FB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

With Dubuque it might be more a case of how well will they replace some talented 4 year starters.  On offense the Spartans lose their QB, 1st and 2nd team tailbacks, a wr, and a good portion of their line. 

I'll take a look at that later.

For where they should improve...I like their schemes so their improvement needs to come in cleaning up the little things...fewer turnovers, less penalties.

[Klopenhiemer]

Congrats to Cody Pierce for being added to the Aztec Bowl Roster. 

[Klopenhiemer]

Walston- Got a question for you where do you thing the knights need to improve for next year, what position do they did help at ?

I think that is a good question for the entire board/all the teams in the IIAC...where does each team need to improve for the 2008 IIAC season???

I will give me 2 cents worth on the Beavers. 

O-Line:  need to keep improving.  Showed some better signs of rushing late in the season but was a constant battle. 

RB:  Looks like they have a good freshman...Looking forward to seeing him a year older. 

DL:  Need to put more pressure on the QB

LB/Secondary: Replacing Pierce and Sly will be difficult. 

[dbljay21]

I am curious to see where the Norse go with a new head coach.  A lot really depends on what the Norse do with that position.  As far as improving for next year, I think the one position that Norse really struggled with this year was at QB.  You cannot be successful being a one-dimensional team, no matter how good that one dimension is.  The Norse need to get to a point of balance in the offensive schemes where they can run and pass effectively and keep defenses honest and off-balance.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I think what Central can do to improve next year is put dome on their stadium.

[onearmedscot]

McMartin is a great coach evidenced by his record in 4 years.  However, he will really earn his stripes if he can keep central at/near the top with the loss of Connell, Schuring, Smith, Huisman on offense.  That is a big blow.

oAs.

[raiderfan1983]

Sorry, didn't realize that I had posted that in this board.  Meant to put it on their board.

[dbljay21]

I think what Central can do to improve next year is put dome on their stadium.

McMartin is a great coach evidenced by his record in 4 years.  However, he will really earn his stripes if he can keep central at/near the top with the loss of Connell, Schuring, Smith, Huisman on offense.  That is a big blow.

oAs.

The dome probably isn't happening, rex...losing the big 4 on offense is going to happen.  Who do you have coming up that is ready to take-over those roles?

[dutchfan1]

Check out the DM Register photo gallery if you want a good idea of the conditions on Saturday.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D2&Dato=20071201&Kategori=SPORTS&Lopenr=712010813&Ref=PH&Profile=1003&SectionCat=SPORTS

Funny how the first half the photos are from the sidelines and from the pressbox in the second half, come on we were out there in it!  The cheerleaders disappeared too.  I feel bad for the seniors, I think there are around 21 or 22 on this year's squad, to go out battling conditions like that, but to be playing in Decmeber, thats often what you get.

If the cheerleaders did leave as well as others this is a shame and the players deserve more.  This was a game to go to the national semi finals.  You would figure that all hands would be on deck for this one. 

What?? When I was out there, we stayed on the field as long as the guys did. When I coached, it was the same policy.

Congrats to Bethel for a fine season! It was your day -- congrats for bringing it when it mattered. Best of luck in the next round....something tells me you are going to need it!

Congrats to Central for another fine season! This season truly puts you right at the top of a long list of outstanding Central classes. Thanks for winning with dignity and class, and raising the bar for future teams. You guys are outstanding, and so fun to watch! Heres to an amazing season!

Go Dutch!

[Walston Hoover]

I suppose you guys walked up hill both ways to get to the stadium too. 

[dutchfan1]

I suppose you guys walked up hill both ways to get to the stadium too. 

Only after we had been drinking, er, wait.....   

[Kohawk Krazy]

Fred Jackson and Coe College getting some love on Fox NFL Sunday. They talked about them for a good 15 seconds. Jay Glazer called Fred Coe's most famous alum which the host took offense to because he is a Coe alum. Then they talked about Levy. Never brought up Bender.

Bender didn't play in the IIAC.  No offense to Coe, but there were defenses in the IIAC that would have been excited to have a shot at him, and I think that he would have had a less than stellar career...had he been facing early 90s Simpson, Wartburg, and Central.  Again...no offense, but Grinnell was really more focused on their relays during those years.

Bender played at Coe from 1991-1994.  During that time he had a 6-2 record against the Iowa Conference Schools with wins coming three times over Wartburg, twice over William Penn and once over Upper Iowa.  Their two losses were to Simpson in 1991 and Wartburg in 1994.  Playoff teams in those years were 1991 Simpson, 1993 Wartburg and 1994 Wartburg, so they beat a 1993 Wartburg playoff team.

I'd say Carey Bender would have done just fine in the Iowa Conference.

[BeaverOfYore]

Walston- Got a question for you where do you thing the knights need to improve for next year, what position do they did help at ?

I think that is a good question for the entire board/all the teams in the IIAC...where does each team need to improve for the 2008 IIAC season???

I will give me 2 cents worth on the Beavers. 

O-Line:  need to keep improving.  Showed some better signs of rushing late in the season but was a constant battle. 

RB:  Looks like they have a good freshman...Looking forward to seeing him a year older. 

DL:  Need to put more pressure on the QB

LB/Secondary: Replacing Pierce and Sly will be difficult. 

I would agree with all of the above.  The O-line has long been a trouble spot for BV and should be their #1 priority in recruiting.  With Osty's absence, I hope they finally quit recruiting Valley kids for this group.

The receiving corps and backfield look to be solid, although BV has lacked a hard-nosed fullback since Crook's graduation in '06.

BV's D-line loses some horses, but it might be good to get a few younger guys with a little more spring in their step.  A few young guys showed some potential this year.

Pierce and Sly will be missed, but you can count on Coach Larry finding a new Will LB to rack up 37 tackles a game.

The corner spots are wide open, as the Beavs lose both starters and the twin midgets who backed them up.

On the bright side, there are no fewer than 8 kids from my high school alma mater seriously considering playing ball at BV.  Granted, they may not all turn out to be college football material, but if Jay is able to get some more guys on campus, he can sort them out when they get there, a la Wartburg.

[Walston Hoover]

WHat HS Beaver of Yore?

[KCDutch]

Fred Jackson and Coe College getting some love on Fox NFL Sunday. They talked about them for a good 15 seconds. Jay Glazer called Fred Coe's most famous alum which the host took offense to because he is a Coe alum. Then they talked about Levy. Never brought up Bender.

Bender didn't play in the IIAC.  No offense to Coe, but there were defenses in the IIAC that would have been excited to have a shot at him, and I think that he would have had a less than stellar career...had he been facing early 90s Simpson, Wartburg, and Central.  Again...no offense, but Grinnell was really more focused on their relays during those years.

Bender played at Coe from 1991-1994.  During that time he had a 6-2 record against the Iowa Conference Schools with wins coming three times over Wartburg, twice over William Penn and once over Upper Iowa.  Their two losses were to Simpson in 1991 and Wartburg in 1994.  Playoff teams in those years were 1991 Simpson, 1993 Wartburg and 1994 Wartburg, so they beat a 1993 Wartburg playoff team.

I'd say Carey Bender would have done just fine in the Iowa Conference.

I would consider it 4-2, Billy Penn hardly counts as a win.  Bender would have racked up a lot of yards in IIAC.