FB: American Rivers Conference

[Kohawk Remedy]

From what I heard through word of mouth/rumor is that the head coach and many assistants are leaving the wartburg program and that willis will become the hc again. This came from a person I know who knows someone that plays for wartburg. Does any wartburg supporters know anything about this?

[DBQ1965]

Just visiting the IIAC from the NAC. Just wonding about the validity of the rumor around Grand Valley that the Wartburg coach has taken the OC job at Grand Valley State. Iam just seeing if these are truths or someone's imagination running amuck. Keep us posted Wartburg fans.

Hi old 40 ...

I'm in Grand Rapids, Michigan and follow GVSU football somewhat closely ... and there has been no announcement concerning a new OC for the Lakers.  In fact, the coaching staff roster doesnt' show an OC ... Chuck Martin seems to have been handling those decisions ever since his promotion to head coach a few years ago  ... and the only other staff person that comes close is the "Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers Coach" position.  I'll keep watching.

As a side note, the only IIAC comnection GVSU has is with Graduate Assistant Joe Wallace, a 2002 grad of the Cornell College Rams.  His bio says he coached Regina in Iowa City to an Iowa 2A State Championship in 2005.

[5 Words or Less]

Was Koehler roofing this summer?

[ShowMe]

Well it took until 2:30 lest in the Shrine bowl before the IIAC was mentioned. It was described as "fun" football .

Well if the IIAC is fun, then for the majority of D1 football has to be painful. Why, I don't know the percentage, but most cannot achieve the 6 win threshold to achieve a bowl invite or enough wins to enter the playoff.

IMHO, the main reason for so much failure is coaching and recruiting. There's usually a lot of hype surrounding recruit classes but how many really bring value to the school? I believe recruiting gets political within coaching staff and judging talent gets lost. Judging talent is a skill that most coaches don't have. Judging the obvious talent is easy but finding the less obvious talents win championships, look at Boise State, West Virginia, etc.

Too many D1 programs are judging talent based on the sophomore and junior HS season. During the spring of the junior year, D1 programs recruiting boards are decided and the recruiting process mostly involves the targeted players.

The problem is a sizeable number of HS players to not get to play until there senior years, maybe not as much in our small Iowa schools but especially in the states that have large schools and thousands of HS football players. The theory seems to be this is a perfect world and the HS coaches have made the right talent decisions but that is not the case. The HS coaches make mistakes too! So a kid that's caught up in the senior season the catch the eye of recruiters has a small window to impress colleges. If not, the HS senior will have to compete against the junior college players because D1 programs value their experience and more likely to add value soon, since many freshmen are redshirted.

Once the big fish feed, the smaller schools in the food chain can take advantage of the mistakes made by D1 programs. That's one reason other school pick up real good players.

Another problem with D1 schools is they herd talent but really only play 35 – 40 kids a season. So kids eventually leave the programs for other school. Look at the QB position, there is transfer market after each season. Look at players in other positions.

The important consideration for student athletes is to select a school first and a football program that gives them the best opportunity to play because playing is what you will remember about you years in college.

We must first recognize that the media is a business. They are in the business of selling hype. So when they say a "Fun football", there is no fun losing at the D1 level and losing doesn't sale for the media.

[footballdaddy]

I finally turned it off. I'm sorry, but Bob Brooks is a fossil. Sometimes I wonder what game he is watching.

BLASPHEMY!!!

Doing color commentary is clearly not his element, but Brooksie still adds quite a bit to the broadcast.

Sorry, I know that sounds like I just insulted someone's grandfather, but I stand by my opinion. I didn't grow up with Brooks like others have, I had the dubious pleasure of Jim Zabel, a homie that I didn't think could be surpassed until I heard Gary Dolphin. I much preferred Pete Taylor. He knew the game came first and his team loyalties were second. You knew how the Cyclones were doing within the first 15 seconds of hearing his voice, even if the score wasn't mentioned.  

[footballdaddy]

Just visiting the IIAC from the NAC. Just wonding about the validity of the rumor around Grand Valley that the Wartburg coach has taken the OC job at Grand Valley State. Iam just seeing if these are truths or someone's imagination running amuck. Keep us posted Wartburg fans.

No information here, but it would be unusual for a program like that to make such an importat addition so soon before the season starts. It wouls also be unusual for a coach to leave a program that was, by most accounts, to be the team to beat in it's conference with a playoff berth awaiting. Not that it would be impossible, but highly unusual.

[DBQ1965]

Well it took until 2:30 lest in the Shrine bowl before the IIAC was mentioned. It was described as "fun" football .

Well if the IIAC is fun, then for the majority of D1 football has to be painful. Why, I don't know the percentage, but most cannot achieve the 6 win threshold to achieve a bowl invite or enough wins to enter the playoff.

IMHO, the main reason for so much failure is coaching and recruiting. There's usually a lot of hype surrounding recruit classes but how many really bring value to the school? I believe recruiting gets political within coaching staff and judging talent gets lost. Judging talent is a skill that most coaches don't have. Judging the obvious talent is easy but finding the less obvious talents win championships, look at Boise State, West Virginia, etc.

Too many D1 programs are judging talent based on the sophomore and junior HS season. During the spring of the junior year, D1 programs recruiting boards are decided and the recruiting process mostly involves the targeted players.

The problem is a sizeable number of HS players to not get to play until there senior years, maybe not as much in our small Iowa schools but especially in the states that have large schools and thousands of HS football players. The theory seems to be this is a perfect world and the HS coaches have made the right talent decisions but that is not the case. The HS coaches make mistakes too! So a kid that's caught up in the senior season the catch the eye of recruiters has a small window to impress colleges. If not, the HS senior will have to compete against the junior college players because D1 programs value their experience and more likely to add value soon, since many freshmen are redshirted.

Once the big fish feed, the smaller schools in the food chain can take advantage of the mistakes made by D1 programs. That's one reason other school pick up real good players.

Another problem with D1 schools is they herd talent but really only play 35 – 40 kids a season. So kids eventually leave the programs for other school. Look at the QB position, there is transfer market after each season. Look at players in other positions.

The important consideration for student athletes is to select a school first and a football program that gives them the best opportunity to play because playing is what you will remember about you years in college.

We must first recognize that the media is a business. They are in the business of selling hype. So when they say a "Fun football", there is no fun losing at the D1 level and losing doesn't sale for the media.

Even with the reduction in scholarships from several years ago, I think D 1 recruiting still takes a bit of a "meat market" approach.  Kids end up at schools they don't belong in while coaches look to stock-pile at certain positions. 

Two years ago, one of the outstanding QB prospects in the country was here in Michigan ... he made a verbal commitment to Michigan State as a high school junior ... the MSU coach was fired in the player's senior year ... the player then committed to Oklahoma ... found two other highly recruited frosh QB's his first year at OU ... saw the handwriting on the wall and left OU ... and then announced late spring of this year he was going to enroll at MSU after all.  It remains to be seen how it all will work out ... but coaching staff sales pitches ... alumni pressures ... and even premature hype all lead to some bad decisions.

In some quarters, I would guess that D 3 football isn't "pure" in its approach to recruitment ... but its got to be better than getting sucked into the "big bucks" "win, win, win" mentality of so-called big-time college football.

[sportsknight]

As a side note, the only IIAC comnection GVSU has is with Graduate Assistant Joe Wallace, a 2002 grad of the Cornell College Rams.  His bio says he coached Regina in Iowa City to an Iowa 2A State Championship in 2005.

Not true.  Associate HC/Receivers coach Jack Ginn was the OC at Wartburg from '97 to 2000 and D-Coordinator Matt Mitchell is a Cornell alum and spent four years as an assistant at Wartburg.  A number of former Wartburg players have also been GAs at GVSU too, including Jeff Beck.

[doolittledog]

Players that get injured also fall through the recruiting cracks.  I have often read where Iowa got a player because he was injured his junior season so he lost his place in the recruiting rankings.  Vince Brautigams son spent most of his junior season injured.  He still did decent enough to make first team all conference but as far as recruiting it's down to MAC schools and some 1-AA schools.  Nick Brautigam will probably end up being a pretty good recruit.  He has physical tools but he also has lived under the roof of a football coach his entire life.  His football knowledge could certainly make up for any potential lack of size and speed!!!  He would certainly have a pretty secure back up school if he ends up not playing at the D1 or 1-AA level!!!

As far as Coach K leaving Wartburg for Grand Valley...that certainly sounds a bit odd for a school like Grand Valley to need an OC this late in the year.  If he were to leave Wartburg would at least be in an almost unique position in that they would have their former coach sitting one office away and ready to take over in a moments notice. 

[DutchFan2004]

I don't believe that Coach K would be taking off for another school this late in the season.  I would think that he has more respect for Wartburg College than to leave them in this way.  Just my opinion but doesn't sound right to me. 

[Kohawk Remedy]

When I first heard about this I heard that him and the assistants had quit. Not sure if there is something behind the scenes that happened, but it will be interesting to find out

[Walston Hoover]

If anything like this has happened, it took place late Friday afternoon since that was the last time I talked with Coach Koehler and he made no mention of anything like this. I also talked to him last weekend and the talk was just about the coming football season and how excited he was with the new guy they hired for the DL.
Jack Ginn would be the logical choice as OC at GVSU. He had that position at Wartburg and as Associate Coach, I assume he would get first crack at it.
I'd be curious what assistants supposedly "quit." Most are Wartburg grads, and one that isn't is the DC.

[Pat Coleman]

It's true.

[doolittledog]

It's true.

Holy Cow!!!  What would make GVSU need an OC this time of year???  Did Coach K leave because this is a step up...or is he leaving because he is mad at Wartburg???  Why are the assistants leaving as well???  I can't imagine they would also be getting jobs in Michigan.  This just sounds awfully awfully weird.

Good job Pat for finding some things out.  Please share any info that you can share. 

[Walston Hoover]

Rick Willis is new Head Coach. All assistants in tact. No changes