FB: American Rivers Conference

[Bird Dog]

Congrats to the other winners on Saturday as Loras might be in for a long season and that was a big win for Simpson.

I have a friend with a freshman son starting  J.V. for Simpson.  I suggested that he  trek to Dubuque this Saturday.  I think his son may get his first varsity action.  Am I giving him bad advice?  Do J.V. starters get a chance to play in varsity games? 

[D3Dutchman]

Congrats to the other winners on Saturday as Loras might be in for a long season and that was a big win for Simpson.

I have a friend with a freshman son starting  J.V. for Simpson.  I suggested that he  trek to Dubuque this Saturday.  I think his son may get his first varsity action.  Am I giving him bad advice?  Do J.V. starters get a chance to play in varsity games?

Not sure that all JV "starters" travel.  But if he makes the 52 man roster to travel, then I'd think he's got a pretty good chance of seeing the field against Loras.

[5 Words or Less]

KCRG 9.2 to broadcast Luther/Wartburg
https://www.luther.edu/sports/men/football/headlines/?story_id=501899

[wartknight]

KCRG 9.2 to broadcast Luther/Wartburg
https://www.luther.edu/sports/men/football/headlines/?story_id=501899

Gives me another option. I was/am looking at heading north to catch the game in person (depending on schedule & weather!).
Interested in seeing how the Knights attack the Norse option game; Wart D is only giving up 100yds/game rushing.

[NewKnightDad]

KCRG 9.2 to broadcast Luther/Wartburg
https://www.luther.edu/sports/men/football/headlines/?story_id=501899

Gives me another option. I was/am looking at heading north to catch the game in person (depending on schedule & weather!).
Interested in seeing how the Knights attack the Norse option game; Wart D is only giving up 100yds/game rushing.

I guess I will have to get my attenna working again and I won't get to stop at Mabe's. 

After watching the Knight's last Saturday the defense is good, not great but certainly good.  They shot themselves in the foot a couple of times with dumb penalties.  After BV picked off Schrader at about the WB 35 in the first half the defense held them to a field goal attempt that they missed but we jumped offsides and they then went in for a touchdown. On another first half series BV had third and long with a incomplete pass which would have forced a punt but we roughed the QB and they went on and scored a TD.  #80 Adam Cave for BV is a big target and has great hands.  They looked for him a lot in passing situations.

Need to clean some things up. I am not a fan of the QB by committee but it looks like it might work.  They seem to give more time to which ever one seems to have the hot hand that day.

Still have Dbq, Coe and Central to fight through and need to stay healthy.

[Willie University]

KCRG 9.2 to broadcast Luther/Wartburg
https://www.luther.edu/sports/men/football/headlines/?story_id=501899

Gives me another option. I was/am looking at heading north to catch the game in person (depending on schedule & weather!).
Interested in seeing how the Knights attack the Norse option game; Wart D is only giving up 100yds/game rushing.

That is against "normal" offenses, I'd be willing to bet my bottom dollar that Luther finishes with way more then 100 yards rushing on saturday.

[doolittledog]

Wartburg D could give up 250 yards rushing and still potentially come away with a big win if the Knights offense is clicking.  With that unconventional Luther offense, 250 yards rushing could actually be considered a good day out by the defense. Field condition could come into play on Saturday.   

 

[wartknight]

Gives me another option. I was/am looking at heading north to catch the game in person (depending on schedule & weather!).
Interested in seeing how the Knights attack the Norse option game; Wart D is only giving up 100yds/game rushing.

That is against "normal" offenses, I'd be willing to bet my bottom dollar that Luther finishes with way more then 100 yards rushing on saturday.

I would take that same bet, the point being the Knights have been pretty stingy against the run. I realize the Norse O is not "normal", but I still think the Wart D will make it difficult to run the ball Sat. If they do, could make for a long day in Decorah as Luther is only throwing it @ 40 yds/game (although, the way we have defended the pass on occasion this yr, forcing them to throw may not be a good thing )

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Wartburg D could give up 250 yards rushing and still potentially come away with a big win if the Knights offense is clicking.  With that unconventional Luther offense, 250 yards rushing could actually be considered a good day out by the defense. Field condition could come into play on Saturday.   

Agreed as 250 rushing and 30 passing is still keeping the Norse Offense below 300 yards.

BTW I am fine with 250-300 rushing every game with limited passing, but the defensive stats and turnover stats have to be good as well.  Part of being a great running team is having the defense show up as well.

Can this limited Norse roster hold up to playing IIAC teams every week?  I think the Norse need Nile Kinnick or Walner Belleus to even things up a little!

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Thanks for the well wishes! I was impressed with the triple threat offense that Luther ran. Difficult to defend and they seemed to run it well. The only issue I see is it is not an offense to score points quickly so it makes playing catch up difficult as well as late in the game when a quick score is needed. But, if Luther is able to build a lead, can certainly eat the clock.

On a side note, it is boring to watch. I am so used to passing that run run run just seems so boring anymore 

I thought the Spartans played very well. HUGE game this week in smelly CR. Let's hope the Spartans can help clean that town up a little this Saturday! I am looking forward to a great battle!

Willie U

I was bored watching on Saturday as well as the Spartans did whatever they wanted every time they had the ball.

I love watching teams run the ball between the tackles, but I have to admit I am more of a fan of what Simpson was doing in the 1990s with the big OL and the tailback or what Nebraska was doing when they had some run/pass QBs to go with the physical OL, tailback, and those great fullbacks!  I didn't like Nebraska or Simpson, but repected what they were trying to do up front.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Gives me another option. I was/am looking at heading north to catch the game in person (depending on schedule & weather!).
Interested in seeing how the Knights attack the Norse option game; Wart D is only giving up 100yds/game rushing.

That is against "normal" offenses, I'd be willing to bet my bottom dollar that Luther finishes with way more then 100 yards rushing on saturday.

I would take that same bet, the point being the Knights have been pretty stingy against the run. I realize the Norse O is not "normal", but I still think the Wart D will make it difficult to run the ball Sat. If they do, could make for a long day in Decorah as Luther is only throwing it @ 40 yds/game (although, the way we have defended the pass on occasion this yr, forcing them to throw may not be a good thing )

You guys will win something like 56-7 if you are correct.  That is why they play the games!  Will it be another mud bowl?

[D3Dutchman]

So I'm listening to the morning guys on KXNO on my way to work this morning (Travis and Tim in DSM), and they are talking about the state of college football in Iowa.  They actually get around to mentioning DIII and NAIA (total of 30 seconds maybe).  The consensus was that small college football is doing well in Iowa and that both NAIA and DIII are good brands of football, which was nice to hear.  However, at one point, the question is asked, which one is better (NAIA of DIII).  Tim (who is a complete numb skull about anything other than MVC basketball) immediately chimes in by saying that NAIA is the better brand due to the whole "scholarship" thing...Travis waivers, and finally begrudgingly agrees, if for no other reason than to change the subject.  We all know this is an apples and oranges argument, and that the real answer is that the top teams on either side stack up pretty evenly, but I digress...the NAIA scholarship thing just drives me crazy sometimes, and I needed to vent to people who might actually empathize 

That said, the state of NAIA football in Iowa, with Grandview, Morningside, St. Ambrose, William Penn, and Northwestern all being pretty strong programs right now, seems to be better than DIII in Iowa.  As much as it pains me to say, I think any of those teams would be an immediate player, if not favorite in the IIAC.  Certainly this would not always have been the case with Iowa's NAIA programs...let's say 5-25 years ago.  Has the level of play in the IIAC suffered to the benefit of these NAIA programs, specifically in the past 5 years?  I took a look at the rosters, and there are a ton of Iowa kids that I would assume would normally be gets for the IIAC (Grandview's roster is littered with kids I would expect Central and Simpson would have landed 5 years ago given the Central Iowa geographical ties).  I just think small college football in the state is spread too thin, and that the IIAC is suffering because of it...what say you?

[5 Words or Less]

supply and demand demographics

[5 Words or Less]

Q. Why was the Wartburg freshman staring at a carton of orange juice?
A. It said concentrate....

[doolittledog]

So I'm listening to the morning guys on KXNO on my way to work this morning (Travis and Tim in DSM), and they are talking about the state of college football in Iowa.  They actually get around to mentioning DIII and NAIA (total of 30 seconds maybe).  The consensus was that small college football is doing well in Iowa and that both NAIA and DIII are good brands of football, which was nice to hear.  However, at one point, the question is asked, which one is better (NAIA of DIII).  Tim (who is a complete numb skull about anything other than MVC basketball) immediately chimes in by saying that NAIA is the better brand due to the whole "scholarship" thing...Travis waivers, and finally begrudgingly agrees, if for no other reason than to change the subject.  We all know this is an apples and oranges argument, and that the real answer is that the top teams on either side stack up pretty evenly, but I digress...the NAIA scholarship thing just drives me crazy sometimes, and I needed to vent to people who might actually empathize 

That said, the state of NAIA football in Iowa, with Grandview, Morningside, St. Ambrose, William Penn, and Northwestern all being pretty strong programs right now, seems to be better than DIII in Iowa.  As much as it pains me to say, I think any of those teams would be an immediate player, if not favorite in the IIAC.  Certainly this would not always have been the case with Iowa's NAIA programs...let's say 5-25 years ago.  Has the level of play in the IIAC suffered to the benefit of these NAIA programs, specifically in the past 5 years?  I took a look at the rosters, and there are a ton of Iowa kids that I would assume would normally be gets for the IIAC (Grandview's roster is littered with kids I would expect Central and Simpson would have landed 5 years ago given the Central Iowa geographical ties).  I just think small college football in the state is spread too thin, and that the IIAC is suffering because of it...what say you?

Within the last 10 years or so Briar Cliff, Dordt, and Grand View started football programs, and Waldorf went from a junior college to a 4 year program.  I'm sure Grand View is stealing some kids that in the past would have chosen Central.  I'm not sure Briar Cliff, Dordt, or Waldorf have taken many away. 

Upper tier NAIA is pretty good. Morningside, Northwestern, Grand View, William Penn, and St. Ambrose would be fighting at the top of the IIAC right away.  The perception among their fans is those schools would mop up the IIAC without breaking a sweat, which is what bothers me.  Those games would be competitive.  You then have quite a drop off in talent in the NAIA once you get to the Briar Cliff and Dordts and Waldorfs of the world and they know it. 

Back in the early 80's when Northwestern and Central were both powers they played each year.  Northwestern won the majority of those games, but they were very close scores (usually single digits).  I think that is pretty much exactly what we would find today between a top tier NAIA school in Iowa and a top tier D3 school in Iowa. 

So long story short.  Due to the addition of some football playing NAIA schools, there has been some kids go NAIA that in the past would have gone D3.  I think top level NAIA and D3 are pretty similar talent wise with a slight advantage tilted towards the NAIA.  Which is pretty much what it was 30 years ago when Northwestern and Central were powers.   

Is the talent level spread too thin?  I think the perception is that talent is spread too thin because the IIAC hasn't been making deep runs in the playoffs over the past 5 years.  I think reality is that in the 1980's Central was really good, Simpson and Wartburg were fairly good, and the rest of the conference was pretty bad.  Fast forward to the present and what we have is maybe 2 schools that are struggling and 6 that are pretty similar talent wise to each other.  That, in my opinion is the difference. 

Now, scholarships.  I really wish broadcasters would realize how small a "football" scholarship is at these NAIA schools.  $4,000 is the largest football scholarship I have seen offered to a freshman over recent years.  Then when you add in the total aid package you find that the IIAC schools run from being competitive to much less expensive to attend than the NAIA schools offering that scholarship.  You just can't get the media to understand that.  You also get a certain percentage of kids that like to drive around town telling anyone that will listen that they are going to school X on a full ride football scholarship...which drive me crazy.  Of course, I've listened to more than one kid going to a D3 school telling people he was going to school Y on a football scholarship...so there you go.