FB: American Rivers Conference

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I don't know if 2006 IIAC teams are weaker or stronger than earlier editions.  The thing I am pretty sure everyone agrees on is that there is more parity.  I think this affects more things than just the scores of conference games and I think it has an effect on the conference representative's performance in the play-offs.  Ten years ago, if you wanted to play football at an IIAC school and, you wanted to play for a winner, you had limited choices.  So those teams got the talent and had the depth to make a playoff run.  Another effect of parity and close games is, second stringers and the guys who are going to be next year's first stringers don't get much game time.  I follow things from afar but it seems like, for the last four years, Central's starters have been on the field the whole game.  I was never a player so I don't know how much difference it makes when fewer people get game time.  Even if it isn't a factor in play-off performance, it seems like it might affect the ability to keep a "dynasty" going.  I seem to remember that the years Central won a couple of play-off games were also the years they had most of their conference games won by half-time.

[SJU09]

Just curious, when is the last time an IIAC school made the West Region Final? 

[redmen]

Simpson won the west region in '97.  Not sure, but I think that might be the last time for an IIAC school.

[d-train]

Just curious, when is the last time an IIAC school made the West Region Final? 

Wasn't '00 SJU vs. Central? SJU beat PLU in overtime and the Dutch won in the mud in Oregon in that year's second round.

[DuffMan]

2000 was the last time.

2000 SJU over Central
2001 SJU over PLU
2002 SJU over Linfield
2003 SJU over Linfield
2004 Linfield over Occidental
2005 Whitewater over Linfield
2006 SJU over Whitewater (I hope )

[DutchFan2004]

Walston,

I am sure you are correct in what you say about the last 8 years.  With the Dutch in the regional finals in 00 I am sure that was a good team.  I was trying to say that with the up and down the Dutch have had the most recent teams were better than the 02-03 versions.  The point is taken that maybe the IIAC is not as strong and I think you raise valid points about the D2 schools saying here you have a scholarship if you play ball here.  Kids look at it and then they can crow about how they went to school on an athletic scholarship.  Most I think would get better financial packages with the IIAC schools if they stop and check it out.  The walk on issue I don't think you will ever get passed.  It is some kids dream to be a Hawk or a Clone.  You can't fault the kids for trying to obtain their dreams how ever much a waste of talent may be. 

[DuffMan]

With the Dutch in the regional finals in 00 I am sure that was a good team. 

The 2000 Dutch team was very impressive.  They nearly beat the Johnnies that day, and there is no doubt in my mind that, had they won, they would have beaten Hardin-Simmons in the semis and faced Mount for the title that year.

[Walston Hoover]

I don't remember the '00 Dutch being that good, just leading them at the half and having what seemed like our entire team get hurt in the second half.
That brings up an interesting question-In terms of being better than the rest of the conference-Which IIAC team is the best the last 10 years.
I suppose you have to mention SImpson led by the great J-Dub in '97, I'll throw in Wartburg of '03 led by the great R-Dub.
Possible Central of '98 as well.

[DuffMan]

I don't remember the '00 Dutch being that good, just leading them at the half and having what seemed like our entire team get hurt in the second half.

Well, they nearly beat SJU.  H-S did not impress me at all in 2000 (SJU monkey-stomped them in the semis).  SJU nearly beat MUC in the Stagg (last second field goal for MUC 10-7).  So, I'd say Central was pretty decent that year.

[dutchfan1]

I don't remember the '00 Dutch being that good, just leading them at the half and having what seemed like our entire team get hurt in the second half.

Well, they nearly beat SJU.  H-S did not impress me at all in 2000 (SJU monkey-stomped them in the semis).  SJU nearly beat MUC in the Stagg (last second field goal for MUC 10-7).  So, I'd say Central was pretty decent that year.

That was a special year of Central football. That's the last year that I remember a truly dominant team out of the IIAC. (As I recall, we should have had SJU that season, too....)

[dutchfan1]

Congrats to Central's Ben Bollard for being named to the Aztec Bowl roster. http://www.central.edu/athletics/football/archive/112706.htm

[HoosierinIowa]

I do think the talent level is more evenly distributed than it was during my era in the mid to late 1980's.  The best team I have seen in the last ten years was Wartburg in 1999.  If Central had McMartin running the offense in 2000 they would have been very hard to beat. 

[sc_stormchaser]

If you look at all the IIAC teams for the past 10 years, I believe the '97 Simpson team would be tough to beat. I just looked back at the schedule from that year...that team averaged 49 points/game in the first 12 games. Stud QB (2-time IIAC MVP), tough back, and a huge O-line...I'm not positive but I think all of the O-linemen were either 1st or 2nd team All-Conference and a couple of them were All-Americans. Tough team to beat - except if you're Mt. Union - that game was ugly.

[The Show]

Carlos Martinez was signed to the Cowboys practice squad this past Thursday.  Maybe he can beat out Gramatica.

http://www.bvu.edu/athletics/fullarticle.jsp?id=7048&category=Football

[knightlife06]

I'll put my vote up for Wartburg '03 being one of the best teams in the last 8 years to come out of the IIAC.  I can't speak for much of what happend before '01 because I didn't follow the IIAC as close as I do now.  The '03 team had a big play offense coupled with a Tenacious D.  Names like Kelley, Winter, Vories, Heitman, and Velky on offense, wow, lots of playmakers.  The Defense was solid acrossed the board except for MLB, but the rest of the unit did a good job of covering him up:)  That was a fun year, had Linfield on the ropes.