FB: American Rivers Conference

[dutchfan1]

So Central drops in the polls from #9 to #23. That's quite the slide...

Wartburg enters the poll at #22.

[Pat Coleman]

It is a pretty big slide, but I think there has been a lot of doubt in voters minds about a lot of teams early on. The three teams upset in this part of the country yesterday all slid.

[TrainsEqualCrowdNoise]

I guess I am not sure if it comes down to a simple matter of playing harder.

The Rams mental outlook is critical at this point.  In the past 2 years, they have at least had non-conference success.  With that blown out the window, given the past several years, this team is staring the prospect of a 0-fer season...with what we all thought could be an improved team.  But all of that does not matter.  They need to stay focused on the game in front of them from here on out.  Their biggest opponent is their own self-doubt.

But it comes down to a matter of perserverance.  With Wartburg upcoming and the obvious difficulties awaiting, the Rams have to fight the battle of themselves and their own personal committment.  They need to break it down to 1 guy, 1 job.  You do your job and the guy next to you does his and we'll take the result win or lose.  This isn't offense vs. defense....and these are times when that kind of anti-team crap begins.

The coaches have duty to make sure this doesn't happen...but the players have the responsibility to do it.  Get back to work, keep chopping wood, or whatever cliche' floats your boat, but don't frickin' give up.  Giving up is what true losers do.

I, for one, don't believe they are losers.

Definitely not losers, the areas of where the team has come up short glare in my mind (Opponent and our own 3rd down conversions), and it is on both the responsibility of the players and the coaches.  It is disappointing to not have a victory yet, but there are still 7 games to go.  The players need to do a better job executing, and the coaches need to obviously put their players in better situations.  I have long said that I believe that last statement is what needs to change at Cornell.  There is obvious talent on the team, and on lookers such as Doolittle have noticed that the players aren't always put in the position to make plays for the team.  I know the players need to execute, and agree with this 100%.  But it goes both ways, you can give it all but you still can't force a square peg through a round hole.

[Charlie Kohawk]

Don't get me wrong, though -- if you guys are angling for the title of IIAC Drunks, we're more than happy to let you have it.

touche

[Klopenhiemer]

Wow what a great weekend of football and did I miss a lot on the boards. 

A few observations from the weekends.  These were all from my informats, as I was not present for any game. 

BV:  They won a great ball game and showed some promise.  They need to get the rushing attack moving a bit better, but Peary is making some nice decisions and getting the job done.  BV is known for big wins after their bye week.  I am not ready to hail them as the next conference contender, lets see how a few more weeks play out.  Stick together men, you have something good going. 

Warty/Central:  Sounds like a great game, but sounds like both teams do have some weakness in certain areas.  Centrals QB situation does not seem totally ironed out and Wartys oline seems to have some holes it. 

Luther:  Nice win, I picked UD, but it sounds as though they made some nice improvements. 

All the playoff talk is premature.  I know others have said this, but I do not see any IIAC team running the table this year.  I think we have a lot of equality in the conference for the first time in a long time.  Warty and Central are tough, but I think you have a few coming behind them that could make some noise.  I still see Warty on top at the end, I just see it with atleast 1 conference loss. 

I hope all teams avoided any major injuries, and now its onto next week!

BTW:  +k to you Heys for make me laugh yet another weekend. 

[sportsknight]

So Central drops in the polls from #9 to #23. That's quite the slide...

Nothing against the Dutch - they're a great team and hopefully they'll win out and be in the postseason field along with Wartburg - but I don't think I'm alone when I say that #9 might have been a bit too high for Central in the first place.

[sportsknight]

Doolittle:

Just saw that you asked me a question over on the Pick 'Em board.  I'd agree with you that the bloom is off the rose a little bit now as far as the Wartburg D is concerned, but what I was getting at for that prediction is that I thought Wartburg's defense would make the difference in the contest.  Not sure if that's actually how it happened - Wartburg was certainly able to put some pressure on the Central QBs, but Central was able to get back in the game on them in the second half.

I still say the Knights have one of the better defenses, if not the best, in the conference.  They really only gave up 14 points against St. Norbert, since the other TD came on a fumble return for a score.  Of the two TDs scored by SNC, one was on a short field.  Against Augsburg, 13 of Augie's 30 points came in OT.  Not making excuses, just saying that sometimes the numbers lie.  That said, they have room to improve an average of more than 300 yards allowed per game and only 6 takeaways thru 3 games does not equal dominance.

[5 Words or Less]

Man, spend the last 21 hours throwing up with flu/food poisoning and you miss a lot   ....

Food poisoning at the inlaws

[5 Words or Less]

Man, spend the last 21 hours throwing up with flu/food poisoning and you miss a lot   ....

Food poisoning at the inlaws

Feigning illness would've been easier

[corkballrules]

I guess I am not sure if it comes down to a simple matter of playing harder.

The Rams mental outlook is critical at this point.  In the past 2 years, they have at least had non-conference success.  With that blown out the window, given the past several years, this team is staring the prospect of a 0-fer season...with what we all thought could be an improved team.  But all of that does not matter.  They need to stay focused on the game in front of them from here on out.  Their biggest opponent is their own self-doubt.

But it comes down to a matter of perserverance.  With Wartburg upcoming and the obvious difficulties awaiting, the Rams have to fight the battle of themselves and their own personal committment.  They need to break it down to 1 guy, 1 job.  You do your job and the guy next to you does his and we'll take the result win or lose.  This isn't offense vs. defense....and these are times when that kind of anti-team crap begins.

The coaches have duty to make sure this doesn't happen...but the players have the responsibility to do it.  Get back to work, keep chopping wood, or whatever cliche' floats your boat, but don't frickin' give up.  Giving up is what true losers do.

I, for one, don't believe they are losers.

Definitely not losers, the areas of where the team has come up short glare in my mind (Opponent and our own 3rd down conversions), and it is on both the responsibility of the players and the coaches.  It is disappointing to not have a victory yet, but there are still 7 games to go.  The players need to do a better job executing, and the coaches need to obviously put their players in better situations.  I have long said that I believe that last statement is what needs to change at Cornell.  There is obvious talent on the team, and on lookers such as Doolittle have noticed that the players aren't always put in the position to make plays for the team.  I know the players need to execute, and agree with this 100%.  But it goes both ways, you can give it all but you still can't force a square peg through a round hole.

Agreed 100%, maybe the coaches might tailor the game plan to exploit the players strengths and make changes?

[ShowMe]

maybe ShowMe will shut up now.

Why?

[ShowMe]

maybe ShowMe will shut up now.

It's not very polite to use words like "shut up", didn't your parents teach you better?

[ShowMe]

I know you boys can't wait to see my commentary. I will have one as soon as I get some time. I have not given up on the Rams. I am disappointed in the results of the first 3 games. There should be a sense of urgency around the Rams football program starting with the administration that manages the program, the coaching staff that manages the resources and the players that execute the offense, defense and special teams.

[Alfredeneumann]

CR Gazette on-line slide show of Coe-Cornell game
http://gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080920/SPORTS/709209915/1056

[doolittledog]

I guess I am not sure if it comes down to a simple matter of playing harder.

The Rams mental outlook is critical at this point.  In the past 2 years, they have at least had non-conference success.  With that blown out the window, given the past several years, this team is staring the prospect of a 0-fer season...with what we all thought could be an improved team.  But all of that does not matter.  They need to stay focused on the game in front of them from here on out.  Their biggest opponent is their own self-doubt.

But it comes down to a matter of perserverance.  With Wartburg upcoming and the obvious difficulties awaiting, the Rams have to fight the battle of themselves and their own personal committment.  They need to break it down to 1 guy, 1 job.  You do your job and the guy next to you does his and we'll take the result win or lose.  This isn't offense vs. defense....and these are times when that kind of anti-team crap begins.

The coaches have duty to make sure this doesn't happen...but the players have the responsibility to do it.  Get back to work, keep chopping wood, or whatever cliche' floats your boat, but don't frickin' give up.  Giving up is what true losers do.

I, for one, don't believe they are losers.

Definitely not losers, the areas of where the team has come up short glare in my mind (Opponent and our own 3rd down conversions), and it is on both the responsibility of the players and the coaches.  It is disappointing to not have a victory yet, but there are still 7 games to go.  The players need to do a better job executing, and the coaches need to obviously put their players in better situations.  I have long said that I believe that last statement is what needs to change at Cornell.  There is obvious talent on the team, and on lookers such as Doolittle have noticed that the players aren't always put in the position to make plays for the team.  I know the players need to execute, and agree with this 100%.  But it goes both ways, you can give it all but you still can't force a square peg through a round hole.

To be fair, I saw Cornell play 1 game and that was the first game of the season.  The Cornell staff may have made changes by now.  If they aren't changing things around a few games into the season...then there could be some problems.  

I will also note, Vince Brautigam won 1 conference game his first season, 0 conference wins his next 2 seasons, then 1 each in years 4 and 5.  Things have definatly been better at 2000 University Ave. in Dubuque since then!!!