FB: American Rivers Conference

[Ash Park]

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 trying to say, "What the heck, the Spartans have been a conference 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.

Wart I would have to agree with you. I do believe back in the 06 and 07 seasons UD was right in the thick of things like they are now so it isn't like it was all that long ago. In fact I would argue it is more remarkable what the staff was able to accomplish considering the shape that program was in. They also did it before the new stadium and field was built which is now a major recruiting tool I'm sure for Midwest kids.  Not taking anything away from the current team/staff but I remember how excited UD fans were back then and also how much talk there was by people on the board about UD doing so well. I think this happens anytime one of the teams outside the "big 3" is up there in the mix. Clearly what the current UD team has done has been pretty impressive thus far and it is obvious the support that program is getting.

[warthog]

After watching Wartburg's very close emotionally draining game at the University of Dubuque last Saturday, I am very concerned about the Knights' homecoming this weekend.  There are plenty of pitfalls that could ruin homecoming after a day like last Saturday.



Like............................................Do you think they will run out of beer at OktoberFest? 

[doolittledog]

Like............................................Do you think they will run out of beer at OktoberFest? 

Lutherans don't run out of beer

[NewKnightDad]

If they run out they can come to our tailgate and we will take care of them.   

[footballdaddy]

There's BEER at our tailgate?!?!

[dutchfan1]

There's BEER at our tailgate?!?!

Dorothy, you're not in Pella anymore....

[NewKnightDad]

Yes, we cook with it.

[footballdaddy]

That's what my Mom said about the bottle of wine in the pantry.

[NewKnightDad]

It also has medicinal purposes.

It helped bring my heart rate back into normal ranges after the game last saturday.

[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.

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.

I think the Norse Offensive Line is better than when Reynolds was a freshman.  The WR corps is not strong by conference standards though (although better than some years in Decorah).  Reynolds did not have much to work at all with on offense his first two years, but the Norse Defense was fun to watch.

The two big things to me from a couple of years ago was to improve the OL and find a stud RB that can carry it 20-25 times every week.  St. Olaf has had that back (Clark) every year that Reynolds has been at Luther, but the Norse do not appear to have one.

In fact, St. Olaf would be a good look at what is missing in Decorah.  The schools both have rosters of a similar size, but I think the Oles have had more skilled players on offense and more overall depth on that side of the ball.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

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?

Contact him ASAP!

I must have forgotten the introduction to Loras Hatred 101 that they teach the freshman at Luther.  Besides being taught to freshman at Dubuque and Clarke, I am sure all the freshman around the IIAC have had to take that course.   There was some Wartburg and Upper Iowa stuff being taught when I was there, but it wasn't organized enough.  Maybe it should have been at a junior-senior level of a course.

There almost should have been a Introduction to Norse Athletics Sagas 101 in Decorah!  Old coaches can tell stories about the great football teams of the 1950s and 1960s, the great players and very proud traditions in baseball (against Iowa, Notre Dame, St. Olaf, etc.), the rivalry stunts with Wartburg, crazy Upper Iowa stories, and some of the real crappy stuff as well (blowing that 32-0 lead or whatever it was against St. Olaf in football in 2004).

[Ash Park]

Just FYI for anyone who hasn't read the Ed Thomas book...it is a great book and I suggest reading it!! We all know the story of how great of a man Ed was and the events that led to his tragic death. However, this book goes a little deeper into his life. I highly suggest this read!

[CaliRamRL6]

I think the Norse Offensive Line is better than when Reynolds was a freshman.  The WR corps is not strong by conference standards though (although better than some years in Decorah).  Reynolds did not have much to work at all with on offense his first two years, but the Norse Defense was fun to watch.

The two big things to me from a couple of years ago was to improve the OL and find a stud RB that can carry it 20-25 times every week.  St. Olaf has had that back (Clark) every year that Reynolds has been at Luther, but the Norse do not appear to have one.

In fact, St. Olaf would be a good look at what is missing in Decorah.  The schools both have rosters of a similar size, but I think the Oles have had more skilled players on offense and more overall depth on that side of the ball.

Does Sherden have any younger brothers?

[5 Words or Less]

Norwegian King visits Luther tomorrow!

[5 Words or Less]

Please vote for Chris Norton