FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

And I'll admit, I've been confused about a lot of stuff around here lately.  The negativity regarding the 7-1 Vikings and, to a lesser extent, the AL Central Division-champion Twins/Joe Nathan.  The insistence that everything's fine in Collegeville because the Johnnies have luckboxed their way to an 8-0 record.  DoucheHawk's inferiority complex and insistence that Central's the greatest D3 team ever assembled and that we can essentially cancel the playoffs this year and crown their asses.  TDT's need to speak on my behalf, as if I'm somehow unable to alienate and anger people on my own.  W. Clark insulting me by comparing me to a person I've never heard of and have no desire to Wiki.  The fact that I find myself agreeing with Pat Coleman and WithasilentK on certain things.  The sad disappearances of finsleft (hunting trip?  Sal's get Hamm's on tap?  finally said f' it and moved to the tropics?), Ritz (waging a vigilent, personal, yet silent protest of the new tailgating rules at St. John's?), and Veek (craft fair?  kids birthday parties?  wedding shower season?  Lamaze class?) from these fair pages.

All of these things have managed to confuse--and yes, anger--me, and I'm not afraid to admit that.

Regarding Bethel v. St. Thomas, I really, really, really hope they both lose.  However, even someone with my rudimentary knowledge of the rules of competitive football knows that this isn't likely.  Surprising no one, I think St. Thomas wins by 10-14 points--and I wouldn't be shocked if they get a rematch in Collegeville on Nov. 28.

I guess when you get to create from whole cloth the arguments you wish to paint as crazy, then you can do a pretty good job painting them just so.  For the most obvious knot your urge to be contrarian has tied: It is unreasonable to complain about the Viking's game at 7-1 yet it is also unreasonable to be a one-eyed supporter of the Johnnies at 8-0.  It seems that in order for a person to be deemed reasonable in your view, it is not necessary for them to maintain consistency in their arguments - just consistency with yours.

You are most certainly right about one thing though: If anything should cause a person to pause and consider they positions they are taking it's the "Do I agree with WithASilentK?" test.

[tmerton]

The insistence that everything's fine in Collegeville because the Johnnies have luckboxed their way to an 8-0 record. 

There's a lot of nonsense being thrown around out here, TC.  Maybe if you saw a few more games instead of reading box scores and newspaper write-ups you'd have a better feel for this year's Johnnies.  As they say, luck follows skill and preparation, especially when it happens this consistently.  And FWIW the only luck in the game against TDT's new favorite team was bad luck - yet the Jays had the game in hand before having to find a way to win in OT.  If you couldn't see that the the Jays were going to put the ball in the end zone, come what may, when they came out for OT, then you definitely were spending too much time watching baseball. 

As for TDT's prediction that his new hard-on would win 7 or 8 out of 10 over the Jays, I'd recommend he just sit on his hands in the stands during the post-game celebration if we have to do it again.

[TC]

C'mon guys, the Johnnies have now started 8-0 or better in 5 of the last 7 seasons, and they have looked better in every single other one than they have this year.  That doesn't mean I'm not happy about it, or that I don't hope they keep winning.  I just think the team has some pretty glaring weaknesses. 

The Vikings starting 7-1 and becoming THE storyline and epicenter of the professional football world doesn't happen every year.  Or even every decade.  It's now happened twice in my lifetime.  Personally, I think the Vikings this season have been far more impressive than the Johnnies. 

[DuffMan]

(You probably don't remember the Muppets either.)

Muppets?  Mrs. Duff and my Halloween costumes this year!!!

[sjusection105]

You forgot to mention that the Gophers haven't made a meaningful bowl game in nearly 50 years

How dare you besmirch the Sun Bowl's good name?

I'll give you the Sun Bowl as one that the casual fan would recognize in a police line up of 3rd or 4th rung bowl games but, what about the Insight Bowl or the Music City Bowl or the Liberty Bowl these are what 5 star recruits dream of at night 

[VOJ]

I know we've still got several days leading up to the game...but I'm interested in previews on the BU - UST game from anyone who has seen both teams.  I haven't been to any UST games yet, so other than reading about them on here, I don't know that much about them.

I would say the BU defense is better than UST.

BU would be better off if Aakre can play. BU would also be better off Morse was playing QB for UST.

The RB game goes to Flannery.

The return game goes to UST.

I think Dakota Tracy adds a new element to the running game that wasn't as prevalent before. Tobin is starting to shoulder more of the load as well...and is a more effective runner between the the tackles than Wartman. Conservative estimate:

UST 72 Bethel 3

That sounds about right but...

Until Tracy shows he can pass better than Morse (which was bad), UST still has a lot of work to do against Bethel's D.  Bethel's corners love to sell out for the pick (how many times can you get pre-season All-American but not actual All-American before people realize you aren't that good?) and this normally hurts them, but with an inexperienced QB in there, with a not-so-great arm, they could grab a couple big interceptions.

I think Cornish is an outstanding corner...he also plays well on special teams as he blocked a FG against SJU.  He has 6 picks on the season, so teams have tested him and he has made plays...and had a pick-6 against Gustavus.  Here is the thing if he can hold Waldvogel in check like the Johnnies did, the Tommies will get beat, Wartman is a back who can be contained and neither Tracy or Morse are great at throwing the football...

The Bethel defense will be the most athletic the Tommies have faced, their blitz packages could cause some major problems as the Johnnie D line was in the backfield alot against UST

So the recipe is 8 in the box and man to man with a safety over the top of Waldvogel and jam him with a LB every down...

The Tommies D will have issues with Flannery who is the best back in the MIAC, slippery, shifty and always seems to get the extra yard...

Also which coach makes a mistake...something that seems like the right decision at the time but then goes awry in hindsight...

[DutchFan2004]

You forgot to mention that the Gophers haven't made a meaningful bowl game in nearly 50 years

How dare you besmirch the Sun Bowl's good name?

I'll give you the Sun Bowl as one that the casual fan would recognize in a police line up of 3rd or 4th rung bowl games but, what about the Insight Bowl or the Music City Bowl or the Liberty Bowl these are what 5 star recruits dream of at night 

I am not sure you need 5 star recruits to win games in the Big Ten or D1.  Iowa has done pretty well without any the last few years.  Even won bowl games for the big ten when other big ten teams lose with 5 star recruits.   

[VOJ]

C'mon guys, the Johnnies have now started 8-0 or better in 5 of the last 7 seasons, and they have looked better in every single other one than they have this year.  That doesn't mean I'm not happy about it, or that I don't hope they keep winning.  I just think the team has some pretty glaring weaknesses. 

The Vikings starting 7-1 and becoming THE storyline and epicenter of the professional football world doesn't happen every year.  Or even every decade.  It's now happened twice in my lifetime.  Personally, I think the Vikings this season have been far more impressive than the Johnnies. 

Let's look at the Vikings season and the 7-1 start...they were lucky to beat SF on a once in a lifetime catch by a 4th string WR...when truth be told if Delta O'Neal holds onto a ball that hits him in the hands late in the 4th quarter, he walks into the end zone with the clinching TD...by the way, Brett throwing a pick to loose the game is 2X more likely than the TD pass to win it...

Huashka misses a gimme FG, I mean pro kickers should not miss 40 yard FG and that one because he felt the need to pull it a little never had a chance

In the first game against GB at the dome, Rodgers throws a terrible interception deep in MN territory, blowing 3 points maybe 7...Donald Lee drops a TD pass that would have made it 28-21 and who knows how the rest of the game would have played out

So instead of 7-1, maybe 5-3 or eegads 4-4 and everyone calling the Favre experiment a failure and Childress on a hot seat...

But I have always liked what Bill Parcells has always said, you are what your record says you are...the Vikes are 7-1 and should walk away with the NFC North title and a top 2 seed in the playoffs in the NFC and talk of a Super Bowl appearance is not far-fetched

The Johnnies are 8-0 and ranked 4th inthe country and should based on strength of schedule be at the top of the West Region rankings this week.  Could they be 5-3 and looking at building something for next year?  Sure but the fact is they are getting a couple of QB's ready for Augsburg and trying to get Boyle healthy for a run in the playoffs.

TC...I think you and Tmert need to be in the ring together, and we can make this a tag team affair by putting you with TDT and Tmert with Veek...I will officiate and we can do this in the wrestling room at SJU, should not be a problem securing the room BEFORE the Carleton game

[VOJ]

You forgot to mention that the Gophers haven't made a meaningful bowl game in nearly 50 years

How dare you besmirch the Sun Bowl's good name?

I'll give you the Sun Bowl as one that the casual fan would recognize in a police line up of 3rd or 4th rung bowl games but, what about the Insight Bowl or the Music City Bowl or the Liberty Bowl these are what 5 star recruits dream of at night 

I am not sure you need 5 star recruits to win games in the Big Ten or D1.  Iowa has done pretty well without any the last few years.  Even won bowl games for the big ten when other big ten teams lose with 5 star recruits.   

Yea and it really helps when you get an idiot in the replay booth who does not understand what a completed TD pass looks like   

[WashedUp]

I think Cornish is an outstanding corner...he also plays well on special teams as he blocked a FG against SJU.  He has 6 picks on the season, so teams have tested him and he has made plays...and had a pick-6 against Gustavus.  Here is the thing if he can hold Waldvogel in check like the Johnnies did, the Tommies will get beat, Wartman is a back who can be contained and neither Tracy or Morse are great at throwing the football...

I'm not saying that Cornish isn't a good corner.  I haven't seen him play this season and have never really watched him closely before, but stats at corner can be very misleading.  Just because someone has 6 picks doesn't mean they're a stud.  For a great example of this, look to the NFL, where Nnamdi Asomugha has only 2 picks in the last 3 seasons. 

[Willy Wonka]

TC...I think you and Tmert need to be in the ring together, and we can make this a tag team affair by putting you with TDT and Tmert with Veek...I will officiate and we can do this in the wrestling room at SJU, should not be a problem securing the room BEFORE the Carleton game

Care to band together for the greater good here, TC? You can be Hogan and I'll be the Ultimate Warrior if it means taking shots at VOJ and tmerts. I bet TDT would even agree to be our Mouth of the South and pass us foreign objects...

[VOJ]

You forgot to mention that the Gophers haven't made a meaningful bowl game in nearly 50 years

How dare you besmirch the Sun Bowl's good name?

I'll give you the Sun Bowl as one that the casual fan would recognize in a police line up of 3rd or 4th rung bowl games but, what about the Insight Bowl or the Music City Bowl or the Liberty Bowl these are what 5 star recruits dream of at night 

Gopher football:  mediocre coaches, coaching mediocre players, doing mediocre things very well

40+ years of irrelevant football, celebration planned for Dinkytown after Illinois game

Last Big 10 Title:  1967, shared with Indiana and Purdue (I was not a gleam in Dad's eye yet)

Last outright title:  1941 (Dad not even alive yet)

[VOJ]

TC...I think you and Tmert need to be in the ring together, and we can make this a tag team affair by putting you with TDT and Tmert with Veek...I will officiate and we can do this in the wrestling room at SJU, should not be a problem securing the room BEFORE the Carleton game

Care to band together for the greater good here, TC? You can be Hogan and I'll be the Ultimate Warrior if it means taking shots at VOJ and tmerts. I bet TDT would even agree to be our Mouth of the South and pass us foreign objects...

Yea...I have always thought of you, TC and TDT as the moral compass of this board...

The greater good...funny, I was actually just going to referee but perhaps with you involved we can make this happen

[WithasilentK]

I think Cornish is an outstanding corner...he also plays well on special teams as he blocked a FG against SJU.  He has 6 picks on the season, so teams have tested him and he has made plays...and had a pick-6 against Gustavus.  Here is the thing if he can hold Waldvogel in check like the Johnnies did, the Tommies will get beat, Wartman is a back who can be contained and neither Tracy or Morse are great at throwing the football...

I'm not saying that Cornish isn't a good corner.  I haven't seen him play this season and have never really watched him closely before, but stats at corner can be very misleading.  Just because someone has 6 picks doesn't mean they're a stud.  For a great example of this, look to the NFL, where Nnamdi Asomugha has only 2 picks in the last 3 seasons.  

I'm saying he has six picks this year because he's always jumping for the pick.  That's not good defense, that's being selfish and putting your team in a bad spot a lot of the time.  If you need examples, look at the catch by a Carleton receiver that setup the game winning score last year.  QB pumps a 5-yard hitch, Cornish jumps hard, allows a catch down the sideline to setup a TD run the next play.  He's a good corner, but far from a great one.

Also, as to putting 8 in the box and putting a linebacker to jam with man to man and a safety:  My math may be wrong (it's not), but that's not possible for a slot receiver, and if Fritz is playing outside, you're not jamming him with a LB.  A smart receiver, especially one that has any quickness, will make a LB look silly trying to jam him if the LB isn't completely committed to jamming him, which they usually aren't; they're usually looking to get to their pass drops or read the run.

If you meant man to man on the outside with a LB and safety on Fritz, say hello to flood pass 90% of the time, the safety can't make that play unless he's leaving his corners on an absolute island.

[Touchdown Tommy]

Holy ish.  So much to get to so little time.  

One thing is certain:  The old geezers don't stand a chance (Little Wiener Doggie, W. Clark, and VOJ)...