FB: American Rivers Conference

[Klopenhiemer]

I just puked in my mouth a little while reading that. Don't tell me you actually fell for that garbage. Wartburg's roster removal is nothing but a recruiting ploy. You can't maintain a roster of 150 without it.

Thats what I was saying.  Why do teams like BV an Cornell have their rosters up all year long.  Wartburg wrestling does this as well.  Two great programs who you could argue are over recruited. 

I thought all rosters were taken off the Go-Knights site at some point following the end of the season, but I see that the baseball and softball ones are still up from last year.  In the past, the football roster has come down for a couple days to get the seniors take off of it, and then went back up.  If they're keeping it down now, that's something that has changed within the past two years.

And lets take it easy on the conspiracy theories here fellas.  If there were recruits out there that would base their decision on what they see from a school's online roster, I doubt that recruit is really worth his salt anyway.  If it were me, I'd be looking for the kid that wants to beat out those 130 other guys for playing time.  I'd be looking for the kid that chooses a school because he wants to win a championship.  And I'd be looking for the kid that wants a school where he feels like he is in the right spot, even if he doesn't decide to stick with football down the road.

SK..Here is what I am saying.  Most kids quit after their freshman year for two reasons.  It did not work out (they got there butts whipped on the practice squad) or secondly they did not see the playing time they thought they would (lack of sticking something out).  I completely agree with looking for the kid who wants to beat out 130 others.  In todays world these kids are primadonas who have "feelings".  Its a load a crap I know but honestly that is a tough pill to swallow to know there role and be a part of a team.  How many of this years recruiting class at the burg a still around vs. how many came to camp.  My point was that the conf. is getting more and more competitive each year.  A popular pitch why sit on the bench at Wartburg for two years when you can play for us right away.  We know its out there and we have all heard it.  So taking down the rosters would elimiate the kids actually seeing the teams depth.  So if Loras is talking to a kid and says look at the evil empires rosters and how deep they are at OL look at our you can play right.  Now if the kid can go home and see this on the internet he has proof, if he can not see it then he wonders. 
We all know we are in the age of techy gadgets and internet research and a lot of decisions are formed on the internet.  This might be weak in some regards but I atleast watned to further explain why I think this way.  Take it for what you want. 

[Klopenhiemer]

200th Post!!!!!!!!!!!!

+k for the 200th and getting the power

How do i give karma.  I know this has been done but is it the little things under your name that you can click on.  If so I think I might get it. 

[dbljay21]

Ok, conference questions...since I don't really feel like doing anymore work today...

What will be the conference standings for next season?

Who will Luther hire for their new coach?

Who is your schools rival and why is your school better than them?

Any schools have a coach on the hot seat?

Which teams improve next year?

Which teams take a step back next year?

Which teams stay right where they were next year?

1. Wartburg has a lot of guys returning and is the favorite, in my mind, but Central could be right up there again if they can replace the production of their seniors.  Coe, Dubuque, Luther and BV will be battling below Wartburg and Central.  Loras, Simpson and Cornell will be at the bottom looking up.

2. I think it should be someone from UWW...a guy from a winning program in a tough conference could really help the Norse get over the hump and compete for a conference title.

3. Wartburg is our rival

4. No coaches on the hot seat

5. Luther improves next year

6. Dubuque and Central are the teams that could take a step back.  Both schools graduate a lot of talent on both sides of the ball.

7. Unfortunately, Wartburg...

[dbljay21]

200th Post!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the Karma Club...+K to you

[Klopenhiemer]

200th Post!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the Karma Club...+K to you

+k right back at you. 

[dbljay21]

I think it's interesting that Coe is consistently thought of as part of the top tier in the conference. Looking back, the last 5 years have shown that they are not quite at the "contender" level in my mind.  Check it out:

2003 - Coe went 5-5, losses to Simpson, Luther, Wartburg, BV and Loras
2004 - Coe went 7-3, losses to UD, Wartburg
2005 - Coe went 9-2, conf loss to Wartburg
2006 - Coe went 7-3, losses to Central, Wartburg and Loras
2007 - Coe went 7-3, losses to UD, Wartburg and Central

As I am looking at this, it strikes me that outside an outstanding 2005 season, which included a playoff appearance, Coe is consistently defeated by Wartburg and UD. I guess I'm wondering how people lump Coe in with the conference contenders every year when they continue to struggle with the same foes.

Thoughts?

Sorry -- not trying to offend any Coe fans here -- this is an honest question.

I think its because Coe always competes every weekend.  When a team shows up for every game, they have a chance to win every game.  It always seems to me that Coe is in every game they lose.  

[Purple Heys]

Ok, conference questions...since I don't really feel like doing anymore work today...

What will be the conference standings for next season?

Who will Luther hire for their new coach?

Who is your schools rival and why is your school better than them?

Any schools have a coach on the hot seat?

Which teams improve next year?

Which teams take a step back next year?

Which teams stay right where they were next year?

Simpson, I think Glogowski will bring a solid attitude to that program.  Loras, Ostey will not stay down long.  Cornell, they have a good coach and Im sure Puples kid is leading the charge with the offseason.

My kid got named Offensive Most Improved at the banquet.  They cited his freshman year to sophomore year improvements in strength and speed, becoming the poster boy for Coach Frey's strength program.

He is very excited for the upcoming year and has some very ambitious goals for his strength/size/speed objectives.  To coin a phrase, "Just throw him the danged ball"

I am hoping that D. Bush, with half a year under his belt, finds himself in a similar role as Jermar Jackson with Heys Jr. as his favorite target.  Hardman is solid at RB, Thompson is solid at FB.  Our O-Line is our big question mark over the Spring...Who will step up?  Can we get immediate help from recruits?

I think our D learned something about itself and playing with passion start to finish the last game versus Coe.  Too bad Gus graduates but LB is one position of good depth for us.

It will, still, come down to depth.  As in, we need more.

Where the Wartburg Kanniget stormtroopers travel in single file and remove their rosters to hide their numbers (couldn't resist that  ); duping poor young recruits with promises of roster spots and ending up being one of 5 people wearing #43, we need a #3, #6...

It'd be nice to have 3 widebodies wearing #99 one day.  At least so they can carry Dillon off after his first IIAC win.   

[Floyd in Iowa City]

I've got an interesting question to pose to everyone:

Which IIAC school would have been your 2nd choice to attend, if you couldn't have went to the one you did?  Why was it your 2nd choice, and what was the factor that made you go where you did?  

Went to Luther, but my 2nd choice was Central.  Coach Schipper seemed like a very good man and he clearly was a winner.

[Klopenhiemer]

Ok, conference questions...since I don't really feel like doing anymore work today...

What will be the conference standings for next season?

Who will Luther hire for their new coach?

Who is your schools rival and why is your school better than them?

Any schools have a coach on the hot seat?

Which teams improve next year?

Which teams take a step back next year?

Which teams stay right where they were next year?

Simpson, I think Glogowski will bring a solid attitude to that program.  Loras, Ostey will not stay down long.  Cornell, they have a good coach and Im sure Puples kid is leading the charge with the offseason.

My kid got named Offensive Most Improved at the banquet.  They cited his freshman year to sophomore year improvements in strength and speed, becoming the poster boy for Coach Frey's strength program.

He is very excited for the upcoming year and has some very ambitious goals for his strength/size/speed objectives.  To coin a phrase, "Just throw him the danged ball"

I am hoping that D. Bush, with half a year under his belt, finds himself in a similar role as Jermar Jackson with Heys Jr. as his favorite target.  Hardman is solid at RB, Thompson is solid at FB.  Our O-Line is our big question mark over the Spring...Who will step up?  Can we get immediate help from recruits?

I think our D learned something about itself and playing with passion start to finish the last game versus Coe.  Too bad Gus graduates but LB is one position of good depth for us.

It will, still, come down to depth.  As in, we need more.

Where the Wartburg Kanniget stormtroopers travel in single file and remove their rosters to hide their numbers (couldn't resist that  ); duping poor young recruits with promises of roster spots and ending up being one of 5 people wearing #43, we need a #3, #6...

It'd be nice to have 3 widebodies wearing #99 one day.  At least so they can carry Dillon off after his first IIAC win.   

Purple nice to hear you son won that award and is a poster boy for the program.  I hope that brings more wins to Mt. vernon next year while still loosing to BV

[Floyd in Iowa City]

I've got an interesting question to pose to everyone:

Which IIAC school would have been your 2nd choice to attend, if you couldn't have went to the one you did?  Why was it your 2nd choice, and what was the factor that made you go where you did?  

I never liked Wartburg, grew up close to Waverly and for some reason it just did not appeal to me whatsoever. I didn't want to go to school in Cedar Rapids or Dubuque so those were out of the question too.

Ditto on Wartburg and Coe at the time (early 90s).  I liked Cornell and Mount Vernon a lot more than Coe and Cedar Rapids at the time, but the one class at a time thing ended up being something that I did not want to try.  My high school team went to the Wartburg team basketball camp for three summers, but I did not think as much of the Wartburg campus or school as I did Luther.  Canfield seemed like a good man though.  That was all before Wartburg got consistently good at sports other than basketball and wrestling and before Coe and Cornell joined the IIAC.

[dbljay21]

I've got an interesting question to pose to everyone:

Which IIAC school would have been your 2nd choice to attend, if you couldn't have went to the one you did?  Why was it your 2nd choice, and what was the factor that made you go where you did?  

Went to Luther, but my 2nd choice was Central.  Coach Schipper seemed like a very good man and he clearly was a winner.

I went to Luther to coach football and as a transfer.  I went to Luther because Hefty brought me in to be a student-coach.  I knew the offense inside and out from my short career at Aurora.  Without Hefty, I don't think that I would have been brought on at any other school to coach, so there really was only one choice for me.  

[sportsknight]

SK..Here is what I am saying.  Most kids quit after their freshman year for two reasons.  It did not work out (they got there butts whipped on the practice squad) or secondly they did not see the playing time they thought they would (lack of sticking something out).  I completely agree with looking for the kid who wants to beat out 130 others.  In todays world these kids are primadonas who have "feelings".  Its a load a crap I know but honestly that is a tough pill to swallow to know there role and be a part of a team.  How many of this years recruiting class at the burg a still around vs. how many came to camp.  My point was that the conf. is getting more and more competitive each year.  A popular pitch why sit on the bench at Wartburg for two years when you can play for us right away.  We know its out there and we have all heard it.  So taking down the rosters would elimiate the kids actually seeing the teams depth.  So if Loras is talking to a kid and says look at the evil empires rosters and how deep they are at OL look at our you can play right.  Now if the kid can go home and see this on the internet he has proof, if he can not see it then he wonders. 
We all know we are in the age of techy gadgets and internet research and a lot of decisions are formed on the internet.  This might be weak in some regards but I atleast watned to further explain why I think this way.  Take it for what you want. 

No, I get where you're coming from.  There are quite a few kids that come into Wartburg as freshmen and don't make it.  The 2006 seniors jump to mind immediately.  These guys came in with upwards of 100 freshmen but there were only about 10 or 12 seniors on the roster three years later.  It happens to every class and at every IIAC school, just to varying degrees.  And it is a damned shame to see kids with talent that grow heads too big for themselves and think they're getting "screwed" when the PT isn't there.  There have been a bunch of guys that stopped playing after their freshman or sophomore years at Wartburg that it would have been nice to still have by the time they were seniors.  Just how it goes.
As far as the recruiting angle, 90% of the kids that Wartburg recruits see a game live and in person.  If seeing the 100+ black jerseys on the home sideline at Walston-Hoover doesn't give the kids an indication of how full the roster is from year to year, then I really doubt they'd be able to get that impression from an online roster.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

OK, keep this information close at hand so you can remind me next fall how badly I predicted the 2008 season.  

Answers to doolittledog's questions:
1) Conference standings: Wartburg-Central-Luther-Simpson-Coe-Dubuque-Loras-Buena Vista-Cornell
2) Luther coach: Somebody off the Wisc. Whitewater staff
3) Biggest rival: Luther, because tradition dictates that is the way it is.  Any further explanation would probably be politically incorrect.
4) Hot seat-Nobody.  Some would be at D1.
5-6-7) Who gets better, worse, etc: Actually things stay about the same.  No team will have a regular season record that is plus or minus more than 2 regular season games.

Luther lost a lot from an offense that was not as balanced as the 2005 or 2006 seasons.  They still have some talent on that roster, but they need to prove that next year will be anything more than a .500 type season.  Having said that, for all of the lost senior starters on offense it really comes down to losing Sherden and Stavast as there still are experienced players at RB and WR.  The OL also had some depth this year and perhaps the OL coach will be a little stronger next year.

A coach that was on the Whitewater staff for a long time was voted by the players this week as the top candidate to replace Coach Hefty.  Only underclassmen were allowed to vote, and the Whitewater candidate won by 4 votes over another candidate that is currently a coordinator at another consistently national ranked school.  I believe the search committee is still looking to get this done before Christmas.  The one candidate is from the offensive side of the ball and has 6 years as a college head coach.  The other candidate has been a defensive guy for the most part and has never been a college head coach.  The offensive guy is older as well.

The person I have been talking to clearly likes the Whitewater candidate.  I am interested to see if that is the direction that the school heads towards.

[Klopenhiemer]

SK..Here is what I am saying.  Most kids quit after their freshman year for two reasons.  It did not work out (they got there butts whipped on the practice squad) or secondly they did not see the playing time they thought they would (lack of sticking something out).  I completely agree with looking for the kid who wants to beat out 130 others.  In todays world these kids are primadonas who have "feelings".  Its a load a crap I know but honestly that is a tough pill to swallow to know there role and be a part of a team.  How many of this years recruiting class at the burg a still around vs. how many came to camp.  My point was that the conf. is getting more and more competitive each year.  A popular pitch why sit on the bench at Wartburg for two years when you can play for us right away.  We know its out there and we have all heard it.  So taking down the rosters would elimiate the kids actually seeing the teams depth.  So if Loras is talking to a kid and says look at the evil empires rosters and how deep they are at OL look at our you can play right.  Now if the kid can go home and see this on the internet he has proof, if he can not see it then he wonders. 
We all know we are in the age of techy gadgets and internet research and a lot of decisions are formed on the internet.  This might be weak in some regards but I atleast watned to further explain why I think this way.  Take it for what you want. 

No, I get where you're coming from.  There are quite a few kids that come into Wartburg as freshmen and don't make it.  The 2006 seniors jump to mind immediately.  These guys came in with upwards of 100 freshmen but there were only about 10 or 12 seniors on the roster three years later.  It happens to every class and at every IIAC school, just to varying degrees.  And it is a damned shame to see kids with talent that grow heads too big for themselves and think they're getting "screwed" when the PT isn't there.  There have been a bunch of guys that stopped playing after their freshman or sophomore years at Wartburg that it would have been nice to still have by the time they were seniors.  Just how it goes.
As far as the recruiting angle, 90% of the kids that Wartburg recruits see a game live and in person.  If seeing the 100+ black jerseys on the home sideline at Walston-Hoover doesn't give the kids an indication of how full the roster is from year to year, then I really doubt they'd be able to get that impression from an online roster.

Agreeded.  But I will add that a lot of kids see games at Cornell, BV, Dubque, and Luther, and all the other teams in the conference.  They can see what their sidelines are made up oof as well.  Anyway you slice this could be part conspiracy theory and part truth. 

[Klopenhiemer]

OK, keep this information close at hand so you can remind me next fall how badly I predicted the 2008 season.  

Answers to doolittledog's questions:
1) Conference standings: Wartburg-Central-Luther-Simpson-Coe-Dubuque-Loras-Buena Vista-Cornell
2) Luther coach: Somebody off the Wisc. Whitewater staff
3) Biggest rival: Luther, because tradition dictates that is the way it is.  Any further explanation would probably be politically incorrect.
4) Hot seat-Nobody.  Some would be at D1.
5-6-7) Who gets better, worse, etc: Actually things stay about the same.  No team will have a regular season record that is plus or minus more than 2 regular season games.

Luther lost a lot from an offense that was not as balanced as the 2005 or 2006 seasons.  They still have some talent on that roster, but they need to prove that next year will be anything more than a .500 type season.  Having said that, for all of the lost senior starters on offense it really comes down to losing Sherden and Stavast as there still are experienced players at RB and WR.  The OL also had some depth this year and perhaps the OL coach will be a little stronger next year.

A coach that was on the Whitewater staff for a long time was voted by the players this week as the top candidate to replace Coach Hefty.  Only underclassmen were allowed to vote, and the Whitewater candidate won by 4 votes over another candidate that is currently a coordinator at another consistently national ranked school.  I believe the search committee is still looking to get this done before Christmas.  The one candidate is from the offensive side of the ball and has 6 years as a college head coach.  The other candidate has been a defensive guy for the most part and has never been a college head coach.  The offensive guy is older as well.

The person I have been talking to clearly likes the Whitewater candidate.  I am interested to see if that is the direction that the school heads towards.

Might not be a bad move to have a young deffensive minded HC running the sidelines next year for the Norse.  Now is the coach from WW still on the staff or has he since moved on? 
What school is the other candidate currently coaching at if you can divulge?