Quote from: OzJohnnie on May 12, 2020, 09:25:59 PM

Quote from: OzJohnnie on May 12, 2020, 08:24:53 PM
Here we go. The hot scoop.  The list of all stated intentions (or stated 'waiting to decide') status from every school which has made a statement so far.

https://www.chronicle.com/article/Here-s-a-List-of-Colleges-/248626

70% of schools are planning to have in-person classes this fall.  13% said they are still thinking about it.  8% have said online only (the California state university system in in here - so much for the PAC12 this season).  5% will have a hybrid system.  4.6% are thinking about different options on how they will teach but are returning.

In Minnesota we have BU, Concordia St-Paul and Mac have all declared they plan on doing in-person schooling this fall.  No school in MN has said they won't do in-person classes yet.  Let's hope the ball keeps rolling.

Some noteables:

MUC is doing in-person schooling this fall.
UHMB is back in the classroom.
Chapman in-person.
Simpson in-person.
Lewis & Clark and PLU are back in person.  Even Whitworthless is going back in person.

THE Ohio State in person.
Grand Valley State will be in person.
NDSU and UND in person.
SDSU & related as well.  In person.
Caroll College in person.
Even NYU in downtown Manhatten has declared in person classes.

As the father of a soon to be college sophomore, if her school decides "in person" instruction, the onus will be on the parents/student to make the call to attend that institution or not. I know my daughter would choose to attend in person. My wife and I haven't "gone there" yet in terms of that decision. I'd lean towards that we'd grit our teeth and let her attend, but that decision has consequences. My wife has some fairly complicated immuno compromised health issues and if my daughter is living on a college campus, we'd almost have to go on the assumption she will be exposed to the virus (which in the long run might be a good thing). It does complicate things like how we'd visit our daughter at school or how things would work when she came home to visit. I sure hope that testing - both for current viral status and antibody testing for previous exposure - becomes more prevalent, accurate and accessible. Short of a vaccine, testing provides the best way to try to get some level of confidence back in typical human interaction and behavior. 

I've wavered between Covid being "overblown" to "it will fundamentally change our society for years to come." On the fundamentally changed side of the ledger, I am concerned for all of college athletics. They've already lost the NCAA basketball tournament, and if they lose significant/all revenue (stadium attendance and TV $$) from football in the fall of 2020, the house of cards could collapse.

I could be wrong, but my impression of the big revenue schools (Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, etc..) are that they spend it as fast as they bring it in through coaches salaries and facilities. It's not like they have a balance sheet with equity to fall back on to ride out anything like what we are experiencing. If you have a budget with $15 million in expenses, and basically $0 in revenue, and you are a state university (or a private institution with a Board of Trustees concerned about the future), at some point some pretty radical changes (for at least the short term) would have to implemented. "I'm sorry Joe Taxpayer, I know you've been sucking it up for 6 months, your 401K is in shambles, but by golly The Football Coach needs his $5 million salary, even if we aren't playing this year."

The down the line impact is concerning as well, as I believe revenue from the Div 1 mens basketball tourney provides much of the funding for all other NCAA championships at non-revenue sports (see D3 football playoffs). If the kitty is empty due to no revenue, everything is on the table for rationing expenses.

Maybe a vaccine gets developed in the next 3-4 months and all of this goes away, but short of that semi-miracle, I'm having a hard time envisioning college athletics being anything close to business as usual in the fall of 2020.

"As a former player, the Lord's Prayer basically was a battle cry.  At the very least, it's when I knew it was go time right before we took the field to start the game.

This reminds me of one of my strongest memories of John.  It was my freshman year and we were playing Gustavus in Collegeville.  They were coming in undefeated at 4-0 and had been dubbed the "Cardiac Kids" because they had come from behind in all their games to win.  We were 3-1.  John was always pretty subdued before games and was never big on over the top speeches before we took the field, probably because he was hyper focused on the game and this was a big one.  We go through all our pregame stuff, come back in and John calls out who the starters are and they go up, as they're named, and shake his hand.  Then John gives a little rah rah speech, get's everybody together to say the Lord's Prayer.  This time though after every one says "Amen", instead of letting us go to the field, John SCREAMS at the top of his voice," LET'S GET THOSE F#$KER'S!!!!!!!  OH...MY...GOD!!!!  It was like a lightning bolt went right though me!!!!  All my hair was standing straight up and at that very moment if John would have said run through that brick wall, turn around and come back to me, eat this plate of poop,glass and tacks and then storm the field and beat those Gusties, I would have done it with out thinking twice gladly.  Needless to say, we did storm the field and ended up leading 21-0 at halftime.  Talk about a master motivator, he knew he had to do something to get our attention and bury them as soon as possible and that was it.  He never did that again in my four years playing for him.

As a side note, as well as that worked, we still lost to them 31-32.  Holding true to their form, they came back and got us right at the end of the game.  Gustavus went on to win the MIAC that year and was the #1 seed for the playoffs under the old format of 16 teams picked by the regional committees, and had a home game vs the 16th seeded team that had a 8-2 record.  They lost that game at home...to SJU."

John was for whatever reason a little salty that day. Gustavus' winning drive at the end of the game was helped immensely by three consecutive unsportsmanlike conduct penalties thrown in response to John going nuclear on the refs. The last one was prompted by John saying something to the effect of "I dare you to throw another flag", to which the ref obliged. It was a crazy day, and as noted would have been a painful memory if not for the subsequent playoff victory over Gustavus.

2 things - DuffMan you need to update the footer on the bottom of your posts to include 2019 in the MIAC champion area. 

Also, in regard to the upcoming seedings, when was the last time (if ever) the MIAC AQ team did not get at least 1 home game?

Quote from: Redtooth on October 14, 2019, 11:07:53 AM

Quote from: MiacMan on October 14, 2019, 09:45:55 AM
Sounds like a great game over the weekend for SJU. It appears they stepped up against a very good Bethel team and are a legit contender on the National seen.

I'll start out my Johnnie/Tommie week behind by at least a TD because I have already been screwed by a Johnnie for this weeks game! My idiot nephew (who I love dearly)was a three year starter at center for Jays between 09-11, decided that this Saturday 10/19/19 would be a good date for his wedding in KC of all places! So I will not be attending the game this week because I'll be attending his wedding in KC. The only thing I can take stock in as that his best man and a number of his groomsmen are former Johnnie football players so, I'm guessing they aren't real pleased with my nephew for not looking at the Johnnie Schedule before setting a fall wedding date either. Going to be an interesting event though in KC as most of the family are Tommies so there will be a lot of Tommies and Johnnies on hand at the reception. Going to be a long night for the losing side listening to the other side gloat!

It's a really good thing for your nephew that John passed away last year (and thus wasn't invited)....some of John's best lines/jokes were delivered when some new Johnnie(s) would mention their sister/brother/cousin/aunt/uncle/friend/etc. had scheduled their wedding during a football Saturday during the fall....he was so irritated that people would expect players/coaches to attend a wedding during the season.  His best response was always, "$hit, tell them that you will come to their next one!"

Another John classic quote regarding requests to be absent during the season to attend a wedding - "are you presiding over the ceremony?"

I value the opportunity I had to re-connect with John well after my playing years, he is missed. It truly saddens me when I am in and around SJU to realize that I can't stop by and say hello for a few minutes (hours  )

Quote from: MiacMan on October 14, 2019, 09:45:55 AM
Sounds like a great game over the weekend for SJU. It appears they stepped up against a very good Bethel team and are a legit contender on the National seen.

I'll start out my Johnnie/Tommie week behind by at least a TD because I have already been screwed by a Johnnie for this weeks game! My idiot nephew (who I love dearly)was a three year starter at center for Jays between 09-11, decided that this Saturday 10/19/19 would be a good date for his wedding in KC of all places! So I will not be attending the game this week because I'll be attending his wedding in KC. The only thing I can take stock in as that his best man and a number of his groomsmen are former Johnnie football players so, I'm guessing they aren't real pleased with my nephew for not looking at the Johnnie Schedule before setting a fall wedding date either. Going to be an interesting event though in KC as most of the family are Tommies so there will be a lot of Tommies and Johnnies on hand at the reception. Going to be a long night for the losing side listening to the other side gloat!

Jimmy Swoboda (sp?). Ran into a burly looking young man a few years ago wearing a SJU sweatshirt at a BBQ joint in KC. In fact it was the day SJU beat UWP in that playoff nail-biter. We introduced ourselves and had a nice conversation about SJU football. He mentioned he was an O-lineman at SJU.

Quote from: AO on October 08, 2019, 12:49:03 PM

Quote from: DuffMan on October 08, 2019, 12:20:28 PM
I would imagine since Esten came to U$T via Penn State, a Tommie/Nittany Lion non-conference football game is on the horizon.  What's the line on that, AO?

I tried putting that potential matchup into the Massey predictor tool and my computer started on fire.

Quote from: hazzben on October 08, 2019, 12:33:05 PM
You might have a point there, ROR. Still, it's pretty amazing what an empowered A&D firm can do with a historic old space to retro fit it for modern sports. That said, even if they had to demolish the site and rebuild something entirely new, it might be a very viable option. UST's issue is finding land and parking for a Hockey venue. The fair grounds are just a few miles down Snelling. If there was a partnership between UST and the State to build something like this, it would also alleviate some of the funding issues for both sides.

UST agrees to put up major dollars, in exchange for their branding and marketing (i.e. it gets to feel like their home ice). State agrees to help with some funding, in exchange for using it for HS & youth Hockey, as well as a concert venue and for State Fair activities.

Spitballing, the Giants and Jets have figured out how to share a stadium and still make it feel like a home field for each team. Wouldn't be that hard to replicate something along those lines for UST.

I don't think the state fair wants to host hockey anymore.  It'd only be about a million to update the ice making equipment.  They just like to use their coliseum for horse and car shows.

As someone who has ridden horses and showed cattle in the State Fair Coliseum, let me say it is getting a little dated even for those types of events when compared to other venues that host big time livestock and equine events.

I met Barry Bennet at a local health club during the summer in the late 80's. I was working out getting ready for the season and had on some SJU clothing. At the time I didn't know or recognize him. Anyway, he asked if I played at SJU and he stated he played at CC back in the day. We then proceeded to talk for about 30 minutes about MIAC football, Gagliardi and Christopherson, etc.. He admitted he was nearing the end of his lengthy NFL career at that point (I think he finished with the Vikings?), and I remember being in awe of an MIAC guy that could play in the NFL for any length of time. Anyway, I was basically a snot nose kid that played for a rival school, and this NFL veteran could not have been a nicer guy. I was shocked and saddened to hear of the horrific situation with him and his wife. Based on my brief encounter with him, all of the comments being issued about what a great guy he was certainly ring true.

Regarding the 2020 edition of Johnnie/Tommie, the schedule posted on the Johnnie web page has the game listed as being scheduled in Collegeville for November 7, 2020.  2020 is the start of the 2 year schedule rotation in the MIAC that normally occurs (home/away for 2 years on the same general date and same general conference schedule, then re-shuffle and start over the next 2 years).

I had originally tried to view this situation with some perspective - certain MIAC schools weren't comfortable with the direction, mission and scope of UST as an institution and felt they had outgrown the MIAC. That could be viewed as a reasonable assessment of the situation, although one I don't fully agree with. My jaw about hit my computer desk when I read the MIAC statement - this situation was apparently all about "competitive balance" on the playing field - from their own statement. If there is more to it than that, they haven't done themselves any favors by not sharing those other factors.

Also troubling is that it has been reported that UST involuntarily withdrew, without the by-laws regarding enrollment being changed or a vote being taken (which sounds like a mafia type form of governance - "we have enough to bury you, do the right thing and take yourself out"). Given how this unfolded, the door has been left wide open for similar pressure to be put on other programs that could be viewed as upsetting the desired competitive balance in the future. "You better aspire to be mediocre and play nice, or else".

I hadn't really appreciated the fundamental change this represents to the culture of the once proud MIAC until today. Welcome to UMAC 2.

http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25776964/insurance-market-football-evaporating-causing-major-threat-nfl-pop-warner-colleges-espn

SJU football, the MIAC and D3 football in general have been a big part of my life for over 30 years. The sport of football in general, and SJU football specifically, has given me a lot (thanks John), and has hopefully made me a better person overall.

Somewhat lost in the shuffle of all of this kick St. Thomas out of the league situation is the growing struggle football as a viable sport seems to be facing. I know it has been touched on by those on this site (high school participation rates, attendance, etc..). The article I have inserted above certainly doesn't paint a good picture in terms of insurance liability coverage and concerns, which can be added to the challenges facing those administering football programs. I'm not crying wolf or saying the sky is falling tomorrow, but perhaps certain institutions are reading the tea leaves in such a way that have led them to the conclusion that A;) Getting crushed every week on the football field is unacceptable, and B;) the investment/commitment needed to change the competitive situation doesn't make long term sense in light of what one could argue is a shaky future for football as an accepted athletic pursuit.

4/5 of the O-Line being back is also going to help the newer skill guys get their feet under them. I think the O-Line, which did stay remarkably healthy, improved a bunch this season. Having a veteran and talented O-Line is a great luxury for any offense. Hats off to a great coaching job to MN coaching legend Jim Mader, the O-Line coach, who has apparently retired after the UMBH game. Mike Magnuson, SJU '90, has been serving as Jim's apprentice for the last couple of years, so the coaching for that position group appears to be in good hands.

Congrats to SJU and Bethel on excellent seasons. A gut-wrenching loss for the Johnnies, as they did enough good things to win that game. A few too many errors against a very good team ended up being the difference.

Josh Parks from UST looks like a D1 type athlete when you see him play, and I had the same impression of the UMBH wide receivers and secondary. Very impressive.

I wasn't at the stadium, but from the internet viewing perspective it looked to be for the most part a hard fought, clean game from two well coached teams?

I'm a little torn on the next couple of weeks as it relates to UMHB. I'd like to see them do well, but if that is the case, there will forever be the gnawing thought of what might have been.

Last thought - (I'm assuming Bethel/UWW was a very physical game as I didn't see the game?) - I'm now firmly in the camp that the NCAA D3 football bracket and it's unbalanced nature is affecting outcomes. Whoever advances from UWW/UMBH will have likely played in two dog-fights against Top 5 type competition. They then will get to turn around on a short week (Friday night final), and have to play another great team to win it all. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, UMU is slaughtering the lambs. From a physical attrition standpoint, that is a huge disadvantage.

Some rambling thoughts from a long time lurker and very infrequent poster who has had various connections to the SJU football program dating back to the mid-80's. Like all Johnnie fans, I am excited about playing a game in December, it has been too long. My take on the UMHB game is that the Johnnies will have to be at their absolute best to win the game, especially on defense. A little dose of Johnnie magic wouldn't hurt either.

I am encouraged that this years team has risen to each challenge put in front of them. Although it turned out maybe UST wasn't who we thought they were, winning that game, in those highly emotional circumstances, showed the heart of a great team.

Someone posed a question a few pages back about the program falling off in the latter years of John's tenure, and its' improvement during the last several years. When Gary was hired, there was a commitment to increase the resources allocated to the football program, and that over-all commitment to the program is bearing fruit. Glenn Caruso had a lot to do with SJU struggles in the early 2010's, and he's had a lot to do with it rising back up.

Which brings me to my last point. When I saw what UST was doing with their program, and SJU's response to that, I felt like the MIAC would be a conference dominated by those 2 teams for a long time. For the last few years, that seemed to be playing itself out. I won't say I'm shocked by what Bethel has done this year, because Steve Johnson is a tremendous coach, but it is surprising. For my money, they gave SJU a tougher game than UST, which all made sense when they ended up beating UST. Add in the shellacking of Wartburg and the impressive road win at NCC (something SJU couldn't do last year), this run they are in is very, very impressive. As much as it pains me to say this, I give them a better chance of beating UWW than of SJU beating UMHB.

Quote from: raiderpa on December 16, 2015, 06:49:21 PM
Seems like "Benchman" is leaning toward the "yes, but you have never seen a team like this before..."
Sorry, but Mount has seen it all, won a lot, lost a few..

They will not be surprised at anything that the Tommies do, and frankly will not care that your running back is "big"...so what.  Rarely will he be tackled one on one, nor IMO will he be allowed a full head of steam on most of his runs.  He may get a couple chunks, but this game will be won or lost by your QB...and your defense.

I believe that Mount Union learned by a loss to two that quickness and speed trumps size...WWW O line was huge, and got 50 yards the last three quarters...
Coaching and preparation will favor Mount Union, again IMO, as Kehres father and son will not be out prepared, ever.

As an SJU fan with some ties to the program, I was able to closely take a look at both SJU losses to UST. I said this prior to the Wabash and Linfield games - the UST defense is really good this year. Their back 7 are very physical and fast. As a testament to their coaching and execution, even for the amount of flying around they do, they never seem to get themselves out of position, and even when they do, their speed covers it up. To me, other than the addition of Roberts, this was a big change in the SJU/UST games from the previous two years. In each of those years, Sam Sura was able to hit some big running plays and lead SJU to victory. In most of those big carries, UST stunted or blitzed themselves out of position. That just didn't happen this year in either game.

I guess my point is that while the UST O Line and Roberts get most of the pub (and they deserve a bunch), their defense is really what impresses me.

I've only seen Mount play via online play-off broadcasts, so it is hard to for me to gauge them and to make a pick in the game. I have a feeling it will be low scoring, like 17-14, with the winner being the team that makes one fewer mistake.