FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Congratulations Johnnies on coming in fourth at the Division II Midwest Collegiate Rugby Championships.

[Willy Wonka]

This is why everyone is annoyed by Johnnie fans.  Because if you say they're not the greatest team around, especially if you're a Johnnie fan, you get roasted and told you're not a true fan/idiot.  But I wonder why this is, because last year I remember some SJU fans not confident about the SJU-Carleton game and they gave Carleton their due.  Is it only because this is UST and you would hate so much for them to win?

How is UST's switch to dominance already viewed as a failure?  They have gotten much better these last two years and now have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs.  I'd say they're right on track.

There's the way you wish it was, and the way it is. This is the way it is. Perhaps someday there will be a substantiated power shift, Concordia gave it a shot, as did Bethel. Looks like it's UST's turn to make Gags rub the back of his neck. But until a school makes 3 or 4 year run at the top of the MIAC, SJU rubes will continue to dominate on the boards.

But not everyone sees things through rose colored glasses. There's the SJU rubes who cannot see anything objectively and are just so blinded by their love of SJU and their hatred of yours truly that there's a failure to have any sort of meaningful discussion, and there's the SJU fans who want to legitimately talk about the upcoming game, and are relatively knowledgeable. You take the good with the bad.

Golly gee Bench, get going!!!  When you make the playoffs once every 20 years it allows you to talk all the $hit that you want.  The ability for others to post has always been here and when said teams couldn't back up the crap spewed. you all disappeared.  WW, as much as I hate to say it has been the only one with the balls to stick around.  If you despise this link and posters so bad why don't you go over to the one that Northern Winter Hawk allegedly didn't start?

Did you just compliment my balls? I'm really not sure what to say to that...

[sjusection105]

As mentioned earlier today by TC the St. Johns/"West" bracket is the most evenly matched in the tournament.

I would say that each home team would be a slight favorite for every game, but I do not see any Monkey Stomps coming.

Each week will be a bigger challenge for the remaining teams. Don't rule out any road team. I remember 1999 and 2000 where road teams (7 seeds) in the West went all the way to the Stagg Bowl.

Have fun, play well and stay healthy!

[auggiedoggie57]

Hello MIAC PP!
Former Auggie player here, long time board watcher, and now that my playing days are done, I figured its time to start sharing some insight.
Just for the record, I truly enjoyed reading this board for the past 4 years. Its been pretty interesting.

Now, I realize this will go against the popular opinion of this board, but I really think UST is a more talented, explosive football team. Their offense is good, really good. Their defense? Maybe slightly overrated, but still pretty solid.

Does that mean that UST would beat the Johnnies? Im not sure, but if they meet up in the playoffs, I will certainly try to attend. It would be a pretty good first game to attend as a MIAC alum.

Good luck to both of the MIAC teams!

[USTBench]

Hello MIAC PP!
Former Auggie player here, long time board watcher, and now that my playing days are done, I figured its time to start sharing some insight.
Just for the record, I truly enjoyed reading this board for the past 4 years. Its been pretty interesting.

Now, I realize this will go against the popular opinion of this board, but I really think UST is a more talented, explosive football team. Their offense is good, really good. Their defense? Maybe slightly overrated, but still pretty solid.

Does that mean that UST would beat the Johnnies? Im not sure, but if they meet up in the playoffs, I will certainly try to attend. It would be a pretty good first game to attend as a MIAC alum.

Good luck to both of the MIAC teams!

Good assessment...shared by a few SJU fans too. Mental hurdles are a beast. SJU's defense is as stout as it gets though...I was really suprised the way their defensive front was able to  get lower then our offensive line, which has been stellar the last two regular seasons. Hopefully they both can take care of Coe and Monmouth so I can hit up Stiftungfest one more time this year.

[Pat Coleman]

Why is it that Pat always thinks SJU is ripe for the upset? I hope SJU D listens to the podcast-they get no respect. And Pat said he was going to the SJU game-so TDT can chat with him, if he decides to drop by the tailgate.

I did pick against St. John's once in the Triple Take, the Bethel game. (Clearly I was way off base.)

Keith picked against St. John's three times in the Triple Take: St. Olaf, Concordia-Moorhead and UW-Eau Claire.

Why is it that St. John's posters always think I hate St. John's?

[tmerton]

W. Clark: That was a below the belt shot.  We'll discuss on Saturday morning...

As long as you're wearing your, uh, coat - so I can recognize you.  I think your Twins jacket might not be enough this week.

[tmerton]

TC: Can we get your prognostication for SJU and UST potential in the playoffs and where you see them finishing?  Clark has called me 3 times already this Monday morning so he is chomping at the bit to get your analysis.

I would not be surprised by St. John's, Linfield, Mary Hardin-Baylor, or St. Thomas winning this region.  As I've said before, I think UMHB is the best team in the bracket, but they're going to rack up a ton frequent flier miles and they won't have an easy game all tournament.  I think St. Thomas might have the highest ceiling or any team in the region.  St. John's is going to need Boyle to come back better than he ever has been, because right now the offense isn't good enough to beat good playoff teams.  Still, they are the #1 seed for a reason.  Linfield seems to be decent at football this year.

Central got a brutal draw.  In order to win the region, they'll need to beat UMHB, beat Linfield on the road, then beat St. John's on the road (or beat a team that beat St. John's).  There are two teams in the country that could run that gauntlet and Central isn't one of them.  Monmouth is an MWC team--they need to worry about winning a playoff game before they start having delusions of knocking off Top 10 teams every weekend for a month.  Cal Lutheran should enjoy their extra week of practice and their vacation to the Pacific Northwest.  Coe is absolutely a threat to beat St. John's on Saturday (unlike, say, Lakeland would have been), but when you're in a bracket with the nation's #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, and #10 teams and you're not one them, well...  life sucks sometimes.

So there, that should piss pretty much everyone off.  How does everyone else think the bracket looks?

And regarding how St. John's and St. Thomas, specifically, will do...  I feel very strongly that one team will lose in the second round and the other will lose in the third round.

That pretty much covers your bases, Eeyore,

  [TDT - I apologize in advance if this requires you to use google to delve into some historical reference points.]

[tmerton]

+k, VOJ

[auggiedoggie57]

[/quote]

Good assessment...shared by a few SJU fans too. Mental hurdles are a beast. SJU's defense is as stout as it gets though...I was really suprised the way their defensive front was able to  get lower then our offensive line, which has been stellar the last two regular seasons. Hopefully they both can take care of Coe and Monmouth so I can hit up Stiftungfest one more time this year.
[/quote]

Yea, SJU is pretty incredible against the run. Obviously, we dont really focus too much on the run, but they have a great set of linebackers, and a very solid d-line. The way that the d-line plays is very difficult for an o-lineman. The way they read your initial movement can really mess with you, especially when they back 2-3 yards off the ball!

[OzJohnnie]

I know I'm a grumpy ****.  It's been a hard six weeks since I've been back and it's going to get harder.  Apologies to all for making you tolerate my beyond normal rantings.  Particularly to TC and TDT.  There is no excuse for being a rude jackass, beyond classless, so apologies without reserve.

Obviously, I think you two are wrong since I don't think that SJU fluked this 10-0 season (not saying that you used the word 'fluke', but I give the current win ration great weight), but I guess we'll find out.  This particular crew has an awful lot of heart and heart goes a long way when the pressure is really on.  I think these fellas have what it takes to be very impressive - they may even be '00 worthy when the games are all finished.  I certainly hope so.

With that said: I hope the Tommies win this weekend because if the Johnnies take care of business (which I think they will) then we can put this discussion to bed once and for ever.

[sjusection105]

The "other side" of the bracket will be interesting to watch as the 2nd round game will be very interesting. Remember fellas, every team in the West bracket is a D3Football.com Top 25 on the season ending poll. But, first to take care of these pesky KoHawks.

[VOJ]

Why is it that Pat always thinks SJU is ripe for the upset? I hope SJU D listens to the podcast-they get no respect. And Pat said he was going to the SJU game-so TDT can chat with him, if he decides to drop by the tailgate.

I did pick against St. John's once in the Triple Take, the Bethel game. (Clearly I was way off base.)

Keith picked against St. John's three times in the Triple Take: St. Olaf, Concordia-Moorhead and UW-Eau Claire.

Why is it that St. John's posters always think I hate St. John's?

Pat..as has been pointed out on the boards, ANY anti-Johnnie viewpoint will be seen as a slight...or maybe it was the purple tie you were sporting on Sunday afternoon?      Just kidding.

Keep up the good work Pat, don't let the haters get you down.

[VOJ]

Hello....Did someone call for an expert?

Yea in football, not Spotted Cow beer, which is very good, but that is not the topic at hand...and if we were talking Hamms we would have tapped Finsleft...

[VOJ]

+k, VOJ

right back at you...