FB: American Rivers Conference

[DBQ1965]

Looking over the various Conferences on the Pick 'Em page, UD isn't getting much love  ... North Central is the overwhelming favorite.

I like that...keep 'em under the radar!!!

With North Central as the overwhelming favorite ... why am I even bothering with the drive over?

[doolittledog]

Looking over the various Conferences on the Pick 'Em page, UD isn't getting much love  ... North Central is the overwhelming favorite.

I like that...keep 'em under the radar!!!

With North Central as the overwhelming favorite ... why am I even bothering with the drive over?

Because I know where the alcohol is hidden!!!  And my wife wants a chance to talk with you more.  And it's always fun to be a part of an upset!!!

[Stagg Again!!]

Looking over the various Conferences on the Pick 'Em page, UD isn't getting much love  ... North Central is the overwhelming favorite.

I like that...keep 'em under the radar!!!

With North Central as the overwhelming favorite ... why am I even bothering with the drive over?

You are driving over to Naperville because you're a fan and your favorite team (which hadn't won a IIAC conference championship since 1980) is in the playoffs.  You don't need any other reasons.

[DBQ1965]

Looking over the various Conferences on the Pick 'Em page, UD isn't getting much love  ... North Central is the overwhelming favorite.

I like that...keep 'em under the radar!!!

Exactly.  Amen!
With North Central as the overwhelming favorite ... why am I even bothering with the drive over?

You are driving over to Naperville because you're a fan and your favorite team (which hadn't won a IIAC conference championship since 1980) is in the playoffs.  You don't need any other reasons.

[warthog]

If the Cyclones can beat Oklahoma State, there is no reason the Spartans can't beat North Central.

[NewKnightDad]

Knock em dead Spartans!!

[DBQ1965]

Just got home from a disappointing trip to Naperville.  North Central played a complete game ... and their defense kept UD "under control" for the most part.  UD's defense couldn't stop the Cardinals ... and UD special teams didn't help.

Still ... it was a great season for the Spartan Nation.  Sorry that the seniors had to end on such a sour note.  The turnout of UD fans and supporters was great!!!

Now ... for next year ...

[Stagg Again!!]

Just got home from a disappointing trip to Naperville.  North Central played a complete game ... and their defense kept UD "under control" for the most part.  UD's defense couldn't stop the Cardinals ... and UD special teams didn't help.

Still ... it was a great season for the Spartan Nation.  Sorry that the seniors had to end on such a sour note.  The turnout of UD fans and supporters was great!!!

Now ... for next year ...

A great turnout for the Spartan Nation indeed.  Congratulations to Dubuque on a great season.

[doolittledog]

We made it back to my in-laws after our trip to Naperville.  Dissapointing result, but it was a fun season to follow the Spartans. 

Large turn out of UD fans, that was great to see.  My wife and I met up once again with DBQ1965, always a great guy to talk to.  The Dubuque alumni office put on a nice tailgate before the game.  As far as the game, NCC was just too strong of a team.  UD will go back to the drawing board and come back again next year anxious to do better. 

Thank you to all the UD seniors.  You went from 1-7 your freshman year to 7-1 and a conference championship your senior year.  Congrats.  For all the other members of the UD team, you had a great year and we can't wait to see you back in Spartan Blue and White next season. 

[warthog]

I'm sitting here watching Texas/Kansas State game and reading accounts of D3 playoff games on various conference boards.  Monmouth had a thriller.  It appears the Spartans ran into a real buzz saw.  I hope North Central advances for a game or two.  Doolittledog was correct to compliment UD seniors for being part of a great turn around during their four years on campus. 
The Spartans' conference championship started me thinking about how conference schools have done over the years.  I took advantage of D3football.com's archieves and found some interesting data.  For instance, over the past thirteen seasons (data available on D3football.com) the Spartans have finished in the top three of the IIAC more frequently than four other conference schools.  So while the UD season was special it isn't like it was some sort of fairy tale.  I was also somewhat surprised that BV shows up as the team that most frequently has been in the top three after the group of Central, Coe, and Wartburg.  I would have guessed Simpson, but that is probably because I'm an old coot who remembers years prior to D3football.com.  Another surprise was how infrequently Luther has been a top three team.  It seems every pre-season we are discussing how good the Norse are going to be in the coming season. History doesn't support our annual optimism.
The list below highlights how many times in the past thirteen seasons each conference member finished the season in the top three.  The math won't work because in some years you had more than three teams on the list. (As an example: This year there were four teams: UD-1st with Coe, Central, Wartburg-tied for 2nd)

Buena Vista:        4 times (1-second 3-third)
Central College:   11 times (7-first 2-second 2-third)
Coe  College:       9 times (3-first 3-second 3-third)
Cornell College:    1 time (1-third)
U of Dubuque:      3 times (1-first 2-third)
Loras College:       2 times (2-third)
Luther College:     1 time (1-third)
Simpson College:  2 times (1-second 1 third)
Wartburg College: 13 times (6-first 5-second 2-third)

[doolittledog]

Now that we are back home from my in-laws, I forgot to mention earlier that all of the NCC fans we met were very nice people.  Everything from wishing us good luck before the game and giving us directions to the bathrooms (in the gym but we didn't see Keith45 in there) to telling us afterwards that it was a good game and thanks for coming out and good luck next season.  The NCC fans were a good group of people. 

[footballfan413]

Just got home from a disappointing trip to Naperville.  North Central played a complete game ... and their defense kept UD "under control" for the most part.  UD's defense couldn't stop the Cardinals ... and UD special teams didn't help.

Still ... it was a great season for the Spartan Nation.  Sorry that the seniors had to end on such a sour note.  The turnout of UD fans and supporters was great!!!

Now ... for next year ...

Bingo!  A HUGE congrats to the Spartan program and fans and Coach Z. on a terrific year and especially to Michael, on an amazing college career!  I was hoping that UD could enjoy, at least, one play-off game victory until I saw the tough draw against NCC.  Having played them last season, I know they are the real deal and I expect the Cards to go deep this season. Heads held high!  Knowing Coach Z, he is already on the recruiting trail this morning. 
   This is just the beginning, Spartan Nation!    

[doolittledog]

warthog and his stats got me to thinking of coaching records in the IIAC.  For current coaches we have...

Jeff McMartin -     Central -   8 seasons - 52-12 4 titles
Jay Anderson -    BVU -        6 seasons - 20-28
Rick Willis -         Wartburg - 4 seasons - 26-6   2 titles
Steve Staker -    Coe -         4 seasons - 24-8
Mike Durnin -      Luther -     4 seasons - 15-17
Jim Glogowski -   Simpson -  4 seasons - 14-18
Stan Zweifel -      Dubuque - 3 seasons - 14-10 1 title
Paul Mierkiewicz - Loras -     1 season     - 0-8

[doolittledog]

To put the IIAC coaching records a different way...

Central
Jeff McMartin
2004 : 5-3
2005 : 7-1
2006 : 8-0
2007 : 8-0
2008 : 4-4
2009 : 8-0
2010 : 6-2
2011 : 6-2
Total : 52-12 : 4 Titles

Buena Vista
Jay Anderson
2006 : 4-4
2007 : 3-5
2008 : 6-2
2009 : 3-5
2010 : 2-6
2011 : 2-6
Total : 20-28

Wartburg
Rick Willis
2008 : 7-1
2009 : 5-3
2010 : 8-0
2011 : 6-2
Total : 26-6 2 Titles

Coe
Steve Staker
2008 : 4-4
2009 : 7-1
2010 : 7-1
2011 : 6-2
Total : 24-8

Luther
Mike Durnin
2008 : 4-4
2009 : 4-4
2010 : 4-4
2011 : 3-5
Total : 15-17

Simpson
Jim Glogowski
2008 : 5-3
2009 : 2-6
2010 : 2-6
2011 : 5-3
Total : 14-18

Dubuque
Stan Zweifel
2009 : 4-4
2010 : 3-5
2011 : 7-1
Total : 14-10 1 Title

Loras
Paul Mierkiewicz
2011 : 0-8
Total : 0-8

[warthog]

warthog and his stats got me to thinking of coaching records in the IIAC.  For current coaches we have...

Jeff McMartin -     Central -   8 seasons - 52-12 4 titles
Jay Anderson -    BVU -        6 seasons - 20-28
Rick Willis -         Wartburg - 4 seasons - 26-6   2 titles
Steve Staker -    Coe -         4 seasons - 24-8
Mike Durnin -      Luther -     4 seasons - 15-17
Jim Glogowski -   Simpson -  4 seasons - 14-18
Stan Zweifel -      Dubuque - 3 seasons - 14-10 1 title
Paul Mierkiewicz - Loras -     1 season     - 0-8

dld: Intentionally leaving of Willis' first go round?