FB: American Rivers Conference

[AZDutchman]

What's the over/under on how many people got sunburn in Iowa yesterday?

8)

I had to go back some pages to find this. I, myself, have a permanent tan that will never go away. 20 years in this sun and I'm cooked. 5 days this month of November has been over 90 degrees. We haven't had a measurable rain since September 5th. Two reasons I tell you this...one, could global warming be happening or is that I live in the friggin desert? and two, when I make it down there for a game, I'm the one with out the sun burn.!

[AZDutchman]

My hats off to the Central O Line.
I'm very bias to the men in the trenches. There usually the guys with out the glory. I'm glad your getting recognized!

[AZDutchman]

Playoffs start here tomorrow for the youngest AZ. Ranked number 3 and looking good for a run.
I do have to say though that it's not all glory here in the AZ household. The oldest is on a 2 win season and not looking good for the final games. So when you hear me holding the victory flag over my post, remember I know what the loss category feels like.
Still, it's great to watch football on the weekends!

[Mr. Ypsi]

A word to all IIAC Seniors...congratulations gentlemen on your collegiate football careers.  Enjoy your memories of this for the rest of your life.

Pain fades, chicks dig scars, and glory lives forever.  (or something like that...Shane Falco)

The pride I have for my son's time in the IIAC extends to you all as teammates or opponents.  It was an honor to watch you all compete with and against him.  Good luck wherever life takes you.

That sounded ominously like a 'good-bye' speech.  Say it ain't so!

[Purple Heys]

Perhaps I shouldn't share this...But I feel compelled.  The Loras bunch is not well represented on this board..and they've had their struggles this year on the field.  But what follows was copied to all us Cornell parents by Coach Dillon.   He said  he didn't know what to make of the letter at first but as he read on...well, it becomes self-explanatory.  This means a lot to all us in the Cornell family.

Some of you folks support a team where one win after another pile up...others win at least with enough regularity that losing does not become a burden...imagine you are 21 years old...how would you handle it week in and week out?  Next, imagine you are 21 and you just were on the other side of the team that was bested to end the futilty.  On both sides, there was class and sportsmanship.  If you read this as a dig against some of the better teams, you need to step back and think outside your box for a moment...that clearly is not the author's point.  This...is D3 Football at its finest.

The moments this young man describes are moments that will last a lifetime with all in attendance.


Coach Dillon,

                I can only imagine the flood of emails, letters, and phone calls you have received in response to your win last Saturday. I assume this outpour of support has come from former players, alumni, and fans of Cornell College Rams football.  With that in mind, you may consider who this letter originates from as a surprise. I am member of the Loras College football team. I would prefer to remain anonymous, however I will tell that I have started for some time now and am an upperclassman. I mention my experience because I have played football for a long time. I have played in this conference for several years, and understand the uphill battle that your team has faced in getting your first victory in conference. If I was placed in your player’s shoes, that losing streak would have been debilitating. The pressure to win, the longing to celebrate on the field after a hard fought game, the absence of victory…all would have weighed heavily upon me as a player.

                I am the ultimate competitor. I hate losing more than I love winning. Which is why I obviously wish that last Saturday we would have came out on top. As I saw your offense take a knee to end the game, an immediate rush of frustration and anger swept over me. However, as I walked through midfield shaking the hands of your players, the pit in my throat softened. Your players could have rubbed in the loss as I have seen the traditional powers of our conference do. They could have rubbed in their victory. After what your team has been through I would have expected it. Yet, not one player did. Passing through that line was the most touched I have ever been on a football field. Seeing tears well in the eyes of your upperclassmen struck a chord. Players that I faced throughout the game patted me on the back and told me “good luck next week,” or “see ya next year.” The look of elation and relief on their faces was truly heart moving. They were gracious, respectful, and showed true sportsmanship.

                As the line ended I turned towards the locker-room. I heard your victory bell ring and that sudden rush of defeat overwhelmed me again. I was more upset than I ever have been after a loss. Yet, the sportsmanship and elation your team exhibited on the field that day overpowered those feelings. I would have loved to have won. I want to win every game our team plays. However, your team embodies what is a core principle of football at the Division-3 level. Winning is what all teams fight, sweat, and bleed for, yet winning is not what the game is all about. Athletes at our level are driven by their love for the game; their inherent need to fight with their brothers in arms. I saw these principle embodied by your players on Saturday, both after the game and during play. I envied the ecstasy of victory they had following that game. But more than anything I was impressed with their gracious sportsmanship. I obviously hope next year the outcome is different, but until then…congratulations. I hope your players enjoyed their victory, judging from their sportsmanship it could not have happened to a better team.


Anonymous Duhawk

[Purple Heys]

A word to all IIAC Seniors...congratulations gentlemen on your collegiate football careers.  Enjoy your memories of this for the rest of your life.

Pain fades, chicks dig scars, and glory lives forever.  (or something like that...Shane Falco)

The pride I have for my son's time in the IIAC extends to you all as teammates or opponents.  It was an honor to watch you all compete with and against him.  Good luck wherever life takes you.

That sounded ominously like a 'good-bye' speech.  Say it ain't so!

Nope, just a Bon Voyage to a great group of young men.   

[Purple Heys]

BTW...that letter made me well up.   

[BoBo]

Thanks for sharing that eloquent letter PH.  What a classy & impressive young man!!

[warthog]

Thought for the day:

For when the One Great Scorer comes
To write against your name,
He marks-not that you won or lost-
But how you played the game.
   
- Grantland Rice

[coco]

Heys,
Thanks for sharing that letter. Somebody brought their boy up right that he took the time to write it

[AZDutchman]

Heys,
Wow on the letter. Thanks for sharing. A player that found victory after losing!

[Storm Chaser]

BTW...that letter made me well up.   

Heys -  thanks for sharing - These young men will share a lifetime of memories and growing experiences.  I know in our son's case Simpson and the IIAC was the right choice.  I know he'll miss the excitement that is game day and the special bond you have with your teammates.

[CaliRamRL6]

Heys, that was a great letter to read. Where's the tailgate at tomorrow?

[DutchFan2004]

PH,

That was a great letter.  I can see that all of the young men in this conference work hard and want to win.  I am happy that those Ram seniors got the monkey off their back.   Good luck to the Rams and all the IIAC teams tomorrow.

[footballdaddy]

That is why our kids play D3. It's great to see the love of the game shown in such a way.