FB: American Rivers Conference

[Dsquared]

Should be Levick gymnasium... period.  No money necessary, just a tribute to a great coach!

Everyone who is questioning Charlie's comment... you all must have Dubuque educations if you don't get the joke.  Nice one Charlie... you stumped 'em!!

[Walston Hoover]

My picks for the week, as the resident expert (thanks, Stormtruper!)

Coe over Cornell
Wartburg over UD
Loras over Luther -- although I would really like to see Luther pull this one out.
BV over the high school team they are playing
Central over Simpson -- in a game that isn't nearly as close as people are predicting. Central has this one locked up by half-time.  Yep, that's what I said, Simpson fans!

Well Dutchie, its going to be a tie between us regardless of Saturday's outcomes since we have the same picks. I'll do some research and guess the total number of completed passes by IIAC teams this Saturday and let you pick the over/under. How does that sound?

[lorbec47]

For all of you guys bashing UD's educational programs, why don't you step out and spit in our faces next time. I suppose you thinks that's funny, but that's BS.

[Dsquared]

Take some offense to it why don't you, lorbec.  Quit being a vag and bash back... it was a joke thrown out there by Charlie.  Each of our institutions gets ripped on here at one time or another... the key is to NOT LET IT GET TO YOU.

[Storm-what?]

Woah Dutchfan! I'm afraid the Dutch pride is clouding your usual judgement! 

Are you confident enough that you'll give me 14 points for bragging rights? (Well, I mean, if you win, you get to brag anyway- but you'll concede that it was a tighter game than you predicted).

Congrats to the Simpson Volleygirls, just swept Maryville in round one of regional play.

[dutchfan1]

Woah Dutchfan! I'm afraid the Dutch pride is clouding your usual judgement! 

Are you confident enough that you'll give me 14 points for bragging rights? (Well, I mean, if you win, you get to brag anyway- but you'll concede that it was a tighter game than you predicted).

Congrats to the Simpson Volleygirls, just swept Maryville in round one of regional play.

Sure.

[Ash Park]

Ok ok what I meant by other things was like the brick sidewalk that costed millions of dollars which is called the ped mall. They have also renovated other buildings on campus but nothing to athletics. So I guess I should have worded it better but oh well, sorry charlie but not really. I wasn't even aware that Coe has academics. Sorry I just have to throw a jab or two this week.

[dutchfan1]

My picks for the week, as the resident expert (thanks, Stormtruper!)

Coe over Cornell
Wartburg over UD
Loras over Luther -- although I would really like to see Luther pull this one out.
BV over the high school team they are playing
Central over Simpson -- in a game that isn't nearly as close as people are predicting. Central has this one locked up by half-time.  Yep, that's what I said, Simpson fans!

Well Dutchie, its going to be a tie between us regardless of Saturday's outcomes since we have the same picks. I'll do some research and guess the total number of completed passes by IIAC teams this Saturday and let you pick the over/under. How does that sound?

You know, WH, just so we have a true winner, I'll change one of my picks. I'll choose Luther over Loras. I think it'll be a tight ball game, regardless. Fair enough?

[Willie University]

For all of you guys bashing UD's educational programs, why don't you step out and spit in our faces next time. I suppose you thinks that's funny, but that's BS.

Don't sweat it Lorbec47, the fact of the matter is they are jealous of UD right now. UD is on the move....academically(one example- received $400K frecently from the state to continue Biotechnological research, athletically (athletic teams better showing in IIAC as a whole then the previous decade), and aesthetically (have constructed a new library, new technology center, 6 new apartment buildings, new soccer complex, new classroom and administrative building, new science building ALL in the past 8 years, and now, a new rec & wellness center, football stadium, and renovation of old sports center . Jealous that UD is the top fundraising school in the state and one of the top in the country (2006 Case award winner), jealous that successful alums want to give back to make UD even better (ex: new 22 million dollar Rec & Wellness Center and Football Stadium).

Of course when someone is on the rise, there will always be people trying to bring them down. But, the fact of the matter is that they can't and so they continue to make idiotic comments like that and continue to watch UD become better and better. Usually, it's someone from loras but in this case I don't believe it was. But, jealously will get you no where fast. Oh, and if you want to verify anything I stated above, most of it you can find on the homepage .......www.dbq.edu  

Willie U

PS- Dutchfan1, I have been lurking, for a couple seasons. Didn't feel I had much to say that I already hadn't up till now. Thanks for welcome back and good luck this weekend.

[lorbec47]

I guess it's just been one of those weeks...what the heck here goes.

I suppose Charlie is just ticked at UD because they actually have GRASS, and not a pile of dirt to practice on. There wasn't one football field my high school team played at all season that you couldn't see the game better than a Coe visitor game. NIIICCCEEEEE....

[Dsquared]

The research grant is comparing apples to oranges, as over 70% of the schools in the IIAC are not research institutions.

As for the improvements to the campus, welcome to Wartburg's shadow.  I guess $90 million in funds raised over the course of 4 years shows no alum support.  I'd say that Luther is the standard-setter when it comes to fundraising in the IIAC, with Wartburg a close 2nd.  Look at that... a WB alum giving Luther the credit it deserves!!!  You can all tell the McCarney "resignation" is hitting me hard today

Everyone else, the positive comments towards UD's football team this year has gone to their heads!!  Let's take a look back at the all-sports trophies for the last 5 years (from iowaconference.com).  UD's final standings, going from most recent to 5 years ago: 8th(M) 9th(W) T-last(overall), 8th(M) 9th(W) 9th(overall), 9th(M) 9th(W) 9th(overall), 9th(M) 9th(W) 9th(overall), 10th(M) 9th(W) T-last(overall).  That is DEFINITELY a program worth screaming about for it's "athletic movement".  The only teams they've come in ahead of in the last 5 years are Cornell and UIU.  Way to go UD!!!

[Storm-what?]

Willie- I actually read about UD's fundraising earlier this week. That is pretty impressive and I'd say the IIAC, especially in Eastern Iowa, better start paying attention cuz there might be another school vying for recruits!

[dutchfan1]

I think that this season's football sucess for UD is just the tip of the iceburg. I'm expecting good things to come out of UD in the near future. D2 is still living in denial -- I think everyone else in the conference recognises the progress. Overall, if our historically uncompetitive schools start making some real noise within the conference, the IIAC will be stronger overall.

[Dsquared]

I repeat... WHAT PROGRESS?!?!?!???  So they'll jump from last place to #7 this year.  Minus a key D-1 transfer, their football team is 2-5 right now... MAYBE 3-4 (which is a huge improvement... but really... not enough to brag about).  You've got to earn respect in this conference... so the football team strung together (to this point) 4 conference wins.  Central hung 40 on them and Coe hung 37 on them in Dubuque.  If everyone else views "up-and-coming" programs as bottom dwellers, you have my permission to say I don't have vision and you can call me whatever the heck you want to call me.

[dutchfan1]

You don't build an empire in a season. Period. You have to start the climb somewhere -- when you start at the bottom, the climb is that much steeper. Success is cyclical -- more money is pumped into the program, facilities improve, quality recruits start taking a second look, better players/more talent signs on... nothing turns itself around in a season. I think the folks at UD are making the right steps to build something in Dubuque that is going to last for longer than a season. If they are still basement dwellers 3-5 years from now, I'll admit that I was wrong. I know that patience isn't something you learn much about in Waverly, but D2, the rest of us realize it is going to take time and are willing to watch the program take shape.