FB: American Rivers Conference

[Alfredeneumann]

Has anyone heard player reactions?

I heard they are ALL looking for construction jobs in Waverly.   

[youcantseeme]

K-Mack,

I want to respond to you first.  Coe football under Raeburn has forced the recent conversation about conference power to change from the "top two" to the "top three" (Central, Wartburg and Coe).  There is little more that he could have done at Coe besides go deeper into the playoffs. 

Now, that being said, I firmly believe that until Coe makes a committment to improving their facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference and the country, it is going to be hard for them to continue to retain their top coaches.  Improvements have been made recently (field turf, basketball renovations, baseball field) but they are not close in regards to extra immenities facilities-wise. 

I am sure the money is an upgrade and the prestige is a small upgrade as well.  The anual "is he going to leave?" question is something that I will not miss, even if it wasn't a reality.  But, as a football mind, Coe is losing a pretty solid coach. 

In comparing the two schools, Wabash gets the nod in almost every category.  And, like most things, it all starts with money.  Wabash's endowment is $367,683,478.  Compare that to Coe with has an endowment of $76,803,235 and the numbers are staggering.  Wabash is listed as the #52 liberal arts college in the country compared to Coe which is #106 according to USNews and World Report.  One thing that is an easy transition for Raeburn as a recruiter is that he will be recruiting the same kind of kid.  Academic profiles of Wabash students and Coe students are pretty simliar.  Both schools require smart, well-rounded kids that are also gifted athletically. 

Finally, the community and school support for athletics is something that Coe struggles with.  Being in Cedar Rapids, they are not always embraced by the communty and students seem to prefer go to the Iowa games than Coe games.  This is a shame, but it is also a reality.  A new coach should bring at least a sense to renewed excitement to the campus and surrounding area. 

If you have any further questions feel free to ask.  I always love talking about football, the IIAC and Coe College.

[KitchenSink]

The guy from UWW should be considered.  He hasn't had any head coaching experience, but the last head coach that Coe hired had no head coaching experience and was the O-Coordinator at a previous national championship team.

Zebrowski was head coach at Lakeland before coming to Whitewater.

[youcantseeme]

I have been gone for some time on here, turning my focus to work, officiating basketball, and enjoying the snow (tounge placed firmly in cheek on the last one).  I come back to see what is going on and there is a firestorm of offseason activity.  That has me both, excited and exhausted from trying to catch up.

Being a Coe supporter I find the bashing of the school on here recently not suprising, but ill-founded for the most part.  So I want to react to some of the posts on here with thoughts of my own.

1.  Cedar Rapids does not smell that bad for a city of its size.  I lived in the Des Moines area for a long time and it smells aweful there too in places.  Being the second largest city in Iowa has its advantages and disadvantages.  It is an industrial city that relies on blue collar companies doing blue collar work.  I am sorry for the people that drive on 380 through the city and make their judgements based on that. 

2. Eric Raeburn leaving will be good for Coe.  Not because I don't like him or don't appreciate what he has accomplished, but it was time for him to move on.  He is moving to a situation that is better than most in the country and you can't blame him for doing so.  I would venture to say that most coaches in this conference would see Wabash as a step up from their school football-wise. 

3. It is crazy to think that Steve Staker won't either apply for and/or be considered for the position.  He can flat-out coach, and he would be a guy that could fill 4-7 years before retiring.  I like the thought of bringing Mag back as well.  I don't necessarily need a "Coe guy" to fill this job.  Mr Chandler has done a fine job in seeking out coaches that are ready to move their respective teams to the next level.  I see this trend continuing no matter who it is, it will be a good hire. 

4. The constant bashing on Coe as an academic institution is ridiculous.  Along with Cornell, Coe has the highest academic profile of any school in the IIAC.  And while Coach Raeburn might have had very few academic all-americans, the team as a whole is very intelligent and I challenge any school in the conference to tell me that they don't have any dum-dums on their football team. 

As always, respond if you like.  I am more than willing to back up anything said with insightful and witty dialogue. 

[footballdaddy]

One thing overlooked in ther Coe conversation is the quality of recruit coming in this freshmen class. The loss of Phantz last year has had to be felt. He is an excellent recruiter that would get kids to condiser Coe who otherwise would not. He recruited central Iowa and got a lot of kids to go who otherwise would have possobly chosen Central or Cornell.  Now with Coe losing the head coach, a good recruiter, and not having cutting edge facilities, what kind of player will they get? How many will wait to see who the new coach is before making their decision? This is the time of year that minds are made up. A bad recruiting year or two and Coe could lose their #2.5 ranking in the conference.  

[doolittledog]

I haven't looked at the recent discussions regarding Coe as bashing the school.  A lot of it has been good natured joking.  Maybe posters need to put more smiley faces into their posts so the Coe faithfull don't get upset at the rest of the board.  

Would it be a possibility for Coe to bring in Staker with the idea his son could then take over 4-6 years down the road?  Similar to what Tom Davis did at Drake for his son Keno?  

[footballdaddy]

youcantseeme,

There are NO illeterate mouth-breathers on ANY team in the IIAC, just on this board!

Just kidding-reference my spelling over the months!  

[the_mayne_event]

I agree Staker can coach.  He is very good and a great motivater.  I agree that he would be good for the position.  I don't know if he would necessarly want the job.  It will be interesting how Coe handles things.  Chandler needs to hurry to find a quality coach.  Coe should be fine next year on talent alone with what they bring back, obviously need a qb.

I think that Coe will be better off without Reaburn.  He was a great coach X's and O's wise, but did lack in one department.  He lacked a ton in the communication and relationship building part of being a coach.  Not with his players necessarly, but with their parents (donating money to the program), boosters, the academic department, and also admissions.  He probably lost some kids along the way that couldn't get in, but with a simple walk over to admissions could have possibly changed their minds about letting a particular kid into school.

Didn't know Zebroski coached earlier, shouldn't assume things i guess.

Coe is currently in the process of purchasing all the land between Coe, 1st ave. and out to 15th ST (about a 4 block radious)to tear down houses and build a large sports complex.  It will take some time, but they are doing the right thin.

[footballdaddy]

A Spring game would be a great thing. Probably never happen though.

Even a limited contact scrimmage would be a big improvement.

[DutchFan2004]

Doolittle,

No work the rest of the day.  I just got my season DVD's and to celebrate the UD game is the first I am going to watch.   

[doolittledog]

Doolittle,

No work the rest of the day.  I just got my season DVD's and to celebrate the UD game is the first I am going to watch.   

That was a great game.  Though sometimes I think I would rather lose 63-0 than by 3 in triple OT...especially when you fumble the ball away in the 2nd OT and then block your opponants field goal attempt in the 3rd OT only for it to knuckle ball over the crossbar for the winning points. 

Hmm, no work the rest of the day for me either.  I'm gonna go home...next door and make me a gimlet...that and maybe work with my 2 year old on his throwing motion so maybe he will be ready for Central in 18 years time    Which would be kind of funny because your grand kids could be at Central then!!!

Any word on where your son might end up next year yet???

[Wartburg Fan]

I agree Staker can coach.  He is very good and a great motivater.  I agree that he would be good for the position.  I don't know if he would necessarly want the job.  It will be interesting how Coe handles things.  Chandler needs to hurry to find a quality coach.  Coe should be fine next year on talent alone with what they bring back, obviously need a qb.

I think that Coe will be better off without Reaburn.  He was a great coach X's and O's wise, but did lack in one department.  He lacked a ton in the communication and relationship building part of being a coach.  Not with his players necessarly, but with their parents (donating money to the program), boosters, the academic department, and also admissions.  He probably lost some kids along the way that couldn't get in, but with a simple walk over to admissions could have possibly changed their minds about letting a particular kid into school.

Didn't know Zebroski coached earlier, shouldn't assume things i guess.

Coe is currently in the process of purchasing all the land between Coe, 1st ave. and out to 15th ST (about a 4 block radious)to tear down houses and build a large sports complex.  It will take some time, but they are doing the right thin.

I agree that Coe will be find next year with the talant they return. But I'm also surprise that the Coe fans ( at least some of them) think it good for Coe that Raeburn is leaving.

[DutchFan2004]

Doolittle,

No work the rest of the day.  I just got my season DVD's and to celebrate the UD game is the first I am going to watch.   

That was a great game.  Though sometimes I think I would rather lose 63-0 than by 3 in triple OT...especially when you fumble the ball away in the 2nd OT and then block your opponants field goal attempt in the 3rd OT only for it to knuckle ball over the crossbar for the winning points. 

Hmm, no work the rest of the day for me either.  I'm gonna go home...next door and make me a gimlet...that and maybe work with my 2 year old on his throwing motion so maybe he will be ready for Central in 18 years time    Which would be kind of funny because your grand kids could be at Central then!!!

Any word on where your son might end up next year yet???

No word yet.  He is having his application/resume looked at by 2 Pac 10 schools though.  I think he is up to 35 rejection letters now.  There is a 3rd school that needs a GA but I don't remember the school.  He did have an offer to play in Germany this spring with Nick Weber from Wartburg but decided against that as it would prolong his getting a masters.  He was torn.  I think he would like to play more but knows that is not really in the cards at this time.  He did get cleared medically to play again if he wants. 

[Walston Hoover]

With the respect that Steve Staker has as a former HS coach, there is not a school he would go into that he wouldn't get in front of their top recruits.

[Wartburg Fan]

 Is it just me or does anyone else find it fun that Coe hasn't posted Raeburn is leaving and still list him as head coach. Just a question. Also has anyone hear if Weber is going to play football in Germany or not.