FB: American Rivers Conference

[jamtod]

I would have to imagine they'll be attempting to open up that Omaha access pipeline with a former UNK/Doane/Hastings coach.

I'm thinking the search committee saw your posts and then took a look towards a GPAC hire.

Time to give up that engineering career and apply for the new DC job at BVU.  Less money, and the joys of recruiting western Iowa are calling you back to the game 

Naa.. I heard the best burrito joint in Storm Lake closed it's doors. Can't respect a city like that!

I'm guessing the second best burrito joint (now the best) in Storm Lake is still pretty good.

[doolittledog]

Sad news from Cedar Rapids today.

http://krna.com/r-i-p-gregg-scharnau/ 

Former UD punter, and long time DJ and programming director at KRNA and KDAT, Gregg Sharnau passed away after a year long battle with cancer.  He was a married, father of 4. 

His dad was a professor at UD, and his older brother Keith was also a UD alum.  He was 1st team all-IIAC punter in 1991. 

[doolittledog]

Mens rankings in the all-sports trophy through the fall sports (X-C, soccer, football)...

Central  ...19
Loras  .....19
Dubuque  18.5
Wartburg  18.5
Neb Wes  .15.5
Luther  ....13
Coe  ........12
Simpson  .12
Buena V  ...7.5

[Purple Heys]

BVU hires new HC

http://www.bvuathletics.com/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20161219h2n30y

And...

http://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/football/college/bvu-names-mollring-new-football-coach/article_4ecc53be-0253-5a2f-8db2-132d57469092.html

I met Grant Mollring when he recruited Rev. 3 at Doane.  Very nice guy, I liked his approach to the game and to developing young men.  I wish him success.

[HansenRatings]

Been working on some punting analysis to go beyond the NCAA's yards/punt metric (the NCAA doesn't officially track the number of punts downed inside the 20, which really surprised me). In my final results of total punter value, the IIAC had 4 of the Top 20 punters in the country. Simpson's Hawkins, despite only playing in 4 games, had the 5th most cumulative value of any punter in the country. This metric includes touchbacks (which count against a punter), and estimates for return yards against and punts blocked (the NCAA only tracks these on a team level, so for individuals, I assumed their proportion of the team's total punts was equal to their proportions of blocked punts and punt return yards)

[doolittledog]

Mr Hansen giving kickers their due!

Kickers become the butt of many football jokes, but when their punts switch field position, pin a team deep in their own territory, provide the winning points in a last second victory, they become very popular with everyone. 

[HansenRatings]

In the Stagg Bowl's 2nd half, UW-O's punter's 2 punts gave the offense more Expected Points Added than any single offensive play until the final drive.

Since my numbers for punters are on the same scale as those for position players, it's pretty easy to compare the two. In essence, an All-American-caliber punter is worth as many yards as an All-Conference caliber running back, and an All-Conference-caliber punter has more relative value than your typical starter on offense.

If you're interested in reading more about how kickers/punter shouldn't be marginalized, check out some of Benjamin Morris's work on fivethirtyeight.com

That doesn't mean they're not some of the weirdest dudes on the field though.

[Pat Coleman]

Been working on some punting analysis to go beyond the NCAA's yards/punt metric (the NCAA doesn't officially track the number of punts downed inside the 20, which really surprised me). In my final results of total punter value, the IIAC had 4 of the Top 20 punters in the country. Simpson's Hawkins, despite only playing in 4 games, had the 5th most cumulative value of any punter in the country. This metric includes touchbacks (which count against a punter), and estimates for return yards against and punts blocked (the NCAA only tracks these on a team level, so for individuals, I assumed their proportion of the team's total punts was equal to their proportions of blocked punts and punt return yards)

How about YAAP per punt?

[doolittledog]

I realize there is a facilities arms race throughout college athletics.  From D1, down to D3.  While D3 facilities are light years better than 30 years ago.  I wonder if we will ever see athletic facilities like Clemson just built...with a slide, a laser tag room, a golf simulator, as well as outdoor sand volleyball courts and miniature golf!  The linked story also shows Oregon has a barber shop and a coaches hot tub in their place, while Alabama has a video arcade in their players lounge. 

Is there a point where we say that is too much?  What about the football? 

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/13/13945552/clemson-facility-slide-photos-video

[HansenRatings]

Been working on some punting analysis to go beyond the NCAA's yards/punt metric (the NCAA doesn't officially track the number of punts downed inside the 20, which really surprised me). In my final results of total punter value, the IIAC had 4 of the Top 20 punters in the country. Simpson's Hawkins, despite only playing in 4 games, had the 5th most cumulative value of any punter in the country. This metric includes touchbacks (which count against a punter), and estimates for return yards against and punts blocked (the NCAA only tracks these on a team level, so for individuals, I assumed their proportion of the team's total punts was equal to their proportions of blocked punts and punt return yards)

How about YAAP per punt?

On a per punt basis, Hawkins pretty much lapped the field.

Here's a histogram of every player who had at least 25% of their team's punt attempts on the season. That little blue chunk at the far right is Hawkins. On average, his punts were worth 12 yards of field position more than an average punter's.

[doolittledog]

Article from the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald about Clarke University in Dubuque adding football.

http://www.telegraphherald.com/sports/local_sports/article_6387413b-5fbd-594c-91d0-745513cf3daa.html?utm_source=thonline&utm_medium=click_source&utm_campaign=left_column_news

To summarize from the article...

The story notes Clarke will post the HC job on its job listings website today.

They will begin scrimmage play in 2018 with varsity action beginning in 2019.

They realize the HC hire will be very important.  Have already been contacted by coaches that have previously started a college program from scratch.

Have reached out to other schools that have recently begun football for advice.  Specifically mentioned Grand View.

Note that adding football will be a great recruiting tool for the school.  Will add to enrollment...and will add males to the student body.  The formally womens college still has about a 70% female population.

Clarke is putting $2.25 million into improvement at their soccer/lacrosse field as well as $750,000 into a practice field.  Will play varsity games at nearby Dubuque Senior High School.


Would any IIAC assistant coaches be interested in the position?

[HansenRatings]

I'm sure there are a few, but I don't see a school hiring a first-time HC to start the program from scratch. I would have to assume they're putting a hefty priority on experience.

I'm guessing they're be playing at Dubuque Senior's field? We had to practice there a bunch when I was at Platteville since our stadium was hit by a tornado one summer. It's adjacent to Clarke's campus, was recently re-turfed (I think Clarke actually helped pay for some of the renovations because of their plans to start football), and would be on par or better than the quality of field/facilities at most of the private schools in Iowa.

[DBQ1965]

I'm sure there are a few, but I don't see a school hiring a first-time HC to start the program from scratch. I would have to assume they're putting a hefty priority on experience.

Davenport University here in Grand Rapids, MI. played its first season this past Fall with a first time HC.  His team went 6-5 playing an NAIA schedule.  This next year they will play in D-2 in the GLIACC .  Might be tough for a second year HC.

[doolittledog]

Some data Mr Hansen would love to see.  Proof that Dubuque is better than Clemson...

[HansenRatings]

Yeah, I've been seeing a lot of those since Clemson won. It's a problem when you have a one-loss champion. I wonder if Stan is going to start using this in his recruiting material?