FB: American Rivers Conference

[Thunderbolt]

 Define more balanced.

Last year season totals: 35 rushing attempts per game - 32 pass attempts.
Last year IIAC totals: 35 rushing attempts per game- 33 pass attempts.

[doolittledog]

I think in 2005 UD was pass happy.  Whether that was because they were so far behind in most games they HAD to be pass happy or that was just their system I don't know.  In 2006 they still had a passing game that made a lot of yards, but they were heading towards being more of a run team.  Brandon Clayton and Jermar combined for about 1,700 yards that year.  In 2007 UD was definately a run first team.  2008 I think started out with more passing because of Colton Hansen, but as the season wore on they had Hansen running a lot more. 

That said, I am happy for the future, I was just surprised at the amount of turnover.  I am curious to get a look at the roster and see where all these players are coming from.  Should be a fun time. 

[desertgator]

As a relatively new dad to the IIAC, I wondered if you guys can tell me the number of schools that do not have a JV program?  Obviously I know that Cornell does not have a JV team.  Who else?  I hear the number of new kids coming into some of these programs each year and it's staggering really.  Are there a lot of junior colleges with football in Iowa?  Thanks.

[Purple Heys]

As a relatively new dad to the IIAC, I wondered if you guys can tell me the number of schools that do not have a JV program?  Obviously I know that Cornell does not have a JV team.  Who else?  I hear the number of new kids coming into some of these programs each year and it's staggering really.  Are there a lot of junior colleges with football in Iowa?  Thanks.

Cornell is the only one I believe and it is a huge disadvantage.

JC's are not as prominent in Iowa, comparitively speaking in terms of football player quantity and quality, as they are in the West...

[footballfan413]

No matter how good these kids are...they are freshmen or transfers.  Even changing systems I would have thought it might be a good idea to keep some veterans around.  Even if just for having insight into the teams they will be facing this year.  Even if these kids will turn out to be good.  You don't win many games with 24 returners and 100 or so newcomers.  That is a recipe for disaster I think.  I suppose the team could have been populated by a bunch of cancers and they got rid of the bad seeds, but that just seems like a lot of players to give the heave ho to.  If 67 players were willing to come back to school after a coaching change that showed they wanted to be there.  They couldn't have all been worthless players...certainly as good or better than some kid right out of high school.  Who knows though.  

Zweifel might be great coach.  I just think he is going overboard on overhauling the team.  And quotes like saying Dubuque was a team that threw the ball 55-60 times a game says to me he didn't really look into things too deeply at Dubuque from past seasons.  Again, though, winning cures all ills.  I hope we start winning soon.  

A few things.  With a 2-8 record , do you really think that anyone is going to miss #25 through #67? I doubt it, especially since he is over hauling the offense so it makes sense that he needs a different type of personnel.  He kept veterans, the top 24.  And who's to say how much overhauling a 2-8 program needs.  The offense/defense he describes sounds like the Warhawks to me.  This is the coach that recruited Justin Beaver as well as a few other National Champions and AA's.   He is a student of the game, the man has been known to sleep in his office many nights, for crying out loud!  No one watches more film or works harder than Stan Zweifel.  
Now I'm not saying that he is a magician and they will win the conference his rookie year.  A team loaded with freshmen will definitely lack size and experience but there will be talent.  It will take time for the team and staff to get on the same page, build chemistry and timing and win games consistently but the mere fact that he can entice 110 players to come to a 2-8 program speaks volumes regarding the future of Spartan football, IMHO!    

[Purple Heys]

...but the mere fact that he can entice 110 players to come to a 2-8 program speaks volumes regarding the future of Spartan football, IMHO!   

Those new facilities don't hurt too much either.  Give a recruiter of his credentials, the opportunity to sell a program with that kind of support and committment...the DBQ appear poised for a bright future.

[Purple Heys]

I went to opening night at Chipotle Stadium...before the fitness/training center was complete.  It was all sorts of nice then...it's got to be better now.

Here's a question for you D-byookies:

If the DBQ sustains some success...will they fill the stands like that opening night against Rockford?  If so that can be an imposing place to play.

Does any D3 team really fill em up when the Hawks and 'Clones are the main draws?

[the_mayne_event]

I just voted in the poll above.
My thoughts have been skewed a little on that.
The sophs I coach have punted less than once a game over the past 2 seasons, and had a kicker nail a 53 yarder and we kickoff a lot. I'll take a good kicker over punter any day.
Probably depends a lot what your experiences are.

I thought about your perspective...my last coaching experience was that we had a dominant defense and offense we simply tried not to screw it up.  Our punter, who would go on to play in the NFL, punted with so much hang time and had a knack for pinning the opponents deep in their own terrritory, punts wer rarely returned.  But then I remember back...that same kid was our kicker and he kicked a 57 yarder.  But mostly we expected him to make the 25 yarders...

But with  juggernaut offense, when would you ever punt?  And, yes, the number of PAT's and kickoffs would far outnumber the number of punts.

I can definitely see both sides of the argument, but in the end I can't get over how much of a difference the Brondyke kid has made for Central, especially going back to his freshman year when they made the deep run in the playoffs.  Field position can determine the winner or loser of a game more than a lot of other factors, and in an evenly matched game (and WH I'm assuming a lot of your games weren't all that evenly matched), a good punter and punt coverage team can dictate field position a lot more than a kicker can.

Coe lost (all) 3 games in 07 because of missed field goals/extra points. Field position can be a factor in winning or losing a game, but points actually win or lose the game.

10/6/07:  Dubuque 28, Coe 21 (OT).  Coe was 3-3 on PATs and 0-1 on FGs.  I could see your point if it was a missed FG on the first possession of OT, but in fact Jermar Jackson ran in for a TD on the first possession and one of the Coe receivers fumbled it away when Coe had the ball.  http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2007-FB/HTML/coe-dbq.htm
10/13/07:  Central 24, Coe 17.  Coe was 3-3 on PATs and 1-2 on FGs.  I don't know what kind of 8 eight-point field goal you think Rausa could have made that would have won that game.  http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2007-FB/HTML/cen-coe.htm
10/20/07:  Wartburg 27, Coe 3.  Coe was 0-0 on PATs and 1-3 on FGs.  Even if Rausa is perfect on his FGs on this day, he still would have only scored half as many points as Neil Suckow.  http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2007-FB/HTML/war-coe.htm

To quote the movie A Few Good Men, "These are the facts of the case, and they are undisputed."

I'm pretty sure TME was referring to the 2006 season and not the 2007 season.

http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2006-FB/HTML/coe.htm

My mistake, thanks KK.  I was meaning 2006, but way to throw that jab in there WH

[the_mayne_event]

Great show on E60 about Parkersburg tonight.
I don't know if there will be a repeat episode, but it is definately worth watching.

[footballfan413]

...but the mere fact that he can entice 110 players to come to a 2-8 program speaks volumes regarding the future of Spartan football, IMHO!   

Those new facilities don't hurt too much either.  Give a recruiter of his credentials, the opportunity to sell a program with that kind of support and committment...the DBQ appear poised for a bright future.

Absolutely!  UWW has continued to improve their athletic facilities for several years now and it has had a great effect on the success of several sports, not just football.  Great facilities and an opportunity for a recruit to step into a program and see playing time early in his career......... Coach Z knows how to work every angle.   

[Walston Hoover]

I just voted in the poll above.
My thoughts have been skewed a little on that.
The sophs I coach have punted less than once a game over the past 2 seasons, and had a kicker nail a 53 yarder and we kickoff a lot. I'll take a good kicker over punter any day.
Probably depends a lot what your experiences are.

I thought about your perspective...my last coaching experience was that we had a dominant defense and offense we simply tried not to screw it up.  Our punter, who would go on to play in the NFL, punted with so much hang time and had a knack for pinning the opponents deep in their own terrritory, punts wer rarely returned.  But then I remember back...that same kid was our kicker and he kicked a 57 yarder.  But mostly we expected him to make the 25 yarders...

But with  juggernaut offense, when would you ever punt?  And, yes, the number of PAT's and kickoffs would far outnumber the number of punts.

I can definitely see both sides of the argument, but in the end I can't get over how much of a difference the Brondyke kid has made for Central, especially going back to his freshman year when they made the deep run in the playoffs.  Field position can determine the winner or loser of a game more than a lot of other factors, and in an evenly matched game (and WH I'm assuming a lot of your games weren't all that evenly matched), a good punter and punt coverage team can dictate field position a lot more than a kicker can.

Coe lost (all) 3 games in 07 because of missed field goals/extra points. Field position can be a factor in winning or losing a game, but points actually win or lose the game.

10/6/07:  Dubuque 28, Coe 21 (OT).  Coe was 3-3 on PATs and 0-1 on FGs.  I could see your point if it was a missed FG on the first possession of OT, but in fact Jermar Jackson ran in for a TD on the first possession and one of the Coe receivers fumbled it away when Coe had the ball.  http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2007-FB/HTML/coe-dbq.htm
10/13/07:  Central 24, Coe 17.  Coe was 3-3 on PATs and 1-2 on FGs.  I don't know what kind of 8 eight-point field goal you think Rausa could have made that would have won that game.  http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2007-FB/HTML/cen-coe.htm
10/20/07:  Wartburg 27, Coe 3.  Coe was 0-0 on PATs and 1-3 on FGs.  Even if Rausa is perfect on his FGs on this day, he still would have only scored half as many points as Neil Suckow.  http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2007-FB/HTML/war-coe.htm

To quote the movie A Few Good Men, "These are the facts of the case, and they are undisputed."

I'm pretty sure TME was referring to the 2006 season and not the 2007 season.

http://www.iowaconference.com/TASFBC/2006-FB/HTML/coe.htm

My mistake, thanks KK.  I was meaning 2006, but way to throw that jab in there WH

Wasn't me. I would never look that stuff up. My mind is like an elephants and I could have just told you the results of those games. It was SK. I, too, got confused with all the text boxes/

[DutchFan2004]

I just voted in the poll above.
My thoughts have been skewed a little on that.
The sophs I coach have punted less than once a game over the past 2 seasons, and had a kicker nail a 53 yarder and we kickoff a lot. I'll take a good kicker over punter any day.
Probably depends a lot what your experiences are.

I thought about your perspective...my last coaching experience was that we had a dominant defense and offense we simply tried not to screw it up.  Our punter, who would go on to play in the NFL, punted with so much hang time and had a knack for pinning the opponents deep in their own terrritory, punts wer rarely returned.  But then I remember back...that same kid was our kicker and he kicked a 57 yarder.  But mostly we expected him to make the 25 yarders...

But with  juggernaut offense, when would you ever punt?  And, yes, the number of PAT's and kickoffs would far outnumber the number of punts.

I can definitely see both sides of the argument, but in the end I can't get over how much of a difference the Brondyke kid has made for Central, especially going back to his freshman year when they made the deep run in the playoffs.  Field position can determine the winner or loser of a game more than a lot of other factors, and in an evenly matched game (and WH I'm assuming a lot of your games weren't all that evenly matched), a good punter and punt coverage team can dictate field position a lot more than a kicker can.

Brondyke is a good example but I think just as good of one if not better is VerMeer three years ago against Wartburg at Central.  He kept a long field for the Knights having to go to score.  That game was 7-7 at the end of 4 and Central won in OT.  I think that VerMeer won that game with his punting.  A good punter is an offensive weapon IMHO.  A punter can change the game with field position with one play and a good defensive stand. 

[DutchFan2004]

Sorry I took so long.  Here are the results of the D3 Post Pattern IIAC fan preseason poll.

1 Wartburg with 42.5 points

2 Central with 64 points

3 Simpson with 64.5 points

4 BV with 101 points

5 Luther with 134.5 points

6 Coe with 140 points

7 UD with 153 points

8 Loras with 161.5 points

9 Cornell with 210 points

there were 24 people that I used.  One didn't rank them all the way out so I did not use it as I didn't know how to allocate the points for the ones that were not ranked. 

The fans and coaches pretty much agree with the placings



Coaches place                                                 Fans place

              1                         Wartburg                        1

               2                         Central                           2

              3                           Simpson                        3

              4                           Buena Vista                   4

              5                           Luther                            5

               5                          Loras                             8

               7                          Coe                                6

               8                          UD                                  7

                9                         Cornell                            9


So the poll is a lot like the coaches poll with Loras the biggest disagreement.  It is going to be a great season.  I look forward to seeing many of you this fall.  I hope we get the chance to talk at the games. 

[doolittledog]

I went to opening night at Chipotle Stadium...before the fitness/training center was complete.  It was all sorts of nice then...it's got to be better now.

Here's a question for you D-byookies:

If the DBQ sustains some success...will they fill the stands like that opening night against Rockford?  If so that can be an imposing place to play.

Does any D3 team really fill em up when the Hawks and 'Clones are the main draws?

I think the UD administration is doing a good job of promoting the university through their sports teams and trying to fire up the alumni base.  The talk of our summer golf outing this year with my friends was getting together this fall for some football games.  That hasn't happened in a long time.  And not always through UD being a losing program.  The school administration really didn't promote sports for a long time.  Having the mayor of Dubuque as a UD employee might help as well.  The performing arts building in the planning stages for UD will also be used by the city of Dubuque for events.  So that gets UD more in the minds of local residents.  I think you will see attendance rise in the next few years at Chipotle.  Especially so if Zweifel keeps recruiting more kids from Iowa, Illinois, and Wisky. 

While the Hawks and Clones are certainly the main draw in our state, you don't really find casual fans attending IIAC games.  The fans at IIAC games will have a connection to the teams on the field.  Whether that is from attending an IIAC school, having a child at one, or having some other type of family connection.  There is enough history now that most schools can have decent attendance numbers.  Even though most of those in attendance at IIAC games are also Hawk or Clone fans.  Especially if you have been winning for a few years (Central/Wartburg)  or if both the Hawks and Clones are having a down year that might get some of the more die hard Hawk and Clone fans that also have a favorite IIAC team to come out to the game.  You often find a lot of people at IIAC games with a radio listening to the Hawks or Clones.  The Hawkeyes playing 3 night games this year will make it easier to make it to an IIAC game and then get back home to cheer them on!!!

At least that what I get from some of the pictures I see of IIAC stadiums and from announced attendance figures.  I suppose could all be really really fudged.  I suppose Heys Jr. might be better able to tell you just what attendance looks like at most IIAC stadiums. 

[warthog]

Thought for the day:

Sure, the home-field is an advantage -- but so is having a lot of talent.

- Dan Marino