FB: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[Baldini]

Three games scheduled this week with Greenville on the bye. All 3 games look like they are evenly matched and should be tight games to the end.

Westminster at Northwestern - Northwestern showed some life for the first this season against Greenville in their last game and are coming off a bye with a home game. Westminster is traveling 520 miles after taking a beatdown at home to Greenville this past Saturday. That all points to advantage Northwestern, but not so much that this game is still a toss up. This is the 17th meeting between these two, Northwestern currently holds a 11-5 lead in the series and has won the last 5 contests. It's a battle of two teams I thought would be better than they have shown so far, so who gets the win? A lot points to Northwestern, but I'm still a doubter when it comes to them.

Finlandia at Crown - Someone is going to get their first win here and I do like the way Crown has been improving each game. Finlandia didn't play this past week and their travel is only 401 miles this week, but Crown might be a little to good offensively for Finlandia. This is the first ever meeting between these two teams.

Minnesota-Morris at Martin Luther - This is a battle of the new kids versus the old top dogs. M-M is flying high and believing in themselves, yet MLC seems to have lost some of their swagger from years past. Can the Cougars keep their offense rolling? Can the Knights get some decent QB play? This is the 20th meeting between these two teams, MLC leads the series 15-4 all time and has won the last 5 contests with a 8-1 record in games played in New Ulm. This should be another close game for the UMAC this week, can M-M break their losing streak to the Knights?

Really like this schedule of games, hope they live up to the potential.

[GU1999]

While I am really looking forward to knowing the outcome of the UMM v. ML game, I think the game to watch this weekend will be Westminster @ Northwestern.   I was really impressed with the UNW QB Drinken.  He was under heavy pressure all game and kept making drive saving play after drive saving play.  He did throw 3 interceptions, but that is not the real story.  I suspect that he and his line will be ready for the travelling Bluejays. 

[GU1999]

GU Freshman Dylan Carns, Punter

2021 Year-to-date:
- 4x UMAC Special Teams Player of the Week
- 18 punts for a 43.3 average (would be 2nd in NCAA d3 although Dylan does not appear in the d3 stats)
- 7 punts inside the 20
- 4 fair catches v. 1 touchback
- Season Long of 66 yards

Carns has been a difference maker in special teams for GU.   

Query:  Is special teams a place where a UMAC kid can get end of season national awards attention from d3football.com given the fact that the performances are less tied to the caliber of the opposition?  It seems to be the case because I am aware of Nick Swore from UNW who was a d3football 2nd teamer in 2017 as a ST. 

This conversation is certainly premature, but it fun to think about.

[Pat Coleman]

GU Freshman Dylan Carns, Punter

2021 Year-to-date:
- 4x UMAC Special Teams Player of the Week
- 18 punts for a 43.3 average (would be 2nd in NCAA d3 although Dylan does not appear in the d3 stats)
- 7 punts inside the 20
- 4 fair catches v. 1 touchback
- Season Long of 66 yards

Carns has been a difference maker in special teams for GU.   

Query:  Is special teams a place where a UMAC kid can get end of season national awards attention from d3football.com given the fact that the performances are less tied to the caliber of the opposition? 

You are very wise to ask that question. The answer is yes -- I definitely take that into account in our discussions of these awards.

Guessing that he doesn't appear in the stats because he hasn't punted often enough to qualify. And we definitely look at all of these stats -- our thoughts are to try to combine long punting average with the highest possible ratio of inside the 20 compared to touchbacks.

[GU1999]

Very cool Pat.  I looked and his 18 overall punts is on the lower end of those listed in the stats but there were some others who had less. Thank you for your response. I wonder if it is a reporting glitch.

[Pat Coleman]

Very cool Pat.  I looked and his 18 overall punts is on the lower end of those listed in the stats but there were some others who had less. Thank you for your response. I wonder if it is a reporting glitch.

The standard would be punts per game so if those others have played fewer games, that would account for that.

[Baldini]

Heard this morning that MLC is trying to schedule a game for next weekend to make up for the lost game with Finlandia, but I cannot find a team that would work. Redlands is off on the 30th and is only at 9 games scheduled, but can't imagine that is in the budget. My first thoughts were just play Finlandia after the last game, but that probably pushes them over their day limits. 

[hickory_cornhusker]

Heard this morning that MLC is trying to schedule a game for next weekend to make up for the lost game with Finlandia, but I cannot find a team that would work. Redlands is off on the 30th and is only at 9 games scheduled, but can't imagine that is in the budget. My first thoughts were just play Finlandia after the last game, but that probably pushes them over their day limits.

If I'm not mistaken, SCIAC conference rules allow their teams to play only 9 games so they would already be at their limit.

[Baldini]

The score of the Minnesota-Morris and Martin Luther game is reversed on D3 Football, MLC won 39-0.

[repete]

I saw that was stunned.

(Also posting here to make it easier to get my daily dose of UMAC -K.)

[Pat Coleman]

The score of the Minnesota-Morris and Martin Luther game is reversed on D3 Football, MLC won 39-0.

Must be a faster way to let us know.

[hazzben]

I saw that was stunned.

(Also posting here to make it easier to get my daily dose of UMAC -K.)

Do you get a daily karma ding as well?? I wondered if it was related to this board. Seemed to coincide with posting here.

[OzJohnnie]

I saw that was stunned.

(Also posting here to make it easier to get my daily dose of UMAC -K.)

Do you get a daily karma ding as well?? I wondered if it was related to this board. Seemed to coincide with posting here.

I suspect it is my fault.  I fear I brought down hatred on the whole MIAC board with my loveable style and charming good looks.  I thought that it was perhaps just me with a hyper dedicated two or three people who take time to ping me every day, seven days a week.  But it appears the whole MIAC board is feeling the karma wrath.

But at least they aren't hypocrites.  'Cause that's the worst part.

(I know that didn't make any sense but I love the reference.  Good old Norm.  He'll be missed.)

[Baldini]

I saw that was stunned.

(Also posting here to make it easier to get my daily dose of UMAC -K.)

What was their to be stunned about?

[Baldini]

The score of the Minnesota-Morris and Martin Luther game is reversed on D3 Football, MLC won 39-0.

Must be a faster way to let us know.

Should I of sent a PM? I did do that a few years ago with some BB scores and if I remember correctly a person told me that it was up to the schools to input that info. Just put it here for the few UMAC people that may have missed it.