FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Willy Wonka]

I took in the GAC game at UST today, joining forces with Wonka.  It was a good win for the Gusties. 

UST had some trouble on special teams--GAC recovered a short kickoff on the Tommies 30 yard line when the Tommie return team looked dumbfounded on what to do with a short kick.  Later, the UST punt return team let the ball touch one of their players, leading to a GAC recovery. 

Really, Mongo? You forgot the best one!

In the second half, the genius UST kick returner caught the ball at the 2-yard line and backed into the end zone to take a knee. The refs looked extremely confused by the play but ended up giving the Tommies the ball at the 1 rather than awarding GAC a safety.

Has anyone ever seen or heard of this happening before? Is it the correct call or has no one even been dumb enough to do this in the history of the game, giving the refs no precident to go on? It was high comedy. The Tommies have a legit chance to win less than 4 games. They are REALLY bad in just about all phases of the game.

UST receivers had roughly 7 bad drops on the day and each readjusted their fancy gloves afterwards, as if it the glove's fault they weren't making routine plays. It was a complete circus — GAC had about 4 drives stall out inside the UST 30 or the score would have been much more indicative of the way the game played out. Unfortunately, this has become something of a staple of the GAC offense in recent years and the new offense doesn't seem to have corrected it quite yet.

However, it's worth noting the Gusties are currently riding a 6-game winning streak that should be one of the longest in the nation

Anderson, Stolp and Arlt could be potential MVP candidates for an offense that's averaging 500+ yards a game — they aren't efficient enough to score as much as Olaf, allowing for more playing time for the starters.

TDT - Thanks for entering my picks for me this morning...Mongo wasn't smart enough to figure out how to find the page or figure out the MIAC schedule for me to post on here.

[Lone Auggie Backer]

Carl S-

Unforutnately for your university, it's true.  There is one school in this conference, that from the perspective of every other school that plays them on the field, is all about the cheapshot, and then all about hiding behind Jesus after you get pissed after it.  As I heard at Stiftungsfest today, there are many schools in this conference that will punch you in the seeds at the bottom of the pile, my school included, however, none of the others will tell you God loves you while squeezing them in their hand.  Yep, you're right, you're better at football.  Congratulations.  But, unfortunately from the times I went up against your squad, they didn't do it with class.  I don't care if you have more W's than me.  Sure, I wish our program was as good as the Johnnies, or as Mt. Union, but we're not.  But to always come back with the comeback, hey we're better, includes you in the mix with the cheapshots on the field I'm referring to.  So, what, just becaus you have more wins than my school, or because you have a more recent conference title than my school, it makes it okay to be the only school in this conference that behaves in this despicable behavior?  That is easily one of the most flawed arguments I've ever heard.  How come the Johnnies then don't do that to us?  They have an even more successful program than yours is, and they don't do that. What then?  Where does your argument go, then?  I don't understand your response to a legitamate, factual complaint.  Factual?  YES, it happened to me.   By the players you so adamantly defend.  And, unfortunately, from SO MANY other former MIAC players I've spoken to it has happened to them too.  I understand your embarrassment on this point.  It's tough to realize what your guys are known for by so many other teams in this conference.  Too bad your only comeback is to say, "Well, you're bad at football."  Never acknowledging that your team is the cheap shot KING of this conference.  Guess that is why you go by the ROYALS.  

Yep, you're right, you have a more successful program.  Congratulations.  You're still the cheap shot kings too.  well done.

So much for trying to hide my feelings on your program.  You challenged me.  Those are my thoughts.  I experienced them.  I'm not making them up.  Neither are all the others that I've talked to on this subject.  Go ahead,  come back with telling me how bad we got beat by the Johnnies today.  It won't change the face in your mirror.

LAB

[Lone Auggie Backer]

TC -

To what do you mean attacking a certain University in this conference?  It could have easily been any of the schools with religious affiliation that play one way, and then hide behind a cross!

LAB

This joke is always so cute .  When was the last time Auggie beat Bethel, or was anything like competitive in the MIAC?  Ten years ago?  That must have been about the same time you had some new material on BU.  Good on you for trying, but that horse was dead long before you started beating on it.  I can assure you it doesn't bother anybody with ties to BU nearly as much as you think it does.  In all seriousness, enjoy the pre-monkeystomp shrimp/lobster .

You're right, the Shrimp/Lobster was a joke.  Your teams habitual actions are not something I'm joking about.  It's not a bit.  It's the frustration I get when realizing people like you think it is a bit.   Write a letter to the QB's or any other position from schools not BU in this conference and ask them what their experiences where in the games in Arden Hills.  Sure, probably not 100% will respond with my complaint.  However,  You'll get many more than one.  Sorry.  Not joking.

LAB

Yes, your post does make me pissed.  more wins as an excuse.  I guess it's okay what Ken Lay did, then, 'cuz he had more money than you.  Yep, good answer.  Makes sense to me!

[AO]

Maybe you ought to start naming names rather than giving the entire team the "MIAC cheap shot king" title.  I find it hard to believe the majority of Bethel football players play that way.  If you want to keep harping on their cheapness, then give up some names, or possible names, and you might get some sort of satisfaction if someone backs you up. 

On the other hand, it would be great to hassle Johnnie fans about the cheapness of their players.  I mean, what's with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties today?  You just had to pile drive the Augie QB after he threw the ball into the fifth row and started to run in the opposite direction?

[repete]

Here's your Sunday morning credibility check: LAB or AO?

Whom do we believe:
AO's "finding it hard to believe" or LAB's actual experience?

It hasn't been brought up for a while, but LAB's observations aren't the first here.

Hmm, pretty easy call here, I'm sure LAB has better things to do than make things up. For AO, who knows?

[TC]

Carl S-

Unforutnately for your university, it's true.  There is one school in this conference, that from the perspective of every other school that plays them on the field, is all about the cheapshot, and then all about hiding behind Jesus after you get pissed after it.  As I heard at Stiftungsfest today, there are many schools in this conference that will punch you in the seeds at the bottom of the pile, my school included, however, none of the others will tell you God loves you while squeezing them in their hand.  Yep, you're right, you're better at football.  Congratulations.  But, unfortunately from the times I went up against your squad, they didn't do it with class.  I don't care if you have more W's than me.  Sure, I wish our program was as good as the Johnnies, or as Mt. Union, but we're not.  But to always come back with the comeback, hey we're better, includes you in the mix with the cheapshots on the field I'm referring to.  So, what, just becaus you have more wins than my school, or because you have a more recent conference title than my school, it makes it okay to be the only school in this conference that behaves in this despicable behavior?  That is easily one of the most flawed arguments I've ever heard.  How come the Johnnies then don't do that to us?  They have an even more successful program than yours is, and they don't do that. What then?  Where does your argument go, then?  I don't understand your response to a legitamate, factual complaint.  Factual?  YES, it happened to me.   By the players you so adamantly defend.  And, unfortunately, from SO MANY other former MIAC players I've spoken to it has happened to them too.  I understand your embarrassment on this point.  It's tough to realize what your guys are known for by so many other teams in this conference.  Too bad your only comeback is to say, "Well, you're bad at football."  Never acknowledging that your team is the cheap shot KING of this conference.  Guess that is why you go by the ROYALS.   

Yep, you're right, you have a more successful program.  Congratulations.  You're still the cheap shot kings too.  well done.

So much for trying to hide my feelings on your program.  You challenged me.  Those are my thoughts.  I experienced them.  I'm not making them up.  Neither are all the others that I've talked to on this subject.  Go ahead,  come back with telling me how bad we got beat by the Johnnies today.  It won't change the face in your mirror.

LAB

This is solid f'ing gold.

[sjusection105]

Here's your Sunday morning credibility check: LAB or AO?

Whom do we believe:
AO's "finding it hard to believe" or LAB's actual experience?

It hasn't been brought up for a while, but LAB's observations aren't the first here.

Hmm, pretty easy call here, I'm sure LAB has better things to do than make things up. For AO, who knows?

I've met LAB & AO. Let me just note for this Sunday morning credibility check that AO is no LAB.

On another note check the SJU-Augsburg game story on www.JohnnieFootball.com

[bcflyguy1]

TC -

To what do you mean attacking a certain University in this conference?  It could have easily been any of the schools with religious affiliation that play one way, and then hide behind a cross!

LAB

This joke is always so cute .  When was the last time Auggie beat Bethel, or was anything like competitive in the MIAC?  Ten years ago?  That must have been about the same time you had some new material on BU.  Good on you for trying, but that horse was dead long before you started beating on it.  I can assure you it doesn't bother anybody with ties to BU nearly as much as you think it does.  In all seriousness, enjoy the pre-monkeystomp shrimp/lobster .

You're right, the Shrimp/Lobster was a joke.  Your teams habitual actions are not something I'm joking about.  It's not a bit.  It's the frustration I get when realizing people like you think it is a bit.   Write a letter to the QB's or any other position from schools not BU in this conference and ask them what their experiences where in the games in Arden Hills.  Sure, probably not 100% will respond with my complaint.  However,  You'll get many more than one.  Sorry.  Not joking.

LAB

Yes, your post does make me pissed.  more wins as an excuse.  I guess it's okay what Ken Lay did, then, 'cuz he had more money than you.  Yep, good answer.  Makes sense to me!

So if I follow your logic, anybody who ever worked for Enron should have gone to jail.  Let's hang an entire organization for the crimes of an individual.  I may not have a PHD, but that arguement holds no water.

Would it be all better if Bethel set aside its religious stance, then?  To make it sound like we use that as an excuse to pawn off accusations of dirty play is absolutely absurd.  There isn't a program in the conference that can count itself not guilty of the allegations you're throwing around.  I could talk about cheap shots that I saw during my playing days, but in no way do I think that one player's momentary stupidity meant that the whole program was populated by tools.   It's a less than savory aspect of the game we love, not just the way that Bethel or any other team plays it.   That doesn't excuse poor sportsmanship on the part of BU or anyone else.  Nobody likes to see this stuff in football whether it's from the team we support or any other for that matter.  Any objective football fan will tell you that.     

Again, the horse was dead before you started beating it. You're just another in the line who come on here with vague generalizations and try to smear the whole program with the isolated acts of a few.  I don't doubt that you can be specific, others have been too and they were right to be upset about what they were witness to.  But to hear some of the whining on here, you'd think Coach Johnson is pulling a John Cheney and sending guys out as hatchet men.  Hate to spoil it, but that never has and never will happen.  I don't deny that BU has had some players that did the kind of stupid stuff you talk about.  Their actions bother me a whole lot more than the reactions to them by people who know far less about Bethel football as a whole than they think. Somebody's always going to have something negative to say about BU; if it's not the "cheap-shot kings" thing it's jokes about going to Bible study or guys huddling to pray for an injured player on the other team.  It's all good, we go there knowing full well that we're setting ourselves up for an unusual level of scrutiny.

I got up your nose more than I intended, so my bad on that.  The arguement is what it is, and we both have our ways of looking at it.  Hope you were able to enjoy the Festivities and a great Minnesota fall afternoon.   

[Maroon&Gold]

Still trying come to grips with losing to F@#*ing Bethel at home like that.... Wow

Anyway, a very exciting game, but not a sharp one by the Cobbers, especially defensively, to me they just weren't as aggressive and physical as I havef seen them in earlier years and even earlier this year. The offense looked good at times, but as Maniac mentioned it is still wierd that they are relying so much on the passing game. All in all, this will definitely be a test for them to see how they respond to this game. As much as it hurts, it can all be wiped away with a W next week over the Johnnies.  Should be a great game.

Chances of M&G in attendance at C'ville = 75%

[MongolianWarrior]

TDT - Thanks for entering my picks for me this morning...Mongo wasn't smart enough to figure out how to find the page or figure out the MIAC schedule for me to post on here.

I believe I was smart enough to order an Octoberfest at Tiffany's while you settled for a lame Coke.

[Lone Auggie Backer]

AO-

Sorry, I didn't ask the guy's name that was giving a little squeeze on the three times it happened to me.  Two were passing plays, one was when I was the punter.  When I responded with a "what the F***" was when I was given some sort of a religious response.  Also, I'm not happy with any of the Personal Foul penalties that exist in the game of football.  It is just frustrating when the response is something that is so conflicting with the message the Church is supposed to promote.  Sorry, AO, I don't even know where you come in on this perspective?  Did/Do you play in the MIAC?  Do you have a perspective that I'm missing.  I just have personal experience with this, and as a kid working as the ballboy for Olaf when Tom Porter and Don Canfield were there, heard many Olaf players commenting on the interactions they had JUST esperienced.  

Carl-
I do not think that Bethel is a bad school.  Each person's religion is exactly what it is to them, and in no cases should someone else tell someone what they should believe.  I applaud the Bethel team for gathering to support an injured player, irregardless of which team they are from, to ask for God's help in the situation.  I think it is great that the team has such great conviction that either the players or the coaches can gather before a game and connect with the One who gives them strength.  I have ZERO problems with the religious involvement at Bethel, and in fact it is something they can define themselves by.  What I take exception to is the years of either first hand (my own) or second hand (Olaf players, other former MIAC players I've spoken with) experiences of players acting comletely inappropriately and then attempting to excuse the behavior, or trivialize it because they love God.  

I agree with your assertion that not all people from Enron should be painted with the felons and criminals brush.  However, the name Enron is significantly tainted in many people's eyes that have followed the story.  I was not treated inappropriately by every Bethel player. I do not think every Bethel player acts this way.  However, it was not the same person every time.  It was at least two different players.  And therefore, the actions of those few, and the VERY similar comebacks involving some sort of religious perspective, lead me, like the above Enron story, to have a very tainted perspective of Bethel Football.  Maybe Coach Johnson has never heard of these experiences.  However, I would hope that some of those who have some sort of connection with the Royal program would bring it to his attention so that he, in his leadership position, could address these with his team.  Beause it happened to me, I believe when I hear from others that it happened to them too.  

Bethel is not a bad school.  Bethel has a lot of thigs to offer students that are seeking an education based on faith.  However, it has a football team that has a few bad apples doing things that give it a very bad name because of the "horns and then halos" bahaviors.  I'm not trying to pick a fight.  I'm just trying to give my perspective and not have it trivialized because I'm from a program that doesn't have a whole lot of wins.

LAB

[Lone Auggie Backer]

Stiftungsfest burgers are as good as many say.  It was great to get to meet all of you up in Collegeville.  I will acknowledge AO's roughing the passer comment.  There was one that was definitely a late hit.  One that was a little closer and could have gone either way.  I will also prove that I haven't become a Johnnie convert.  I will say I took exception to the hook and ladder right before the end of the first half.  When a team like St. John's plays a team like Augsburg, the best thing both teams can do is to get better at the things that they really need to work on.  The Johnnies are at a completely different level than the Auggies, and in my mind didn't need to use a gadget play in that situation.  I liked what they had been doing on the two plays before the hook and ladder.  Kofoed and your two outside receivers had been working on the timing of the deep out route.  I think that working on that kind of play is better for the Johnnies seasonal development rather than a gadget that is something that is more of a trick play.  I can acknowledge the notion that they need to work on the timing and spacing of that kind of play, too, and so am not steaming-raging mad.  I just didn't feel it was necessary in that situation. my two cents on that incident. 

Perfect weather for the game (and probably gameS) yesterday and Clemens was a great atmosphere for the game.  I actually got a little sunburned which is better than frost!

Marcus Levesseur looked VERY good in his MMA fight last night.  He dominated a guy that looked to be quite well trained in BJJ.  Early in the second period, Marcus passed the guy's guard, was in full mount,  and started to rain down fists.  As a defense, the opponent rolled over and gave Marcus his back, which Marcus capitalized on immediately and stuck him in a rear-naked-choke.  The guy tapped out shortly thereafter.  Many Auggies were in either the ring, or in attendence.  Roger Huerta (UFC wonderboy) was there as a celebrity, and two other Auggies fought.  One won, one got destroyed!  But it looks as if Marcus' success in wrestling has transitioned well to the Octagon

LAB

[TC]

LAB--Agree to disagree on the Hook-n-Ladder.  I thought it pretty much dominated.  It was a perfect play for the situation because the Augsburg DBs were (rightly) guarding the sideline which left some open space for the trailing receiver to cut the play back inside.  While a play like that would bother me if it were in the 4th quarter, I think it's tough to fault them for running the play in the first half.  Hypothetically, any game that's less that half complete can't be fully decided.  Plus, it was sweet to see SJU beat Auggie to the trickplay punch after the scouting reports we've been receiving from The White Silly.

While the weather was beautiful for the Johnnie game, it was a little cold by the river in St. Cloud for the nightcap.  I'm still shivering.  What the hell happened to summer?  (Memo to Pat Coleman:  UW-W/SCSU game recap--with the correct score!--can be found at www.johnniefootball.com)

Good to hear Marcus Levesseur having success.  You made him sound like a misunderstood good guy.  If the MMA doesn't work out for him, he could always fall back on a WWE career--with empty beer bottles as his secret weapon.

Anyone else fired up for the C-M game yet?  Should be interesting to see how the Cobbers' new 1940's-era offense (now featuring the forward pass!) looks against a real defense.

[tmerton]

I hope to hide his face after this start! I think SJU could give them a pretty good game. Just plain bad.
BTW-TDT Cubs win on Soriano's home run-will you be coming to Chicago in October-so I can prepare the city?

Mrs. Ritz and I will be there from Friday to Sunday....staying at the Hyatt...any suggestions?  We are thinking about taking in a night at the House of Blues. . . anything else??

Hyatt on Michigan or at O'Hare?

Have a drink at the top of the John Hancock after sunset.  Unbelievable view.

It's also worth it to pay whatever it is to go to the Hancock observation floor.
(Trivia:  this is the building Chris Farley lived, and died, in.)

Hubbard Street Cigar Shop is a classic.  You never know who
you might run into.  (If my kid is there, buy him a decent cigar)

Chicago architecture tour.  There are a bunch of them.  I think my favorite
is the Chicago River boat tour.  There's also a South Loop waking tour or the Frank
Lloyd Wright tour in Oak Park.  Take the Green Line to Oak Park Avenue.

Skip Navy Pier.  Doesn't do much for me.

Shedd Aquarium, Natural Science Museum and Museum of Science and Industry are all good.

Giardano's at Rush and Superior is the best.  Expect a long wait.  You can kill the wait at the American Girl store across Rush.   

I'm not in to art, but there's a good art museum on Michigan if that's your deal.

I'd say to be sure to check out Millennium Park and Crown Fountain - it is fascinating.
http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/millenniumpark.htm

[shakenbake35]

Just to add my own experience in support of LAB, I played against bethel 5 times (4 varsity and my one and only JV game my freshmen year) and in all 5 of those games more than one person gave the little guys an unwanted squeeze and proceeded to get up, offer me a hand, and tell me God loves me.  I certainly don't think their coaches support this, but it did seem like it could have been something that the players supported in the locker room.  That is an experience that many of my teammates also had. Just my own two cents worth of experience.