FB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

Intra squad today........  A small taste but really looking forward to it.

Perfect weather for this game...er, scrimmage...um, preseason tailgating run through

[doolittledog]

So if I drive over to Olivet for their game with Cornell ... I should wear purple, right?

Yes...and maybe offer to lead a team prayer before the game as well...you know, with your being an ordained minister and all

[warthog]

So if I drive over to Olivet for their game with Cornell ... I should wear purple, right?

Yes...and maybe offer to lead a team prayer before the game as well...you know, with your being an ordained minister and all

Not being an ordained minister probably means I can't offer to lead a prayer with the Dubuque Spartans the night of the Augustana game.  I considered reading some passages from Luther's small catechism to the U of D team, but under the circumstatnces that would more likely be inspiration for the Augustana Vikings.  Perhaps it will be best if I just stay in the bleachers.

[CaliRamRL6]

Did any of you Kohawks make the drive to see the scrimmage on Saturday?

[Willie University]

Wishing you a speedy recovery AZ.

So AZD has a traditional helmet...Purple Heys had ram horns.  Does anyone else on here have game day attire that is out of the ordinary???

No, I don't have anything too non-traditional, but I did buy a new royal blue shirt today.  I want to blend in with my Spartan brothers when I go the cheer on U of D a week from this coming Thursday.  I figured a stranger wearing a black/orange polo shirt embroidered with "Wartburg Football" might be viewed as a spy rather than some guy simply supporting his conference.  I'm still hoping Mrs. Doolittle will let papa out for the night so he can come down to Rock Island. Is there any chance I will spot Willie U in the crowd? 

I am working on that one.....A few issues....2 small children mean less time out of the house and one of my best friends son plays for UNLV and they play wisconsin at the same time as UD.......so, do I watch UD on the computer and UNLV on the TV or see the Spartans live  and cash in one of my "kitchen passes" early before hunting season and before football really gets going  decisions..decisions 

[doolittledog]

Hmm, we've been pretty busy at work and have been told the work load will continue for the forseeable (is that spelled right?) future.  I'm guessing I won't make this game...but, I might see if I can make it work.  As of now it looks like UD homecoming, UD@Cornell, possibly UD@Coe will be it for me this year...unless, of course, UD goes on a winning streak...then the family unit will start making weekly pilgrimages across the state of Iowa on the weekends!!!

It would be nice to meet up with warthog and Willie though

[Floyd in Iowa City]

The Norse Football preview is up:

http://www.luther.edu/sports/men/football/headlines/?story_id=349116

The roster is only 88 strong.  It seems as if the numbers have not been much over 100 or lower each of the four seasons that Coach Durnin has been in charge.  It looks like 61 returning players are back, but the problem (IMO) is that it looks like there are only 27 freshmen.  Lots of trench players (which I am a fan of) but not a lot of height.  Hopefully there are a couple of Bob Sanders or Tim Dwights in the group.

As long as player development and player retention happens at a high level, everything should be fine.  I do worry a little though as you wonder why the program isn't bringing in a solid 40 freshmen or so.  Norse Football doesn't have championships to brag about in the recent past, but they haven't been a bad team in the last decade either.

The depth may be tested in the first three weeks, but I hope not!

[DBQ1965]

So if I drive over to Olivet for their game with Cornell ... I should wear purple, right?

Yes...and maybe offer to lead a team prayer before the game as well...you know, with your being an ordained minister and all

We'll see if my ministrations have any impact for the Rams.

[5 Words or Less]

IIAC preview is up.
http://www.iowaconference.com/news/2011/8/22/FB_0822112650.aspx

[Old Dutch]

Seems to be a shortage of Dutch posters for a couple months.  Thanks to AZD for representin'  Best wishes for a quick heal from the recent surgery AZD!

Not sure I'm all caught up, didn't catch the coaching change at Loras, but with few Loras posters on here, maybe that wasn't a major topic.

IIAC Coaches made their picks:

Rank  School (1st place votes)  Points    2010 Record
1        Wartburg (5)                       69          10-1, 8-0 IIAC
2        Coe (4)                                67          9-2, 7-1 IIAC
3        Central                                59          8-2, 6-2 IIAC
4        Dubuque                              49          4-6, 3-5 IIAC
5        Luther                                  45         5-5, 4-4 IIAC
6        Buena Vista                         34          3-7, 2-6 IIAC
7        Simpson                              29          2-8, 2-6 IIAC
8        Loras                                   28          5-5, 4-4 IIAC
9        Cornell                                 16          0-10, 0-8 IIAC

So, let the second guessing begin.  Other than Central's third I don't think I'd argue with much of it.  Kind of surprised that Coe didn't get the championship nod though, I think The Warts lost serious defensive prowess (Suckow etc.).  I'd also pick the Dutch to be co-champs, but thats red shades taking over.  They'll have a lot to prove with lots of newbies in the trenches, but I have confidence in 'em.  I'd call it a three way tie and since the Dutch sat out last year, it will be someone else's turn to be out of the dance.     For the also rans I think DBQ and Luther are a toss up as are Simpson and BV.  Sorry PH, but not looking for Cornell's farewell tour to be any different than any other year.

[Alfredeneumann]

Coe Media Day
http://thegazette.com/2011/08/22/kohawks-in-it-for-the-long-haul-in-2011/

""Right now, the guys are thinking that they've made the playoffs the last two years, but a conference championship has escaped them," Staker said. "The hardware is what they'd also like, too. If they get the hardware, they know they get that automatic (playoff) bid. We've got to take it one game at a time, that old cliche. I can't get fired up about a (potential) conference championship until we win the next game, so to speak."

[5 Words or Less]

So, let the second guessing begin.  Other than Central's third I don't think I'd argue with much of it.  Kind of surprised that Coe didn't get the championship nod though, I think The Warts lost serious defensive prowess (Suckow etc.).  I'd also pick the Dutch to be co-champs, but thats red shades taking over.  They'll have a lot to prove with lots of newbies in the trenches, but I have confidence in 'em.  I'd call it a three way tie and since the Dutch sat out last year, it will be someone else's turn to be out of the dance.     For the also rans I think DBQ and Luther are a toss up as are Simpson and BV.  Sorry PH, but not looking for Cornell's farewell tour to be any different than any other year.

... you're so flattering

[AZDutchman]

Thanks for the Prayers. It looks like I'm still going to be banged up for the first game. 

I don't know how Central ended up third in the poll?
Everyone knows their going to go undefeated this year.
(I'm kidding; joke; laugh a little  )
My son is in the trenches and I know that all of them will be ready for the first game.

[warthog]

Reading the pre-season write-ups and removing my orange blinders, I would suggest the coaches poll might be a little off.  I think I would move Coe and Central up a notch and move my Knights to third.  I'd leave Dubuque and Luther where they are.  Finally I'd flip flop Loras and Buena Vista.  No science to this, just my guesses.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

At least this year after the non-conference games we should have a very good idea of how strong the IIAC is or isn't.  Congratulations to whoever does the scheduling for coming up with what look like some competitive match-ups against some quality opponents.