FB: American Rivers Conference

[Purple Heys]

If you want some variety from football; you love IIAC sports; and want to some great athletes perform, check out Loras , Wartburg or Central soccer games sometime. I think you would enjoy it.

Loras and Wartburg are head and shoulders above the rest of the IIAC, but I'd put Luther in as the (distant) 3rd best program, not Central.

And that's interesting here...why? 

[Purple Heys]

If you want some variety from football; you love IIAC sports; and want to some great athletes perform, check out Loras , Wartburg or Central soccer games sometime. I think you would enjoy it.

Loras and Wartburg are head and shoulders above the rest of the IIAC, but I'd put Luther in as the (distant) 3rd best program, not Central.

And that's interesting here...why? 

I guess I shouldn't bag on soccer here since we talk about wrestling and other sports from time to time.

I would find soccer much more interesting if they played in Winter or Spring, so some kids who might otherwise be employable as placekickers or punters could play football in the Fall.

[DBQ1965]

If you want some variety from football; you love IIAC sports; and want to some great athletes perform, check out Loras , Wartburg or Central soccer games sometime. I think you would enjoy it.

Loras and Wartburg are head and shoulders above the rest of the IIAC, but I'd put Luther in as the (distant) 3rd best program, not Central.

And that's interesting here...why? 

I guess I shouldn't bag on soccer here since we talk about wrestling and other sports from time to time.

I would find soccer much more interesting if they played in Winter or Spring, so some kids who might otherwise be employable as placekickers or punters could play football in the Fall.

Soccer has it's own page ... wrestling doesn't!

[d3fan1]

I agree that it is too bad the sports overlap. Football is losing some of thier best athletes in skill positions. My son (the soccer player) went out for footbll his senior year to be a kicker. Pre-season football started 1 week before soccer so he went through 2 a days for a week and the coach said he was the best player on the team. He ended up playing wide reciever,returning kick-offs and obviously handled all the kicking duties. The football and soccer coaches worked out a practice and game scedule and he played both sports all year. In one situation he scored 3 goals in soccer in the afternoon, then that night caught a 45 yard pass for a touchdown. This is an unusual situation in that the coaches worked together to allow this to happen, but it wouldn't be unusual to find soccer athletes who would excel at football.
By the way a played football in Iowa on a team that was 9-1 and rated 9th in the state so I love football!!

[dutchfan1]

I got back yesterday from a weekend trip to NE Iowa. My friends and I spent some time in Dubuque this weekend, and I have to comment on UD -- wow, what a transformation! My friends and I were all amazed by the physical transformation the campus has taken on! Double D, I can see why the alumni are coming around. Some of my (Central, Simpson, UNI and Clarke) friends all commented that they would have looked at and taken UD more seriously 15 years ago with that campus.

In addition to the overall campus facelift, the field looks amazing. Man, I'm so ready for football...

[footballdaddy]

If we're looking for an alternate use for a football field I recommend lacrosse. Besides being the original american sport it combines the best of several sports (aka you get to hit other people with sticks), has a lot of action and scoring.

Soccer, as my high school football coach told me, is a communist sport featuring people doing things with their feet and heads more suited to the monkey house at the zoo.

[d3fan1]

I played football and basketball in high school and basketball in college. I've never played soccer in my life, but I have definately come to appreciate the amazing athletic ability and skill level necesary to play the game. If you watched the game played at a high level you may learn to be a little more open to it. I love ALL sports!!!!

[doolittledog]

I got back yesterday from a weekend trip to NE Iowa. My friends and I spent some time in Dubuque this season, and I have to comment on UD -- wow, what a transformation! My friends and I were all amazed by the physical transformation the campus has taken on! Double D, I can see why the alumni are coming around. Some of my (Central, Simpson, UNI and Clarke) friends all commented that they would have looked at and taken UD more seriously 15 years ago with that campus.

In addition to the overall campus facelift, the field looks amazing. Man, I'm so ready for football...

Thanks for the kind words about UD.  As we drove by campus sunday morning, even my wife said she was ready for some football after looking at the football field.  We can't wait. 

[doolittledog]

A note about soccer.  Having been born in St. Louis I have a deep love for the sport of soccer.  Iowans don't like it if people with limited knowledge of wrestling call it a gay sport, when it is can almost be called our state sport.  I'm not saying you have to like soccer, just don't bash it because you don't happen to see the beauty of it.  And I am trying to figure out the "commie" sport analogy for a game that was invented in England and of the 18 world cups that have been played...Brazil has won 5 times, Italy 4 times, Germany 3 times, Argentina twice, Uruguay twice, England once and France once.  Not a single communist country in that group!!!

But anyways, this is a football board and there is a seperate soccer board on here.  So there you go. 

[Fannosaurus Rex]

A note about soccer.  Having been born in St. Louis I have a deep love for the sport of soccer.  Iowans don't like it if people with limited knowledge of wrestling call it a gay sport, when it is can almost be called our state sport.  I'm not saying you have to like soccer, just don't bash it because you don't happen to see the beauty of it.  And I am trying to figure out the "commie" sport analogy for a game that was invented in England and of the 18 world cups that have been played...Brazil has won 5 times, Italy 4 times, Germany 3 times, Argentina twice, Uruguay twice, England once and France once.  Not a single communist country in that group!!!

But anyways, this is a football board and there is a seperate soccer board on here.  So there you go. 

But you will have to admit there is something subversive about a game clock that counts up.

[doolittledog]

But you will have to admit there is something subversive about a game clock that counts up.

I'll give you that...fair point.  But, you do have a better than average chance of ending up as part of a riot at a soccer game...which is pretty cool.  So that kinda cancels the clock counting up thing

[MediaGuy]

I see Upper Iowa is excited to have picked up a Wartburg transfer to compete for the Peacock wrestling program.  197 pounder N. Shandri has decided to become a Peacock.  Apparently he represented the Knights at the NCAAs this season but failed to place.  I don't know what the reason behind the move was, but I wish him the best.  I assume Coach Miller has a quality wrestler or two who can compete at 197 for this upcoming season.

To let you know Warthog, I believe this transfer has been in the cards since January when former WSR Go-Hawk Wrestler Dylan Wrage transfered to Wartburg after spending some time at Ohio University, I believe he had to get some academic work in order and is the favorate for the 197 lbs. slot this winter.

[footballdaddy]

I played football and basketball in high school and basketball in college. I've never played soccer in my life, but I have definately come to appreciate the amazing athletic ability and skill level necesary to play the game. If you watched the game played at a high level you may learn to be a little more open to it. I love ALL sports!!!!

I have watched soccer played at a high level on television. Before I fell asleep I was mesmerised by the sheer drama of the game. I meant drama queens. I saw several players fall down with apparently life-threatening injuries judging by the tears and wailing, only to bounce up with no apparent affect once a penalty was given. I don't know if this is great sport or great theatre.

Actually I have coached youth soccer for several years and have a 30-2-1 record. I still would rather watch almost anything else. Also in Iowa the overlapping of the seasons means that many fine players have had to choose one sport over another.

As far as the communist aspect, it seems no one took the comment he made in the vein it was meant. Also no one disputed the monkey house thing.

[sportsknight]

My thoughts on soccer have significantly changed since I started and completed college.  I still wouldn't consider myself a "fan" of the game, and don't see myself devoting much time to watching soccer on TV.  But having covered the Wartburg teams when I was in college and having a chance to hang out with some of those folks, I can say two things without hesitation:

1.  You have to be impressed with the amount of athleticism it takes to play soccer.  To be on the move continuously for up to and beyond 90 minutes is pretty impressive.
2.  Soccer girls are hot.

[footballdaddy]

2.  Soccer girls are hot.

OK, I'll agree with you there.