FB: American Rivers Conference

[warthog]

I passed through Fayette a couple months ago.  They are making some nice improvements at Eicheid Stadium.  All 450 people who attend Upper Iowa games will now have even more seating to choose from.

The good news is the Peacocks have taken a liking to D2.  Over the past six years they are averaging 2 1/2 wins a season.  At the tail end of their IIAC run they were averaging 2 wins a season.  I guess you would call that an improvement.  Regardless, UIU football apparently still sucks.  That is a shame.  I enjoyed UIU Football when I was a little kid.  I'm convinced that had they worked as hard at trying to improve themselves in D3 as they have at trying to be respectable in D2, they might have become marginally  competitive in the IIAC.

Unfortunately they are still trying to recruit to Fayette.  As my daddy said, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig."

[doolittledog]

I passed through Fayette a couple months ago.  They are making some nice improvements at Eicheid Stadium.  All 450 people who attend Upper Iowa games will now have even more seating to choose from.

The good news is the Peacocks have taken a liking to D2.  Over the past six years they are averaging 2 1/2 wins a season.  At the tail end of their IIAC run they were averaging 2 wins a season.  I guess you would call that an improvement.  Regardless, UIU football apparently still sucks.  That is a shame.  I enjoyed UIU Football when I was a little kid.  I'm convinced that had they worked as hard at trying to improve themselves in D3 as they have at trying to be respectable in D2, they might have become marginally  competitive in the IIAC.

Unfortunately they are still trying to recruit to Fayette.  As my daddy said, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig."

Here are some pics of the transformation of their football facility at Upper Iowa...http://www.flickr.com/photos/upperiowauniversity/sets/72157626791043143/with/7754715322/

They are putting $7.5 million into their football complex...but for how nice it looks, they haven't improved the parking situation at all.  1 gravel lot that might hold 40 cars isn't even adequate for the 450 brave souls that show up in Fayette on football Saturdays.  With a highway on one side, soccer field on another, and a creek and woods on the other, you have a long (but scenic) walk from campus along a path to get to Eishied Park.  The place does look nice now.  So does the complex that got built last year for William Penn and the Oskaloosa school district. 

[doolittledog]

Luther's 99th intercollegiate football season! 
(1892 - 1896 & 1919 - 2012)

This gets me thinking.  Which will be the 100th anniversary for the IIAC?  While the IIAC was formed in 1922...it was December of 1922.  1923 was really the 1st year of competition. 

Now I'm waiting for warthog to comment that the 1st year counts.  So the United States bicentennial should have been 1776-1975 so the 100th anniversary of the IIAC should be 1 year sooner than we think   Of course, with the IIAC taking 1943 and 1944 off for WWII...that could theoretically throw a monkey wrench into it as well.

[notlongago]

Well I can't believe no one has said anything yet, but how did dubuque pull the Va. Tech transfer....he could wreak havoc in the IIAC. Looked to be pretty athletic even by D1 standards. What's his story? He was at one point a 4 star recruit...given this news and some other news I heard through the grapevine that returning 1st team IIAC LB and all-American candidate from Central may not be healthy to play this season I think the standings have to look like:

Two words: East...Dubuque 

Sounds like he had a hard time transitioning from high school safety to college LB.  Dubuque is bringing in 3 freshmen from his area of VA, so I'm guessing UD has a contact down there spreading the word.  He will get to play safety at UD and maybe he can find his love for the game again.  All while spending time at a great school.  He is also listed as S/WR...remind anyone of a former Iowa transfer to UD from a few years ago...Walner Belleus???

As of now...and it can be a fluid situation...UD is showing 86 freshmen on the roster. 

45 - Illinois
21 - Wisconsin
7   - Iowa
3   - California
3   - Virginia
2   - Arizona
2   - Maryland
1   - Indiana
1   - Nevada
1   - Sweden (a QB)

Or maybe he had a problem with left and right??   

Considering he had quite a few D1AA schools offering him full rides once he asked for his release from VA TECH, I doubt it. Actually, rumors I heard VA Tech was going to block his transfer to any college in their conference; he would have to sit out a year unless he played D3; he was playing out of position at VA TECH. As Doolittle mentioned, the "buddy" package. At UD, back to his natural position and he wanted to play for the best, not 2nd best 

Well that's just no true. He could have played D1 FCS, D2, etc without sitting a year...there were many other stops between Va Tech and Dubuque. Its common to block transfers within conference. I would be very interested in knowing what brought him to DBQ

[DBQ1965]

Well I can't believe no one has said anything yet, but how did dubuque pull the Va. Tech transfer....he could wreak havoc in the IIAC. Looked to be pretty athletic even by D1 standards. What's his story? He was at one point a 4 star recruit...given this news and some other news I heard through the grapevine that returning 1st team IIAC LB and all-American candidate from Central may not be healthy to play this season I think the standings have to look like:

Two words: East...Dubuque 

Sounds like he had a hard time transitioning from high school safety to college LB.  Dubuque is bringing in 3 freshmen from his area of VA, so I'm guessing UD has a contact down there spreading the word.  He will get to play safety at UD and maybe he can find his love for the game again.  All while spending time at a great school.  He is also listed as S/WR...remind anyone of a former Iowa transfer to UD from a few years ago...Walner Belleus???

As of now...and it can be a fluid situation...UD is showing 86 freshmen on the roster. 

45 - Illinois
21 - Wisconsin
7   - Iowa
3   - California
3   - Virginia
2   - Arizona
2   - Maryland
1   - Indiana
1   - Nevada
1   - Sweden (a QB)

Or maybe he had a problem with left and right??   

Considering he had quite a few D1AA schools offering him full rides once he asked for his release from VA TECH, I doubt it. Actually, rumors I heard VA Tech was going to block his transfer to any college in their conference; he would have to sit out a year unless he played D3; he was playing out of position at VA TECH. As Doolittle mentioned, the "buddy" package. At UD, back to his natural position and he wanted to play for the best, not 2nd best 

Well that's just no true. He could have played D1 FCS, D2, etc without sitting a year...there were many other stops between Va Tech and Dubuque. Its common to block transfers within conference. I would be very interested in knowing what brought him to DBQ

Maybe there was some allure to being the proverbial "big fish in a small pond."

GO SPARTANS!

[Willie University]

Well I can't believe no one has said anything yet, but how did dubuque pull the Va. Tech transfer....he could wreak havoc in the IIAC. Looked to be pretty athletic even by D1 standards. What's his story? He was at one point a 4 star recruit...given this news and some other news I heard through the grapevine that returning 1st team IIAC LB and all-American candidate from Central may not be healthy to play this season I think the standings have to look like:

Two words: East...Dubuque 

Sounds like he had a hard time transitioning from high school safety to college LB.  Dubuque is bringing in 3 freshmen from his area of VA, so I'm guessing UD has a contact down there spreading the word.  He will get to play safety at UD and maybe he can find his love for the game again.  All while spending time at a great school.  He is also listed as S/WR...remind anyone of a former Iowa transfer to UD from a few years ago...Walner Belleus???

As of now...and it can be a fluid situation...UD is showing 86 freshmen on the roster. 

45 - Illinois
21 - Wisconsin
7   - Iowa
3   - California
3   - Virginia
2   - Arizona
2   - Maryland
1   - Indiana
1   - Nevada
1   - Sweden (a QB)

Or maybe he had a problem with left and right??   

Considering he had quite a few D1AA schools offering him full rides once he asked for his release from VA TECH, I doubt it. Actually, rumors I heard VA Tech was going to block his transfer to any college in their conference; he would have to sit out a year unless he played D3; he was playing out of position at VA TECH. As Doolittle mentioned, the "buddy" package. At UD, back to his natural position and he wanted to play for the best, not 2nd best 

Well that's just no true. He could have played D1 FCS, D2, etc without sitting a year...there were many other stops between Va Tech and Dubuque. Its common to block transfers within conference. I would be very interested in knowing what brought him to DBQ

I thought I mentioned this above as an influential factor. Plus, you just have to realize, as is becoming more evident these days, there is more then one road to the NFL and more players from D3 are being considered. And for some, given the situation at their current college (VA Tech as example). He was projected to primarilly be a special teams player again this year and 2 or 3 on depth chart at his position. I assume he figured why not play his natural position and excel at a lower division. I assume you goggled him so know this already.

A lot of the best D3 colleges get transfers from D2 & D1 schools that don't want to wait their "turn" when they know they can go somewhere else and make an impact right away.

And I didn't do research so I assume you know what you are talking about but I was under the impression if an athlete was on full scholarship, he could not just transfer to another school on full scholarship and not sit out a year.

[warthog]

Luther's 99th intercollegiate football season! 
(1892 - 1896 & 1919 - 2012)

This gets me thinking.  Which will be the 100th anniversary for the IIAC?  While the IIAC was formed in 1922...it was December of 1922.  1923 was really the 1st year of competition. 

Now I'm waiting for warthog to comment that the 1st year counts.  So the United States bicentennial should have been 1776-1975 so the 100th anniversary of the IIAC should be 1 year sooner than we think   Of course, with the IIAC taking 1943 and 1944 off for WWII...that could theoretically throw a monkey wrench into it as well.

Come on doolittle, you know better than that.  It will be several years before the IIAC has the official 100th birthday.  Wartburg didn't become a conference member until they settled on a city for the campus location in the mid 30s.   Then the Knights didn't really get serious about athletics or producing anything other than preachers & teachers until after World War Two.  With those facts in hand, I would say the 100th birthday will be sometime around 2047.

[notlongago]

I thought I mentioned this above as an influential factor. Plus, you just have to realize, as is becoming more evident these days, there is more then one road to the NFL and more players from D3 are being considered. And for some, given the situation at their current college (VA Tech as example). He was projected to primarilly be a special teams player again this year and 2 or 3 on depth chart at his position. I assume he figured why not play his natural position and excel at a lower division. I assume you goggled him so know this already.

A lot of the best D3 colleges get transfers from D2 & D1 schools that don't want to wait their "turn" when they know they can go somewhere else and make an impact right away.

And I didn't do research so I assume you know what you are talking about but I was under the impression if an athlete was on full scholarship, he could not just transfer to another school on full scholarship and not sit out a year.
[/quote]

Yea I get that mentality for borderline D1 players, but this kid wasn't borderline. He was the 63rd ranked recruit in the nation by ESPN, a 4* rivals recruit. Im just curious as to what DBQ offers that a whitewater, or MT. or MHB or the other top tier schools don't.

Completely off topic, what ever happened to Zweifel in GB? Maybe I missed it, but I havent read anything about it for awhile

[DBQ1965]

hey notlongago ... in a recent interview with Coach Z he noted Michael was "cut" by the Packers and now will be helping on the UD coaching staff this season.

GO SPARTANS!

[notlongago]

hey notlongago ... in a recent interview with Coach Z he noted Michael was "cut" by the Packers and now will be helping on the UD coaching staff this season.

GO SPARTANS!

Ah thats too bad, was hoping an IIAC player could've made a roster, or practice squad

[Willie University]

Im just curious as to what DBQ offers that a whitewater, or MT. or MHB or the other top tier schools don't. [/quote]

His friends weren't going to those schools. Great facilities. Great coaching. Great future.

[wartknight]

Yea I get that mentality for borderline D1 players, but this kid wasn't borderline. He was the 63rd ranked recruit in the nation by ESPN, a 4* rivals recruit. Im just curious as to what DBQ offers that a whitewater, or MT. or MHB or the other top tier schools don't.

He probably thought he was going to Whitewater, but got mixed up when he heard the Warhawks calling out U DUB DUB & thus ended up @ U Dub(uque)

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Luther's 99th intercollegiate football season! 
(1892 - 1896 & 1919 - 2012)

http://www.luther.edu/sports/men/football/headlines/?story_id=404697

The Norse preview is up as well for the 99th season.  Anyone have a sense of how large the Norse roster is?

It feels a little Groundhog Day to me in that Coach Durnin sounds so hopeful yet the schedule goes Oles, Billy Penn, and now Wheaton for the non-conference games.  The Norse need to recruit and budget for football like a Dubuque if they want to play that type of schedule.  Instead sometimes it feels like football is being handled like the Chicago Maroons instead.

It will be strange seeing the Norse this year without Chris Reynolds on the football field and baseball diamond, but life moves on.

Congrats to B.V. on the field upgrades!

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Luther's 99th intercollegiate football season! 
(1892 - 1896 & 1919 - 2012)

This gets me thinking.  Which will be the 100th anniversary for the IIAC?  While the IIAC was formed in 1922...it was December of 1922.  1923 was really the 1st year of competition. 

Now I'm waiting for warthog to comment that the 1st year counts.  So the United States bicentennial should have been 1776-1975 so the 100th anniversary of the IIAC should be 1 year sooner than we think   Of course, with the IIAC taking 1943 and 1944 off for WWII...that could theoretically throw a monkey wrench into it as well.

Come on doolittle, you know better than that.  It will be several years before the IIAC has the official 100th birthday.  Wartburg didn't become a conference member until they settled on a city for the campus location in the mid 30s.   Then the Knights didn't really get serious about athletics or producing anything other than preachers & teachers until after World War Two.  With those facts in hand, I would say the 100th birthday will be sometime around 2047.

Whenever Buzz started coaching basketball in Waverly was a good time for Knight Athletics.

Besides Levick, I really think 1990 was a big year for the Knights when they had the 9-1 breakout season with the season ending loss to Central.  That seemed to be the sign to much of NE Iowa that Wartburg was making a real move.  Wartburg Wrestling took off around the same time and then eventually they hired the baseball coach away from Loras after the 1995 season.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

any new information on upcoming scrimmages?  when and where?

Luther plays Waldorf on 8/22?  It seems strange that it is not on a weekend.