FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Ryan Coleman]

Well, obviously, there was no need to bring the trophy to UST, Ryan.

That's not the point. If you lose, you have to give up the trophy. If it is, indeed, a "traveling" trophy.

In all the other trophy games, the "prize" itself goes to the location of the particular game.

[Willy Wonka]

I'm not sure that I agree with the general board consensus that there is more pressure on UST.

To me, this is a do-or-die game for SJU's playoff hopes whereas the Tommies would seem to have a greater margin for error (ie one loss could still get them a postseason bid, if they don't get the AQ). Plus, the Johnnies will have literally thousands of classmates/parents/former players that could leave disappointed; no one wants to say they lost on Homecoming, much less to their archrival before the biggest crowd in D3 history in a game that could (emphasis on could) eventually be pointed to as the day the MIAC football hierarchy permanently shifted toward purple.

With the Vikes on a bye and the Gophers being terrible, there's a very good chance that this game could make the front page of both metro papers' Sunday edition. For as much ink as Mean Gene has been getting the Tommies over the last few years, you can bet he's drooling about the possibility of a huge spread after a UST win — and I promise it will be over-the-top if that happens. It's just the perfect storm of opportunity to overcover small college sports, which don't typically get significant coverage in those papers.

It might seem counterintuitive, but I'd argue that the Johnnies have more to lose with a loss than the Tommies have to gain with a win — even if it does finally end "the curse."

********************************

In unrelated news...has Mr. Prez made any "scouting" visits to UWW lately? This might explain why he's been so quiet...

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/104050369.html

[tommiegun]

I don't see the need for there to be a traveling trophy, and I certainly don't want to subjugate incoming freshmen to smushing with Snooki.  

Probably the best rivalry in all of big school college football is Ohio St. v. Michigan and they don't play for anything but seething hatred.

And, Did you know... that the Ohio St./Michigan rivalry stems (the legend has it) from the Toledo War - a short war between the State of Ohio and the territory of Michigan over Toledo?

[TC]

Well, obviously, there was no need to bring the trophy to UST, Ryan.

That's not the point. If you lose, you have to give up the trophy. If it is, indeed, a "traveling" trophy.

In all the other trophy games, the "prize" itself goes to the location of the particular game.

Oh my god, shut up already.  We know what a traveling trophy is.  You obviously missed the joke, which wasn't even funny or deserving of multiple posts in the first place.

[sfury]

I agree with a lot of that Willy. On the other hand, I think SJU's had more pressure on them in every game the teams have played in, what, the last 18 years. They've almost always had postseason hopes resting on the game or been the favorite (if those are two things that add pressure). The Tommies have most often been playing for pride in the rivalry. Yet the Johnnies have, obviously, dominated the series. Not that it means this SJU team will handle the pressure as well as the other teams have and the Tommies are better than they've been, yada, yada.

Basically, I don't think pressure will ultimately affect either team that much. Whoever wins, it will be because they're better.

Speaking of, it's been amusing to see Caurso quoted in a couple of different spots talking about how the Tommies lost last year because they played their C game, or, as he said in Minnpost, their "worst game in three years." A bad call (allegedly) and the Tommies played poorly. In Caruso's mind, he's probably 2-0 against the Johnnies.

[stanbob]

I'm not sure that I agree with the general board consensus that there is more pressure on UST.

To me, this is a do-or-die game for SJU's playoff hopes whereas the Tommies would seem to have a greater margin for error (ie one loss could still get them a postseason bid, if they don't get the AQ). Plus, the Johnnies will have literally thousands of classmates/parents/former players that could leave disappointed; no one wants to say they lost on Homecoming, much less to their archrival before the biggest crowd in D3 history in a game that could (emphasis on could) eventually be pointed to as the day the MIAC football hierarchy permanently shifted toward purple.

With the Vikes on a bye and the Gophers being terrible, there's a very good chance that this game could make the front page of both metro papers' Sunday edition. For as much ink as Mean Gene has been getting the Tommies over the last few years, you can bet he's drooling about the possibility of a huge spread after a UST win — and I promise it will be over-the-top if that happens. It's just the perfect storm of opportunity to overcover small college sports, which don't typically get significant coverage in those papers.

It might seem counterintuitive, but I'd argue that the Johnnies have more to lose with a loss than the Tommies have to gain with a win — even if it does finally end "the curse."

********************************

In unrelated news...has Mr. Prez made any "scouting" visits to UWW lately? This might explain why he's been so quiet...

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/104050369.html

Granted the Johnnies have more to lose, but pressure?  Since cst hasn't beaten the Johnnies since the Lincoln presidency  the pressure is on them.

[Pat Coleman]

In all the other trophy games, the "prize" itself goes to the location of the particular game.

Not true, either. The Cortaca Jug doesn't come to the game site. Gets exchanged later, when there are fewer drunk students around.  I might be paraphrasing on that last part.

[Redtooth]

Just curious Pat whether or not your brother, "the journalist" but "infrequent poster", will go guns blazing post game tomorrow?  If recent memory serves me correctly, Ryan goes a little goofy with the outcome of the SJU/UST games.....whether it was the frame by frame breakdown two years ago or last year's near hysterical post on the Star Trib website.

Should be fun either way

Go Johnnies!!!

[Pat Coleman]

Just curious Pat whether or not your brother, "the journalist" but "infrequent poster", will go guns blazing post game tomorrow?  If recent memory serves me correctly, Ryan goes a little goofy with the outcome of the SJU/UST games.....whether it was the frame by frame breakdown two years ago or last year's near hysterical post on the Star Trib website.

Should be fun either way

Go Johnnies!!!

He's my brother, not my employee. I have little control in what he does, sadly.

And I had only recently reinstated his posting privileges, too.

[D O.C.]

And I had only recently reinstated his posting privileges, too.

Then he must be alright, eh TDT?

Get down in the mini-poll at the top of the NWC page if you'd like.

[Retired Old Rat]

Great post on JohnnieFootball.com:

Code Name: Operation Overrated

[badger45]

I'm new to the MIAC to some extent.  I've been in WIAC country forever so this is new except for teams that occasionally played some of the WIAC's.  So just curious...what are peoples thoughts on the mac (3-1) vs hamline (0-3) game.  I know coaches on both staffs so i was just curious if people had some input.

[bluenote]

Is SJU going to be going with a new offense this week against STU? That's what I read on a blog site on the internets. They said it was going to be patterned off the 1987 team from back in the day.

[Willy Wonka]

I'm new to the MIAC to some extent.  I've been in WIAC country forever so this is new except for teams that occasionally played some of the WIAC's.  So just curious...what are peoples thoughts on the mac (3-1) vs hamline (0-3) game.  I know coaches on both staffs so i was just curious if people had some input.

Call me crazy, but it's a bad week to be asking for that sort of analysis...

[hazzben]

Speculate, prognosticate, evaluate...doesn't really matter '03 was supposed to be a blow out but our 3 -7 Roney led squad played SJU tougher than anyone that year and that was supposed to be a blood bath. So, regardless of who wins, I imagine it will be very close.

Actually, I'd say Bethel played SJU pretty tough in 2003...
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And as much as I'd love to see what happened if Caruso went to the U...ain't gonna happen, ever. Very comical that people at UST are actually delusional enough to think it's a possibility though. Only way a coach makes that jump is with a couple of national titles under his belt. And then it's still not likely given the general lack of respect for DIII in the FBS ranks.