FB: American Rivers Conference

knightlife06 · November 15, 2006, 12:54:46 PM

I thought Brautigam had COY locked up even though central had the undefeated season. 10-0 on the season is quite the accomplishment but winning at a place that has traditionally been a bottom-tier team deserves it as well. For the strength of the league I really hope Dubuque continues to improve. Hopefully this isn't a one year deal with Belleus. Good luck Dutch against the Johnnies on Saturday.

Dsquared · November 15, 2006, 01:03:30 PM

Exactly my point WH. What's to say that talent didn't win those OT games? From what I hear on this board about the WB/Central game, the punter was the difference maker. You can't coach pinning a team that deep that many times in a game.

Brautigam deserves COY above all because he motivated guys through the down years to get to this point. Also, Schuring is DEFINITELY POY, but how close was Belleus? Such a versatile athlete HAD to be at the front of all the voters' minds!

sportsknight · November 15, 2006, 02:19:36 PM

I'd also fall into the group that thinks Braughtigam should be Coach of the Year. Under most circumstances, I would have a hard time selecting the same coach as COY is consecutive years.

Dsquared · November 15, 2006, 02:25:34 PM

2-time POY and COY? That's an interesting point. When is that last time a COY or a POY has repeated in the IIAC, let alone both of them 2 years running?

dutchfan1 · November 15, 2006, 02:38:40 PM

Red blinders aside, I believe that COY is exactly where it should be -- McMartin has done a remarkable job at the helm this season, guiding the Dutch to an undefeated season and a record playoff berth for the Dutch. This may not seem like news around the conference, but after the last few (rocky) seasons in Pella, McMartin led a very tight turn around. He is showing remarkable progress in his short tenure as head coach, and is being rewarded accordingly. Several other coaches around the conference are making great strides, but I think that the reward this season is fitting.

Congrats, also, to Schuring for the MVP nod!! There are some great things happening in Pella right now! Congrats to all others receiving all-conference honors. What a fantastic year in the IIAC.

OK, Red blinders back on: I think the Johnnies are overlooking Central (again) -- some fans are skipping this game and making plans to go to the next. Let's prove them wrong and finally make some real noise in the playoffs this season! Go Dutch!!

Touchdown Tommy · November 15, 2006, 02:41:12 PM

I've got my plane ticket booked for LAX and some beautiful Southern Cali sunshine/beaches/sushi/scantily clad girls/boob jobs etc.

dutchfan1 · November 15, 2006, 02:52:20 PM

Quote from: Touchdown Tommy on November 15, 2006, 02:41:12 PM
I've got my plane ticket booked for LAX and some beautiful Southern Cali sunshine/beaches/sushi/scantily clad girls/boob jobs etc.

Your tickets are refundable, right?

sju56321 · November 15, 2006, 02:53:37 PM

More like some fans are skipping the game because we saw the debacle last Saturday-we just are not confident the team that won 9 games will show up. But if they do, it will be a good game.

dutchfan1 · November 15, 2006, 02:54:00 PM

Quote from: Mighty Royal on November 15, 2006, 02:51:07 PM
Dsquared,
Nice profile pic....likin' it....I post a "Chuck Norris Fact of the Day" almost everyday on the MIAC board, you should join in on the fun!

Mighty Royal

Go Royals, waste LAX!!!!!!!!!

Go Johnnies, eliminate Central!!!!!!

It's seems like the Bethel chant should be, "please, win...olease, please win." Let's not get carried away with chants of "waste LAX."

Ash Park · November 15, 2006, 03:35:18 PM

Congrats to all who made all-conference. Nice to see the Rams didn't get totally snubbed from the list.

Dsquared · November 15, 2006, 03:36:51 PM

WH.... just think... in a short 17 years and some odd months, Baby WH will be on the legal market for Steege! How is the young one doing these days? Keeping her safe from Steege I hope!

Floyd in Iowa City · November 15, 2006, 03:51:25 PM

The conference today also released its all-academic teams for all fall sports:

http://www.iowaconference.com/news/2006-07/1114all_academic.htm

Luther had 53 athletes on the team followed by Coe (36), Wartburg (35), and Central (29).

The Norse selections seem to mirror the success of the teams this fall as football had 7 selections while the men's and women' cross country teams combined for 29. The cross country teams also both won the IIAC championship and qualified as teams for the national meet. Football did not fare as well.

DutchFan2004 · November 15, 2006, 04:10:28 PM

Looking at the IIAC site since 1968 and the beginning of COY only 8 years was the Coach of the Year not the same as the Champ. There were years of multiple winners when one of the coaches was not the Champ and shared the honor. I would say that it was about the way it always has been. The MYP is different in that respect. I didn't take the time to get the numbers but there were more times the MVP and the champs don't line up. Maybe this year should have been a Co-COY in keeping with some of the tradition.

Airborne Dutch · November 15, 2006, 05:06:38 PM

TDT and dutchfan1, I can't comment on the Beakes this year and their tailgating ways. I was the one that organized it a couple of years ago, which I would say was a success despite the outcome of the game. On this weekend's game, I was home on leave from the Army and was able to see the Coe game. The biggest thing I noticed about Central is how much bigger the guys have gotten since I last saw most of them. I was very impressed with the way they carried themselves. Most of the guys understand the history of Central football and are proud to be a part of it. Most of the starters were there during the down years of 2003 and 2004 and they know that this is their time to prove that it was a simple blip in the program. I know Central is back and here to stay. Don't know anything about St. Johns but I look for Central to pound the ball and be fast and physical on defense. That has been the defense's SOP for the entire year and I look for it to continue.

Dsquared · November 15, 2006, 05:09:05 PM

So here's the real question... when does the team's talent level outweigh the coach's need to coach? OBVIOUSLY the WB team of 2003 went 11-1 with their only loss AT the CatDome because of the team's talent level. 10/27 1st team all-conference selections, 12/24 players received all-conference nods (24 because Cody Kelley played both ways, 11-O, 11-D,Ret,K,P). Obviously THAT year the 10-0 mark was trumped by bringing a team out of the ashes with a big name player. Wait... what is that? That is exactly what happened with Dubuque this year? Hmmm... sounds like the selection committee has tulips on the brain and can't see the coach that ACTUALLY made the biggest difference to his team.

All Central fans can say anything they want about McMartin, but Central is and always has been the easiest place to come in and coach in the IIAC. Storied success that no other team in the IIAC has known. Brautigam actually has the last 2 years of coaching that should have backed up his COY award this year! Just last week I was getting the lesson about what a GREAT job he has done by keeping more and more players so the Spartans actually have senior leadership. That is exactly right, and that is exactly why he deserved COY. Decent job with a really good team McMartin (3 OT wins means you didn't do the job in regulation).

I'd be interested to see if Koehler at WB goes 10-0 next year, but UDUB has same success or even more. Brautigam will trump the Evil Empire, and rightfully so!