FB: American Rivers Conference

[AZDutchman]

It was nice to receive support from my post board "archrivals" 

Mr Ypsi....I definitely understand your point although I believe you are talking about the "exceptions" and not the "rule". You can't tell me that if you used the same family model with 10 families where the parents led by example; had strong work ethics; and supported, encouraged, and disciplined their children growing up...... that 9 out of the 10 of those kids wouldn't develop similar characters.

Every child may have a rebellious time in their life but most all mature and eventually something clicks where they think back to the childhood and upbringing and remember and apply what they have been taught. The problem is.....as others mentioned....too many people with their hands out thinking they are "entitled" to something instead of getting down and dirty and making it happen for themselves. Too many broken homes, single parent households where one parent isn't involved; basically too many SELFISH parents that aren't prepared to be parents.

The problems we are seeing in athletics nowadays runs deeper into the problems with our society nowadays. There are many exceptions and success stories of course but one could always dream it was more like the days of our grandparents....

Willie U

I'm going to have to retract my two dollar statement and bring you down to a buck and a quarter.

I was raised by a single Mom. What I was taught by my most wonderful Mother is to continue to work hard. I definitely wasn't given anything. I was one of those kids that walked up hill in the snow to and from school. I do have to agree that if I wanted something, I had to get down and dirty and make it happen.

I'm guessing that you may put me into the exception and not the rule. 

[doolittledog]

5-5 for Luther?
Waterloo Courier

http://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/college-football-norse-are-at-odds-with-breaking-even/article_2eaa0b3e-c888-11e0-aec1-001cc4c03286.html

That's a rough start for which should be an improved Luther team. 

St. Olaf riding a 7 game winning streak on the Norse
William Penn that went 10-1 last year in the NAIA
Central...is Central

Starting off 0-3 would be hard to dig back out of.  It will be interesting to see how things go up in Decorah.  Could be a really good year...could be a step backwards...could be yet another 5-5 season

[Willie University]

AZDutchman,

I come from a divorced family. I didn't mean to say kids couldn't be successful regardless of circumstances, my point was simply that we need better parenting no matter the situation as, in my opinion, they are responsible for a lot of the "poor attitudes" and "quitting", etc of their kids.

Willie U

[Floyd in Iowa City]

5-5 for Luther?
Waterloo Courier

http://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/college-football-norse-are-at-odds-with-breaking-even/article_2eaa0b3e-c888-11e0-aec1-001cc4c03286.html

That's a rough start for which should be an improved Luther team. 

St. Olaf riding a 7 game winning streak on the Norse
William Penn that went 10-1 last year in the NAIA
Central...is Central

Starting off 0-3 would be hard to dig back out of.  It will be interesting to see how things go up in Decorah.  Could be a really good year...could be a step backwards...could be yet another 5-5 season

I would love to know how much the AD, coaches, and administration weigh in on how the Norse set schedules.  Football has been playing the Oles every year during some of the best teams that the Oles have ever had.  Most of the years they haven't played a creampuff and then played the Oles, but rather started with the Oles right away and then eventually played the creampuff.  For a program that is 5-5 or 6-4 almost every year for a decade, it sometimes feels like the movie Groundhog Day.

St. Olaf is a fun rival for Luther to play in all sports and I have always like playing them (especially the baseball games).  However, if the Norse Football program plays against some of the better Ole Football teams, why aren't the wrestling programs competing (where the Oles are usually not good)?  Back when I was in school the Norse and Oles had been playing every year for over a 100 years in baseball, but they don't play anymore (both programs have had good baseball in recent years).

Having said all of that, it is time to finally beat the Oles!  Maybe if the Norse win a few games in the series the rivalry will be mysteriously dropped like wrestling or softball.

This year football adds Billy Penn since the Statesmen are finally fielding successful football teams.  If Luther had the depth, success, and talent of Coe, Central, or Wartburg I would get this, but they haven't shown enough signs to me to be scheduling two good non-conference teams. 

Maybe Luther will start scheduling Upper Iowa again when the Peacocks start winning games!

Luther has usually had average to above average defenses under this coaching staff.  The offense always seemed to be lacking talent or experience in key areas.  I was happy to hear Coach Durnin sound so upbeat about the offensive line and the overall talent in the trenches on both sides of the ball.  Perhaps this will be the first year since Tyler Sherdan was in school in which the running game will really make noise from the RB position.  If that is the case and Reynolds stays healthy, the Norse will at least be a fun and competitive team to watch.

[footballdaddy]

Wow, I really don't know how to take being on the same side as Willie! But what I think he's saying is kids need someone to show them the way, wether it's two parents, one parent, or someone else, but they need some guidlines,examples, or encouragement. Sometimes that's a pat on the back, sometimes it's a kick in the butt.

[Willie University]

Wow, I really don't know how to take being on the same side as Willie! But what I think he's saying is kids need someone to show them the way, wether it's two parents, one parent, or someone else, but they need some guidlines,examples, or encouragement. Sometimes that's a pat on the back, sometimes it's a kick in the butt.

EXACTLY!!! Great summary 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Agreed.  I'm just contending that parents tend to both take more credit AND more blame for how their kids turn out than is warrented.  The peers they hang out with (at least in the short run) are probably far more crucial, and past the age of 9 or 10, parents have (alas) precious little say in that.

Not to say that parental lessons (and, especially, example) may not be ultimately more important, but at 18-20 (the ages we seem to be discussing) which peers they choose to associate with probably vastly outweigh the impact of parents.

Naturally, I am speaking in broad generalities.  Any of us could provide plenty of exceptions.  My sons took very different paths (the older surrounded himself with very good kids - and even got a bladder infection at one point because he refused to use the 'marijuana-permeated' bathrooms at his hs ; the younger was not so wise, and ended up costing us a fortune in attorney's fees later in his hs career ).  But both now seem to be turning into wonderful young adults - which (of course) is totally due to Mrs. Y and me!

[doolittledog]

UD hasn't updated their roster, but they do have a season preview up.

http://www.dbq.edu/udathletics/news.cfm?ID=1789&team=Football

Sounds like UD returns 10 offensive starters, but the defense is a work in progress.  With a new DC to break in...though he has been on the staff the past 2 years. 

Sounds like there will once again be a large number of Iowa/Illinois/Wisconsin kids coming in.  With a number mentioned hailing from Marion.  I am curious to see how we are mining that area. 

[AZDutchman]

I think only one person hit on....the love for the game.

My three boys are offensive lineman. It's pretty tough to love the game in the trenches. I do know that he loves being on the team and his teammates. (I had to be careful how I worded that)

In all the years of high school and college, only one of my sons touched the ball just one time. Nothing spectacular, he just dropped on top of the ball after a fumble. Not on the goal line. Just a quick drop. After the game, I brought it to his attention that he was the first and only one.

The love of the game...is it getting lost. Does competition, possible scholarships, play time and player positions get in the way?

[warthog]

Wartburg has 63 freshmen in camp.

38 from Iowa
17 from Illinois
6 from Minnesota
1 from Wisconsin
1 from Michigan

43 freshmen were on the roster at the end of last season.  32 returned for their sophomore season.  

23 sophomores were on the roster at the end of last season.  22 returned for their junior season.

21 juniors were on the roster at the end of last season.  18 returned for their senior season.

This makes for a 135 player roster.  I'm glad they have put together a decent JV schedule so the young Knights can get some meaningful playing time.  With a roster this big there is a need for a bunch of JV games.  Interestingly, I didn't identify any transfers when I did my review.  There were some huge freshman o-linemen brought in.  I hope they are muscle huge rather than momma's choclate cake huge.

[AZDutchman]

Wartburg has 63 freshmen in camp.

38 from Iowa
17 from Illinois
6 from Minnesota
1 from Wisconsin
1 from Michigan

43 freshmen were on the roster at the end of last season.  32 returned for their sophomore season.  

23 sophomores were on the roster at the end of last season.  22 returned for their junior season.

21 juniors were on the roster at the end of last season.  18 returned for their senior season.

This makes for a 135 player roster.  I'm glad they have put together a decent JV schedule so the young Knights can get some meaningful playing time.  With a roster this big there is a need for a bunch of JV games.  Interestingly, I didn't identify any transfers when I did my review.  There were some huge freshman o-linemen brought in.  I hope they are muscle huge rather than momma's choclate cake huge.

All those newly "signed" freshman and not one from Arizona? 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Wartburg has 63 freshmen in camp.

38 from Iowa
17 from Illinois
6 from Minnesota
1 from Wisconsin
1 from Michigan

43 freshmen were on the roster at the end of last season.  32 returned for their sophomore season.  

23 sophomores were on the roster at the end of last season.  22 returned for their junior season.

21 juniors were on the roster at the end of last season.  18 returned for their senior season.

This makes for a 135 player roster.  I'm glad they have put together a decent JV schedule so the young Knights can get some meaningful playing time.  With a roster this big there is a need for a bunch of JV games.  Interestingly, I didn't identify any transfers when I did my review.  There were some huge freshman o-linemen brought in.  I hope they are muscle huge rather than momma's choclate cake huge.

It seems like Wartburg has hauled in many large freshman football classes like this over the last 20 years.  Is this as typical as I think it is?

The roster size also seems normal, but perhaps the roster retention from last offseason to this season sounds better than some years.  I am a big fan of roster retention, but things are usually great when you have that and a large overall roster.

I wonder what the largest the Wartburg roster has ever reached?  I would have the same questions for St. John's.

I hear stories of how much bigger the Luther roster was than other IIAC schools in the 1960s and early 1970s.  I haven't been that pleased at the Norse roster size since Coach Hefty was running it.  Hopefully the Norse numbers look better this year.

[footballdaddy]

Wow, I really don't know how to take being on the same side as Willie! But what I think he's saying is kids need someone to show them the way, wether it's two parents, one parent, or someone else, but they need some guidlines,examples, or encouragement. Sometimes that's a pat on the back, sometimes it's a kick in the butt.

EXACTLY!!! Great summary 

Feel free to embroider that on a pillow.

[hazzben]

This makes for a 135 player roster.  

I wonder what the largest the Wartburg roster has ever reached?  I would have the same questions for St. John's.

I think SJU had 186 players report this year. If I remember correctly I've heard of years where they had as 'few' as 175ish and some that pushed 200 on the high end. (Disclaimer: All estimates from an average memory, take it for what you will)

SJU also has no JV program, which doesn't seem to have hurt them too much.

Having played, coached and cheered against SJU for a little more than a decade, they usually have excellent depth. Which you'd expect from a team with that many players. And there are also a good chunk of guys on the sideline who appear to be total scrubs, judging from the vertical and mid-section challenges you could observe off the hoof. Most schools, at the DIII level anyway, likely have a few of these at the bottom of the roster. Especially if the rosters are well north of 115 or don't have the limits imposed by WIAC schools.

IMO, quality depth is the real advantage of a large roster. Over the course of a season and post-season run, you're better able to absorb injuries. There might not be much difference between the top 35 players at top tier IIAC/MIAC schools, but as the season wears on, a school with superior depth between players 36-86 is better situated for a late season push and probably better set to reload the following season.

[doolittledog]

2 weeks from today the season kicks off.  I'm planning on lots of munchies and barley pop while sitting in front of the computer to watch UD@Augustana.  Hopefully without too much foul language and a lot of cheering coming from my side of things with a glowing report from warthog the next day for me to read on here instead of actually working!!!