FB: American Rivers Conference

[Alfredeneumann]

From the IIAC Regulations manual

In the case of a tie in league standings, the following will be used to determine the automatic qualifier berth in the NCAA playoffs:

Head‐to‐head competition: The head‐to‐head will be the cumulative records versus the tied teams.

When head‐to‐head does not break the tie, the team that was in the play‐offs most recently is eliminated and the criteria returns to
head‐to‐head competition.

When head‐to‐head competition and elimination of the most recent play‐off team does not break the tie, a coin flip will determine
who the automatic qualifier is. The coin flip will be conducted by the IIAC Commissioner and the Chair of the Faculty
Representatives. Other witnesses may be called to be observers, if necessary.

The tie breaker process will always return to head‐to‐head competition once a team has been eliminated by most recent NCAA
playoff competition.

[Ash Park]

I have to be honest...the Cornell game against UD this weekend has me a bit nervous..ok so really nervous . My hope is that Cornell is healthy and can get some offense going to keep that high powered offense of UD off the field. Oh and also I heard that Cornell found a way to play defense with more than 11 on the field so we will have that going in our favor  In all seriousness this game reminds me of the 2007 season when UD came to Ash Park and just throttled the Rams. UD was rolling in conference just like they are right now putting up big numbers and it was homecoming at Cornell.  I just hope the outcome is different and history does not repeat itself...I believe the score was something like 67-6 in 2007.

[hazzben]

Article on Fred Jackson as an early MVP candidate in the NFL.

[doolittledog]

I have to be honest...the Cornell game against UD this weekend has me a bit nervous..ok so really nervous . My hope is that Cornell is healthy and can get some offense going to keep that high powered offense of UD off the field. Oh and also I heard that Cornell found a way to play defense with more than 11 on the field so we will have that going in our favor  In all seriousness this game reminds me of the 2007 season when UD came to Ash Park and just throttled the Rams. UD was rolling in conference just like they are right now putting up big numbers and it was homecoming at Cornell.  I just hope the outcome is different and history does not repeat itself...I believe the score was something like 67-6 in 2007.

It wasn't quite that bad.  I believe...and I am often wrong...61-21 was the final score.  It was something like 35-7 after 1 quarter and 51-something at halftime so that might have led you to believe it was worse.  Brautigam called off the dogs in the 2nd half and the final was 61-21. 

That day we had lunch at Chameleans, 2 game tickets, 2 hot chocolates and a bag of popcorn at halftime, 2 capacinos from a drive thru stand on the edge of town after the game and our total was under $50.00

That day cemented our view that D3 football was how we would be spending most fall Saturdays in the future and our days of going to D1 games were probably over. 

[Charlie Kohawk]

Sending birthday wishes to my friendly rival Purple Haze. 

[5 Words or Less]

Zwiefel;  22 points in Scrabble. 

How about Zwiefelicious...30 points 

90 ... Zweifelicious triple word score
-89 ... The atomic number of Actinium.
  1 ... Michael Zweifel's jersey number

Coincidence???  I THINK NOT!!! 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Nice article about Wyatt Hanus

... head coach Stan Zweifel promised [Hanus] when he recruited him a few years ago.  "Coach Z came to me and said, 'By the time you graduate, you're gonna win a championship,"' said Hanus.

... Coe College and Dubuque wanted Hanus. He went to the Spartans because of the facilities and the coach, who didn't give his recruit a soft sell.  "Coach Z was fantastic," said Hanus. "He was a guy who was up in my face - the kind of guy I wanted to play for. He didn't come there and say ... 'We may or may not win.' It was, 'We are gonna win.' He really enticed me to play at UD."

There were some Luther players who were really ready for Zweifel to replace Coach Hefty.  I always wonder how much the school support plays in recruiting versus what the head coach does?  Zweifel strikes me as someone who would really shake it up no matter what job he took in the Iowa Conference.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Zwiefel;  22 points in Scrabble. 

How about Zwiefelicious...30 points 

90 ... Zweifelicious triple word score
-89 ... The atomic number of Actinium.
  1 ... Michael Zweifel's jersey number

Coincidence???  I THINK NOT!!! 

+K for what I believe to be the first references to the periodic table on the IIAC Board.  There is nothing you can't learn here.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

DuHawk Football is comparable to the Miami Heat, everybody knows we are the best but everybody just hates on us. Our new coach has a couple tricks up his sleeve for the IIAC. You guys saw the first trick, only playing 2 or 3 of the quarters, just like the Heat. Wait till we play all four come IIAC time

As a Central fan you can imagine how I have been dreading the Loras game ever since this got posted a couple of weeks ago.  Central has been susceptible to tricks and now I have to worry about them falling for the DuHawks playing all four quarters.  I wonder if I should try to alert Coach McMartin?

You better hope the Duhawks don't roll out their nationally ranked Futbol team against your Dutch.  They won't sub out when they roll up a big lead and just keep piling it on for 4 quarters against you

Would that be the nationally ranked Futbol team that could do no better, on their home pitch, than a 3-3 tie against the Central soccer team last Sunday?  I'm shaking in my wooden shoes.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

I got to see the Coe vs Luther game yesterday. It was quite a change in the 2nd half. Coe's defense needs to address the issues in the run game. Luther was having their way with them on a lot of run plays. I may be off a little but to me, it seems like Boyle was a little off yesterday. 15-21 for 284 and 3 TDs looks good on paper but the passes he threw his soph and junior year made you go WOW. It wasn't the crisp Boyle I'm used to seeing. I could be being over-critical but I'm a spectator so I can say what I want. Jared Kuehner and Demetreus Johnson were studs yesterday.

For Luther, Chris Reynolds needs to have more in designed runs for him. They need to take advantage of that 6'4" receiver. I was a little disappointed I didn't see McGivney tackle anyone and everyone like his stats make it seem. Whoever #20 is, he can lay the wood for a skinny dude.

Robby Jewell is the #20 you are talking about.  He has played very well in the 2.5 games that I have seen.  With his size at this point in his career I like him better in coverage, but he can play football.  He can also play CF in baseball.  He locked down on the best Loras WR in the Luther-Loras game.

Reynolds is running it better than the Norse are throwing and catching it so far.  As my comments have shown all season, I am not shocked by this 1-4 start, but it still stinks that the Norse haven't found a way to be at least 2-3 or 3-2 at this point.  Like the Iowa Hawkeyes, there are some good parts to this Norse team.  However, like the Hawkeyes, the Norse have shown that they could lose to about anybody the rest of the way.  As doolittle pointed out last week, the Norse could still end up 4-4 in the league.  I would have to say though that I am not seeing it right now.

It is too bad as I was hoping Coach Durnin would have a very strong team by his 4th and 5th years in Decorah.  I was hoping the best as well for Chris Reynolds that the 4th year starter at QB might have a nice senior year from a team win-loss view.

Congrats to Coe and Wartburg for winning this weekend.  I actually thought the Spartans might get the win, but there still is some talent on the roster in Waverly.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Article on Fred Jackson as an early MVP candidate in the NFL.

This has been talked about a lot on here, but it is amazing what he has done in college and the NFL!  He might be finding success on a more consistent basis than 95% of the RBs in the NFL right now.  I remember being very impressed with him in college the 2-3 times I him in person, but I never would have thought with his size at the time that he would turn into the NFL back he now is.  The Bills are a great story this year.

[Ash Park]

I got to see the Coe vs Luther game yesterday. It was quite a change in the 2nd half. Coe's defense needs to address the issues in the run game. Luther was having their way with them on a lot of run plays. I may be off a little but to me, it seems like Boyle was a little off yesterday. 15-21 for 284 and 3 TDs looks good on paper but the passes he threw his soph and junior year made you go WOW. It wasn't the crisp Boyle I'm used to seeing. I could be being over-critical but I'm a spectator so I can say what I want. Jared Kuehner and Demetreus Johnson were studs yesterday.

For Luther, Chris Reynolds needs to have more in designed runs for him. They need to take advantage of that 6'4" receiver. I was a little disappointed I didn't see McGivney tackle anyone and everyone like his stats make it seem. Whoever #20 is, he can lay the wood for a skinny dude.

It is too bad as I was hoping Coach Durnin would have a very strong team by his 4th and 5th years in Decorah.  I was hoping the best as well for Chris Reynolds that the 4th year starter at QB might have a nice senior year from a team win-loss view.

Seeing how this kid played when he was a Freshman I thought the Norse were destined for great things. His play has been pretty consistent over his four years. From my distant view it has seemed that Reynolds is all they really have offensively throughout his career. He runs the ball more times and for more yards than all of the backs...reminds me of another team and offense that has struggled ...uhuhhmmum Cornell. Without a lot of big targets as receivers this makes the offense kind of one dimensional. I think maybe Central is going through some of this right now?? I might be wrong...just a thought though.

[duhawk]

DuHawk Football is comparable to the Miami Heat, everybody knows we are the best but everybody just hates on us. Our new coach has a couple tricks up his sleeve for the IIAC. You guys saw the first trick, only playing 2 or 3 of the quarters, just like the Heat. Wait till we play all four come IIAC time

As a Central fan you can imagine how I have been dreading the Loras game ever since this got posted a couple of weeks ago.  Central has been susceptible to tricks and now I have to worry about them falling for the DuHawks playing all four quarters.  I wonder if I should try to alert Coach McMartin?

You better hope the Duhawks don't roll out their nationally ranked Futbol team against your Dutch.  They won't sub out when they roll up a big lead and just keep piling it on for 4 quarters against you

Would that be the nationally ranked Futbol team that could do no better, on their home pitch, than a 3-3 tie against the Central soccer team last Sunday?  I'm shaking in my wooden shoes.

Oh boy,I can't let this one slip by.  Classic overlook game. #7 Loras played #8 Dominican the next day in the burbs of Chicago and Loras won 5-0.  I realize you're responding to an annoying Duhawk though so I'll let my two cents stop there. 

[duhawk]

There has quite a discussion about the revival of Spartan Football.  I think we need to remember UD hasn't been the only team with a dry spell.  32 seasons ago the University of Dubuque won the last of three straight IIAC titles.  Since then four IIAC conference members have won or tied for all the titles.  The list includes: Central 19 titles, Wartburg 9 titles, Simpson 4 titles, Coe 3 titles.  So current or former IIAC members Luther, Loras, Buena Vista, Cornell, Upper Iowa, William Penn have been without an IIAC football title for more years than Dubuque.  Yes, the Spartans have come a long way but others have been in the lifeboat with them.

I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to say here. I'm painfully aware that Loras has not been a good football school for years, but that doesn't mean I can't find UD's run interesting or know that other school haven't won in a while.  We never want the schools we root for to lose, but we'd probably all agree that more parity would keep more fans engaged across the conference.  UD is interesting because they are upsetting the apple-cart, something that everyone outside of Coe, Wart, and Central have been waiting to happen for, well, 32 years.

Why did it have to be UD?  That question haunts me.

[warthog]

There has quite a discussion about the revival of Spartan Football.  I think we need to remember UD hasn't been the only team with a dry spell.  32 seasons ago the University of Dubuque won the last of three straight IIAC titles.  Since then four IIAC conference members have won or tied for all the titles.  The list includes: Central 19 titles, Wartburg 9 titles, Simpson 4 titles, Coe 3 titles.  So current or former IIAC members Luther, Loras, Buena Vista, Cornell, Upper Iowa, William Penn have been without an IIAC football title for more years than Dubuque.  Yes, the Spartans have come a long way but others have been in the lifeboat with them.

I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to say here. I'm painfully aware that Loras has not been a good football school for years, but that doesn't mean I can't find UD's run interesting or know that other school haven't won in a while.  We never want the schools we root for to lose, but we'd probably all agree that more parity would keep more fans engaged across the conference.  UD is interesting because they are upsetting the apple-cart, something that everyone outside of Coe, Wart, and Central have been waiting to happen for, well, 32 years.

Why did it have to be UD?  That question haunts me.

Some of the posts on here (including mine) and even some newspaper articles have sometimes made this rise of the Spartans seem like an almost impossible to believe fairy tale.  I was simply pointing out that the Spartans have occasionally over the years made a trip into the upper tier of the league.  The fact that they are now making this push is no more a miracle than if Luther, Loras or Buena Vista were in a tie for the conference lead.  I was trying to make the point by saying in a few words, "What the heck, the Spartans have been a conference football champion more recently than half the league.  The impressive season is a great story, but it isn't a fairy tale.  They deserve the success because there has been a strong committment to make it happen.  The IIAC isn't eight teams and poor old Dubuque."

I hope that helps explain.