FB: American Rivers Conference

[5 Words or Less]

Simpson's 2016 schedule per twitter

[doolittledog]

Wow, 5 of first 6 games are on the road.  Only 4 home games total.  I believe Coe is in the same boat with only 4 home games.   

[Spurrier]

2016 Iowa Conference Caucus...Pick your winner...In an upset, I'm picking the Dubern Spartans over the Hillburg Knights...who you got?

[doolittledog]

2016 Iowa Conference Caucus...Pick your winner...In an upset, I'm picking the Dubern Spartans over the Hillburg Knights...who you got?

Dubuque loses most of their O-line and LB's
Wartburg graduated multi year all-conference starter at QB
Central only graduated 12 seniors
Coe breaking in a new HC
Simpson???
Loras???
Luther???
BVU???
Nebraska Wesleyan???

I think Central will be strong this year. 
I think Dubuque is building a strong foundation and will be up at the top again. 
Wartburg is Wartburg and should be strong...but are they starting to lose kids to Upper Iowa?  A few to UD?  Is Staker working the recruiting angle around Fredericksburg to steal some kids down to CR?  We shall see.

I think Coe will be in a rebuilding year with a new HC
Simpson, Loras, Luther...building towards bigger and better things...maybe mid table once again
BVU, 0-7 last year...is there a turn around ahead for them?

Nebraska Wesleyan.  A mid-table NAIA school that has played by D3 rules...are they mid-table in the IIAC as well?

I predict no easy wins next year, every game is competitive entering the 4th quarter.  And in a surprise pick, I cast my vote for...

Dubuque Spartans

[D3Dutchman]

Interesting article...looks like Coe stole one, and some mentions for Morningside.  Really not much serious thought given by these kids to consider IIAC schools, if you believe the article.  In fact, a couple seem to lean against playing all together if not for the big boys.  Need those kids to be competitive nationally, and it feels like that may be the difference between IIAC and elite D3 schools.  Don't really understand it, and not sure what has changed over the years.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/high-school/recruiting/2016/02/01/college-football-recruiting-iowas-top-rushers-running-short-of-major-college-offers/79626670/

[hazzben]

After last night, all I'm gonna say is: Iowa, You Make Me Smile 

Proud to hail from corn country! Some great political drama, democracy at its finest.

[Alfredeneumann]

Wartburg's Schrader to play professionally in Germany this spring.

http://go-knights.net/news/2016/2/2/FB_0202161753.aspx?path=football

[doolittledog]

Good for Schrader, chase those dreams and see the world while you're young.  A real job can always wait a few years. 

That article on those kids not even considering D3 seems to be a sign of the times around here.  Not sure what has caused that.  Hopefully it will change soon. 

[Alfredeneumann]

Wartburg Schedule released
They get the honor of playing NWU in first IIAC game.

9/10/2016    1 p.m.   Monmouth College   Monmouth, IL        
9/17/2016    1 p.m.   Nebraska Wesleyan University   Lincoln, NE   
9/24/2016    1 p.m.   Finlandia University   Waverly, IA   
10/1/2016    1 p.m.   Coe College   Cedar Rapids, IA   
10/8/2016    1 p.m.   Loras College   Waverly, IA          
10/15/2016    1:30 p.m.   Simpson College   Waverly, IA   
10/22/2016    1 p.m.   Central College   Pella, IA   
10/29/2016    1 p.m.   University of Dubuque   Dubuque, IA   
11/5/2016    1 p.m.   Luther College   Waverly, IA   
11/12/2016    1 p.m.   Buena Vista University   Waverly, IA   H   *   1 p.m.

http://go-knights.net/schedule.aspx?path=football

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Dubuque has joined Coe in releasing their 2016 schedule.

http://www.dbq.edu/Athletics/MensAthletics/Football/

09/03  Bethel University
09/10  at Pacific University (Ore.)
09/17  Simpson College
09/24  @ Luther College *
10/01  @ Central College *
10/08  Nebraska Wesleyan Univ. *
10/15  Coe College * (Homecoming)
10/22  @ Buena Vista Univ. *
10/29  Wartburg College *
11/05  @ Loras College *
11/12  Bye Week

I haven't seen Central's schedule yet, but 10/1 is homecoming and I will be there.  I hope I get a better game than the last time I saw them play UD.  Go Dutch!

[doolittledog]

I haven't seen Central's schedule yet, but 10/1 is homecoming and I will be there.  I hope I get a better game than the last time I saw them play UD.  Go Dutch!

In 2012 UD was also the homecoming opponent of Central.  Tie game with 1 minute left, Dubuque driving on the Central 4 yard line.  99 yard pick six by Central put the Dutch up 7.  Dubuque drives all the way down to about the Central 20 yard line before time ran out. 

That was a better game...for the Dutch anyway.  My family and I stuffed ourselves with Dutch Letters afterwards to take some of the sting out 

[doolittledog]

Former Dubuque Defensive Coordinator Mike Schmidt named Head Coach at UW-La Crosse.

http://uwlathletics.com/news/2016/2/4/FB_0204164216.aspx?path=football

2008 - GA at Mankato St
09-10 - position coach at UD
11-14 - DC at UD
2015 - DC at UW-Platteville
2016 - Named Head Coach at this Alma Mater

[5 Words or Less]

Wow, another UW-L / UD connection

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Every year I look forward to the superbowl and a chance to see a really cool Budweiser Clydesdale commercial.  I sat through four hours of a game I didn't even have a bet on and didn't see a single one.  What is this country coming to?

[badgerwarhawk]

I felt bad for Peyton Manning.  Usually the winning quarterback get to go to Disneyworld.  Instead all he got to do was go home and drink a lot of Budweiser.  Overall I rated the commercials a D+ this year.  The creature with the Pug head, monkey body and human legs was weird like something out of Dr. Frankenstein's lab.  I don't even remember what the hell it was advertising.  The Hulk drinking a tiny can of Coke was slightly amusing.  But the rest of it was just didn't do it for me. 

Why Budweiser would abandon a Clydesdale commercial is beyond me.  They've only been some of the most popular Super Bowl commercials forever.  After the commercial they did use one of my friends turned to me and said, "Wow, she's a bitch."  Though I don't have a problem with them sending the drink responsibly message the manner in which they didn't seem the most productive.   But it was their $5 million so I guess they could do whatever they wanted to.