FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[retagent]

Great all around game for SJU today, as someone else noted, particularly the play calling.  There were several series where BU seemed to have Sura bottled up, and SJU would run a timely FB dive to take advantage  of all the attention that Sura was getting, and pick up a quick 5+ yard run.  Also some good option runs out of Martin, and well timed pitches.

I was disappointed in the offensive performance out of BU...just flat and no urgency.  Bummed to see Trey Anderson go down with another torn ACL (what I heard).  Feel terrible for the kid. Sura had a great game...picks his pay around blocks well, and has a decent speed burst when he gets a lane.

Looking forward to seeing SJU in the playoffs!

I don't know that I would say Sura had a 'great' day, I thought Bethel kept him contained pretty much all day. He had 36 rushes for 102 yards which is only a 2.8 yard average, compared to his normal season average of 5.9 yards per carry.  It was obvious that Bethel's goal was to stop Sura. Unfortunately it left other areas pretty open, especially in the defensive secondary which Martin took advantage of.

Yes, "great" is probably an oversell, I guess I just thought he did a good job of taking what he could get against a defense that was, as you pointed out, selling out to stop him. 

Martin is an interesting story to me...hard to believe that a guy with such a limited QB history can run the show for a top flight team.  He looked a lot more comfortable out there than he did last year vs. BU, IMO.  Smart option plays, taking off with the ball on passing plays when he had lanes, etc.

Hopefully Dzurick can move the offense enough to take down the Auggies next week, though I don't think the Augsburg and SJU defenses are all that comparable... 

That could be the understatement of the year.

[sjusection105]

UST converted a drop kick on an extra point! And had more then a few trick plays that just blew my mind!!! I would hope that it would be highlited on ESPN...IT WAS NUTTS!

Yep, the first of the three 2 pt. conversions, you know...the behind the back pass... that must have been super sweet. At first reading the box score I thought is was a normal 2 pt. conversion but after seeing it on ESPN this was perhaps the trickiest of trick plays I have ever seen. Then to run two more 2 pt. conversions, the Tommies must have seen something on film about Carleton that made them so nervous that had to run three 2 pt. conversions. As you said, CT....IT WAS NUTS!

The SportsCenter anchor said it best...

https://youtu.be/p7KE7x77rkY

That was crazy, but was it necessary....

You can never be too careful when playing a MIAC  foe who has won 6 MIAC games in the past 5 years......

[OzJohnnie]

The thing is, 105, that UST would never use that play against a high caliber DIII team. It's only safe to do that sort of thing when you don't fear the opponent. It's like being on the beach kicking in the face of the skinny guy.

[sjusection105]

The thing is, 105, that UST would never use that play against a high caliber DIII team. It's only safe to do that sort of thing when you don't fear the opponent. It's like being on the beach kicking in the face of the skinny guy.

Let's see who is a potential Round 1 play-off opponent for UST? St. Scholastica......
Ramler better be game planning for a behind the back pass 2 pt. conversion......

[OzJohnnie]

So, the $64,000 question: When do the Vikings start demonstrating their true choke potential?

Actually, I don't think they will choke.  I instead think they will reveal themselves to be the true team they are.  They are winning these games by the skin of their teeth largely against chumps.  They are playing as well as they can and are getting some good schedule luck.

My two second adding up:

* Record of teams Vikings have played to date: 22 - 31
* Record of teams Vikings play to close the season: 31 - 21

My guess, The Vikings close out the year 2 - 6 to finish 8 -8.  They'll let us down again.  It's the only thing we can depend on from them.

[sjusection105]

The New D3 Top 25 ---------> http://www.d3football.com/top25/2015/week10 <--------

I know this is not the committee speaking ,but Pat & crew has a pretty good track record getting things right as far as the brackets go, but if Mount Union goes "East" and Oshkosh goes "North" Linfield is "West" who is the "South" #1 seed? Wesley threw a curve yesterday in setting up the bracket. Is Wabash far enough south to be considered "South"? Looking at a map they seen to be in west-central Indiana.

[OzJohnnie]

Johnnies are up to 10th, which is nice to see, an they've picked up 50 more ranking points, which is nicer.

I think that Linfield goes south and UST gets the West.  A Johnnie - Tommie rematch in round two will be set up for all the bananas.

[Mr.MIAC]

The thing is, 105, that UST would never use that play against a high caliber DIII team. It's only safe to do that sort of thing when you don't fear the opponent. It's like being on the beach kicking in the face of the skinny guy.

I'm none too shy about my support for UST. I don't hold back about giving the football coaching staff kudos for turning the program around and mentoring young Tommies. It's great to be part of the F.A.M.I.L.Y and it will be exciting to witness the growth UST is about to undergo.

That being said, even I was a little put off by all the trickery against Carleton. Two two-point conversions, including a behind the back pass. A successful onside kick, whilst we're up by 40 points or so. A successful drop kick point after attempt when we're up by at least 60 points. I understand the benefit of trying out trick plays in a live game, as well as the need to get lots of stuff on tape. One or two trick plays would have been no big deal. However, all of this in a single game we won 80-3 rubbed me the wrong way.

At the end of the day it's all about turning young men into leaders. Leadership involves respecting yourself and your opponent. I don't think the coaching staff intended to show Carleton disrespect, but it sure came off that way. Okay, I'm off my soapbox...

[OzJohnnie]

I think you have a good point on your soapbox, Rev. My hope is that the silly games on the weekend create a sense of complacency that is UST's downfall.  It's tough to turn the arrogance switch on and off.

[SJUrube]

I'm interested in what plays are nominated for MIAC Play of the Week. Will the MIAC put any play(s) out there that some might view as an intentional case of trying to embarrass a member institution?

[OzJohnnie]

I don't think they did it to intentionally embarrass Carleton, embarrassing though it was, but instead to practice and demonstrate versatility. Quite poor judgement, undoubtedly, to do it so many times en route to a near quadruple monkey stomp out. And that's what I think this is, poor judgement born of arrogance not malice.

I think there will be a long run or pass that gets the nomination like usual.

[faunch]

The thing is, 105, that UST would never use that play against a high caliber DIII team. It's only safe to do that sort of thing when you don't fear the opponent. It's like being on the beach kicking in the face of the skinny guy.

I'm none too shy about my support for UST. I don't hold back about giving the football coaching staff kudos for turning the program around and mentoring young Tommies. It's great to be part of the F.A.M.I.L.Y and it will be exciting to witness the growth UST is about to undergo.

That being said, even I was a little put off by all the trickery against Carleton. Two two-point conversions, including a behind the back pass. A successful onside kick, whilst we're up by 40 points or so. A successful drop kick point after attempt when we're up by at least 60 points. I understand the benefit of trying out trick plays in a live game, as well as the need to get lots of stuff on tape. One or two trick plays would have been no big deal. However, all of this in a single game we won 80-3 rubbed me the wrong way.

At the end of the day it's all about turning young men into leaders. Leadership involves respecting yourself and your opponent. I don't think the coaching staff intended to show Carleton disrespect, but it sure came off that way. Okay, I'm off my soapbox...

The U$T coaches have been around the block enough times to know better.  Which tells me they don't care about how about this looks and if it's interpreted as disrespectful.  Three 2 pt conversions (at least one a fake), an onside kick when up 30-3 in the second quarter, and a drop kick point against the bottom dweller in the conference is poor form and in this case there really isn't a fine line.  Trying out a few gimmicks is one thing but this demonstrates a lack of respect and sportsmanship toward an opponent, intention doesn't matter.  If this had been a televised D1 FBS or FCS level game it would have been news and not just because of one goofy albeit stupid two point conversion.

At the same time maybe the U$T coaches might have something here.  Maybe I'll alter my philosophy when coaching my daughter's 12U fast pitch team this summer.  If we get up by 10 or 15 in a game we probably should work on some "trick" plays in game situations.  Behind the back throws around the infield.  Throw in a few delayed steals, a suicide squeeze or two and maybe try to pull of a hidden ball trick...not sure how that would work in fast pitch???  Who cares if it comes off as arrogant and bush league?  Problem is that I would expect the opposing coach would probably want to give me a softball bat enema.

[sjusection105]

I think there will be a long run or pass that gets the nomination like usual.

.....Or the 2 GAC TDs in the last 30 seconds sequence, complete with onside kick recovery, to get by CCM

[SJUrube]

I think there will be a long run or pass that gets the nomination like usual.

.....Or the 2 GAC TDs in the last 30 seconds sequence, complete with onside kick recovery, to get by CCM

I had no idea they had all of that occur to win. They win...play(s) unseen. Good for the Gusties getting a bit of the money off their back. Wouldn't mind if thy took a run at the gorilla this weekend.

[USee]

The New D3 Top 25 ---------> http://www.d3football.com/top25/2015/week10 <--------

I know this is not the committee speaking ,but Pat & crew has a pretty good track record getting things right as far as the brackets go, but if Mount Union goes "East" and Oshkosh goes "North" Linfield is "West" who is the "South" #1 seed? Wesley threw a curve yesterday in setting up the bracket. Is Wabash far enough south to be considered "South"? Looking at a map they seen to be in west-central Indiana.

That's no longer how they compose the brackets. They don't us N,S,E,W for the tournament. They only use the regions for the regional rankings to rank the teams in each region for the field. Then the national committee picks the field (Pool B and C), they then pick the top 4 seeds and build a bracket around those teas based on geography. So it's not out of the question that the 4 top seeds could be Mt Union and 3 West teams. Since the south usually has to have a flight eventually they could make Linfield #1 and build the southern teams into a bracket that includes them, make St thomas #1 and build a west centered bracket around them, UWO #1 and build a north centered bracket around them and Mt Union with an east oriented bracket. 

Keep an eye on the Pool C board this week as there will be much discussion around this on that board, particularly after the RR come out on Wednesday