FB: American Rivers Conference

[The Show]

BTW, I've watched Christmas Vacation 3 times since last weekend...never gets old.

Classic.

And honestly, that DVD is on my Christmas List.

[DutchFan2004]

Family tradition at our house.  It's not Christmas till we watch it.  That is the Saturday night before Christmas tradition.  It is a GREAT MOVIE!

[Walston Hoover]

Show, we've been fortunate to get a full night's sleep since just before 3 months. It sure made things easier. I was talking to one of our coaches and his daughter didn't start sleeping through the night until 15 months. Yikes/

[doolittledog]

Our first daughter slept through the night (well from 11pm to5am) from the day we brought her home from the hospital.  Our second daughter took 6 months to sleep through the night.  Our son took 9 months.  You see a pattern developing???

Of course now, our 3 year old comes in every night about 2am and spends the rest of the night with us, plus our son now has a cold and is having some teething issues.  So I've been up walking around with him for an hour or so for most of the last week.  It's always something. 

Of course that usually ends up with me making posts on here somewhere in the middle of the night. 

As far as Christmas wishes go.  Would Santa laugh if I asked him for...6 conference wins for Dubuque football next season???  Or would he just be concerned a grown man was sitting on his lap and call for security...and in the process embarras my wife and make my kids cry???

[DutchFan2004]

Walston, Doolittle,


Your troubles are just getting started, take it from me there are always torubles in being a parent.  They never end!  You just go from one set of troubles to another.  But as time goes by you see it is all worth it.  MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

[doolittledog]

We just got home from our company christmas party.  Turned on the aztec bowl webcast and the first thing I heard was Dubuque's Walner Belleus getting an interception.  I believe the US is up 21-7 in the 4th quarter. 

[doolittledog]

Announcer just mentioned the Mexican punt returner ran out of the way because he saw Walner Belleus running at him.  Haven't heard any mention of Central's and Luther's reps at the game.  But I only turned it on with 10 minutes left in the game. 

2:33 left in the game.  The US has 170 yards in penalties.  The 2003 team holds the record with 181 yards in penalties.

[doolittledog]

Walner Belleus just awarded the Player of the game.  1 interception, 5 kick returns...they didn't mention the yards...but must have been a lot. 

Now the announcers say that Andy Collins, the QB from Occidental is the MVP.  They say Walner Belleus was just getting interviewed and they messed up. 

[warthog]

Mount Union football is almost as good as Nebraska volleyball.  8)

[Walston Hoover]

Mount Union football is almost as good as Nebraska volleyball.  8)

Watching Mt. Union yesterday I couldn't help but think the IIAC has a ways to go.
The size and athleticism of them and Whitewaters defenses I believe are what sets them apart.
Nothing seemed to be too fancy about what either team did on O, but both teams really wanted to run the football, which I am all about.

[warthog]

Walston Hoover:

Iowa's population:2,900,000
Wisc's population: 5,250,000

Iowa:  University of Iowa & Iowa State University D-1 / Northern Iowa D1AA
Wisc:  University of Wisconsin,Madison D1

Spread the players at Iowa State and Northern Iowa around the IIAC and you will see quite a difference.

[Walston Hoover]

Walston Hoover:

Iowa's population:2,900,000
Wisc's population: 5,250,000

Iowa:  University of Iowa & Iowa State University D-1 / Northern Iowa D1AA
Wisc:  University of Wisconsin,Madison D1

Spread the players at Iowa State and Northern Iowa around the IIAC and you will see quite a difference.

I realize that and brought these same things up a month ago. But they're not going to change. We are at the same level and if we want to compete, we're going to have to figure out a way around that.
Maybe someone who has been around longer than myself can help out here, but has there always been a huge fascination with "scholarship" football?
These D2's that are coming into the state seem to get lots of talent, for VERY little scholarship money or even the opportunity to get one down the road.
I don't think the problem is with ISU, Iowa and UNI as much as it is with the D2's recruiting the state very hard.

[doolittledog]

I think it is also a lot easier for those big state schools of Wisconsin to recruit. 

You look at Platteville or Whitewater you would think you are on UNI's campus.  They have more majors to offer, better facilities to offer.  And with finantial aid.  A LOT cheaper to attend than an Iowa Conference school. 

That being said, WH really had a different point.  D-II schools are coming in and getting Iowa kids that in the past would have stayed in state at an IIAC school.  If all they are getting is $500 scholarships or the chance to get one down the road then maybe those are things IIAC coaches need to bring up in their recruiting of the same players.  Also, it could be a similar situation to the WIAC.  State schools, equals less expensive, plus you can say you played D-II instead of D-III.

It might just come down to the recruiting jobs the coaches are doing.  But as I have said before I am really out of the loop as far as these things go. 

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I would like to see an IIAC team (preferably Central) win another Stagg Bowl some day.  But, the thing to remember is that this is Division III.  The idea is to field a team of student athletes who play to win but play because it is just a part of their college experience.  I suppose there are people who think that Central puts too much emphasis on football.  I'm not that close to the program but I like to think that all of the guys on the team are students first and that football is fun for them and that they don't play because they get treated better than any other Central student.  The IIAC small liberal arts college experience might not be right for the guys who get a little D II scholarship or walk on at D I. 

[repete]

... except that since 2003, St. John's and Linfield, both small liberal arts schools have won Staggs.

And you can get good transfers, i.e., Jamie Steffensmeier
http://www.miac-online.org/news223.html