FB: American Rivers Conference

[TheOne89.1]

Congratulations to the Knights and the rest of the first teams that won their first conference game this past weekend.

I only heard the first quarter or so of the Wartburg/BV games, sounds like the Knights really turned it on in the 3rd.  (on a side note...good job by the BV radio broadcast, I was really impressed by what I heard on Saturday)

The 9 sacks by the Knights had me thinking about how they compare to past Wartburg teams...I am rather new to the IIAC.  Growing up in SE Minnesota I didn't know there was much to Iowa beyond Decorah until Coach Matt Mitchell of Wartburg visited me at my high school and invited me to come play football for the Knights, so in my 6 years of being familiar with Iowa Conference football I would have to say the 2003 Knights are one of the best they have had (I've heard stories and seen some video of the 2000 team, also impressive).

In the first two games this year, Wartburg has outscored their opponent 73-7 with just over 1,000 offensive yards and holding their opponents (Monmouth & BV) to 349 yards.  12 sacks and 21 TFL's highlight the Knights D.  In 2003, the Knights had scored 103 points to their first two opponents' 7 points (Peru State & Cornell).  Just over 900 off. yards and only allowing 205 on Defense with 8 sacks (5 from Stoffel in the Cornell game) and 16 TFL's.  The biggest difference is in 2007 the Knights pass (578 yards) while in 2003 we ran (531 yards).  I personally think Monmouth & BV are tougher teams to face than the Peru State & Cornell (the 2003 team, I still think the Rams of 2007 will be surprising a lot of teams).

I think this 2007 Knights team will be a tough one to beat, and could go a couple of rounds in the playoffs, but of course this is only the second game and there is plenty of the football left to play.  This week at Luther will be tough, I think talent wise the Knights just have to stop Sherden and they can come out winning big...but you never know with the Norse.  Sounds like Neil is liking his role at Wartburg, two TD's last weekend...should be an interesting Homecoming in Waverly this fall.

Good luck to the rest of the IIAC this week!  Looks like Wartburg is trying to stir up the rivalry again this year with a "Beat Luther" week full of events planned....I'm sure we can expect some creative t-shirts from the student bodies once again (Luck Futher...always a classic)  GO KNIGHTS!

[TheOne89.1]

doolittle,
How did the party go this weekend?

She says the pretzel dip recipe she got from here is going in her recipe book.

Good to hear the dip went over so well...I had a whole bunch left over Saturday since I quit eating my lunch and proceeded to drink my lunch of bloody mary's and Miller Lite chasers after watching the Fighting Irish humiliate themselves on national TV.  At least that left me with some to enjoy on Sunday as the Chi-Bears got their first win of the season.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

I think this 2007 Knights team will be a tough one to beat, and could go a couple of rounds in the playoffs  GO KNIGHTS!

When you look at what B.V. did to Bethel and what they were not able to do to Wartburg one would have to come to One's conclusion that Wartburg is the team to beat.  If they do get through the IIAC without a blemish they will definitely be ready for playoff caliber teams as the IIAC looks to be a bit better than some of the historically consummate conferences.

Or, B.V. is really good at home.  Good Luck Kohawks!

[old school ENP Tiger]

Peeing in cherrios. Crapping in Cornflakes. Remind me never to eat breakfast with you guys. This is too funny though, listening to two lower tier team supporters argue back and forth about who is better. Its kind of like, "my deadbeat dad can beat up your deadbeat dad". Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for conference parity, I am. I think the better quality teams that are in the league, the better it is for everyone. You make the conference look better and you prepare the eventual conference champion for the playoffs. If every game is a make or break, then teams won't have to change the mindset too much in November. However, until the team actually produces results then people are constantly going to question the statements that are made.

I'll be the first to admit that I was slightly nervous about the Luther game on Saturday and I am glad that it is Sherden's last year. Luther has played Central very tough in the past few years so this was a helluva way to start the Conference schedule. In fact, I think that is the most points that a team has put up against the Dutch in a looonngg time. Wartburg put up 40 on Central in 1999 and Luther put up 35 in 2005. So, it was an unchracteristic performance for the Dutch D. Okay, they'll improve on it and focus on the DuHawks (I am glad that I am not sitting in on the film session with Coach DeWaard today). The great thing about Central teams is that they do a very good job of firing and forgetting. The coaching staff does a very good job of not allowing players to dwell too much.

Check this out, now I get to crack back on the Dutch.

Well, sorry to advise you pal, but at this point you may not automatically count yourself at the top of the IIAC.  It is arguable at this point that Central, without a healthy Schuring is even 2nd.  If I'm casting ballots, I put it Wartburg, the DBQ, then the Dutch.  Now listen close here...thank your defense for saving your necks against Hope.  Had they not knocked the starting QB that could have been a loss.  Sherden's good, but tell me Luther is better without their QB and WR from last year.

Central is not firing on all cylinders...yet.  They were my preseason pick to win, I'll stick with it but spare me the holier than thou attitude.  The last time I was in Pella, I ran into the Mayor and he introduced me to his wife and sister...and there was only one lady standing next him.

I would say thanks to the guy that threw for 586 7 td's rushed for 60 yards and is 22-1 as a starter....as long as Tim Connell plays Central wins

[NorseFan]

Good Ol' Natty ICE.

Natty ICE, The Beast, Schlitz, etc...they all work well

I know this was posted a long time ago but come on, you can't include "The Beast" in crappy beer!!!!  In my humble opinion there is NO SUCH thing as crappy beer.  Come on dbljay21, a little respect please.

Norsefan...do we really have to go through this?  How many times since you have graduated from Luther have you actually BOUGHT "The Beast" when you wanted beer?  "The Beast" was fine for college because it is one of the cheapest kegs available.  I know we Tri-O's used it for Morning Keg because it has an appeal to those trying to make money at a party, but we always bought one keg of Miller Lite to tap before everyone started showing up that was just for us. 

Crappy beers aside, how the hell you been???

Once again I know this is extemely late but I haven't been able to check this.  dblj, the beast and high life are the staple in my diet.  Teaching and coaching long hours require a quick and cheap refresher.  The above mentioned seem to quench that. 
Things have been going well.  Nothing to exciting.  Glad to hear from you.

[Airborne Dutch]

Wow, I really hit a nerve. I'll be the first to admit that I am at a slight disadvantage since I'm not able to watch any games in person so the only way I can draw conclusions is on what I read.  I'm slightly confused as to how you thought I projected a holier than thou attitude. Not once did I say that Central is the god kind almighty of the IIAC. I don't think that anybody on here will claim that about their respective teams. I think its great that Cornell is becoming a better team. Coach Dillion had some really stellar teams at Dowling and its an encouraging sign that he is starting to take it to the next level. However, until Cornell knocks off Central, Wartburg, or Coe and becomes a legit year in, year out contender, I have trouble placing them at the top of the conference just because they have some potential.

I also think you misinterpreted what I said about firing and forgetting. In the Army, we use that term to describe engaging targets. We engage, kill the target, and then move to the next one. We don't dwell on what we just did. Afterwards, we analyze, see what we did right and see what we can improve, and then move onto the next thing smoking. Very rarely will you hear Central coaches bring up successes or failures from previous weeks. Now, is Central firing on all cylinders. Hell no. Unless you are USC, teams really don't start hitting their stride until week 5. In two weeks, when Vance is healthy, I think we'll be able to gauge how the season is going to go. The great thing about the group of seniors that Central has is that all of them are compeititors that don't assume anything and will not rollover and die if the chips are down. And by the way, the crack at the end, wtf?

[the_mayne_event]

i would say that before any of the cornell smack talk can even be heard they should win a game against a contender for the conference.  you can say all you want about potiental, but until you turn potiental into wins all it is just talk.

[Ash Park]

I don't think there has been that much smack talk and I also don't think anyone...myself especially is saying put Cornell at the top of the conference....c'mon doesn't anybody read my posts

[youcantseeme]

I'm sure we can expect some creative t-shirts from the student bodies once again (Luck Futher...always a classic)

That isn't bad, but I am partial to the "Wuck Fartburg!"

Any time you can put the word fart on a T it is money.

[Airborne Dutch]

Suck Fimpson always brings a smile to my face. Although the most creative example of smack was way back in the day when Central was playing for Simpson for homecoming. Some Central students had t-shirts made that showed Bart Simpson talking to Homer and going "Homer, can we change our last name to Central?" Classic.

[dbljay21]

dbljay21,

With your involvement in the program in past years, why has the defense fallen the way that it has from just a few years?  Luther used to be a defense-first school long before John Jaeger, Romens, or McDonald were playing defense for the Norse.

It appears as if recruiting on the offensive side of the ball has been solid to very good for many of the recent teams.  The overall numbers and overall talent have been solid to good with the program, but the last couple of seasons it seems like the Norse are missing 1-2 impact guys on defense that could provide stability and make the jobs of everyone else easier.  I know a couple of guys on the offense so I don't hear as much about the defense, but I can't believe all of a sudden Coach Marlow got "football-challenged" as far as development and Xs and Os.

Guys like Jaeger and Sherden don't come around every year for most programs, but it has been a few years and I am still talking about all-league defenders from 2004.  That does not happen to consistent football programs.

I can't really say, Floyd...when I graduated I moved to Chicago and lost the daily connection that I had with the program.  I just know that when I was involved with the program, the players that you mentioned were really good at forcing turnovers and getting off of the field.  I think the Norse are missing those types of players.  The guys that force turnovers and put the offense in good situations to score.  I said it yesterday about the Dutch.  They are forcing a lot of turnovers this year and the offense is capitalizing on the scoring opportunities.  And that equals W's.  The Norse defense needs to get back to the defense we had in 2002, 2003 and 2004.  If they can get back to forcing turnovers, things will go well for the Norse as far as W's and L's.

[Walston Hoover]

)

The 9 sacks by the Knights had me thinking about how they compare to past Wartburg teams...I am rather new to the IIAC.  Growing up in SE Minnesota I didn't know there was much to Iowa beyond Decorah until Coach Matt Mitchell of Wartburg visited me at my high school and invited me to come play football for the Knights, so in my 6 years of being familiar with Iowa Conference football I would have to say the 2003 Knights are one of the best they have had (I've heard stories and seen some video of the 2000 team, also impressive).

In  GO KNIGHTS!

People forget the 2002 defense a lot which, statistically, was barely behind '03 and very much ahead of '00 and '99.
73 rush yards per game and only 208 total yards
gave up 12 ppg, but I think as an offense we were usual good for giving the opposition field goal position or giving up a pick 6 once a game so not all those points go on the D.

[youcantseeme]

Suck Fimpson always brings a smile to my face. Although the most creative example of smack was way back in the day when Central was playing for Simpson for homecoming. Some Central students had t-shirts made that showed Bart Simpson talking to Homer and going "Homer, can we change our last name to Central?" Classic.

I saw one of the more creative, yet classless, signs at the Nebraska v USC game this weekend. It read:

USC
11 national Champs
7 Heisman Trophy winners
1 Murderer

They were immediately asked to leave the game but not before that sign was seen by thousands.

[DutchFan2004]

youcantseeme.

they can now add murderer and thief to that list

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Would anyone care to say whether or not Schuring was 100% Saturday?  Which leads to the follow-up questions, if so why wasn't he used more, and if not, why did he play as much as he did?  I didn't see the game and I'm certainly not second guessing anybody.  I'm just curious.   Eleven carries seems like a slow day for him even if the defense is keying on him.