FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[TC]

Special Olympians are the only ones that compare favorably with the JOHNNIES. 

So you'll be pulling for the Tommies this weekend, then?

*****

miacmaniac,

It appears you have Blake Elliott's Sophomore and Junior year stats there. 

Objectively or subjectively, Waldvogel is not as good as Blake Elliott was, but there's no shame in that--Elliott was a transcendent D3 talent.  It think it is safe to say that Waldvogel and Wartman will be the two most talented skill position players on the field on Saturday.  The St. John's defense certainly has its work cut out for it.

I'm not sure if the defense is going to be up to the challenge.  Their best player is going to try to play two weeks after tearing an ACL.  Ethan Eid has missed the last 3 games with injury and there's no guarentee that he'll be 100% this week.  The secondary is a mixture of banged up and inexperienced--which isn't all that sweet of a combination, really.  This game could turn into a shootout and, while the offense has played better this season than last, I'm not sure it's an offense that can put up 40 points against a good team.

I really hope I'm wrong, though.  Beating St. Thomas would give the Johnnies a reasonable shot at a #1 seed if they can win out. 

[WithasilentK]

I know Waldvogel is good...but to compare him to a Gagliardi Trophy winner who lead his team to a Stagg Bowl win, is a little much at this stage of his career, check back with me after his senior season and maybe he qualifies for that comparison...maybe

Comparing Waldvogel midway through his sophomore year to Elliott thru the end of his soph year (I'm too lazy to break Elliotts' 2nd year stats down game by game to get just the first half of his 2nd season), they look pretty even to me. Comparing Elliott's 4 year body of work to Waldvogel's 1.5 year body or work is rather premature, dont you think? But at this juncture, they seem fairly even to me. Elliott has a clear edge in TDs scored. But yardage per catch, per game and in total is statistacally even (apologies for the layout of the chart)
RECEIVING   GP   No.   Yds   Avg   TD   Long   Avg/G
--------------   ----   -----   -----   ------   ----   -----   ------
Blake Elliott   13   72   1056   14.7   14   46   81.2
   14   120   1484   12.4   22   70   106
   27   192   2540   13.2   36   70   94.07
                     
                     
RECEIVING   GP   No.   Yds   Avg   TD   Long   Avg/G
--------------   ----   -----   -----   ------   ----   -----   ------
Fritz Waldvogel    10   59   807   13.7   4   65   80.7
   5   38   518   13.6   3   48   103.6
   15   97   1325   13.6   7   65   88.3
                     
                     
PUNT RETURNS   No.   Yds   Avg   TD   Long      
----------------   -----   -----   ------   ---   ----      
Blake Elliott   27   455   16.9   3   89      
   37   385   10.4   2   86      
   64   840   13.1   5   89      
                     
                     
PUNT RETURNS   No.   Yds   Avg   TD   Long      
----------------   -----   -----   ------   ---   ----      
Fritz Waldvogel    8   142   17.8   1   70      
   11   237   21.5   2   74      
   19   379   19.9   3   74      
                     
                     
                     
KICK RETURNS   No.   Yds   Avg   TD   Long      
----------------   -----   -----   ------   ---   ----      
Blake Elliott   11   251   22.8   0   42      
   24   520   21.7   0   38      
   35   771   22   0   42      
                     
                     
KICK RETURNS   No.   Yds   Avg   TD   Long      
----------------   -----   -----   ------   ---   ----      
Fritz Waldvogel    14   314   22.4   0   56      
   6   71   11.8   0   24      
   20   385   19.25   0   56      

Waldvogel- All-MIAC Second Team his freshman year
Elliott- no All-MIAC honors his freshman year

Waldvogel is a good receiver and returner, though his return stats are inflated by 3 returns for 180 yards against Mac.  Besides that he only has 8 returns for 57 yards on the season.

And Elliott's line his first season was inflated by a game vs. Mac too. Kinda makes your point moot.

He never said anything about Elliot's line his first season.  He pointed out that Waldvogel's punt returns MAY not be as good as they look.  But it is possible that teams are punting away from him.  Regardless, his point stands.

He's a very good athlete, and the best receiver in a receiver-depleted MIAC, and I think he will put up about the same numbers for the next 2 years, which will be very good.  To compare him to Elliot is ridiculous though.

[faunch]

Bring your appetites to the pre-game tailgate S-festivities on Saturday...I'm putting the pork shoulder on the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker on Friday afternoon and will be cooking it for about 20 hours...it will be lathered in Carolina Sauce and will be served around 11 a.m. Saturday.

[DutchHawk]

Hate to interrupt the Johnnie - Tommie love fest but....I have to work the next 4 day shifts. Do you guys have a webcast of this game up north, or at least live stats for me to follow at work!

Thanks, good luck to both teams, stay healthy!

[tmerton]

I"m not sure if the defense is going to be up to the challenge. ... This game could turn into a shootout and, while the offense has played better this season than last, I'm not sure it's an offense that can put up 40 points against a good team. 

So if the Twinkies hadn't crapped their pants we wouldn't have to listen to this Chicken Little routine?  Geez, now I'm really sorry they're out of the playoffs.

[smedindy]

Put yer money where yer mouth is and go pick 'em! The games are posted and the lines are drawn, as it were.

[Johnnie Red]

Faunch, thanks again for bringing the pork to the Stiftungsfestivities. Should be a culinary delight! Tommie fans, you are welcome to join us for the tailgate party. We are located in the parking lot above the scoreboard end of the field. The party is usually going by 10:00 a.m. with a few of us there by 9:00 a.m. The Vikings cheerleaders will be at the party from 11:00 till noon. They will have swimsuit calendars for sale for anyone who is interested.

[57Johnnie]

Faunch, thanks again for bringing the pork to the Stiftungsfestivities. Should be a culinary delight! Tommie fans, you are welcome to join us for the tailgate party. We are located in the parking lot above the scoreboard end of the field. The party is usually going by 10:00 a.m. with a few of us there by 9:00 a.m. The Vikings cheerleaders will be at the party from 11:00 till noon. They will have swimsuit calendars for sale for anyone who is interested.

http://www.vikingsfanshop.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=783&catID=17

[Knightstalker]

Faunch, thanks again for bringing the pork to the Stiftungsfestivities. Should be a culinary delight! Tommie fans, you are welcome to join us for the tailgate party. We are located in the parking lot above the scoreboard end of the field. The party is usually going by 10:00 a.m. with a few of us there by 9:00 a.m. The Vikings cheerleaders will be at the party from 11:00 till noon. They will have swimsuit calendars for sale for anyone who is interested.

Huhuhuhuhuhuhuh Cheerleaders and pork, huhuhuhuhuh cool.

I got to make a road trip to MN someday just to check out a SJU game.  I wonder if I can convince my boss I need to make a visit to Target headquarters.

[sjusection105]

Read Johnnie Tats- "Because it is" exclusively at: www.JohnnieFootball.com

[hazzben]

I will put my money on Haugen and Fasching to devise a scheme to contain the Tommie receiver. I can't remember the last time two sophmores beat SJU and I don't think it will happen Saturday.

You're right, last year Flannery was a sophomore and Aakre was only a freshman when BU beat SJU!

And before you guys get all up in my grill, I realize that it says 'last year' in my post.  Believe me, it was painful to write...

[VOJ]

I will put my money on Haugen and Fasching to devise a scheme to contain the Tommie receiver. I can't remember the last time two sophmores beat SJU and I don't think it will happen Saturday.

You're right, last year Flannery was a sophomore and Aakre was only a freshman when BU beat SJU!

And before you guys get all up in my grill, I realize that it says 'last year' in my post.  Believe me, it was painful to write...

True...but it was not really the Bethel offense that won that game...it was your D and an inability to put the ball in the end zone on more than one occasion from inside the 20 by the Johnnies offensive offense. 

Hate to interrupt the Johnnie - Tommie love fest but....I have to work the next 4 day shifts. Do you guys have a webcast of this game up north, or at least live stats for me to follow at work!

Thanks, good luck to both teams, stay healthy!

Live Stats yes...webcast no...play by play from numerous sources...UST, SJU and possibly neutral from the DIII.com boys

[USTBench]

Faunch, thanks again for bringing the pork to the Stiftungsfestivities. Should be a culinary delight! Tommie fans, you are welcome to join us for the tailgate party. We are located in the parking lot above the scoreboard end of the field. The party is usually going by 10:00 a.m. with a few of us there by 9:00 a.m. The Vikings cheerleaders will be at the party from 11:00 till noon. They will have swimsuit calendars for sale for anyone who is interested.

Shall I bring an offering of Hamm's? Or will that be covered?

[Pat Coleman]

I will put my money on Haugen and Fasching to devise a scheme to contain the Tommie receiver. I can't remember the last time two sophmores beat SJU and I don't think it will happen Saturday.

You're right, last year Flannery was a sophomore and Aakre was only a freshman when BU beat SJU!

And before you guys get all up in my grill, I realize that it says 'last year' in my post.  Believe me, it was painful to write...

True...but it was not really the Bethel offense that won that game...it was your D and an inability to put the ball in the end zone on more than one occasion from inside the 20 by the Johnnies offensive offense. 

Hate to interrupt the Johnnie - Tommie love fest but....I have to work the next 4 day shifts. Do you guys have a webcast of this game up north, or at least live stats for me to follow at work!

Thanks, good luck to both teams, stay healthy!

Live Stats yes...webcast no...play by play from numerous sources...UST, SJU and possibly neutral from the DIII.com boys

Yes, neutral webcast there. Promise to get all the kickoffs on. 

[hazzben]

Is the Tommie offensive line really that good or will they be exposed this weekend?

Line is pretty good: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/Josh_10-13.html...top notch for D3.

That blog post was just silly and amateur!  I won't argue against the quality of player Ostrue is, he is definitely a top flight D3 lineman. 

But seriously, "-Josh's parents love him. It's not just about football for the South St. Paul native, who has a 3.00 gpa and aspires to attend medical school."

What!?!?!?!  Josh's parents love him.  Stop the presses!

Then again, I guess when you're a Tommie, you can't take for granted that your parents will love you 

As for the 3.00 gpa and plans for medschool, for his sake, here's to hoping he absolutely dominates the MCAT...