FB: American Rivers Conference

[DutchFan2004]

Not that I am complaining, but how does Central drop a spot in the D3 poll. Wabash jumped two spots and didn't even play. How does that work?

A very unconvincing 41-0 win   

Ya Heys it was a horrible 41 point win.  The Dutch are nothing like they were.  They should have dropped all the way out of the top 25.   

[DutchFan2004]

Now the serious side.  I wondered that myself but IMHO I think the Dutch were rated to high in the preseason based on what they had coming back.  The first game was a great game for all these new players to play in and get it under their belts.  I think that the players do not care one iota where they are or if they are ranked.  The coaches will keep their focus on the game coming up. 

[LCNorse]

Congrats to the Dutch, Knights, Storm and Spartans on their wins. My sympathies to the Beavers and Rams on their gut wrenching losses. No such problem in Decorah yesterday.
The Norse offense in the first half, was more anemic than even the most skeptical poster could have guessed. One first down and around thirty yards of offense. The special teams were not very special, missing two field goals, bouncing a long snap off the punters personal protecter, and giving up a long kick off return. The defense looked pretty good in the first half, but could get no help from the offense and special teams what so ever.
The offense and special teams played better in the second half, but the defense reverted to their old ways, of not being able to get off the field in 3rd down situations or making key red zone stops. Add it all up and you lose handilly to an average team.
At the end of the day, I think I'm more disappointed in the defense than the offense. They only gave up 260 yards of offense but, this was not the Ole offense of the past few years. It's was probably, in hind sight, fair to expect the O'line to struggle adjusting to a zone blocking scheme and a new offense.
There were some bright spots and things to build on, just not many come to mind at the moment. The Freshman QB has talent, and may turn into a very good one. Starting a Fresman QB is like going on a series of blind dates. You never know when you are going to get the good, the bad or the ugly. You just know that eventially you will get all the above.

Thunderbolt,

Any news why Barclay is handling the kicking duties?  Was he better in camp than the returning sophomore?  I never have heard much news about kickers over the years.  I hope Barclay has a nice year for the Norse Wrestlers!

I did not go to Saturday's game, but it sounded disappointing as the Ole Offense is way down (according to some around Northfield).  The photos of the game also don't look good, as I don't see the player numbers on the side of the helmets. 

The coaching staff can't always control what players decide not to return, but they sure can control how the helmets look!  To screw with the Norse Football uniforms is just dumb.  The uniforms were not the problem with the Hefty regime!

The Norse could use that Waldorf game now as it doesn't appear like they are ready to play Simpson in two weeks.

First off...grim did something to his plant foot and the coaches recruited the ex-soccer player to kick...helmets i guess promoted individuality according to durnin so thats why they took the numbers away, they will also no longer have the little norse stickers on them either. I was also disappointing to not see the Norse head on the 50...Durnin said no to that also...I guess he is trying to change some ways around the program not sure if I agree but what do I know...I thought the defense played pretty welll for being on the field so much...The O had 1 first down in the first half, the D just wore down after a while. Play calling in the first half looked like a junior high game...run run pass...Hopefully we see more of what the 4th quarter looked like. Sounds like all was healthy except Walls the slot receiver and prob one of the more experienced receivers broke his collar bone...The bye week is much needed I think...lots of questions marks in Norseland...how far the program has fallin since the '04 season

[Thunderbolt]

 Are you sure you don't have another class to take this year LC? You would be a big help right now. Walls did make a heck of a catch. I assume that was the one he was injured on. I agree with most of what your saying, but you can't allow 3 consecutive fourth down conversions on a nineteen play drive, and blame the offense.

[dutchfan1]

Not to turn this into an NFL board or anything, but GO GREEN BAY!! I had some questions when Favre left/was excused, but Aaron Rodgers seems to be picking up the slack nicely....

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.  

[Airborne Dutch]

Now the serious side.  I wondered that myself but IMHO I think the Dutch were rated to high in the preseason based on what they had coming back.  The first game was a great game for all these new players to play in and get it under their belts.  I think that the players do not care one iota where they are or if they are ranked.  The coaches will keep their focus on the game coming up. 

I think it has to do with only having 4 losses in the last 3 years, 3 of which came in the playoffs and against 3 teams in the top 10. Again, rankings don't really matter, but I think the pundits realize that McMartin and crew will have enough coming back each year to justify a preseason top 25 each year. You said it that the players could really care less. I can't even remember what our ranking was at all during my senior year.

[New Storm]

What am I going to see from Simpson this weekend in St. Paul?  This match-up seems pretty even on paper.  

Simpson will run the ball again.. play defense and see what happens

[LCNorse]

Are you sure you don't have another class to take this year LC? You would be a big help right now. Walls did make a heck of a catch. I assume that was the one he was injured on. I agree with most of what your saying, but you can't allow 3 consecutive fourth down conversions on a nineteen play drive, and blame the offense.

I would love to still be out there...haha...I hear what your saying about the defense...it looks a lot like what I've seen from the sidelines the past 4 years...3rd downs just kills us. It was on that catch that he made over the middle...Hopefully the younger Scheetz might see the field now though too...O line did not look good at all and the RB situation scares me a lot...give Durnin a few years for him to get his guys in there and we might be talking about this team differently...it just is so sad to see how the program looked when this years seniors came in and how it looks now in only four years. I really thought we were building something that could stay in the top half of the conference and we might be lucky to win a conference game this year...

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Nick Yordi, Wartburg College, Solon, Iowa/Solon
Yordi, a junior quarterback, threw for a single-game career high 313 yards and four touchdowns, as Wartburg defeated St. Norbert 44-20 in its season opener. He accounted for all but 68 yards of the Knights' total offense. Yordi threw for over 300 yards for the second time in his career and threw three-or-more touchdowns for the fifth time. In his free time he enjoys crossword puzzles, long walks, and demeaning homosexuals.

[doolittledog]

Nick Yordi, Wartburg College, Solon, Iowa/Solon
Yordi, a junior quarterback, threw for a single-game career high 313 yards and four touchdowns, as Wartburg defeated St. Norbert 44-20 in its season opener. He accounted for all but 68 yards of the Knights' total offense. Yordi threw for over 300 yards for the second time in his career and threw three-or-more touchdowns for the fifth time. In his free time he enjoys crossword puzzles, long walks, and demeaning homosexuals.

Nice, well done.  Though I suspect next morning when some Wartburg fans wake up they might react a bit differently!!!

[davedevine]

coocoo
sounds like you want to make a trade for the player of the week in the IIAC.


off subject topic:  Iowa opened up as a 12.5 pt favorite over the clowns. it's moved up to 13.5.   
being an iowa fan and following trends, etc.  i would definitely take ISU and the points in this game.
I'm happy to see Stanzi is going to start -  I see a 20-17 Iowa victory in sight.   

Walston, I noticed you mentioned Valley. Does Bruns still help coach over there? 

Also, do you know if the wb game will be streaming again sat night or is it just home games?

[the_mayne_event]

have they named stanzi the full time QB yet?  it was night and day last saturday.

[Alfredeneumann]

YES, Stanzi will start against the 'clones. The only QB making his first start this week who played better was Aaron Rodgers. GO PACK GO!!!

http://hawkcentral.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/HAWKS0104/809090340/1053

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Yes early season rankings are pretty much good for nothing but to stir up debate amongst the fans.  And this week's got me stirred.  Wabash must have had a spectacular week of practice!!!  (Do I need to ask doolittledog's permission to use the triple exclamation?)

[doolittledog]

Yes early season rankings are pretty much good for nothing but to stir up debate amongst the fans.  And this week's got me stirred.  Wabash must have had a spectacular week of practice!!!  (Do I need to ask doolittledog's permission to use the triple exclamation?)

No you do not...I never took the time to trademark the triple exclamation!!!