FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

...sleep on an air mattress in the back of my suv.

If I were single, I'd seriously consider it. 

I know a guy that can take care of that problem for you.  For enough money.

[RoyalsFan]

No, they aren't - your point being??

SJU > Bethel

Not really sure why you think you need to point that out. All I was doing was clarifying that there were 3 other Stagg Bowl champions during that period, not 2. You could also say that about every other team in the MIAC based on Stagg Bowl championships.

[DuffMan]

And I'm not sure why you're getting your panties in a bunch.   

[RoyalsFan]

And I'm not sure why you're getting your panties in a bunch.   

I just don't understand why you feel the need to take a jab at Bethel based on my comment pointing out the facts about the last 20 years. Especially when you add the icon of sticking out your tongue. Maybe that wasn't your intention but it came across that way to me.

So I am going to jab you back and say Bethel > SJU the last 4 out of 5 years!    

[SagatagSam]

Interesting fact from the UST football website:

"Either St. John's or St. Thomas has won or shared the conference football title in 20 of the last 26 seasons."

Surprisingly, no mention that 16 of those 20 were won by St. Johns.

Another interesting fact I'd like to highlight:

St. John's, Mount Union and Whitewater have won 18 out of the last 20 Stagg Bowls.

Caution! You are about to enter the no spin zone, Gene McGivern...

[SagatagSam]

Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) is tweeting up a storm about his trip to Collegeville. Looks like he is doing a feature on SJU linebacker Drake Matuska.



https://twitter.com/MartySmithESPN

[SagatagSam]

It also looks like there was a great showing by CSB-SJU students yesterday to welcome the SportsCenter on the Road bus to Collegeville.



WJON has a story on it as well:
http://wjon.com/sjucsb-students-give-sportscenter-a-warm-welcome-video/

[SJUrube]

It's fun to be close to this rivalry and have a dog in the race. It's hard to tell how much additional attention the game is getting outside of the Johnnie & Tommie communities. The ESPN bit has brought some additional attention but I almost wish I could be a non partial observer to a few hours tomorrow to see how far reaching the game goes - and what my reaction would be when hearing about it for the first time.

The last two years at UST were wonderful but having back in Collegeville is great. Turnovers and penalties are going to be the story tomorrow - much like any game between two evenly matched teams. As the UST program has gotten stronger I think they've gotten a little fat on playing with too much of an edge. Last year they had 9 penalties for 80 yards - compared to 4 for 23 for SJU.

SJU kept Concordia in the game last week with some ill-advised and ill-timed penalties. They won't be able to get away with that tomorrow.

Not entirely untrue but completely necessary from where this team was prior to Caruso taking over.

If I remember accurately the UST defense has been to coaching clinics up at UND and have essentially implemented components of the 3 - 4 that made UND so good in the 90s and early 2000s which is the same D Bubba Schweigert re-implemented when he took over for Mussman two years ago. This defense essentially took UND from last in overall D to the top of the Big Sky in just one year. Bubba Schweigert was the original architect of this D and it basically passed it on to Tim Tibesar (Motreal Allouettes, Kansas State, Chicago Bears, and now Wisconsin) when Schweigert left for UMD. Anyway, there's a reason former UND greats Digger Anderson and Brett Holinka have been D coaches for UST over the last few years. They were some of the best players ever at UND at their positions and they knew UST's D like the back of their hand. It requires you to play somewhat recklessly at times with a big incentive on stopping the run in a number of ways, not least of which is using the sidelines as your 12th and 13th defenders. So the idea is to keep people moving horizontally. From time to time, because it's so aggressive sideline to sideline, it's not uncommon for at least one big play to be given up a game as your secondary is on an island at times. It also utilizes some blitzing from rather creative angles that are meant to disrupt a QB's timing. This of course leads to some potential late hit penalties, be it on the QB or "assisting" someone out of bounds.

There's no intent to play dirty, just fast. And when you play with your proverbial "hair on fire" things happen.

UST's D has had some regression the last two years, but I think we have the athletes now to put it back on top of the MIAC.

If UST wants to keep doing it I won't complain. Last year's game certainly turned on the roughing the punter penalty. Instead of starting a drive in SJU territory, UST's defense was forced back on the field & SJU ended up scoring. Playing hard and fast is fine but I wouldn't want my team being susceptible to penalties.

I do agree, I don't think there's anything dirty about it, at least not from an intent to injure (insert you know who.) Outside of playing fast, I've thought of the personal fouls as more of a sign of disrespect of the abilities for their opponents. Reminds of the Cobra Kai doling out a little extra punishment before finishing off their opponent.

[SagatagSam]

Apparently ESPN will be cutting to a pep rally at Clemens Stadium during the 5 p.m. (CT) SportsCenter today -- which will happen in about 35 minutes. I haven't heard this from an official source, so it could be just a rumor among the student body.

From the SJU student-run "ESPN Week Festivities" Facebook event description:

"5pm on Friday -- ESPN Goes LIVE at the Clemens Stadium Pep Rally. They do not normally do this on Friday for a Saturday broadcast, but they think Johnnie and Bennie fans can kick the crap out of DI fans!"

[Retired Old Rat]

If UST wants to keep doing it I won't complain. Last year's game certainly turned on the roughing the punter penalty. Instead of starting a drive in SJU territory, UST's defense was forced back on the field & SJU ended up scoring. Playing hard and fast is fine but I wouldn't want my team being susceptible to penalties.

I do agree, I don't think there's anything dirty about it, at least not from an intent to injure (insert you know who.) Outside of playing fast, I've thought of the personal fouls as more of a sign of disrespect of the abilities for their opponents. Reminds of the Cobra Kai doling out a little extra punishment before finishing off their opponent.

That certainly true in the 2011 disaster of a game.  Victory was not sufficient, UST was not going to be satisfied with anything but humiliation that day.  Offensive lineman blocking well after the whistle on running plays to attempt pancaking their man, for example.  A lot was revealed that day.

[faunch]

Apparently ESPN will be cutting to a pep rally at Clemens Stadium during the 5 p.m. (CT) SportsCenter today -- which will happen in about 35 minutes. I haven't heard this from an official source, so it could be just a rumor among the student body.

From the SJU student-run "ESPN Week Festivities" Facebook event description:

"5pm on Friday -- ESPN Goes LIVE at the Clemens Stadium Pep Rally. They do not normally do this on Friday for a Saturday broadcast, but they think Johnnie and Bennie fans can kick the crap out of DI fans!"

It's going to really irk the U$T faithful to have this happen.  I'd wager that next season's SJU / U$T game might be carried on watchespn...once they see how great this rivalry game is they'l be disappointed they didn't broadcast the game.

[BDB]

Apparently ESPN will be cutting to a pep rally at Clemens Stadium during the 5 p.m. (CT) SportsCenter today -- which will happen in about 35 minutes. I haven't heard this from an official source, so it could be just a rumor among the student body.

From the SJU student-run "ESPN Week Festivities" Facebook event description:

"5pm on Friday -- ESPN Goes LIVE at the Clemens Stadium Pep Rally. They do not normally do this on Friday for a Saturday broadcast, but they think Johnnie and Bennie fans can kick the crap out of DI fans!"

It's real alright. They've gone live from there and the students are wild!

[Retired Old Rat]

That was short but very sweet.  I wish ESPN had done this when I was in school.  I'd have worn my Tommie cheerleading outfit.  I had great legs in back then.

Hopefully all this attention is going to help SJU recruiting.

[57Johnnie]

Back from Oklahoma where Mrs. 57 & I once again tried to OD on catfish at the Boom-a-Rang Diner in Pryor. Now for a JOHNNIE 'W' tomorrow 

[SagatagSam]

Good sneak peek for tomorrow.
Hats off to the SJU athletic department and student senate for getting the word out on campus for a great turnout.