Semi-Finals at Dome

[VerbumDei]

Time for my annual rant. Once again, two Polk County teams have to schlep up to Cedar Falls to play a football game that could easily be played in Des Moines. I know I am in the minority on this, but to have Valley and Dowling travel to the Dome for a semi-final makes zero sense, the sight lines in the Dome are awful (you cannot see the near sideline from any seat), and the parking is usually a grade A cluster. It MIGHT make sense to have the semis in the Dome if Dowling played Kennedy in one semi, and Valley played Bettendorf in the other, but the cartel in Boone won't do it and Lord knows why.

So bring it haters and tell me I'm all wet. But anyone who argues it has to be this way because "high school players in Iowa dream about playing in the dome" needs to get better dreams.

Verbum Dei
AMDG

 

[DSMan]

you do realize this was the case until 1998, right? But what happened is that the conditions were crap. If I recall Ankeny played a Sioux City team outdoors in mid-november when it was like negative windchill.

 

[paxregis]

My response is convince Grand View University & Des Moines Public Schools to build a dome, and you can have Western teams play the semifinals closer to home. Until then, all semifinals are in Cedar Falls.

 

[paxregis]

you do realize this was the case until 1998, right? But what happened is that the conditions were crap. If I recall Ankeny played a Sioux City team outdoors in mid-november when it was like negative windchill.

I remember the bad old days of outdoor semifinals. In 1993 I made the short trip over to Britt to watch West Hancock-Northwest (Laurens). I must have suffered temporary insanity, because it was a Saturday afternoon and the air temp was below zero. I paid to get in, but used my press credentials to get in the press box where it was a relatively balmy 40 degrees.

November weather is notoriously fickle. We've had a unseasonably warm month so far, but the forecast is for high winds Thursday & Friday with evening temps in the 30s.

 

[PNation]

I was waiting for this annual rant this year, with the response of last years 4A basketball title game was North Scott vs. Pleasant Valley played in Des Moines, Cedar Falls is where the state plays its state football games, get over it.

 

[woodsiding]

Time for my annual rant. Once again, two Polk County teams have to schlep up to Cedar Falls to play a football game that could easily be played in Des Moines. I know I am in the minority on this, but to have Valley and Dowling travel to the Dome for a semi-final makes zero sense, the sight lines in the Dome are awful (you cannot see the near sideline from any seat), and the parking is usually a grade A cluster. It MIGHT make sense to have the semis in the Dome if Dowling played Kennedy in one semi, and Valley played Bettendorf in the other, but the cartel in Boone won't do it and Lord knows why.

So bring it haters and tell me I'm all wet. But anyone who argues it has to be this way because "high school players in Iowa dream about playing in the dome" needs to get better dreams.

Verbum Dei
AMDG

Not only in the minority, you're alone in fighting this.

 

[VerbumDei]

First, there were 8 teams in the State Basketball tournament (IC West, SC North, North Scott, Waukee, PV, Kennedy, Hoover and Ames) and they played a Wednesday Friday Saturday Schedule. Of course its played in one location. I suppose PV and North Scott could have played their semifinal games on Friday and drove to the Quad Cities for a final on Saturday, but that makes no sense. Can't believe you waited all year to respond to my rant and that is what you came up with.

As for weather concerns -- the average daytime high for Des Moines on November 15th is about 50 degrees. Sure its colder sometimes, but football is an outdoor sport. I will take the 20% chance of a cold day over the 100% chance of a meaningless drive to Black Hawk County.

Verbum Dei
AMDG

 

[petersdj1]

Time for my annual rant. Once again, two Polk County teams have to schlep up to Cedar Falls to play a football game that could easily be played in Des Moines. I know I am in the minority on this, but to have Valley and Dowling travel to the Dome for a semi-final makes zero sense, the sight lines in the Dome are awful (you cannot see the near sideline from any seat), and the parking is usually a grade A cluster. It MIGHT make sense to have the semis in the Dome if Dowling played Kennedy in one semi, and Valley played Bettendorf in the other, but the cartel in Boone won't do it and Lord knows why.

So bring it haters and tell me I'm all wet. But anyone who argues it has to be this way because "high school players in Iowa dream about playing in the dome" needs to get better dreams.

Verbum Dei
AMDG

Yes - forget all those 15-18 year olds who want to play in the Dome - you can't see the sideline properly!

 

[PrideOrDie30]

Verbum, sorry your dreams of not going to the dome are being crushed every year but
Iowa has a pretty good arrangement being able to play high school games at a dome that is centrally located in the state.. I would think a lot of Midwest states, like Nebraska, envy that. Yes, 75% of the games could be played at a closer neutral site but playing in a dome completely levels the playing field (as a game standpoint) and is a lot more pleasant to watch/play/coach a game this time of year.. I recall a few years ago there being wind chill of about 5 degrees and snow in Cedar Falls, As I sat there in a t-shirt and jeans inside the climate controlled dome, I remember thinking to myself "I wish this game was outside and I was wearing 5 layers and still couldn't feel parts of my body."
Even though the TV coverage is usually garbage, if a few semi games were played somewhere else they wouldn't be televised and I think a lot of people like watching the semis and finals on TV.

 

[VerbumDei]

Actually, you cant see the near sideline at all from the stands. And my 16 year old's friends would much rather play at Kinnick if you are taking a poll.

 

[PrideOrDie30]

Actually, you cant see the near sideline at all from the stands. And my 16 year old's friends would much rather play at Kinnick if you are taking a poll.

Kinnick's sidelines aren't much better than the dome if you're so worried about seeing. I'm sure the kids that like Iowa State would rather play at Jack Trice.

 

[KidSilverhair]

Weather is just a crap shoot this time of year. Could be nice - could be sleet/snow and negative wind chills. It's pretty nice to have the Dome, plus in general (despite those kids who'd rather play at Kinnick) players love the opportunity to get to play there.

I don't have a huge, huge issue either way - I'm on record concerning the playoff/season schedule that playing finals outdoors the week of Thanksgiving would have been fine with me, to get rid of the Wednesday/Monday/Friday playoffs and deal with UNI's issues - but if we've got the Dome to use, we ought to use it.

My nephew's team played in the Nebraska large-school title game in 2013. It was in Lincoln, Memorial Stadium, on I believe the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. It was freakin' cold, with a couple of thousand hardy fans sitting in this huge stadium. I think I like the Dome atmosphere better.

Plus the state could have always had Dowling play Valley in the quarterfinals instead, if that would have made you feel better.

 

[PNation]

I understand the dome not being able to be used the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving on years in which UNI would host a 1st round playoff game, however I don't know why we couldn't go to a Tuesday/Wednesday before Thanksgiving title game on years when it looks like they will host. With that you could almost make the decision after the playoffs have started. Could be like this

Friday
Thursday/Friday
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
Tuesday/Wednesday

I would almost think that for the 2nd and 3rd round games you could make the pairings and the schools could decide when the game was played.With this yes you lose a little bit of rest time, but never have less than 4 days in between games, and most of the time you have 5 or 6.

And on years when UNI isn't going to host a 1st round game (either because of a bye or missing the playoffs) you could go with this

Friday
Friday
Friday
Thursday/Friday/Saturday
Friday/Saturday

 

[maxstabs13]

I would like for the state baseball to be played at Modern Woodmen and basketball to be played at Hilton or McLeod... I would also like someone to pay my student loans off and buy me a house, but odds are none of this will ever happen.

 

[CBCrusader1994]

Dome is fine and lucky to have it but time to rotate the classes. 3-a is stuck on Thursday nights for about the tenth year in a row. I understand 4-a should keep Friday nights due to the insane crowds they draw but time to switch 3-a to Saturday. Time for the 1-a and 2-a to change their weekly schedule back to back weeks.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Actually, you cant see the near sideline at all from the stands. And my 16 year old's friends would much rather play at Kinnick if you are taking a poll.

Have them take in the state finals at Camp Randall in Madison. Looks like about 4 people in the stands and freezing. Theyd change their mind in a hurry about playing in Kinnick over the dome.

 

[VerbumDei]

After the Dowling Valley semi-final I was reminded about one other bad thing about having the semi-finals in the dome --- the game started over an hour late because of two overtime games in the afternoon. At least the trip home at 1 A.M. wasn't too crowded since Valley didn't bring any fans to the game

Verbum Dei
AMDG

 

[SEPRamFan]

I joined some friends and watched the 3A semi-finals last week... you simply cannot beat the dome for these games and the finals. I believe the vast majority (as in over 95%) of both fans and players are very much in favor of making the drive to Cedar Falls. Other than this message board, I've never heard anyone complain about having to play a game there.

Now if only we could get the state to change the format to East vs West in the semis, all would be perfect. Just look at 3A. Two teams from the same district will be playing for a state championship this week... Norwalk vs Pella.

 

[GoBigD6788]

Sorry, but Cedar Falls is not centrally located. And the FCS plays a big tournament to crown their champion. That doesn't mean the FBS will move to something like that. Just because the 3A has a lack of an east/west split doesn't mean that 4A should move away from the split. It works and it creates two sides that have roughly the same population.

 

[Common Man]

I would like for the state baseball to be played at Modern Woodmen and basketball to be played at Hilton or McLeod... I would also like someone to pay my student loans off and buy me a house, but odds are none of this will ever happen.

LOL- and I'd like to not have to drive over to Fort Dodge every year for the state softball tournament!

 

[cidhawkeye]

LOL- and I'd like to not have to drive over to Fort Dodge every year for the state softball tournament!

When in the Dodge head north to Badger. Great place.

 

[PrideOrDie30]

Sorry, but Cedar Falls is not centrally located. And the FCS plays a big tournament to crown their champion. That doesn't mean the FBS will move to something like that. Just because the 3A has a lack of an east/west split doesn't mean that 4A should move away from the split. It works and it creates two sides that have roughly the same population.

Compared to Des Moines or Ames, No.
Weather outlook for Des Moines on Friday: 40º high - 25º low, rain/snow mix, 15-25 mph winds, 3 to 5 inches of snow possible at night. Pretty much the same forecast for Ames and Iowa City.
Did anyone see what the thermostat inside the Dome was set at last week? Thanks but I'll drive 30 miles farther to the Dome.

 

[SEPRamFan]

Sorry, but Cedar Falls is not centrally located. And the FCS plays a big tournament to crown their champion. That doesn't mean the FBS will move to something like that. Just because the 3A has a lack of an east/west split doesn't mean that 4A should move away from the split. It works and it creates two sides that have roughly the same population.

I guess I don't understand what you mean when you say it works and that it creates 2 sides with roughly the same population. To me, splitting the state geographically to create 2 fairly equal halves in regards to population is irrelevant. The only population that really matters is the population of the school in determining what classification they fall in. I don't think they'd redraw the east/west line if there were large shifts of population across the state. The place where I do see the east west split being in play is in setting up the districts. But once 4 teams reach the dome, I think it should be disregarded.

 

[Common Man]

[QUOTE="VerbumDei,

As for weather concerns -- the average daytime high for Des Moines on November 15th is about 50 degrees. Sure its colder sometimes, but football is an outdoor sport. I will take the 20% chance of a cold day over the 100% chance of a meaningless drive to Black Hawk County.

Verbum Dei
AMDG[/QUOTE]


Enjoy your 4-7 inches of snow Friday.

 

[VerbumDei]

And your point is? The high temp in Des Moines on November 13th ( the day two West Des Moines teams made a meaningless two hour drive to Cedar Falls for a semi-final game) was 54 degrees.

Verbum Dei
AMDG

 

[Common Man]

And your point is? The high temp in Des Moines on November 13th ( the day two West Des Moines teams made a meaningless two hour drive to Cedar Falls for a semi-final game) was 54 degrees.

Verbum Dei
AMDG

Sorry, I thought you had an issue traveling to the Dome for the finals, too. I realize you were just talking about the semi-finals. Either way, the snowstorm could've easily hit last week. Pretty sure players and coaches and fans would prefer playing indoors to playing in a snowstorm

 

[Common Man]

Though, I will grant you the travel in crappy weather would support your argument.

 

[cidhawkeye]

And your point is? The high temp in Des Moines on November 13th ( the day two West Des Moines teams made a meaningless two hour drive to Cedar Falls for a semi-final game) was 54 degrees.

Verbum Dei
AMDG

And last year Des Moines went 10 consecutive days with a high temp below freezing, Nov 11 through Nov 20. Average high of 27.9. Are we done trying to pick random stats to support the cause? Petition the state to move your game to West Des Moines I am sure they will be more than happy to accommodate you.

 

[VerbumDei]

Of course everyone needs to travel for the finals. That has always been the case. Hope the snow is not too bad on Friday on the drive north.