FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

Last year, the team that finished dead last in pass defense, 6th in run defense and 6th in total defense, went undefeated. If you live to be 100, you will never see that again. And yes, tradition played a big part of that, coaching plays a big part of that. Hell, call it luck, voo-doo or what ever you want, undefeated is undefeated. At some point in the game, all that goes out the window, and it's just the men on the field. A couple years from now, we might just call it the 2007 Central football team.

It is 100% mental due to their tradition of winning, and winning close games. How many over time games did they eek out the 2 years before?

[DutchFan2004]

Last year, the team that finished dead last in pass defense, 6th in run defense and 6th in total defense, went undefeated. If you live to be 100, you will never see that again. And yes, tradition played a big part of that, coaching plays a big part of that. Hell, call it luck, voo-doo or what ever you want, undefeated is undefeated. At some point in the game, all that goes out the window, and it's just the men on the field. A couple years from now, we might just call it the 2007 Central football team.

That might be true that it may never happen again.  But the name of the game is scoring points.  If you score more than the other guy you win the game.  Defense is important but if you keep the other guy off the board you have done your job.  Yards do not mean a thing.  They are just a stat.  If you bend but do not break then you have done the job on the defensive side of the ball.  


Walston did say it best about tradition.  If you have come from a program that is used to winning you don't have to learn how to win.  You can trust your coaches that they have a plan to get you the win.  Tradition does not do anything for the upcoming year that is true except it has affected the underclassmen.  It has given them a work ethic and tradition to hold on to and keep that tradition going.  You can not tell me that the seniors on the Dutch team this year have not learned anything from the players before them.  Seeing how they react to adversity and learning how to win close games.  Walston is correct in that the players before him have made a difference.  I know from last year at this time you other posters may not want to hear about the family atmoshere at Central but this is one of the best things going for the Dutch.  Seeing past players come in and talk about the family that Dutch Football is.  You have the AD that was a national champ and MVP of the IIAC in Al Dorenkamp.  All the coaches there that worked with coach Schipper.  You don't have men like that and not get something from them.  


Doolittle I understand what you are saying about Coach Brautigan saying that the past is in the past but don't you also think he is saying to his players see what they did?  Do you want to be the class or team that lets us slip back to the bottom?  I think he uses the past to show that if the work is put in and the players do their best that winning is achievable.    


So the short answer is yes the past does not directly have anything to do with the upcoming season but it does have an effect on the team that is there now.  If they learn from the graduates then they are ahead IMHO of the other teams that have no traditions to learn from.  Can other teams rise above it and conquer the Knights, Dutch, Kohawks, and Spartans you bet.  As stated time will tell.  There are 9 first place teams right now.  Time will sort out the final order.  

[DutchFan2004]

I think you missed what Walston was trying to say there are 36 wins in the IIAC Cental has had 8 of them that last two years.  Wartburg had 7 last year with UD and Coe having 5 each that makes up 25 of the 36 wins  over 2/3 of the wins out of 4 schools.   2006 Central 8 Wartburg 6 and Coe and UD 5 each again.  So that is 2/3 of the wins for the IIAC out of 4 teams.  2005 Central and Coe 7 wins each Wartburg 6 and Luther 5.  4 teams again have over 2/3 of the wins leaving 5 teams to get 11 wins.  Walston is correct when he says that all these wins are going to the top teams.  2/3 of the wins accounted for by less than have the teams says that the top of the conference is pretty good and the bottom is struggling.  The 4th place team has changed a little from year to year but over time Wartburg and Central  have been in the race most of the time. 

[Thunderbolt]

I think you missed what Walston was trying to say there are 36 wins in the IIAC Cental has had 8 of them that last two years.  Wartburg had 7 last year with UD and Coe having 5 each that makes up 25 of the 36 wins  over 2/3 of the wins out of 4 schools.   2006 Central 8 Wartburg 6 and Coe and UD 5 each again.  So that is 2/3 of the wins for the IIAC out of 4 teams.  2005 Central and Coe 7 wins each Wartburg 6 and Luther 5.  4 teams again have over 2/3 of the wins leaving 5 teams to get 11 wins.  Walston is correct when he says that all these wins are going to the top teams.  2/3 of the wins accounted for by less than have the teams says that the top of the conference is pretty good and the bottom is struggling.  The 4th place team has changed a little from year to year but over time Wartburg and Central  have been in the race most of the time. 

Oh, I think I get it now. The best teams win the most games and the teams that lose to them ? Let me sleep on it.

[ShowMe]

I can sense the pride in the traditional winning teams (last few years based on recent post)  and I'm happy for all of those programs, not jealous. I'm proud of what each program has accomplished.

But,

Based on my frame of reference, the success is due more to the right combination coming together at the right time, the disparity of talent, meaning certain teams cannot put together enough talent along with the necessary coaching, get the breaks and some good old fashion luck to turn the tide. This has created a delusion that legacies will last forever.

It only takes a" few good men" to turn the tide, "can you handle the truth"? Turning the tide will turn the opponents confidence into confusion and level the playing field.

We only have to look at some of the NFL dynasties for a history lesson. We can look at some of the d1 college teams for some history.  

I stand with confidence that the tide will turn for Cornell. We will earn respect in 2008. We will beat at least one of the predicted top 4 teams, you can put that in 3" headlines. You can hold me to it, I will eat the crow. We will change the dynamics in the IIAC. We will make the race tighter, to the point where only the conference champion makes the playoff because of w-l records. The level of play in the IIAC is about to take a step up. Are you ready for some football?

[Walston Hoover]

Oh, I think I get it now. The best teams win the most games and the teams that lose to them ? Let me sleep on it.

Not so much that as it is the same teams is what I was trying to get across.

[Walston Hoover]

OK, here's my theory. There's going to be some "duh" statements in this, and it is very rough, so bear with me.
Why I think Wartburg, Central, and UD are the new "top 3" in the IIAC
Simple answer-Coaches
Now the extended answer-
I only have memory of the IIAC back to the mid-to-late 90's. A new program doesn't join the race for the conference title until the coach of one of the top programs leaves.
Starting point, roughly 1997. Wartburg hires Rick Willis after several years of playing 3rd chair to Central and Simpson (as was the rest of the conference) for several years. Schipper retires I believe that same year. Kac is hired. Even though Central continues to win, there is a downward spiral and they gradually change places with Wartburg being that team that is on a course to win a title every 4 years or so.
Simpson then panics seeing Wartburg climbing to the top and just a couple years after some great seasons, they show WIlliams the door.
That paves the way for another team to work their way into the top 3, and Coe hires Eric Raeburn. He takes advantage of the opportunity and leads Coe to a title in '02.
Wartburg learns from Simpson's mistake and goes in house to keep a good thing going, hiring OC Koehler, and Willis stays very close to the program, having an office right in the middle of all the football coaches.
Now Raeburn is gone. Coe did hire from within, but not by choice of their own after getting stiffed by about 5 other guys. That is why I think another team is ready to break into the top 3, and I think that team is UD. It could very well be a new coach that does it, but it won't be any other coach besides Brautigham that coached his current team last year.
I realize there are some holes here. It isn't completely thought out but hopefully the idea comes across. New teams don't work their way into the top 3 until a coach of one of the top 3 is gone. There is a spot open right now. It could go to anyone, I just think it will be UD.

[New Storm]

I can sense the pride in the traditional winning teams (last few years based on recent post)  and I'm happy for all of those programs, not jealous. I'm proud of what each program has accomplished.

But,

Based on my frame of reference, the success is due more to the right combination coming together at the right time, the disparity of talent, meaning certain teams cannot put together enough talent along with the necessary coaching, get the breaks and some good old fashion luck to turn the tide. This has created a delusion that legacies will last forever.

It only takes a" few good men" to turn the tide, "can you handle the truth"? Turning the tide will turn the opponents confidence into confusion and level the playing field.

We only have to look at some of the NFL dynasties for a history lesson. We can look at some of the d1 college teams for some history.  

I stand with confidence that the tide will turn for Cornell. We will earn respect in 2008. We will beat at least one of the predicted top 4 teams, you can put that in 3" headlines. You can hold me to it, I will eat the crow. We will change the dynamics in the IIAC. We will make the race tighter, to the point where only the conference champion makes the playoff because of w-l records. The level of play in the IIAC is about to take a step up. Are you ready for some football?

You are going to be a big addition to this board and I like your optimism

[DBQ1965]

What does everyone make of this... http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=825031

2 QB's in at the same time...all 11 players eligable.  Leave it to someone from Cali to come up with this!!!

Back from a camping trip in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  To answer an earlier question, no fish were caught because I didn't go fishing ... and the only beer wasn't from the northland ...  it was Negro Modelo ... one of my favorites and almost as good along the shore of Lake Superior as on the Pacific coast of Mexico around Puerto Escondido.  Alas ... there were no martinis all week long!

As for the California punt formation offense, my "little" brother is a California Interscholastic Federation football referee ("white hat" ... or as he likes to be known, "sombrero blanco) ... and he tells me that (1) it is cleared as "legal" with the CIF and (2) he hopes his crew never has to face that in a game.

Third ... is that green I see from the webcam at Chalmers Field?

And finally, here is an up=date on the IIAC fan base.  "fannosaurus rex" ... are you an IIACer?  If so, what is yor team?  Glad I got you "du-sz," "wartknight," and "koekrazy87".

Peace ...

Peace ...

[footballdaddy]

My $.02 on tradition.

Tradition is a huge motivating factor. A winning tradition dictates that nothing but maximum effort will be tolerated. A winning tradition means a player knows exactly what is expected of him. A winning tradition honors the past by motivating the future. A winning tradition means that winning is expected and not a surprise, no matter how close the game.

As Bum Phillips said: "All we ask is that you give all ya got, and a little bit more."

Tradition is part of that "little bit more".

[Old Dutch]

I gotta agree with fbdaddy on the tradition thing.  Its motivation and most especially through the cold hard winter months in the weightroom.  The confidence is a huge factor in the season, but the confidence is built with that family that sweats together year round.  That and the tad bit of recruiting edge that 19 playoff appearances and 29 conference titles can give ya!  That provides lots of the depth that Purple correctly admits to be Cornell's next big stumbling block.  I'll bet on a Ram victory in the IIAC this year though, just no idea who.  My foggy crystal ball is also saying Central-Wartburg share the title this year.  The Warts may win the big battle in week 3, but they lose one they shouldn't and both end up 8-1.  Best showing by a first year coach - Simpson by virtue of most to gain.  Go Dutch

[doolittledog]

Kids sleeping in our bed equals dad reading this message board at 2:45am!!!

Here is my 2 cents.  I get what you are saying Walston and it makes sense to a degree.  But for a coach of a team that isn't at the top they HAVE to say that tradition doesn't mean squat.  And let's build this thing up together.  Then once they do make it to the top...then they can use "tradition" as a motivating tool to their players and in recruiting.  So tradition means everything and means nothing all at the same time?!?!  If that makes any sense 

This time of year is great...actually, anytime of year is great...because of all the storylines and subplots going on with all the teams in the conference.  New coaches in, old coaches out.  New players in, old players out.  New players stepping up to fill big shoes.  What teams are headed in what directions???  It's all there, it's one big soap opera of drama.  At least at this time of year everyone is filled with optimism.  3 months from now...not so much!!!

[doolittledog]

Yes, DBQ1965 that is green at Chalmers...I mean Moco Mercer Stadium!!!

It seems wednesday all they could get in was the north endzone and the 5 yard line.  Then thursday they got out to about the 30...then on friday they get the whole thing done by like 1pm...so I don't know exactly what was going on there.  It does look nice though.

2 weeks ago when my family was in Dubuque we didn't get by the place owing to some cranky kids.  But my sister and her husband will be in Dubuque this weekend for a wedding and they are under orders to get a bunch of pictures of the place. 

[Wartburg Fan]

 WH got a question. Why did Coach K give up OC and give it to Coach Morrison ? Why chance something that doesn't need to be Chanced ? Don't take this to mean anything against Morrison.  This is just confusing to me.

[5 Words or Less]

Y'all a bunch o' troglodites