FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Freebird]

Tweetybird--- the fact that your club has won three straight against SJU is definitely something to be proud of, but like last season when the chest pounding for respect became unbearable, true respect is earned in the playoffs.  Having THREE playoff victories in your existence is hardly a beefy resume (although it is three more than the Clown Conference that Northwestern plays in) especially when all three wins came in one season.

VOJ--- you have taken my idea one step further, but I totally agree with you.  Some of the AQ conferences have taken up space.  

As it relates to AO/Northwestern; the fact that your conference is so tough and deep that you have to play an opponent twice in the regular season should be an automatic disqualification for NCAA playoffs (the NAIA does that crap due to such a small number of schools left).  Don't kid yourself into believing that the UMAC teams are qualitatively superior to high school teams in MN.  

So are you saying Bethel earned respect from you?

[janesvilleflash]

Pack of pricks?

[Redtooth]

Redtooth:  can you think of any football conferences that have a conference championship game?  by golly, you're right, the SEC and Big 12 have no business competing in Bowl games when they could potentially play the same team twice in the regular season.

Are you serious with this analysis?  To compare a five team (with one first year program) conference's need for a championship to two twelve team conferences in DI is absolutely crazy.  Winning the prestigous "UMAC conference championship" is a little like being declared the tallest in a group of five midgets  BTW- what prompted the need to this conference championship?  It is not like there is a likely 4-0 tie, or even two 3-1 teams where head-to-head would not help determine the champion.

Tweetybird--- the fact that your club has won three straight against SJU is definitely something to be proud of, but like last season when the chest pounding for respect became unbearable, true respect is earned in the playoffs.  Having THREE playoff victories in your existence is hardly a beefy resume (although it is three more than the Clown Conference that Northwestern plays in) especially when all three wins came in one season.

VOJ--- you have taken my idea one step further, but I totally agree with you.  Some of the AQ conferences have taken up space.  

As it relates to AO/Northwestern; the fact that your conference is so tough and deep that you have to play an opponent twice in the regular season should be an automatic disqualification for NCAA playoffs (the NAIA does that crap due to such a small number of schools left).  Don't kid yourself into believing that the UMAC teams are qualitatively superior to high school teams in MN.  

So are you saying Bethel earned respect from you?

The short answer is yes.  The fact that your club was able to improve your previous all-time playoff record from 0-4 to 3-5 in one year was impressive.  Playoff wins are what seperate the good teams from great programs.  Since 1999 the playoff record for SJU is 20-7, only one other program can claim that many wins and they are the Purple Dynasty in Ohio.

[VOJ]

Redtooth its tough to educate the masses...

Are we ready to make some predictions for Saturday??

By the way I would cheer for UST against Northwestern, especially if they are still ranked in front of SJU on the basis of what I have no idea...in the lone comparable game the margin of victory was greater for SJU...

I will also cheer for the Tommies when they play Bethel...tough to do, but its for the benefit of all

[cobbernation]

Freebird,

Where are you headed this Monday?  I do agree Kornhieser is not great on MNF, but I do enjoy his input on PTI.

[jelio101]

I don't think any SJU fan likes SJU losing to anyone, let alone and especically to Bethel.  I think bitter is inapposite -- well, maybe it's descriptive of me at times-- and abandon is completely out of the park.  I would defy you to find a fan on here, or anyone of the 10,000 that show up for games, that would truly throw SJU to the scrap heap.  Whether it's UW-L 1996 where they lost in that mud bowl charitably described as a field in LaCrosse or it's the 1993 smack down by MUC or it's the 3 consecutive losses to Bethel, or it's the 1986 4-4-1, or it's the 2002 loss at Trinity where SJU darn near rescued itself in San Antonio in the 4th quarter, or it's a tie with Concordia and a loss at to STO in 1995 the playoffs are missed despite having Chris Palmer, or it's 1997 you won't find an SJU/CSB person who actually abandons the program.  Every other school, to my knowledge, has very limited stand capacity and they have a lower fan turnout from game to game except the games in which they play the Johnnies.  The Johnnie game is the revenue maker most times.   Why is that?  Because the SJU fans travel very well and, usually, there are more of them than the home team fans.  What does make me truly bitter is the Bethel gyro-jump.   Even STO fans did it last weekend.  

I realize that you are trying to make a point here Chewy, and I for one love going to Collegeville BECAUSE of the fan support there.  While you might have the best fan support in the MIAC, lets try not to overshaddow the support for the other schools in the MIAC by their fans.  The last 3 years while I have been traveling and watching Cobber football, I have notice many times that we bring more fans than the home team.  Again I am not much familiar of times before that date, and you might aruge that many people are attending this year because Cobbers are in first.   But there are fair-weathered fans no matter where you go.  Some people just dont care unless the team is winning.  However since everyone here has joined this discussion board just to talk about DIII football i think it is safe to say that all of us love our teams and that that none of us would 'abandon' them no matter what the win%.  Other fans may be different, but i am assuming none of us are.   

[Freebird]

Freebird,

Where are you headed this Monday?  I do agree Kornhieser is not great on MNF, but I do enjoy his input on PTI.

Yeah I completely agree.  I found out last week that PTI is the highest grossing show on ESPN.  Last year they made like 36 million on it while only 9 people actually work on the show.  I wish I knew the numbers for MNF off hand but I will ask this week.

We are in DC for a game against the Steelers.  Should be a pretty fun weekend considering the political climate. Plus the commish, the espn/abc sports ceo, and synder are coming to the luncheon show I work on.

[The White Silly]

Freebird, I like your style...I'm a big fan of any feathers ruffled...I'm also a big fan of Tony Kornheiser...I also think that Northwestern is garbage and really can't believe that they may actually get a playoff spot (ricollllla reeediculous!)...I don't think there is anything more enjoyable then watching someone come completely undone... BUT I'm unstable like that...GO MIAC...GO CROWN!!!!

[Freebird]

Freebird, I like your style...I'm a big fan of any feathers ruffled...I'm also a big fan of Tony Kornheiser...I also think that Northwestern is garbage and really can't believe that they may actually get a playoff spot (ricollllla reeediculous!)...I don't think there is anything more enjoyable then watching someone come completely undone... BUT I'm unstable like that...GO MIAC...GO CROWN!!!!

I like your moves

[snoop dawg]

OK,  so how does freebird not a have a negative karma rating of 1,00,00,00 or more?  From an outsider, I don't think the johnnie fans are arrogant.  On the other hand they are extremely supportive.  They are critical of certain issues but, they never fail to support their team, at least on this board.

I posted this on the NW baord and it is very applicable here.  The johnnie fans may be disappointed in some aspects of this years teams play, but the standards and expectations are so high that sometimes they are hard to live up to.  I can say this that I can only hope that whatever team I end up following next year has the fan support that SJU does.  And, they are some of the most down to earth and helpful people around.

Go ahead OB, make some comment that I don't know what I am talking about.

[UnitedStatesTreasuryDept]

That's a hell of a tackle by #95 of South Florida - helmet not needed!!!  Is that new coach in the MIAC really that good, or is the talent level in the MIAC really bad???  Even coach Brewster needed a year to get things going.

[CobberFvr]

Well, the talent level is obviously not bad.

[Freebird]

OK,  so how does freebird not a have a negative karma rating of 1,00,00,00 or more?  From an outsider, I don't think the johnnie fans are arrogant.  On the other hand they are extremely supportive.  They are critical of certain issues but, they never fail to support their team, at least on this board.

I posted this on the NW baord and it is very applicable here.  The johnnie fans may be disappointed in some aspects of this years teams play, but the standards and expectations are so high that sometimes they are hard to live up to.  I can say this that I can only hope that whatever team I end up following next year has the fan support that SJU does.  And, they are some of the most down to earth and helpful people around.

Go ahead OB, make some comment that I don't know what I am talking about.

This coming from someone with a -516 karma rating 

[snoop dawg]

Thats right, and I'm shooting for catching up to TDT.

[tmerton]

Valid comments however my point was that he must have grown bitter recently due to being beat the last three years in a row

You really do live in your own little world don't you?

What do you expect; this is a guy who lives in a world in which sad sacks Tirico and Kornheiser are considered good announcers (I'll give Jaws a pass). 

Ps do you really think Tirico is that bad? Kornheiser is terrible and likely gone after this season but I would rather listen to Mike than Michaels or Joe Buck any day.

This is a joke, right?  Or are you serious?  Tirico is horrible.  You are perhaps too young to remember when MNF had decent, even very good or excellent, announcers.  (Heck, Dandy Don was a nut case all his own, but he knew football; only Jaws of the current crew has a clue what football is about.)  All 3 of these guys would be carrying briefcases in those days.  And please, don't get me started on Kornheiser in his other show.  PTI?  Sad sack Tony only looks good there because he's paired with Wilbon.  If you want to vote on entertainment value, fine, go for it if that's what you like.  But two clueless guys yammering at each other is not my idea of journalism, and I'm certainly not entertained.