FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

Not to necessarily condone usTDT, but what is the definition of meaningful? It varies according to different people. For usTDT meaningful must mean a game that has playoffs implications. For others, meaningful might be seeing their son play on Saturday. For others, the meaning may come from being with others and tailgating. Perhaps meaningful as a distraction from the problems of life for 3 or so hours on a Saturday. We all have different definitions, but as an SJU Alumnus, we all hope for SJU to win on any given week for a variety of reasons.

Well, just for the sake of argumentation I'll say that if something has meaning for just one person, regardless of the reason, that thing is by definition meaningful.  Stepping back from the rhetorical edge of argument, I'll further say that football games, particularly those in question on this thread, are by any reasonable standard justifiably meaningful.  Clark's article makes that more than apparent.

To say the opposite is an unreasonable position.  And to argue that anything less than a deep run in the playoffs equates to meaningless games is weak.  Think back to all the years of Tommie suckitude and fan apathy.  Did we here ever argue that those Tommie games were meaningless?  No.  In fact we argued the opposite and said that Tommie fair weather fans (hello, readers!) failed to properly appreciate the meaningfulness of their team.  They behaved as if the Tommie season was only one game long.  It's the reason that Tommies suck (other than the Papal declaration of Urban II, of course).  The fact that the Tommies finally have some good results to enjoy doesn't mean that their games finally have meaning, it just means that their fans finally act as if they believe it.

[AlmostEx]

Well reasoned Mr. S.  Cheers.

[Retired Old Rat]

I'd be most appreciative if someone would text me updates tomorrow.  Please pm me if you need my #

Go Johnnies!

[DoubleO]

Not to necessarily condone usTDT, but what is the definition of meaningful? It varies according to different people. For usTDT meaningful must mean a game that has playoffs implications. For others, meaningful might be seeing their son play on Saturday. For others, the meaning may come from being with others and tailgating. Perhaps meaningful as a distraction from the problems of life for 3 or so hours on a Saturday. We all have different definitions, but as an SJU Alumnus, we all hope for SJU to win on any given week for a variety of reasons.

Well, just for the sake of argumentation I'll say that if something has meaning for just one person, regardless of the reason, that thing is by definition meaningful.  Stepping back from the rhetorical edge of argument, I'll further say that football games, particularly those in question on this thread, are by any reasonable standard justifiably meaningful.  Clark's article makes that more than apparent.

To say the opposite is an unreasonable position.  And to argue that anything less than a deep run in the playoffs equates to meaningless games is weak.  Think back to all the years of Tommie suckitude and fan apathy.  Did we here ever argue that those Tommie games were meaningless?  No.  In fact we argued the opposite and said that Tommie fair weather fans (hello, readers!) failed to properly appreciate the meaningfulness of their team.  They behaved as if the Tommie season was only one game long.  It's the reason that Tommies suck (other than the Papal declaration of Urban II, of course).  The fact that the Tommies finally have some good results to enjoy doesn't mean that their games finally have meaning, it just means that their fans finally act as if they believe it.

Well stated Oz. Unfortunately for you, the forecast is calling for fair weather for years to come in St. Paul and the number of Tommie fans is just going to continue to multiply!

[Retired Old Rat]

If anyone watches Penn State / Northwestern today I will be the 1 person in red.  I might be on the sideline in the 4th quarter.

[57Johnnie]

Bring on the Florwegians 

GO JOHNNIES

[DustySJU]

Have fun & travel safe ROR

Prayers, wishes and shouts to our crack game day reporter sjusection 105.  Dana has been conspicuously absent the last few days while he rehabs in a local hospital suffering from backpain.

Please send well wishes to Dana as he makes a speedy recovery and is able to attend next weekend's finale in Collegeville.

God Bless Dana and a healthy speedy recovery.

DSJU

[57Johnnie]

Have fun & travel safe ROR

Prayers, wishes and shouts to our crack game day reporter sjusection 105.  Dana has been conspiculously absent the last few days while he rehabs in a local hospital suffering from backpain.

Please send well wished to Dana as he makes a speedy recovery and is able to attend next weekend's finale in Collegeville.

God Bless you Dan and a healthy recovery.

DSJU

Hang in there Dana - been there & know that rehab works.

[OzJohnnie]

Great game, Johnnies.  And a hat tip to the Oles as well - they almost topped their record for personal fouls in one game.   Particularly impressive were the two successive roughing the kicker penalties that kept Johnnie scoring drives alive.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

OK, NOW I can finally say it, but held my tongue till it was outright, not big on ties-- Congrats Tommies....an excellent regular season is complete. First outright title in 24 years and well-earned!

Now, enjoy the bye week, heal the aches & pains and be ready to march on to Salem! Part 1 of the process is done..savor it for a day or two then begin prepping for the playoff drive!

[hazzben]

Wondering out loud. Does the 38 - 7 score against Carleton as the regular season finale keep UST from a #1 seed?

Personally I think they deserve it. But I'm biased and haven't seen North Central play. Just wondering if that and the upcoming bye, as opposed to a strong statement score, might be just enough to tip the scales away from UST. Time will tell.

All in all, the Toms have had a great regular season, interesting to see how they finish up in the playoffs.

Along the same line of reasoning, I think Bethel needs to make sure they do more than simply win next Saturday. Against a mediocre to below average Augsburg squad, they can't afford to leave the game close. If they can finish the season with two blowouts, it should help to ensure they don't get left out in the cold come Pool C time. But then again, we also just need to make sure we win as well. I'm sure Augsburg would absolutely love to play spoiler. I'm thinking if we get up early, the Auggies start to unravel...

[badger45]

Wondering out loud. Does the 38 - 7 score against Carleton as the regular season finale keep UST from a #1 seed?

Personally I think they deserve it. But I'm biased and haven't seen North Central play. Just wondering if that and the upcoming bye, as opposed to a strong statement score, might be just enough to tip the scales away from UST. Time will tell.

All in all, the Toms have had a great regular season, interesting to see how they finish up in the playoffs.

Along the same line of reasoning, I think Bethel needs to make sure they do more than simply win next Saturday. Against a mediocre to below average Augsburg squad, they can't afford to leave the game close. If they can finish the season with two blowouts, it should help to ensure they don't get left out in the cold come Pool C time. But then again, we also just need to make sure we win as well. I'm sure Augsburg would absolutely love to play spoiler. I'm thinking if we get up early, the Auggies start to unravel...

They'll only get the number one seed if they aren't in the same region as UWW is my guess.  I really can't see a committee putting the number one team in the nation and reigning national champs as a 2 seed without having lost a game.  Heck they didn't even really have a close game. 

As far as Bethel in my opinion i see them making it either way since the wiac will probably get only one team in since Stevens Point has 3 loses and basically has a lock on second in that conference.  That and having seen bethel play they are very good team.  Their defense is very impressive.

[DuffMan]

Wondering out loud. Does the 38 - 7 score against Carleton as the regular season finale keep UST from a #1 seed?

Personally I think they deserve it. But I'm biased and haven't seen North Central play. Just wondering if that and the upcoming bye, as opposed to a strong statement score, might be just enough to tip the scales away from UST. Time will tell.

All in all, the Toms have had a great regular season, interesting to see how they finish up in the playoffs.

Along the same line of reasoning, I think Bethel needs to make sure they do more than simply win next Saturday. Against a mediocre to below average Augsburg squad, they can't afford to leave the game close. If they can finish the season with two blowouts, it should help to ensure they don't get left out in the cold come Pool C time. But then again, we also just need to make sure we win as well. I'm sure Augsburg would absolutely love to play spoiler. I'm thinking if we get up early, the Auggies start to unravel...

They'll only get the number one seed if they aren't in the same region as UWW is my guess. 

100% agreement here.  If they leave the Warhawks in the West, they get the #1 seed regardless of the regional rankings.

[hazzben]

Agreed. If UWW stays West, UST is #2.

My thought was really about the comparison of UST with North Central. They seem to be the two teams that the committee will have to choose between for that last #1. If they think UST is worthy, they can easily send UWW and Mount north and east respectively. But if North Central seems more deserving, only UMU moves.

With a big win over Wheaton and finishing up with a weaker opponent next week, NC will definitely be ending on a high note (assuming they don't play/start apathetically like UST did on Saturday). That is where I wonder if the lack of a blowout against Carleton (blowout in the sense of how you might expect a potential #1 seed to fair against a struggling team) and the bye might be just enough to swing things in North Central's favor.

Bottom line: I don't think the committee could really go wrong with either team as a #1. Now, if they gave Del Valley a 1, and kept Mount and UWW in their 'normal' brackets, it would be a whole nother matter. Both of those regions would be ridiculously difficult...but then again, both the favorites would have to navigate similar degrees of difficulty to reach Salem. Which isn't the case if Mount goes East. 

[bulk19]

D3 - SJU - gets an appreciated notice in an USA Today/AP story on Joe Paterno's 400th W...

"Only two other coaches have more wins. Eddie Robinson had 408 with FCS school Grambling State, while John Gagliardi had 476 entering the weekend with Division III St. John's, Minn."

http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=journal&sParam=34983841.story