FB: American Rivers Conference

[Klopenhiemer]

My thoughts on Wartburg's issues right now-
The Augsburg loss still doesn't look too bad at this point.
We flat out don't know about BV, but maybe they are pretty good.
However with the wins, I thought after the first one against Norby that the year could be pretty good.
I thought after struggling against Cornell that a win was a win. Maybe Cornell was still Cornell and Wartburg isn't that good this year.
That Win against Central isn't looking so hot right now either.
Look for other teams to smell the blood in the water with the young Dutch again this year and a possoble 6-4/5-5 type season for them.

I think you make a lot of good points there.  This Central team remindes me of the 03 team that BV beat for the first time in 30 some years.  That was a 5-5 season that year.  

I think its kind of this year in football.  Look at the MIAC, they are turned upside down as well.  Also look at the Big 10, who though Penn State would be beating people like they have.  They are always decent, but they have covered some huge spreads this year.  

[doolittledog]

Good assessment SK.  But I think you and I were both a little hard on our own teams.  I guess we both expected a little much too.  Central did graduate a ton of players, and the expectations were probably too high given the talent that we graduated.  I guess the WB game just gave me higher expectations for us. 

On the other hand, I expected a lot out of WB and thought that Willis was such a strong coach that even taking over late would not be a problem, but only the seniors knew what to expect and they probably didn't get that much attention from him when they were freshmen. 

Maybe we should cut them a little slack, but they both better get back to work.

Klompen...Who isnt hard on their teams except doolittle on this board.  He is always cheering   In all honesty I think all poster on this board, including doolittle have hammered their teams when needed. 

Heck look at Heys...Serria Nevada is now delivering to his house on Saturdays

I did give the Spartans a D grade.  Which is the lowest grade I gave out...so there you go.  You will probably see me get a bit more critical of them in the future...when needed.  When I first found this board, I thought I needed to be a cheerleader for them because of the negative perceptions of the Spartans from other board members.  Now I don't think I need to build them up and can dump on them from time to time.  though that will be hard...I like them too much 

[dutchfan1]

My own rating...not trying to rip off 5WOL.

Alphabetically,

Buena Vista:  Surprised

Central:  Curious

Coe:  Underwhelmed

Cornell:  Alarmed  (but undaunted)

Dubuque:  Confused

Loras:  Shocked

Luther:  Overwhelmed

Simpson:  Expected

Wartburg:  Unexpected

Heys, this pretty much sums up my thoughts, too...

[Thunderbolt]

My thoughts on Wartburg's issues right now-
The Augsburg loss still doesn't look too bad at this point.
We flat out don't know about BV, but maybe they are pretty good.
However with the wins, I thought after the first one against Norby that the year could be pretty good.
I thought after struggling against Cornell that a win was a win. Maybe Cornell was still Cornell and Wartburg isn't that good this year.
That Win against Central isn't looking so hot right now either.
Look for other teams to smell the blood in the water with the young Dutch again this year and a possoble 6-4/5-5 type season for them.

Thats a very valid point, about other teams smelling blood in the water. With out a convincing win vs Coe this week, you might be able to lump the Knights in there as well. It is a big deal for seniors and graduates to be able to say they beat every team in the league at least once in there career. Something the Dutch and Knights probably take for granted. The Dutch will probably get everyones best shot this year. Not that teams haven't played hard against them in the past, but a week of preparation knowing you can win if you do everything right, is far better than hoping for a miracle.

[HoosierinIowa]

I am disappointed in Central's play this year but I think that has to do with being an old alum. During Coach Schipper's dominant years in the 1980's it seemed like Central always lost a lot of seniors but had such great depth that the team truly did reload. The conference is just too balanced these days.
I think McMartin is a fantastic coach and the program is in much better shape than it was during the 2003 season. I also believe that Central fans may have to adjust to a "down" year being .500 rather than any year you don't win the conference.

[Klompen]

I am disappointed in Central's play this year but I think that has to do with being an old alum. During Coach Schipper's dominant years in the 1980's it seemed like Central always lost a lot of seniors but had such great depth that the team truly did reload. The conference is just too balanced these days.
I think McMartin is a fantastic coach and the program is in much better shape than it was during the 2003 season. I also believe that Central fans may have to adjust to a "down" year being .500 rather than any year you don't win the conference.

I agree with a lot of this, particularly being in better shape than 2003.  I'm not sure I'm ready to agree to a down year being .500 yet.  I'm willing to go .700 or .800 but I don't see Central slipping to .500 as down years just yet.  I think Coach Mac is way too good for that.  We just can't expect too much after graduating the number of seniors that we did and 2 of them being conference MVP's.  How many teams have graduated two conference MVP's in the same year, with one of them being a two-timer.  Last year's team also went deeper into the playoffs than any IIAC team of late thanks to those seniors.  You don't lose that much without experiencings a true rebuilding year, but as someone else posted, look out in the upcoming years.   

[footballdaddy]

I'm not quite ready for the "wait 'till next year" talk just yet. I belive Central and Wartburg are in the same boat right now. If they can pull together both will have successful seasons. If things keep going the same way as the last couple of weeks for them maybe it will be "wait 'till next year".

[LCNorse]

I think we might be a little ahead of ourselves by saying that the 'burg and the dutch are gonna have down years. If they both run the table and finish 1 and 2 in the conference I can hear the dutch and orange posters right now saying how everyone thought they were down and out...if my memory serves me correctly one of those two schools have been a the top alone or with another team for the past few years...so lets let it play out a little bit till we start calling this rebuilding years for the programs...

[DutchFan2004]

I'm not quite ready for the "wait 'till next year" talk just yet. I belive Central and Wartburg are in the same boat right now. If they can pull together both will have successful seasons. If things keep going the same way as the last couple of weeks for them maybe it will be "wait 'till next year".

I agree with what is posted here and by Klompen.  Central and Wartburg can have good years as defined by IIAC standards.  Those being upper half finishes.  Having said that I think that by fans definitions they will have had down years if they are not 1 or 2 in the conference.  Klompen states it well.  For Central to have reloaded after the losses from graduation is somewhat unrealistic.  Losing 2 MVP's and them being the last three years recipients and with all of the other losses two first team all conference receivers one of them being a great punt cover guy, all conference punt returner and D back,  all conference linebackers,  all conference d line and long snapper.  There are more losses then mentioned here, just hitting the highlights.  To expect that Central reloads all these kids you would have to expected them to be a UWW or MUC.  We know that that is not the case.  The other thing mentioned here is that the conference is pretty well balanced.  Central never had real easy games every week in the IIAC a credit to the conference.  When I graded the teams I graded them from an IIAC stand point.  If you grade out the Knights from their point of view I may give them a D-F the same way from a Dutch view would have to be an F as they are not at the top and will probably not finish 1 or two and will not be in the playoffs.  The same standard applys for the Knights.  They expect to be competing for an IIAC Championship and playoff birth.  Having said all of this mathematically it is still possible for the Dutch and Knights to obtain this but practically I don't see this happening.  

[TheOne89.1]

Looking at the season stats for this year for the Knights the one thing that sticks out is rushing.  Only 533 yards have been on the ground while the opponent is at 603.  This is a big difference to the ways it used to be while Willis was there.  In summer this Knight's team was being compared to 2003.  Through 5 games in 2003 the Knights had 1,161 yards on the ground (opponents 238).  Twice as much as this year and a third less for the opponent.  Passing for the Knights that year was close to this year, although that stellar defense was holding opponents to about 400 total passing yards less that year.

Wartburg needs to get back to smashmouth football.  Take that ball and pound it in there.  Running the ball will also keep the offense on the field longer giving the defense time to rest.  Right now it's about even on Wartburg's T.O.P. and the opponents.

[doolittledog]

I wouldn't be surprised if Wartburg or Central ended the season on top in the conference.  It's mostly a perception thing.  We fans of the conference have become used to Central and Wartburg only losing to each other or maybe 1 other team during the year.  To have both schools with 2 losses halfway through the season gives the perception that they can be beaten by anybody.  Whether that proves to be true or not we will see.  It's just they don't appear to be invinceable to other teams...which is a change from years past. 

[Klopenhiemer]

I personally do not see Central or Wartburg finishing in the top two this season. 

If Central would have only lost to Luther by a point or two as they have only won by a point or two in recent years, I would not think much about it.  I would be saying darn time those Norseman get the Dutch.  But with the shalackign that Luther put on Central I do not see it happening.  I have never seen Central been beat in the conference like this. 

With all the turmoil that Yordi faced last off season it made me strongly questions his charecter to lead the team.  I kept my mouth shut about this, but now near that the problem might be to much drinking by the team?  Makes me question the charecter of this team all together.  Not a typical Knight squad.  If this is the leadership that the team is facing, then it would be a long rest of the season in Waverly. 

[LCNorse]

I'm sure wartburg teams have drank in the past and will drink in the future, that is not the reason they are losing...maybe they are just getting beat...

[TheOne89.1]

I'm sure the Knights go out and drink just like the rest of the IIAC school does.  Some of the players do and some of them don't.  Some only go out on Saturday after a game while others frequent more often because they don't have class or later classes and don't have to get up early.  Some of the younger guys are seeing the freedom that they didn't have in high school and the coaches will right them quickly.  I don't think the drinking is a "problem" at Wartburg.  It's the same just like all the other colleges.

[Klopenhiemer]

I'm sure the Knights go out and drink just like the rest of the IIAC school does.  Some of the players do and some of them don't.  Some only go out on Saturday after a game while others frequent more often because they don't have class or later classes and don't have to get up early.  Some of the younger guys are seeing the freedom that they didn't have in high school and the coaches will right them quickly.  I don't think the drinking is a "problem" at Wartburg.  It's the same just like all the other colleges.

Guys I was not the one that started the too much drinking thing.  I believe it was another Wartburg post that pointed out that there MIGHT me to much drinking going on. 

When I played I never drank during the week and found that I could obstain for a few weeks in the fall to keep my mind right. 

Now after the football season was done I could have been a candidate for AA due to my drinking practices.