FB: American Rivers Conference

[Pat Coleman]

The green dots on the D3 map are the sites of the Stagg Bowl over the next four seasons.

[5 Words or Less]

Fieldlevel.com reports several IIAC commits

https://www.fieldlevel.com/view-commitments/all/all/all/iowaintercollegiateathleticconference

[doolittledog]

Good find, 5WOL

[doolittledog]

The 3rd in a 4 part series from the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald about recruiting to the 4 colleges near Dubuque.  Today they focus on UW-Platteville.

http://www.telegraphherald.com/sports/local_sports/article_4272777c-aa86-5abc-b6fb-241329ca4646.html?utm_source=thonline&utm_medium=click_source&utm_campaign=left_column_news

From the article...

Recruiting athletes at the NCAA Division III level is a tricky act. The association forbids schools at this level from offering athletic scholarships, so institutions are constantly juggling ways to make their colleges that much more appealing for prospective athletes.

The best way to explain Platteville's recruiting profile is to look at a mechanism available to all students. The Tri-State Initiative — a tuition reduction financial aid tool made available to any student from Iowa and Illinois — is a game changer when it comes to appealing to prep athletes in the region.

"Our opponents are not very happy with the Tri-State Initiative," said Mike Emendorfer, coach of the Pioneers' 2016 playoff bound football team and interim athletic director. "It gives us an opportunity when we go down to places like the Quad Cities or Dubuque to recruit somebody in someone else's backyard.

"Believe me: we have no problem with it."

Look no further than the gridiron for ways the Tri-State Initiative works for the Pioneers. Emendorfer has used it to target the biggest cities in UW-Platteville's wheel house. More than half the football roster is from Chicago and its suburbs, and a healthy portion of players are from other fertile grounds like Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay.

The tuition reduction program was launched 12 years ago and has grown overall Platteville enrollment by more than 2,000 students since 2005. As a public university, UW-Platteville already has a lower tuition cost compared to private institutions, and coaches there use this fact to try appeal to the academic side of their recruits when trying to lock them into a sport.

"Most Division III schools are tuition-driven, enrollment-driven private schools," said Mike DeRoehn, Pioneers wrestling coach. "There's an advantage because we're an in-state school. It's a great tuition break, but our students also want to go to a place that's a bit bigger than their high school."

[doolittledog]

The 4th in a 4 part series from the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald about recruiting to the 4 colleges near Dubuque.  Today they wrap up the series with UD. 

http://www.telegraphherald.com/sports/local_sports/article_237327d9-1250-5e81-adb1-52a8a4da3eb9.html?utm_source=thonline&utm_medium=click_source&utm_campaign=left_column_news

From the article...

Since 2008, UD has returfed its soccer field; upgraded its baseball and softball fields; renovated the Stoltz Center; and built the Chlapaty Rec Center, football stadium/outdoor track, tennis courts, Debra Runkle Center and the Mercer-Birmingham Office Complex.

"Our goal when I got here was to be able to give a student-athlete the opportunity to be successful and facilities they can be proud of," Runkle said. "And then you go from there. In doing that, it's helped recruiting tremendously.

Runkle said every private school at the Division III level is in a "facilities race." Without the ability to offer athletic scholarships, facilities are one of the main ways schools try to maintain an edge in recruiting. But another pride point for Dubuque is its diversity. Women's basketball coach Mark Noll said more than 20 percent of the student body is from a minority, adding that it's one of the highest rates in the Midwest.

"When they see that we have (diversity) on our campus, that opens the door for athletes to want to come here," Noll said. "Socially, they feel they can be successful on our teams and in other aspects of our campus."

UD's recruiting profile is heavy on the big Midwest cities. More than 28 percent of athletes (132 of 472) come from Chicago and the suburbs. Another 33 are from Rockford, Ill. and surrounding communities, and 32 come from the Quad Cities.

[doolittledog]

From reading the 4 articles from the Dubuque paper.  Athletes from each of the schools.

Loras - 711 ...roughly 1/2 of the student population. 
Clarke - 314 ...will be adding football in 2018
Platteville - 428
Dubuque - 472

[Alfredeneumann]

Before this year the Wartburg women had never NOT won the conference indoor track title. The times they are a changin' 

1 day,  3 titles for the Knights. Baseball, M + W track on Saturday. The more things change the more they stay the same.   

[Alfredeneumann]

Boise State patented color turf 
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/11/sports/ncaafootball/boise-state-mounts-a-paper-defense-of-its-home-turf.html?_r=0

5WOL contemplating throwing in some additional coin to get blue colored turf installed at Carlson Stadium!  Realizes the potential trouble he could be in with the Mrs. if he did so 

I suppose we should admire Boise State for realizing blue turf as the marketing tool it is...and also to realize the potential to trademark that for additional school revenue.

Looks like Smurf Blue turf may happen. http://www.decorahnews.com/news-stories/2017/05/16598.html

"Carlson Stadium at Luther College will be getting a new look in time for football games next fall.

The Luther Board of Regents has authorized a proposal to remove the natural turf on the football field and install a blue artificial surface. "

[doolittledog]

Reports of the demise of Wartburg athletics have been greatly exaggerated 

With Luther installing blue turf I suppose we might soon be travelling to 5 Words or Less Field at Carlson Stadium. 

With Luther regents finally throwing some coin towards the football program and putting turf in at the football stadium ...could Luther be the next conference school with an indoor turfed practice facility? 

If my math is correct it is 109 days until kickoff of the 2017 season ...107 if you're BVU

[HansenRatings]

Reports of the demise of Wartburg athletics have been greatly exaggerated 

With Luther installing blue turf I suppose we might soon be travelling to 5 Words or Less Field at Carlson Stadium. 

With Luther regents finally throwing some coin towards the football program and putting turf in at the football stadium ...could Luther be the next conference school with an indoor turfed practice facility? 

If my math is correct it is 109 days until kickoff of the 2017 season ...107 if you're BVU

I've read before, don't remember where, that Boise State has a trademark on non-traditionally-colored turf. Every non-green turf in America has had to be sanctioned by the marketing dept in Boise. Wonder if Luther's gone through this process yet?

[doolittledog]

I think you read it here from a 5wol link. Which makes me think Luther would be aware 

[5 Words or Less]

Luther College Chips discusses turf
http://www.lutherchips.com/3721/news/community-voices-opinions-in-response-to-artificial-blue-turf-field/

[doolittledog]

I am typically against gimmicks.  But I like that mock up in the article.  The plastic in lay instead of rubber is what Dubuque has.  For those arguing a field should be green...tennis courts were once typically grass, with clay courts in warmer climates...you could argue those blue colored hard surfaced tennis courts behind the Luther football field were an abomination as well if you really want to be a hard core antagonist.  Overall, I prefer a green field, but I would have no objection to what Luther is planning. 

That article mentions the field is $1.7 million towards $26 million in overall athletics improvements.  How is the other $24+ million towards athletics improvements planned to be spent?  Inquiring minds want to know 

[5 Words or Less]

... How is the other $24+ million towards athletics improvements planned to be spent? 


Air Norse is a possibility

[Alfredeneumann]

... How is the other $24+ million towards athletics improvements planned to be spent? 


Air Norse is a possibility

LC just finished updating their baseball and softball stadiums this year, I'd say that was part of $24M towards athletics.