FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[finsleft]

Frank---I like the plan for Halftime festivites next weekend in the Pace Arrow!!!!  I happened to be recruiting for the festivities at Shaw's last night....
potential !!!

Ritz/Frank:
What'd I miss? Sounds like I'm supposed to be installing a brass pole or something??
Wonder if I can get Al & Alma's to sponsor me?

[finsleft]

Just going to let any johnnie players or fans out there know that this auggie squad is not intimidated (spelling?) by the johnnies what so ever...the team is going to smash every player in the mouth...the game will be very physical and you can count on that...whether they are up by 30 or not...

Any Johnnies needing dental work this week?

No?

Didn't think so.

[finsleft]

I've never came out and said someone was a pussy but how bout we talk about it in person at the game and I can show you who the pussy is? It is pretty easy to call a team a pussy on the internet isn't it?   but seriously do we really need to call people or teams out...ill be glad to tell you how much pain my pussy team inflicted right after the game...

Finsleft was ready to listen but Finsleft hasn't heard anything...

[AnotherJohnnie]

There are so many good teams from the West this year that it reminded me of a thought that I have been throwing arond in my head for a while.

What if the IIAC, MIAC, and WIAC had a post season borders battle involving 2 "bowl games"?  The ECAC has post season games every year.  

I wonder how many fans it would take to come out on something like that.  Could a person find 1 or 2 headline sponsors?  It would be a wonderful promotion of the quality of football in the area.  At least 1 team would come from each conference, with 1 wildcard.  The games would take place the week of the first playoff games.  Interconference matchups would be avoided, and the teams would be seeded 1-4, with 1-2, 3-4 matchups, unless that would match up 2 teams from the same conference.  I guess matchups aren't that important, but there would have to be some way to do it.  I thought we could include the MWC, but that would lead to more potentially long trips (there are enough already, maybe that should be a factor in determining the matchups).

I don't know what others think about having such games.  Obviously, it would take some time on the part of the participating institutions, but I know that I would have liked to have 1 more game to go to last year had the option been available (I don't know if SJU would have even qualified last year).  It could also give more teams some experience in a playoff-like atmosphere, which could be valuable for next year.

Please share your reactions to this idea.  I wouldn't know how to go about putting something together, but it could be fun to talk about since Saturday is so far off.

[onearmedscot]

Man, I got chills reading the stories on Rick Rose today in the PP and Strib.  Sounds like a great kid from a wonderful family.  It's nice to see the family isn't gathering lawyers for a legal battle with Morris but rather saying, "Rick chose to run out there and it's a decision we'll have to live with now."

I do think it would be a nice jesture for the school to help pay for the transportation of the body to WA for the funeral.

OneArmedScot

[Willy Wonka]

AnotherJohnnie - Sure, we can have West Side Connect sing the national anthem too. But we aren't going to include the UMAC in this plan???  Don't let AO hear you say that

Wahoo - I agree with you, to a point. The Bowl gets loud - especially when BE jumps over your best player for his second return touchdown of the day AFTER breaking out of a veritable ring of Gusties on the catch - but it doesn't effect things on the field as far as play calling. However, my team was always scared/intimidated/whatever during the first half against the Js even when we had years of experience. They jumped on us early every year and, though we fought back 3 of the 4 years I believe, it was never enough. The youth will either expose the Oles or make them niave enough to succeed.

The SJU squad this year is different. They are based more on defense than an outstanding offense, from what I can tell. The Ole offense against the Johnnies D will be the story of the day. Personally, I tend to think of Meidt's scheme as an Urban Meyer-type thing: It works like a charm against the less skilled teams, but it will have trouble against the bigger/faster/more talented units. I fully expect Wilsey to be shaking his head like Chris Leak after Saturday's game. However, I hope the Ole D can make it into a good, close game.

Fins - I have been hearing some fishy talk out of you. Mind if another Gustie crashes the party? I won't steal any koolaid

['gro]

What if the IIAC, MIAC, and WIAC had a post season borders battle involving 2 "bowl games"?  The ECAC has post season games every year. 

Being an east-sider I'll offer some comments. I for one am a supporter of the ECAC games. Back when they only took 16 teams to the Dance there were plenty of teams with good records and something left to prove (for example the 97 RPI team went 8-1 with their only loss in OT to a playoff team).

ECAC games are usually cross regional (still within the east) so you usually see New York vs New England or NY vs PA, you get the picuture. It is a chance to show your stuff against teams you usually don't play.

Of course, now that the playoff are at 32 teams the ECACs are played by middle of the pack teams. You will see some schools fans that do not like ECAC games (aka Ithaca) who think that if you don't make it to the dance then why play a "meaningless" game.

Bottom line, as a former player, I'd jump at the chance to play one more game, reguardless of what is or is not at stake.

DISCUSS!

[Kilted Rat]

Fins - I have been hearing some fishy talk out of you. Mind if another Gustie crashes the party? I won't steal any koolaid

I thought you had to drink of the unholy Koolaid to get into the RV???

[WAHOO3]

I just wanted to chime in on how Meidt's offenses have done against the Johhnie D in the past, since Wonka brought it up. I really don't want to admit I actually researched this but I did. This contains an assumption that Meidt has not had talent equal to his Bethel teams @ Olaf until this year. In fact I might make a bold statement that the receivers at Olaf this year are better than Bethel's good teams in the late 90's early 2000's.

In his tenure @ Bethel Meidt's offenses averaged 372 yards per game over 4 years against SJU. In three straight years they had over 420 yards. I just don't think you can generalize that his offense doesn't work against good teams.  

I'll just make another random observation that may be stating the obvious. This game will be decided in redzone efficiency. The Johnnie D is too good to waste opportunities. If the Oles make inside the 20 they have to take advantage. Likewise, the Johnnies O will make big plays as they always do, but the Ole D needs to make a couple big stops after big plays.

[AnotherJohnnie]

I'll just make another random observation that may be stating the obvious. This game will be decided in redzone efficiency. The Johnnie D is too good to waste opportunities. If the Oles make inside the 20 they have to take advantage. Likewise, the Johnnies O will make big plays as they always do, but the Ole D needs to make a couple big stops after big plays.

As you say, getting points in the red zone is important, but I think a bigger issue will be turnovers.  If the Johnnie O gives the Ole's the ball 9 extra times again this year, I don't think things will go well for St. John's.  SJU's redzone efficiency probably isn't all that great this year (someone make me eat my words), but the D has been able to keep teams on their own end of the field after a turn over on downs or missed field goal and then set up a short field or block a punt to help the O get going again.

If St. Olaf isn't twice as good as last year, they had better watch out.  If SJU plays at all like they did last year, they had better watch out.  I think last year is completely irrelevant, except that it may make SJU more hungry and St. Olaf more confident.  Hopefully that makes for a well played game.

[Veek]

Raiderguy - great finally meeting and speaking with you on Saturday.  You are always welcome at the Stiftungsfestivities. 

I couldn't believe when I heard the score of the Mount game.  And they were going for 100 straight wins in the OAC.  That is unbelievable in and of itself.  I doubt they will have any problem rebounding.  Better to happen now than in the playoffs, right Raiderguy!

Can't wait until Saturday.  Should be a great game. 

[Willy Wonka]

Good points, Wahoo. However, you like to point to recent history so let's take a closer look. If the Oles average 2.3 yards per play (139/59) like they did last year, we are looking at a Monkey Stomp

I want to see a good game so I hope that doesn't happen, but it isn't out of the question.

Was just informed by the big boss lady that - pending Tuesday's football section outcomes - I may be working Saturday afternoon afterall. Boo that.

[finsleft]

Was just informed by the big boss lady that - pending Tuesday's football section outcomes - I may be working Saturday afternoon afterall. Boo that.

I thought all of that puffery about crashing the party was a bit premature. Grow a pair and come taste the kool-aid!

[finsleft]

Fins - I have been hearing some fishy talk out of you. Mind if another Gustie crashes the party? I won't steal any koolaid

I thought you had to drink of the unholy Koolaid to get into the RV???

Kilted:
You have that backwards. You must get into the RV to drink of the Kool-aid!


If you'd ever show up, you'd know.

[finsleft]

Speaking of backwards, how about a Dyslexic Monkey Stomp?

Win by 12.