FB: American Rivers Conference

[NewKnightDad]

Attended the Wartburg game yesterday and all I can say is they need to use the off week to improve a lot before conference play or it will be a disappointing season.

I can't remember Wartburg going in to conference play or even the start of the season with out a clear #1 QB.  Schrader started and didn't move the offense for a couple series. 

Jacobsmeyer got his chance and moved the offense showed some good touch on the ball and is lighting fast when he runs the ball.

Schrader comes back in when Jacobsmeyer comes out with his throwing arm hanging down after a run and starts to move the ball with some good throws and is an elusive runner.

Jacobsmeyer comes back in and moves the ball again.

The 0-line needs to start pushing people around, they have decent size but not to normal Wartburg standards.  Run blocking seemed to be weak with some missed assignments.

The defense looked good for the most part except for a series or two. 

Just my .02 cents

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Last year Stevens Point jumped on UD early and ran away with a 55-14 win over the Spartans. 

This year Dubuque turned the ball over on each of its first 3 possessions and SP was up 21-0 midway through the 1st quarter.  Dubuque then played better and the final score was 31-28. 

I'm upset with the slow start, but encouraged with the fight this team put up to claw their way back into the game.  This is an improved Spartan team from last year.  I'm anxious to see how the conference portion of the schedule plays out.

My vibe with Dubuque is that they may be the #2 team in the league right now even though they are 1-2.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

After all of the preseason games what would everyone's IIAC power rankings be?

This would be mine:

1.  Coe
2.  Dubuque
3.  Central
4.  Simpson
5.  Wartburg
6.  B.V.
7.  Luther
8.  Loras

I gave Dubuque a lot of credit for playing three WIAC schools.  Am I giving them too much credit as they did give up a lot of yards and points?

Is Wartburg too low even though they may not have the OL, DL, and QB play from other seasons?  How much does being down 30-3 to Bethel mean?

[putmeincoach]

I think you may be giving Simpson too much credit - I would move Simpson below Wartburg and BV but the rest is probably pretty solid - let's see what Central does vs Albion - If it's another blowout I may move them a notch ahead of Dubuque - we will find out very soon with Simpson/Wartburg and Dubuque/Central in week one of IIAC play

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I'm hoping Central will do well at homecoming against Albion and I am counting on hearing how it will all happen tonight on KNIA on "Coaches Cornner."  I am also counting on "Dutch Radio," reading this and asking Coach McMartin to please get closer to the microphone than he did last week.

[doolittledog]

I think we are in for a wide open conference portion of the schedule. 

Coe, while I still consider them a favorite, their offense doesn't seem as strong as they were last season. The Kohawk defense looks very strong.  I would put Coe as a contender, instead of purely the favorite. 

Central, to me, looks improved over last season. 

Dubuque, from what I have seen, look better than the Dubuque team I saw last season.  But, as it stands right now, they are still a 1-2 team.  I think their offense has the potential to be as strong of a unit as last season but isn't there yet.  The Spartan defense has really stepped it up a notch from last year, let's see if they can keep it up.  Contender status at this point.

Wartburg and Simpson I have not seen yet, from results, they look pretty similar to last season, which netted them 2nd place finishes in the conference.  I think both of them are contenders again this season. 

BVU looks to be a solid team and improved from last season.  Yet, just like last year they are 0-3 and their next 3 games are Coe @ home and @ Wartburg and @ Central.  Yikes

Luther, I think so far has to be considered an improved team, and the Norse just might have a say in determining the conference championship if their offense can get clicking there could be an upset in their future. 

Loras, while improving, I still think they are a bit behind the rest of the conference and might be in for a long year. 

Last year it was kind of Coe out by themselves and then not much to seperate BVU, Central, Dubuque, Simpson, Wartburg.  This year I think all 6 might not have too much to seperate them.  And that could potentially mean an 0-3 BVU, possibly a 1-2 Central, a 1-2 Dubuque all with a possible championship ahead of them along with 3-0 Coe, 2-1 Simpson and Wartburg. 

1 - Coe, Central, Dubuque, Wartburg
5 - BVU, Simpson...I think youth or tough scheduling will end up ruling out these 2 teams this year.
7 - Luther...still a few years away...I think will be better than Loras
8 -  Loras...while improved...not enough to escape the cellar this year. 

[notlongago]

Right now it appears:
1) Coe
2) DBQ
3) Central
4) Wartburg
5) Simpson
6) BV
7) Luther

8) Loras

I think the top 5 are all contenders, with no clear cut favorite. I don't see it from BV (as there are some teams in the top if the conference that would rival the schedule BV just got pounded by). Luther won't pose a huge threat for the title this year, but could shake up the race from an upset standpoint. Loras is in for a tough year.

[Mrs.Doolittle]

Week 3 results are posted.

[Willie University]

Right now it appears:
1) Coe
2) DBQ
3) Central
4) Wartburg
5) Simpson
6) BV
7) Luther

8) Loras

I think the top 5 are all contenders, with no clear cut favorite. I don't see it from BV (as there are some teams in the top if the conference that would rival the schedule BV just got pounded by). Luther won't pose a huge threat for the title this year, but could shake up the race from an upset standpoint. Loras is in for a tough year.

Had the spartans beat UWP I would say they are the clear cut favorites to win the conference. But having also lost to UWSP which is clearly a team we should have beat tells me that they have some work to do to contend with coe at this point. Something I am sure both players and coaches are doing.

I think both UD and Central are improved on defense for sure and both have offenses with the potential to be better then last year but not quite there yet. And the winner of that game could be competing with Coe for a IIAC title at the end of the season.

But then again, I see a conference where we could have 5 teams tie for 2nd place again as well 

Simpson has impressed me so far. I think BV could get an upset in the next few weeks and win a majority of their 2nd half games. Looking closer at Luther shows improvement. I think Loras is predictable and will be about the same. Wartburg is a crap shoot at this point. They could easily be a contender again or have other teams surpassed them  I tend to think they will be in the thick of it as well.

[Klompen]

I can't believe you guys started the season without me!  You should have waited.  LOL

Central is looking vastly improved over last year.  They will be in the fight for the championship and playoffs this year. 

Central's enrollment woes?  Who knows?  Though I did hear they lost a truly EXCEPTIONAL financial aid director about 3 years ago.      Heard enrollment has been down each freshman class ever since.  Just saying....

[Klompen]

New video board at Central being installed this week.  I would think it would be ready to roll for Saturday's homecoming game, too bad it sounds like it is going to rain.  I was only looking at the board from up by the parking lot, but it sure does look good!  Nice sharp red, not faded to almost pink.  Supposedly will be the largest one in the conference.  That and the new uniforms along with a much improved Dutch team should bring a little more excitement to the sidelines, but then again, this is Central, so it probably won't. 

I will be there cheering like a fool though. 

[doolittledog]

Yea, Klompen has returned!

And you can still get in on the pick-ems 

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I can't believe you guys started the season without me!  You should have waited.  LOL

Central is looking vastly improved over last year.  They will be in the fight for the championship and playoffs this year. 

Central's enrollment woes?  Who knows?  Though I did hear they lost a truly EXCEPTIONAL financial aid director about 3 years ago.      Heard enrollment has been down each freshman class ever since.  Just saying....

I don't know anything about enrollment at Central.  That is a bad sign.  It is news when it is up.

[Klompen]

Good to hear from you too DD, thank your wife for letting me join the pick-ems.  My red shades are fully in place.  No way Albion beats the Dutch this year. 

FRex, Enrollment has been continually dropping, the last time they had a class over 400, 1/4 left by the start of the 2nd semester.  I hear a lot from various places and some are calling it Wiebenga, Round 2 with this president.  Saying you raised the admission standards sounds better than saying you aren't attracting enough students period.  I hope the Board (not this one) is paying attention.

[Willie University]

Good to hear from you too DD, thank your wife for letting me join the pick-ems.  My red shades are fully in place.  No way Albion beats the Dutch this year. 

FRex, Enrollment has been continually dropping, the last time they had a class over 400, 1/4 left by the start of the 2nd semester.  I hear a lot from various places and some are calling it Wiebenga, Round 2 with this president.  Saying you raised the admission standards sounds better than saying you aren't attracting enough students period.  I hope the Board (not this one) is paying attention.

I think you meant EXtracting enough students  Nice facilities, academic programs, sports teams only do so much. That whole field of dreams quote "build it and they will come" doesn't hold water in todays world of higher education recruitment of students.

No reason to beat a dead horse anymore, just wanted to correct one small word in your comment.

GO SPARTANS!
Willie U