FB: American Rivers Conference

[Phred]

Congrats to both those who won and those who didn't.  This was a great IIAC weekend.

T
I watched some of all of the games via video and was impressed with the quality of the video cam from all schools.........and how all games were competitive.  D3 at its best !

On to the final week.

[Outside the Crate]

Interesting day at Walston-Hoover.  Wartburg set a record for offense (721 yards), beating the record set last week against BV (572).  Logan Schrader threw for 380 yards and 3 TDs and ran for 150 and 2 TDs.  He was a one-man wrecking ball.  Simpson's quarterback also had what must have been his best game ever.  The outcome was never really in doubt, but he sure made it interesting!  On to Loras, but that will wrap up the season.  And, just as I predicted, there's no way the IIAC will get two teams in this year.

[doolittledog]

Dubuque fans after yesterdays victory over Coe clinched their 2nd conference championship in 5 seasons...



Dubuque fans this morning...



It's all good though...

[wartknight]

Dubuque fans after yesterdays victory over Coe clinched their 2nd conference championship in 5 seasons...



Dubuque fans this morning...



It's all good though...

I think the Knights feel like the dog this morning knowing they need more than a little help to get a pool C bid. Although, as banged up as the defense is, even a first round game would be a challenge. Congrats to sparty (& the Warts soccer women⚽️) on their conf championship!

[badgerwarhawk]

Congrats Coach Z and the Spartans. 

[Spurrier]

Clearly head to head and strength of schedule doesn't mean much...the usual suspects in the usual places

[DBQ1965]

Clearly head to head and strength of schedule doesn't mean much...the usual suspects in the usual places

UD Spartans are the "Rodney Dangerfield" of the IIAC teams in the top 25.  That will be fine when they take the field in Round 1.

[Pat Coleman]

Clearly head to head and strength of schedule doesn't mean much...the usual suspects in the usual places

Seems to be the best we can do. They keep getting closer.

[doolittledog]

Clearly head to head and strength of schedule doesn't mean much...the usual suspects in the usual places

Seems to be the best we can do. They keep getting closer.

The D3Football poll seems to be a lot more grounded in reality than the AFCA coaches poll.  D3football has Wartburg and Dubuque at 19 and 20...and maybe with another win this coming weekend Dubuque could move ahead of the Knights.  In the Coaches poll Wartburg has moved up to 13th while Dubuque is still "receiving votes".  As has been noted, old perceptions about strength die hard. 

The NCAA regional seeding's have Dubuque 1 spot ahead of Wartburg, so there is that.  I just hope this Dubuque team doesn't get sent on the road to a top 5 ranked team once again, like they were in 2011.  Either way, you play who they put in front of you.  This team has been fun to follow.  I'm happy they get to play some extra football this year. 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Dubuque fans after yesterdays victory over Coe clinched their 2nd conference championship in 5 seasons...



Dubuque fans this morning...



It's all good though...

I think the Knights feel like the dog this morning knowing they need more than a little help to get a pool C bid. Although, as banged up as the defense is, even a first round game would be a challenge. Congrats to sparty (& the Warts soccer women⚽️) on their conf championship!

Congrats to Dubuque for winning the conference for the 2nd time under Coach Zweifel. 

I will admit the Spartans winning it all brings up the stuff from several years ago now when Luther interviewed Zweifel and Durnin and hired Durnin instead.

It should be old news I guess, but the Norse are still looking for that first conference title since 1978 when I was in elementary school.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Clearly head to head and strength of schedule doesn't mean much...the usual suspects in the usual places

UD Spartans are the "Rodney Dangerfield" of the IIAC teams in the top 25.  That will be fine when they take the field in Round 1.

You think they have trouble getting respect now, wait until Saturday when Central beats them and they are the three loss play-off team that all of the guys with better records who don't get in resent.  But the heck with them.  Congrats to UD for the conference title.

[Spurrier]

Two things I hate...people who are intolerant and the Dutch...spartans roll

[ExTartanPlayer]

Clearly head to head and strength of schedule doesn't mean much...the usual suspects in the usual places

Seems to be the best we can do. They keep getting closer.

The D3Football poll seems to be a lot more grounded in reality than the AFCA coaches poll.  D3football has Wartburg and Dubuque at 19 and 20...and maybe with another win this coming weekend Dubuque could move ahead of the Knights.  In the Coaches poll Wartburg has moved up to 13th while Dubuque is still "receiving votes".  As has been noted, old perceptions about strength die hard. 

The NCAA regional seeding's have Dubuque 1 spot ahead of Wartburg, so there is that.  I just hope this Dubuque team doesn't get sent on the road to a top 5 ranked team once again, like they were in 2011.  Either way, you play who they put in front of you.  This team has been fun to follow.  I'm happy they get to play some extra football this year.

While I do think UD probably ought to be ranked ahead of Wartburg, I don't think UD should necessarily be ranked much higher than they presently are, either.  They lost pretty badly to St. John's and UWP, who are both probably top-15 teams but probably not top-5 teams (SJU and UWP were both blown out by their respective conference champions).  UD around 20 seems about right, and that probably means a road playoff game.  And, given that Wesley, Whitewater, and UMHB all have lost and will not be top seeds, there are going to be some very, very tough first-round games for anyone who isn't a lock for a #1 or #2 seed.

[doolittledog]

I think the D3football poll is fair to Dubuque. I wouldn't be upset to see them climb to 16-17 for selfish reasons. I'm not upset to see UD and Wartburg ranked near each other. I do think it's laughable that the coaches poll has Wartburg at 13th while Dubuque is "receiving votes". A 32 point victory the 7th week of the season should be worth something you would think. I realize it's possible UD goes on the road in the 1st round. I'd like to not have to face a top 5 team in the 1st round. But it is what it is. This Dubuque team seems to roll with the punches fairly well. I think at this point in the season they can give most teams out there a challenge.

[ExTartanPlayer]

I think the D3football poll is fair to Dubuque. I wouldn't be upset to see them climb to 16-17 for selfish reasons. I'm not upset to see UD and Wartburg ranked near each other. I do think it's laughable that the coaches poll has Wartburg at 13th while Dubuque is "receiving votes". A 32 point victory the 7th week of the season should be worth something you would think. I realize it's possible UD goes on the road in the 1st round. I'd like to not have to face a top 5 team in the 1st round. But it is what it is. This Dubuque team seems to roll with the punches fairly well. I think at this point in the season they can give most teams out there a challenge.

Agreed, that is particularly silly.

Re: going on the road in the first round, unfortunately I think you kind of forfeit the privilege to a home game when you're carrying lopsided losses to a pair of teams that are going to have to make the field via Pool C (although they probably will) that lost 63-28 and 35-14 to their respective league champions, even if they are two of the toughest leagues around.

You can definitely hope for (and probably get this wish) avoiding Mount, Oshkosh, Linfield, St. Thomas in the first round.  But a trip to Wabash or Wheaton (or someone else comparable) is possible / likely.  I assume the committee would avoid a rematch with UWP / St. John's if they can, but UWW might also be in play.  I do agree that UD has been very impressive as the season has gone along, and will present tough matchup for many teams.