FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

Maybe the Cobbers sit alone in Tier 2, and there is a Tier 3 and a Tier 4. 

[AO]

When is the last time the Cobbers made a quarterfinal appearance?  Seriously.  I don't care enough to research it.

In an effort to avoid working on a lengthy report, I checked into my question.  The Cobbers have not won the MIAC since '04, with 2nd place finishes in '05, '08, '12, '13, and '14.  Their most recent playoff appearances have been '04  and '05, where they lost in the 2nd round both years.  I had to go back to '86 to find a legitimate deep playoff run.  I'd argue that Concordia is now a "Tier 2" team.  Because of the style of football they play, they can be tough to beat, but I don't see them as a legimate threat on a regular basis.

Thanks for doing the research. I was skeptical when I saw Concordia included in Tier 1 with the quarterfinal comment, although it's certainly accurate for the other 3 teams and Concordia did beat Bethel 3 years in a row (2015-2017).

I'd be curious the last time any of those Tier 2 teams ended the year 8-2. Seems like 8-2, even for Gustavus would be a high bar.
(I looked. Gustavus' last 8-2 was 1999. For Olaf it was 2011, with a string of them from 2005-2007. For Augsburg it is pre-1998, so doesn't show on the d3football.com history.)

I'm not gonna die on the hill of Cobbers being Tier 1. The quarterfinal comment was really to say at the end of a given season, the top team in Tier 1 tend to be a quarterfinal or better threat. Concordia hasn't been the top of Tier 1 in over a decade, but they do seem to be better than Tier 2. Maybe it's just that they are clearly the best of Tier 2, with GAC nipping at their heals. shrug

They'd be a quarterfinal threat in the East region.

[DuffMan]

Half the MIAC would...

[repete]

Paging the angry Brockport poster ... 3...2...1.

[hazzben]

Maybe the Cobbers sit alone in Tier 2, and there is a Tier 3 and a Tier 4. 

The cobb stands alone

[jamtod]

Paging the angry Brockport poster ... 3...2...1.

Not sure if folks saw Quick Hits, but Pat had an interesting comment in calling for Bethel as the Top 25 team most likely to get upset:

Pat's take: No. 10 Bethel. It would be unethical of me to say more, however.

Not sure if the implication is that he has some insider information about Bethel or if I'm missing a joke?

[DuffMan]

Not sure if the implication is that he has some insider information about Bethel or if I'm missing a joke?

I was wondering the same thing.

[OzJohnnie]

Not sure if the implication is that he has some insider information about Bethel or if I'm missing a joke?

My first guess was inside info on something that will disqualify players or staff for ethics breaches and we just haven't heard about it yet.  But the second last place (after dear old SJU) where I would expect something like that is BU.  So then i went to he's heard someone important has been injured, but that would likely leak here too.  So then joke i don't get is where I settled.

[jamtod]

Not sure if the implication is that he has some insider information about Bethel or if I'm missing a joke?

My first guess was inside info on something that will disqualify players or staff for ethics breaches and we just haven't heard about it yet.  But the second last place (after dear old SJU) where I would expect something like that is BU.  So then i went to he's heard someone important has been injured, but that would likely leak here too.  So then joke i don't get is where I settled.

I followed basically the same progression.
The only injured player I could think of that would have that kind of impact would be Roste, I think. But would even that be enough for them to lose to Simpson? Isn't Marsh still there?

[MadRedFan]

If someone posted this already, my apologies.

Nice "article" about Kai Barber on the SJU website, courtesy of Frank Rajkowski.  Not any great insights into Saturday's game, but a nice look at a good kid.

https://gojohnnies.com/news/2019/9/5/football-jedi-in-shoulder-pads-veteran-sju-running-back-embraces-role-as-amentor.aspx

[GoldandBlueBU]

Not sure if the implication is that he has some insider information about Bethel or if I'm missing a joke?

I was wondering the same thing.

Woof.  I haven't heard anything, but yeah, Roste would be the only one that I could think of that would cause that much hesitation about BU as a team?

They haven't posted their game notes yet (they usually have by mid day thursday) - which have a 2 deep on them, so maybe there's something to it?

Bummer. (potentially)

[art76]

Hmmmm - not sure what to make of Pat's comment in quick hits.

In other Bethel news, KARE 11 did a story on one of their strength and conditioning coaches: https://www.kare11.com/article/news/health/tackle-cancer/tackle-cancer-coach-larry-herms-fight-against-prostate-cancer/89-27b10aa1-95c0-449f-a4df-7c45f7361cd3

[sjujohnnie]

Hamline looks formidable! Down 45-0 before scoring a touchdown early in the 4th quarter against Buena Vista. St John's played a home & away against BV in '15/'16. We beat them in Collegeville 56-7 in '15 & 40-17 in '16 in Storm Lake, IA. I've had family go to BV. As inadequate as Hamline is, I did not predict a blowout by BV! Looking at the schedule on d3football.com, Mount Union opens their season with Rose-Hulman whom St John's closes their season with. Will keep an eye on the score of that game! Only a couple days to go! So close! Listened to the "Football Weekly" broadcast tonight & am even more excited for this season (if that's possible)! Concerning that Mary Hardin-Baylor is the only school willing to play us to fill an open date next season. Playing an NAIA team won't help us if we can find any, but at least would give the guys some game time. Morningside who won the NAIA national championship this past season blew out another NAIA team to open their season 80-0. They're facing the same dilemma. Can't find anyone to play them. St John's vs Morningside would be a heck of a battle! Would love to see it with Erdmann under center, though. He's going to leave HUGE shoes to fill!

[OzJohnnie]

Rose-Hulman is doing the UMU-SJU double?  Did a player sleep with the coach's daughter? Dang.

[DuffMan]

All I can say about that Hamline game is OUCH.

Whoever writes their game stories sure is a "glass half full" person.

Jones, Moton Offensive Highlights in FB Season Opener
Terrell Jones (22) sure knows how to make a great first impression. The freshman back had a 42 yard kickoff return -- the longest HU play of the night -- in a 51-7 season-opening setback to Buena Vista Thursday night at Klas Field. Jones also rushed for 11 yards on a pair of carries.

Manny Moton, a senior QB, also provided a highlight when he scampered 18 yards for a fourth quarter score for HU. It was the longest rushing play of the night for Hamline. The Georgian entered the game in the second half and ran for a team high 33 yards.

HU also got a solid effort from punter Riley Bakken, who averaged 42.5 yards on half a dozen efforts. The senior boomed a 60 yarder and knocked two kicks out of bounds inside the 20 yard line.

Monty Stenroos and Adrian Cracolici led the Piper defense with nine tackles each. Stenroos had a pair for losses and a six yard sack. Carson Reinard, a freshman, had a 12 yard interception and forced a fumble.

Offensive highlights?  32 total offensive yards (vs. 552) and -1 yard rushing?  Unless BV really made some gigantic strides in the off-season, Hamline is going to struggle to win a game this year.