FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

Lets face it guys, our conference has a ways to go to get respect both regionally and nationally. We could start by winning a playoff game which no one from the IIAC has done since the first round of '03. Right now we are 0 for our last 6. That plays a big part in where our guys get on all-region teams.

[BoBo]

Very surprised with the all region teams.  Congrats to those from the IIAC that made it, as they were all more than deserving. 

What I can't figure out is how Northern couldn't make it ...... I feel he definitely had the numbers. 

Also how does Brock Hall from Loras not make it?? He is arguably the best LB in the conference and I know he is one of the best in the regionl .....

There were also a few others i couldn't figure out ......

It's wise to verify if the players you mentioned were even nominated by the schools they represent.  There were some from Whitewater on the WIAC board that were complaining about guys being left off, too, only to discover from PC that they were not even nominated.  Also, if they were nominated, some positions are stronger than others.  The guys you mentioned might just might not have made the cut because of the exceptional competition.  Just a thought...
Thanks.

[KoHawk01]

The guys I mentioned (Brock Hall and Ashton Northern) were both nominated for all region by their respective schools.  I'm aware that the region has some very tough competition at the runningback and linebacker levels, but looking at the numbers, both of these guys were more than deserving. 

Northern was the conference leader in all purpose yards.  He was 4 yards shy of being the leading rusher (which means he was second  ), with about 37 less carries than the conference leader.  I feel not getting the ball near the end zone really hurt his cause

Hall was third in the conference in tackles, and right around 15th in the Nation in tackles, also a league leader in sacks and had the most for all LB's if i recall.  He also ranked up near the top with tackles for loss too.  I did some research and some of the LB's that received all-region had nowhere near the numbers he did.  I strongly feel if Hall was on a top team in the conference he would be receiving many many more accolades  than what he has so far. 

Just my two cents .... if ya' disagree, well ... I understand ...  Hope the holiday season is treatin' ya'll well  8)

[Walston Hoover]

Just like I said before Kohawk- The IIAC isn't necesarrily thought of as "cream of the crop" competition around the region and nation right now.

[hawk1015]

Walston and Kohawk,

It's all political.  Is your team in the playoffs?  Nope, then you are not an all-region pick(For the most part).  But I have seen it go the other way because the Offense MVP, 1000 yd rusher, 1st team All Region player last year,  was completely left off the North Region this year.  That makes no sense?  And I don't think that the IIAC is thought of as a weaker conference.  I coach in a different region and coaches over here think the IIAC has a strong tradition and would probably still not think about scheduling Central, Coe, Wartburg, etc.  Give the IIAC a little credit guys its a great "Black and Blue" Conference.  It's a physical, smashmouth conference.  And if St. John's hadn't lost their last game them Central would have beaten whoever else they played.  We got hosed!  Can't wait for next year! 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Do any of the Wartburg guys know why Jacob Naig is not wrestling?  I thought he might just be sidelined for a short time with an injury, but I see he is no longer even in the rankings at 149.

Wartburg and Luther both appear to have good wrestling teams again this year and many Iowa Conference teams are ranked in the top-20.  Coe has caught my eye a little bit so far this year as they seem like they are off to the kind of start that a veteran Loras team had last year.

National rankings as of December 10 -
#2 Wartburg
#3 Luther
#10 Coe
#16 Cornell
#17 Loras
#18 Dubuque
#20 Buena Vista

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Luther starts 2007 by playing St. Olaf, Central, and Wartburg, so at least the years of playing Coe and Wartburg back-to-back early in the season has ended!  

The Norse have some athletic ability on both sides of the ball, but the Luther Defense and Special Teams may have to find at least one impact player at LB, DT, and K if they hope to match up at all with the early part of the schedule.

It better be a good off-season of strength and conditioning in Decorah!

[doolittledog]

Do any of the Wartburg guys know why Jacob Naig is not wrestling?  I thought he might just be sidelined for a short time with an injury, but I see he is no longer even in the rankings at 149.

Wartburg and Luther both appear to have good wrestling teams again this year and many Iowa Conference teams are ranked in the top-20.  Coe has caught my eye a little bit so far this year as they seem like they are off to the kind of start that a veteran Loras team had last year.

National rankings as of December 10 -
#2 Wartburg
#3 Luther
#10 Coe
#16 Cornell
#17 Loras
#18 Dubuque
#20 Buena Vista

7 of 9 schools ranked in the top 20, wow!!!  Of course now that the conference portion of the schedule is starting...does that end up knocking schools out of the rankings???

Dubuque had a good weekend, beating 3 ranked teams, BV, one of the Wisconsin schools, and NAIA William Penn

[dutchfan1]

Just like I said before Kohawk- The IIAC isn't necesarrily thought of as "cream of the crop" competition around the region and nation right now.

Wouldn't we fair better in another region.
Take Central for instance.  They get St. John's at the seven seed.
Other teams that were seventh in their region were
Wittenberg 7-3 they lost to Capital in the regular season by 50
Milsaps       7-3 they started the season 0-3
and Curry   11-0 but who ever heard of Curry? They lost first round so they are like an MWC team that goes undefeated.  They don't play anyone.  I think that our conference is better than where our playoff record lands us.  It would be nice to see how we would fair if the playoffs were not Regional but National.  Last year Coe would have played Rowan if you took the rankings and matched everyone up.  I would bet we'd have beaten them.
Alas, would it be that if's and but's were candy and nuts we would all have a merry christmas.

Everyone recognises that Central got a tough first round draw. Even the guys from D3 thought we got a tough draw:
"Toughest first-round draw
Coleman: The Texas matchup, as always. But after that, Central's reward for going 10-0 is a home date with St. John's? Yikes."(From "Around the Nation" 11/16) 
Playing the Johnnies first round wasn't exactly the reward we were looking for after our perfect season. HOWEVER -- in order to gain any credibility, we need to defeat some non-conference teams when it comes playoff time, regardless of the caliber of team we are paired with. Personally, I would rather play (and lose to) a tough team right off the bat, and grow as a team from the experience, rather than humiliating a patsy team. This year's Central team (unlike the teams of the past) has not been road-tested in the post season. This experience will improve the team as a whole, and we will come back hungrier than ever to make some noise next year.

In other words, in order to be the best, we need to beat the best -- we (meaning anyone in the IIAC) need to be prepared to do so next season. Until we do, we won't garner the respect that we all feel that we deserve.

[KennethK]

Luther starts 2007 by playing St. Olaf, Central, and Wartburg, so at least the years of playing Coe and Wartburg back-to-back early in the season has ended!  

The Norse have some athletic ability on both sides of the ball, but the Luther Defense and Special Teams may have to find at least one impact player at LB, DT, and K if they hope to match up at all with the early part of the schedule.

It better be a good off-season of strength and conditioning in Decorah!

Can't  help thinking of next year.  So Luther plays St Olaf.  Any other match ups between IIAC and MIAC teams in 2007?

[DutchFan2004]

Central opens the season next year at home with St. Thomas. I think BV opens with Bethel as well.

[doolittledog]

Central opens the season next year at home with St. Thomas. I think BV opens with Bethel as well.

Looking at the schools websites I only noticed Cornell and Luther with 2007 schedules posted. 

Where are you getting this info?  I would like to get full schedules because my wife and I are planning on making a few trips this year to games across the state. 

Also, Luther lists Loras as a non-conference game and Waldorf as a conference game...hmm, I suspect that is a typo.

[doolittledog]

Can't  help thinking of next year.  So Luther plays St Olaf.  Any other match ups between IIAC and MIAC teams in 2007?

I've found the 2007 schedules for Central, Cornell, Loras, and Luther.

As far as IIAC and MIAC matchups go we have

St. Thomas @ Central Sept. 1st
St. Olaf @ Luther Sept. 1st
Cornell @ Northwestern Mn.  Sept. 1st (They're UMAC maybe)

St. Thomas @ Loras Sept. 8th

[Walston Hoover]

I think Wartburg is playing Augsburg again.

ROll Call
What does everyone on the board want for Christmas.
I want an Easy Bake oven.

[DutchFan2004]

Walston are you teaching your daughter to bake this soon?