FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Not your best box-out form but it will do.

I agree, Faunch -- I had the same reaction when I saw the flag come out. Not to play the what-if game, but I think if the ball had been on the opposite side of the field and the celebration hadn't come within about three yards of the action, it might not have been called.

Water under the bridge, though.

[hazzben]

I agree........ I didn't like the flag to begin with. By the book it was correct, but it could have been a no call IMO. I remember when I was watching the game, I said to myself "I hope that play doesn't come back to haunt them". Tough one, especially seniors!

An officiating crew's job is to enforce the rules, not make interpretations of them.  This idea that rules should be looked at differently or enforced differently depending on context is a dead end.  The bench emptied during a live play.  For that not to have been called would have been an even greater travesty than Concordia missing the playoffs because of it.  The players had control of their own playoff destiny, but handed it over to the commitee with one moment of in-discipline.  Does it seem unjust or harsh?  Probably, but had the team remained calm they'd be in and Bethel would be out.  Casting blame on an outside agency is to shirk responsibility.

I happened to be watching that final series live on the internet.  As soon as the Cobber players and coaches went on the field I posted something to the effect,  "I think the Cobbers might have just F'd themselves."  It was the right call by the officials.  Concordia still had two opportunities to stop BU.  They paint white lines on the sidelines for a reason...only 22 players are allowed on the field during a play.  It drives me nuts how players and coaches at all levels ignore the white lines sometimes.  I see high school coaches 5 yards on the field during live plays all the time.  Basketball coaches are even worse.   SJU got nailed for 15 yards after the kick vs. BU a couple years ago.

I was watching and posting live as well.

The things that jumped out to me were both the number of players/coaches on the field and how far a few of them actually came out. Also, there were several flags thrown pretty quickly. And then the refs got together and discussed at length. It wasn't an impassioned or knee jerk call or one guy seeing something and the refs being stuck between a tough call or waiving off the flag.

And Bethel got the ball on the 9 yd line after the mark off for that final play. Concordia still had two chances to win. And at least on the first one you have to be thinking pass and probably fade. No ones running the ball from the 9. The 2 point conversion was just a gutsy call by coach J, knowing he had them stunned and on their heals.

But bottom line, I agree with AO here. Even given all that, and its history now anyways, I still think the Cobbers deserved to be in this field. Both on talent and criteria. And I'd have loved to have seen a Bethel, Concordia rematch! Talk about a hyped up, emotionally charged game. The Cobbers could have avenged their brain fart. The Royals could have put everything to rest. Bummed we won't get to see it, but I've got a sneaking suspicion Horan and company might be circling the 2013 Bethel game on their calendars and using it as offseason motivation in the weight room, etc.

And AO, Mark Madsen would be proud 

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

the only downsides to the 2013 rematch will be that both teams will lose key seniors and that it will be played in Moorhead, an 8 hour round trip jaunt.

[faunch]

After watching EP/Wayzata tonight I'm not convinced Mike Grant is the guy to turn things around in Collegeville.

[RoyalBU]

After watching EP/Wayzata tonight I'm not convinced Mike Grant is the guy to turn things around in Collegeville.

Not thrilled about passing passing 8 out of 59 plays?

I doubt he would be calling the plays in collegeville if he got the job. I personally don't think he'd be a great fit because I don't know how good of a recruiter he would be. SJU will need a dynamic recruiter to get back to where they want to be........uhhh....Ramler(or someone similar).

[hazzben]

After watching EP/Wayzata tonight I'm not convinced Mike Grant is the guy to turn things around in Collegeville.

Not thrilled about passing passing 8 out of 59 plays?

I doubt he would be calling the plays in collegeville if he got the job. I personally don't think he'd be a great fit because I don't know how good of a recruiter he would be. SJU will need a dynamic recruiter to get back to where they want to be........uhhh....Ramler(or someone similar).

Multiple guys have mentioned Ramler as a replacement or wondered aloud what he is up to this year.

Personally, I imagine him in a ghillie suit, sitting up amidst the pines at Clemens observing SJU and waiting for the perfect time to emerge as the man right the ship. 

[hazzben]

Bethel has forced 2 TO's early.

[DoubleO]

Best of luck to the Royals and Toms today. Hope you both do the MIAC proud!

Protect the pill & limit the penalties. Roll Tommies, Roll!

Cobs, feel terrible about the jobbing you got. Wish you were in there to represent as well-you certainly deserved to be.

[hazzben]

Bethel moving the ball ok, settles for a FG.

3 - 0 late in the 1st Q

[edstone]

All right - flags flying for a hold. It looked good for a few seconds, though.

[hazzben]

All right - flags flying for a hold. It looked good for a few seconds, though.

To be honest, it looked more like an undersized DB simply getting dominated than it did a hold. And you know how unbiased I am 

[edstone]

Uh, who saw this coming? St. Scholastica up on UWO.

[hazzben]

Uh, who saw this coming? St. Scholastica up on UWO.

I did a major double take there  Not sure that it holds up, but I'd love to see that upset!

Wonder if Wara is healthy? Turnovers? Whatever the case, that's a surprising early score. I had CSC getting romped...

[Mr. Ypsi]

Uh, who saw this coming? St. Scholastica up on UWO.

I did a major double take there  Not sure that it holds up, but I'd love to see that upset!

Wonder if Wara is healthy? Turnovers? Whatever the case, that's a surprising early score. I had CSC getting romped...

UWO had 2 early TOs, and Scholastica went up 10-0.  UWO responded with a long TD drive; now 10-7 late in the first.

[hazzben]

Uh, who saw this coming? St. Scholastica up on UWO.

I did a major double take there  Not sure that it holds up, but I'd love to see that upset!

Wonder if Wara is healthy? Turnovers? Whatever the case, that's a surprising early score. I had CSC getting romped...

That makes sense
UWO had 2 early TOs, and Scholastica went up 10-0.  UWO responded with a long TD drive; now 10-7 late in the first.