FB: American Rivers Conference

[DutchFan2004]

Hello!  This fantastic weather we are having today makes me want to pack the cooler and go tailgate somewhere!!

I am just dropping by to let everyone know that if you want I can run the pick'ems again this year over on the pick-ems board.  I 'think' I have all my mistakes figured out from last year.  No promises though.  All are welcome to make pick-ems just make sure you have picks in by the kick off of that game.

On a personal note I am torn this year... I know guys playing for both the Spartans AND Dutch {gasp}  I am looking forward to watching both these guys play!!

Bless you Mrs. Doolittle for volunteering to run the pick-em's this season.  Does doolittledog know how lucky he is?

Ditto for me thanks for taking over the pickems. 

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I am doing my scouting for Central's scrimmage Saturday against Wm. Penn and what do I find but that they are ranked 16th in the NAIA and...they have a marching band!  After I get rich, I am going to endow a Central football recruiter in Samoa, a varsity rowing team on Red Rock Reservoir and a marching band.  Per Penn's web site:

The "Pride of Penn' marching band is becoming an icon for college marching bands in the state of Iowa. Being only one of two private universities in the state with a marching band program, we are setting the standard for other universities to follow, and we are also offering more in scholarships to participate than any other university or college.

I hope after they got done spending scholarship money on the band there wasn't much left over for the football team.  Scrimmaging the NAIA number 16 sounds challenging.

[notlongago]

I am doing my scouting for Central's scrimmage Saturday against Wm. Penn and what do I find but that they are ranked 16th in the NAIA and...they have a marching band!  After I get rich, I am going to endow a Central football recruiter in Samoa, a varsity rowing team on Red Rock Reservoir and a marching band.  Per Penn's web site:

The "Pride of Penn' marching band is becoming an icon for college marching bands in the state of Iowa. Being only one of two private universities in the state with a marching band program, we are setting the standard for other universities to follow, and we are also offering more in scholarships to participate than any other university or college.

I hope after they got done spending scholarship money on the band there wasn't much left over for the football team.  Scrimmaging the NAIA number 16 sounds challenging.

They scrimmaged last year when WP was #10. The talent and skill level they see at WP won't be on the level of their first opponent (Osh Kosh)

[doolittledog]

I am doing my scouting for Central's scrimmage Saturday against Wm. Penn and what do I find but that they are ranked 16th in the NAIA and...they have a marching band!  After I get rich, I am going to endow a Central football recruiter in Samoa, a varsity rowing team on Red Rock Reservoir and a marching band.  Per Penn's web site:

The "Pride of Penn' marching band is becoming an icon for college marching bands in the state of Iowa. Being only one of two private universities in the state with a marching band program, we are setting the standard for other universities to follow, and we are also offering more in scholarships to participate than any other university or college.

I hope after they got done spending scholarship money on the band there wasn't much left over for the football team.  Scrimmaging the NAIA number 16 sounds challenging.

What other private university in Iowa has a marching band

NAIA fans will tell you the only way a D3 school beats an NAIA school is if it's a top 10 D3 vs a bottom 10 NAIA school.  Then when you point out a 4-6 D3 team that beat an NAIA playoff team the previous year they will tell you that it was a D3 team from a top tier conference that played a team from the worst of all NAIA conferences so that is why the D3 school won.  When you mention that it wasn't a top 10 D3 school beating a bottom 10 NAIA school they get mad and say you obviously know nothing about college football. 

Anyways...2 weeks from today we will be double checking our tailgating list and anxiously waiting for Saturday to come so we can take in our 1st IIAC action of the year. 

[doolittledog]

The Iowa Conference waited until friday afternoon, but here is their football season preview and coaches poll.

http://www.iowaconference.com/news/2012/8/17/FB_0817122634.aspx

Rank    School (1st place votes)    Points    2011 Record
1    Dubuque (6)    52    9-2, 7-1 IIAC
2    Wartburg            48    8-2, 6-2 IIAC
3    Simpson (1)    41    5-5, 5-3 IIAC
4    Central (1)            40    7-3, 6-2 IIAC
5    Coe                    39    6-4, 6-2 IIAC
6    Buena Vista    23    2-8, 2-6 IIAC
7    Luther            22    3-7, 3-5 IIAC
8    Loras            15    1-9, 0-8 IIAC

Let the outrage, the what the hecks, and what were they thinkings commence...

[5 Words or Less]

Show your Spartan Spirit <here!>
<... or here!>

[5 Words or Less]

Anyone have a sense of how large the Norse roster is?

Luther's 2012 roster <here>

[BoBo]

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.

I would say a few D3 colleges, not "a lot of the best D3 colleges" do get transfers from D2 and D1 schools. But, don't be misled, not all D1 transfers in D3 "make an impact right away." Some don't make it at all. Like a former D1 transfer from Indiana U at WW who recently transferred (again) to Carthage. I'm sure he thought he could make an impact at WW, but it never went according to his plan.

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

This would be a prime example of putting the cart before the horse.    If you're assuming that there was some kind of recruiting war for the young man & he chose DBQ for some superior reason, I would say you're probably wrong. I highly doubt WW, UMU, or any top team from the next lower tier(s) outside of VA even knew about the guy unless he contacted them inquiring.

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.

It was pretty common knowledge that he was invited to Packers rookie and FA mini-camp back in May, but was never offered a contract at it's conclusion. He was a mini-camp invitee on a tryout basis. So, in essence, he was never "cut" because he was never really on the roster, just not offered a contract to be part of the 90 man pre-season roster. I was rooting for him because I grew up in Whitewater, too, back in the day!

[DBQ1965]

Far afield from IIAC chatter but ... on the Duke Stilleto Puke Meter (1-low, 10-high), the newly unvieled Notre Dame helmets rate a 11+!

GO SPARTANS!

[doolittledog]

Hey, Bobo, I agree with what you're saying in general.  But this Va Tech transfer was an ESPN top 150 recruit and a 4* athlete that played in the Under Armor All-American game.  While it's probably accurate that U-WW and MUC weren't aware of this kid being available.  It's still a good get for Dubuque.

DBQ1965 I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the Notre Dame alternative uniforms and helmets.  Beyond bad and especially for a school with the history of Notre Dame...no need to come up with gimmicks for that type of program. 

Dubuque scrimmages UW-Osh Kosh thursday 08/23

I really really really hope we have the same weather 2 weeks from today that we currently have. 

[Pat Coleman]

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.

I would say a few D3 colleges, not "a lot of the best D3 colleges" do get transfers from D2 and D1 schools. But, don't be misled, not all D1 transfers in D3 "make an impact right away." Some don't make it at all. Like a former D1 transfer from Indiana U at WW who recently transferred (again) to Carthage. I'm sure he thought he could make an impact at WW, but it never went according to his plan.

[/quote]

Actually, in reading through Kickoff copy this week, I'd say that Willie U. is correct, and a lot of the best D-III football programs do get transfers. So do a lot of bad ones. This is very real and teams shouldn't be ashamed of it, really.

[Old Dutch]

Hey, Bobo, I agree with what you're saying in general.  But this Va Tech transfer was an ESPN top 150 recruit and a 4* athlete that played in the Under Armor All-American game.  While it's probably accurate that U-WW and MUC weren't aware of this kid being available.  It's still a good get for Dubuque.

DBQ1965 I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the Notre Dame alternative uniforms and helmets.  Beyond bad and especially for a school with the history of Notre Dame...no need to come up with gimmicks for that type of program. 

Dubuque scrimmages UW-Osh Kosh thursday 08/23

I really really really hope we have the same weather 2 weeks from today that we currently have.

I think there is far too much wet applied to evaluations of high school "talent" by the likes of espn and under armor.  I think DBQ fans need to just wait and see what happens on the field these next couple weeks.

Speak of wait and see, I am getting anxious for a Dutch roster to be posted.  Coach Mac was pretty tight lipped in the IIAC preview. 

[BoBo]

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.

I would say a few D3 colleges, not "a lot of the best D3 colleges" do get transfers from D2 and D1 schools. But, don't be misled, not all D1 transfers in D3 "make an impact right away." Some don't make it at all. Like a former D1 transfer from Indiana U at WW who recently transferred (again) to Carthage. I'm sure he thought he could make an impact at WW, but it never went according to his plan.

Actually, in reading through Kickoff copy this week, I'd say that Willie U. is correct, and a lot of the best D-III football programs do get transfers. So do a lot of bad ones. This is very real and teams shouldn't be ashamed of it, really.
[/quote]

That's what I was trying to say, only poorly...that D1 transfers don't just go to the top teams, but they go all over the D3 spectrum of schools. But, I think it's true that not all become impact players - and that was the main thing I was after - you can't get overly excited from the press clippings.

[DutchFan2004]

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.

I would say a few D3 colleges, not "a lot of the best D3 colleges" do get transfers from D2 and D1 schools. But, don't be misled, not all D1 transfers in D3 "make an impact right away." Some don't make it at all. Like a former D1 transfer from Indiana U at WW who recently transferred (again) to Carthage. I'm sure he thought he could make an impact at WW, but it never went according to his plan.

Actually, in reading through Kickoff copy this week, I'd say that Willie U. is correct, and a lot of the best D-III football programs do get transfers. So do a lot of bad ones. This is very real and teams shouldn't be ashamed of it, really.

That's what I was trying to say, only poorly...that D1 transfers don't just go to the top teams, but they go all over the D3 spectrum of schools. But, I think it's true that not all become impact players - and that was the main thing I was after - you can't get overly excited from the press clippings.
[/quote]


I agree.  UD should know this can you say Walter Bellus (spelling).  He was a good player but had little impact in the IIAC. 

[doolittledog]

I think the point here is this kid at UD isn't the "typical" D1 transfer we normally see at the D3 level.  We've all seen D1 transfers that blend in well, have good careers, but don't necessarily stand out among their peers.  Orlando Walton at UD is one I can think of.  Started 5 games at Western Michigan as a freshman, transferred to UD and was honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore, 2nd team as a junior, and 1st team as a senior.  Great career, but not a game changer. 

And Walner Belleus had a bigger impact than stats show.  In an early season game against Luther he had a kickoff return for a TD, a punt return for a TD, on defense he had an INT and forced a fumble, on offense he had 6 receptions for over 100 yards and 1 TD.  After that game no one would kickoff or punt to him and no one would throw towards him.  Defensively that freed up the D to load up the box and stop the run.  Special teams gained a field position advantage.  While Belleus may not have been all-world, he was 1st team all-conference special teams, 2nd team all-conference receiver (on a team that featured the run) and honorable mention DB (no one would throw the ball near him).  And Belleus came into UD with nowhere near the credentials the VA Tech transfer has. 

Anyways, I think we've made a bigger issue out of this than was originally intended.  This kid is a good get for UD.  He has the "potential" to be a game changer...we will see as the season plays out.  I can say this is a strong recruiting class for UD.  Stronger that we have been used to in the past.  Which should be able to keep UD in the mix for a title along with the traditional big 3 and the others in the conference.  Something that makes us long suffering UD fans happy.