FB: American Rivers Conference

[DuffMan]

I saw a blurb today that Cooper Downs is returning to SJU this year. 

Too much competition at Central for the starting spot.

Well, he's transferring back to SJU, who has a pretty solid QB returning.  He probably wants to be on a team that will actually make the playoffs. 

[DuffMan]

Some buddies and I are looking at doing a motorcycle trip down to Dubuque along the Mississippi through Red Wing, Winona, etc. Picking Dubuque because it's a nice scenic ride, and we can play some craps at the Diamond Jo Casino.

Motorcycles?  Gambling?  Bethel is going to revoke your degree! 

[bleedpurple]

Some buddies and I are looking at doing a motorcycle trip down to Dubuque along the Mississippi through Red Wing, Winona, etc. Picking Dubuque because it's a nice scenic ride, and we can play some craps at the Diamond Jo Casino.

Motorcycles?  Gambling?  Bethel is going to revoke your degree! 

Yes Hazzben, I'll be praying for you for sure!

(What is your Venmo? I'd like to have you throw some green down on the come line for me)

[MediaGuy]

https://www.kwwl.com/sports/upper-iowa-university-to-drop-seven-sports-programs/article_76fc4482-e6c7-11ed-9af5-3bbef5f3dc40.html

Upper Iowa dropping 7 athletic programs.  Budget constraints and maintaining competitive programs were the reasons given.  Wonder if the new conference is causing increased travel expenses or if this is just the beginning of a larger budget contraction for college athletics in Iowa.

[hazzben]

Some buddies and I are looking at doing a motorcycle trip down to Dubuque along the Mississippi through Red Wing, Winona, etc. Picking Dubuque because it's a nice scenic ride, and we can play some craps at the Diamond Jo Casino.

Motorcycles?  Gambling?  Bethel is going to revoke your degree! 

Yes Hazzben, I'll be praying for you for sure!

(What is your Venmo? I'd like to have you throw some green down on the come line for me)

Just to clarify, are you praying for my soul, or my/our betting outcomes 

[doolittledog]

https://www.kwwl.com/sports/upper-iowa-university-to-drop-seven-sports-programs/article_76fc4482-e6c7-11ed-9af5-3bbef5f3dc40.html

Upper Iowa dropping 7 athletic programs.  Budget constraints and maintaining competitive programs were the reasons given.  Wonder if the new conference is causing increased travel expenses or if this is just the beginning of a larger budget contraction for college athletics in Iowa.

From the Higher Education Data Center

https://iowacollegeaid.gov/DataCenter

In 2017 Upper Iowa had a total enrollment of 4,966 with 747 on campus.  In 2022 they had a total enrollment of 3,072 with 580 on campus.  Most every school in Iowa has seen an enrollment decrease, but that is a bigger drop than most.  Add in that UIU has an endowment around $20 million and they have a lot less to throw towards athletics.  When Iowa Wesleyan announced they were closing they noted they had asked the state for $12 million in Covid funds.  It was noted at that time that Graceland, William Penn, and Upper Iowa were the other schools to ask the state for $12 million.  This will be an interesting next 5 years in Iowa for higher education.   

[Fannosaurus Rex]

Completely off topic, congratulations to Luther for the excellence of their video production for their baseball games.  I'm pretty sure they had three cameras working. Pretty fancy for the ARC.

[doolittledog]

Dubuque alum Michael Joseph named to the All-XFL defense. 

https://twitter.com/XFL2023/status/1655603789225684992?s=20

[doolittledog]

https://www.kwwl.com/sports/upper-iowa-university-to-drop-seven-sports-programs/article_76fc4482-e6c7-11ed-9af5-3bbef5f3dc40.html

Upper Iowa dropping 7 athletic programs.  Budget constraints and maintaining competitive programs were the reasons given.  Wonder if the new conference is causing increased travel expenses or if this is just the beginning of a larger budget contraction for college athletics in Iowa.

More info from the Des Moines Register...

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2023/05/18/upper-iowa-university-layoffs-campus-closures-enrollment-drop-workforce-development-debt/70228457007/

Upper Iowa laid off 37 employees and closed it's centers in Illinois, Wisconsin, and 4 military bases.  The school took out a $75 million loan from the USDA in 2018.  They were supposed to pay $337,000 a month for 30 years.  USDA allowed the school to pause payments from May 2021 to October 2022.  In November 2022 the USDA allowed Upper Iowa to reduce monthly payments to $30,000 through this June and then $60,000 per month from July through June 2024. 

[doolittledog]

https://www.kwwl.com/sports/upper-iowa-university-to-drop-seven-sports-programs/article_76fc4482-e6c7-11ed-9af5-3bbef5f3dc40.html

Upper Iowa dropping 7 athletic programs.  Budget constraints and maintaining competitive programs were the reasons given.  Wonder if the new conference is causing increased travel expenses or if this is just the beginning of a larger budget contraction for college athletics in Iowa.

More info from the Des Moines Register...

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2023/05/18/upper-iowa-university-layoffs-campus-closures-enrollment-drop-workforce-development-debt/70228457007/

Upper Iowa laid off 37 employees and closed it's centers in Illinois, Wisconsin, and 4 military bases.  The school took out a $75 million loan from the USDA in 2018.  They were supposed to pay $337,000 a month for 30 years.  USDA allowed the school to pause payments from May 2021 to October 2022.  In November 2022 the USDA allowed Upper Iowa to reduce monthly payments to $30,000 through this June and then $60,000 per month from July through June 2024.

1 week later from the Des Moines Register...

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2023/05/25/upper-iowa-university-layoffs-professors-deans-as-usda-debt-looms-financial-exigency/70256765007/

An additional 13 faculty positions and two deans have been eliminated. 
A financial consulting firm told the school it needed to cut $6.8 million in spending and raise $5.5 million by the end of next month.