FB: American Rivers Conference

[Purple Heys]

I believe Cornell scrimmages Augustana this next Saturday

[NewKnightDad]

Wartburg
Simpson
Central
BV
Luther
Coe
UD
Loras
Cornell

[Klompen]

DF04 - I plan to participate in the pick-ems this year.  I would like my first pick-em to be Central as conference champs, then everyone else following, who cares what order.  

For a first, I really don't know what to expect out of Central this year.  My guess is that the fight is on between Snead and Bandow for starting QB with Snead being the better runner and Bandow the better passer.  Last year I felt Snead would have won starting QB.  I still think that, but Bandow does have another year of experience that will work in his favor.  I have heard good things about the running backs that came in this year, that should work in Snead's favor.  Could it be another year of alternating QB's?  Nice to have the option, but you really need one guy to step up and take charge.  Oh how I miss Connell.  He set the bar high.

I do think that last year's season will have provided some incentive for off-season training.  I would love nothing more than to see them return to the top, but I have to be honest and say that they did not rise to my expectations last year in game after game.  They seemed to have lost the never give up-play to win attitude.  Hope they can get that back.  

But here are my conference standing picks, much as they disgust me!

Simpson - surprise finish in first place, hope I'm wrong
Wartburg - Central
BV
Dubuque
Luther - Loras - Coe
Cornell

No team finishes undefeated in conference.  

[WartTrainer]

Wartburg
Simpson/Central...Simpson wins the head to head
UD
BV
Coe
Luther/Loras
Cornell

I am all for doing a pick 'em

[Purple Heys]

Cornell's Media Day is today...

The burning question in the Heys' household is whether Jr. shaves what he calls his "sweet Lew Alcindor" muttonchop sideburns for the pictures.   

We saw him on a Skype call the other day, and I would tend to agree with his description.   

We'll see in a few days as I hope to see Cornell update the roster and football page in the next couple of days.

[footballdaddy]

Footballkid sems to have fallen in love with the Sonny Crockett 4day stubble look.

[Purple Heys]

He kept them for the picture.   

I can't wait to see it...

[Purple Heys]

The Poll has turned back to favor the Punter.

[Purple Heys]

Cornell's 1st 209 release is up...

http://www.cornellcollege.edu/athletics/mens-sports/football/news/08-24-09.shtml

Great job, Kerry!

The roster is still being input...half was up when I checked

Jr. measures in at 6'6" 253 lbs.   (In the release it says 6'5" 235 lbs., that's from his Soph. year)

He enrolled at Cornell in 2006 at 6'4"-ish and 195 lbs. 

[Purple Heys]

We also have....A kicker!

[doolittledog]

I think it depends.  Iowa won a lot of games a few years ago because of Nate Kaeding.  So for the Hawkeyes, it was the kicker that was more important.  Though, I liked your scenario where you used your punter to get you the field position your defense could exploit and give your below average offense a short field.  

I think it depends on your offense and defense to whether a kicker or punter is more important.  

[doolittledog]

How are enrollment figures looking league wide?   I was worried private 4 year schools were going to take a hit with this economy.  But Dubuque just released they have 356 incoming freshmen and 170 transfers for this fall.  That is a big number for UD.  Curious how the other schools will do. 

With Cornell now having a preview up...who is left? 

[sportsknight]

H1N1 reported on Central's campus just days before classes begin:  http://www.kcci.com/health/20537682/detail.html

Given that the infected female was on campus early, I think it is safe to assume she is an athlete.

[Kohawk Krazy]

Cornell's 1st 209 release is up...

http://www.cornellcollege.edu/athletics/mens-sports/football/news/08-24-09.shtml

Great job, Kerry!

The roster is still being input...half was up when I checked

Jr. measures in at 6'6" 253 lbs.   (In the release it says 6'5" 235 lbs., that's from his Soph. year)

He enrolled at Cornell in 2006 at 6'4"-ish and 195 lbs. 

Couple of things from that preview.  54 players?  Really? Coe has nearly 54 freshman on the roster.

Not sure I agree with Cornell saying they have one of the top receiving corps in the league.  I'll put Coe's up against Cornell any day, along with with a few other teams.  The Kohawks return their top 5 pass receivers, along with nearly 1,400 yards of receiving.

[Purple Heys]

Couple of things from that preview.  54 players?  Really? Coe has nearly 54 freshman on the roster.

Not sure I agree with Cornell saying they have one of the top receiving corps in the league.  I'll put Coe's up against Cornell any day, along with with a few other teams.  The Kohawks return their top 5 pass receivers, along with nearly 1,400 yards of receiving.

I think coaches are going to stump for their players...I don't agree with everything that Staker said either.

As to our numbers...it is what it is.  I think we have some decent quality within our newcomers and some of last year's Freshman really did a good job of working through the summer so within our limited numbers I think there are more ballplayers that can compete.  Depth is our problem (I think I've said this every year)

As to the receiving corps comparison...we can agree to disagree.  Based on last year...I think our top WR and yours compare favorably(edge to your guy), I think we have a good sized edge at TE...and Coe has the edge at RB.  But we ran entirely different offenses with different passers...its apples to oranges.

But this is a new year...Both Tierney and CJ have really stepped it up over the summer.  I look for both to really establish themselves.  Especially if Jr. draws more than his fair share of attention...that should open things up.

I look to see better passing competency out of our QB, though this our biggest question mark coming into camp.  You had to watch our games to see how limited we were throwing the ball when we needed to.  Dallas could really run the rock, but he hadn't developed as a passer...we'll never see if that would have changed.  (He's at Morehouse College now)