FB: American Rivers Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Congratulations Pat. You are an inspiration. I'm guessing I'm shorter than you -- only 5-6 -- and I tipped the scales at 198 in January. By following many of the same patterns you suggest -- and I'm an Eat This/Not That fan -- I've dropped 40 pounds since. Most of the clothes I inherited from Eric Raeburn no longer fit!

That book is truly incredible. I bet you feel great, right?

[Charlie Kohawk]

That book is truly incredible. I bet you feel great, right?

Best I've felt in years.

[DutchFan2004]

As painful as it was to watch the Dutch highlights, I take comfort in the fact that it took three OTs to get past the Spartans!

They definately came to play that day.  Both times they played in Dubuque the past three years they gave the Dutch all they wanted. 

[Thunderbolt]

 Good one Klop. I'll need to study for awhile to have an opinion. My first thoughts are that the top, (Central) should regress a little, and the bottom, (Cornell) should be improved. Given the fact, 7 of the top 10 QBs and recievers from last year are gone, not to mention RBs like Sherden, VanRees, Shuring, Clayton, the roofer guy, scoring should be at a premium, at least early on.

[Thunderbolt]

 I think looking at the talent lost to graduation can be a little deceptive. The most talented teams are going to lose the most talent. Wartburg and Central probably lost the most talent, and they will still play. I think the same is true of a team losing one or two stars, like Dubuque and Luther. I would be surprised to see either of those teams drop off significantly. I really like what Coe is bringing back. If they can find someone to throw the ball effectively, they will be a handful.

[doolittledog]

I'm willing to put Central and Wartburg in the top 2 of the conference right now.  Both teams have been continuosly successfull for 2 decades or more now. 

I don't think I would put Coe up there right now because of the coaching change.  That doesn't mean they won't finish 3rd...I just don't think I would compare them to Central or Wartburg at this point.  Coe finished 6th in the conference only stats in scoring last season and their new coach comes from the defensive side of the ball.  Just too many questions now for them.  Though I would put them at the top behind Central and Wartburg. 

Dubuque I will also keep up there.  They aren't going through a coaching change and they are returning a lot more players than people think.  Remember, most on here thought they would have a down year last year because Belleus was gone. 

Simpson has talent but also a new coach.  A coach that I think will be great there but I wonder if it might take a few seasons for everything to come together there.  They apparently are having a good recruiting season so I think the Storm are a team on the rise.

Luther...lots of question marks...graduation losses, new coach, unknown support from administration...but they always seem to be right up there...other than in 2006 that is. 

BV...like Luther they always seem to be in the mix...a good team...not great but not bad either.  One strike against the Beavers in my opinion is their small class size over the last couple of seasons.  That can't be a good thing. 

Loras...nothing to back up my thinking but I think this is a program on the decline.  Though they are kind of similar to Luther and BV in that they usually aren't elite but usually aren't rock bottom either...but I think they are headed that way.

Cornell...I am seeing good things in Mt. Vernon.  They haven't been winning yet but you haven't seen players jumping ship from there either.  These players are gaining experiance and getting bigger (hey's jr)  I think they might be looking at a year like Dubuque had in 2005...still went 1-7 in conference play but they played everyone tough and then the next year Dubuque really broke out.  I see Cornell as a team on the rise.

I guess I would put it this way right now...

Coe and Dubuque in a toss up
Simpson next
BV and Luther in a toss up
Loras and Cornell in a toss up

Of course, as usual, I reserve the right to change my mind countless times between now and mid-November!!! 

[Thunderbolt]

 Here's my best guess on 4 through 9. I'll start at the bottom.
9- Loras- They lost their last sevin games and showed little emotion or reason for optimism. Even their normal stingy defense seemed to pack it in, by the end of the season. And no one posts on here, from Loras, to give me crap for picking them last.
8&7-BV and Cornell- Probably the two smallest rosters and fewest returning players. Having to play Freshmen, and overall lack of depth, probably prevent them from reaching 500. I will give Cornell the nod here based on the revenge factor from last years beat down at BV. I wouldn't want to join the Rams for that week of practice!
6-5-4- I think these 3 are a toss up. I'm going to go with:
6- Simpson- I really like their returning talent on both sides of the ball. I think they are a little small and will struggle against the more physical teams early in their schedule.
5- Dubuque-Yes, they graduated a lot of talent, but they bring back a lot also. The days of them being a cellar dweller are gone. I hope, so are the comments like,"They are athletic, but have no disipline"
4- Luther- I can understand why people that see them once a year, and otherwise just see box scores, would think that without Stavast and Sherden, the Norse won't field a team. However, they were third or fourth in rushing in 06 without Sherden. in a pass happy offense that won 1 game. The same two kids that led the team in rushing that year, will be back again this year. Along with two OL that have lettered 3 years, A sophmore that started as a Freshman, a junior that started as a Freshman and played a lot last year and a Senior that got a couple starts last year. They will run the ball just fine again this year. Their passing game can't be any less productive than last year. They return basicly the entire 2 deep at DL, and by all accounts are bigger and stronger this year. Return 1 starting LB and another with several starts over the past 2 years. The secondary has been the weekest link the past couple years and still needs to be proven. They should get some help from an undefeated JV team. And besides, I'm ahomer.

[Thunderbolt]

 Your a faster typer than I Doolittle, but we see things pretty similiar.

[DutchFan2004]

Here's my best guess on 4 through 9. I'll start at the bottom.
9- Loras- They lost their last sevin games and showed little emotion or reason for optimism. Even their normal stingy defense seemed to pack it in, by the end of the season. And no one posts on here, from Loras, to give me crap for picking them last.
8&7-BV and Cornell- Probably the two smallest rosters and fewest returning players. Having to play Freshmen, and overall lack of depth, probably prevent them from reaching 500. I will give Cornell the nod here based on the revenge factor from last years beat down at BV. I wouldn't want to join the Rams for that week of practice!
6-5-4- I think these 3 are a toss up. I'm going to go with:
6- Simpson- I really like their returning talent on both sides of the ball. I think they are a little small and will struggle against the more physical teams early in their schedule.
5- Dubuque-Yes, they graduated a lot of talent, but they bring back a lot also. The days of them being a cellar dweller are gone. I hope, so are the comments like,"They are athletic, but have no disipline"
4- Luther- I can understand why people that see them once a year, and otherwise just see box scores, would think that without Stavast and Sherden, the Norse won't field a team. However, they were third or fourth in rushing in 06 without Sherden. in a pass happy offense that won 1 game. The same two kids that led the team in rushing that year, will be back again this year. Along with two OL that have lettered 3 years, A sophmore that started as a Freshman, a junior that started as a Freshman and played a lot last year and a Senior that got a couple starts last year. They will run the ball just fine again this year. Their passing game can't be any less productive than last year. They return basicly the entire 2 deep at DL, and by all accounts are bigger and stronger this year. Return 1 starting LB and another with several starts over the past 2 years. The secondary has been the weekest link the past couple years and still needs to be proven. They should get some help from an undefeated JV team. And besides, I'm ahomer.

I think you raise some great points about Luther.  I think the d will be fine as you say.  I think they may struggle to score.  That is the thing that I see them needing to improve on.

[doolittledog]

Yeah, Thunderbolt, we do.  Good to see I'm not totally out in left field on my thinking. 

That athletic, but undiciplined tag I hope leaves as well.  I listened to the last 2 years of another schools broadcast of their games against UD and that came up a lot!!!  Same for...athletic but lazy...that's not something you can teach, that's just being a good athelete.  Sometimes I wonder if people really know how bad that sounds and is???

[Thunderbolt]

 Actually DutchFan2004, I might be satisfied with them scoring 282 points this year. Assuming 100 of them don't come against Waldorf. But your right, 237 of those points graduated, that is a concern.

[sportsknight]

You heard it here first, I think Simpson will be the surprise team in the league this year.  I like them to finish 4th behind Wartburg, Central, and Dubuque.  I think that going through the coaching change and all the issues involved will galvanize the team and bring those guys together.

I think Wartburg wins the whole shooting match, with an early season win over a Central team still finding itself as the difference.  Dubuque gets third, Simpson 4th, and a log jam with Coe, Loras, BV and Luther all bunched together thru the 5-8 spots.  The Spartans have learned how to win and will keep it up for a little while.  Simpson makes the jump to 4th, and every one else loses to the top two, beats Cornell (except for one, I think the Rams win a game this year), and basically split against everyone else.

[dutchfan1]

You heard it here first, I think Simpson will be the surprise team in the league this year.  I like them to finish 4th behind Wartburg, Central, and Dubuque.  I think that going through the coaching change and all the issues involved will galvanize the team and bring those guys together.

I think Wartburg wins the whole shooting match, with an early season win over a Central team still finding itself as the difference.  Dubuque gets third, Simpson 4th, and a log jam with Coe, Loras, BV and Luther all bunched together thru the 5-8 spots.  The Spartans have learned how to win and will keep it up for a little while.  Simpson makes the jump to 4th, and every one else loses to the top two, beats Cornell (except for one, I think the Rams win a game this year), and basically split against everyone else.

I agree with a lot of that, SK. It's tough for me to call Simpson a "surprise" team, though -- I remember the days when they were in the hunt every year. (Wow, am I that old??)

That being said, I agree with the top four -- Central, Wartburg (we'll be playing the Knights for Homecoming this season, and I'm giving the Dutch the nod....) UD, and Simpson.

From there I see BV, Coe, Luther and Loras duking it out. Cornell will bring up the rear. I do agree with SK in thinking they will win a game this season -- maybe vs. Loras?

It's interesting to call UD a pre-season contender. I guess you could call it their due, with respect to how far they have come in earning people's respect.

[Klompen]

1  - Central, with an early win over a surprised Wartburg that doesn't know what to expect from the Dutch this year.
2 - Wartburg, wins out after an early loss to Central and gives us two playoff teams this year
3 - UD - have to respect the way they played the Dutch last year
4 & 5 Coe and Simpson, but not sure who I would put on top, depends which coach gets things rolling first
6 & 7 Luther and Loras in a toss up
8 & 9 BV and Cornell slug it out.  I think BV is on the decline this year and Cornell may be on the rise, but they have to show me something first, people have thought they were improving before.  It is time to show it on the field, not just the message board.

DF1 - Don't feel too old, I remember when the thought of Simpson contending would have sent people into shock.

[New Storm]

You heard it here first, I think Simpson will be the surprise team in the league this year.  I like them to finish 4th behind Wartburg, Central, and Dubuque.  I think that going through the coaching change and all the issues involved will galvanize the team and bring those guys together.

I think Wartburg wins the whole shooting match, with an early season win over a Central team still finding itself as the difference.  Dubuque gets third, Simpson 4th, and a log jam with Coe, Loras, BV and Luther all bunched together thru the 5-8 spots.  The Spartans have learned how to win and will keep it up for a little while.  Simpson makes the jump to 4th, and every one else loses to the top two, beats Cornell (except for one, I think the Rams win a game this year), and basically split against everyone else.

Good to see people believe in Simpson now they need to come thru on the field