Good for Novak. A beloved Johnnie who I wish nothing but the best for! Hopefully he will cut his teeth down in Loras and maybe set himself up to be next in line when Gary retires in 2-3 years.

Plenty of qualified coaches still on staff who can fill his shoes on the field, but his personality and energy will be missed.
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Agreed in hoping he is just taking this job to get some head coaching experience before coming back when Gary retires.  If my memory serves me correct, he was offered the Stevens Point HC position a year or two ago and turned it down so he's been looking at this for a little while.  Gary himself left the staff for a while to be a head coach (albeit high school) but there is precedent for getting HC experience.  Brandon has never been outside of central Minnesota so hopefully he wants to see what else is out there before finishing up back in Collegeville.

For the SJU faithful:
Sorry if I'm rehashing something previously discussed, but genuinely curious about your opinions of the blue, alternate home jersey. I know it's one of the school colors, but it hasn't really had a place in the football uniform until recently.
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I really like them as something different. Honestly, I think they are more attractive than the red jerseys. I'd like to see them at least once a year. We're not worn even once last year.
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The blue uniforms were a prominent part of the football jersey up through the 1930s and even into the 1940s. I like to see them once per year at most. They've got to be special. All of the Johnnies success (national championships) have come exclusively in the cardinal and white, and that tradition can't be casually displaced or discarded.

They've only worn the blues four times since they returned in 2021.

2025: vs. St. Scholastica
2024: None
2023: vs. St. Scholastica
2022: None
2021: vs. Martin Luther, vs. St. Scholastica

It could be fun if they used them on the road against someone like Concordia, St. Olaf, Augsburg, etc.--kind of like when USC and UCLA play.

Not a big fan myself, but I'm warming up to them.  Assuming they continue to wear the blue I would like to see them  minimize the red trim even more.
I think it will be a long time before the blues become the Notre Dame green and are worn in a big game (look at the competition when they have been worn), this might go back to the red pants fiasco.

What I liked most about Boz is that he brought academics into the athletics.  He knew these were D3 athletes who would be making their living outside the sport they were playing (Bartch and very few others aside).  He was always proud of his accounting guys.  You could always see him with his red and white Accounting shirt.

RIP Boz.

Walking to my car yesterday I was as frustrated with the game as all other Johnnies were.  However, things probably aren't as bad as they initially seemed.  It will be a harsh film session for the boys.

We were inside the red zone three times yesterday and came away with 0 points (stopped on downs twice and a missed field goal).  This should have been at least 10-13 points and maybe more.  I haven't looked at the box score, but I suspect total yardage between the two teams was fairly close with Bethel rushing for more and the Johnnies passing for more.  What the boys will see is that this game could have easily been 20/23-17.

With that being said, the Johnnies do seem down this year and need to clean the execution up.  Unfortunately, if they are lucky enough to make the post-season it will probably be a one or maybe two and done.

Also is anyone part of this: https://www.johnniefootballnetwork.org/

I'd be interested in it, especially if there's lots of old game films on there, which it looks like might be the case. And of course to help support the program with $.
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I'm on the johnniefootballnetwork.  There isn't too much information on there that isn't already on the GoJohnnie's site except for some videos and individual contact info.  Seems like this will grow into a better networking site, and maybe even lead to some NIL donation platforms.  Fun to run down the list of names............

Quote from: DuffMan on August 29, 2025, 09:06:07 AMKinda strange not having games this Labor Day weekend.  Not that I'm complaining--weather is prime for lake time.

Extra strange having a week #1 bye and not playing until the middle of September.

Fr. Don had a remarkable memory for everyone who passed through Collegeville.  We lost a good one.  RIP Father.

Quote from: DuffMan on April 08, 2025, 02:19:09 PMGuys, it's not real.

Then someone needs to tell him to stop meeting with the Osseo boosters.

Quote from: DuffMan on April 02, 2025, 02:45:14 PMOsseo has been terrible for several years.  And Auggie Tech...  I can't imagine this will help either program.  If I see Lamker in the 'hood, I'll ask him about it, espicially if I have some SJU and Maple Grove gear on .

Disagree, this will most certainly help Osseo.  You are correct that Osseo has been terrible for several years,since he left there after winning state in 2015.  He won't need to do much to improve things over there.  Not sure how this will impact the Auggies.

For better or worse, the game of college football is changing.  SJU has not done too bad with Erdmann and Syverson, both transfers.

On a related note of the game changing, does anyone know anything further on the non-NCAA JUCO eligibility rule changing?  Is Mendez going to be back next year?

Quote from: DustySJU on December 06, 2024, 10:52:47 AM

Quote from: DuffMan on December 05, 2024, 10:32:41 AM

Quote from: DustySJU on December 05, 2024, 10:05:25 AMDuffman missed Saturday's game...

Duffman will be absent for the foreseeable future due to wrestling commitments.
 

Duffman;  Back in the day I once ran to Abbott NW Hospital in the middle of night with 2 year old Maran, the Earth Mother met me there at 5:00am so I could race to Terminal 2 to catch Johnnie charter to McMinnville. 

5 daughters each playing 12 years of ice hockey was never enough to keep me from Johnnie Football Playoffs.

Bring 'ya ass!

Developing.....

My son once got a wedding invite and his first reaction was to shake his head and say, "Don't people check the Johnnie football schedule before scheduling these things?"

St. John's appeared to use a spy in the 4th qtr last week very successfully.  I wonder if they will do that again this week, especially if the Sus qb is mobile.  Does anyone know the status of McMahon?

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and safe travels to those moving around.

Quote from: DustySJU on November 14, 2024, 12:07:09 PM

Quote from: DuffMan on November 13, 2024, 09:02:40 PMaka GrampsDustySJU. 

May have to update the handle Duffman.... George Francis Erwin arrived in Virginia Beach yesterday.  Cute little guy!

Congrats Dusty!

You call me Francis, I'll kill ya.