FB: Midwest Conference

[gbpuckfan]

Final
Grinnell 7
Carroll 40

Final
Monmouth 42
Knox 6

[blu thru n thru]

Did I miss it?  What'd Ripon do today?

[gbpuckfan]

Did I miss it?  What'd Ripon do today?

Dunno. COuldn't get video to work, no score on it or the Lawrence website.. I'm still checking.

[larry_u]

Did I miss it?  What'd Ripon do today?

Dunno. COuldn't get video to work, no score on it or the Lawrence website.. I'm still checking.

Don't know the final, but through Facebook it was apparently 42-0 Ripon at halftime

[gbpuckfan]

Ripon 63
Lawrence 7
Final

[blu thru n thru]

Ripon 63
Lawrence 7
Final

They must have unveiled their passing game.

[The Roop]

Must have thrown more than twice.

[SNCOLDAD]

160 yards passing. Nice day. Oh, against Larry.

[The Roop]

As much as I feel like rubbing it in to blu I don't think I will. Yes I will. As predicted Americas Team took the Blue Boys to the woodshed. LOL.

[blu thru n thru]

As much as I feel like rubbing it in to blu I don't think I will. Yes I will. As predicted Americas Team took the Blue Boys to the woodshed. LOL.

Well deserved and not as bad as you could...  Between the Blueboys' end of season fizzle, and the Longhorns' complete debacle of a season, there ain't much joy in the house.

But as I look toward next season, I see reason for optimism.  Over the course of the season, I have gotten to know many of the underclassmen.  I believe they have the ability and commitment to do exactly as I have predicted from day one.  That is, take the Blueboys to the next level.  They took some nice steps in that direction this year.  They made a difference in the conference.  They weren't just fodder, only winning games against the conference cellar dwellers.  They showed they could play.

Winning is an attitude.  Development takes leadership.  There's something I know, that y'all don't.  There is a history I have witnessed, but cannot share in this forum.  It involves increasing the overall energy of a program.  There's a core group of young men who will not be satisfied with the results achieved in the past.  Their number will grow in the coming months.  There will be a raised level of commitment to football & development in this off-season.  No one on this board will see it.  But it will be there.  The team will still be young next year, but it will have a heightened sense of purpose.  I think there will be greater versatility on offense, and increased intensity & ferocity on defense.  Teams win when they believe and understand that football isn't just a fall sport.  It requires a 24/7/365 commitment to improvement.  Not just by a handful of players, but when that commitment becomes an expectation of all, by all.  We only visited 2 schools in the MWC.  As many already know, MC was the other.  Not taking anything from rest, but the aforementioned commitment and attitude was already instilled and part of the culture there.  That, not Tanney's potential return, is what makes them consistent contenders. At IC, we truly saw (and see) the raw ingredients.  The coaching staff is bringing in the players it needs, and raising the bar.  The administration and fans are sensing it, and raising their commitment to match.  This is how programs grow.  Blueboy Nation was born.  It's in its adolescence.  The MWC will know when it comes of age. 

It's been a blast being part of this board.  While I don't have the historical perspective, I would still suggest that the conference got better this year.  Is our champion as great as in years' past, who knows?  But the conference is better as a whole.  Iron sharpens iron.  This is a good thing.  Let's keep it going.  I realize that SNC has a daunting task before them, but let's all get behind them.  Because next year, I know the Blueboys will want your support when they carry the conference banner into the great beyond.   Class dismissed.  You may go now. 

[The Roop]

I had Gates McFadden dream #7 last night and you give the board a lecture like that ?? Can't even give details now as you've ruined it.

[blu thru n thru]

I had Gates McFadden dream #7 last night and you give the board a lecture like that ?? Can't even give details now as you've ruined it.

A what???  Dude, y'ain't dreamin' about me, are ya?  Sometimes yur cerebralness is too much for me to foller.

[warthog]

After this coming weekend's probable loss to Coe, Cornell will own a sparkling 1-39 record in IIAC Football over the past five seasons.  If they are successful in rejoining the MWC, what do you predict Cornell's record will be in the first five years back as a MWC member? (I assume this would be starting with the 2012 football season)

[The Roop]

A what???  Dude, y'ain't dreamin' about me, are ya?  Sometimes yur cerebralness is too much for me to foller.

Nope, I don't go that way. Gates McFadden was the actress that played Beverly Crusher in Star Trek TNG. I'd go that way in a heartbeat. Nothing wrong with Cougar hunting. 

[hickory_cornhusker]

After this coming weekend's probable loss to Coe, Cornell will own a sparkling 1-39 record in IIAC Football over the past five seasons.  If they are successful in rejoining the MWC, what do you predict Cornell's record will be in the first five years back as a MWC member? (I assume this would be starting with the 2012 football season)

Since I don't know how the schedule would work with ten teams (I would assume divisions but wouldn't be shocked if they went with an insular ten game schedule) this is hard to say. I like to think this season showed the rest of the MWC has gotten stronger rather than just the top has gotten weaker so I would say Cornell would be looking at a 7th - 9th place finish every year. Maybe hitting 5th or 6th in a good year but just as possible to drop to 10th in a bad year.