FB: American Rivers Conference

[Pat Coleman]

It's just 8 weeks until football season, time to ramp up the football talk.  Isn't this the time of year that the NCAA usually announces a rule change or two?  Anybody know anything about any?  Anybody have any they would like to see?  If I ran the rules committee, I would make the ball slightly smaller (no small balls cracks please) to take away some of the advantage guys with big hands have.  Hand envy is my latest neurosis.  I have decided that hands are appendages where size really does matter.  I read that when Johnny Unitas shook your hand, his fingers touched your elbow.  And it isn't just football.  Big hands are also an advantage at piano playing, magic tricks, baseball pitching, and card cheating to mention a few that don't involve fondling.  Sorry, I have trouble staying on topic.  Anybody know anything about any rule changes coming up?

I think they only do rule changes on an every-other-year basis. This would be an off year if that is the case.

[doolittledog]

D3football.com has their preseason All-American team out.

http://www.d3football.com/awards/all-americans/2012-preseason

IIAC represented with...

Frank Weymiller, DE, Coe, 1st team defense

Demetreus Johnson, S, Coe, 2nd team defense

Richard Skaife, C, Dubuque, 2nd team offense

[DBQ1965]

In case you haven't already seen this ...

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/naia-school-unveils-nation-most-original-hideous-football-162913677--ncaaf.html

I hope the IIAC never has to deal with something like that!!!

I understand that green turf fields have a longer "life" than blue, red, etc.  That's a big investment for a field with a short shelf-life.

[DutchFan2004]

Which IIAC schools have a grass football field and which have an artificial surface?

Luther has the only grass field left in the IIAC. 

Cornell has grass but left for the MWC. 

BVU installed an artificial surface last season. 

Simpson replaced their turf last year. 

Central/Coe/Dubuque all have turf that is under 5 years old. 

Loras and Wartburg have the old turf now I guess.

Doolittle,

I belive for the sake of being accurate that the field turf at Central is over 5 years old now.  The Dutch played the 06 season with the turf.  2012 season will be #7 for the Dutch on turf.  How time flies. 

[doolittledog]

Hmm, I thought I had remembered looking at pics of the Central turf installation on here and I joined in the fall of 2006.  Just goes to show you I don't know much of anything 

As for that awful turf that DBQ1965 showed us...I hope our IIAC members are a more traditional group and stay away from gimmicks like that horror!!!

We are now under a month for reporting to camp.  Looking forward to tailgating and watching loads of football this fall. 

[5 Words or Less]

Green turf is so yesterday   

[Phred]

I think Luther's turf is 150 years old.  They celebrated it last fall.

[warthog]

50 days until kickoff

[putmeincoach]

sounds like most agree Dubuque is the favorite....I think the next three would make for some interesting conversation - who are your next three? (in order)

[warthog]

sounds like most agree Dubuque is the favorite....I think the next three would make for some interesting conversation - who are your next three? (in order)

The usual suspects:

COE
CENTRAL
WARTBURG

[sflzman]

Green turf is so yesterday   

I can't see LSU ever going away from their traditional field design.

[doolittledog]

sounds like most agree Dubuque is the favorite....I think the next three would make for some interesting conversation - who are your next three? (in order)

I feel like BVU, Loras, and Luther took a step back last year.  BVU went from a team that beat Wartburg 2 out of 3 years to a team that really struggled last season.  Loras went through a coaching change and I think it will be a few more years for the new coach to try to put his stamp on the program.  Luther looked like a team that was definitely better than the bottom teams, but definitely behind the top tier of the conference. 

That leaves Central, Coe, Dubuque, Simpson, and Wartburg in the top tier of the conference.  I think the consensus on here is Dubuque, as the defending champ and the only school among the top 4 from last season that returns their starting QB should be considered the preseason favorite.  That leaves Central, Coe, Simpson, and Wartburg to fight it out for positions 2-4. 

For me, I want to see Simpson put 2 good seasons together before I can put them into a preseason high place.  The Storm might be doing some good things now, but I haven't seen them put 2 good years together yet.  I will put Simpson in 5th place for now.  And remember, this is preseason.

So the usual suspects of Central, Coe, Wartburg as the next 3 for the question.  I wish we had more regular posters on here so I could get some better info to make a judgement.  I really don't know who brings back what other than all 3 of these schools lost their QB from last season. 

Coe has 2 preseason all-Americans, which Central and Wartburg do not, so I will put Coe in 2nd.

I have been told (don't know if it's true) that Simpson and Wartburg are having some success recruiting the Des Moines area, which makes me think that perhaps Central could have lost out on some of their traditional recruiting grounds.  Which will make me pick Wartburg for 3rd.

Which puts Central in 4th for me.

So we would have...

Dubuque

Coe
Wartburg
Central

Simpson

Luther
Buena Vista
Loras

It will be fun to see how all the story lines play out during the season. 

And fun to get more on here regularly talking football again!!!

[doolittledog]

sflzman, that LSU picture is from an April Fools joke LSU played from a couple of years ago.  They put out a press release with some pics of a purple field that got the internet all up in a tizzy. 

[putmeincoach]

sounds like most agree Dubuque is the favorite....I think the next three would make for some interesting conversation - who are your next three? (in order)

I feel like BVU, Loras, and Luther took a step back last year.  BVU went from a team that beat Wartburg 2 out of 3 years to a team that really struggled last season.  Loras went through a coaching change and I think it will be a few more years for the new coach to try to put his stamp on the program.  Luther looked like a team that was definitely better than the bottom teams, but definitely behind the top tier of the conference. 

That leaves Central, Coe, Dubuque, Simpson, and Wartburg in the top tier of the conference.  I think the consensus on here is Dubuque, as the defending champ and the only school among the top 4 from last season that returns their starting QB should be considered the preseason favorite.  That leaves Central, Coe, Simpson, and Wartburg to fight it out for positions 2-4. 

For me, I want to see Simpson put 2 good seasons together before I can put them into a preseason high place.  The Storm might be doing some good things now, but I haven't seen them put 2 good years together yet.  I will put Simpson in 5th place for now.  And remember, this is preseason.

So the usual suspects of Central, Coe, Wartburg as the next 3 for the question.  I wish we had more regular posters on here so I could get some better info to make a judgement.  I really don't know who brings back what other than all 3 of these schools lost their QB from last season. 

Coe has 2 preseason all-Americans, which Central and Wartburg do not, so I will put Coe in 2nd.

I have been told (don't know if it's true) that Simpson and Wartburg are having some success recruiting the Des Moines area, which makes me think that perhaps Central could have lost out on some of their traditional recruiting grounds.  Which will make me pick Wartburg for 3rd.

Which puts Central in 4th for me.

So we would have...

Dubuque

Coe
Wartburg
Central

Simpson

Luther
Buena Vista
Loras

It will be fun to see how all the story lines play out during the season. 

And fun to get more on here regularly talking football again!!!

This seems spot on to me – I like the reasoning for the picks –some very good analysis and insight here....does anyone have any information on the offensive and defensive lines (returners /holes) or QB's that will be competing for the starting role for Coe/Wartburg/Central?
Now that everyone knows Dubuque is for real, will some prep time and game film give the coaches in the IIAC a chance to exploit some of the Spartans weaknesses IE: defense?  Can any defense stop Dubuque's offense...or maybe the only way to beat the Spartans is to outscore them???

[5 Words or Less]

Didn't Dubuque's entire offense graduate?