FB: American Rivers Conference

[sportsknight]

We've lost more bars than every other IIAC school had liquor licenses, guaranteed.

You forget that there are IIAC schools in Dubuque, where there's a bar and a church on every street corner.

[New Storm]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/SPORTS0208/807190332

Article on high gas prices affecting football tickets at Iowa and Iowa State. Maybe this will help IIAC people may stay home and watch Div !!! football

[sportsknight]

Good post by Doolittle yesterday on experiences at all the IIAC stadiums.  I'll throw my two cents in too, but keep in mind that the majority of my time at visiting stadiums was either on the sidelines or in the pressbox.

BV:  Was out there in the fall of '04.  Home bleachers seemed big enough to handle the crowds.  Not much there for away seating, but I think it was enough for the Wartburg fans that made the trip that day.  Being between the edge of campus and the lake gave it a nice feel, although that lake can really give off a harsh glare on a sunny September day. 

Central:  Press box is right up there as one of the nicest in the conference, even if the windows don't open.  Putting in the field turf has been a drastic improvement to the sideline area.  Nice touch to have a second concession stand on the away side of the field.  Not sure how I feel about the gravel around the home bleachers.  Might make it better to pave that over.  I'd be interested to see how the place would look with the home fans on the other side, as proposed.  If nothing else, that would make late afternoon/night games a lot easier on the folks in the press box, so they don't have to look right into the setting sun.

Coe:  Haven't been there since the field turf was put in, but I'm sure that's been a vast improvement.  Even still, I think many would have prefered Coe spend that money on expanded seating on both sides.  A muddy field is something that you might have to deal with once a year, and doesn't affect the fans at all.  But a bad stadium experience will keep the casual fan away a lot longer than a muddy field.  Parking also seemed to be a bit lacking.  I might have mentioned this already, but the last time I was there, I had to park in an empty lot that sat on top of a 6 foot high sidehill.  I think I left most of my transmission there on the way out.

Cornell:  Kind of been over this one already, but I think a renovation of the home stands and press box would do wonders.  There are plenty of football-loving people in that area (look at how good the Solon and Mt. Vernon high school teams usually are) that would come to the games if the experience was a good one.  And throw in another parking lot or allow more on-street parking while you're at it.

Dubuque:  The jury is definitely out until this fall.  Up till now, you probably couldn't have paid me to spend any amount of time in the old press box.  Other than that, things were pretty good at Chalmers before.  Easy to get to, decent parking, maybe a bit small on the seating capacity, but there wasn't much they could do about that with no ability to have seating on what was then the visitors side of the field.  Its not quite the Rock Bowl, but a fairly picturesque setting here too.

Loras:  I defy you to find a better setting for college football on a fall Saturday.  The view of the Mississippi, the fall colors, and the bluffs around the stadium all add to the atmosphere.  Seems to me, Loras did as much to improve the one side of the place they could do anything with.  The place just looks better with the new bleachers and press box.  There might be room to expand the home seating out another section on each side, but the current configuration works too.  Not sure I'd have put those bleachers on the bluff on the other side.  One of the best things about Loras in the pre-renovation days was that students could just roll out of their dorm rooms, slap down a lawn chair on that bluff and be at the game.

Luther:  Believe it or not, I've never been there for football.

Simpson:  Pretty good most of the way around.  Scoreboards on each side of the field, a nice entryway where both teams enter the stadium, and seemingly plentiful seating on both sides.  Aside from the incredibly inferior turf, you won't hear me say too much bad about the Bux.

Wartburg:  The new set-up at Dubuque might give it a run for its money, but I say Walston Hoover is still the cream of the crop in the IIAC.  I think it will look even better this fall now that the W is completed.  From the large home stands to the walkways back and forth to the visiting seats to the campus setting beyond the north side of the stadium to the tailgating just outside the west gate, this place really brings it all together.  I'm hoping that people will again be able to stand along the walkways on the south side of the place this fall.  That looks a lot better than people standing 4-5 deep along the north side of the track in my opinion.

[doolittledog]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/SPORTS0208/807190332

Article on high gas prices affecting football tickets at Iowa and Iowa State. Maybe this will help IIAC people may stay home and watch Div !!! football

This might be a good time for the IIAC schools to send out notes to their alumni about the upcoming football season. 

$50.00 per ticket for DI vs. $6.00 per ticket for DIII
$15.00 parking for DI vs. free parking for DIII
3 1/2 hour games for DI vs. 2 3/4 hour games for DIII

Has anyone noticed any attendance differences for when an IIAC school plays a night game over the more traditional 1pm start???  Does this help or hurt attendance???

sportsknight, nice write up.  Interesting you mention Dubuque has decent parking because back in my day there was virtually NO parking.  The lot right behind the stands was it.  I think Wartburg, Loras and Luther each have about as nice of a setting for football as you can find.  Each for somewhat different reasons though. 

[New Storm]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/SPORTS0208/807190332

Article on high gas prices affecting football tickets at Iowa and Iowa State. Maybe this will help IIAC people may stay home and watch Div !!! football

This might be a good time for the IIAC schools to send out notes to their alumni about the upcoming football season. 

$50.00 per ticket for DI vs. $6.00 per ticket for DIII
$15.00 parking for DI vs. free parking for DIII
3 1/2 hour games for DI vs. 2 3/4 hour games for DIII

Has anyone noticed any attendance differences for when an IIAC school plays a night game over the more traditional 1pm start???  Does this help or hurt attendance???

sportsknight, nice write up.  Interesting you mention Dubuque has decent parking because back in my day there was virtually NO parking.  The lot right behind the stands was it.  I think Wartburg, Loras and Luther each have about as nice of a setting for football as you can find.  Each for somewhat different reasons though. 

Last year Simpson played at night attendance was about the same as a day game 

[5 Words or Less]

... Tomorrow morning ... we 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.

... My wife and I are off to northern Minnesota tomorrow morning for a week of fishing and boating.  It should be a nice relaxing trip. 

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???

Which one goes online mid-vacation

[Wartburg Fan]

Which IIAC HC's double as OC's?

Wartburg HC is OC

[doolittledog]

Former BV SID and Luther grad passes away.  http://www.iowaconference.com/news/2007-08/0719bvu_huber.htm

Sad day, he was a good man. 

[Pat Coleman]

Former BV SID and Luther grad passes away.  http://www.iowaconference.com/news/2007-08/0719bvu_huber.htm

Sad day, he was a good man. 

Sign of the times: I learned this from his Facebook page last night. I agree with everything you said. I cannot imagine what he and Ann went through since his diagnosis.

[sportsknight]

It is a sad day for the Iowa Conference.  Nick was a good man and "courage" is a very fitting word for how he dealt with his disease while still doing great work at BV's SID.  RIP.

[New Storm]

It is a sad day for the Iowa Conference.  Nick was a good man and "courage" is a very fitting word for how he dealt with his disease while still doing great work at BV's SID.  RIP.

I agree with all of you he will be missed

[Ash Park]

Which IIAC HC's double as OC's?

Wartburg HC is OC

Dillon is the OC

[Old Dutch]

Our condolences to the Hubers and the entire BV family on their loss. 

Looking back at some of the many posts, I would disagree that either Simpson or Wartburg have adequate visitor seating.  At least when the Dutch crowd moves in, there are no seats with enough elevation to get a decent field view and at least you can walk the sideline at Coe.  Doesn't make up for the absence  of seating but it does help to lean over the rope and give the refs a lesson at times.

As far as lack of interest in DI season tickets in the state, after reading the nice essay in the DMR on Iowa's caring and responsive culture towards alleged assaults (NOT) I couldn't blame anyone for losing interest in these "student athletes" 

I know its unfair to lump them all together, but I've never been a Ferentz fan from the off-the -field behavioral side of things.  And yet another public intox with avoiding arrest this week. . . .

45 days till kickoff, can't wait till there's actually FB to talk about. 

[Purple Heys]

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. 

Outstanding post DD.  Totally agree with your take in Ash Park...it's nice but has the possibilities to be a landmark just like the rest of the school.

IF we can hook up at a Cornell Tailgater I will wear neon on my Rams horns if necessary so you can identify me and I'll provide the Sierra Nevadas.

Simply taking out the chainlink and and putting up a brick post and steel bar fence around the South side of the stadium lining the street would give it the true "Park" feel to match the moniker.  Even if they did nothing to the pressbox and main stands.  Adding something to make the visitors side seem a bit more like permanent seating would also give a bigger time facility feel...not that that many folks ever sit there.

They put in the student seating in the East end zone for '07 and that is something they need to build on in terms of drawing a crowd...of course winning some games would help fill those seats.  They had a good boisterous crowd in those seats for the Loras game when we were still 2-0 after non-conference.

Actually, considering the games I've been to...two were in less than ideal weather...the '06 Central game with the cold, sideways rain and the '07 Dubuque game with the rain also.  Both those games had a decent amount of fans considering the weather.

The first game I saw in '06 was against Northwestern MN, on a bright, sunny day with fairly full home side with folks on the lawn too.  The best part was when we scored a long TD run...one of the freight trains had stopped for a while and the Engineer was obviously watching because he blasted that horn when the Rams scored.  That was some Home Cooking.

[SLP-O-8]

Nick was a great person.  I was lucky enough to work for him his last year as SID and everyday of work was a joyful one.  Very happy personality and i learned a lot from him about living life to the fullest.  He will be deeply missed in our community.