FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AO]

Great stuff from Coach Johnson on Reusse's show yesterday
He told a quick story about losing a recruit to St. John's:

The catholics aren't hating the baptists and the baptists aren't hating the catholics near enough anymore

[USTBench]

Interesting link over on the WIAC page:

Ranking of Social Media use for DIII schools

I've kind of been surprised at how little UST Football utilizes social media to get the word out considering we were the "hip, now, with-it, wow" guys a few years ago. I still get all of the relevant info, but a Twitter update every so often would be easier. I like the updated website though.

[AO]

Interesting link over on the WIAC page:

Ranking of Social Media use for DIII schools

I've kind of been surprised at how little UST Football utilizes social media to get the word out considering we were the "hip, now, with-it, wow" guys a few years ago. I still get all of the relevant info, but a Twitter update every so often would be easier. I like the updated website though.

You must have missed this tweet from a couple days ago.

[2115 Summit]

Interesting link over on the WIAC page:

Ranking of Social Media use for DIII schools

I've kind of been surprised at how little UST Football utilizes social media to get the word out considering we were the "hip, now, with-it, wow" guys a few years ago. I still get all of the relevant info, but a Twitter update every so often would be easier. I like the updated website though.

I'd agree, UST is really lacking in this department.  I don't have any clue, but it seems like Facebook and Twitter is run by someone far to busy to be posting regularly.  I think at least a couple tweets a day and one facebook post is reasonable. Maybe this responsibility can be added to an assistant coach during the season?

[USTBench]

Interesting link over on the WIAC page:

Ranking of Social Media use for DIII schools

I've kind of been surprised at how little UST Football utilizes social media to get the word out considering we were the "hip, now, with-it, wow" guys a few years ago. I still get all of the relevant info, but a Twitter update every so often would be easier. I like the updated website though.

You must have missed this tweet from a couple days ago.

From the Lou Holtz School of Motivation.

[OldAuggie]

http://athletics.augsburg.edu/index.aspx?path=football

Sad news for all Auggies; Edor Nelson passed away this morning, 9 days after celebrating his 100th birthday.

[USTBench]

http://athletics.augsburg.edu/index.aspx?path=football

Sad news for all Auggies; Edor Nelson passed away this morning, 9 days after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Pretty amazing life. Saw the tribute on YouTube, pretty unbelievable how much he was able to accomplish.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Then is it fair to say that John Carroll (and the strength of the OAC) was a little exposed last season in the playoffs by SJF? As well as the year before that when Heidelberg lost in the first round to Wittenberg. Both of which were first-round home games for the OAC.

I mean really, when's the last time anyone from the OAC was any good?

Outside Mount....It's tough to make an argument for anyone

2006 Capital. 11-2, 8-1. Lost to Mount both times. Beat Witt and NCC handily in the playoffs before losing by 3 at National Champion Mount. Mount proceeded to roll both SJF and UWW on their way to the Walnut and Bronze. That 3 point home win was the only game all season a team finished within 12 pts of Mount. So yeah, it's been 7 years since the OAC runner-up made any appreciable noise.

Mount didn't roll SJF that year.  It was a 5 point game midway through the 4th and Mount Union scored again to push the final score to 26-14.  To me the MHB game, while the final score may indicate otherwise, watching the game it was close until the last couple of minutes.  A six point game mid way through the 4th I believe, and a Fisher cornerback flat out dropped an interception in Fisher's endzone that would have resulted in a touchback.  Next play Mary Hardin Baylor scores to go up from 6 to 13.  Then with a few minutes left Fisher gambled deep in their own zone on a 4th down attempt and didn't convert.  MHB took over and walked it in with a little time on the clock to push it to 20.  Not indicative of how the game went.  If you guys are talking about level of play between teams.

St. Thomas put it to Fisher.  No doubt about that.  But they were hardly the first team to do that to that Fisher team that year.  Hobart, a team from the east, beat them by the same margin.  Salisbury, another team in the E8, also handedly defeated them.  So how St. Thomas doing what other east teams proved capable of somehow equates to them being forever better is a strange assumption.  Fisher's QB that year was a running back forced into QB due to injury.  Last year they played with the man who was supposed to be the quarterback and it made a difference.  Hobart, John Carroll and UMHB fans can attest to that. 


Edit about the MHB game.  I think I was 2 points off on each.  I think it was an 8 point game, then 15, then 22?  Going off memory and not enough ambition to check the score. 

[2115 Summit]

Then is it fair to say that John Carroll (and the strength of the OAC) was a little exposed last season in the playoffs by SJF? As well as the year before that when Heidelberg lost in the first round to Wittenberg. Both of which were first-round home games for the OAC.

I mean really, when's the last time anyone from the OAC was any good?

Outside Mount....It's tough to make an argument for anyone

2006 Capital. 11-2, 8-1. Lost to Mount both times. Beat Witt and NCC handily in the playoffs before losing by 3 at National Champion Mount. Mount proceeded to roll both SJF and UWW on their way to the Walnut and Bronze. That 3 point home win was the only game all season a team finished within 12 pts of Mount. So yeah, it's been 7 years since the OAC runner-up made any appreciable noise.

Mount didn't roll SJF that year.  It was a 5 point game midway through the 4th and Mount Union scored again to push the final score to 26-14.  To me the MHB game, while the final score may indicate otherwise, watching the game it was close until the last couple of minutes.  A six point game mid way through the 4th I believe, and a Fisher cornerback flat out dropped an interception in Fisher's endzone that would have resulted in a touchback.  Next play Mary Hardin Baylor scores to go up from 6 to 13.  Then with a few minutes left Fisher gambled deep in their own zone on a 4th down attempt and didn't convert.  MHB took over and walked it in with a little time on the clock to push it to 20.  Not indicative of how the game went.  If you guys are talking about level of play between teams.

St. Thomas put it to Fisher.  No doubt about that.  But they were hardly the first team to do that to that Fisher team that year.  Hobart, a team from the east, beat them by the same margin.  Salisbury, another team in the E8, also handedly defeated them.  So how St. Thomas doing what other east teams proved capable of somehow equates to them being forever better is a strange assumption.  Fisher's QB that year was a running back forced into QB due to injury.  Last year they played with the man who was supposed to be the quarterback and it made a difference.  Hobart, John Carroll and UMHB fans can attest to that. 


Edit about the MHB game.  I think I was 2 points off on each.  I think it was an 8 point game, then 15, then 22?  Going off memory and not enough ambition to check the score.

That's a lot of explaining for a team that was defeated in each of those games. I think whats key here is .... they lost those games, and if I remember correctly, there were a few Fisher fans on this MIAC board pretty confident about winning with the RB turned QB leading up to the game! 

[boobyhasgameyo]

Agreed, a lot of explaining for what turned out to be losses.  But it was really disappointing to see what the final score ended up being last year with MHB.  I even said at the time it was a shame because people would forget how close the game was while looking at the final score.  As for the Mount Union thing, I just didn't think 26-14 was rolling them.  Believe me in subsequent playoff matchups Mount Union rollllled Fisher. 

[boobyhasgameyo]

And Fisher fans were skeptical of Kramer playing QB for his entire duration at the position.  I'd say we started drinking the kool-aid and believing we were wrong and that he was capable of producing after defeating Del Val and Johns Hopkins in the playoffs.  I believe they were both undefeated prior to losing to Fisher, and Johns Hopkins was a South region team.  But St. Thomas was clearly a cut or two above those particular teams in talent, and Fisher found that out pretty early on.  I can't remember the name of the St. Thomas wide receiver, it was German or something, but there was no answer for him that day. 

My only contention was that St. Thomas fans used that beat down as justification that the east was so weak and not worthy, and probably still has that feeling.  But again, Fisher literally lost just as badly to Hobart that season.  A Hobart team that lost down the wire to Wesley that year in the playoffs.  I just don't think it was quite a statement they made against an entire region for years to come by blowing out a team that demonstrated the propensity to be blown out already that season. 

[AO]

And Fisher fans were skeptical of Kramer playing QB for his entire duration at the position.  I'd say we started drinking the kool-aid and believing we were wrong and that he was capable of producing after defeating Del Val and Johns Hopkins in the playoffs.  I believe they were both undefeated prior to losing to Fisher, and Johns Hopkins was a South region team.  But St. Thomas was clearly a cut or two above those particular teams in talent, and Fisher found that out pretty early on.  I can't remember the name of the St. Thomas wide receiver, it was German or something, but there was no answer for him that day. 

My only contention was that St. Thomas fans used that beat down as justification that the east was so weak and not worthy, and probably still has that feeling.  But again, Fisher literally lost just as badly to Hobart that season.  A Hobart team that lost down the wire to Wesley that year in the playoffs.  I just don't think it was quite a statement they made against an entire region for years to come by blowing out a team that demonstrated the propensity to be blown out already that season.

I don't think anybody looks to one game to determine the strength of the East.  Look at the top 25, look at the top 244.   That's a fact, jack.

I do love playing the "if not for these 5 plays, we'd be in it" game.  Just imagine if every time the other team scored they instead had thrown a pick 6.   Would have completely changed the score!

[boobyhasgameyo]

Yeah, not trying to play that game, but I do have a slight variation.  Mine is the "we were in it until these 5 plays" game 

[MadRedFan]

What happened to Certeza? I thought he was an underclassman?

Left school last spring...I heard some unsubstantiated rumors of academic issues.

I believe what was stated earlier was that SJU did not offer the academic program he's chosen to pursue.

Yeah, now that you say it I remember that as situation too, ROR.  From what I remember, he went back to CA so I speculate that maybe homesickness could have played a part.  Would have with me, anyway.

Altho I've googled around some and it doesn't seem like he's appeared at a school that might have the academic program he's interested in.  Seemed like a pretty talented kid.

[faunch]

The other night I was reflecting on the 2013 SJU football season.  As much as many of us that wear red colored glasses were satisfied with the Johnnies apparent improvement last season there are still many concerns going into the 2014 campaign.  A 7-3 record in 2013 was a vast improvement over the previous two seasons but look a little closer...the Jays could have easily been a 1-9 team last year.  The St. Olaf game was the only one that SJU dominated in any way....the other wins all could have and probably should have gone the other way.  Augsburg statistically dominated the Johnnies...the game was marred by 14 turnovers...6 of them by Augsburg...one of which was a fumble at the goal line.  Hamline had SJU on the ropes in the closing minutes of the game and the following week lost to MAC 7-0.

Nov 16, 2013     Collegeville, Minn.      Bethel University 28, Saint John's Univ. 7     
Nov 09, 2013     Collegeville, Minn.      Saint John's Univ. 20, Hamline University 14     
Nov 02, 2013     St. Peter, Minn.      Gustavus Adolphus 23, Saint John's Univ. 20     
Oct 19, 2013     Northfield, Minn.      Saint John's Univ. 23, Carleton College 13 
Oct 12, 2013     Collegeville, Minn.      Saint John's Univ. 30, Augsburg College 28     
Oct 05, 2013     Northfield, Minn.      Saint John's Univ. 31, St. Olaf College 0     
Sep 28, 2013     Collegeville, Minn.      Concordia-Moorhead 24, Saint John's Univ. 14 
Sep 21, 2013     St. Paul, Minn.              Saint John's Univ. 20, Univ. of St. Thomas 18     
Sep 14, 2013     Collegeville, Minn.      Saint John's Univ. 17, UW-Eau Claire 14     
Sep 06, 2013     River Falls, Wis.      Saint John's Univ. 17, UW-River Falls 14     

Another point to consider is scoring...take a look at SJU's total points and averages for the last 3 seasons.  Maybe Jimmy will be able to get those numbers back up to where they were a couple years ago.  It's pretty obvious from the time of possession numbers that SJU played a more ball control type of game last season.  It sure would be nice to keep the opponents scoring average down around 17 or less this season.  It would be really great if the Johnnies could hold teams to 10 points a game like they did in 2003...not counting on it though.

2013
TEAM STATISTICS    SJU    OPP
SCORING                    199    176
Points Per Game    19.9    17.6
TIME OF POSSESSION/Game    30:59    29:01

2012
SCORING                    336    263
Points Per Game    33.6    26.3
TIME OF POSSESSION/Game    27:42    32:12

2011
SCORING                    298    258
Points Per Game    29.8    25.8
TIME OF POSSESSION/Game    28:30    31:30

2003
SCORING.......................         534          149
Points Per Game.............         38.1         10.6
TIME OF POSSESSION/GAME.......        29:39        30:21