FB: American Rivers Conference

[coocooforcoekohawk]

I didn't see the Rock bowl, but I'm assuming they have visitor seating there, yes?

[Charlie Kohawk]

The Rock Bowl offers ample seating for friends and foes alike on the east/home grandstand. There is no seating on the west/visitor side. There is no opportunity to get close to the action. No seating in either end zone.

Nice scoreboard, even if it's not properly utilized -- no scores were posted in the Central-Wartburg game and they had Iowa with a big lead well after the Hawks had lost to Northwestern.

They wanted $1 for a program that looked like it cost 18 cents to produce.

I can't judge concessions because the lines were too long. Central seems to be the only Iowa Conference school to get it right, but even they ran out of soda at my only visit this year.

On the plus side, the announcer was good and they seem to have toned down the music. I was pleasantly surprised not to hear AC/DC while injured players laid on the field, unlike prior visits.

[coco]

Warthog,

You are one of the classiest posters on this whole board.
I'm sorry we won't get to see you and the lovely Mrs. Warthog this year.

[dutchfan1]

Congrats to both Wartburg and Central for playing a decent game on Saturday. The momentum was definitely with the Dutch, forcing turnovers and blocking punts, although overall I thought both teams played very well. Wartburg had more all purpose yards than Central if I remember the stats correctly. Reed Hoskins found his mark throughout the day. The penalties and blocked punts definately took their toll on the Knights throughout the day. Where was Knights the special teams play?

My Dutch should feel very proud -- this is the first time since 1997 we walked away from Walston Hoover with a win. Also big congrats to sophomore Vance Schuring who rushed for a career high 175 yards with three TD's...one of the best games since Kackmarynski in 1995 (I believe 184 yards rushing in a single game, vs. UD) Overall, it was a great team effort!

Warthog -- missed seeing you on Saturday. I had a friend with me, and I was trying to show him all of the sights, and educated him on D3 football in general. The trumpet player was making quite a bit of racket, but he added to the festive atmosphere on our side of the field. Standing room only, as usual -- what are the chances we can get some more bleacher room?

WH -- it was good seeing you at the OP before the game. I didn't know you were so patriotic.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Congrats to Central and Coe for getting it done again this weekend!  Loras got the turnovers they needed to beat the Kohawks, but to pull the upset they needed to protect the ball better themselves.

There has been talk on the last few pages about preseason expectations, and I wanted to add my two cents.  The only people I remember saying Dubuque would be a contender that beat top teams were a few Spartan fans.  Spartan fans on this board were also the ones that said that they had the best team speed in the league.  None of those statements were reflected in the preseason coaches' poll.

Central was only picked 5th in the league, but there was good reason for that.  They were 6-4 last season and graduated a lot of players from both sides of the ball.  If I remember correctly they returned only 3 starters from an offense that was last in the league in rushing in 2004.  I can easily see how outsiders would have questioned whether the Dutch would realistically contend for the title.  What they have done this year is a credit to the coaches and players on that team as they have bucked the preseason picks this season just as they did they past two years when they finished lower than expectations.

Wartburg might now finish 3rd, but if I had to do it all over again I would have picked them 1st just because they had shared or won the last three titles.  There were signs of problems with the way they played towards the end of 2004, but they were the champs until someone knocked them off.

There is a theme here with running the ball.  Central was picked 5th this year because they could not run it in 2004, while Luther was picked 2nd because they led the league in rushing in 2004.  The Norse returned 8 offensive starters from the best offense in the league, and they were living up to expectations as a unit until Sherden got hurt.  It is disappointing for the Luther program that the running game mostly disappeared after Lamos also got hurt, but how many other quality programs around the country would also fall back after a conference MVP-type player was lost for half of a season?  The Norse Defense was more average this season as any year in recent memory, but they were picked high and had a chance at reaching those expectations with a healthy MVP contender.

Luther actually could be considered lucky to be 3-2 without Sherden, as the Norse had no running game in the loss to B.V. or in the win against Cornell on Saturday.  Some Luther fans will say that they could have easily beaten Coe, Central, and B.V. but they could also have easily lost to Cornell, Loras, and Simpson.  5-3 and in 4th place in the league is about what they deserved given what kind of team they were down the stretch.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

In action from IIAC non-conference opponents, Augustana (lost to Central) moved to 6-0 in the CCIW and 8-1 overall after beating North Central in a big showdown, 20-17.  North Central falls to 5-1 in league play and 8-1 overall.  Augustana wins the league title.

Illinois Wesleyan (lost to Simpson) lost to Carthage, 42-7.  The loss drops them to 2-4 in CCIW action and 3-6 overall.

Millikin (beat Wartburg) lost to Elmhurst, 42-35.  Their season has really gone south as they are now 1-5 in the league and 4-5 overall.

St. Olaf (beat Luther) lost to Concordia, 49-35.  St. Olaf falls from playoff contention at 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the league as Concordia ran all over them.  Concordia is still alive for a playoff berth at 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the MIAC.  The Oles had a great offense but couldn't play defense against St. John's and Concordia.

Bethel (beat B.V. and lost to Central) beat Augsburg in the Metrodome, 17-14.  The Royals improve to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the MIAC while the Auggies fall to 1-8 overall and 1-6 in the MIAC.  A tough first year for the Augsburg coaching staff, but wrestling is almost here.

St. Thomas (lost to Coe) beat Hamline, 35-13.  The Tommies are now 4-4 overall and 4-3 in the MIAC.  They play the big rivalry game with St. John's this week.

Waldorf (lost to B.V.) lost to Simpson, 48-13.  The Warriors are now 2-8 and play Drake this week.  Waldorf was able to beat Martin Luther earlier this season, 10-2.

[Longtooth]

I know that this is not in any way affiliated with the GPAC, but did anyone else see that Dordt College is starting football?  Is that a decent place, and do you think that they should look to go to DIII?

[The Show]

Wouldn't they fit in better and be comparable with a Waldorf?

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Let me apologize for Charlie Kohawk.  He is not a graduate of Coe College.  That is why he is unable to say anything objective, insightful, or interesting in his posts.  He is an employee of Coe who does not have much contact with the students at Coe.  Why someone who did not go to Coe would hijack our mascots name for his own use is beyond me.  Once he gets canned from Coe he will not care about the Kohawks one iota.  I understand that the IIAC is a great conference and deserves respect.  I competed for Coe and enjoyed getting to know and respect the other division III athletes I competed against.  Now, I love Coe and think it is a great institution, but I am not going to berate other schools and their facilities just to irritate and malign their fans.  I appreciate that Coe was invited to join the IIAC and thank the rest of the conference for their acceptance. 
Go Kohawks!

[Charlie Kohawk]

Thanks Coocoo. I'm glad to know you've got my back.

[Voice of Coe]

I have not been on here long (mostly just as a lurker), but from what I have observed, CooCoo has some very valid points.  As an alumni, he has the right to express his opinions in a way that he feels will benefit the college.  Do the visitor stands at Clark Field suck?  Yes they do.  Can visitors invade the home stands and move the sacred blankets if they want to sit on the home side of the field?  Sure they can.  While CooCoo isn't part of the "Good ol boy network" of Coe College, he deserves to be heard and his opinions respected.

[kohawk2004]

Since this is my first post, i'll take this chance to set some things straight.  Isn't this a football website?  I'm pretty sure it is since it'd d3football.com.  So i don't quite get why you have to attack Charlie Kohawk's job at Coe.  He hasn't responded to your level by taking personal shots at you so i just don't see the point.  Just because someone didn't graduate from Coe doesn't mean you can't be a kohawk.  Other than Phifer, I dare you to find someone who is more of a kohawk than Charlie Kohawk.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

     Now I am conflicted.  I read on here that I should hope for 2 IIAC teams in the play-offs.  I can see where that would be a good thing.  But, as a Central fan, wouldn't I rather see them as conference champ without the co or Coe attached.  Maybe if Central is the conference champ and automatic qualifier, maybe they get a play-off first round home game, maybe.  On the third hand, as a Central fan, it wouldn't feel right rooting for Simpson to beat Coe or to win at anything else for that matter.
     And before everyone reminds me, I know that the biggest mistake the Dutch could make is to not concentrate on this week's game with BV.  So Go Central!  Beat the Beavers!  And as for Simpson and Coe, eh.  Whatever happens happens.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

I'll set you straight kohawk 2004.  Charlie fired the first shots.  When I discussed the lack of visitor seating at Coe, which is a problem, Charlie decided to go to the Athletic Director at Coe to berate me.  In this world there is what is right and what is wrong and the lack of seating for visitors is wrong.  If you are so biased that you can not see what is right and what is wrong then it is my opinion that your bias should be challenged.  Charlie repeatedly makes crass back handed comments about other teams, their facilities, and their players.  Coe is not the almighty in this conference, but Charlie cannot hear that.  If he were to be fired by Coe would he still care about the Kohawks?  You answer that question for yourself.  I was not chosen to be an assistant coach at Coe back in the day.  Did that change how I felt about my alma mater.  Absolutely not.  Does Wagner still love Coe deep in his heart.  I bet he does.  Go back and read all of this board from start to finish and then come back to me about your opinion of Charlie Kohawk.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

coocoo,
So why air our questions here where it might undermine the team? The coaches hold a weekly Quarterback Club where they take questions from all in attendance. Are you going to ask the coach of a 7-1 team why he's not utilizing his running game differently? I'm sure not.

that sounds like an attack to me kohawk 2004.  He's saying that I am trying to undermine the Kohawks ability to win.