FB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

I am assuming we are not doing a pick'ems board this year".."........or else I have forgotten how to access it.

In lieu of that:

UD over Luther.  Spartan lines, O and D both, will be too much for Norse.  Luther however will score some points.

Simpson over BV.  Storm have won big so will keep it rolling a bit longer.

COE over Loras.  Duhawks coming but not fast enough.

Knights over Central.  Warts will roll through the schedule with wins... Until they meet .................
in mid-season.

I'm waiting until after this week to start making weekly predictions. 

I had thought with Upper Iowa successfully recruiting kids to Fayette to chase the D2 dream that might take away from Wartburg recruiting.  Um, not so much, the Knights look very, very good so far.  Maybe these 1st 3 games have wore them out for conference play?  I can only hope   

Simpson has surprised me.  I was thinking with their QB graduating they might take a half step back this year.  So far I think they might have taken a step forward.  Is Simpson starting to become a destination over their neighbor in Central?
 
Luther and Loras have certainly improved over last season.  But now with conference play getting underway we will see just how far they have improved.  Will they both remain at the bottom of the conference?  Who would they move ahead of? 

BVU, Central, Coe, and Dubuque so far are about what I've expected.

What does all that mean?  I'll have a better idea on Sunday as to what to expect from the conference this year.

My preseason thinking was...
Wartburg 7-0
Dubuque 6-1
Central 5-2
BVU 4-3
Coe 3-4
Simpson 3-4
Luther 1-6
Loras 0-7

At this point I'd be willing to move Simpson up to #2.

My royal blue tinted glasses tell me Dubuque finds their offense and win some games.

Central has more returning players than Coe and finishes ahead of the Kohawks

Coe is just too young this year to challenge at the top. 

BVU with their low numbers will be worn down by the end of the season and end just above Luther/Loras.

I still think Luther and Loras end up at the bottom...but will scare the heck out of most teams each and every week.  Kind of like Cornell back in the Heys Jr years, each just don't have quite enough to put 4 quarters together...yet.

As my wife will tell anyone, I am probably wrong about all of this!

[notlongago]

I am assuming we are not doing a pick'ems board this year".."........or else I have forgotten how to access it.

In lieu of that:

UD over Luther.  Spartan lines, O and D both, will be too much for Norse.  Luther however will score some points.

Simpson over BV.  Storm have won big so will keep it rolling a bit longer.

COE over Loras.  Duhawks coming but not fast enough.

Knights over Central.  Warts will roll through the schedule with wins... Until they meet .................
in mid-season.

I'm waiting until after this week to start making weekly predictions. 

I had thought with Upper Iowa successfully recruiting kids to Fayette to chase the D2 dream that might take away from Wartburg recruiting.  Um, not so much, the Knights look very, very good so far.  Maybe these 1st 3 games have wore them out for conference play?  I can only hope   

Simpson has surprised me.  I was thinking with their QB graduating they might take a half step back this year.  So far I think they might have taken a step forward.  Is Simpson starting to become a destination over their neighbor in Central?
 
Luther and Loras have certainly improved over last season.  But now with conference play getting underway we will see just how far they have improved.  Will they both remain at the bottom of the conference?  Who would they move ahead of? 

BVU, Central, Coe, and Dubuque so far are about what I've expected.

What does all that mean?  I'll have a better idea on Sunday as to what to expect from the conference this year.

My preseason thinking was...
Wartburg 7-0
Dubuque 6-1
Central 5-2
BVU 4-3
Coe 3-4
Simpson 3-4
Luther 1-6
Loras 0-7

At this point I'd be willing to move Simpson up to #2.

My royal blue tinted glasses tell me Dubuque finds their offense and win some games.

Central has more returning players than Coe and finishes ahead of the Kohawks

Coe is just too young this year to challenge at the top. 

BVU with their low numbers will be worn down by the end of the season and end just above Luther/Loras.

I still think Luther and Loras end up at the bottom...but will scare the heck out of most teams each and every week.  Kind of like Cornell back in the Heys Jr years, each just don't have quite enough to put 4 quarters together...yet.

As my wife will tell anyone, I am probably wrong about all of this!

Beating 3 perennial average-bottom feeders is enough for you to bump Simpson to #2?

[doolittledog]

Beating 3 perennial average-bottom feeders is enough for you to bump Simpson to #2?

I think so.  Simpson won 3 non-con games this year, when they typically lose at least 1 of those. 

Last year the Storm beat Iowa Wesleyan 55-21, this year they won 43-7...pull
Last year the Storm beat UW-River Falls 35-34, this year they won 22-6...better
Last year the Storm lost to average to bottom feeder MIAC Gustavus 28-21, this year they beat a typically good CCIW Illinois Wesleyan 13-3...better

I would call that better than Central with 2 wins over weak teams and a loss to Monmouth.
Better than Coe losing to Wheaton and UW-Stevens Point and their yearly whuppin' of Cornell
Better than Dubuque losing to UW-Lacrosse, UW-Platteville, and beating Pacific.

I will say this is as of now.  As the conference portion of the season progresses things could change drastically. 

[hazzben]

Last year the Storm lost to average to bottom feeder MIAC Gustavus 28-21, this year they beat a typically good CCIW Illinois Wesleyan 13-3...better

Gustavus wasn't anything close to a bottom feeder last year @ 6-4. All four losses were within one score (3-8 pts), except for Bethel. They beat SJU and had UST on the ropes in the 4th quarter. GAC has been improving for several years, last year was the first to show movement in the W-L column, this year, they're off to 5-0 but still haven't played anyone either.

But I'd agree with your take, I do think Simpson is improving. The GAC matchup this year would have been much more illuminating for both teams.

[doolittledog]

Luther is 3-0 on the season, but they are 1-4 in the annual Zweifel Bowl since Stan did not get the Norse job and took the position at Dubuque.

Luther was outscored a combined 74-0 in the last two UD losses under Coach Durnin.  Mike could not beat them any longer, so he joined the Spartan staff.

Last year the game was something like 56-20 in favor of the Spartans.  It was a fun UD homecoming for those cheering for the Spartans.

Every opponent the Norse beat in the non-conference is probably not near the level of the IIAC teams, but the game this Saturday is a huge test for the Norse with how uncompetitive they have played in the last three Zweifel Bowls.  I would rather open with B.V.

Do they still show the Stan Zweifel Coaches Show?

They do, though for this week they haven't put the edited version on their youtube page yet.  Here is the version from stretch internet. http://portal.stretchinternet.com/dbq/portal.htm?eventId=172599&streamType=video

You have to fast forward to about the 12 minute mark if I remember correctly for the video to start.  Stan says some nice things about the Luther coaching staff, jokes how Luther forgets to mow the grass before their game 

[Old Dutch]

My trip to Pella today was vetoed by the boss, so I'll be watching on the screen.  Having 4 freshmen in the starting line-up is unsettling vs a strong Warty squad.  But worse yet I don't see Brandon Boerm in the line-up?  ANy Dutch fans aware, do we have an injury problem?

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Luther moves to 4-0 for the first time in many years as they beat Dubuque, 28-14.   They are now 2-4 in the Zweifel Bowl.

Dubuque had 5-6 turnovers on the game, including a pick at the end of each half.

Luther had the ball for about 60% of the game and might have had almost 400 rushing yards and 500 total yards.  I was very happy with much of the overall performance in each phase.  Kickoff team might have been the weakest link.

Good win for the Norse as I have lots of respect for the Spartans under Stan.

Norse get the Dutch for homecoming next week.

Last I saw, Simpson was losing to B.V. , Wartburg was up 21 on Central, and Coe was beating Loras.

[Phred]

It doesn,t look as though DUBUQUE is the team they were predicted to be.  Luther had several interceptions at critical points.  UD has a fine freshman RB.  UD defense not top tier caliber.

Stats are not up yet but the Norse evidently outplayed UD in most areas. 

[notlongago]

Well based on today, Wartburg will have a fairly easy path to the conference crown barring injuries. Nice to see Luther take down DBQ...although they look to have taken a few steps back this season.
Not surprised to see Simpson struggle, but was surprised it was against BV.

[doolittledog]

Turnovers bite UD once again.  6 turnovers week 1, 5 turnovers today against Luther.  Not sure what to make of that. 

BVU has gone 4-3 in conference play each of the past 2 seasons.  I think it's their typical slow start to their seasons that people don't see them in a more positive light. 

I think the only thing standing in the way for Wartburg is themselves.  We shall see. 

Spots 2-7 should certainly be an interesting battle this year. 

I suspect Loras will be in for another long conference portion of the season.   

[notlongago]

Turnovers bite UD once again.  6 turnovers week 1, 5 turnovers today against Luther.  Not sure what to make of that. 

BVU has gone 4-3 in conference play each of the past 2 seasons.  I think it's their typical slow start to their seasons that people don't see them in a more positive light. 

I think the only thing standing in the way for Wartburg is themselves.  We shall see. 

Spots 2-7 should certainly be an interesting battle this year. 

I suspect Loras will be in for another long conference portion of the season.

Funny how poor teams always seem to have issues w/ turnovers... 

[warthog]

I missed the Wartburg/Central game today to do the Spoon River Harvest Craft Tour in Illinois. I saw on my phone that Central score two minutes into the game and I thought, "OH NO, the wheels have come off the bus."  I was pleased when i checked later and discovered the first couple minutes wasn't an sample of what would happen the rest of the afternoon.  Always a nice win when any IIAC member can knock off the Dutch in a football game.

At first glance it appears there were a few upsets in the league today.  Were they upsets ie: BV and Luther, or is there some sort of shift going on in the league?  Perhaps we will have the multiple 2nd place teams again this season.

Too bad we don't have Cornell to kick around any longer.  A guaranteed win is always a nice thing to have on the conference schedule.

[wartknight]

I missed the Wartburg/Central game today to do the Spoon River Harvest Craft Tour in Illinois. I saw on my phone that Central score two minutes into the game and I thought, "OH NO, the wheels have come off the bus."  I was pleased when i checked later and discovered the first couple minutes wasn't an sample of what would happen the rest of the afternoon.  Always a nice win when any IIAC member can knock off the Dutch in a football game.

At first glance it appears there were a few upsets in the league today.  Were they upsets ie: BV and Luther, or is there some sort of shift going on in the league?  Perhaps we will have the multiple 2nd place teams again this season.

Too bad we don't have Cornell to kick around any longer.  A guaranteed win is always a nice thing to have on the conference schedule.

Warthog, you need to get a different bus! It seems like when ever the Knights have even a minor hiccup, you are concerned about your wheels!

[Spurrier]

Ms spurrier and I will be at the game sat for homecoming, it's been thirty falls since I have seen a game in Dubuque and I was wearing a helmet then...I guarantee a Spartan victory

[doolittledog]

Ms spurrier and I will be at the game sat for homecoming, it's been thirty falls since I have seen a game in Dubuque and I was wearing a helmet then...I guarantee a Spartan victory

Chalmers Field looks juuuussst a bit different now