FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sfury]

A Reusse column on St. Thomas' victory, and the pressure on Roney to finally beat the Johnnies in a few weeks.

http://www.startribune.com/508/story/743279.html

[DustySJU]

Kyle Gearman update...

Who kidnapped #19 or better yet who is holding Jimmy Gagliardi hostage?

If the brain trust can't figure out they need to pour #19 the ball then I'll need to make a well placed call to the papacy for an encyclical to be written.

Figure this out.... one of the top receivers in the conference if not the best gets the ball 3 times for 31 yards.  It's absolutely pathetic to watch this kid waste away split out and running sprints to the endzone.... if the staff thinks they can just turn it on in the postseason let's just give the auto-bid to the Tommies.

I've never seen anything so absolutely ridiculous as the way the offense is being run and the very obvious ignoring of their one true superstar.

If the Johnnies start again the way they did Saturday you can kiss this thing goodbye..... just like a healthy Justin Beaver collarbone.

Developing.....

[DuffMan]

SJU Bookstore update:

DustySJU informed me that the SJU bookstore now carries SJU UnderArmor.  Be prepared for Dusty to bring the fury.

[Touchdown Tommy]

Where was Wonka yesterday?  My sources tell me he ducked Duffman again.

Also has anyone seen former TOP poster RealRatPak aka Thorr?  I last ran into him at the Central vs. Wartburg game a few years ago.  Hmmm....

Funny story from Reusse.  Roney must have some video of the UST administration in compromising positions.  How else do you explain that he is still around?  I for one hope he does because it guarantees an SJU win each season...

Duffman: Don't encourage Dusty, he will have one of every color soon...

[DustySJU]

Johnnie Tailgaters.... Stiftungsfest participants - Alert!

Duffman establishes Johnnie UnderArmor as "Official" shirt of Stiftungsfestivities.

Coming to a tailgate party near you...

Developing....

[sjusection105]

Reading through the game day posts from 57,zip,ROR,Bennie & TDT it apperas that there were some frustrations from the Johnnies performance on Saturday. Reading the St. Cloud Daily Planet accounts the Johnnies did what they had to do. As Duffman noted "a win is a win".

Agree with DustySJU Gearman needs to get more touches. With his size & speed, there are not many DB's that can match up with him and if doubled it opens the door for others.

Interesting experience in New Ulm for Oktoberfest Saturday. When we checked in at the hotel & inquired about a taxi service to bring us to the different events around town, the lady at the hotel noted there is a taxi service in town, but also many retired folks that will provide rides for events like Oktoberfest. Because they are not a taxi, they can not charge a fee but instead accept donations. We thought great, help someone out great idea, please set it up. We had 5 couples so 10 people total. A husband & wife team was dispatched to be our drivers, with a sedan & a SUV, we all fit in nicely. They first dropped us at the Schell's Brewery for the tour & sampling.The sampling at the end of the tour turned into a shot-gun event as our tour group was running slightly behind schedule & there was another group close on our heels as we were wisked to complete our sampling.
We call our drivers  to meet us at Schell's & they picked us up to bring us downtown. After drinking, dancing & eating for several hours downtown, we make our way back to the first bar we stopped at to meet our drivers. To our surprise, THEY HAD NEVER LEFT we were in as good, if not better condition to drive as our "sober cab" drivers Well at least nobdy got hurt and the eldery couple appreciated our donation of a Benjamin for their Christmas shopping fund

[TC]

We must protect this tailgate.

[faunch]

Swenson/Lee Family Benefit Luncheon & Silent Auction

Some of you may have heard about the horrendous murder of Vicki Lee in late September.  Her sister, Vicki and brother-in-law Erik are co-workers of mine at Hopkins High School.  Erik is also the head football coach at Blake High School in Hopkins.
They have taken in their 2 nieces and 2 nephews and are combining their family with their own 3 children.  A Silent Auction Fund Raiser is being held on Saturday November 18th.  If you know of anyone that would be interested in donating an item or money please contact me or check out the information at the following website. 
Thanks

http://www.blakeschool.org/athletics/061013swenson/index.html

[johnnie_esq]

Reading through the game day posts from 57,zip,ROR,Bennie & TDT it apperas that there were some frustrations from the Johnnies performance on Saturday. Reading the St. Cloud Daily Planet accounts the Johnnies did what they had to do. As Duffman noted "a win is a win".

This St. John's team does a great job of playing to their opponents.  They play mediocre against mediocre opponents, and good against good opponents.  But that is a dangerous way to play-- had Gustavus the depth that a good team would, and SJU would be picking ourselves off the canyon floor right now.

I'm worried about this team-- they certainly do not have a killer instinct, and rely upon our no-name defense to keep things near-- and even then, they are not a shut-em-down team. From here on out, teams will try to make us run the ball, so if our offensive line does not get itself together and give us 4 yards per carry, we won't be the MIAC representative, I'm sure of that.  With the Minnesota October and November weather unpredictible, we cannot rely upon our passing game, so we have to make our running game work.

I think teams are taking Gearman away from us.  They are likely shading him so he's always in double coverage.  That means someone opposite MUST get open to take some pressure off.  Haugen is not a threat at all, and the coaches don't seem to like Royce-Diop-- why don't they give Busick a try?

[DustySJU]

Johnnie Esq;  Where have you been on game day?

I share your pesimism.. but only to a point. 

SJU will be the undisputed and undefeated MIAC champion.

As for #19, he's the superstar, get him the ball!  Do you prefer a nothing pass to a 3rd string split end or a tough, calculated thread to your big play stud?  I find a way to give him the ball even if it's a B.E. Special 'round end or constant bubble/flat passes left and right.  Make the D-fense dizzy.

I won't be satisfied until THE man get's his due.

105;  Funny story.

TC;  You are a poet!

developing....

[piperinsider]

From Troy Mallat's game report:

With the Pipers (3-3, 1-3 in the MIAC) leading 16-9 late in the fourth quarter and punting to the Knights, Hamline snapped the ball into the end zone for a safety to make the score 16-11.

Carleton (3-3, 1-3) ran the free kick to the Hamline 46 with 2:18 left on the clock. Knight quarterback Darren Caspers went 4-of-11 on the ensuing drive for 39 yards, but threw three straight incompletions from the Hamline 2-yard line. Running back R.J. Jackson tried a halfback pass on four-and-goal, but the Pipers denied the score.

Nice win for Pipers. The defense had 10 sacks I believe a week after not having one.

[DuffMan]

My gripe with Gearman is that he tends to drop balls when he's covered.  When he roasts a DB and is in the open he's solid, but if he hears footsteps, it's an incompletion more times than not.

I've been quite impressed with Weber the past few games.

[sju56321]

Hey Duffman-do you think the UST players feel the added pressure to beat SJU and save the coach's job? Hard enough playing SJU for a possible share of the MIAC (depending if CC shows up this weekend).

I tend to agree with Esq.-SJU seems to play down and/or have that one off game during the year. Maybe lack of focus and a natural let down after beating STO. But the way UWW is playing, can anyone beat them anyway?

[sjusection105]

We all agree on one thing (I think) the 2006 SJU squad has a lot of unanswered questions before we can even begin to think about a play-off run. We have all experienced play-off runs,some more than others,right 57 , anyway on those teams that made deep runs in the play-offs or National Champions  there was a solid leader on both Off. & Def. someone who demanded the ball & then did something magical with it. There was also a big play "go to guy" on Defense that always found a way to make a play that would turn the tide. Until those players step forward and say "climb on my back" we will all be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

For what it is worth, time will tell how UWW will react without Beaver. Will the team be pointing fingers (in their heads) at the coaching staff for not taking him out of the game or will they take this as a personal challenge? The jury is still out.

[mac77]

I did not see the contest in Collegeville yesterday, but listened to spots on the radio and kept updated on this website.  Thanks to those who posed the updated scores.
With 3 games to go, SJU is undefeated....that' says a lot.  Barring a huge letdown next week vs. Hamline  (remember Homecoming in 1994 - the Kurt Ramler "coming out party"?), we will be watching 2 championship/play-off games vs. UST and Bethel.  I think the Johhnies offense will continue to find ways to win and the defense will keep getting better.  I like this team - a contender for a national title?  Maybe not, but I think they are coming together.  Baring a catostrophic injury (ala Justin Beaver), this team made hit its stride on October 28 in St. Paul, then have a week off to prepare for a Bethel monkey stomp!!
This IS the same group of coaches that put together a championship season in 2003 and made a run to the Stagg Bowl in 2000....anything is possible!!

Go, Johnnies!!