FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

Frank Rajkowski lets us know the bloodbath continues.  I know it's nice to have a bye week late in the season to let guys heal up for a playoff run, but they sure could use an extra week right about now to rest a few battered bodies.

[retagent]

Time for my early season assessment of the UWW powerhouse.

Today against the University of Puget Sound(UPS) who came in 0 - 2, with their QB as leading rusher, and a very one dimensional, unimaginative offense, UWW looked very beatable. They scored with ease on their first possession, even after having a TD called back on a penalty, they weren't slowed. Again on their second possession, they scored seemingly with ease. Then it was a snooze fest for the rest of the half. UPS moved the ball fairly well considering what I stated above. UWW allowed more yardage than they should have, but stiffened when they needed to. Penalties were a problem all day. I think on one UPS drive, they had three offsides calls. They did score on four, maybe five consecutive possessions starting the second half. I left just before the end of the third quarter, because I was falling asleep.

They didn't seem to be as crisp on offense as they have been the past few years, they did score a lot of points, but look at who they were playing. They may have played down to their competition, which happens. Their defense looked to be much weaker than of late. Again, UPS had very little in the way of a passing attack, and we couldn't figure out why UWW didn't pack about 8 men up front and stuff the run.

All in all, it was hard to get a real good feel, but when I have seen them in the last three years, they seemed to be in control of both lines of scrimmage, and have shut down better teams. Now all this being said, they still won 42 - 7, with UPS scoring late against reserves, so I may be all wet. This may just have been one of those games where they didn't play as well as they are capable of playing.

An interesting tidbit that I learned from the game program: Coming into today, The WIAC was 10 - 3 this year in non conference games, with SJU 2 - 0 against the WIAC (Central had the other win) I see Oshkosh lost a NC game today, so that stat has changed.

[bleedpurple]

Time for my early season assessment of the UWW powerhouse.

Today against the University of Puget Sound(UPS) who came in 0 - 2, with their QB as leading rusher, and a very one dimensional, unimaginative offense, UWW looked very beatable. They scored with ease on their first possession, even after having a TD called back on a penalty, they weren't slowed. Again on their second possession, they scored seemingly with ease. Then it was a snooze fest for the rest of the half. UPS moved the ball fairly well considering what I stated above. UWW allowed more yardage than they should have, but stiffened when they needed to. Penalties were a problem all day. I think on one UPS drive, they had three offsides calls. They did score on four, maybe five consecutive possessions starting the second half. I left just before the end of the third quarter, because I was falling asleep.

They didn't seem to be as crisp on offense as they have been the past few years, they did score a lot of points, but look at who they were playing. They may have played down to their competition, which happens. Their defense looked to be much weaker than of late. Again, UPS had very little in the way of a passing attack, and we couldn't figure out why UWW didn't pack about 8 men up front and stuff the run.

All in all, it was hard to get a real good feel, but when I have seen them in the last three years, they seemed to be in control of both lines of scrimmage, and have shut down better teams. Now all this being said, they still won 42 - 7, with UPS scoring late against reserves, so I may be all wet. This may just have been one of those games where they didn't play as well as they are capable of playing.

An interesting tidbit that I learned from the game program: Coming into today, The WIAC was 10 - 3 this year in non conference games, with SJU 2 - 0 against the WIAC (Central had the other win) I see Oshkosh lost a NC game today, so that stat has changed.

As A UWW fan, I followed Retagent here from the WIAC board. I just wanted to add one UWW follower perspective.

Truthfully, I agree with pretty much everything Retagent said in both posts, including not being quite sure how much to make of it all. I do believe if this is the level UWW stays at, they will not win the WIAC. My guess is this was an aberration. But one aberration is all you need to be out of the playoffs or not qualifying for them at all. But feeling this way after a 42-7 victory feels odd and makes me question my expectations.

[OzJohnnie]

Interesting and hopeful report, retagent.  The J's have a chance of puting forward a strong team this year, and with games against CON, BU and UST (I'll buy into the hype for this post) the Johnnies will be quite sharpened if they make the post season.  We can hope that the Johnnies are peaking just as UWW slacks a bit.  A long way to go before finfing out.

And a don't get thinking too far ahead post, both Central and Linfield are having good years so far.  This could be quite a heavily stacked West this year.

[hazzben]

Cobbers, it was a pleasure on Saturday. I always enjoyed playing you guys and it was fun to watch a really physical football game.

Quote of the game by one of our linebackers: "That is the classiest team I've ever played against."

Hats off to the cobbers and their fans for being such a class program.

[cobbernation]

Another tough game to watch yesterday at bethel.  The defense looked confused in the first half, but did much better in the 2nd half.  However, the game was already in hand for the royals by halftime.  The cobbers offense committed only 5 turnovers on saturday, which gives them a total of 14 for the season.  Not a traditional Horan team where the cobbers usually take care of the ball and take advantage of turnovers instead of giving them away.  Thanks to bethel for getting flagged 12 times for 116 yards or else the score could have been worse.  At the end of the game Larson was replaced at qb after he fumbled at the bu 5 yd line. (Sound familiar johnnie fans?)  With a bye week for the cobbers I wouldn't be surprised if they go with a new qb the rest of the way, I would personally because the kid is a sophomore and could use the experience.  Losing the first 2 conference games will make you think a chance at the playoffs is very slim, but who knows.  Do you work to finish the season strong or prepare for next season?

[retagent]

What are the odds that we get some Tommie posters now that they have this unstoppable juggernaut?             


                                              FORM THE BANDWAGON

[Robert Zimmerman]

I can't believe no one has posted this yet, but Delmon Young probably won't hit .300 this year, but he has 9 homeruns.  Any bets whether he hits his 10th before the season ends?

[sjusection105]

Johnnies vs. GAC game story  now up at www.johnniefootball.com

[Willy Wonka]

Wonka,
Does GAC have a mathematics department? Two cases in point.
First, I arrive with my wife & we pay our admission of $5.00 each for two adult tickets, should be $10.00, right? I give the young lady (I assume GAC student) a $50.00 & she smiles and kinda looks at me like why am I still standing there with my hand out? I say " I gave you a $50.00" she replies, oh, I guess you did, I thought it was a $10.00". Okay, simple mistake. Then we move to the concession area, and the young lad helping me scribbles down my items & looks at the big board and comes up with a total of $7.00, which is actually correct, but I give him a $10.00 and two $1.00's- with a blank stare he says "it's only $7.00, so the $10.00 will cover it." I reply " I gave you the two $1.00's so that you could give me a $5.00 for change", with which I get another blank stare. The priceless part was another worker in the concession stand watching this understood what I was trying to accomplish and just rolled her eyes & shook her head as if to signal that she indeed is surrounded by idiots!

Honestly, I'm not sure what to tell you. I'm still struggling to comprehend how TDT and I sat in the GAC student section and no one said a word to him after his wild celebration when SJU recovered the muffed punt. The students didn't stand or cheer, ever, and the freshmen girls sitting behind us were talking nonstop nonsense. It was almost a more depressing situation than what took place on the field.

Can I get an amen to my preseason indictment of the GAC offense? I had a former Gustie teammate tell me it looked like a poor high school offense at halftime. I've seen Becker play much better and RB Hall sat with a bum shoulder, but the play selection left a lot to be desired. Heck, even little Gags is capable of using plays to set up other plays (the sweep and fake-sweep pass were particularly nice yesterday). Also, it seemed like every shotgun snap was at Becker's feet...which made everything more difficult than it should have been.

Kudos to the SJU defense. They completely stuffed the GAC run all day. There were plays to be made through the air, but the Gusties weren't able to take advantage.

It could be a looooooong year in Gustieville 

[Willy Wonka]

I almost forgot...our favorite former Ole ball coach could soon be a former NFL coach if the Lions can hang on today...

[OzJohnnie]

D3football.com rankings are out and the Johnnies remain at sixth.  Tommies move up to 15th.  Bethel is undervalued and are two positions and five points short of the Top 25.  Cobbers, along with the rest of the MIAC, receive no votes.

[hazzben]

b]Do you work to finish the season strong or prepare for next season?[/b]

IMHO, I was really unimpressed with the backup. The starter turned it over in some crucial spots (although the last one was after the game was well in hand) but he seemed to be a far superior athlete. There were three near sacks I can remember from saturday where he was able to muscle his way out of the tackle and scramble for some big yards.

I was also in that endzone for his last fumble. The BU defenders hit him in the backfield right when he was at the mesh point with the fullback. On the option that is a worst case scenario and I think the blame for that one falls mostly on the O-line for allowing all the penetration.

That said, Voronyak (olb) was fairly impressed by the physicality of the Cobber tackles. But that is pretty par for the course for them.

I just think there is way too much season left to pack it in and start thinking about next year, especially after the craziness of last year.

Keep in mind that BU has SJU, UST and Olaf left. SJU has BU, Olaf and UST. Cobbers still get UST and Olaf. Not to mention Augsburg could easily pull an upset or two and maybe even Carleton later in the season once some of there younger players have more experience. This season is far from over and just like the winner of SJU v BU can't afford to coast after Saturday, I don't think anyone winning out from this point is necessarily out of the hunt. But that all assumes the Cobbers can bounce back and win out.   

[OzJohnnie]

From the weekend's commentary on the in-game update board...

Wow! Stanton has his own type of hit!! He must have learned it from his dad!

Who knew?  Sr had a tough streak .  Methinks Jr is sporting the big guns now.

[OzJohnnie]

Oz, you got some air time 

Yes, and thanks for noticing.  Autographs will be available before the Tommie game for a small fee.  Condescension and self-aggrandizement will be free of charge.

Sigh... mingling with the little people.  Something that must be done, I guess.