FB: American Rivers Conference

[the_mayne_event]

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.   

I don't think "cold weather states" apply as much for basketball and football. You obviously don't have to spend as much time outside for basketball, but i guess there is some sort of a mental aspect of it being dark and cold for 4 months.

But those that never go to a cold state school never get to experience the awesomeness of halter top day on campus

[the_mayne_event]

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

Jr staying in the Hawkeye state after graduation?

[Klompen]

I don't think "cold weather states" apply as much for basketball and football. You obviously don't have to spend as much time outside for basketball, but i guess there is some sort of a mental aspect of it being dark and cold for 4 months.

Clearly not, I wasn 't meaning for game weather so much as for retaining students from the south who have to deal with cold weather, be it on the field or walking across campus.  But I should have specified that's what I was talking about.

[Purple Heys]

Jr staying in the Hawkeye state after graduation?

As I said before, Iowa is great place to live, work and shop...It depends on the job opportunity.  We really don't know right now.  Having braved the winters I think he is prepared should he get an opportunity in the Midwest.

On the other hand, us folks out here wouldn't mind him coming back closer to home.

First, graduation...we'll take as it comes from there...    

[doolittledog]

I have a feeling coocoo and caliram are working the rugby angle with Jr and hoping they can find him a job somewhere in the corridor

[CaliRamRL6]

I have a feeling coocoo and caliram are working the rugby angle with Jr and hoping they can find him a job somewhere in the corridor

You got that right.

[warthog]

FYI, from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader:

The University of Sioux Falls has its next football coach.

Jed Stugart, who spent last year as the linebackers coach at UNLV and had been hired to be the new defensive coordinator at Division II Central Missouri, will be introduced as the successor to Kalen DeBoer at a Monday press conference.

[Klompen]

Good news for Wartburg fans I'm sure, but I'm curious how that affects the team to know their coach is trying to move on.  And how does it affect Willis who has tried, apparently several times to leave WB and nobody else chooses to hire him.   

[rookie11]

Good news for Wartburg fans I'm sure, but I'm curious how that affects the team to know their coach is trying to move on.  And how does it affect Willis who has tried, apparently several times to leave WB and nobody else chooses to hire him.   

I would say "good news for WB fans"..!   I would take Willis to head my team any day..   I don't know the whole situation, but I think he interviewed at Whitewater a couple years ago and now this - I would consider both of those "UP" moves from Wartburg (from an OUTSIDE perspective), but I would also argue that once a person reviews the things WB has going with the new facilities and committment to athletics, maybe they are not really "UP" jobs..   

I said it in an earlier post, but I think he has been at Wartburg for 13 years - there are not MANY programs in the country (let alone the IIAC) that can say they have that kind of continuity in their program..    I hope this turns some recruits elsewhere, but I'm afraid it will be more of the same at WB and that is not really a good thing for the rest of us...

[rookie11]

I don't think "cold weather states" apply as much for basketball and football. You obviously don't have to spend as much time outside for basketball, but i guess there is some sort of a mental aspect of it being dark and cold for 4 months.

Clearly not, I wasn 't meaning for game weather so much as for retaining students from the south who have to deal with cold weather, be it on the field or walking across campus.  But I should have specified that's what I was talking about.

I am with Klompen here - it isn't the game (playing is the easy part) that these kids have issue with..  It is the rest of their life for 4 (or more) months that revolves around COLD and SNOW now..   

I don't know how many listen to ESPN and Colin Cowherd (not sure I spelled his name right), but he is right on here - he talks about how northern schools (like Notre Dame and Ohio St/Michigan) have such a huge disadvantage in the recruitment of those "warm weather kids" - and that is where all the population is...

If you have not heard the Colin Cowherd show on ESPN radio in the mornings - check it out - he makes a lot of sense on most things..   He looks like a dork, but he is "right on" with his thinking...

[Kohawk Krazy]

Good news for Wartburg fans I'm sure, but I'm curious how that affects the team to know their coach is trying to move on.  And how does it affect Willis who has tried, apparently several times to leave WB and nobody else chooses to hire him.   

I would say "good news for WB fans"..!   I would take Willis to head my team any day..   I don't know the whole situation, but I think he interviewed at Whitewater a couple years ago and now this - I would consider both of those "UP" moves from Wartburg (from an OUTSIDE perspective), but I would also argue that once a person reviews the things WB has going with the new facilities and committment to athletics, maybe they are not really "UP" jobs..   

I said it in an earlier post, but I think he has been at Wartburg for 13 years - there are not MANY programs in the country (let alone the IIAC) that can say they have that kind of continuity in their program..    I hope this turns some recruits elsewhere, but I'm afraid it will be more of the same at WB and that is not really a good thing for the rest of us...

He hasn't been the football coach for 13-straight years.  He was the coach, then stepped down to be AD, then re-hired himself when their last coach left.

[warthog]

Kohawk is correct, Coach Willis stepped aside for two years and devoted his entire time to being AD.  It was towards the end of those two years that the UWW situation developed.  Many of us, who knew Coach W. from a distance, took that as a sign that the fire was still in his belly to roam sidelines on Saturday afternoon.  As luck would have it Coach Koehler took a late train out of town and Coach Willis was back on the sidelines.  He was back coaching and didn't need to leave.

I've been with the same organization for many years.  That doesn't mean I haven't explored several options during those years.  Sometimes by my choice and sometimes by other's choice I've remained with the same organization.  If a person doesn't explore opportunities they will never appreciate where they are.  Over the years I've encouraged employees to explore other opportunities.  I want them to be sure they want to stay with us.  I'm sure the same thing goes for coaches.

[Willie University]

Kohawk is correct, Coach Willis stepped aside for two years and devoted his entire time to being AD.  It towards the end of the two years that the UWW situation developed.  Many of us, who knew Coach W. from a distance, took that as a sign that the fire was still in his belly was still there  to roam sidelines on Saturday afternoon.  As luck would have it Coach Koehler took a late train out of town and Coach Willis was back on the sidelines.  He was back coaching and didn't need to leave.

I've been with the same organization for many years.  That doesn't mean I haven't explored several options during those years.  Sometimes by my choice and sometimes by other's choice I've remained with the same organization.  If a person doesn't explore opportunities they will never appreciate where they are.  Over the years I've encouraged employees to explore other opportunities.  I want them to be sure they want to stay with us.  I'm sure the same thing goes for coaches.

That is the politically correct answer. But, still, if I was a recruit with decision time around the corner, I would seriously reconsider a decision to play football at wartburg not knowing the future of the head coach and knowing he has applied for other positions in the present and not too distant past. Do you think after 2 failed attempts, he is going to just stop looking? You have to also consider his goals? Does he ultimately want to coach at a higher level? When he applied for UWW, was it because he felt wartburg would never allow him the opportunity to compete for a national championship? Does he know something we don't? New president and he not seeing eye to eye on the value of athletics? Financial difficulties casting a dim shadow on the future?

Things that make you go hmmmmm 

Willie U

[warthog]

Perhaps someone can enlighten us as to how many different head coaches each IIAC team has had since Coach Willis first arrived at Wartburg for the 1997 season.  I would guess most have had more than the two that have called shots for the Knights.  As a potential recruit, that may concern me more than the fact that the coach I'm considering playing for was a finalist as head coach for a national championship team.

Willie, I don't know if he will be applying for other jobs or not.  Interestingly enough, his well known applications are for head coaching positions where he has been a finalist for teams that have been in multiple national championship games.  As a Wartburg fan, I take that as a good sign.  People who should know football consider our guy as a strong candidate to lead some very good programs.  No lateral moves for this guy!

By the way, while looking around for information about USF's decision, I see former Luther head coach, Brad Pole, has resurfaced as head coach at Dakota Wesleyan. 

[Willie University]

No one said they weren't great jobs but the fact is there is certainly some uncertainty as to his future at  Wartburg. Take it for what you will 

Willie U