FB: American Rivers Conference

[D3Dutchman]

Is this really all that surprising?  The top end of the IIAC was pretty decent this year.  UD played Platville tough, Central had Oskosh on the ropes, destroyed Albion and Auggie (by a significantly larger margin than IWU did), and Coe shut out Wash U.  I know there is generally no transitive property in football, and I may be cherry picking a bit, but when you look at how the better teams in the IIAC played top teams from other conferences, it stacks up pretty dang favorably (including against the conference widely considered to be the best in the land)...and then they proceeded to beat up on each other. 

All of that, and IWU didn't have a ton of impressive wins on their schedule in my mind.  So, I think if you were paying attention, you could have predicted the outcome from Saturday.  There are 3-4 IIAC teams sitting at home that I think would have probably beaten IWU, and would love to be in the Knights' position.  When it comes to comparing conferences, there are always too many people looking at what happened in previous years.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ypsi, There is NO QUESTION Wartburg is a better team than IWU. It's ridiculous to even suggest anything different. If you can't show up in the most important game of the season, at home, in the playoffs, then you aren't better than the other team under any circumstances. When would IWU have been a better team? If they played at homecoming? Parent's weekend? Come on man.

Yeah, I'll quit now.  Saturday I was in a state of shock; yesterday not much better.  By today, not much excuse.  That was BY FAR the worst I have seen IWU play all season.  MUCH of that was Wartburg, but far from all of it.  I'll stand by 4-5 of the turnovers were giveaways, not takeaways.  IWU absolutely stunk up the place on Saturday, and I have no clue why.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Is this really all that surprising?  The top end of the IIAC was pretty decent this year.  UD played Platville tough, Central had Oskosh on the ropes, destroyed Albion and Auggie (by a significantly larger margin than IWU did), and Coe shut out Wash U.  I know there is generally no transitive property in football, and I may be cherry picking a bit, but when you look at how the better teams in the IIAC played top teams from other conferences, it stacks up pretty dang favorably (including against the conference widely considered to be the best in the land)...and then they proceeded to beat up on each other. 

All of that, and IWU didn't have a ton of impressive wins on their schedule in my mind.  So, I think if you were paying attention, you could have predicted the outcome from Saturday.  There are 3-4 IIAC teams sitting at home that I think would have probably beaten IWU, and would love to be in the Knights' position.  When it comes to comparing conferences, there are always too many people looking at what happened in previous years.

Hell, ALL of the IIAC teams might have beaten the IWU of this past Saturday!  That was NOT the Titan team I followed all season. 

[hazzben]

Ypsi, There is NO QUESTION Wartburg is a better team than IWU. It's ridiculous to even suggest anything different. If you can't show up in the most important game of the season, at home, in the playoffs, then you aren't better than the other team under any circumstances. When would IWU have been a better team? If they played at homecoming? Parent's weekend? Come on man.

Nodding my head...If it had been close, I could hear what Ypsi is laying down. But they came out flat in the first half and stayed flat. They came out flat in the second half and stayed flat. More than that, it wasn't just turnovers, they seemed to get physically manhandled on the LOS.

I was surprised by the result, but expected Wartburg to make it a good game. Afterwards, I can't imagine anyone claiming IWU would be better on another day. I'd put Wartburg winning 8 of 10 after what I saw Saturday. Not trying to pile on, just calling it as I see it.

Now, on to this Saturday. What's the story on Wartburg. Looking back over the season they seem to be all over the board. One game they play great, another they struggle more than I'd expect, at least more than I'd expect after what I saw week 1 and last Saturday. Any read from the Wartburg crew on why this is? Or is my perception just way off?

[USee]

Is this really all that surprising?  The top end of the IIAC was pretty decent this year.  UD played Platville tough, Central had Oskosh on the ropes, destroyed Albion and Auggie (by a significantly larger margin than IWU did), and Coe shut out Wash U.  I know there is generally no transitive property in football, and I may be cherry picking a bit, but when you look at how the better teams in the IIAC played top teams from other conferences, it stacks up pretty dang favorably (including against the conference widely considered to be the best in the land)...and then they proceeded to beat up on each other. 

All of that, and IWU didn't have a ton of impressive wins on their schedule in my mind.  So, I think if you were paying attention, you could have predicted the outcome from Saturday.  There are 3-4 IIAC teams sitting at home that I think would have probably beaten IWU, and would love to be in the Knights' position.  When it comes to comparing conferences, there are always too many people looking at what happened in previous years.

You are definitely cherry picking. I pay attention, closely. I studied this for a long time. I knew Wartburg was good, (they beat a Central team that lost 4 games by a total of 12 points to good teams). I made IWU a 7 pt favorite but in my gut I felt like the game was a toss up. Wartburg got destroyed by Bethel and was losing to Luther in the 4th quarter!! Luther! They were terrible. Wheaton absolutely destroyed them. Last year's IIAC winner lost at home to the CCIW runner up. It wasn't a stretch to call for  a Wartburg win but they dominated. No chance you could have seen that coming.

[USee]

Ypsi, There is NO QUESTION Wartburg is a better team than IWU. It's ridiculous to even suggest anything different. If you can't show up in the most important game of the season, at home, in the playoffs, then you aren't better than the other team under any circumstances. When would IWU have been a better team? If they played at homecoming? Parent's weekend? Come on man.

Nodding my head...If it had been close, I could hear what Ypsi is laying down. But they came out flat in the first half and stayed flat. They came out flat in the second half and stayed flat. More than that, it wasn't just turnovers, they seemed to get physically manhandled on the LOS.

I was surprised by the result, but expected Wartburg to make it a good game. Afterwards, I can't imagine anyone claiming IWU would be better on another day. I'd put Wartburg winning 8 of 10 after what I saw Saturday. Not trying to pile on, just calling it as I see it.

Now, on to this Saturday. What's the story on Wartburg. Looking back over the season they seem to be all over the board. One game they play great, another they struggle more than I'd expect, at least more than I'd expect after what I saw week 1 and last Saturday. Any read from the Wartburg crew on why this is? Or is my perception just way off?

You beat me to it. Ypsi, take away ALL of the turnovers AND the drops.....Wartburg dominated the LOS. They ran the ball for 250+ yds against a top rated defense. They couldn't keep the Wartburg front off Gallik. IWU had -5 yds rushing!! That's not turnovers and drops. That's physical supremacy. I'm sorry but IWU plays their best and they still lose that game.

[NewKnightDad]

Ypsi, There is NO QUESTION Wartburg is a better team than IWU. It's ridiculous to even suggest anything different. If you can't show up in the most important game of the season, at home, in the playoffs, then you aren't better than the other team under any circumstances. When would IWU have been a better team? If they played at homecoming? Parent's weekend? Come on man.

Nodding my head...If it had been close, I could hear what Ypsi is laying down. But they came out flat in the first half and stayed flat. They came out flat in the second half and stayed flat. More than that, it wasn't just turnovers, they seemed to get physically manhandled on the LOS.

I was surprised by the result, but expected Wartburg to make it a good game. Afterwards, I can't imagine anyone claiming IWU would be better on another day. I'd put Wartburg winning 8 of 10 after what I saw Saturday. Not trying to pile on, just calling it as I see it.

Now, on to this Saturday. What's the story on Wartburg. Looking back over the season they seem to be all over the board. One game they play great, another they struggle more than I'd expect, at least more than I'd expect after what I saw week 1 and last Saturday. Any read from the Wartburg crew on why this is? Or is my perception just way off?

Wartburg and Bethel have faced each other 3 out of the last 4 years with Bethel winning each time.  They are very familiar with each other so there won't be much in the way of suprises.

I hope this mathup doesn't end up like the previous 3 but odds are good it will.  Wartburg has been up and down this year, the o-line I believe is one of the reasons.  If they play well we have a chance, if they don't win the LOS and get to the second level we are in for a long day.  Hopefully both QB's are healthy and hopefully Safety Jared Wauters is healthy, he made a big hit late in the game and was helped off the field with what looked to me like a good bell ringing.

Coach Willis and his assistants will have the Knights ready.

Let's go Knights!!!!

[D3Dutchman]

Is this really all that surprising?  The top end of the IIAC was pretty decent this year.  UD played Platville tough, Central had Oskosh on the ropes, destroyed Albion and Auggie (by a significantly larger margin than IWU did), and Coe shut out Wash U.  I know there is generally no transitive property in football, and I may be cherry picking a bit, but when you look at how the better teams in the IIAC played top teams from other conferences, it stacks up pretty dang favorably (including against the conference widely considered to be the best in the land)...and then they proceeded to beat up on each other. 

All of that, and IWU didn't have a ton of impressive wins on their schedule in my mind.  So, I think if you were paying attention, you could have predicted the outcome from Saturday.  There are 3-4 IIAC teams sitting at home that I think would have probably beaten IWU, and would love to be in the Knights' position.  When it comes to comparing conferences, there are always too many people looking at what happened in previous years.

You are definitely cherry picking. I pay attention, closely. I studied this for a long time. I knew Wartburg was good, (they beat a Central team that lost 4 games by a total of 12 points to good teams). I made IWU a 7 pt favorite but in my gut I felt like the game was a toss up. Wartburg got destroyed by Bethel and was losing to Luther in the 4th quarter!! Luther! They were terrible. Wheaton absolutely destroyed them. Last year's IIAC winner lost at home to the CCIW runner up. It wasn't a stretch to call for  a Wartburg win but they dominated. No chance you could have seen that coming.

No, I didn't call it...just saying that it isn't the shocker some are making it out to be.  Wartburg outlasted a salty bunch of IIAC contenders this year and IWU didn't have any results that stood out to me to be particularly impressive.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Is this really all that surprising?  The top end of the IIAC was pretty decent this year.  UD played Platville tough, Central had Oskosh on the ropes, destroyed Albion and Auggie (by a significantly larger margin than IWU did), and Coe shut out Wash U.  I know there is generally no transitive property in football, and I may be cherry picking a bit, but when you look at how the better teams in the IIAC played top teams from other conferences, it stacks up pretty dang favorably (including against the conference widely considered to be the best in the land)...and then they proceeded to beat up on each other. 

All of that, and IWU didn't have a ton of impressive wins on their schedule in my mind.  So, I think if you were paying attention, you could have predicted the outcome from Saturday.  There are 3-4 IIAC teams sitting at home that I think would have probably beaten IWU, and would love to be in the Knights' position.  When it comes to comparing conferences, there are always too many people looking at what happened in previous years.

You are definitely cherry picking. I pay attention, closely. I studied this for a long time. I knew Wartburg was good, (they beat a Central team that lost 4 games by a total of 12 points to good teams). I made IWU a 7 pt favorite but in my gut I felt like the game was a toss up. Wartburg got destroyed by Bethel and was losing to Luther in the 4th quarter!! Luther! They were terrible. Wheaton absolutely destroyed them. Last year's IIAC winner lost at home to the CCIW runner up. It wasn't a stretch to call for  a Wartburg win but they dominated. No chance you could have seen that coming.

No, I didn't call it...just saying that it isn't the shocker some are making it out to be.  Wartburg outlasted a salty bunch of IIAC contenders this year and IWU didn't have any results that stood out to me to be particularly impressive.

I think you guys are arguing two slightly different points. Wartburg winning the game does qualify as a mild surprise to the average well-read D3 fan with no ties to either team/conference, but as Usee said it would not have been unreasonable to predict a Wartburg victory.

What IS shocking is how lopsided the game was. That's why we're calling it a "shocker" and all this noise. The CCIW may have been down a notch this year but IWU still did go 9-1 with wins over Wheaton and an OK nonconference win over Hope (played for the MIAA title in week 11). I think there was plenty of evidence that IWU looked like a top-25 outfit.

[USee]

Is this really all that surprising?  The top end of the IIAC was pretty decent this year.  UD played Platville tough, Central had Oskosh on the ropes, destroyed Albion and Auggie (by a significantly larger margin than IWU did), and Coe shut out Wash U.  I know there is generally no transitive property in football, and I may be cherry picking a bit, but when you look at how the better teams in the IIAC played top teams from other conferences, it stacks up pretty dang favorably (including against the conference widely considered to be the best in the land)...and then they proceeded to beat up on each other. 

All of that, and IWU didn't have a ton of impressive wins on their schedule in my mind.  So, I think if you were paying attention, you could have predicted the outcome from Saturday.  There are 3-4 IIAC teams sitting at home that I think would have probably beaten IWU, and would love to be in the Knights' position.  When it comes to comparing conferences, there are always too many people looking at what happened in previous years.

You are definitely cherry picking. I pay attention, closely. I studied this for a long time. I knew Wartburg was good, (they beat a Central team that lost 4 games by a total of 12 points to good teams). I made IWU a 7 pt favorite but in my gut I felt like the game was a toss up. Wartburg got destroyed by Bethel and was losing to Luther in the 4th quarter!! Luther! They were terrible. Wheaton absolutely destroyed them. Last year's IIAC winner lost at home to the CCIW runner up. It wasn't a stretch to call for  a Wartburg win but they dominated. No chance you could have seen that coming.

No, I didn't call it...just saying that it isn't the shocker some are making it out to be.  Wartburg outlasted a salty bunch of IIAC contenders this year and IWU didn't have any results that stood out to me to be particularly impressive.

Sorry to be unclear.  I didn't mean "you" called it (directive) I meant "you" as a general term to mean "anyone". I agree calling a WB victory wasn't special but no one could have predicted the blowout IMO.

[Phred]

No time to ponder about Wartburg.  Thanksgiving is far more important to think about.  But love football !

Wartburg loses by 14.  This is not a particularly good Warts team..........not up to past teams.

Bethel is not also one of its greatest in its history.

So...Bethel wins but gets knocked out next game.

[hazzben]

No time to ponder about Wartburg.  Thanksgiving is far more important to think about.  But love football !

Wartburg loses by 14.  This is not a particularly good Warts team..........not up to past teams.

Bethel is not also one of its greatest in its history.

So...Bethel wins but gets knocked out next game.

Interesting take. But the scuttlebutt surrounding this team in Arden Hills is that this may indeed be the best Bethel team. Time will tell. We've had better running games, better defenses...but not sure we've ever had such a complete complement of D, O run/pass and specials. 

But, the proof is in the puddin' ... Saturday will give us all a little bit better taste/sample size.

Happy Thanksgiving IIACer's

[wartknight]

Happy Thanksgiving IIAC!
Knights - have a great practice & get ready for Saturday!

[D O.C.]

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bulk up, Knights.

[coco]

Good luck on Saturday, Wartburg!