FB: American Rivers Conference

[ramfan27]

Still beats when I coached at DePauw walston.  Trinity's visitor press box was two tables with an umbrella at the top of the visitor bleachers.  Do you know how hard it is to cuss out your players with the parents sitting right there?  At Rhodes we could only fit two, count them two, coaches that could fit in the visitors box.  And at Wabash it was about 25 degrees with freezing rain, and of course their box was outside, I didn't even get be out of the crappy weather.  Even at their worst I would probably take most press boxes in IIAC.

I will comment on the press boxes of the IIAC, but keep in mind 2005 was the last time I was in them.
UD-Sucked. Dreaded going there. Was worse last year during construction when they had to be outside on a semi trailer if I remember correctly. Site lines were off and got splinters from all the exposed wood. Chairs in there were horrible and felt like they were going to collapse. Hopefully I get a chance to get in the new one. semiprivate booth.

Loras-Once you are in the radio booth, its fine, but we were very disconnected from everything else going on in the box and stats were always late getting to us. Each booth has its own door to the outside. I think I remember some trouble with seeing some of the action in the left endzone. private booth.

Luther-Dividers seperate you in the cafeteria from everyone else in the box and they are anything but soundproof. You walk through students eating to get where you are seated and we were right beside the home radio guy (who I incidentally worked with briefly in a previous life), and you could hear everything they said. Felt very bad for the coaches. Nothing is kept secret up there. Had people I didn't know literally watching the game over my shoulder. very public booth

Wartburg-Ideal setup as far as access to booth. Siteline is great, but can get VERY hot in there on a sunny day and the acoustics make the sound echo all over. Best pressbox food in the conference. private booth.

Coe- I was a little put off by being in a public booth, but everyone was quite friendly. When I was there I think it was the SID's first year and he was a very young guy so he was going above and beyond on everything he needed to do which was very much appreciated. Not a very good setup as far as where everyone is, but in terms of hospitality, (food, stats, scores) they probably were the best. public booth

Cornell- It seemed like everyone was clueless there, and I spent most of the game pounding on the wall next to me because the clock operator couldn't get anything right. Largest private booth in the conference but very tough to see. If I remember right I had to hang out the window a little to see the scoreboard as well.

Central- No complaints. Enter into common area and then each booth has "Sunday School curtains" to make them private. Not a ton of space, but winning there made everything better.

Simpson- Very high school like setup. Semi private with windows that need to be taken out to see much of anything not taking place between the 30s. Not very high up and too close to the action to get a good take on everything. Walking into their pressbox reminds me of walking into the 1900 house at Living History Farm. It could be very easy to get lost in there with several nooks and crannies. public booth IIRC.

BV-Sucked. You see the pressbox and think there's going to be lots of space.  The president and his dudes take up all that space. The closet in my daughter's room seriously has more space. Room for 2 undersized 5th graders to stand side-by-side. We had to stand one in front of the other to see the action. Coaches had to go outside since there is absolutely no room for them to be in their booth. private booth

This is from '05, so things may have changed. Simpson has not since I was just there last year for our game at Indianola. Most places do a very good job of keeping you updated on stats and scores from around the league. I think Loras had plans to get a live stats screens in the booth but I don't know if that is the case now or not.

Here are a few thoughts of the IIAC football stadiums.  And some of these thoughts are coming from 20+ year old memories and some from pictures.  I will work somewhat east to west.

Dubuque - With new home seating attached to the new recreation and wellness center, new press box and presidential suite, new playing surface, new track, new scoreboard, new visitor seating, new concessions area.  The Spartans will have as nice of a facility as there is in the IIAC...not better...just as nice. 

Loras - New home seating, new press box, new playing surface, new track, visitor seating on top of a bluff...a bit far away from the action but an unique experiance none the less, a view overlooking the city of Dubuque, the Rock Bowl gets two thumbs up from me.

Luther - Probably the largest home seating in the conference, beautiful view...especially in October, grass field normally kept in good condition, Decorah is a nice town, could use some more visitor side seating in my opinion...but a great place to watch a game. 

Wartburg - New home side seating, new playing surface, new track, the W is part of the whole experiance, large and passionate home fans, Waverly is another great college town, overall a great advertisement for D3 football.

Coe - New playing surface which was needed as the grass there had taken a beating in recent years.  My only complaint is Coe needs more seating on both the home and visitor sides.  I know Cedar Rapids is Hawkeye country, but with the population base there I think if Coe put up an impressive football stadium with their on field track record you could really get some good crowds at Coe. 

Cornell - A good old-time football facility with a great name...Ash Park.  I think all Cornell really needs is a bit of a make over.  Add a new press box and presidential suite on top, maybe extend the home seating 10 yards on each end, possibly replace the chain link fence around the perimeter with some sort of brick and black iron deal...a fresh coat of paint and maybe try to schedule even more trains to go by during games, just to mess with the visitors and you would have yourself a winner. 

Central - It has been said Central has enough seating for the crowds they get.  I just think a team that has won 29 conference titles and has made the playoffs a whole mess of times deserves a little nicer looking set up than what they currently have.  And from what has been written here...if they move the home side across the field and build party decks and what not.  That will be a great place.  The Dutch have already put in a new playing surface and track.

Simpson - Another place that I think just needs a little updating.  From pictures it looks like 3 seperate home stands.  I think you built one big home stand you would get a more festive crowd than you get with 3 seperate stands.  Also from listening to both the Simpson and Dubuque radio announcers...the Storm might also want to build a new press box.  Now might be a good time with a new coach in town and from what seems like a turn around back to their old winning ways.  Might help get some more Des Moines area kids on campus. 

Buena Vista - I think their seating capacity is just fine, over looks the lake, not much to say really, the wind might blow in November but that's your home field advantage. 

[Alfredeneumann]

Gustavus has a new $4.6M facility

www.architecturalshowcase.com/2008/project.aspx?id=29

I guess Jack "Be Orange" Ohle will have to build a new hockey rink or something.

[DBQ1965]

I run a 5k tomorrow morning and then head north (with my wife, of course) for a week of camping in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  With all the posts on here the past few days, I can only imagine what I will have to read through when I get back.

Peace to all ...

[Klopenhiemer]

I run a 5k tomorrow morning and then head north (with my wife, of course) for a week of camping in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  With all the posts on here the past few days, I can only imagine what I will have to read through when I get back.

Peace to all ...

Have fun camping.  Me and my wife are off to northern Minnesota tomorrow morning for a week of fishing and boating.  It should be a nice relaxing trip. 

[doolittledog]

Hmm, so a week from now...

Who will have caught more fish...DBQ1965 or Klopenhiemer???

Who will have caught the biggest fish...DBQ1965 or Klopenhiemer???

Who will be more likely to drink Grain Belt and Hamms on their trip...DBQ1965 or Klopenhiemer???

Who will be more likely to drink a nice wine their wife bought after stopping at a local winery on their way up to fish...DBQ1965 or Klopenhiemer???

[doolittledog]

Back in 1968 I shot a pheasant near where Central's visitors' stands are now.

And that somewhat coincides with the ascention of the Central football team...I think the ghost of that pheasant is still haunting the visitors side of the Central stadium!!!

It's all your fault 

[du-sz]

So I guess you're saying you didn't hit that during your high school days!!!

On the D3 main page they mention Aurora hiring Matt Kalb who had been the OC at Loras.  Did they just get him away from Loras or had he been gone from the Loras staff for awhile???  That would be pretty late in the game to lose your OC I would think.  

Don't quote me on this but I believe Kalb was let go not long after last season wrapped up.  I'm not sure about the circumstances but I do know he's been out of a job in Dubuque for quite a while. Loras' anemic offense over the past couple years might have had something to do with it. Osterberger took over the job this off-season.

As for the Loras track...It prly wouldn't look too bad if it wasn't such an awful shade of purple.  That thing looks like its been weather worn for about 20 years!

[New Storm]

So I guess you're saying you didn't hit that during your high school days!!!

On the D3 main page they mention Aurora hiring Matt Kalb who had been the OC at Loras.  Did they just get him away from Loras or had he been gone from the Loras staff for awhile???  That would be pretty late in the game to lose your OC I would think.  

Don't quote me on this but I believe Kalb was let go not long after last season wrapped up.  I'm not sure about the circumstances but I do know he's been out of a job in Dubuque for quite a while. Loras' anemic offense over the past couple years might have had something to do with it. Osterberger took over the job this off-season.

As for the Loras track...It prly wouldn't look too bad if it wasn't such an awful shade of purple.  That thing looks like its been weather worn for about 20 years!

Tracks should not be purple

[Charlie Kohawk]

I heard I'm missed, which is quite an ego boost, but I've been busy.

Kohawk football is in great shape, which is more than can be said for the city. We've lost more bars than every other IIAC school had liquor licenses, guaranteed. Coe took a hit too, but it pales by comparison.

And tomorrow Team CoeBRAI departs for RAGBRAI. Lots of Kohawks riding or hosting, including our own CooCooForCoeKohawks, or whatever it is. It will be a fun stop, I'm sure.

[doolittledog]

So I guess you're saying you didn't hit that during your high school days!!!

On the D3 main page they mention Aurora hiring Matt Kalb who had been the OC at Loras.  Did they just get him away from Loras or had he been gone from the Loras staff for awhile???  That would be pretty late in the game to lose your OC I would think.  

Don't quote me on this but I believe Kalb was let go not long after last season wrapped up.  I'm not sure about the circumstances but I do know he's been out of a job in Dubuque for quite a while. Loras' anemic offense over the past couple years might have had something to do with it. Osterberger took over the job this off-season.

As for the Loras track...It prly wouldn't look too bad if it wasn't such an awful shade of purple.  That thing looks like its been weather worn for about 20 years!

That was sticking in the back of my mind that he had taken off from Loras awhile ago.  Thanks for the update.  Hey, our first Loras supporter on the football side of things for a long long time!!!  Thanks for stopping in...bring your friends. 

[doolittledog]

I heard I'm missed, which is quite an ego boost, but I've been busy.

Kohawk football is in great shape, which is more than can be said for the city. We've lost more bars than every other IIAC school had liquor licenses, guaranteed. Coe took a hit too, but it pales by comparison.

And tomorrow Team CoeBRAI departs for RAGBRAI. Lots of Kohawks riding or hosting, including our own CooCooForCoeKohawks, or whatever it is. It will be a fun stop, I'm sure.

Great to have you back Charlie, good luck on RAGBRAI

[wartknight]

DutchHawk ...

With my amazing powers of deduction, I'm assuming you are a Central fan and have added you to the fan base list accordingly.  If I'm wrong ... I'm sure I will hear.

Up-dated IIAC Fan Base, July 15

UD:  doolittledog, DBQ1965, Spurrier, WillieU, Keith45

Central:  dutchFan2004, Dutchfan1, Klompen, KCDutch, Dutchlb, oldbeake, Airborne Dutch, D1HawkD3CUI, Old Dutch, DutchHawk

Wartburg:  Walston Hoover, sportsknight, Wartburg Fan, footballdaddy, TheOne89.1, warthog, davedevine, Alfredeneumann

Luther:  Ram2, LCNorse, Floyd inIowaCity

BV:  The Show, Klopenheimer, BeaverOfYore

Coe:  Charlie Kohawk, coocooforcokohawks, Kohawk Krazy, the_mayne_event, Kohawk Remedy

Cornell:  Purple Heys, Ash Park, ShowMe, ramfan27, 5 Words or Less

Loras:

Simpson:  Storm-what?, sc-stormchaser, New Storm

Haven't posted much as of late, but will so as the season draws near. Will be done with BB this weekend, so will have more time to respond, rather than just read. I think it is obvious what my colors are.

[New Storm]

Greg Norman there is an old name without the Tiger we get the Shark. Weather looks lousy 

[5 Words or Less]

So I guess you're saying you didn't hit that during your high school days!!!

On the D3 main page they mention Aurora hiring Matt Kalb who had been the OC at Loras.  Did they just get him away from Loras or had he been gone from the Loras staff for awhile???  That would be pretty late in the game to lose your OC I would think.  

Don't quote me on this but I believe Kalb was let go not long after last season wrapped up.  I'm not sure about the circumstances but I do know he's been out of a job in Dubuque for quite a while. Loras' anemic offense over the past couple years might have had something to do with it. Osterberger took over the job this off-season.

As for the Loras track...It prly wouldn't look too bad if it wasn't such an awful shade of purple.  That thing looks like its been weather worn for about 20 years!

Did Osterberger run BV's offense?

[5 Words or Less]

Which IIAC HC's double as OC's?