FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[faunch]

I'm hoping Bethel gets more than 6 votes in the Top 25 this week after the smothering win over Carleton. UMHB drops out with the loss to Hardin-Simmons, so somebody has to take their place...

Nope...only got 2
Johnnies drop to 19
We are Rodney Dangerfield

https://www.d3football.com/top25/2023/week9

[SagatagSam]

For ****'s sake, Faunch, we get it.  Take the doom and gloom down a notch.

Ok...but the league sucks...if you want to sugar coat it...ok.

I'll take this year's sucky MIAC over 75%+ of the leagues in D3.

[DuffMan]

I'll take this year's sucky MIAC over 75%+ of the leagues in D3.

That's the truth.  We get spoiled (?) being so familiar with the WIAC.

[corn horn]

Another opinion on the state of the MIAC...

First and foremost, when the MIAC liberated St, Thomas and essentially backfilled with Mac and St Scholastica, the conference temperature dropped significantly. That drop in horsepower is likely to persist for some time, but is completely unrelated to the overall strength of the individual remaining teams. Every team will undergo better years and lesser years...sometimes it comes down to a couple of plays here and there 5hat make the difference. Let's look starting at the top...

St. John's. Yes, still the top in many ways. More firepower and deeper than any other team. True, they might not even make playoffs and if they do odds are they won't go deep, but they'll be back.they are always in the hunt and usually at the top. So while it can be argued the strength AT THE TOP of the MIAC is not as portent this year, that is not the case for some of the rest.

Bethel, I believe, is the same Bethel that has been in place in recent years. Defensively they are very strong...maybe a little subpar for them on offense this year. If they get a playoff bid, they will stack up well against any regional competition.

GAC. This looks like a program generall on upward trajectory. They've had some big wins and they're getting better players into their program. Overall...better than in the past, and perhaps becoming a consistent top tier contender. For now, if they get into the playoffs it is probably one and out....just not at that level yet.

Concordia. Cobbers looked awful early in the year but have pulled it together recently. They are 6 points away from sitting at one loss on the season. At this point, I would place them perhaps a little below what I've expected over the years, but improved relative to the last couple of campaigns. Hopefully this is a sign of better times ahead. Can they upset BU? Actually, if they perform like they did at Augsburg on Saturday...yes, but only if they don't turn the ball over.

Carleton. Improved considerably over what had been a stable norm. Raising their bar and it seems to be workin.

Augsburg. Like Carleton, appear to be on the upswing.

St Olaf. Haven't really paid much attention. Is it fair to say equal to their usual.

Hamline, MAC, and St Scholastica. Unfortunately dragging anchor for the conference.

In all, this year the top tier has strength, but aren't "special" this year. Doubt it is the beginning of a trend. The middle is overall stronger than in recent years, and any of a number of teams can steal a victory from the top. Because the middle is stronger and perhaps looking to get stronger yet, I would say the conference is stronger overall. The bottom tier still seems a bit locked in irrelevance.

[OzJohnnie]

When I was a student, '91 or '92 - I can't remember which, I went to a game against the Tommies at Clemens that wasn't even full up with fans. Still enjoyed it.

EDIT: Thanks to gojohnnies.com, it was '91. The Jays won 43-15. We lost to Dayton in the National semis that year.  The next year we went 7-1-1 in conference play, losing @ UST and tying Concordia at Clemens in the last game of the year, probably costing us a post-season opportunity as we had already beaten D2 Bemidji that year.

[Redtooth]

When I was a student, '91 or '92 - I can't remember which, I went to a game against the Tommies at Clemens that wasn't even full up with fans. Still enjoyed it.

EDIT: Thanks to gojohnnies.com, it was '91. The Jays won 43-15. We lost to Dayton in the National semis that year.  The next year we went 7-1-1 in conference play, losing @ UST and tying Concordia at Clemens in the last game of the year, probably costing us a post-season opportunity as we had already beaten D2 Bemidji that year.

Oz....let me fix a slight mistake in your post (only because I was a senior on the team in 92 and the Concordia game was the last of my career)....the game against Concordia was played in the MetroDome as were all the games during the last week of the MIAC season back in those days.  We tied them 18-18 (with a couple missed XPs) as we were playing a soccer player at kicker as our true kicker (my roommate) tore his ACL earlier in the season because of the ****tiest long snap of my career.  We had played Carleton the week before also in the MetroDome due to awful weather/field conditions.  They were the upstart that season and were undefeated until we beat them 70-7....the tie the following week against Concordia cost us a playoff slot and Carleton was selected instead (no auto bids in those days and only 4 selected per region).  They got thumped in their one and only playoff game and haven't been back since.

[OzJohnnie]

When I was a student, '91 or '92 - I can't remember which, I went to a game against the Tommies at Clemens that wasn't even full up with fans. Still enjoyed it.

EDIT: Thanks to gojohnnies.com, it was '91. The Jays won 43-15. We lost to Dayton in the National semis that year.  The next year we went 7-1-1 in conference play, losing @ UST and tying Concordia at Clemens in the last game of the year, probably costing us a post-season opportunity as we had already beaten D2 Bemidji that year.

Oz....let me fix a slight mistake in your post (only because I was a senior on the team in 92 and the Concordia game was the last of my career)....the game against Concordia was played in the MetroDome as were all the games during the last week of the MIAC season back in those days.  We tied them 18-18 (with a couple missed XPs) as we were playing a soccer player at kicker as our true kicker (my roommate) tore his ACL earlier in the season because of the ****tiest long snap of my career.  We had played Carleton the week before also in the MetroDome due to awful weather/field conditions.  They were the upstart that season and were undefeated until we beat them 70-7....the tie the following week against Concordia cost us a playoff slot and Carleton was selected instead (no auto bids in those days and only 4 selected per region).  They got thumped in their one and only playoff game and haven't been back since.

Ah, that's some colour I did not know.  Your last game was in the Hump Dome.  I never went to a Johnnie game at the Dome.  What an unfortunate way to finish your last game.  Competing can be a heartbreaking pastime.

[jakeMN91]

Thinking about SJU's pool C chances, which non-MIAC games are the most important in weeks 10/11?

To maximize SJU 's chance, you'd want:
- Mount Union to beat John Carroll (JC ends 8-2)
- Hobart to beat RPI this week and RPI to beat Union in final week (makes LL runners up 8-2)
- Wash U to beat Wheaton (makes Wheaton 8-2)
- Dubuque to beat Coe (makes Coe 8-2)
- UWRF to lose to UWL and UWO (probably other WIAC scenarios could benefit SJU too but 7-3 UWRF definitely ranked below SJU with just 1 WIAC team taking pool C)

Some combination of these outcomes should be enough to get SJU in the playoffs. Am I missing any other consequential games?

[GoldandBlueBU]

I'm hoping Bethel gets more than 6 votes in the Top 25 this week after the smothering win over Carleton. UMHB drops out with the loss to Hardin-Simmons, so somebody has to take their place...

Nope...only got 2
Johnnies drop to 19
We are Rodney Dangerfield

https://www.d3football.com/top25/2023/week9

It's been well documented that it doesn't really matter when it comes to playoffs - but it's still confusing.

Pre-season - BU is #14
Bye week -  week 1 - BU drops to #16
Loses to Wartburg to go to 0-1 - BU to #18
Beats Eau Claire to go 1-1  BU is #19
Loses to SJU - to go 1-2 - drops out - 43 votes
Beats Gustavus to go 2-2 17 votes
Beats Mac to go 3-2   13 votes
Beats Auggie to go 4-2  7 votes
Beats Hamilne to go 5-2 6 votes
Beats Carleton to go 6-2 2 votes

[jakeMN91]

I'm hoping Bethel gets more than 6 votes in the Top 25 this week after the smothering win over Carleton. UMHB drops out with the loss to Hardin-Simmons, so somebody has to take their place...

Nope...only got 2
Johnnies drop to 19
We are Rodney Dangerfield

https://www.d3football.com/top25/2023/week9

It's been well documented that it doesn't really matter when it comes to playoffs - but it's still confusing.

Pre-season - BU is #14
Bye week -  week 1 - BU drops to #16
Loses to Wartburg to go to 0-1 - BU to #18
Beats Eau Claire to go 1-1  BU is #19
Loses to SJU - to go 1-2 - drops out - 43 votes
Beats Gustavus to go 2-2 17 votes
Beats Mac to go 3-2   13 votes
Beats Auggie to go 4-2  7 votes
Beats Hamilne to go 5-2 6 votes
Beats Carleton to go 6-2 2 votes

I think Bethel is actually playing better now than at the start of the season, so the steady drop in rankings doesn't make sense to me either. I still don't think this Bethel team is as good as last year, but definitely would be in my top 25.

[Ice Bear]

I'm hoping Bethel gets more than 6 votes in the Top 25 this week after the smothering win over Carleton. UMHB drops out with the loss to Hardin-Simmons, so somebody has to take their place...

Nope...only got 2
Johnnies drop to 19
We are Rodney Dangerfield

https://www.d3football.com/top25/2023/week9

I do think Bethel, especially with that D deserves a place in the top 25. However, I will say, and I meant to post this yesterday but was busy taking a very focused afternoon nap. I believe with the improved play of George Bolt, Bethel may be a different team than earlier in the season. Aside from the game against the Johnnies and giving up 28 to a decent Adolphus team, the D has been nasty, including a first week contest against Wartburg where the D only gave up 16 while not having any offense show up to help. Carleton really couldn't breath on Saturday.

Very rarely have I been personally impressed with Bolt when it comes to the eye test while playing (as he looks like a D1 QB when standing). With that said he has improved and while I don't think he has a consistent passing presence that instills fear, he has shown the ability to make some tough throws and make plays. Next week will be another test for the Royals and if they can dispense CM with the ease in which they took care of Carleton, they may be able to surprise some.

[hazzben]

I'm hoping Bethel gets more than 6 votes in the Top 25 this week after the smothering win over Carleton. UMHB drops out with the loss to Hardin-Simmons, so somebody has to take their place...

Nope...only got 2
Johnnies drop to 19
We are Rodney Dangerfield

https://www.d3football.com/top25/2023/week9

It's been well documented that it doesn't really matter when it comes to playoffs - but it's still confusing.

Pre-season - BU is #14
Bye week -  week 1 - BU drops to #16
Loses to Wartburg to go to 0-1 - BU to #18
Beats Eau Claire to go 1-1  BU is #19
Loses to SJU - to go 1-2 - drops out - 43 votes
Beats Gustavus to go 2-2 17 votes
Beats Mac to go 3-2   13 votes
Beats Auggie to go 4-2  7 votes
Beats Hamilne to go 5-2 6 votes
Beats Carleton to go 6-2 2 votes

I think Bethel is actually playing better now than at the start of the season, so the steady drop in rankings doesn't make sense to me either. I still don't think this Bethel team is as good as last year, but definitely would be in my top 25.

I definitely think Bethel is improving, and also getting healthy. Getting Kidder back to 100% and Farm back from his broken collar bone has been big. The D is really cooking right now, and both lines are playing good ball.

The real piece that's helped though, is Bolt has settled in a bit. He was a ball of nerves, didn't make his progressions (aka locked in on Kidder), and was making some killer mistakes every game. He seems much more comfortable, is spreading the ball around, and less mistake prone. He's not an all MIAC QB, but on this team, he really doesn't need to be. He can run the ball effectively, which is a nice wrinkle.

I also don't care one bit about where Bethel is ranked right now in the Top 25. We need to play to our ability against the Cobbers.

[hazzben]

@Ice Bear ... you beat me to it. Or great minds think alike. Or you're becoming as a big a Royal homer as the rest of us 

To your point. If the current version of Bolt had been in place week 1 against Wartburg, and what was a very closely fought game anyway, is probably anyone's W in the 4th quarter. Losing Farm in the first half against SJU hurt as well. We are much more shored up on the back end than we were for the middle stretch of the season. If we beat the Cobbers and GAC holds serve, it should be a great game. But GAC will get a much healthier version of Bethel than they got the first time around, without Kidder and Farm. Farm looked to be in mid-season form this week against the Knights. Nice for him to have a game to knock any rust off before the stretch run.

[GoldandBlueBU]

@Ice Bear ... you beat me to it. Or great minds think alike. Or you're becoming as a big a Royal homer as the rest of us 

To your point. If the current version of Bolt had been in place week 1 against Wartburg, and what was a very closely fought game anyway, is probably anyone's W in the 4th quarter. Losing Farm in the first half against SJU hurt as well. We are much more shored up on the back end than we were for the middle stretch of the season. If we beat the Cobbers and GAC holds serve, it should be a great game. But GAC will get a much healthier version of Bethel than they got the first time around, without Kidder and Farm. Farm looked to be in mid-season form this week against the Knights. Nice for him to have a game to knock any rust off before the stretch run.

I sort of think that losing Kidder for a bit was helpful to Bolt.  I feel like he's been more confident in having the ball go to other players since then.  The offense was never going to be what it was last year with Roste at the helm, but they've made some strides this year.  Seeing how they perform against strong competition will be in interesting test.

[GoldandBlueBU]

wow! 

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2023/10/30/steve-johnson-announces-retirement-at-end-of-2023-football-season.aspx