FB: American Rivers Conference

MediaGuy · November 14, 2024, 03:36:36 PM

Quote from: DriftlessDuhawk on November 12, 2024, 10:53:22 PMWith regards to the looming playoffs, I think it is going to be very interesting to see how ARC teams schedule teams in the nonconference moving forward. Logan Hansen has long been ringing the bell that NPI simply favors win percentage (for this season and next) over scheduling good teams. I wonder if a team like Wartburg looks at their nonconference scheduling of St. Johns as a detriment due to that loss having potentially disastrous effects on their NPI number (yes I know they have locked up the conference AQ and thus it doesn't matter but if they did not it would). But for other teams in the conference (UD playing UWP and Aurora/Loras playing Hope) what good do these games do if these teams ever dream of getting into the tournament? I know Coe plays Cornell due to the history of that game but it is actually going to be the reason they get into the playoff field this year. Had they played a stronger opponent and lost it most likely would have kept them on the outside looking in.

I would like to think that following the next season the NPI dials would be reset but there are a number of conferences that are going to benefit from the current set-up and I would imagine they would push back against this idea. In the meantime, that sound you hear is Luther's phone ringing off the hook from every team in the country looking to take a trip to play in Decorah on the blue turf...

Scheduling is an art sometime and for solid top 15 teams, it can be difficult. Wartburg only got 4 home games this year because we couldn't get anyone to sign a home/home agreement and other teams were asking for $ to come play a one season non-conference game in Waverly.
The lower/mid level teams might be getting plenty of calls, but that just makes it more difficult for a Wartburg/SJU/NCC or WIAC team to get non-conference home games without cutting a check.

doolittledog · November 16, 2024, 05:52:49 PM

UD ends their season with a 56-21 victory at BVU. Thank you to the senior class. Anxious to see how the 2nd season under the Maiuri leadership plays out.

hazzben · November 17, 2024, 06:02:51 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first time Bethel and Coe have ever played. Now I gotta convince my wife she really wants to visit Cedar Rapids next weekend!

What can I sell her on to convince her it's more than a football road trip? Any recs?

hazzben · November 17, 2024, 06:06:09 PM

UWP @ Wartburg is a really intriguing matchup as well.

The left side of the bracket is stacked, but we are used to that west of the Mississippi.

doolittledog · November 17, 2024, 07:23:56 PM

Quote from: hazzben on November 17, 2024, 06:02:51 PMCorrect me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first time Bethel and Coe have ever played. Now I gotta convince my wife she really wants to visit Cedar Rapids next weekend!

What can I sell her on to convince her it's more than a football road trip? Any recs?

Big Grove Brewery
Cedar Ridge Distillery
I do have interests outside of alcohol. But those two are nice places.

BLynn · November 17, 2024, 10:22:14 PM

Quote from: hazzben on November 17, 2024, 06:02:51 PMCorrect me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first time Bethel and Coe have ever played. Now I gotta convince my wife she really wants to visit Cedar Rapids next weekend!

What can I sell her on to convince her it's more than a football road trip? Any recs?

If she's a scrapbooker, C.R. has one of the Midwest's best stores. Scrapmania My wife is a professional scrapper.

Pat Coleman · November 18, 2024, 11:22:54 AM

The hosting site for the Coe-Bethel game has been changed:
https://d3football.com/playoffs/2024/ncaa-flips-bracket

DuffMan · November 18, 2024, 12:42:38 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on November 18, 2024, 11:22:54 AMThe hosting site for the Coe-Bethel game has been changed:
https://d3football.com/playoffs/2024/ncaa-flips-bracket

@hazzben, how did you pull that off???

hazzben · November 18, 2024, 01:25:01 PM

Quote from: DuffMan on November 18, 2024, 12:42:38 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on November 18, 2024, 11:22:54 AMThe hosting site for the Coe-Bethel game has been changed:
https://d3football.com/playoffs/2024/ncaa-flips-bracket

@hazzben, how did you pull that off???

Bribed the NCAA playoff game host with the promise of steaks at Baldamar.

In all seriousness, I'm glad they got it right, but would be very annoyed if I was Coe.

Since you answered my question. Places I'd hit up in the area of Bethel:
Breakfast: Churchill St, Olivers, Original Pancake House, RJ Riches (greasy spoon option)
Dinner: Baldamar (Steak), Lindy's (Steak), Tipsy Steer (burgers/bar food), La Tapatia, Churchill St., Olivers
Breweries: Bent Brewstillery, Surley, Pryes, Inbound

DriftlessDuhawk · November 21, 2024, 09:51:39 PM

I am interested in how the ARC will fair this year in the playoffs. My gut tells me not very well but I could be wrong. I have made my opinion known about Coe so far this year. Really good team. But I do not think that they are great. I think they got an unfortunate draw and pulled Bethel. A team with a great offense and a great rush defense. I think this may be the end of the line for the Kohawks in 2024. That being said if they can make this a game and get past Bethel then they will probably beat Lake Forest by 21 (thanks NPI!).

I feel that Wartburg is a great team but not like they have had in previous years. They are the same fundamentally sound, never make a mistake team they have put out there almost every other year, but they are missing the high-end talent at the positions that matter when you play against other disciplined teams. I think that had they gotten a better draw (#12 vs #13 in NPI shouldn't be a ~~first-round~~ "second-round" game *sigh*) they probably win a playoff game or two. But pulling the WIAC champ in round one is rough. I feel that UWP may be too much for this Knights team. UWP's starting RB may be out for the game so that could play a factor.

Would be cool to see a all ARC game with a chance to go to the quarterfinals on the line. Just don't think it is in the cards this year.

DBQ1965 · November 22, 2024, 07:04:25 AM

Something strange happened on IIAC this morning. Pick'em disappeared when I tapped it. Any suggestions?

Pat Coleman · November 22, 2024, 09:55:50 AM

Quote from: DBQ1965 on November 22, 2024, 07:04:25 AMSomething strange happened on IIAC this morning. Pick'em disappeared when I tapped it. Any suggestions?

https://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=5379.3000

DBQ1965 · November 22, 2024, 02:04:56 PM

Thank you Pat.🫡

DriftlessDuhawk · November 24, 2024, 09:34:01 AM

Props to Coe. Hung in there and gave Bethel much more of a game than I thought they would. Some timely turnovers helped and they were able to keep it close and not let Bethel run away with it. 22 rushing yards just isn't going to get it done in the playoffs. Bethel's front looked about as legit as any could.

MediaGuy · November 24, 2024, 10:39:09 AM

Went down a rabbit hole with only 8 games to watch and thought I'd put together a "Daddy Warbucks" bracket with all teams seeded and unlimited flights.
Got some interesting matchups but also had 7 flights in the first round and 12 in the second assuming highest seed won in first round.

(can't figure out how to share a pdf or jpeg so if someone wants to let me know how, I'll share it)