What has happened to this board?  One of the biggest games is about to take place tomorrow and there is NO chatter about it, no one tearing down either team, talking about what the out come is going be?  I am sad to open this up today and see no one cares that the automatic bid to the playoffs lie's in the outcome of the Ripon vs Norberts game.  This is a huge contest!!  I for one am excited to be able to be present at this event.  It should be a great game.  Let's hear from some people, SNCDAD, you have to have some insight or words for this game.  It's Norberts homecomig also, thats just more fuel to add to the discussion for this board, yet no one is talking.  Hit me, lets hear something.  I can only check this till noon today, but I hope to see some words of wisdom (or the attempt that so many of you try) for this weeks contests.  

You guys crack me up.  Comparing numbers from one game to another.  Should we compare the number of first downs that Ripon had against IC?  Should we compare the fact that you take away 2 onside kicks against Lake Forest and those precious numbers don't mean a thing.  We can talk about all of this however what it comes down to against the Carroll Ripon game is that fact that it's home.  Even when I played at Ripon we always had a hard time winning at Carroll, but we have not lost to them at home.  I see Saturday being a bigger win than you think, plus its homecoming for the redhawks.  "Crappy Field" no question there, but its what makes home field advantage an advantage, the only thing is more injuries have accured to Ripon players than other teams. 

Now, don't get me wrong, Carroll has a good team, do I think that they are capable of beating Ripon?  Possibly anyone is capable of beating any given team any given day, if I was to bet on this game would I bet on Carroll, h*ll no!  It's not a smart bet. 

Maverick - I would agree with mwcdad, i do like the picks, however I am going to go out on a limb and say that the Ripon vs Lake Forest game isn't going to be as close as you think.  The defense is playing really well and the offense, well anyone that understands the option knows that it's a tough thing to stop.  I am going to say that the final score will be something around 35-17 Ripon.  Any Redhawks going to be making this game?!  I might venture down for a peak, plus I know the new QB coach at Lake Forest. 

Well guys, I made it to the first game of the season, Ripon vs UW-0..  Tell me if I am wrong, but I feel that Ripon had a better showing than last year.  The guys played tougher and hung with them really well through the first half.  The biggest difference is between these two teams is size and depth.  It's a great thing for Ripon to play them, shows them what it takes to be a top tier team in this conference and what it will take to bring home the DIII title.  There is still a lot of work to do, but they are becoming the team that the coaches and the players want to become.  I am excited for the rest of this season and for the future.  I hope that the injuries from this game are not season/career ending and that everyone will be suited up very soon.  Those that were at the game let me know what you though?!  I would love to hear from some of the titans and see if they saw any difference between last year and this year.     

fmrredwarmer(insert initials here) - I couldn't agree more.  Everything that you said is right on.  Krause is a beast and I am looking forward to seeing him play this season.  I think that Tygh Walters is a stud, I am excited to see someone that can run the option and read the defense.  He also has a decent arm to be a pass threat also.  As for the back field they run hard and the o-line is able to open up holes.  On the defense, they might be young at the line but big, hard to move, and will grow very quickly.  The dbacks will be practicing for playing time every day, I think they have the right people for it.  I am really excited for this season to launch in T-5 days.  Big opener for the Redhawks..  fmred, see you there?  Stop over and introduce yourself!! 

mwcfbdad - I agree that getting hit by the "injury bug" is never a good thing, however that is why coaches recruit, if you only have one person that can play at each spot you would be a lawrence football program.  These coaches know how to recruit, thus have great back ups, thats whats nice about a program like thiers every day is a competition for starting.  If you don't have some one breathing down your neck for your position you don't get better.  Plus the guys that are out with an injury are there very day coaching on the others and helping, so technique and reading of blocks/routes wont be lost. 

I can assure you that Ripon only looks at the team they are playing that Saturday, they never look a head, that is something that is stressed the first day of camp.  This is going to be an exciting season for all and I am excited to get this season launched.  Good Luck to all!!!!

Ripon has the big red white scrimmage this weekend.  Any other news around the area.  I haven't been on the board all summer, kind of feel lost.  I look forward to the season getting started and now that I am back in WI I will be able to see more games.  I would agree with Duck Duck's rankings however, I wouldn't be suprised to see the Red Hawks give SNC a run for their money.  We play them deep enough in our schedule to have the majority of the kinks out.  With who we have returning and the ones that are stepping up to fill the spots this should be an outstanding season for Ripon.  I will fill you all in after the red white scrimmage.  I am looking for a bigger and better showing this year against UW-0. 

Quote from: Storm-what? on January 17, 2007, 09:30:13 AM
LOL you are crazy if you think Wartburg is not tuition driven! With an average endowment and a very high debt load, they (like every school except Grinnell) will be tuition driven for a LONG time! Record enrollment is great, but 3 of the past 6 years Wartburg has been negative on operating income. Put it this way, record enrollment is keeping WArtburg afloat, not surpassing any financial goals! Alumni giving is a drop in the bucket! There is a price for all of these buildings WArtburg is putting up. It's a gamble and they better hope that enrollment stays as strong as it has been. (including retention rates, which seem to be slipping).

Thank you Storm-what?!  I was hoping I wasnt the only one seeing the WHOLE picture.  Everything you stated is true.

[/quote]

Whoa, slow down now.  I wasn't saying that the facility will make the difference, but a season's worth of experience will make the difference.  Playing in Waverly without having to drive 20 miles for home games will help matters, but the increased experience will help more.

Secondly, I wouldn't start commenting on Wartburg's bottom line until you actually know what you're talking about.  Wartburg just got completed a campaign that brought in $90 million dollars, some of which will be committed to the new facility.  Also, Wartburg won't be footing the entire bill, the city of Waverly is picking up some of the cost for the new Wartburg/Waverly Sports and Wellness Center.  Also, Wartburg's alums give generously enough that the school won't need to rely on enrollment (which has gone up every year for the last 11, by the way) to complete their financial obligations.
[/quote]

I do actually know what I am talking about and it looks like you don't or being misinformed about what is really going on.  That $90 Mil. is already spoken for!  I will refer you back to Storm-what? for the answers to your other statements. 

Good Day!

Quote from: sportsknight on January 13, 2007, 11:04:06 AM
  When the Knights get into the new facility next year, I think some of these problems will have been corrected.

You are saying that besides youth the reason they are 0-5 right now is because of facility?  COME ON!  You could take this years team, put them in a great facility and the outcome will be the same.  I agree that some of the problems will be corrected, but it has nothing to do with facility, it has to do with going through a sh*tty start of a year. 

I understand that the Wartburg backers are excited about the new facility, as you should be.  But are you aware that Wartburg will be in the negative for decades?!  With their current enrollment they will just be making enough to pay off the interest on the loans they took out, they can't even start paying back the "real" money.

Good Day..

Quote from: theoptimist on November 24, 2006, 03:34:51 PM
Only needing to be in the top 50% to get into the WIAC schools?  Tell that to the thousands of high schoolers who can't get into UW-LaCrosse.

And any conference that claims Ripon as one of its members should not be disparaging another conference's academics.

Are you kidding me? Ripon is one of only five Wisconsin colleges and universities (along with UW-Madison, Marquette University, Lawrence University, and Beloit College) to be included each year in the Princeton Review's 361 Best Colleges and Universities in the country rankings. Ripon is also one of only three private colleges in Wisconsin (along with Lawrence and Beloit) to make the US News and World Report America's Best Colleges list for national liberal arts colleges. Ripon has the highest percentage of medical school admissions of all Wisconsin colleges and universities, as well as the best placement percentage of teaching certifiers of any college or university in Wisconsin. To ridicule Ripon's academic quality is simply a symptom of ignorance...something we've grown accustomed to from state school grads". 

Quote from: RCFB#62 on November 10, 2006, 01:02:10 PM

Quote from: fightintitan2006 on November 09, 2006, 11:22:01 PM
Give the Knights some respect, they are the one MWC team who has shown up in the playoffs. They have played with the Johnnies before and while a win is unlikely,  you never know.

You have to feel for Purtill. This guy has had several teams that could win a couple playoff games in other regions or with a better seed, but an MWC school has to win a game at St. Johns or against a UWW caliber team to gain respect in future seeding.

Its too bad that they the MWC has been labeled the sisters of the poor, because I think SNC could pull it off against a third-seeded central and are much better then some higher seeds in other regions.

I agree but St. Nubs needs the rest of the conference to boost there schedule, and we all know that won't happen unless the MWC takes a giant step in the directions that St. Nubs is heading, good recruiting and solid offseason programs. 

I agree, I would also like to see the MWC go towards off-campus recruiting.  Now working in a conference that allows that and have done it for basketball, it makes a big difference with athletes. I think it would benifit the colleges in the MWC greatly. 

Quote from: red hawk 88 on November 08, 2006, 03:24:20 PM
So if it was so classless of Ripon to score what about LU coming out throwing the ball twice and calling a time out

I hate to go against a fellow redhawk, but what LU did was not classless either, if there is time on the clock and you are down, you should be going for a TD.  Sorry 88, but I wanted to say this before viking jumped on you.  So I think it's safe to say that NOTHING that happened Sat. at the game was classless.  Next topic please. 

I would like to see Norberts go far, give the MWC some credit. 

Quote from: wc2viking on November 07, 2006, 12:35:58 AM

Quote from: Hawk Sighting on November 05, 2006, 06:42:36 PM

Ok!  Couple questions for you!  1.  Do you understand Football?  2.  Do you understand the Ripon/Lawrence rivalry?  3.  Were you at the game?

I stand by my comment.
Answers:
1. Yep
2. If 'understanding' means that I can't call out classless moves, then I guess not.
3. Yep, I was at the game.  Actually, I was sitting a couple rows down from the Ripon coaches in the coach's box.  One of the coaches asked the head coach through the radio, "You going to take a knee here?" So I know at least one Ripon coach thought it would be a good idea to take a knee and end the game.  He actually looked embarassed after Ripon scored.

FWIW, LU was not using timeouts at this point and the TD was scored with 25 seconds left.  Check the box score.

I am pretty sure that NO Ripon coach was embarassed that Ripon scored.  Also the fact that they scored with 25 sec. left, means that the ball was set with atleast 50 sec. left on the clock, they ran down the play clock and scored.  And that would be a good time to start using timeouts.  They haven't used timeouts yet, but would have.  And as my good friend Early stated, Lawrence would have run the ball in on the 1 yard line if the role was reversed.  Now I would understand if it was a PA (play action) pass, but it was a sweep to the outside.  SO lick your wounds, cry your tears, and stop talking about a situation that you have never been in as a coach.  Ask any coach with that same situation (explained correctly) and you will get the same answer, "You don't take a knee on the 1 yard line".

Quote from: wc2viking on November 04, 2006, 05:31:28 PM
Well, the Vikings didn't finish with a winning season as hoped.  Congrats to Ripon on the win 31-14.  Completely classless  move by Ripon to score with 25 seconds left.

Oh well, congrats to the LU program for continuing to improve.  Next year, they should be a contender for the conference title.

Ok!  Couple questions for you!  1.  Do you understand Football?  2.  Do you understand the Ripon/Lawrence rivalry?  3.  Were you at the game?

Reason I ask this is because it wasnt with 25 seconds left in the game.  It was with about 50 sec. left, Ripon on the 2 yard line going in for a TD and lawrence having 2 timeouts left down by 10.  If Ripon would have taken a knee they could of used the timeouts, got the ball back and had a chance to score, onside kick, and get the ball back to tie.  So with being on the 2 yard line Ripon does what any team would do, and run the ball, just happens that they were able to score. 

Lawrence was still able to return the kick AND run 2 plays.  So if I am not mistaken I think that Ripon played it just right and I feel that YOU are just being classless with that comment.  And another thing you need to get off the sauce, cause Lawrence will not be contending for the title next year.  They will be contending for a winning season.  Granted they are a lot better then they have been, but to say that they will be contending for the title is ridiculous.  However I am excited to see that the Ripon/Lawrence game will mean something in the near future, since it looks like Lawrence is able to win some games.   

Quote from: Pat Coleman on October 29, 2006, 09:59:19 AM

Quote from: Hawk Sighting on October 28, 2006, 06:40:39 PM
The Ripon Grinnell game is listed wrong on this site.  Ripon won 55-14 Had over 500 yards of rushing, broke the school record.  Right now it's listed as Grinnell over Ripon 55-14.

Something as important as a school posting its score incorrectly is probably worth an e-mail to me. I could've fixed it before the school realized its error.

Sorry wasnt trying to ruffle any feathers.  Just wanted to have it posted correctly.