FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bcflyguy1]

Dutch:  Bethel is a very good team.  They have a good running back with a good, big, physical O-line that blocks for him really well.  Their QB can throw the ball pretty well when he must; he reminds me a lot of your QB.  He's good but not great.  I don't know how they lost to BV but, then again, they got kind of lucky with SJU at the end.  Their D-line is very physical and rushes the QB well.  I don't think you'll be able to rush against them like you did against us.  Their D-line and O-line are better than ours were this year, in my opinion.  Good luck against them and thanks for the hospitality yesterday.  I always like coming to Pella.  Bethel's biggest weakness is a history of kind of choking in the playoffs even though they've had really good teams (See Bethel vs. PLU in 2000).   

True, the PLU game was a difficult one to swallow, but there was more to that result than just a choke job.  As good as that 2000 Bethel team was, we weren't well suited to the less than ideal conditions you get down the playoff stretch.  The field at Bethel had turned into an ice rink from snow and cold the week of the game, and we didn't adapt to that nearly as well as the Lutes did.  The offensive system Bethel had then was great in good weather and it suited the players we had at that time.  That team was all about speed and quickness at every position on the field, making plays on special teams, creating turnovers, and we played a completely different brand of offensive football than BU does now.  The current BU squad is also much better defensively across the board.  I did a little number crunching to illustrate just how different the '00 Bethel team and this year's team are.

                                                2000                             2007
Passing Yards per Game              260                                  176
Rushing Yards per Game              155                                  233
Turnover Margin                           +29(!)                              +10
Rush Yds Allwd/Game                   127                                   90
Pass Yds Allwd/Game                    233                                  184
Average Weight O-Line                 265                                  285
Average Weight D-Line                 230                                   250

All that to say BU's style of play has changed drastically since that first playoff loss, and with better defense and better rushing offense the current Bethel team is much better suited to winning in November (and hopefully December too).  GO ROYALS!

[OzJohnnie]

Have some MIAC pride, Johnniefans...Bethel has a tough game coming up this Saturday and the biggest test of em all if they win that one.   You probably didn't need the rest of the MIAC behind you when you went up against Mount in '03, but you sure seem to have forgotten that they were backing you anyways.

And this is the definition of rich:  AO instructing Johnnies on how to be good supporters and where our allegiances should lie.

[VOJ]

Have some MIAC pride, Johnniefans...Bethel has a tough game coming up this Saturday and the biggest test of em all if they win that one.   You probably didn't need the rest of the MIAC behind you when you went up against Mount in '03, but you sure seem to have forgotten that they were backing you anyways.

AO...U sure about that?  J's have always seem to be the hunted and the hated...all that said, I like Steve Johnson and hope they represent down in Pella...They will need a strong effort from their O line and the D better be up to snuff, or their season will end in the same place that the Johnnies did.

[VOJ]

How fickle karma is...I congratulate Central on the Iowa board...make a few postings about the game, none of them offensive and I take a hit or two...

I want to congratulate the seniors at SJU for a fine four years full of memories and wins...yes each season ended earlier than Johnnies fans wanted to, but some great men played some great football for four years, you will be missed.

It will be an interesting off season in Collegeville, there are many questions to be answered and many starting positions up for grabs. 

[DuffMan]

Have some MIAC pride, Johnniefans...

No.

Go Dutch!

[janesvilleflash]

Have some MIAC pride, Johnniefans...

No.

Go Dutch!

+k for being honest.

[sjusection105]

How fickle karma is...I congratulate Central on the Iowa board...make a few postings about the game, none of them offensive and I take a hit or two...

I want to congratulate the seniors at SJU for a fine four years full of memories and wins...yes each season ended earlier than Johnnies fans wanted to, but some great men played some great football for four years, you will be missed.

It will be an interesting off season in Collegeville, there are many questions to be answered and many starting positions up for grabs. 

VOJ- don't worry about it. Here's some +K for you

[Johnnie Red]

Bluenote, good to hear from you. Maybe I should make a trip out to McMinnville next weekend and spend Saturday afternoon sampling wine in the Willamette Valley.

Governor Pawlenty will be here in Shakopee tomorrow morning to introduce a new judge for Scott County. If his wife, the First Lady, is with, I will make sure to encourage her and the Gov to make the trip to Pella to cheer on the Royals this Saturday. They could meet up with Hillary at Jaarsma's Bakery before the game for some Dutch letters.

[VOJ]

Thanks sjusection105...appreciated

[Johns Knees]

Game story and video from Bethel/Eau Claire game....

http://www.stcloudleague.com/blog/

[jaypeter]

So it's not football, but I just wanted to say congrats to St. John's for making such a strong showing this weekend in men's hockey.  Losing by only one goal to the 6th and 4th ranked teams in the country (Plattsburgh and Middlebury) is a good weekend by nearly any team. 

jaypeter

[LBean]

OZ - What the hell are your new countymen thinking of electing another wacko lefty to the PM post? Are they off their meds?

Is everyone sure that Hansel (not Gretel) will be the starting QB next year? Seeing Joe Boyle in a couple high school games makes me think he is in the mix. Getting Vanderhyden, Overman and Saladin (please get healthy) back makes for a fine receiver core. Also, Jeff Gilbertson could be a good addition on the D line, adding size as well as ability.

I second retagent as far as the Hansel/Boyle QB situation for next year.    Hard to put it into words, but I think this Boyle has something special.     

[sju56321]

I agree Jaypeter-fun to watch them on the web.
Now on to football-should be a very good game on Saturday-I do wonder if Central can bring that intensity two weeks in a row and without the revenge factor. Bethel is in uncharted waters here and I hope they come out poised and the coaches don't try too many tick plays.
Days like this makes me wonder at Mount-how they are always at the top of their game-wow.

[Freebird]

Have some MIAC pride, Johnniefans...

No.

Go Dutch!

Typical jackass post from Duffman.  I will never cheer for SJU again and regret the encouraging words myself and other BU posters made during the SJU/Central game as well as recent playoff runs including 03.

[VOJ]

Freebird...

What you have to understand is that Duff puts more emphasis on the rivalry between SJU and Bethel and does not want to see any success come your way, others in the Johnnies Nation will support Bethel, can you honestly say that every Bethel fan wanted to see SJU win it all in 2003?  Doubtful...

Good luck on Saturday, from what I saw on Saturday you will be tested, especially defensively, Connell is a better QB than people think and he has a few decent WR's...

I am not sure that their run D is really good, the J's never really tested it.