FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Texas Ole]

https://twitter.com/d3keith/status/381578782597214208
Who's due for a new stadium?  Olaf?  Use Mary Hardin-Baylor as a guide.  No track, the student union is 30 feet from the sideline, locker rooms under the grandstand.  Redonkulous.

Taj Mahal of D3 is right. Those are some nice digs. And as Keith said, if they can fill that place, more power to 'em!

Do you really think St. Olaf would do anything like that for athletics?  It would be nice, but I doubt it happens.  I am guessing they are going to try to get a few small high school football playoff games with it.  It is a little small for most other events in Texas.  It definitely helps UMHB build their identity.  UMHB for years had the stigma of being an all girls school.  It was one of the reasons football was added.  That stadium is on par with several high school stadiums in the region.  I will try to head down for a game later this year.  I've got a friend that is UMHB alum.  If you ever want to turn a UMHB fan purple then call them the Baylor Bears.  If Olaf was going to build a new stadium I would hope they would follow the plan for Friso ISD's new football stadium.  They already have the one that hosts the MLS team, and now they are working with the Cowboys to get a domed stadium.

Maybe just copy Gustavus' stadium, that fits the current fanbase pretty well.  I love the Texas high school stadiums but find it pretty odd how many of them are shared.  You have to lose some atmosphere being off campus and neutral logos on the field.

Is it pronounced Sam SurAh or SurEe?

The shared stadiums are all for schools in the same school district similar to Bloomington.  I went to Lake Highlands, and we shared a stadium.  I didn't notice much difference.  It became an issue when we played against the other school who used that stadium.  The stadium was on our campus, and our booster club donated some of the nicer features in the stadium so we always felt it was ours regardless of whether or not we were the visitors.  Several schools with single stadiums have them off campus.  There just isn't enough land around the high schools.  A huge reason is that several of the shared stadiums are done to save cost.  Most stadiums hold in excess of 10,000 with several being able to seat over 15,000.  There have been surveys that have shown families will move out of school districts if the football stadium does not have a jumbotron and the district does not provide video access of games.  Texas fans also travel for games.  The one I do think distracts from the home atmosphere is with Jesuit in Dallas.  They have had to move certain games to Ford at SMU to allow for enough space for just the band of the opposing team.  I definitely see your point, and some of the schools that share stadiums have started to request on campus stadiums.

[MiacMan]

Congrats to Gary and his staff, an absolute fabulous display of coaching and believing. They clearly outcoached, game planned UST and I consider myself a UST fan but really more of a football/MIAC purist. Somebody said that GC never saw this coming, could be true but my guess is that it was his worst nightmare. Haugen had the best game plan, clearly took away O'Connell's legs and wanted to make O'Connell beat them with his arm. O'Connell not up to the task (most of his passes he has the nose down on the ball, which makes his passes dive into the dirt) Haugen has been one of the best d-coordinators in the MIAC forever and he did not forget how to coach. SJU has been great over the years with defense (which sometimes gets overlooked) UST made no adjustments to finding a way to get O'Connell out of the pocket without someone in his face. Ramler can coach as well. The quick hitting passes were brilliant and opened just enough space for Sura to keep UST d honest. My guess is the Kurt knew they would not have time to do more that 3-step drop so they didn't. Anyway a very entertaining game at Summit and Cleveland even though my team lost. Love'm or hate'm GC is not afraid to work and my guess is that UST will still be a major factor in the MIAC race. They are going to have to figure out a way to throw down field because I saw nothing that showed me their ability to do that. My guess is Haugen saw the same thing. Cheers to all on a great weekend of D3 football.

[Texas Ole]

O Shag Hennesy...

You wouldn't be referring to this very funny skit, would you, Texas Ole?

http://youtu.be/Dd7FixvoKBw

Thank you for getting my horrible joke.  I have done that skit in a class I was substitute teaching.  It is a great one.

[desertcat1]

.  You know you have written an effective post when someone else has to translate it for it to make sense to the rest of the board.

works for me ..

Congrats  again to the CLass John's.. " sorry charley" "CLASSLESS TOM's"  wet one 

I remember our last trip/fumble to Tom's place.

[mac77]

Congrats to Gary and his staff, an absolute fabulous display of coaching and believing. They clearly outcoached, game planned UST and I consider myself a UST fan but really more of a football/MIAC purist. Somebody said that GC never saw this coming, could be true but my guess is that it was his worst nightmare. Haugen had the best game plan, clearly took away O'Connell's legs and wanted to make O'Connell beat them with his arm. O'Connell not up to the task (most of his passes he has the nose down on the ball, which makes his passes dive into the dirt) Haugen has been one of the best d-coordinators in the MIAC forever and he did not forget how to coach. SJU has been great over the years with defense (which sometimes gets overlooked) UST made no adjustments to finding a way to get O'Connell out of the pocket without someone in his face. Ramler can coach as well. The quick hitting passes were brilliant and opened just enough space for Sura to keep UST d honest. My guess is the Kurt knew they would not have time to do more that 3-step drop so they didn't. Anyway a very entertaining game at Summit and Cleveland even though my team lost. Love'm or hate'm GC is not afraid to work and my guess is that UST will still be a major factor in the MIAC race. They are going to have to figure out a way to throw down field because I saw nothing that showed me their ability to do that. My guess is Haugen saw the same thing. Cheers to all on a great weekend of D3 football.

Another SJU-UST classic.  I concur with all the statements above.  SJU was well-prepared and well-coached yesterday.  I was told that O'Connell was battling pneumonia yesterday. If true, his effort was quite amazing. 

I hope SJU can find a kick-off specialist who can kick a little deeper.  Those are precious yards to concede.  I'm sure Gary has been holding "auditions"!!

The win sets up a great Homecoming game vs. the Cobbers!  "Fear the Ear"!!! 

"Hope has been transformed into faith!"

[tmerton]

You heard O'Connell was "battling pneumonia"?  Um, I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure no one "battling pneumonia" is going to be out playing in a football game.  The flu, bronchitis, a bad cold - those are possible.  But pneumonia?  Who'd you hear that from - Chicago Tommie? 

[sjusection105]

 

You heard O'Connell was "battling pneumonia"?  Um, I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure no one "battling pneumonia" is going to be out playing in a football game.  The flu, bronchitis, a bad cold - those are possible.  But pneumonia?  Who'd you hear that from - Chicago Tommie?

It was reported in the story in the Star Tribune that he was getting over mononucleosis; which I had as a teenager, so he probably took a nap at halftime.....

[raiderguy]

Way to go Johnnies! Just goes to show you the Tommies still suck.

Really happy for the new coaching staff too....I think they made the right decision when they picked Gary...great passion and enthusiasm and knows what it means to be a Johnnie.
Really missed being there and hope to make it up there for a game later this year.

We have a great double header next wqeekend here. Linfield is coming to Cleveland to play Case Western Reserve. This would have been a great game two years ago but Case does not have the same fire power now. That game is at Noon and by the grace of the football Gods the Raiders play at 7pm.

Looking forward to seeing the Cats in person. Maybe a preview of things to come but if the Raiders don't get their act together we will see our winning streak coming to an end.

[Retired Old Rat]

Upon Further Reflection.

The absolute best part of yesterday is that Coach Caruso NEVER saw this coming, NEVER allowed for the possibility and now has to deal with a new reality.  A reality in which UST will

NEVER see a #1 ranking in football, EVER

NEVER experience a National Championship in football, EVER, and

In hindsight will realize that September 20, 2013 was the peak, the pinnacle of the F.A.M.I.L.Y. and that hubris (given the departure of Mark Dienhart) will be the only lasting legacy of Head Football Coach Glenn Caruso, a Coach who so dismissed his major rival, a rival in re-building mode, a rival with a new coaching staff, that in his half-time interview, he couldn't even consider that said rival even belonged on the same field as his team, and

Just to ensure that the above lessons are firmly ensconced in time memorial, UST will lose at least one more game this season and two wouldn't be without possibility.  There is blood in the water and others will want a taste!

You know, the guys on this board who were predicting a Tommie blowout or guaranteeing a win are now eating a bit of crow.....just sayin'

Except that by half time we were seriously considering the possibility SJU might win the game.  And I am not yet nor ever will be a legend.

[Walter Eagle]

Upon Further Reflection.

The absolute best part of yesterday is that Coach Caruso NEVER saw this coming, NEVER allowed for the possibility and now has to deal with a new reality.  A reality in which UST will

NEVER see a #1 ranking in football, EVER

NEVER experience a National Championship in football, EVER, and

In hindsight will realize that September 20, 2013 was the peak, the pinnacle of the F.A.M.I.L.Y. and that hubris (given the departure of Mark Dienhart) will be the only lasting legacy of Head Football Coach Glenn Caruso, a Coach who so dismissed his major rival, a rival in re-building mode, a rival with a new coaching staff, that in his half-time interview, he couldn't even consider that said rival even belonged on the same field as his team, and

Just to ensure that the above lessons are firmly ensconced in time memorial, UST will lose at least one more game this season and two wouldn't be without possibility.  There is blood in the water and others will want a taste!

You know, the guys on this board who were predicting a Tommie blowout or guaranteeing a win are now eating a bit of crow.....just sayin'

Except that by half time we were seriously considering the possibility SJU might win the game.  And I am not yet l,nor ever will be a legend.

not talking about you.

[faunch]

So a couple questions regarding calls and no calls in SJU / U$T game yesterday...
1.  The no call on the Johnnie punt in the first quarter.  It was a high snap and the punter did a hell of job knocking the ball down, picking it up and still got of the kick off.  He then got roughed up by a Tommie defender but there was no roughing the punter call...you can watch it at the 29:39 mark of the game archive. 
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/football/index.php?liveid=msbnchannel1&recordid=44477

Why was there no penalty.  Does it have something to do with the ball hitting the ground?  Fasching was livid after the play.  If you watch the entire replay of the play the referee wasn't even looking at the punter when he got hit.  Personally I thought the referee had below average day.

2. What was the story with the chop blocks?  I didn't see them...Bethel better hope they never have this crew. 

3.  I think U$T has at least two personal foul penalties
Did anybody think that on the big punt return in 4th quarter U$T got away with a
couple illegal blocks?

4.  I think U$T kind of froze their own kicker at the end of the game.

Please discuss...

[GoldandBlueBU]

So a couple questions regarding calls and no calls in SJU / U$T game yesterday...
1.  The no call on the Johnnie punt in the first quarter.  It was a high snap and the punter did a hell of job knocking the ball down, picking it up and still got of the kick off.  He then got roughed up by a Tommie defender but there was no roughing the punter call...you can watch it at the 29:39 mark of the game archive. 
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/football/index.php?liveid=msbnchannel1&recordid=44477

Why was there no penalty.  Does it have something to do with the ball hitting the ground?  Fasching was livid after the play.

2. What was the story with the chop blocks?  I didn't see them

I was wondering the same on the punt. I thought for sure there would be a flag coming, and was left thinking that perhaps it had something to do with the scramble that preceded the hit?  Any rule gurus out there who can clear that up? Was it just poor officiating?

[MiacMan]

Faunch, Yes, once the ball hits the ground kicker now becomes a runner. Illegal "chop blocks" occur when a player blocks below waist inside the tackle box, or when another player is engaged with the defender and another player hits the defender below the waist, also known as a "hi-lo" looked upon as very dirty/cheap play. In the case of yesterdays game, both were calls opposite side from where I was sitting. Regarding that first punt, this was another miscue by the Tommies. You always have someone spying the punter. Even if you are not attempting to block the punt. My guess is that someone took that play off from their responsibilities and missed a great opportunity to impact the game. Lack of focus on the part of the Tommies. The little things matter.

[Retired Old Rat]

Random thoughts and observations from yesterday.

What a game.  Beautiful day.  Full house.  Very quiet Tommy crowd in the 2nd half.  Especially at the end.  ;-)  I was standing on about the 10 yard line, a bad angle to view the field goal.  I knew it was a miss by the reaction of the Tommy student section.

Biggest accomplishment of the coaching staff yesterday:  they convinced the kids they could win.

Biggest difference on the field:  The past two years UST was physically dominant.  That was not the case yesterday.  The physical aspect of the game was pretty evenly matched.  This is the most encouraging thing I took away from the game.

The transformation of the defense from week 1 versus River Falls to yesterday was amazing.  Was like it was a completely different set of players.

I was a little surprised when I looked at the box score.  My sense watching the game was that the statistics would be pretty close.  They were not.

Sam Sura is the real deal.  Really liked that they rode him for the whole game.  He had 25 of 26 rushes by SJU running backs.  I spoke to him on the field after the game.  Very nice, respectful kid.

Trust me, Bruns is the guy.

During the half time re-presentation of GC's coach of the year awards, the PA guy used the word legend or legendary in reference to GC or the "Caruso era."  I don't remember exactly, but I've captured the meaning of what was said.  What does that make John Gagliardi?

What is the protocol for teams exiting the field at half time?  UST literally sprints across the field to the opening leading to the locker rooms to be sure they exited before SJU.

Besides the turnovers yesterday, the other thing big thing for UST was, as in the Stagg Bowl loss, they did not create big plays on defense and special teams.  No forced fumbles, not a lot of tackles for loss, no blocked punts or field goals.  Bruns was only sacked one.  And he is not exactly highly mobile.  Looks like some of the irreplaceable guys on defense who graduated were not replaced.

Great to see Bench, and especially Mrs. Bench.  Bench did not shy away from post game discussion and analysis.

One Armed Scott predicted a half time score of 28-0.  I think he was being conservative.

[Retired Old Rat]

Chicago Tommie has changed his handle.  He is now know as Chi (as in "shy") Tommie.