FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hazzben]

Kurt Ramler resigns:

https://apps.carleton.edu/athletics/varsity_sports/football/?story_id=804315

Interesting.  Bummer for Carleton.  I wonder where he is going.  And if he's staying in football.

I just hope it doesn't kill our recruiting like when Brann left.

Well, you're going to sit on an interim coach for a year, so this class may be a bit sparse.  I had to read the last sentence of the article twice to make sure I understood it correctly, but I'm pretty sure Carleton plans on playing a year with a temp coach and then hire a permanent for 2013.

I wonder if that means this was a complete surprise for them?  They didn't announce the interim coach so it seems that they didn't even have a plan in place.  One would assume it's one of the assistants.  The oddity of the plan also implies that they may be re-evaluating Kurt's personal 'Coach like John' approach.  A national search means that style is still up for grabs.  Anyway, interesting.

From what I've heard, it wasn't a surprise at all. This has been in the cooker since the season's end and was being discussed within the Athletic Department during the latter parts of the season. (I first heard about it in early December) The language of 'resignation' seems to be more of a kindness to Ramler. From what I've heard, the school was the driving force behind this, not Ramler. Though Ramler was also purportedly getting frustrated by a perceived lack of institutional support. And I'm not so sure they don't already know who the Interim is, but are simply waiting to announce this.

Hopefully they can find a solid replacement. It's way better for the league to have a competitive CC.

Can I be the first to suggest that Caruso is almost certainly heading to Carleton 

Joking aside, it'll be interesting to see where Ramler ends up and if he continues coaching. Whatever the case, hopefully he lands on his feet and finds success in his next endeavor.

[WashedUp]

I don't want any part of Gruden, he comes off as completely disingenuous as an announcer and there has to be some carryover to his personality as a head coach. 

Looks like the Vikings are in contact with Raheem Morris, potentially for D-coordinator.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/06/raheem-morris-meets-with-vikings-about-high-level-job/

Yes you do want Gruden!  He is a smart, good football coach.  He would have control of the team from day 1 and wouldn't let crap slide like childress or frazier has.  Plus, he would be able to develop Ponder into a decent QB.  He was Favre's QB coach in green bay. 

No, I don't.  He's a career .540 coach who's reputation stems almost entirely from one season leading a team that he didn't help build.

Better than frazier who is a career .272 coach!

If you want to compare one season coming off of a lockout with a rookie QB to the career of another coach go ahead.  All I'm saying is that I don't have to want Gruden as a coach, mostly due to his personality, and he isn't some savior that will make Ponder into the next Brett Favre.  He's a coach that won one Super Bowl and has been rather mediocre outside of that.  In my opinion, the best way to win isn't to change coaches and systems every year, especially when you have a young QB.

[hazzben]

Pagel named Carleton Interim Head Coach.

This is the guy I'd heard they planned to name the Interim back in December. They've also lost some assistant coaches, by the looks of the website. Supposedly to jobs elsewhere. Whatever the reason, some major turnover on the staff for the Knights.

From what I hear, it sounds like Carleton thinks Pagel may have the chops to be the longterm solution and want to give him a shot before they commit.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

An interesting article in light of NDSU's upcoming championship game, reflecting on Concordia's national championship game vs. Sam Houston State in 1964.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/346264/

nice write up....too bad Reusse was so clueless in his column on NDSU this morning.  Interesting connection between Sam Houston & Moorhead-Fargo. That said, GO BISON

[SagatagSam]

Can I be the first to suggest that Caruso is almost certainly heading to Carleton 

I could take that.
I'm not sure which I would enjoy more, watching Caruso making Carleton relevant again, or watching the administration pull the rug out from under him once he started winning.

[faunch]

Can I be the first to suggest that Caruso is almost certainly heading to Carleton 

I could take that.
I'm not sure which I would enjoy more, watching Caruso making Carleton relevant again, or watching the administration pull the rug out from under him once he started winning.

Without the facilities and an administration committed to winning it would be interesting to see how successful Caruso would be at Carleton.  My guess is that he would achieve a level of success comparable to Coach Ramler.

[Knightstalker]

I don't want any part of Gruden, he comes off as completely disingenuous as an announcer and there has to be some carryover to his personality as a head coach. 

Looks like the Vikings are in contact with Raheem Morris, potentially for D-coordinator.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/06/raheem-morris-meets-with-vikings-about-high-level-job/

Yes you do want Gruden!  He is a smart, good football coach.  He would have control of the team from day 1 and wouldn't let crap slide like childress or frazier has.  Plus, he would be able to develop Ponder into a decent QB.  He was Favre's QB coach in green bay. 

No, I don't.  He's a career .540 coach who's reputation stems almost entirely from one season leading a team that he didn't help build.

Better than frazier who is a career .272 coach!

If you want to compare one season coming off of a lockout with a rookie QB to the career of another coach go ahead.  All I'm saying is that I don't have to want Gruden as a coach, mostly due to his personality, and he isn't some savior that will make Ponder into the next Brett Favre.  He's a coach that won one Super Bowl and has been rather mediocre outside of that.  In my opinion, the best way to win isn't to change coaches and systems every year, especially when you have a young QB.

Gruden as head coach no, Gruden as a QB coach or O-coordinator yes.  He is a good qb coach and has a good offensive mind, but I do see what you are saying washedup, he does come across as two faced quite often.

[OzJohnnie]

I was just quickly checking in on the wrestling national duals to see how the Johnnies finished (seventh) and noticed that Wartburg is currently thrashing the Auggies in the championship match.  It's about halfway done and the Auggies are yet to win a contest (although it looks like they will pick one up as I type this).  They do, however, dominate in outlandish names.  To a man, the squad has the hippest names I've seen in a while.  With the guys that are listed so far, I'm torn for best name between Tossaporn Suparat and Orlando Ponce.

FYI, I read Tossaporn's name with an Aussie accent in my head, so it translates as Toss-a-porn Super-rat.

And a second FYI, a "ponce" in the Empire (British that is) is a man who is less than manly, lets say.  Odd name for a wrestler I was thinking.

EDIT: What an odd match for names.  For you KQ listeners out there, Wartburg just had a guy named Bradley Blanks take to the mat.

[DuffMan]

I was just quickly checking in on the wrestling national duals to see how the Johnnies finished (seventh)...

The Johnnies also beat Mount Union  (although they lost to them yesterday  )

I just got back from the Gopher-Ohio State wrestling match with my dad where we ran into the father of a former teammate of mine at SJU.  If you're interested, the Gophers thrashed the #6 Buckeyes.  The Gophs have a very good squad.  I think they're a 157 pounder away from having a shot at winning it an NCAA title this year.

[OzJohnnie]

Wow. Denver. Tebow has a phenomenal ability to block out distractions, apparently. I don't think I've ever seen someone overcome a similar degree of bad vibes and expectations of failure. Everyone, including those that want Denver to succeed, expected him to fail in spectacular fashion. And then he turns out that game. The guy sure can handle pressure. Definite wow performance.

[SagatagSam]

Wow. Denver. Tebow has a phenomenal ability to block out distractions, apparently. I don't think I've ever seen someone overcome a similar degree of bad vibes and expectations of failure. Everyone, including those that want Denver to succeed, expected him to fail in spectacular fashion. And then he turns out that game. The guy sure can handle pressure. Definite wow performance.

They did a hell of a job testing out the new NFL overtime setup.

[Knightstalker]

Wow. Denver. Tebow has a phenomenal ability to block out distractions, apparently. I don't think I've ever seen someone overcome a similar degree of bad vibes and expectations of failure. Everyone, including those that want Denver to succeed, expected him to fail in spectacular fashion. And then he turns out that game. The guy sure can handle pressure. Definite wow performance.

Tebow is like Doug Flutie, all everyone can say is what he can't do, what he doesn't have, but all he does is win.

[Retired Old Rat]

Good CBS Morning News story on the great lie of the BCS.  Featuring comments Austin Murphy of Sports Illustrated.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57355111/bcs-sacked-by-critics-as-the-great-lie/

[Retired Old Rat]

Read an interesting book this weekend about the history of Sports Illustrated, called "The Franchise."  Hat tip to sfury for the recommendation.

[faunch]

I know this is a D3 board....however....Andre McDonald de-commits...

http://www.anchorofgold.com/2012/1/8/2691883/recruiting-trail-vandy-commit-andre-mcdonald-jordan-diggs-south-carolina