FB: American Rivers Conference

[CaliRamRL6]

Good luck to Central in the playoffs. Represent the IIAC well. I hope Coe gets in there too. They looked good today.

[Charlie Kohawk]

Weymiller is a freakin beast.
Rozum had an outstanding performance today. The stiffarm he had on the lucky fumble recovery TD was money.

I second both emotions.

[Willie University]

Congrats to the Spartans on a wonderful end to the season! BV is a solid team and I am proud for the way this team responded to adversity after heartbreaking losses earlier in the season. Winning the final 2 games against quality opponents such as Luther and BV say a lot for the young spartans and the future of Spartan football.

I am sure D-Dog will bring exact stats, as I don't have time to do after hunting for 4 straight days, but, I believe Michael Zweifel broke 2 more IIAC records today (most receptions and receiving yards in a season) AND he did it in 2 FEWER games then Matt Plummer (former record holder from UD that accomplished those feats when the IIAC had 10 conference games). I haven't looked but little Z has got to be in the top 3 in the nation in D3 in a number of categories I assume.

I know it was a team effort, and I apologize for not mentioning guys that don't play "glamour" positions because they certainly deserve some accolades as well. But, Colten Hansen had a remarkable season and definitely is one of the top 3 QB's in IIAC. Pretty awesome feat coming from a little ole town and school named Olin High School in Olin, IA.

Justin Spaulding was the 2nd best RB in the IIAC as a soph. I think he definitely lived up to the hype and I look forward to 2 more years of him pounding the rock.

I would have loved to win the conference but I couldn't be happier for a 4th place finish in Coach Z's first season with such a young team. He and his staff did an excellent job recruiting and coaching this year.

A special thanks to the Spartan seniors and good luck in your future adventures! You were part of the teams that returned the Spartans to competitiveness.

Willie U

PS- I shot a 9 pointer with my bow. First time bow hunter. VERY happy 
PSS- Spurrier- The spartans had a much improved season, quality finish, broke records, AND they did it with mostly tri-state recruits so you should be happy as well!!

[warthog]

The decade is now over.  I could have added wrong.  But, conference records for the decade stand thus.  

1. Central 69-15  : 7 titles
2. Wartburg 69-15  : 4 titles
3. Coe 57-27  :  3 titles
4. Buena Vista 43-41
5. Simpson  43-41
6. Luther  36-48
7. Loras  34-50
8. Dubuque 18-66
9. Cornell  17-67

Safe to say Central is the Team of the Decade...although its something people are used to

I found Doolittles information to be interesting, so I checked to see how my Knights have done against the current IIAC teams over the past decade.  I wish I could have thrown in the 1999 10-0 season , but I had to compare apples to apples.

Central Col. 5-5
Buena Vista 7-3
Coe College 7-3
Cornell Col.  9-1
U. Dubuque  9-1
Loras Col.    9-1
Luther Col.   9-1
Simpson C.  10-0

This follows the IIAC 10 year history fairly closely with the exception of Simpson and Buena Vista.  The Knights should apparently schedule the Redmen Storm more often and the Beavers less often.

[doolittledog]

Central and Wartburg have identical conference win/loss records.  Central/Wartburg went 5-5 against each other.  Central won more conference titles.  Wartburg was more consistant.  Wartburgs worst year was 5-3.  Central had a 5-3 season, a 4-4 season, and a 3-5 season over the decade. 

I would be comfortable calling both teams the "Teams of the Decade"

You could also say that Central, Wartburg and Coe were the "class of the conference" over the past decade.  Those three schools were the only ones to win conference titles.  All three schools had won/loss records far better than the rest of the conference. 

Dubuque doubled their conference win total this decade.  18-66 this decade compared to 9-75 in the 1990's.  And that 9-75 record is notable in that UD went 5-5 against William Penn!!!

[DutchHawk]

Central and Wartburg have identical conference win/loss records.  Central/Wartburg went 5-5 against each other.  Central won more conference titles.  Wartburg was more consistant.  Wartburgs worst year was 5-3.  Central had a 5-3 season, a 4-4 season, and a 3-5 season over the decade. 

I would be comfortable calling both teams the "Teams of the Decade"

You could also say that Central, Wartburg and Coe were the "class of the conference" over the past decade.  Those three schools were the only ones to win conference titles.  All three schools had won/loss records far better than the rest of the conference. 

Dubuque doubled their conference win total this decade.  18-66 this decade compared to 9-75 in the 1990's.  And that 9-75 record is notable in that UD went 5-5 against William Penn!!!

I dunno, 7 conference titles in 10 years, even if you figure in the 3 worst, that means aside from those three, they were conference champs, more undefeated years than anyone else. Dont really see an argument here.

[doolittledog]

When you have the same overall record as another team.  And you went 5-5 against that team.  I don't know, you won more titles.  I just don't think you can there is no argument. 

I think Central fans have an argument that is hard to go against.  Wartburg fans can point out the identical conference record and the fact each team went 5-5 against each other.  I think both schools could have good arguments.  It's certainly not a cut and dry team A is definately better than team B over the decade. 

Of course, I really don't care right now.  I am happy my Dubuque team won 3 of their last 4 to end the season 5-5.  A record Central and Wartburg fans would be contemplating jumping off bridges if their team had just finished the season that way

Dubuque senior class leaves with a 20-20 record over their 4 years.  You go 25 plus years without being able to say that and see how happy you are!!!

[DutchHawk]

When you have the same overall record as another team.  And you went 5-5 against that team.  I don't know, you won more titles.  I just don't think you can there is no argument. 

I think Central fans have an argument that is hard to go against.  Wartburg fans can point out the identical conference record and the fact each team went 5-5 against each other.  I think both schools could have good arguments.  It's certainly not a cut and dry team A is definately better than team B over the decade. 

Of course, I really don't care right now.  I am happy my Dubuque team won 3 of their last 4 to end the season 5-5.  A record Central and Wartburg fans would be contemplating jumping off bridges if their team had just finished the season that way

Dubuque senior class leaves with a 20-20 record over their 4 years.  You go 25 plus years without being able to say that and see how happy you are!!!

Fair enough. I can count Dubuque as a middle tier team at the momen and set up to challenge the upper 3 if they keep their **** together! Good year to them!

As for my statement, all that matters is trophies in the case, undefeated seasons, and playoff appearances and games won, and thats where my statement comes from. And those stats cant be argued.

[warthog]

Under the title: Offense wins headlines - Defense wins games

Wartburg scored more points per game this year than they have since 2003.  They also gave up more points than they have in any of the eleven years shown on the D3 records book.  They were rewarded with a 6-4 record, the worst they've had in 18 seasons.  My guess is, Coach Willis will correct this issue.

[Old Dutch]

Bracket 4
Pat's projected bracket.  They've always been pretty close so I don't doubt them but some of this movement seems a bit of a stretch.   

1. St. John's
2. Central
3. Linfield
4. Monmouth
5. St. Thomas
6. Cal Lutheran
7. DePauw
8. Lakeland

The games: Lakeland at St. John's; winner faces winner of DePauw and Central. Cal Lutheran at Linfield; winner faces winner of St. Thomas and Monmouth.

[Old Dutch]

I can see the Co-Teams of the decade stuff, but I sure like the direction one is going (4 out of 5 years champs) vs the other.  

 GO DUTCH!

[DutchHawk]

Bracket 4
Pat's projected bracket.  They've always been pretty close so I don't doubt them but some of this movement seems a bit of a stretch.   

1. St. John's
2. Central
3. Linfield
4. Monmouth
5. St. Thomas
6. Cal Lutheran
7. DePauw
8. Lakeland

The games: Lakeland at St. John's; winner faces winner of DePauw and Central. Cal Lutheran at Linfield; winner faces winner of St. Thomas and Monmouth.

Pat correct me if Im wrong but wont the SJU Lakeland winner face the Cal Lut Linfield winner based on seeds as opposed to what you wrote, 1v8 should play 4 v 5 and 2 v 7 should play 3v6, giving way to the 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 match up in the second round.

[TC]

Bracket 4
Pat's projected bracket.  They've always been pretty close so I don't doubt them but some of this movement seems a bit of a stretch.   

1. St. John's
2. Central
3. Linfield
4. Monmouth
5. St. Thomas
6. Cal Lutheran
7. DePauw
8. Lakeland

The games: Lakeland at St. John's; winner faces winner of DePauw and Central. Cal Lutheran at Linfield; winner faces winner of St. Thomas and Monmouth.

Pat correct me if Im wrong but wont the SJU Lakeland winner face the Cal Lut Linfield winner based on seeds as opposed to what you wrote, 1v8 should play 4 v 5 and 2 v 7 should play 3v6, giving way to the 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 match up in the second round.

You're wrong.  The 1. St. John's/8. Lakeland winner would play the 4. Monmouth/5.St. Thomas winner.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat correct me if Im wrong but wont the SJU Lakeland winner face the Cal Lut Linfield winner based on seeds as opposed to what you wrote, 1v8 should play 4 v 5 and 2 v 7 should play 3v6, giving way to the 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 match up in the second round.

Yeah, I messed that up. SJU-Lakeland winner vs. Monmouth-St. Thomas winner.

Now, the NCAA could very well put Coe in this bracket, say to heck with the proper seedings and juggle teams around. However, we've provided a workable solution that doesn't cheat anyone out of a home game or deny a high seed the worst first-round opponent possible.

[Kohawk Krazy]

Is it 2 p.m. yet?