FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

unless he was following a 20 game loosing streak or some other type of disaster.  What makes up Union?

It may have been close to that. I know we didn't take them too seriously when I was in HS.
LaPorte City, Dysart, Geneseo, maybe more.

[doolittledog]

I believe last years Union team went 3-6 but the previous 2 seasons they were 6-3 each time.  Losing the final game of the season when a win would have locked up a place in the state tourney. 

When I was in school at La Porte City before it was Union you could pretty much expect a 2-7 season with 1 of our 2 wins each year being against Dysart.  Then the 2 school districts merge to form Union and they have had a bunch of 5-4 and 6-3 seasons. 

In my days there our boys teams stunk but the girls teams were all pretty much successfull.  As far as IIAC players we had 1 guy go to Cornell that played football and was all conference in wrestling.  We had another go to Wartburg and was their starting punter for a few seasons.  That's all my old brain can come up with on short notice. 

[Alfredeneumann]

NOW FOR THEY GUY WHO HAS A HUGE TURN-AROUND JOB

Trojans choose football coach
By KELLY BEATON, Courier Sports Writer

WATERLOO --- Granted, Justin Penner is a bit short on experience. But his passion for football is hardly short in supply.

That fact, more than anything, is why Penner is Waterloo East's new football coach.

The Courier learned this morning that Penner, a 25-year-old who led Carroll Kuemper the last two seasons, will lead East next fall, pending approval by the Waterloo school board. Penner also must sign a contract before the deal is official.........Penner, a graduate of both BCLUW High and the University of Dubuque, replaces Charlie Aldrich, who resigned last November after two seasons. Prior to his stint in Carroll, Penner was an assistant at Dyersville Beckman under Mike Cooper, currently the head coach at Iowa City West.

"I will bring a very structured environment (to East) and a lot of passion," Penner promised. "And I truly believe great things are going to happen."

[Walston Hoover]

Yep, good luck with that one.

[doolittledog]

Oh come on...where are the jokes???

Coming from UD he will already be used to losing...things like that

[Walston Hoover]

That's true. He's the same age as me so he would have been there during some VERY tough years, including 2000 where I don't know if they scored more than 5 TDs total for the year.
He's going to have to change some attitudes around at East. One would think it would be a job where the sky is the limit.

[Willie University]

That's true. He's the same age as me so he would have been there during some VERY tough years, including 2000 where I don't know if they scored more than 5 TDs total for the year.
He's going to have to change some attitudes around at East. One would think it would be a job where the sky is the limit.

I know Coach Penner very well and if anyone can turn that program around and do what he says he plans to do, it is him. He may be young, but he has already attained a tremendous amount of experience at such a young age. Has also been on both sides of the spectrum--winning (BCLW in high school/beckman and carroll kuemper) and losing (UD during his playing years).

Doolittle- "used to losing", you remind me of an "IIAC uncle tom". Remember, there are players that actually want to make a difference and not just jump on the "bandwagon" as many people to say they were on a team that won the conference even though they never saw the field.

Good thing the players from this years team didn't have your attitude 3 or 4 years ago or they probably wouldn't have achieved the success they did and something no team in 20 years was able to----see my point? They made history and that is significant. Justin Penner may not have but at least he signed on to try..... and now he gets a chance in other ways. He will succeed. I'll bet on it.

Willie U

[sportsknight]

Prior to his stint in Carroll, Penner was an assistant at Dyersville Beckman under Mike Cooper, currently the head coach at Iowa City West.

Don't even know the guy, but I'm now obligated to hate him.

Coming from coaching at two private schools, I think he'll have his eyes opened a bit at East.  Don't get me wrong, the place isn't Alcatraz, but I think he'll have issues come up there that he didn't have to worry about at either Beckman or Kuemper.

As far as the WSR job, I'd like to see the kids go well.  I think Arns knew what was coming down the pike when he got out, but it seems that they have some decent athletes there now, given the recent State Basketball championship.  If Hubbard can get the kids disciplined and working hard, that will be half the battle.

When I was in high school, we played LaPorte City Union a couple times (long before Hubbard was there).  For what its worth, they were one of the few teams that we could go in and be very confident we would win.  We sucked, but not as bad as LCU.  When district assignments came out every two years, we always looked for them, Jesup, and Wyoming Midland as near-guaranteed wins.

[doolittledog]

Calm down Willie...I was making a joke.  I was talking about how I was waiting for all the jokes from other posters on here about Penners past at UD. 

You should know I've defended UD on here many times.  I'm no bandwagon jumper.  I'm with UD during the good and bad times...just like for my Hawkeyes, Cardinals, Blues...LPC Rams/Union Knights...what have you. 

[Willie University]

Calm down Willie...I was making a joke.  I was talking about how I was waiting for all the jokes from other posters on here about Penners past at UD. 

You should know I've defended UD on here many times.  I'm no bandwagon jumper.  I'm with UD during the good and bad times...just like for my Hawkeyes, Cardinals, Blues...LPC Rams/Union Knights...what have you. 

I understand you were trying to make a joke but there is a point where losing isn't funny anymore. I'd like to hope we've gotten past that time and time will tell. I may have responded a little harshly and I apologize. It is just upsetting when people have no "loyalties".

Sportsknight----I assume you went to WD? You may know some of my relatives--huge wrestling family from WD (Gottos). Actually, I have many relatives that attend or have attended WD.

Willie U

[sportsknight]

Sportsknight----I assume you went to WD? You may know some of my relatives--huge wrestling family from WD (Gottos). Actually, I have many relatives that attend or have attended WD.

You assume wrong.  I went to Cascade, graduated in '01.  LCU moved up to 3A before my senior year, but we played them the three years before that.  I did know a couple of the Gotto's from WD in school though.  And you're right about that being a big wrestling family in the area.  Hell, there were Gotto's wrestling at WD when my old man was in school at Cascade Aquin back in the late 70s.

[davedevine]

Waverly just won the b-ball tourney and they have had a very good wrestling program lately- if they can get most of those kids playing football, they will be just fine. 

Walston, if you see Hubbard you need to have him get Josh Meier on his staff. He's a former WB corner and is helping out with their wrestling team.. He too just moved to Waverly from Maquoketa..

[The Show]

I didn't realize Penner actually played at Dubuque.  What position?  I'm guessing he played the same years as myself and Walston, but I don't remember him.  I recall most of their defensive guys, especially the "talkative" ones.

He was doing a pretty good job at Kuemper from what I've heard. The committment level seemed to rise while he was there anyhow. From my standpoint it is a good move...I don't see Kuemper improving if he leaves.

[dutchfan1]

Sportsknight----I assume you went to WD? You may know some of my relatives--huge wrestling family from WD (Gottos). Actually, I have many relatives that attend or have attended WD.

You assume wrong.  I went to Cascade, graduated in '01.  LCU moved up to 3A before my senior year, but we played them the three years before that.  I did know a couple of the Gotto's from WD in school though.  And you're right about that being a big wrestling family in the area.  Hell, there were Gotto's wrestling at WD when my old man was in school at Cascade Aquin back in the late 70s.

I went to WD; you're right, huge wrestling school. The family tradition is amazing -- there are many two (and now sometimes three) generations of wrestlers that come out of Manchester. I graduated in '96 with Casey Doyle and Mitch Parker....guys that the Wartburg faithful should be familiar with.

[Willie University]

Sportsknight----I assume you went to WD? You may know some of my relatives--huge wrestling family from WD (Gottos). Actually, I have many relatives that attend or have attended WD.

You assume wrong.  I went to Cascade, graduated in '01.  LCU moved up to 3A before my senior year, but we played them the three years before that.  I did know a couple of the Gotto's from WD in school though.  And you're right about that being a big wrestling family in the area.  Hell, there were Gotto's wrestling at WD when my old man was in school at Cascade Aquin back in the late 70s.

I went to WD; you're right, huge wrestling school. The family tradition is amazing -- there are many two (and now sometimes three) generations of wrestlers that come out of Manchester. I graduated in '96 with Casey Doyle and Mitch Parker....guys that the Wartburg faithful should be familiar with.

HA, that is what happens when you abbreviate. I meant western dubuque---forgot it was the same abbreviation as west delaware. I figured sportsknight was from western dubuque with the hatred of beckman...didn't realize it traveled to cascade as well. The Gotto family I am speaking of has 15 kids of which many of them have large families and I believe they are on the 3rd generation of wrestlers with some of the 15 kids being up there in age now. There were approx (maybe off 1  ) 11 boys and all but 1 wrestled and every one of them qualified for the state tournament I believe.

Show- Penner played for 3 years at UD. He decided to give up his last year of playing to jump start his coaching career and got the job at beckman. He was a VERY goal oriented and motivated person. In football, he was by no means the best athlete on the field but no one played with more heart and was certainly very teachable for coaches. He'll do well at East and what a great challenge. The sky is the limit. If he does do well, I bet he could eventually pick any job in Iowa if he wanted to.

Willie U