December 17, 2024 • 8 mins
Iowa Western is attempting to win a 3rd consecutive national championship. Head Coach Scott Strohmeier discusses the program and their shot at history.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Iowa Western back in the championship. You're going to be
playing in that game tomorrow. I have to ask, how
has Iowa Western become this powerhouse in junior college football
and how can you best describe what that culture is
in your program?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I mean, I think the big thing is anytime you're
at a school that has strong administration that support athletics,
I think number one, that gives you an opportunity to
compete at that level is the first thing. And then
obviously you got to recruit good players, you know, but
(00:37):
we have the strong support and my staff is the
big good job of recruiting players that can compete at
the highest level. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
One of the other things with the Reavers that we've
been you know, if you've been in this community around
Omaha before, and if you've paid any attention to college
sports in general, is that it's a very different time
right now than it has been. And there are lot
of coaches at the highest of levels and even down
in the FCS and Division two ranks that are just like,
I don't know if I can keep up with the
(01:07):
way that the school and the athletics is kind of moving,
especially in football. How has that been operating for you
guys at Iowa Western. Has that been a difficult transition
with the transfer portal and whatnot?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
No, I mean not really. I mean I think the
biggest thing is is the portal has really affected high
school kids. So it's kind of sort of helped us
a little bit from a standpoint of like, those guys
aren't getting as many opportunities and so students if you're
(01:40):
doing your job as a senior college coach here and
to get those those kids and opportunities. So, I mean,
I think every every time you go into a new
era between the portal and NIL, you have to as
a junior, you have to kind of adapt and figure
(02:03):
out how are you going to navigate that? And I
think you've done a good job. But yes, the portal
has changed dramatically of how you recruit and how you
do things. But I think we've done a really good job.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
We're speaking with Scott Stromeyer's the head football coach over
at Iowa Western, and they're preparing to play in the
Junior College Championship the JC Double a championship game against
Hutchinson Community College, who is a powerhouse in a lot
of different sports down there from Kansas. But this game
is tomorrow, a Wednesday championship an opponent that has become
(02:41):
quite familiar as these two teams play each other, and
it's been a top ten matchup several times, it's been
a top five matchup several times, it's been a championship
game more than once. Now, what is it about these
two teams that make them stand out above the rest?
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, well, I think I have a lot of respect
for Hutch. I mean, they're they're the coach. Well, respect
Drew Dallas and what he's done at what he's done
at Hutch. He's done a really good job. But I mean,
at the end of the day, it comes down to,
like the teams that are going to perform, and and
(03:19):
you know, our guys, Like I said that, we always
prepare for those guys, and we've had some really good,
really good matchups. But on the three or four plays,
who's gonna make those plays? And uh, we've made some
in the last few years and hopefully we can make
them tomorrow. But I think the biggest thing is just
(03:44):
there is there is a respect between both teams of
well coached, really good players and who's going to perform
on the on the stage.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
There is familiarity even this season with these teams. You
guys met up in the beginning of the season. I
think it was first week of September and it was
a one versus two matchup and they got the better
of you guys by a single point. What did you
learn about that? And how different is that going to be?
Because that's kind of ancient history as far as football.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Goes well, And I think I think both teams are different,
you know. I mean we're a completely different team. They
are too. You try to figure out your team, you know,
early on, and I mean that I decided to go
for two to try to win the game, and we
(04:37):
didn't get it, and they'd beat this thirty nine to
thirty eight. But like I said, two really good teams
and it came down to a couple of plays. We
didn't start very well, but it were expectedly the same
thing and from there. They're playing a lot better today
than they were, you know when we played them the
(04:58):
first time, as we are as will.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
It's fascinating. This is the fourth consecutive year that you
guys have made it to the National Championship since they've
gone to the split divisions in Juco, you've won the
last two y you're looking for the three pet Here
some names that I think a lot of football fans
who aren't even very familiar with your team would recognize,
And it starts with your quarterback Hunter Deckers, who Iowa
State fans would be familiar with. Well, what about him
(05:24):
has kind of changed what your team kind of has
as far as it's ceiling And who are some other
important players do you think are going to make a
big difference tomorrow night?
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Well, I'll tell you what I mean. Hunter is so intelligent.
I mean, he understands the game. So I'm fortunate to
have him. I don't know if we'll ever have another
quarterback like this from a standpoint of understanding the game.
But gosh, I mean, anytime you bring a Division one
(05:53):
guy who has success and you bring him down to
our level, you don't know how they're going to respond.
That he's done an unbelievable job. The kids love him,
he kind of fit in, uh, you know, with with
all our team, he's done a great job. But gosh,
you know, as far as like I think the big
(06:16):
we've made such a big improvement defensively from week one
to where we are today, Uh, with our guys just
building confidence throughout the year, you know, and it's not
specifically one player you know that that has done it,
but he's We've really improved there, you know. And Ma said,
(06:41):
anytime at the guy m Hunter, who's his next step
is going to be the NFL. I mean, he's that talented.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's it's an incredible that you know, we are so
familiar with what your quarterback is going to do. What's
the one key, Coach Stromeyer, that you're going to need
for the Reavers to come up with a third national
title in a row.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah. I mean we've got to be fishing offensively. I
mean the last time we played and we get down
and we played from behind ru through for over or
close to five hundred yards. I mean, we don't want
to get sit in there and we have to chuck
at every single down. But we've got to be a
fishing offensively. Their tailback is special, their quarterback is really
(07:24):
good as well. But if we can if we can
limit the explosive plays from running the football and make
them throw the football, I think we have a shot.
I mean, at least we'll be in the mix. But
you know, we'll see. We've been praxicing for you know,
ten days, and now it's time we go play.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
And this is exactly what we're going to be looking
for down there in Canyon, Texas. It's going to be
the Division one of the Junior College Championship in JC
Double A and the national Championship will kick off seven
thirty Central time tomorrow as i Will Western goes for
the three peat against Hutchinson Community College, second time they've
actually played this season and for a national championship in
(08:06):
the last few years. Head coach Scott Stromeyer, Frio Western,
all of Omaha, the Council Bluffs, all the areas supporting you.
We'll be paying close attention and hopefully we get a
chance to chat again after you bring home another Natty.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
As I appreciate you having me and make sure everybody
tunes in and we need all the help we can get.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
That's awesome. Really appreciate Head coach Scott Stromeyer from Iowa
Western Community College with us here today.
Iowa Western back in the championship. You're going to be
playing in that game tomorrow. I have to ask, how
has Iowa Western become this powerhouse in junior college football
and how can you best describe what that culture is
in your program?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I mean, I think the big thing is anytime you're
at a school that has strong administration that support athletics,
I think number one, that gives you an opportunity to
compete at that level is the first thing. And then
obviously you got to recruit good players, you know, but
(00:37):
we have the strong support and my staff is the
big good job of recruiting players that can compete at
the highest level. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
One of the other things with the Reavers that we've
been you know, if you've been in this community around
Omaha before, and if you've paid any attention to college
sports in general, is that it's a very different time
right now than it has been. And there are lot
of coaches at the highest of levels and even down
in the FCS and Division two ranks that are just like,
I don't know if I can keep up with the
(01:07):
way that the school and the athletics is kind of moving,
especially in football. How has that been operating for you
guys at Iowa Western. Has that been a difficult transition
with the transfer portal and whatnot?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
No, I mean not really. I mean I think the
biggest thing is is the portal has really affected high
school kids. So it's kind of sort of helped us
a little bit from a standpoint of like, those guys
aren't getting as many opportunities and so students if you're
(01:40):
doing your job as a senior college coach here and
to get those those kids and opportunities. So, I mean,
I think every every time you go into a new
era between the portal and NIL, you have to as
a junior, you have to kind of adapt and figure
(02:03):
out how are you going to navigate that? And I
think you've done a good job. But yes, the portal
has changed dramatically of how you recruit and how you
do things. But I think we've done a really good job.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
We're speaking with Scott Stromeyer's the head football coach over
at Iowa Western, and they're preparing to play in the
Junior College Championship the JC Double a championship game against
Hutchinson Community College, who is a powerhouse in a lot
of different sports down there from Kansas. But this game
is tomorrow, a Wednesday championship an opponent that has become
(02:41):
quite familiar as these two teams play each other, and
it's been a top ten matchup several times, it's been
a top five matchup several times, it's been a championship
game more than once. Now, what is it about these
two teams that make them stand out above the rest?
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, well, I think I have a lot of respect
for Hutch. I mean, they're they're the coach. Well, respect
Drew Dallas and what he's done at what he's done
at Hutch. He's done a really good job. But I mean,
at the end of the day, it comes down to,
like the teams that are going to perform, and and
(03:19):
you know, our guys, Like I said that, we always
prepare for those guys, and we've had some really good,
really good matchups. But on the three or four plays,
who's gonna make those plays? And uh, we've made some
in the last few years and hopefully we can make
them tomorrow. But I think the biggest thing is just
(03:44):
there is there is a respect between both teams of
well coached, really good players and who's going to perform
on the on the stage.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
There is familiarity even this season with these teams. You
guys met up in the beginning of the season. I
think it was first week of September and it was
a one versus two matchup and they got the better
of you guys by a single point. What did you
learn about that? And how different is that going to be?
Because that's kind of ancient history as far as football.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Goes well, And I think I think both teams are different,
you know. I mean we're a completely different team. They
are too. You try to figure out your team, you know,
early on, and I mean that I decided to go
for two to try to win the game, and we
(04:37):
didn't get it, and they'd beat this thirty nine to
thirty eight. But like I said, two really good teams
and it came down to a couple of plays. We
didn't start very well, but it were expectedly the same
thing and from there. They're playing a lot better today
than they were, you know when we played them the
(04:58):
first time, as we are as will.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
It's fascinating. This is the fourth consecutive year that you
guys have made it to the National Championship since they've
gone to the split divisions in Juco, you've won the
last two y you're looking for the three pet Here
some names that I think a lot of football fans
who aren't even very familiar with your team would recognize,
And it starts with your quarterback Hunter Deckers, who Iowa
State fans would be familiar with. Well, what about him
(05:24):
has kind of changed what your team kind of has
as far as it's ceiling And who are some other
important players do you think are going to make a
big difference tomorrow night?
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Well, I'll tell you what I mean. Hunter is so intelligent.
I mean, he understands the game. So I'm fortunate to
have him. I don't know if we'll ever have another
quarterback like this from a standpoint of understanding the game.
But gosh, I mean, anytime you bring a Division one
(05:53):
guy who has success and you bring him down to
our level, you don't know how they're going to respond.
That he's done an unbelievable job. The kids love him,
he kind of fit in, uh, you know, with with
all our team, he's done a great job. But gosh,
you know, as far as like I think the big
(06:16):
we've made such a big improvement defensively from week one
to where we are today, Uh, with our guys just
building confidence throughout the year, you know, and it's not
specifically one player you know that that has done it,
but he's We've really improved there, you know. And Ma said,
(06:41):
anytime at the guy m Hunter, who's his next step
is going to be the NFL. I mean, he's that talented.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's it's an incredible that you know, we are so
familiar with what your quarterback is going to do. What's
the one key, Coach Stromeyer, that you're going to need
for the Reavers to come up with a third national
title in a row.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah. I mean we've got to be fishing offensively. I
mean the last time we played and we get down
and we played from behind ru through for over or
close to five hundred yards. I mean, we don't want
to get sit in there and we have to chuck
at every single down. But we've got to be a
fishing offensively. Their tailback is special, their quarterback is really
(07:24):
good as well. But if we can if we can
limit the explosive plays from running the football and make
them throw the football, I think we have a shot.
I mean, at least we'll be in the mix. But
you know, we'll see. We've been praxicing for you know,
ten days, and now it's time we go play.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
And this is exactly what we're going to be looking
for down there in Canyon, Texas. It's going to be
the Division one of the Junior College Championship in JC
Double A and the national Championship will kick off seven
thirty Central time tomorrow as i Will Western goes for
the three peat against Hutchinson Community College, second time they've
actually played this season and for a national championship in
(08:06):
the last few years. Head coach Scott Stromeyer, Frio Western,
all of Omaha, the Council Bluffs, all the areas supporting you.
We'll be paying close attention and hopefully we get a
chance to chat again after you bring home another Natty.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
As I appreciate you having me and make sure everybody
tunes in and we need all the help we can get.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
That's awesome. Really appreciate Head coach Scott Stromeyer from Iowa
Western Community College with us here today.
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