FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[USTBench]

Looks like we've got some bandwagon jumpers of our own.     That's ok, we've always got room for more.

Ritz, which ones were good to see and which ones were not? 

It was great to see you.  I did a double take when I saw you.

Speaking of bandwagons, the purple contingent has been very, very quiet the past couple of weeks.

At this point, the only way Saint Glen can keep his record of year over year progress intact is to win the Stagg Bowl.  Anything less is regression.

Working on the road then went to Oregon for a little vacation, so I've been away.

Not as surprised as most by the GAC result for UST. The last few years the Gusties have played UST very tough and just seem to match-up well for whatever reason. Been out of the loop so I'm not caught up on any O'Connell updates but it certainly looks like Alex Fenske will be the guy for a while.

[Texas Ole]

I think I screwed up with J-Term.

First-Year:  Modern Elixirs- A class about the culture of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco with one horribly difficult grader.
Sophomore:  Thinking and Doing Biology- Probably the easiest class I took, but plowed through an entire Biology book in less than a month.  I think I copied the entire thing.
Junior:  Music of Indonesia- It had 3 professors.  One was retired from UCLA and just wanted to share the class with Oles.  Another one was a percussion instructor who was really cool, but had no say in the class.  Finally came the local Indonesian who hated all non-music people.  I didn't know it was possible to work so hard for a C.  I got to hear how we should turn the entire athletic building in to a music facility all month.
Senior:  Senior level 19th Century American Lit.- We got our reading list in December.  It included Uncle Tom's Cabin so I listened to it on tape while driving between Minnesota and Texas.  I don't know how I survived those drives with the monotone narrator.  My dad had the same class, and when the professor we both had found out about him she made the comment, "Why didn't you tell me your dad was in my class.  You would have done much better if I had known that."  At least the fishing was good around Rochester that year.

I am one of the few Oles that did not study abroad at all during my 4 years.  I wish I had done that along with more internships.

[Retired Old Rat]

Bench, I know you're loyal to the purple in good times and in bad.

Speaking of loyalty, my daughter who attend the same school as Bench, is now a Packer's fan.  Her fiancé is from Green Bay.

That was the last straw.  She's out of the will.

[USTBench]

Bench, I know you're loyal to the purple in good times and in bad.

Speaking of my loyalty, my daughter who attend the same school as Bench, is now a Packer's fan.  Her fiancé is from Green Bay.

That was the last straw.  She's out of the will.

Yikes!

I was wondering one day why just about everyone in Nodak from a rural area was a Packers fan. Most of the younger ones have no idea, "It's just my family has always rooted for the Packers." Turns out, farmers around these parts could only get one channel and the Packers were the team that played on that channel.

[art76]

Bethel takes St. Thomas, won't be close.

I'm hoping for and predicting the former, I would be very surprised (but pleased) by the latter.

UST will be playing for their playoff life on Saturday. We've seen that SJU is improved and GAC is still underrated by people.

Losing O'Connell hurts. But this is still a team with a loaded defense and excellent DLine with skill players on Offense. If Bethel can score early and keep putting up points, I think it's hard for UST to keep pace given the upheaval at QB. If it's a slugfest and defensive battle, anything could happen.

UST will be the underdog All the pressure is on Bethel...

Disagree. I think both sides are feeling the pressure.

Bethel because UST has had their number for a couple years.

UST because if they lose this they are all but eliminated from the post-season barring utter chaos in the MIAC. If you don't think that puts pressure on the Tommies you're either clueless or this Tommie team is really lacking in the competition department. HINT: I don't think UST lacks the competitive juices 

About a million scenarios for the conference at this point. Including SJU could win out and still not get automatic bid, if Concordia would win out and create a three-way tie, the Cobbers have had the longest time since appearing in playoffs so would get it. Of course under that scenario, and if Bethel was the other 1-loss team, you'd think SJU would get at-large bid with a victory over Royals.

Not to go too far down that what-if rabbit hole, though, since it's still wide open for the most part. But Bethel certainly looks well-above everyone else right now

This scenario only works if Bethel and Cobbers both beat UST down the stretch. If Bethel loses to UST and ends up with 1 loss, then SJU doesn't finish with one loss.

If it did happen as you lay out, I think Bethel would be a strong bet for a Pool C. They'd end up with wins over UST, Wartburg, Augsburg and the Cobbers. The win over the Cobbers would give them the leg up in Pool C consideration.

I don't think we end up with 3 teams at 9-1 though. If UST beats Bethel, I think Bethel will buckle down and win out, eliminating SJU. Then UST and Cobbers still playing assures us only one can end up with one loss. I'd say it's more likely we have two 9-1 teams or carnage.

If Bethel wins Saturday, I think they win out. But you'd have a showdown in Collegeville to finish the season!

What ifs:

Bethel goes 10 and 0 – to do that they have to get by St. Thomas this week – which is not a given by any stretch of the imagination, the Gusties next week and finish the season up at St. John's – always a tough place to win at.

Possible outcomes for other teams:
St Thomas will be down to 8 and 2 at best, and they still have Augsburg on the road and Concordia at home – possible 6 and 4, and that would be ugly for the Tommie fans.

Concordia has one loss and could be 9 and 1. But they still have to beat Augsburg at home, St. Thomas on the road and Gustavus at home.

St. John's has one loss already and if they don't lose to Gustavus would also be setting at 8 and 2 at the end of the season, but ahead of the Tommies by virtue of the win against them.

Augsburg sits with two losses already and to finish at 8 and 2 would need to go up to Concordia and win and the next week step on to the field against the Tommies at St. Thomas. They might be able to pull this off if they can stop giving the ball to the other team on turnovers.

Gustavus is the wild card at this point in the season. They have played tough thus far this season and are not going to go away quietly. They have to play Bethel at Bethel, then St. John's comes to town and they end the season up against the Cobbers. If they were to win out they would be 8 and 2 and it would throw the conference into a tizzy. Right now, I'm of the opinion that they have two toss up games in the Johnnies and the Cobbers. They should beat Carleton and hopefully can beat Valley City State this week.

It is still anyone's guess as to how this season plays out. Bethel is definitely in the driver's seat right now and if they stumble anywhere along the way, it will really hurt their seeding in the post season – if they get to the post season. Two losses and you sit home at the end of the year – especially if the MIAC has two or more teams with the same record of 8 and 2.

[ChicagoTommie]

Looks like we've got some bandwagon jumpers of our own.     That's ok, we've always got room for more.

Ritz, which ones were good to see and which ones were not? 

It was great to see you.  I did a double take when I saw you.

Speaking of bandwagons, the purple contingent has been very, very quiet the past couple of weeks.

At this point, the only way Saint Glen can keep his record of year over year progress intact is to win the Stagg Bowl.  Anything less is regression.

Hey I am still here!!! Drinking the purple cool aid, and I believe the Tommie's will show up Saturday as the underdog for the first time, and from what I have heard from the Players they are flipping out and can't wait for Saturday...They have something to prove and they are ready and determined. Practices have been extremely intense, and yes they are having full contact from what I have heard and they will give Bethel everything thing they have... GC will make these kids leave everything on field. this has the makings to be a great game!!! I am driving up to watch...with extra heart medicine I think i will need it.

By the Way O'Connell did have a compound fracture and the bone from what I understand the bone broke the skin and he lost some blood... I really feel for the kid, I have met him and he is definitely great kid, he will go far in life.  Matt O'Connell was in the locker room Sunday with the team and he is really pumping them up!  Be careful of a wounded animal when you back it into a corner     

Go Tommie's           

[57Johnnie]

My contribution to J-Term.

Good Grief!  It didn't start until 1968.   

[Redtooth]

J-Term classes while at SJU

90- Nuclear Deterrence-- Does it Deter?  Taught by one of the most paranoid and crazy profs ever...thought the Russians were after him
91- The Court Experience-- Spent the month in Ramsey County going to court everyday...and watched the start of the Gulf War on TV nightly
92- Interned with a Criminal Prosecutor in Ramsey County and helped put a wacko away for arson.  Tried to burn down his girlfriend's house while wearing Sears Winner brand tennis shoes with velcro laces...my roommates and I took the copy of the shoe bottoms from the scene and lifted up a lot of shoes at every mall in TC and STC.
93- OFF

Thrilled to see the SJU year so far, hope it finishes the same.

[sjusection105]

What ifs:

Bethel goes 10 and 0 – to do that they have to get by St. Thomas this week – which is not a given by any stretch of the imagination, the Gusties next week and finish the season up at St. John's – always a tough place to win at.

Possible outcomes for other teams:
St Thomas will be down to 8 and 2 at best, and they still have Augsburg on the road and Concordia at home – possible 6 and 4, and that would be ugly for the Tommie fans.

Concordia has one loss and could be 9 and 1. But they still have to beat Augsburg at home, St. Thomas on the road and Gustavus at home.

St. John's has one loss already and if they don't lose to Gustavus would also be setting at 8 and 2 at the end of the season, but ahead of the Tommies by virtue of the win against them.

Augsburg sits with two losses already and to finish at 8 and 2 would need to go up to Concordia and win and the next week step on to the field against the Tommies at St. Thomas. They might be able to pull this off if they can stop giving the ball to the other team on turnovers.

Gustavus is the wild card at this point in the season. They have played tough thus far this season and are not going to go away quietly. They have to play Bethel at Bethel, then St. John's comes to town and they end the season up against the Cobbers. If they were to win out they would be 8 and 2 and it would throw the conference into a tizzy. Right now, I'm of the opinion that they have two toss up games in the Johnnies and the Cobbers. They should beat Carleton and hopefully can beat Valley City State this week.

It is still anyone's guess as to how this season plays out. Bethel is definitely in the driver's seat right now and if they stumble anywhere along the way, it will really hurt their seeding in the post season – if they get to the post season. Two losses and you sit home at the end of the year – especially if the MIAC has two or more teams with the same record of 8 and 2.

There is also the What if:Two teams are 9-1, then two get into play-offs. If three teams are 9-1 then someone misses the bus with Pool C shrinking this year....

[sjusection105]

Wow- the celebrities are coming out of the woodwork....Buckman, Ritz72 & Redtooth....trifecta! 

[BDB]

this has the makings to be a great game!!! I am driving up to watch...with extra heart medicine I think i will need it.

CT, I don't care what they told you at the Corner Package store, that jug they sold you is not heart medicine. Bourbon, yes. Fill up that leg flask and have at it. 

[OldAuggie]

What ifs:

Bethel goes 10 and 0 – to do that they have to get by St. Thomas this week – which is not a given by any stretch of the imagination, the Gusties next week and finish the season up at St. John's – always a tough place to win at.

Possible outcomes for other teams:
St Thomas will be down to 8 and 2 at best, and they still have Augsburg on the road and Concordia at home – possible 6 and 4, and that would be ugly for the Tommie fans.

Concordia has one loss and could be 9 and 1. But they still have to beat Augsburg at home, St. Thomas on the road and Gustavus at home.

St. John's has one loss already and if they don't lose to Gustavus would also be setting at 8 and 2 at the end of the season, but ahead of the Tommies by virtue of the win against them.

Augsburg sits with two losses already and to finish at 8 and 2 would need to go up to Concordia and win and the next week step on to the field against the Tommies at St. Thomas. They might be able to pull this off if they can stop giving the ball to the other team on turnovers.

Gustavus is the wild card at this point in the season. They have played tough thus far this season and are not going to go away quietly. They have to play Bethel at Bethel, then St. John's comes to town and they end the season up against the Cobbers. If they were to win out they would be 8 and 2 and it would throw the conference into a tizzy. Right now, I'm of the opinion that they have two toss up games in the Johnnies and the Cobbers. They should beat Carleton and hopefully can beat Valley City State this week.

It is still anyone's guess as to how this season plays out. Bethel is definitely in the driver's seat right now and if they stumble anywhere along the way, it will really hurt their seeding in the post season – if they get to the post season. Two losses and you sit home at the end of the year – especially if the MIAC has two or more teams with the same record of 8 and 2.

There is also the What if:Two teams are 9-1, then two get into play-offs. If three teams are 9-1 then someone misses the bus with Pool C shrinking this year....

Just a slight correction; St Thomas is at Augsburg. Both teams could be at 5-2 which would set up a big game for Augsburg. Have to beat the Cobbers and Oles to get to that point which I will admit is a challenge but they can do it.

[ChicagoTommie]

this has the makings to be a great game!!! I am driving up to watch...with extra heart medicine I think i will need it.

CT, I don't care what they told you at the Corner Package store, that jug they sold you is not heart medicine. Bourbon, yes. Fill up that leg flask and have at it. 

Bahaa! You made me spit my beer on the floor...you must know my ways! My wife though I was having a heart attack...and then the Canes scored on my Hawks tied 2-2! ****!!!

[OzJohnnie]

J-Term classes while at SJU

90- Nuclear Deterrence-- Does it Deter?  Taught by one of the most paranoid and crazy profs ever...thought the Russians were after him
91- The Court Experience-- Spent the month in Ramsey County going to court everyday...and watched the start of the Gulf War on TV nightly
92- Interned with a Criminal Prosecutor in Ramsey County and helped put a wacko away for arson.  Tried to burn down his girlfriend's house while wearing Sears Winner brand tennis shoes with velcro laces...my roommates and I took the copy of the shoe bottoms from the scene and lifted up a lot of shoes at every mall in TC and STC.
93- OFF

Thrilled to see the SJU year so far, hope it finishes the same.

Now that's funny.  The Berlin wall fell just before that J-term (Nov 9, '89 to be exact) and the Soviet Union was in the process of disintegrating literally as he was speaking.  His question was being answered with finality before his very eyes.  Maybe his paranoia was being redirected to the school administration which would demand he come up with a new "world problems" issue to ride into one academic publication or another.

I wish I would have had that class.  Would have been a blast to challenge the assumptions underlying the question - the need for the question itself.  I'm also curious about the term "nuclear deterrence".  How is a nuclear weapon different from any other deterrent factor?  Why not just ask "does deterrence work"?  And it would be a short class because words don't get created for things that don't exist (or appear to exist) so the answer is yes.  "Who's got the keys and can make a run to the liquor store?  This j-term is over."

EDIT: And I notice you graduated in '93, Redtooth.  I did as well.  I wonder if we ran across each other.

[sjusection105]

EDIT: And I notice you graduated in '93, Redtooth.  I did as well.  I wonder if we ran across each other.

If you went to a football game,you ran across him.... he's the one snapping the ball