FB: American Rivers Conference

[Willie University]

The NAIA football board is saying that Rick Willis is the 4th of 4 coaches to interview for the vacant head coaching position at the University of Sioux Falls.  USF if the defending champion of the NAIA and announced earlier this year they are moving to NCAA D2.  Willis is supposedly interviewing today with an announcement scheduled for friday. 

He's been trying to get other jobs for years. It is apparent Wartburg was a stepping stone for him. I am sure he doesn't tell recruits that but if I was a recruit thinking about going to wartburg and decision time right around the corner, I would probably choose the University of Dubuque instead   

Thanks for sharing....I hope recruits read this board 

Willie U

[Gray Fox]

Additionally, I know of 2 kids that went to Graceland (football).  They lasted 1 year and couldn't get out of there quick enough

Probably because Elvis had left the building.

[doolittledog]

I think most Iowans couldn't get out of Lamoni fast enough

I would take Fayette over Lamoni every day of the week.  Lamoni isn't close to anything but Missouri

[CaliRamRL6]

Willie....just asking not being sarcastic.......so based upon your knowledge and experience would you recommend a kid from California not to go to an Iowa school to play football and get an education?  Are they accepted?  Especially if they are a transfer?  Thanks for your opinion.

Jr.'s from California, went to an Iowa School (Cornell), things turned out pretty good for him overall.  Iowa is a great place to live, work and shop....if you can handle not being near an ocean.  

Seriously, from a dad's perspective, he grew more than just physically during his time in Iowa.

I know of 5 other kids that came from North County San Diego (3 are current Coe students, the other 2 are Cornell grads now) that went to IIAC schools and they all seem to have benefited in many ways beyond academics.  All are athletes, BTW.

Additionally, I know of 2 kids that went to Graceland (football).  They lasted 1 year and couldn't get out of there quick enough

Some of us handle it better than others

[Klompen]

[Jr.'s from California, went to an Iowa School (Cornell), things turned out pretty good for him overall.  Iowa is a great place to live, work and shop....if you can handle not being near an ocean.   

But we appear to be getting closer to the polar ice caps if the snow glaciers I've seen around town are any indication.   

[rookie11]

I wouldn't say that spending 13 years at a school is using it as a stepping stone.

[rookie11]

I don't know if I would take Fayette over Lamoni..   I have a few buddies that went to Graceland and they thought the place was great..

I would agree that it is like asking which sport is better between soccer and ping pong, but to say the choice is obvious is not correct...

I know there are a few places to hang out in Lamoni..  I am going to call my buddy and get some scoop

[rookie11]

Willie....just asking not being sarcastic.......so based upon your knowledge and experience would you recommend a kid from California not to go to an Iowa school to play football and get an education?  Are they accepted?  Especially if they are a transfer?  Thanks for your opinion.

Jr.'s from California, went to an Iowa School (Cornell), things turned out pretty good for him overall.  Iowa is a great place to live, work and shop....if you can handle not being near an ocean.  

Seriously, from a dad's perspective, he grew more than just physically during his time in Iowa.

I know of 5 other kids that came from North County San Diego (3 are current Coe students, the other 2 are Cornell grads now) that went to IIAC schools and they all seem to have benefited in many ways beyond academics.  All are athletes, BTW.

Additionally, I know of 2 kids that went to Graceland (football).  They lasted 1 year and couldn't get out of there quick enough

Some of us handle it better than others

I would say there are a couple of big time additions from outside of Iowa in recent times..   Maybe the Coe folks can chime in, but Freddy was from Texas and I think Cornell became relevant several years ago from Lovely (from Colorado I think) was around..

Getting that "out of state" talent sometimes is the difference

[rookie11]

Willie....just asking not being sarcastic.......so based upon your knowledge and experience would you recommend a kid from California not to go to an Iowa school to play football and get an education?  Are they accepted?  Especially if they are a transfer?  Thanks for your opinion.

Jr.'s from California, went to an Iowa School (Cornell), things turned out pretty good for him overall.  Iowa is a great place to live, work and shop....if you can handle not being near an ocean.  

Seriously, from a dad's perspective, he grew more than just physically during his time in Iowa.

I know of 5 other kids that came from North County San Diego (3 are current Coe students, the other 2 are Cornell grads now) that went to IIAC schools and they all seem to have benefited in many ways beyond academics.  All are athletes, BTW.

Additionally, I know of 2 kids that went to Graceland (football).  They lasted 1 year and couldn't get out of there quick enough

Some of us handle it better than others

I would say there are a couple of big time additions from outside of Iowa in recent times..   Maybe the Coe folks can chime in, but Freddy was from Texas and I think Cornell became relevant several years ago from Lovely (from Colorado I think) was around..

Getting that "out of state" talent sometimes is the difference

Sorry - 1 more thought and then I am back to the Olympics...


I would take a talented kid that has a good work ethic any day of the week - I don't care what state he is from - I think history has shown that some "warm weather" type kids need to have appropriate expectations set when they come - some have never seen the cold..

The key is finding the right kid..

[CaliRamRL6]

I would say there are a couple of big time additions from outside of Iowa in recent times..   Maybe the Coe folks can chime in, but Freddy was from Texas and I think Cornell became relevant several years ago from Lovely (from Colorado I think) was around..

Getting that "out of state" talent sometimes is the difference

Freddy was from the Dallas/Ft Worth area and Lovely was from Western Iowa

[Willie University]

Willie....just asking not being sarcastic.......so based upon your knowledge and experience would you recommend a kid from California not to go to an Iowa school to play football and get an education?  Are they accepted?  Especially if they are a transfer?  Thanks for your opinion.

Jr.'s from California, went to an Iowa School (Cornell), things turned out pretty good for him overall.  Iowa is a great place to live, work and shop....if you can handle not being near an ocean.  

Seriously, from a dad's perspective, he grew more than just physically during his time in Iowa.

I know of 5 other kids that came from North County San Diego (3 are current Coe students, the other 2 are Cornell grads now) that went to IIAC schools and they all seem to have benefited in many ways beyond academics.  All are athletes, BTW.

Additionally, I know of 2 kids that went to Graceland (football).  They lasted 1 year and couldn't get out of there quick enough

Some of us handle it better than others

I would say there are a couple of big time additions from outside of Iowa in recent times..   Maybe the Coe folks can chime in, but Freddy was from Texas and I think Cornell became relevant several years ago from Lovely (from Colorado I think) was around..

Getting that "out of state" talent sometimes is the difference

Sorry - 1 more thought and then I am back to the Olympics...


I would take a talented kid that has a good work ethic any day of the week - I don't care what state he is from - I think history has shown that some "warm weather" type kids need to have appropriate expectations set when they come - some have never seen the cold..

The key is finding the right kid..

You all are misreading my comments. I never said any team would not or should not take a kid from out of state. I said in order to achieve LONG TERM SUCCESS, YOU MUST RECRUIT LOCALLY (locally means different things for different colleges based on location-UD it means IA, IL, WI). BUT, I ALSO SAID DIVERSITY IS GREAT (color of skin or where they are from). BUT, I THINK A GOOD BALANCE IS 75-80% LOCAL and the remaining 20-25% non-local (the freddie jacksons, lovely's, jermar jackson's, heys jr's, etc)

Is it more clear now 

Willie U

[Klompen]

I would take a talented kid that has a good work ethic any day of the week - I don't care what state he is from - I think history has shown that some "warm weather" type kids need to have appropriate expectations set when they come - some have never seen the cold..

The key is finding the right kid..

Welcome to the board, Rookie 11.

Miguel Ley, from Texas, was sure the right guy for Central's men's basketball team.  We weren't sure he would make it through the first winter as it was colder and more snowy than usual.  I'm sure everyone kept telling him that "this is not a typical winter".  I think every winter since has been even worse, but they were all atypical.  

[Klompen]

I think Willie is right.  You are fighting an uphill battle by relying on not just out of state, but WAY out of state students or student athletes.  They are harder to recruit, harder to retain, require more financial aid because they don't qualify for state aid, and the parents watch on the internet, instead of making it to the game.  For long term success you need to build up your local recruiting base first, then add in the out of state student athletes and other students to fill in and make a diversified whole.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I think most Iowans couldn't get out of Lamoni fast enough

I would take Fayette over Lamoni every day of the week.  Lamoni isn't close to anything but Missouri

Lamoni is also close to Kansas where 18 year olds could buy 3.2 Coors, which was a big deal back in the 60's.  I got to spend an unpleasant couple of hours there after the car me and a couple of other guys were in encountered the Lamoni Saturday night roadblock.  Somehow I don't think we were the first car load of guys coming through Lamoni on the road from Kansas on a Saturday night that they ever stopped.  A search of the trunk, which I probably should have questioned on Constitutional grounds, revealed eight cases of Coors.  We tried to act surprised but since none of us were drama students, we ended up in front of the justice of the peace who fined us $25 per man.  And that was back when $25 was worth something.  I've always wondered what became of the beer.

[snoop dawg]

Willie,  I understood your post, I was just posing a question to you.  Thank you for the input in your PM.  The weather is a big consideration for a kid from sunny So Cal.  no doubt.  That's why he is visiting in March while it is still, a "bit cold", at least by your standards, freezing your arse off by ours.