FB: American Rivers Conference

[Floyd in Iowa City]

I'd say there's hope for the Warts after they drop #2 on Nov 10.  The only problem is instead of quality of wins index, the NCAA is now using opponents winning percentage and opponents opponents winning percentage as a criteria for the selection cmt.  Thus the non-conference wins over the Wisc. Lutherans and Waldorfs of the world hurt the whole conference.

Maybe that will get some of the other teams to stop scheduling so many patsies...ie Monmouth, Wisc Lutheran, Waldorf and so on!

I think the IIAC has got to cheer for the Johnnies to go undefeated in the MIAC. A win over them by Bethel puts us in the same situation we were last year with SJU. Then the committee would be looking between whose loss was worse...losing to BVU or Augsburg to help decide if Bethel and Wartburg get in. (I am implying the so called "Evil Empire" loses again Nov. 10) Its going to be an interesting 3 weeks!

As long as St. Olaf is a strong program, I have no issue with the Norse taking on Waldorf as the other non-conference game.  Playing one strong non-conference game is better than what a lot of schools do, and the Norse haven't been consistent like the Dutch since the 1970s.

Coe and Wartburg have been consistently good in recent years where they could easily be playing one weaker school and one tough school in most preseasons.  I think Loras and Central often have scheduled the toughest in terms of quantity in recent years where both preseason games might be tougher tests.

It is hard for me to question the Dubuque schedule as the Spartans have just gotten back to being a contender program.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Waldorf was not a very athletic or deep team yesterday.  They were better than the Martin Luther team that Luther beat last year, but the Norse passing game was wide open off of play action almost the whole first half.  Waldorf is now 1-7 and now has been beaten soundly by Drake, St. Ambrose, Luther, and UW-P.

I don't know how much this game helped Luther since they were already on a winning streak, but perhaps it helped the passing attack.  It also was the first game this year where Luther was really able to deeply empty the bench and play everybody in the whole 2nd half.  The backup QB got to play for the first time since he started the Cornell game, and a freshman QB from Colorado showed some ability and skill.

Tyler Sherden was still able to find enough carries and yards to go over 180 in the game and 1,000 for the season.

Luther has done a nice job stopping the run so far this year.  The back seven also was jumping a bunch of Waldorf patterns throughout the game.

Luther has not beaten Coe since 2003.  There is a good chance of a defensive slugfest in Cedar Rapids this Saturday, but given what happens in college football on a weekly basis, nothing is a given this year.  The Luther-Coe games were very tight the past two years.

Congrats to Simpson, Wartburg, and especially to Central and B.V. as the latter two had crazy wins and big wins!  Is the B.V.-Loras thing still strong this year because the coaching change?

[sportsknight]

What a great day of football yesterday.  Homecoming in Waverly was a blast, as usually.  Always such a great time seeing so many old friends, and very well worth the headaches the next day.  Walston, Alfred E., TheOne, and Wartknight - good to see you guys, we'll have to do it again next year.  Warthog - Sorry I didn't make it out to the tailgate, but I did see Lil Warthog at the KnightHawk last night.

Wartburg played a great game.  Got on top early, put the clamps down defensively, and got on the throttle at the right times.  The Suckow punt return TD was spectacular, and I'm sure Neil was very glad to have a good game.  I'll echo what Warthog said about the Coe O-line...I was not very impressed with them either of the last two weeks.  You have to wonder what they could accomplish if he had more time to look downfield and make a sure throw.

Also checked out "The W."  What an amazing facility.  Levick Arena looks great, and should be a tremendous home-court advantage for the Wartburg basketball, wrestling, and volleyball squads.  That place will draw a lot of top-level recruits athletically, and will give Wartburg students a world-class health club right there on campus.  I had a chance to talk with a potential future Knight and his parents, and they were very impressed with the whole package.  Football team, stadium, The W, Coach Koehler, campus atmosphere...the whole ball of wax.

[DutchHawk]

I'd say there's hope for the Warts after they drop #2 on Nov 10.  The only problem is instead of quality of wins index, the NCAA is now using opponents winning percentage and opponents opponents winning percentage as a criteria for the selection cmt.  Thus the non-conference wins over the Wisc. Lutherans and Waldorfs of the world hurt the whole conference.

Maybe that will get some of the other teams to stop scheduling so many patsies...ie Monmouth, Wisc Lutheran, Waldorf and so on!

I think the IIAC has got to cheer for the Johnnies to go undefeated in the MIAC. A win over them by Bethel puts us in the same situation we were last year with SJU. Then the committee would be looking between whose loss was worse...losing to BVU or Augsburg to help decide if Bethel and Wartburg get in. (I am implying the so called "Evil Empire" loses again Nov. 10) Its going to be an interesting 3 weeks!

As long as St. Olaf is a strong program, I have no issue with the Norse taking on Waldorf as the other non-conference game.  Playing one strong non-conference game is better than what a lot of schools do, and the Norse haven't been consistent like the Dutch since the 1970s.

Coe and Wartburg have been consistently good in recent years where they could easily be playing one weaker school and one tough school in most preseasons.  I think Loras and Central often have scheduled the toughest in terms of quantity in recent years where both preseason games might be tougher tests.

It is hard for me to question the Dubuque schedule as the Spartans have just gotten back to being a contender program.

I agree...at least one tough team and one patsy could be allowed. Schedule a top CCIW, WIAC, or MIAC team, not bottom half and then you can have someone else. I agree that Luther did well with their non conference scheduling...I think Central and Loras also scheduled tough as well as BV playing Bethel.

[Walston Hoover]

One other thing about the Wartburg-Coe game yesterday-
Is Raeburn always that unclassy, or is it still held over from his lineman taking a shot at the QB when we were downing the ball at the end of the game 2 years ago?
My buddy was going up to talk to Koehler after the game and saw him tell Raeburn good game and Raeburn said "Yeah Whatever" and said it looked like Raeburn flipped him off. I know Raeburn tried to run off without shaking any hands but this is pretty over the top.
I can't blame Suckow for not wanting to play for him.

[Charlie Kohawk]

One other thing about the Wartburg-Coe game yesterday-
Is Raeburn always that unclassy, or is it still held over from his lineman taking a shot at the QB when we were downing the ball at the end of the game 2 years ago?
My buddy was going up to talk to Koehler after the game and saw him tell Raeburn good game and Raeburn said "Yeah Whatever" and said it looked like Raeburn flipped him off. I know Raeburn tried to run off without shaking any hands but this is pretty over the top.
I can't blame Suckow for not wanting to play for him.

Whatever your "buddy" thought he saw, I don't believe it. I was on the field as the postgame handshakes were going on, and Raeburn was right there. I noticed he spent extra time congratulating Nick Weber. Raeburn is as fierce a competitor as I've ever known, but he has more class on his national championship ring finger than anyone in Waverly. I wonder how the Knight faithful would have reacted if the roles were reversed and one of their star players bolted for Coe. I think we know the answer since there are lingering hard feelings about TeKippe, even though he never played a down for Wartburg and actually transfered to Kirkwood first.

[Walston Hoover]

Don't think there are hard feelings about Tekippe. Dude was told he would never play football at Wartburg. Baseball may have been a different story.
I just called my "buddy" and he saw and heard it flat out. The only thing he wasn't sure about was what finger he saw Raeburn raise to Koehler. I'd ask Koehler about it, but I doubt he would comment on it.
I get a kick out of how if someone from Wartburg would have done this, this whole place would be ganged up on us.
If Tekippe could have managed to beat Wartburg in his 3 years, there may be a little reason for someone from Wartburg to be mad about him leaving.

[sportsknight]

he has more class on his national championship ring finger than anyone in Waverly. I wonder how the Knight faithful would have reacted if the roles were reversed and one of their star players bolted for Coe. I think we know the answer since there are lingering hard feelings about TeKippe, even though he never played a down for Wartburg and actually transfered to Kirkwood first.

Easy there, hoss.  You might not think much of Wartburg, and that's your call, but there are plenty of very classy folks at Wartburg.  I think Willis and Raeburn had a decent relationship, and Raeburn may have just been upset by the way his team played, but even to blow Koehler off like that (with or without the one finger salute) is pretty low.  Its just a part of the game to shake hands with the other guy after the game, and if you got beat, you ought to have the stones to at least him in the eye and say "nice game."  Lots of times you don't like doing it, but you do it anyway.

Far as TeKippe goes, I don't think Wartburg's missing him much.  If the "hard feelings" you're referring to are the t-shirts that were made up two years ago, then I think you missed the point.  The Wartburg students were looking to rib TeKippe about not being able to hack it in Waverly, and weren't in the least pissed that he left.

And before you go saying how much even making the shirts up shows Wartburg's "lack of class," I'll remind you of the "Wuck Fartburg" shirts that you see Coe kids wearing at basketball games every winter.

[TheOne89.1]

What a weekend!  How nice to get away from everyday work and see a bunch of old college friends, sit back, relax, and just enjoy the life.  Good start off to the weekend with a little golf...weather was a little windy and cold Friday morning, but I had a decent game despite what Alfred E. might claim considering I haven't been out on the links much this year.  Saturday was a beautiful day for football and it was great seeing everyone.  Someone mentioned it on here awhile back, but it's tough to watch the game when you see so many old faces and finding out what everyone is up to now.  Of course the second half at Walston Hoover was pretty pointless as Wartburg kept getting to Tekippe and the offense was clicking.  Good chance to get some experience for the second stringers.  Koehler is right, Wartburg needs to be happy with the win (especially Neil) and focus on Simpson...they already stumbled once looking past Augsburg.

Good seeing you out a little bit S.K., sorry I couldn't chat more but Joe kept my be busy all night working on finishing off those $3 pitchers.

[Charlie Kohawk]

I think Willis and Raeburn had a decent relationship, and Raeburn may have just been upset by the way his team played, but even to blow Koehler off like that (with or without the one finger salute) is pretty low.

You don't really want me to mention how Willis referred to Coe players as "white trash" two years ago do you? For the record, I don't own a "Wuck Fartburg" shirt, but I think they're funny.

[DutchHawk]

Oh damn...lets have a pointless debate on who saw what about class at the end of the game. Its not going to get anywhere...sounds like a good win for Wartburg, a game they had to have. Tough 3 game stretch for Coe...facing the top 3 teams in the Conference back to back to back. Hopefully they will bounce back with a couple of W's.

[warthog]

Charlie Kohawk:

Lets make a deal, you doubt what Raeburn supposedly said and I'll doubt what Willis supposedly said, then we'll both continue to think our college of choice stays on the high road concerning this silly conflict. 

For the most part I thought everything was fairly quiet on the western front.  The only thing I couldn't figure out was that car with what appeared to be four Coe students driving by the tailgate parties shouting, "Wartburg sucks!" or the always classic, "F**k Wartburg!"  I assume they couldn't find anyone from Coe who wanted to party with them, so they just kept circling.  The fun part was anticipating how long it would take before they made another pass.  The sad thing was how embarrassing it was for the Coe parents that were set up next to us.

The Coe parents were very pleasant both before and after the game.  In fact I walked through the pro Coe crowd by the Coe locker room after the game and they all seemed to be taking it well.  Some disappointment I'm sure, but no cursing or throwing tantrums.  Mostly moms and girl friends getting hugs.

Sport Knight:

I find it hard to believe that Dr. and Dr. Little Warthog were at Joe's.  I figured they were turning in early so they could get a front row seat at chapel Sunday morning.

 

[dbljay21]

HEY!!!  200 posts!

Welcome to the club...have a shot of +K 

[lorbec47]

Wow from the Central/UD game.

Being a UD alumni, it was just an amazing game to watch. Just an all around solid game. Being in the end zone bleachers about 15 yards from the goalline where the OT action happened, that Central receiver did fumble on the 1. No doubt about it. The read option fumble by UD; it looked like Jackson might have held a little long. It was bang-bang though, what can you do. Jackson made plays all day.

Having to listen to the 5 idiot, fat Central fans behind me all day was a real treat. Yelling about how the "Rhinos" were playing "Central football." Hey fellas, I hope a couple of you read this: SCHURING HAD 65 YARDS ON 25 CARRIES! Now that I have that off my chest, Connell is outstanding. Key plays when they were needed. 3rd down play in OT for Central O, 2 players from UD had hands on the ball. Then the field goal is partially blocked. Gut wrenching.

There will be other days fellas. Keep playing your guts out.

[dbljay21]

Oh damn...lets have a pointless debate on who saw what about class at the end of the game. Its not going to get anywhere...sounds like a good win for Wartburg, a game they had to have. Tough 3 game stretch for Coe...facing the top 3 teams in the Conference back to back to back. Hopefully they will bounce back with a couple of W's.

Agreed...its nothing but another case of he said, she said...except that its he said, he said  

I said it in my post for the picks this week...Wartburg over Coe--the Knights won't need any extra motivation in this one, but they will get it with a large Homecoming crowd at Walston-Hoover.  The Evil Empire returns to form with a win over Coe.  

Sounds like Suckow was very motivated against his old mates and played a hell of a game.  In all honesty, the game this weekend is what I had envisioned happening all year long when I found out that Suckow was transferring to Wartburg.  He can beat you in so many different ways.  

And another great win for the Dutch.  Great efforts by both teams.  Dubuque is very talented and Old Sparty will be competing at the top of the conference for awhile if they can keep playing like they have all year.