FB: American Rivers Conference

[BeaverOfYore]

Wartburg was never much for trash talking ... they just had the dirtiest o-line I've ever played against

I know nothing of that which you speak. 

What years did you play?

I may have "accidentally" hit a few guys in the throat to prevent a sack.  If only I would've known it was against the rules...

[Klopenhiemer]

Wartburg was never much for trash talking ... they just had the dirtiest o-line I've ever played against

I know nothing of that which you speak. 

What years did you play?

I know there are few guys with broken legs to attest

[BeaverOfYore]

Wartburg was never much for trash talking ... they just had the dirtiest o-line I've ever played against

I know nothing of that which you speak. 

What years did you play?

I know there are few guys with broken legs to attest

At least we got some sweet shoelaces out of the deal...

[Klopenhiemer]

Wartburg was never much for trash talking ... they just had the dirtiest o-line I've ever played against

I know nothing of that which you speak. 

What years did you play?

I know there are few guys with broken legs to attest

At least we got some sweet shoelaces out of the deal...

Yeah those will always have a special place in my heart

[5 Words or Less]

Actually, I can't remember a whole lot of player critiques on here...at least not negative. 

Sukow & Yordi took some flack

[The Show]

Don't give Pierce too much credit.  He was an excellent linebacker, but BV's Will LBs always have a tendency to make a lot of tackles partially due to the design of Larry's defense.  I talked to Jay at several weddings this summer, and it sounds like this will be BV's best recruiting class in many years.  Let's hope they're the type who will stick around long enough to see what they can do.  Retention has been an even bigger problem than recruiting for BV.  Hopefully this will be the class that can reverse the trend.

BV's incoming class may have become a bit stronger as well, but I'll have to wait and see what I hear tomorrow.  The kid we're sending up has an above average shot of stepping in at that WLB position...

[sportsknight]

How about this?  Pretend you are writing the Kickoff Capsule for Pat

Wartburg Knights

2007 Record:  8-2 (2nd in IIAC)
2008 record (predicted):  10-2 (1st in IIAC, Advance to 2nd round of postseason)

Season outlook:  Much as I hate so say it, this year's Wartburg team will probably be less talented than 2007's, but will have a weaker Iowa Conference to face off against.  Last year's Knights would likely run the table this season, but that's an argument for another day. 

Wartburg brings back 8 of 11 starters on a defense that was already probably the best in the league, but there are some holes to fill on the offensive side of the ball.  Yordi will be back to all-conference form at signal-caller, but who he'll be throwing and handing off to will be the bigger issues.  Both of Wartburg's top two running backs and receivers are gone from last season.  Tim Jones will likely be the top man at running back.  He was a very capable option last year, picking up 4+ yards per carry and 3 TDs on just 50 touches.  Junior Alex Boom of Manchester could also challenge for the starting job.  Justin Vetter and Dan Bauder will be the top returning WRs.  The passing game will get plenty of help from two good tight ends in Ryan Hoerner and Marcus Hemasath.  Both punter and kicker are back for senior seasons, but replacing Suckow and Weber in the return game will be a challenge. 

It will also be interesting to see how Wartburg deals with the turnover on the coaching staff. 

All in all, the schedule makers were pretty kind to the Knights.  They have to go to Central, Coe, and Simpson (potential conference sleeper), but get Dubuque and Loras (another possible sleeper) at home.  They face Central early in the season when the Dutch may still be dealing with some growing pains due to all they lost from last year's squad.  Wartburg's bye week comes at the end of the season, meaning that the Knights could use November 15 to scout potential playoff opponents if they have the conference's bid locked up by then.

Offense (key players/ones to watch):  QB Nick Yordi, RB Tim Jones, TE Ryan Hoerner, WR Justin Vetter, WR Dan Bauder, TE Marcus Hemasath, RB Alex Boom, WR Kyle Petersen, WR Zach Hodge, OT Jake Wilke (returning All-IIAC).

Defense(key players/ones to watch):  DE Nico Botembe, DT Scott Snook, LB Ryan Gerardy, LB Kyle Goodchild, LB Eric Lauterbach, LB Blake Suckow (wouldn't be surprised to see Suckow or Goodchild moved to DE to help replace Eric Bruhn), S Jason Lansing, CB Josh Faaborg, CB Zach Pena (likely Weber's replacement).

Your Team will have a good year IF: 
-  The new faces on the offensive side of the ball hit the ground running. 
-  The team gets through the first three games unscathed (or even with one loss). 
-  Injuries are avoided (specifically at spots like running back, wideout, and in the secondary).

Your Team will have a bad year IF:  The big shoes left by the likes of Weber, Suckow, Duchman, Bruhn, Wubben, VanRees, and Hogan are not filled in short order.

For the record, I see the Knights dropping the opener against St. Norbert before winning the next 10 in a row (including running the table in the conference).  They get the AQ to the postseason and a likely 2 or 3 seed and knock off the sacrificial lamb from the Midwest Conference or the SCAC before falling to St. John's, Bethel, or Whitewater Thanksgiving weekend.

[the_mayne_event]

Actually, I can't remember a whole lot of player critiques on here...at least not negative. 

Sukow & Yordi took some flack

both deserved it

[the_mayne_event]

Wartburg was never much for trash talking ... they just had the dirtiest o-line I've ever played against

I know nothing of that which you speak. 

What years did you play?

i also know of a very, very dirty play from the d-line a couple years back.

[Walston Hoover]

WHoa Whoa Whoa, didn't mean to make a joke about that. I don't remember anything like that happening when I was there. I don't think we ever hurt anyone.
I was told after I graduated from an opposing team's player that no one ever wanted to stand around the pile against Wartburg.
I have some clips on tape of Luther OL just shoving guys in the back well after the play. 2 things illegal about that and it happened more than once.

I'm curious to hear about the dirty DL play as well.

Wartburg was never much for trash talking ... they just had the dirtiest o-line I've ever played against

I know nothing of that which you speak. 

What years did you play?

I know there are few guys with broken legs to attest

[the_mayne_event]

WHoa Whoa Whoa, didn't mean to make a joke about that. I don't remember anything like that happening when I was there. I don't think we ever hurt anyone.
I was told after I graduated from an opposing team's player that no one ever wanted to stand around the pile against Wartburg.
I have some clips on tape of Luther OL just shoving guys in the back well after the play. 2 things illegal about that and it happened more than once.

I'm curious to hear about the dirty DL play as well.

Wartburg was never much for trash talking ... they just had the dirtiest o-line I've ever played against

I know nothing of that which you speak. 

What years did you play?

I know there are few guys with broken legs to attest

o-linemen was rolled up from behind (by a rb i believe).  went down on his knee that he tore, screaming in pain, and the d-linemen kept pushing him backwards (stretching his knee more). -- play was over, torn acl, out for the year

[Walston Hoover]

o-linemen was rolled up from behind (by a rb i believe).  went down on his knee that he tore, screaming in pain, and the d-linemen kept pushing him backwards (stretching his knee more). -- play was over, torn acl, out for the year

That's a tough situation. Its not like going after someones knee. In the heat of the battle its tough to lay off someone. Feel bad for the OL because that's happened to me before and when you are rolled up on, you are very prone to a lot of things and there's nothing you can do about it.

On a side note-
Article out today about some preseason rankings for the Knights-
http://www.go-knights.net/news/Article.aspx?ID=2861

[the_mayne_event]

o-linemen was rolled up from behind (by a rb i believe).  went down on his knee that he tore, screaming in pain, and the d-linemen kept pushing him backwards (stretching his knee more). -- play was over, torn acl, out for the year

That's a tough situation. Its not like going after someones knee. In the heat of the battle its tough to lay off someone. Feel bad for the OL because that's happened to me before and when you are rolled up on, you are very prone to a lot of things and there's nothing you can do about it.

On a side note-
Article out today about some preseason rankings for the Knights-
http://www.go-knights.net/news/Article.aspx?ID=2861

personally, i dont think preseason rankings should be released.  they shouldnt release rankings until after the 1st game.

[Walston Hoover]

personally, i dont think preseason rankings should be released.  they shouldnt release rankings until after the 1st game.

At the D1 level, I completely agree. I'm in the camp of the guys that think there's a bias of the pollsters to validate their preseason predictions at the end of the year as well.
At the D3 level, I don't think too much bad of it. Gives us something to talk about, and truthfully, thats about it.

[Walston Hoover]

Football is getting closer. I speak at a clinic for our jr high coaches on Sunday and the little kids clinic start that night. JW's OL camp starts Monday and I'll be in Pella the following week for team camp. The next weekend, its full tilt Dowling camp.
The real question is when during that time my wife is going to go into labor.
Hopefully not when I'm in Pella.