FB: American Rivers Conference

[warthog]

I hope the Cornell fans come and try out the new visitor bleachers.  I must say it was cool to have an opposing wall of noise at K Ray.  Something I never experienced before last Saturday.

Doolittle that was me, it was too intense a game to sit on the Dubuque side, so I only made it for half the first quarter with the Ice Man.

I then stood next to Johnny Ballgame on the good guys side of the field for the rest of the first half.

Are they starting the traveling trophy this year for the Coe/Cornell game?

The whole concept of a traveling trophy is that it will travel somewhere.  Given Cornell's plan to turn tail and run back to the MWC instead of actually making the Ram Football program better, if the series continues I guess any traveling trophy will stay in Coe's trophy case for at least the next quarter century.  Perhaps the trophy will be taken out of the case once a year to be presented back to Coe after the game, but that is the only time it will travel anywhere. 

[doolittledog]

Some expansion news and Cornell talk from the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. 

Here are the good parts...

With Cornell departing the Iowa Conference following the 2011-12 academic year, the IIAC has formed an expansion committee designed to explore future growth. Dubuque athletic director Dan Runkle told the TH last month any possible IIAC expansion is a long way off.

Cornell's departure reduces the IIAC's membership from nine schools to eight. NCAA Division III by-laws require conferences to have at least eight members to earn automatic bids to NCAA tournaments.

Cornell, which has struggled to compete in most IIAC sports since joining the league with Coe in the late 1990s, is en route to the Midwest Conference.

But Coe football coach Steve Staker says Cornell's move -- like the wild league movement in NCAA Division I -- is driven primarily by football.

"We're pretty close schools. For some reason, they've struggled," Staker said. Their conference play hasn't come together. It's not fun to see them leave.

"What bothers me is (the move) is all about football. They've been competitive in other sports recently, like volleyball (which Cornell won the IIAC this fall). It comes down to football. It benefits them (to leave)."

Cornell and Coe have signed a two-year deal to continue college football's oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi River through 2013.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Listening to Coach McMartin on his streaming radio show last night, he spoke of Central's three non-conference games for 2012.  It sounded like they are already scheduled except that no names were named.  It is too bad to see Cornell leave, but I always like to see how Central stacks up against the rest of the world so I kind of like having three non-con games instead of two.  I will be very interested to hear who they will be.

But back to the seamy underbelly of the IIAC...An old Simpson alum named Homer died and four of his old class mates showed up at the funeral.  They all agreed that like most Simpson graduates, old Homer was usually broke and it really made him miserable.  The four of them decided that when they went for the viewing, they would each put a $10 bill in Homer's shirt pocket so that at least he would have $40 for eternity.  After the funeral they all went out for whatever it is that Simpson guys drink.  When they went to split the check, one of the guys opened his wallet and it had three $10 bills in it.  The other guys said, "Hey, that is the money we put in Homer's shirt pocket."  And the guy with the cash said, "Relax.  I replaced it with my $40 personal check."

[warthog]

On another topic, but related to Coach Staker's comments in the Telegraph-Herald, the first NCAA D3 wrestling ratings are out.  Five IIAC teams are in the top 25.  Three are in the top 5.  It should be another good year for IIAC wrestling.

1)  Wartburg
3)  Coe
5)  Cornell
13) U of Dubuque
22) Luther

One comment & one question:

Apparently Cornell can compete not only in the conference, but also the nation in some athletics.

What happens to Cornell's nationally ranked wrestling program when it retreats to the MWC?

[doolittledog]

I wonder if the Cornell volleyball coach is worried now that they just won an IIAC title.  When the Cornell basketball team won the IIAC a few years ago the coach was then told he had to take a 20% pay cut. 

[Pat Coleman]

Some expansion news and Cornell talk from the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. 
...
Cornell's departure reduces the IIAC's membership from nine schools to eight. NCAA Division III by-laws require conferences to have at least eight members to earn automatic bids to NCAA tournaments.

This is erroneous.

[doolittledog]

Some expansion news and Cornell talk from the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. 
...
Cornell's departure reduces the IIAC's membership from nine schools to eight. NCAA Division III by-laws require conferences to have at least eight members to earn automatic bids to NCAA tournaments.

This is erroneous.

Newspaper reporting isn't what it used to be

[Kohawk Krazy]

I wonder if the Cornell volleyball coach is worried now that they just won an IIAC title.  When the Cornell basketball team won the IIAC a few years ago the coach was then told he had to take a 20% pay cut.

Cornell didn't win the volleyball title this year and they didn't win the basketball title a few years ago.  They won the Tournament titles.  Big difference between the two.  If I remember right from a Gazette story, Cornell only has one IIAC Title and that was in women's tennis.

[NewKnightDad]

Hey DD, great crowd at the game last night.  Big plays made a huge difference in that one.

That sophomore QB is good!!!!!!!

[doolittledog]

Hey DD, great crowd at the game last night.  Big plays made a huge difference in that one.

That sophomore QB is good!!!!!!!

And I didn't see it

Our office got buried in work.  I didn't leave work until 10pm and my boss was still there after I left.  She was following the Decorah game on her computer and I had the Union game on mine.  Both of our teams winning made it easier to deal with that we were working so late. 

Hopefully you were able to get some Kramers as well as saw a great game. 

That sophomore QB is an incredible WR as well.  It will be interesting to see if they keep him at QB or move him back to WR next year when Hadacek's shoulder is healthy. 

[doolittledog]

I wonder if the Cornell volleyball coach is worried now that they just won an IIAC title.  When the Cornell basketball team won the IIAC a few years ago the coach was then told he had to take a 20% pay cut.

Cornell didn't win the volleyball title this year and they didn't win the basketball title a few years ago.  They won the Tournament titles.  Big difference between the two.  If I remember right from a Gazette story, Cornell only has one IIAC Title and that was in women's tennis.

Well, yes and no.  Conference tourney winners get auto bids to the NCAA's, not the regular season champion.  Last year the IIAC gave full points to the UD golf team in the all-sports trophy competition for winning the conference tourney, not for how they finished during the regular season.  But I get your point. 

[NewKnightDad]

In my unprofessional opinion I believe that kid needs to touch the ball every offensive snap and should stay at QB. 

I found out last night that your AD is Travis Fleshner, he was my little neighbor boy when I was growing up.  Great guy and not a bad football coach in his own right.

[CaliRamRL6]

I wonder if the Cornell volleyball coach is worried now that they just won an IIAC title.  When the Cornell basketball team won the IIAC a few years ago the coach was then told he had to take a 20% pay cut.

Cornell didn't win the volleyball title this year and they didn't win the basketball title a few years ago.  They won the Tournament titles.  Big difference between the two.  If I remember right from a Gazette story, Cornell only has one IIAC Title and that was in women's tennis.

The difference being that Coe's seasons ended and Cornell's continued. 

[dutchfan1]

Holy cow -- huge congrats to UD! Best of luck in the playoffs! I said it when he was hired, and this proves it - Coach Z is the real deal! I can't believe I am saying this, but it is kind of fun to see some new blood at the top.

[dutchfan1]

AND....in the spirit of a great tradition that cannot be ignored: Simpson jokes. Enjoy!

Did you hear about the Simpson fan that broke his leg raking leaves?

He fell out of the tree.

Why did the Simpson fan keep a coat hanger in his back seat?

In case he locks the keys in his car.

Things you will never hear a Simpson fan say:
_______________________________________________________
•I'll take Shakespeare for 1000, Alex.
•Nope, no more for me. I'm driving tonight.
•I thought Graceland was tacky.
•We're vegetarians.
•Honey, I think we should sell the pickup and buy a family sedan.
•I've got it all on the C: drive.
•Too many deer heads detract from the decor.
•I'll have the arugula and radicchio salad.
•Trim the fat off that steak.
•Do you think my gut is too big?
•Does the salad bar have bean sprouts?
•Come to think of it, I'll have a Heineken.
•I just couldn't find a thing at Walmart today.
•Has anybody seen the sideburns trimmer?
•Let's go to the museum.
•No, I insist you have the last piece.
•Four wheelers are just too dangerous.
•I think we should get to know each other better first.
•I have reviewed your application.
•I hope this wasn't tested on animals.