Finally had a chance to listen to the last podcast because I've had a tumultuous 10 days. I had a high school buddy pass very unexpectedly while taking a nap on Friday the 3rd, whose funeral was on Wednesday in New York State, South of Buffalo. Then on Sunday the 5th, one of our good friend's wife also passed from cancer. She had just been diagnosed in November, so it also was rather abrupt. Make sure that those you love know it because you never know when it will be the last time for them to hear it from you.

It was a very nice way for Matt Jung to finish his time at Bethel by being selected as the D3 Football Defensive player of the year.

Go Vikes?

D3 Football All Americans from the MIAC

First Team Offense
Bethel Joey Kidder

First Team Defense
Bethel Caden Dewall
Bethel Matt Jung

Second Team Offense
St. John's Aaron Syverson
St. Olaf Derek Hansen

Third Team Offense
St. John's Dylan Wheeler

Fourth Team Offense
St. John's Joey Gendreau
St. John's Nick McKenzie

Fourth Team Defense
St. John's Zach Frank

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Been out of touch and had my heart ripped out when I heard on the podcast that Matt Jung is now a Badger. Like others have already said, good for him and I'll be watching the Badgers to see how he does for the next couple of years.

So, when the final D3 Football Top 25 rankings come out, should BU be ahead of St. John's because they went one week further in the playoffs, or should Bethel be behind the Johnnies because of the in season head to head contest results? Both teams lost to Susquehanna in back to back weeks by similar margins at the end of the games, so that seems pretty even in my mind, putting them lower than the River Hawks, whatever the final results end up being.

Listened to the podcast and watched a highlight reel which did not show the holding call. From what I heard on the podcast, it sounded like this was the first holding call for the entire game. However, it sounded like it was pretty egregious and nobody that has watched the video is saying it was not a penalty. What exacerbated the whole situation is the officials not maintaining decorum and control of the game. Still a heartbreak way to end a season and/or your college career for all the seniors on the team.

So, is there any kind of "rookie head coach of the year" award to give BU's Mike McElroy? Heck of a job this year.

Live updates has died on the BU/Sus game...

Did a quick google search and found out we can listen in to WQSU to hear the game if you don't have ESPN to see it live. Here's the link: https://wordpress.susqu.edu/wqsu/listen-live/

Weather looks great for a game in the middle of Pennsylvania in the middle of December - 34F, mostly sunny, with winds under 2 mph from the East. I googled the stadium and it sits askew from NSEW so the winds will be slightly crossing with or against. (Rocket guys pay close attention to the wind.)

I am like a kid at Christmas time not being able to wait for the game to start. While I am off of work this Saturday, it's because the day was filled with activities before the game was scheduled. But I will be watching the live updates on my phone. Go Bethel!

General thoughts about this round of play: 5 of 8 games won by the visitors resulting in some somewhat bizarre match-ups for the quarter finals. Bethel, the only "West" team left has the opportunity to fly East into the middle of Pennsylvania as the 28 seed taking on the 16 seed Riverhawks. Springfield, the 10 seed goes the opposite direction to play in the CST zone to take on North Central, the 5 seed. UMHB as the lowest seed left standing at 35, now gets to fly Northeast to take on Johns Hopkins, the 11 seed. And while UMU is still standing as the 6 seed, they now have to hit the bricks traveling to the number 3 seed Salisbury. It's a topsey-turvey tourney.

In all this, is ESPN now involved in determining which games get played when? Or is this round still all played at noon local time?

And then there was one left from Region 6, (the old West) - Bethel. Wow, what a weekend of football. Never having been near Susquehanna football before today, it was intriguing to hear on the radio (WBHR) at work how they handled themselves throughout the game. Between customers it seemed to me that they never really lost their composure (not implying that the Johnnies did) - rather, they worked hard to keep the Johnny Offense off the field by chewing up the clock and sticking to a game plan they had developed for this game. When the Johnnies scored their last touchdown I shared with the guys hanging around my desk keeping tabs on the games that there was too much time left on the clock and that the Johnnies were in trouble. Sure enough the Riverhawks methodically maneuvered into scoring range and left no time on the clock for any Johnny Magic to be uncorked.

The Royals will need an "A game" effort to go into Pennsylvania and attempt to beat a team that beat the only team that defeated them twice already this year. Definitely have a common opponent in St. John's. Hopefully Susquehanna will be lulled into thinking that Bethel will be an easy mark because of that history and get caught flat footed. Yeah, probably a fleeting dream, right? It's gonna take a lot of preparation to be ready for this next game. Onward and upward...

Oh my goodness - does anybody even proofread anything anymore before publishing? At the top of the Bethel's game notes it has the opponent as Lake Forest instead of Wartburg. If anybody on here has any sway to right the ship before the boys in Waverly see it, it might be helpful.

https://athletics.bethel.edu/documents/2024/12/6/2024_Gm_13_at_Wartburg_-_NCAA_Round_3.pdf

Balmier in Waverly tomorrow - temp around 50, partly sunny with winds out of the SW 15 to 17 mph, so a bit brisk. This game is a nail biter in my mind. Common opponent this year in the Johnnies. I suspect keeping a handle on the ball and special teams play will be what decides the game. Go Bethel!

Quote from: faunch on December 03, 2024, 01:15:32 PMUW-LAX/SJU highlights

OzJohnnie will enjoy!

https://youtu.be/PEMo-97cr9A?si=s4YBdNsozFNRnri-

Maybe it was intentional, but all I get when clicking the link is an ad for Southwest Airlines...