FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

So far my summer prediction of Loras being the surprise team is dead on.
I didn't think Coe would be that good, but I'm VERY surprised to see them at 1-3 right now.
WOndering if UD was an anomaly and having 1 good player made them that much better.
Wartburg/BV IMO is the game of the week.
Especially at the Lake, Wartburg is going to have their hands full.
Not too surprising that BV is 2-0 when you look at who they've played, but surprising in the dominating fashion they've won in.

[Klompen]

Pat - How long must we endure that poorly worded poll question?

"Cornell wins a conference game this in a big way over a top tier team."

I was wondering how long I had to stomach the idea of "Wartburg runs the table and goes undefeated in IIAC play."   

[Klompen]

So what does this economy situation do to private colleges as they attempt to recruit students at $30,000 a pop?

Great question. I guess I'll be keeping my college job (unless those same officials show up on campus again).

Private colleges are going to face a very challenging year.  Increasingly high school counselors and financial planners are telling students and parents to get the first two years at a community college.  Private colleges have done well to maintain enrollments against that environment, add the pressures of this economy and we could see financial struggles hit our alma maters like never before as more and more families will see that as the only choice and not even give our schools a fair chance to compete.  The regents will also likely see a bump from this.  Of course the flip side is that in a down economy more students opt for college when the job market is tight. 

[the_mayne_event]

all colleges except for grinnell

[MNbeev]

Walston,
I agree with you that Wartburg will have there hands full at the pond.  They tend to struggle in SL for some reason.  Both teams have some weak points, but it will be a showdown that will come down to who wants it most.  As for BV yes they are 2-0, but I have seen collapses before from BV.  They are playing well now, mainly because the Offense is making smart decisions, and the D is showing up every Saturday, it is also a plus that the O is getting a break from the field.  

Wartburg will be ready for BV's passing attack, this is primarily BV's run game is still not convincing teams that it can be a big part of their Offense.  And I guess that will go true For Wartburg to being that their rush O is near the bottom of the Conf.  and The top team for Pass O.  
Both Teams look similar on paper, this is going to be a good game.  It is in SL, it is homecoming...but who cares, anything can happen.

[dutchfan1]

How is Wartburg the "Homecoming" Team of the season? They played Central, Cornell, and now BV for HC?

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I have read the play by play of the Central game and now I'm ready to do my Monday morning quarterbacking.  The things that stand out to me are
1. Central's special teams aren't making the impact they did for the last couple of years.
2.  Albion was down 1 point with 24 seconds left in the game and they punted?
3. Central was up 1 point with 24 seconds left in the game and made a fair catch?  Seems to this Monday morning quarterback, I would of had everyone up watching for a fake and I would have told everyone not to even go near a punt and risk a turnover on my end of the field.

It is wonderful how smart I can be from so far away with so few facts.

Now that I am Wednesday morning quarterbacking, I realize that the play calling at the end of the game makes much more sense when I read  a little further and figure out it  really happened at the end of the third quarter.  Duh!

[doolittledog]

The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald weighs in on the Loras/Coe game from last weekend.

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=217654

[Walston Hoover]

How is Wartburg the "Homecoming" Team of the season? They played Central, Cornell, and now BV for HC?

Cornell was at Wartburg last week.
On a related note, Wartburg has Loras for HC this year. Could be a huge game.

[du-sz]

Rams vs. Duhawks

At this point, I would rate the Duhawks as the good surprise team of the IIAC and the DDQ as the bad surprise team.

There are good arguments for BV and Simpson, but on the strength of Loras' win (time to move on Coe Nation) at Coe in thre 61st minute of the contest (  8) ) Loras would generally presumed to be 0-1 in the Conference at this point.

On the other hand the DBQ was probably figured to be 2-0 (IIAC) at this point.  One might make a case for the Rams being disappointing but I would argue that opening IIAC play against Coe and Wartburg, the Rams are right were most expect them to be.

But I digress,

Last year's 1-7 Duhawks' only win was against these very Rams.  I worked the sideline chains that game and got a unique perspective from the other sideline.  Though they may not admit to it, there was a papable sense among the coaches that that game might be lost as Cornell moved the football very well most of the game.  The turning point truly was the Pick 6 to start the 4th quarter.  As the potential victory slipped away, a sense of relief made its way across the Duhawk sideline.  Credit the Duhawks for perservering for 4 quarters.

Fast forward to this year.

The Duhawks are finding ways to win, we are finding ways to lose.  Advantage Duhawks.

The Duhawks will come at us with McGrew, who ran over, around and through us last year.  We need to stop this kid.  Can we do it?  I hope so.  It is our key to winning.

Can we move the ball?  I believe so.  Whether in the Spread or the Wing-T, Loras had trouble either way.  IF we can approximate the Offensive effort displayed against the Kaniggets, my expectation is the Loras defense is not the equal of the Orange ad Black, and we will move the ball.

I believe both Hardman and Bush can have an outstanding day running the ball against Loras.  Also, last year, when they worked the ball to Jr., we moved through Loras like butter.  But we only did on 1 drive.  This year Jr. is more involved.  I think his presence forces Loras to make a choice.  Our outside guys are starting to reap benefits from the attention paid to Jr.

BUT WE GOTTA HOLD ON TO THE FOOTBALL!

Defensively, Loras doesn't seem to have missed much to graduation and they'll play hard especially at home.  With Loras on Offense we have to take away the run while simultaneously not allowing McMahon to go off.  This is my concern.  McGrew runs harder than anyone we've seen this year.  Containing him might allow them to slip something downfield.  Stopping/preventing the big play on defense is key.  We've given up too many to date.

We can win this game...but Loras is on a roll and is playing with confidence, perhaps even with a bit of invincibility that comes with getting a few breaks and taking advantage.

I look for a good game, IF WE HOLD ON TO THE FOOTBALL!

First off, sorry for the long copy/paste...but this about sums up whats on the table heading into the Cornell v. Loras game. Well said (except the 61st minute jab, of course).

McGrew is an interesting ingredient for Loras. It seems like he's constantly ripping off 125 yards, which is great, but it almost seems a given anymore.  What appears to be a rising factor is stopping everyone around him.  Monmouth was able to rush Gesing and win special teams battles, despite giving up ground to McGrew, en route to the victory.....but, with that said, if you can slow down McGrew, you're in much better shape.

[Walston Hoover]

Here's something to get everyone over the hump today.
What der Fuhrer wants, der Fuhrer gets.
http://www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pid=56894dd2-703e-4e9a-91e7-b6249960c6c2

[Alfredeneumann]

Here's something to get everyone over the hump today.
What der Fuhrer wants, der Fuhrer gets.
http://www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pid=56894dd2-703e-4e9a-91e7-b6249960c6c2

WH that is GREAT... and I'm a Hawk fan.

[DutchFan2004]

That is funny. 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Attendance so far.  And while I know that no school actually counts the attendance, it's interesting to note the schools that pretend to have a real count, and the schools that just throw out an even stevens number each week. 

BV
2,500 UW-Platteville
3,500 Simpson

Central
1,500 Lakeland
3,000 Wartburg (HC)

Coe
1,800 Gustavus Adolphus
5,535 Loras (HC)

Cornell
775 Grinnell
750 Carleton
1,200 Coe

Dubuque
4,178 Rockford
1,747 BV

Loras
1,940 I Forget College of Illinois

Luther
2,557 St. Olaf
2,966 Dubuque

Simpson
2,000 Grandview
2,000 Luther

Wartburg
3,200 St. Norbert
4,200 Cornell

Dubuque and Luther are the only schools on this list that actually look like real numbers (not rounded numbers).  That doesn't mean that they are the only two taking it seriously.   I hope all schools are trying to do what they can to keep an accurate number as I am always annoyed when people keep statistics on things (tackles, yards, attendance, etc.) only to find out that not everyone is trying to keep accurate numbers.  The wins and losses are the ultimate stat, but the other stuff means something as well (why else would they keep track?).

I am 0-2 on going to the Norse home games this year, so I need to do my part and get there this weekend.  It may be a tough game with the Dutch, but many Central-Norse games I have been around or seen have been decent games to watch.  I can't say the same for many of the games against the Knights in recent years.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

In defense of the kohawk fans that were quite angry at the end of the game.
There is no way the concession stand could have kept up with the demand of a crowd of 5,535.
Everyone was thirsty and hungry at the end of the game.