FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[faunch]

From Frank's column in the SC Times: (this is why a player goes to SJU).

Chase Myhran
The 6-2, 160-pound Myhran was a two-year starter at Orono and was named the co-outstanding receiver in the Wright County Conference (along with Annandale's James Fort) last fall. He played wide receiver as a junior and switched to the slot position his senior year.
He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and was the sixth man on Orono's Class 3A state championship basketball team. He may also run track for the Johnnies.
"It really came down to a choice between St. John's and St. Thomas for me," Myhran said. "The big difference at St. John's was that it really felt like a college to me. I wanted to play at Clemens Stadium and be a part of the rich tradition they have there."

Kevin Greening
The 6-3, 245-pound Greening started at a variety of positions for three years at Benilde-St. Margaret's. He played outside linebacker and center as a senior. He also looked at St. Thomas and walking on at Iowa State.
"St. John's just had something about it," Greening said. "The coaching staff, the sense of community. Academics. Everything that surrounds it. It just had what I was looking for. The other schools didn't seem to have the whole package when it came to what I was looking for."

[repete]

My favorite line from the Meidt story:

Meidt moves and talks like he was born in a Wal-Mart store.

Which brings us to this ...

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

[OzJohnnie]

The Hawks play again this weekend (surprised?) after a powerful showing against perennial cellar dweller Richmond (115 - 52, a score that makes the game look closer than it was).  You may remember that the Hawks came good against Melbourne, another cellar dweller, after a pitiful first half that mirrored their opening round second half in a disgraceful loss to Adelaide.  This week they play in Tasmania - a home away from home type game - against a mild up-and-comer in the standings, the West Coast Eagles from Perth.

So, I remain wary that Hawthorn have addressed the skills and decision making issues that have plagued their two seasons following the championship of '08.  It's easy to make decisions when a team cannot put you under pressure.  Playing West Coast in Tasmania may be a bit of test for the Hawks, but it's an awfully hard road game for the visitors.  Anything other than a smart, dominating win will throw up big red flags for this season (particularly as we lost our best tall man last weekend due to a ruptured PCL).  A smart, dominating win will only show that we might be in the game - it's not enough of a test to show we're a contender.

Our true test comes against the aging warriors of Geelong the following week.  Play those crafty hard-men well and we're in with a chance at glory this year.

[stanbob]

In honor of the season that comes before Johnnie football:
A Golfer has been slicing off the tee on every hole. He asks his Irish
caddy if he has noticed any obvious reasons
for his poor tee shots, to which the caddy replies:

"Aye,  there's a piece of dung on the end of your driver. "
The Golfer picks up his driver and cleans the club face, at which
point the caddy says:
"No, the other end.

[OzJohnnie]

I'm golfing tomorrow morning, as usual on a Saturday.  And now I know why my grips smell.

In other sporting news, number two is eight years old and has been enthusiastic about gymnastics for a couple years.  Last Saturday at training she climbed on of those ropes hanging down from the gym ceiling with just her arms, her legs held out with toes pointed in a 'V'.  Every parent knows that their kids will likely accomplish something the parent would never be able to do.  I just didn't expect it to be when one of them was eight.

[OzJohnnie]

Sigh.  The Hawks delivered the supporters worst result: a seven point win in a so-so game with moments of brilliance and moments of not so much brilliance.  We'll see how they do against the Cats this coming weekend.  In the meantime, the Hawks sit third in the standings behind Collingwood and Geelong.  They are yet to play anyone in the top half of the leader board, though.

My folks are down visiting at the moment so Dad and I will be heading to the game with a girl or two that want to see some, hopefully, grade A football.

EDIT: Uh... that last sentence reads poorly.  The girls I reference are my daughters, Dad's granddaughters, and not the "girls" that you Navy vets may have been thinking.

[tmerton]

I know it is a few months off, but it may be time to start sending out invitations to celebs for the 10th anniversary season of the Stiftungfestivities in Collegeville this fall. Any thoughts as to who we should invite?

Depending upon the date, a Duffboy or Duffgirl may be able to make an appearance!  

Congrats, Duff.  Enjoy the years before the Duffboy or Duffgirl starts talking back!

[Knightstalker]

I know it is a few months off, but it may be time to start sending out invitations to celebs for the 10th anniversary season of the Stiftungfestivities in Collegeville this fall. Any thoughts as to who we should invite?

Depending upon the date, a Duffboy or Duffgirl may be able to make an appearance!  

Congrats, Duff.  Enjoy the years before the Duffboy or Duffgirl starts talking back!

Congrats Duff, don't forget to get the little Duffer a fishing pole.  KS has two mornings of trout fishing planned this week with the Stalkerette while she is on spring break.

[USTBench]

Belated congrats Duff!

[OzJohnnie]

I'm amazed no one has done the simple Google search yet.  Third pic:

[OzJohnnie]

The accolades for this year's Johnnie wrestling program continue.  An extremely well deserved award was presented yesterday.  SJU was very fortunate to have this man wrestling for them, and I think he was equally as fortunate to find Saint John's.

Batsukh Named D3wrestle.com National Wrestler of the Year

[finsleft]

Read all about Ryan Hoag's 8 year professional football career right here.

[Robert Zimmerman]

Nice article in the Times today about the depth at wide receiver for SJU

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110423/SPORTS04/104230002/SJU-football-Duo-will-lead-SJU-receiving-corps?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Umbrella

[SagatagSam]

The SJU athletic department has made its long-term facilities plan public. I see it as the Johnnies counter to what has been going up on the corner of Cretin and Summit.

Here are the highlights:
- Installing turf, a seasonal dome, terraced seating and other needed utilities and locker room space on what is now a field used for intramurals across the road from Warner Palaestra.
- Placing a natural grass soccer field with dugouts and bleachers to be used for home games by the school's soccer team beside the dome and running parallel to it, as well as creating other fields nearby to be used by intramural and club teams.
- Building seven USTA-approved tennis courts with fences, bleachers and a storage building on the area that would lie between the proposed soccer field and the existing baseball park.
- Installing artificial turf, new dugouts, a grandstand with bleachers, restrooms and a concession area, as well as possibly lights, at the school's current baseball park.

There are several more projects that include parking lot expansion and field resurfacing.
The full story is here:
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110424/SPORTS04/104240037/Eyes-future-facilities-St-John-s?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Umbrella|p

[tmerton]

Happy Easter everyone!