FB: American Rivers Conference

[Knights2013]

Really sad to hear about John Gagliardi passing away - had a couple of friends from the Dubuque area that played at St. John's and have never heard a back word spoken about him. He had a really cool way of coaching - probably different than anyone you will ever see.

On a different note, what a weekend in the conference...sounds as if there were a couple of upsets narrowly escaped!

[doolittledog]

This weekend...
Coe is beat up and demoralized after their 4th quarter collapse @ Simpson.  Wartburg is rested and ready after a week off and puts a whuppin on the Kohawks?
Or...Coe knows they are a better team than their record indicates, playing at home they expose Wartburg as a pretender?

NWU hung in there at home against Central but have a 0-4 conference mark to show for it.  Now they have to drive all the way to Dubuque to take on a Loras team hot off a 21 point 4th quarter come back against BVU.  Loras quietly moves to 3-1 in conference play.  NWU continues to be a decent team with a record that doesn't reflect their talent.
Or...Loras is the pretender, their wins are against teams with 0 conference wins.  NWU, eager for a W steamrolls the Duhawks.

BVU has a small roster dotted with freshmen.  They gave up a 17 point 4th quarter lead during homecoming and now have a long drive to Decorah.  That sounds like a recipe for a Luther win.
Or...That Beaver team does some growing up, travels to Decorah and beats a not very good Norse team.

The Storm just won a hard fought game against Coe, and now travel to undefeated Central.  Central playing at home after a stale game at NWU the previous week will be looking to put 4 complete quarters together.  Advantage Dutch?
Or...Simpson is the real deal, they already have a 21-0 win @ Chicago to their credit.  Central, while impressive up to this point, got exposed a bit at NWU last week.  Simpson goes into Pella and goes back home with a win?

[Schipper Strong]

My guess would be that Wartburg will get a win against Coe.  I think Coe is down this year. Warburg must be down a bit this year too with two losses, but if they both took a step down, Wartburg is still the better team.

NWU did have  great game against Central. Their running back is a real workhorse and is tough to contain. They are a decent team that desperately wants a conference win. They will get one against Loras. People are knocking Central's undefeated record because of who we have played. Loras has played those same teams with closer results. The Plainsmen get their first conference win of the season and get on a roll.

BV does have a new coach and a lot of freshmen. I think they are better than Luther if they can play with some confidence. Luther has some maturity and experience on their side. It could go either way.

Simpson got lucky with a blocked punt near their end zone that both cracked a close game wide open and broke Coe's spirit. Plus I think Coe is down. That said, they did still beat Wartburg. I think turnovers are going to be key here. Central beat Simpson last year and I think we are a better team this year, but as noted, we have played the top teams yet. The game has me nervous, but this Central team has been able to stay focused even when things were not going well.  The first quarter of the De Pauw game was about as not well as a game could be going for the Dutch. They were also really inexperienced at that point, but they stayed with it and won. They have played from behind in a few recent games and do it well with an ability to strike quickly and be balanced on offense. Therefore I go with the Dutch at home this week.

[Schipper Strong]

Oops. I listened to the NWU announcers talk a out how they used to be the Plainsmen and called them that Sorry Prairie Wolves.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Through some spectacularly bad planning, I will be out of the country for the Central loathsome Simpson game.   Even though I probably won't even be able to find an English language internet connection on game day, I will still try to do my part to make rivalry week special.  So here is my first shot at the loathsome Storm. 
Q: What does it mean when you see a Simpson grad drool out of both corners of his mouth?
A: He finally got his trailer level.

[AndOne]

Oops. I listened to the NWU announcers talk a out how they used to be the Plainsmen and called them that Sorry Prairie Wolves.

Ah yes, the Prairie Wolves. 🤮

The wonderful team nickname enacted in 2000 under the regime of NWU's only female President, Jeanie Watson (1997-2006).
The NWU women's teams were understandably a bit miffed at being referred to as Plainsmen. However, rather than fixing the problem by following the simple and popular notion of retaining Plainsmen for the men's teams, and installing Plainswomen as the new moniker for the women, the learned NWU Administration spearheaded by President Watson decided to cast both tradition and historical correctness (Nebraska certainly being situated on the Great Plains) to the winds. Then, thinking caps firmly in place, they came up with the woeful Prairie Wolves name.
Rumor has it the idea originated one evening after President Watson viewed the Kevin Costner movie Dances with Wolves. 🙃

[AndOne]

Through some spectacularly bad planning, I will be out of the country for the Central loathsome Simpson game.   Even though I probably won't even be able to find an English language internet connection on game day, I will still try to do my part to make rivalry week special.  So here is my first shot at the loathsome Storm. 
Q: What does it mean when you see a Simpson grad drool out of both corners of his mouth?
A: He finally got his trailer level.

And how do the Simpson alums feel about this dig? 🤔

[Schipper Strong]

Oops. I listened to the NWU announcers talk a out how they used to be the Plainsmen and called them that Sorry Prairie Wolves.

Ah yes, the Prairie Wolves. 🤮

The wonderful team nickname enacted in 2000 under the regime of NWU's only female President, Jeanie Watson (1997-2006).
The NWU women's teams were understandably a bit miffed at being referred to as Plainsmen. However, rather than fixing the problem by following the simple and popular notion of retaining Plainsmen for the men's teams, and installing Plainswomen as the new moniker for the women, the learned NWU Administration spearheaded by President Watson decided to cast both tradition and historical correctness (Nebraska certainly being situated on the Great Plains) to the winds. Then, thinking caps firmly in place, they came up with the woeful Prairie Wolves name.
Rumor has it the idea originated one evening after President Watson viewed the Kevin Costner movie Dances with Wolves. 🙃

Thanks for the history on that name change. Central had played them back when they were still the Plainsmen and I think I still think of them as that. Central used to be the Flying Dutchman named after a speedy slave ship. Central ditched the slave ship name and solved the gender issue by shortening it to the Dutch, relating to the town's history.

[Schipper Strong]

What did the former Simpson football player say to the former Central cheerleader as they entered the Wellmark office?  "Good morning boss."  That one is for our MIA on the board Dutchfan1.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I can't believe that I will miss Saturday's Central Simpson game, the biggest game in the history of the American Rivers Conference.

[Schipper Strong]

I can't believe that I will miss Saturday's Central Simpson game, the biggest game in the history of the American Rivers Conference.

Good one.  I would give karma, but I have that up for a better name.

[Schipper Strong]

Did you hear about the Simpson QB who tried to throw himself in the floor in a fit of rage?

He missed.

[Old Dutch]

ok, my annual Simpson jokes:

Why do Simpson football players always go to the movies in groups of 18?  Because 17 and under are not admitted to R rated movies.

Advice to Simpson players:  Do not brag to Indianola residents that your car tag is personalized just because your father made it.

[AndOne]

Oops. I listened to the NWU announcers talk a out how they used to be the Plainsmen and called them that Sorry Prairie Wolves.

Ah yes, the Prairie Wolves. 🤮

The wonderful team nickname enacted in 2000 under the regime of NWU's only female President, Jeanie Watson (1997-2006).
The NWU women's teams were understandably a bit miffed at being referred to as Plainsmen. However, rather than fixing the problem by following the simple and popular notion of retaining Plainsmen for the men's teams, and installing Plainswomen as the new moniker for the women, the learned NWU Administration spearheaded by President Watson decided to cast both tradition and historical correctness (Nebraska certainly being situated on the Great Plains) to the winds. Then, thinking caps firmly in place, they came up with the woeful Prairie Wolves name.
Rumor has it the idea originated one evening after President Watson viewed the Kevin Costner movie Dances with Wolves. 🙃

Thanks for the history on that name change. Central had played them back when they were still the Plainsmen and I think I still think of them as that. Central used to be the Flying Dutchman named after a speedy slave ship. Central ditched the slave ship name and solved the gender issue by shortening it to the Dutch, relating to the town's history.

Ya not even I, often the staunchest opponent of political correctness, could really defend keeping a name associated with slavery. I think that name switch was a good one to make.

However, as a former Plainsmen , I think the name has it all over the Prairie Wolves. 🤮
I was so mad when they changed the name that I wanted to howl! 😏

[DBQ1965]

So ... Nebraska Wesleyan travels to Dubuque this week to take on Loras.  Two weeks later is another trip back to Dubuque to take on UD.  What was the "schedule maker" thinking?