FB: American Rivers Conference

[5 Words or Less]

1st team All-Conference Punters

11 - Central: '84 '85, '86, '87, '92, '93, '96, '05, '06, '07, '08
5 - Buena Vista: '80, '81, '94, '95, '04
4 - Loras: '97, '98, '99, '00
3 - William Penn: '88, '89, '90
2 - Luther: '77, '82
2 - Simpson: '02, '03
1 - Coe: '01
1 - Dubuque: '91
1 - Upper Iowa: '78
1 - No One Named: '83

[sportsknight]

It's finally setting in fellas...

-  Fantasy draft was tonight
-  High school season gets started night after tomorrow
-  NFL opener is a week from tomorrow
-  IIAC kicks off in 10 days

ITS FINALLY FOOTBALL SEASON AGAIN!!!!!!

[doolittledog]

Division III record holder for consecutive PAT's:

102 straight Rims Roof, Coe College, 9/24/1983-11/9/85 (N.C.A.A. Div. III)

Sounds like a porn star name... 

[doolittledog]

It's finally setting in fellas...

Maybe it would be setting in for me a bit more if, um, maybe UD were to post a roster and preseason write up?!?!

[sportsknight]

It's finally setting in fellas...

Maybe it would be setting in for me a bit more if, um, maybe UD were to post a roster and preseason write up?!?!

For $5 a player, I'll head up to practice and ask everybody who they are.

[5 Words or Less]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-HE7tTT8khf0/the_15_er_uh_ten_commandments

Possible Lost Commandments:

11. Thou shall attain superior turnover margins  

12. Follow thy pulling guard, for he shall make your holy  

13. Remeber the playoffs and make them annually  8)

14.  Thou shall not covet thy opponents cheerleaders  

15.  Thou shall not roof thy opponents house  

[Old Dutch]

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.  
[/quote]

UD conference stats for 2008:

PASSING YARDAGE    1951    1295
   Att-Comp-Int    326-166-18    226-124-6

RUSHING YARDAGE    1305    1871
   Rushing Attempts    350    477

326 pass attempts and 350 rushes over 8 conference games  = 41 passes and 44 rushes per game.  That took me about 20 seconds to figure out from the IIAC stats page.  I know its exciting to be a UD fan with a coach of such high expectations, but my BS meter is spiking a bit on the whole only 24 were retained quote when he stretches some basic stats that badly. 

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Coe homecoming banner:

"Stifle Zweifel"

[footballfan413]

326 pass attempts and 350 rushes over 8 conference games  = 41 passes and 44 rushes per game.  That took me about 20 seconds to figure out from the IIAC stats page.  I know its exciting to be a UD fan with a coach of such high expectations, but my BS meter is spiking a bit on the whole only 24 were retained quote when he stretches some basic stats that badly. 

Oh, I NEVER said there wouldn't be BS!   

Look, he is going to have to prove his worth on the field and in the win column, no doubt.  I'm just saying that he is a quality coach with a proven track record as a recruiter and as a winner.  Given time, he will take the Spartans to a new level of success.  Of this, I am confident but I understand the nervousness on fans part.  UD has benefited by the fact that Coach Z wants to be a HC again and I am guessing, welcomes the challenge of this program.  If he thought that any of the veterans that he let go would develop into the quality of player that he expects to field at UD, they would have stayed.  Change is never easy but many times, necessary to move forward.     I don't want to be guilty of raising expectation too high, just think the UD is lucky to have him and looking forward to seeing how they progress.  Afterall, with a 2-8 record last season, nowhere to go but up, IMHO.

[the_mayne_event]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-HE7tTT8khf0/the_15_er_uh_ten_commandments

Possible Lost Commandments:

11. Thou shall attain superior turnover margins  

12. Follow thy pulling guard, for he shall make your holy  

13. Remeber the playoffs and make them annually  8)

14.  Thou shall not always covet thy opponents cheerleaders  

15.  Thou shall not roof thy opponents house  

[badgerwarhawk]

I suspect the 55-60 passing attempts per game was hyperbole and not meant by Zweifel to be taken literally.  No offense intended but the assertion that he didn't look into things too closely before taking the Dubuque job is nonsense.  He knows exactly what he needs to do to be successfull at Dubuque.  Though it probably ruffled a few feathers, something he has no qualms about doing, he evidently felt that he wasn't going to get anywhere with most of the players that were returning.  

Prior to leaving UW-WHITEWATER he had been offered the head job at another WIAC school and turned it down because he didn't like the situation there.  I have no doubt that he took a good, hard look at Dubuque.  He'll have a very young team and like all young teams they will likely struggle out of the gate.  But given time I have no doubts that he will turn that program around and those who stay the course will need to be patient but they will be rewarded.  

[Pat Coleman]

I wonder how many people here commenting about the Q&A actually read it in its entirety ...

[doolittledog]

I think I opened up a can of worms that probably should have been kept closed.  I think Zweifel has proved to be a great OC.  UWW became a national power while he was there.  In his one year at Mankato he helped take an average D2 team to a 9-3 record and a playoff appearance.  He has also been a great recruiter.  Being responsible for a large part of the UWW roster that has taken that school to four straight national title games.  Zweifel has already showed at UD that he can recruit well in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois.  Something that should benefit UD with higher attendance numbers and really no other coach at UD has been able to do.  He is a good addition to the university and I think will lead the school to more wins. 

What I have noticed is in three interviews now when he mentions the differences we can expect is he always says Dubuque was a spread team that threw 50-60 passes per game and he plans on having a more balanced attack.  He could just say Dubuque has run the spread the last 4 seasons and he plans to install a 2 back, zone blocking scheme.   Dubuque has had a balanced attack...it was just out of the spread, compared to how Zweifel plans to attack things.  It's hyperbole on his part, but it just kind of comes off like a used car salesman at times when he keeps hammering that UD was a spread offense that threw the ball all the time and now we will be more balanced.  We led the conference in rushing in 2007. 

As far as dropping some players from the roster.  I guess I understand it and at the same time don't like it.  I know there was a coaching change.  But at the same time, in a way, UD made a committment to these guys.  Come play for us and you will also get an education.  Now, these kids are basically being told they aren't wanted.  I know they don't have to leave UD.  But will they still get the same amount of finantial aid that they recieved before?  Good question.  It might not be all that easy to transfer into another school.  It will be hard to go to another school and break into another team just as much as it would be hard to stay at UD and not be a part of the football team. 

[doolittledog]

The tone of what I have been saying comes off as negative.  The reality is I am excited for this team and look forward to going to games this year.  It's a style of football I like.  I've just wanted him to stop saying Dubuque threw the ball all the time...which, in the grand scheme of things is a very little thing.  The dropping of players is expected, but regrettable.  In the end, I think Dubuque will start being a 1st division IIAC team more often than not.  Which for our long suffering fans is a very very good thing. 

[coocooforcoekohawk]

I think Dubuque will start being a 1st division IIAC team  

If Dubuque goes Division I than they can't be in the IIAC.