college in town.  The Park Farm Winery is the nicest looking winery we have been to in Iowa.  They have put a lot of money into that place.  Very picturesque setting and a great place to hang out and drink some wine.  

As for the Dubuque/Rockford game the night before.  At that point I was thinking UD were headed for good things last season.  The talent was there.  Hansen still has the potential to be an all-IIAC QB.  Fleming took a kickoff back for a TD that night.  The D-line looked fantastic...something that turned out to be a bit of an achilles heal last season. 

I think for this coming year the key for UD on both sides of the ball will be their line play.  Skill positions on offense and speed on D will be fine.  How UD does on their line play should dictate the type of season the Spartans have this year. 

[doolittledog]

What day do each of the IIAC teams report for camp this year???

[Purple Heys]

I believe Cornell reports 8/15.

[5 Words or Less]

Man,

I'm all ginned up and ready to see and talk some football and its still weeks away.

It's Nordic Fest Weekend in Decorah, so while 5WOL is off doing his Norse thang, I'll commandeer the keyboard and ask a few questions that have been buggin' me.

1)  I don't understand head coach Matt Dillion's philosophy of hiring assistant coaches.  Not that I would do any better, but why would you hire Don Dicus with loads of experience as a defensive coordinator at the high school level and make him the O.C. when that was supposedly your forte.  Granted, Dillon's Wing-T play calling purportedly had the imagination of a gray crayon, but why bring in a defensive guy to run the offense?  Then, to compound my confusion, Dillon hires a Adam Eichhorn as the defensive coordinator with only one year of coaching under his belt (Edit: Eichhorn served for 2 years as a Gradute Assistant before coaching the D-Line at Marietta in 2008).  I suspect Coach Dillon will be hands-on with the defense, but why not just tab yourself as the DC and tutor the youngster before promoting him.  Was pressure applied on Dillon to make these changes from within?  Is Dicus bringing talent with him from Florida and Eichhorn from Ohio?  What do the seniors make of this transition?  Is hiring inexperienced coordinators just how it's done in Linn County?  

2)  UD has 5 coaches listed on their website.  Three guys helping Zweifel on O and coach Lance Taylor running the whole show on D.  Are the Spartans planning on hiring several graduate assitants to help out on D in the fall, or have they already filled their staff?  What have you UD guys heard about Zweifel's staff?

3)  Spring football practice seems like a waste to me for several reasons.  

• There is a 3 to 4 month gap between spring drills and preseason camp.  Do players really retain any of the terminology, plays or formations drilled through the summer?
• From a budgetary standpoint, I belive that the Colleges would be better served if the assistant coaches were recruiting prospects and/or teaching.  Assitant coaches that can wear multiple hats help keep pesonnel costs down and reduce the pressure to raise tuition.
• Student athletes spend a lot of time away from the books while on the field.  I think that some (not all) would benefit by spending the offseason dedicated to studying as a way to prepare for the burdens of the fall.

Sincerely yours;

5 Words or More

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Don't knock coach Biggus.

[5 Words or Less]

IIAC Board Contest:

1) List the first three schools (in order) to post their fall 2009 season preview online.

2) List the top three schools (in order) of predicted finish in the IIAC coaches poll.

3) List the first three schools (in order) to post their 2009 roster online.

4) List the top three schools (in order) with the most freshman on their 2009 football roster.

5) List the top three schools (in order) with the most seniors on their 2009 football roster.

Victor Earns Seasonlong Bragging Rights

[sportsknight]

Wartburg fans:  If you missed the chance to buy a personalized replica jersey, you can now purchase a personalized "throwback" jersey.  Orange.  http://www.go-knights.net/FBreplicathrowback.pdf

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Just thought I'd drop by from the SCIAC board to say "hello" as I am about to have my last day of canoeing, floating, swimming, motoring, inner tubing, wakeboarding, generally playing and staying on the Maquoketa River (Lake Delhi, aka Hartwick) with boy, spouse and gaggles of cousins and tons of fireflies . . . not a sight we see in CA . . . reliving the summer vacations of my youth in the 60s and early 70s . . . I love Iowa . . . and the corn . . . sublime.

At any rate, have a great season fellas. 

tooth

[Purple Heys]

What do the seniors make of this transition?  

If it helps them win games, I would think they would be OK with it.

[Purple Heys]

It's Nordic Fest Weekend in Decorah, so while 5WOL is off doing his Norse thang, I'll commandeer the keyboard and ask a few questions that have been buggin' me.

1)  I don't understand head coach Matt Dillion's philosophy of hiring assistant coaches.  Not that I would do any better, but why would you hire Don Dicus with loads of experience as a defensive coordinator at the high school level and make him the O.C. when that was supposedly your forte.  Granted, Dillon's Wing-T play calling purportedly had the imagination of a gray crayon, but why bring in a defensive guy to run the offense?  Then, to compound my confusion, Dillon hires a Adam Eichhorn as the defensive coordinator with only one year of coaching under his belt (Edit: Eichhorn served for 2 years as a Gradute Assistant before coaching the D-Line at Marietta in 2008).  I suspect Coach Dillon will be hands-on with the defense, but why not just tab yourself as the DC and tutor the youngster before promoting him.  Was pressure applied on Dillon to make these changes from within?  Is Dicus bringing talent with him from Florida and Eichhorn from Ohio?  What do the seniors make of this transition?  Is hiring inexperienced coordinators just how it's done in Linn County?  

Three points of response/observations:
1) Cornell pretty much abandoned the Wing-T last year in favor of the Spread, to make better use of Bush's athletic skills.  Bush will not be returning to school, but I expect Cornell will stick with the Spread.  Perhaps Dicus has more hands-on Spread experience.

2) Dillon, as head coach with coordinators on both sides of the ball is able to participate in the application of both.  I expect Dicus' experience on defense will not go unused as they bring Eike along...Eike is young and he's got an energy that compliments the older guys.  IMHO I think there will be more during the week collaboration with the 3 of them, with the coordinators calling the plays during the game.  Word was, last year's staff wasn't too tight.  That gets fixed with this staff.

3) If, as a bonus, they bring more recruits with talent, all the better.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Dicus has more hands-on Spread experience.

Giggity Giggity. 

[sportsknight]

sportsknight: 

Sure enough, the folks in Dyersville now know I'm a wino.

It's Dubuque County.  Being a drunk is a relative term.