FB: American Rivers Conference

[DutchFan2004]

So Purple...any word yet on next years football schedule???

It's down to just the Cornell and Loras schedules we don't know about. 

Home to Grinnell and away to LaVerne I would think would make you happy 

Oh yeah, got an interview set up with Coe yet??? 

On the surface Grinnell and @ LaVerne (for the opportunity for the whole Heys clan to see Jr. play) would be OK...but...

In relative terms, I would say a bit of a step down competively from Alma and Northwestern.  Now I'm all for getting some wins, and stepping UP our non-league schedule might be a tad inadvisable considering our lack of success in league play.

I have a bit of confidence that this year the Rams can register an IIAC win or, dare to dream, 2 or 3.

So I would not be altogether unhappy to play our placement counterpart from the MIAC and maybe Grinnell just for old times sake (and the improved chance of not going winless)...rather than the last place WIAC team

This is not a dig at the Pioneers, but I think it's fair to say they are struggling near the bottom of an overall weaker league, so in relative terms, my opinion is that the Rams would be favored in a contest.

I think this is where we got sideways last year Heys.  I will get on the Ram bandwagon when they get 1 IIAC win.  I hope that the Rams do move forward and get some IIAC wins.  Make the conference stronger. 

[Klopenhiemer]

So Purple...any word yet on next years football schedule???

It's down to just the Cornell and Loras schedules we don't know about. 

Home to Grinnell and away to LaVerne I would think would make you happy 

Oh yeah, got an interview set up with Coe yet??? 

On the surface Grinnell and @ LaVerne (for the opportunity for the whole Heys clan to see Jr. play) would be OK...but...

In relative terms, I would say a bit of a step down competively from Alma and Northwestern.  Now I'm all for getting some wins, and stepping UP our non-league schedule might be a tad inadvisable considering our lack of success in league play.

I have a bit of confidence that this year the Rams can register an IIAC win or, dare to dream, 2 or 3.

So I would not be altogether unhappy to play our placement counterpart from the MIAC and maybe Grinnell just for old times sake (and the improved chance of not going winless)...rather than the last place WIAC team

This is not a dig at the Pioneers, but I think it's fair to say they are struggling near the bottom of an overall weaker league, so in relative terms, my opinion is that the Rams would be favored in a contest.

I think this is where we got sideways last year Heys.  I will get on the Ram bandwagon when they get 1 IIAC win.  I hope that the Rams do move forward and get some IIAC wins.  Make the conference stronger. 

The best thing for the conference would be to have Cornell win 2 or 3 conference ball games next season. 

I would also vote for more teams like UD, BV, and Lor, and Luth, to go late into the season with big games on the line.  That makes for a fun season. 

[Kohawk Krazy]

As a spectator, wasn't there a nasty mud game at COE with Wartburg a couple years back (05?)?  I think the Dutch played there a couple weeks later and the field was still crap.  As far as a mud game goes, does frozen mud count? In HS we played a bad one on our practice/game field one week (no grass left!), with a cold front moving in, and the next week the footprints and and other remnants of that game were frozen into the mud, made some terrible ankle monsters out there.

It was in '06 at Coe...it was nasty...10-7 was the final score....Still haven't figured out how Wartburg hit a FG in that game...

[Purple Heys]

So Purple...any word yet on next years football schedule???

It's down to just the Cornell and Loras schedules we don't know about. 

Home to Grinnell and away to LaVerne I would think would make you happy 

Oh yeah, got an interview set up with Coe yet??? 

On the surface Grinnell and @ LaVerne (for the opportunity for the whole Heys clan to see Jr. play) would be OK...but...

In relative terms, I would say a bit of a step down competively from Alma and Northwestern.  Now I'm all for getting some wins, and stepping UP our non-league schedule might be a tad inadvisable considering our lack of success in league play.

I have a bit of confidence that this year the Rams can register an IIAC win or, dare to dream, 2 or 3.

So I would not be altogether unhappy to play our placement counterpart from the MIAC and maybe Grinnell just for old times sake (and the improved chance of not going winless)...rather than the last place WIAC team

This is not a dig at the Pioneers, but I think it's fair to say they are struggling near the bottom of an overall weaker league, so in relative terms, my opinion is that the Rams would be favored in a contest.

I think this is where we got sideways last year Heys.  I will get on the Ram bandwagon when they get 1 IIAC win.  I hope that the Rams do move forward and get some IIAC wins.  Make the conference stronger. 

Clearly that is the issue...WHEN.

Dillon's first year:  new offense, new QB.
2nd year:  New QB after pre-season #1 decides not to return.  Dillon makes the late season switch to Freshman D. Bush...obviously a learning curve.

3rd Year:
With Spring Practice and Junior core leadership including Heys Jr., factoring in the coaching turnover elsewhere in the league; key graduation losses at others...and I have a positive outlook that getting that elusive league W is possible for '08.  Bush gets more time under his belt and gets within his comfort zone, with a nice big (and getting bigger) target to throw to and experienced, productive RB's in Hardman and Thompson.

On the flip side it would be nice to have Gus back for one more year and not have to replace so many up front on the O-Line and two productive receivers.  Just like anywhere else, guys now will need to step up.

Depth will always be our achilles' heel...hopefully a productive recruiting season and development on some of the big kids brought in last year will fill some holes.

I was encouraged by how we finished at Coe...we'll see if they build on it.

[wab64]

I hope the Coe hire gets half the d3football play that Wabash did. But it won't. And that's ok.

Charlie... You fellows just have to start speculating, 24-7. That's what the Wabash posters did, ad infinitum, until we bored Pat Coleman to tears.I thought he might close down the NCAC board. From what I have read,so far, about Coach Raeburn we are lucky to get him. He even said that the all-male student body is an asset to recruiting
                                                                                          wab64

[warthog]

I know I'm posting a non-football item, but are any posters planning on being in Cedar Rapids for the D3 wrestling championships?  I'm hoping the Hacienda on Center Point Road has an adequate supply of margarita and taco fixins' on hand.  I feel a powerful thirst and hunger coming on.   

It should be fun watching the IIAC dominate the field. 

[Walston Hoover]

I plan on being there warthog. Nothing like another Wartburg National Championship.

[davedevine]

Walston,

I have 2 very distinct  memories from your comment on the 00' UD game being the warmest you played in.

1)  It wasn't hot that opening weekend, it was Africa Hot- I'm pretty sure it was 98-100 that day

2) Messing my ankle up for the entire season on opening kickoff of 2nd half

in regards to WB's 08' schedule that someone mentioned earlier. 
hopefully they make the playoffs this year but imo having a bye week the week before is far from ideal-

granted they can get people healthy,  but getting out of the weekly routine makes it tough with that first game back.  Even more so with a playoff game, you can't afford to get out of the gates slowly

i'm getting a little ahead of myself, but being optimistic on them getting in, I just dont think it's beneficial

[Purple Heys]

Based on absolutely no research and no analysis of anything whatsoever, I would be slotting Wartburg as my preseason IIAC favorite.

Now that might change depending on the summer job situation at the IIAC coaches' home renovation projects...

[Purple Heys]

With Central, UD, Coe, BV all replacing productive QB's (Isn't Simpson also...I'm just not sure there) and Luther looking at life w/o Sherden...there is a lot of stat sheet to fill out for those guys.

The Kaniggets more defensive lean last year with the return of Yordi (with a year displacement from last year's woes)...they just don't seem to have to replace as many major contributors on offense.

[Klopenhiemer]

Walston,

I have 2 very distinct  memories from your comment on the 00' UD game being the warmest you played in.

1)  It wasn't hot that opening weekend, it was Africa Hot- I'm pretty sure it was 98-100 that day

2) Messing my ankle up for the entire season on opening kickoff of 2nd half

in regards to WB's 08' schedule that someone mentioned earlier. 
hopefully they make the playoffs this year but imo having a bye week the week before is far from ideal-

granted they can get people healthy,  but getting out of the weekly routine makes it tough with that first game back.  Even more so with a playoff game, you can't afford to get out of the gates slowly

i'm getting a little ahead of myself, but being optimistic on them getting in, I just dont think it's beneficial

You bring up an interesting point devine.  BV has had and does have again the bye week on week 2.  I have thought this is the worst time for a bye week.  The guys go through 2 weeks of camp itching for the first game.  Then they come out play the first game and have two more weeks of practice before they can play another game. 

Some would see this as a great time to get your whole offense in and deffense in.  I think we all know that installing the whole offense and deffense might not be the best course of action. 

So its almost like having two opening games, and it takes you till the 3rd game, 4th week of the season to start the ball rolling.  I would like to see them move this further down the line, but it has yet to happen.  Last year you see the Beavs come out and shock Bethel, only to go lay and egg two weeks later in Wavetown.  We all know that Bethel had a strong ball club, it was the first week of the season, but what gives.  I think time between the games has a lot to do with it.  IMO. 

[Klopenhiemer]

Since Britney Spears was released again from the nut hut I figured this video might bring some laughter to some this morning. 

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWSjUe0FyxQ

[New Storm]

With Central, UD, Coe, BV all replacing productive QB's (Isn't Simpson also...I'm just not sure there) and Luther looking at life w/o Sherden...there is a lot of stat sheet to fill out for those guys.

The Kaniggets more defensive lean last year with the return of Yordi (with a year displacement from last year's woes)...they just don't seem to have to replace as many major contributors on offense.

Simpson has Dietz back this year must replace Kain at receiver but do get Stoner back from injury

[youcantseeme]

After being in the basement for the weekend.......I took a good half an hour to read and catch-up. 

I just wanted everyone on here to know that I think the argument about Karma was the dumbest one I have ever come across on here.  You guys need to relax a little and realize that this is a message board and not to take the little things so seriously. 

[Superfoot Wallace]

You bring up an interesting point devine.  BV has had and does have again the bye week on week 2.  I have thought this is the worst time for a bye week.  The guys go through 2 weeks of camp itching for the first game.  Then they come out play the first game and have two more weeks of practice before they can play another game. 

Some would see this as a great time to get your whole offense in and deffense in.  I think we all know that installing the whole offense and deffense might not be the best course of action. 

So its almost like having two opening games, and it takes you till the 3rd game, 4th week of the season to start the ball rolling.  I would like to see them move this further down the line, but it has yet to happen.  Last year you see the Beavs come out and shock Bethel, only to go lay and egg two weeks later in Wavetown.  We all know that Bethel had a strong ball club, it was the first week of the season, but what gives.  I think time between the games has a lot to do with it.  IMO. 

Am of the opinion the week two bye is a hindrance or a furtherance dependent on two nodes of information.

The first week game could be played as a warmup game by scheduling lesser competition or to plumb the depths as an out of conference battle of the heavy hitting uncontesteds.

The third week game could be managed in the latter scenario with a warmup game, preferably with the weakest of the conference foes to either continue weak one success into week three or to partition a shot taken at a biggun from what ultimately matters going froward from that point, a conference cred or championship and maybe a rematch with the loss in the playoffs.

The former scenario, a warmup game in week one, is the best way to rally the troops for a traditionally tough conference contest in week three.  Coaches get the opportunity to evaluate the players, and the head man gets a grasp as to how best manage that year's team's chemistry.  Probably the best formula for asserting one's self on a conference when right on the cusp IMHO.

Third scenario, schedule mediocre or less than rivalrous or momentous games before and after, which is the equivalent of pissing upstream.

signed,
Wally Gator