FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

A look at the Carleton football website reveals that their remaining home games are scheduled to be played at Northfield High.

http://apps.carleton.edu/athletics/varsity_sports/football/schedule_and_results/

As I read it, it says Laird Stadium.

That's what I see as well.

me too....maybe its part of a scheme to confuse opponents as to where the game is and then win by forfeit when they fail to show up at the right field

[Touchdown Tommy]

Hi fellas,

Great tailgate on Saturday.  Entertaining game.

[wildcat11]

I heard rumors of a PC-usTDT confrontation...have we heard the last of usTDT and Post Patterns???

I saw it, and I'm paraphrasing:

TDT: A hearty welcome to you and D3football.com
PC: Why thank you TDT
TDT: I know we disagree from time to time, but come, enjoy a bratwurst with me and let's discuss the keys to today's game.
PC: I would enjoy that.

I think that's about how it went. Some the details are a little fuzzy as I had a few adult beverages. 

Whoa...did something go down between TDT and Pat?  Say it ain't so!

[Pat Coleman]

I am always glad when my presence can inspire such passion that even before I say anything, someone else drops a swear word. This must say something about the impact of D3football.com in the Division III football community. What it is, not quite sure.

I won't be selecting which games I go to based on a vocal super-minority of the fan base, however. I think that was the suggestion, but I'm not intimidated.

[USTBench]

"Simply put every game is a BIG game for the Johnnies. Just because the Lane Kiffin of the MIAC and his band of purple clad Oakland Rider wanna be uniform boys are rolling into the "Ville" does not escalate this week over any other!"

-Johnnie Tats

I must say this article had a few funny parts. However, leaving Mac for UST after 2 years is not Lane Kiffin-esque.  I think it'd be hard to disagree that it would be impossible to build a winning program at Mac. You need resources, and an administration willing to commit to your program. Not an adiminstration that wants to cut the program and/or drop out of the conference.

Lane Kiffin makes lateral moves, and raids other coaching staffs without asking. Caruso moved a half-mile, got a (I'm guessing) substaintial pay raise, the opportunity to build a winner, a brand new facility, and from what I can guess, made the right move for his family.

Yes, Caruso does Tommie Media, WCCO, Star Trib, Pioneer Press, interviews. But I was unaware coaching a college football team was supposed to be a secret. I figured Caruso wouldn't be labled attention whore by SJU fans, considering Gags has done the EXACT same interview with multiple national media oulets every year for the last decade and a half. Even the videography is the same. Gags sitting at his desk going through his list of "Nos," low angle shots of players ankles as they practice, elevator music over shots of the Natural Bowl, some big time reporter that finds the simple philosophy endearing, especially considering that "John Gagliardi has more wins than any coach in college football history. Including Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden." And then some players gushing over the fact they get to call him John. Not necessarily in that order, but it's been done. And done. And done.

Maybe Caruso will move on to what he thinks may be greener pastures or maybe he's found his own little slice of heaven. All I know is the smile on his face on Saturday seemed to indicate he likes Summit and Cretin just fine.

Caruso and UST are doing something different than SJU and finding their own way, and finding success. You can hate on the bandwagon jumpers, but I suffered through Roney, Wemeier, 3 hour full pad practices, the 100 man roster in which only 22 of us were trusted to play, the scout team, the constant drubbing by SJU, the delay of games because our O Coordinator was 90, the assistant coaching turnover, and the perpetual mediocirty. Cut me some slack.

Looking at it objectively there's no reason UST should not have a decent program year in and year out. That's what was so frustrating. Good location, good looking women, new facilities, etc.

Hate it, love it, but it's good for the MIAC. And yes, I am acknowledging 50+ years of sustained success at SJU. I'll be the first to admit with 31 Conference titles, 4 national titles, the "do something before you talk," has some validity.

But with a few playoff wins, a probable #1 seed on the horizon (I know, I know, the NCAA "doesn't seed"), and a win in Collegeville (finally), I'd say UST is on their way.

[faunch]

A look at the Carleton football website reveals that their remaining home games are scheduled to be played at Northfield High.

http://apps.carleton.edu/athletics/varsity_sports/football/schedule_and_results/

As I read it, it says Laird Stadium.

That's what I see as well.

me too....maybe its part of a scheme to confuse opponents as to where the game is and then win by forfeit when they fail to show up at the right field

My bad..I read the Augsburg game and my mind inserted the rest!  I'm Still struggling after the weekend I guess...still in a fog of sorts.

[faunch]

"Simply put every game is a BIG game for the Johnnies. Just because the Lane Kiffin of the MIAC and his band of purple clad Oakland Rider wanna be uniform boys are rolling into the "Ville" does not escalate this week over any other!"

-Johnnie Tats

I must say this article had a few funny parts. However, leaving Mac for UST after 2 years is not Lane Kiffin-esque.  I think it'd be hard to disagree that it would be impossible to build a winning program at Mac. You need resources, and an administration willing to commit to your program. Not an adiminstration that wants to cut the program and/or drop out of the conference.

Lane Kiffin makes lateral moves, and raids other coaching staffs without asking. Caruso moved a half-mile, got a (I'm guessing) substaintial pay raise, the opportunity to build a winner, a brand new facility, and from what I can guess, made the right move for his family.

Yes, Caruso does Tommie Media, WCCO, Star Trib, Pioneer Press, interviews. But I was unaware coaching a college football team was supposed to be a secret. I figured Caruso wouldn't be labled attention whore by SJU fans, considering Gags has done the EXACT same interview with multiple national media oulets every year for the last decade and a half. Even the videography is the same. Gags sitting at his desk going through his list of "Nos," low angle shots of players ankles as they practice, elevator music over shots of the Natural Bowl, some big time reporter that finds the simple philosophy endearing, especially considering that "John Gagliardi has more wins than any coach in college football history. Including Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden." And then some players gushing over the fact they get to call him John. Not necessarily in that order, but it's been done. And done. And done.

Maybe Caruso will move on to what he thinks may be greener pastures or maybe he's found his own little slice of heaven. All I know is the smile on his face on Saturday seemed to indicate he likes Summit and Cretin just fine.

Caruso and UST are doing something different than SJU and finding their own way, and finding success. You can hate on the bandwagon jumpers, but I suffered through Roney, Wemeier, 3 hour full pad practices, the 100 man roster in which only 22 of us were trusted to play, the scout team, the constant drubbing by SJU, the delay of games because our O Coordinator was 90, the assistant coaching turnover, and the perpetual mediocirty. Cut me some slack.

Looking at it objectively there's no reason UST should not have a decent program year in and year out. That's what was so frustrating. Good location, good looking women, new facilities, etc.

Hate it, love it, but it's good for the MIAC. And yes, I am acknowledging 50+ years of sustained success at SJU. I'll be the first to admit with 31 Conference titles, 4 national titles, the "do something before you talk," has some validity.

But with a few playoff wins, a probable #1 seed on the horizon (I know, I know, the NCAA "doesn't seed"), and a win in Collegeville (finally), I'd say UST is on their way.

USTBench:
I agree with many of your points. 
I believe that the SJU staff has or will soon come to the realization that the UST football program is no longer in the hands of a bunch of bungling buffoons.  It's my hope this will bring out the best in the SJU football program.  It's my opinion that SJU might have been relying past performances or as I call it the "Field of Dreams" problem.  "If you build it they will come."  The truth is you'e got to go out and get some of that talent.
The reality is that SJU could very likely be 3-3 after this Saturday.  I think the last time SJU had 3 losses in the regular season was 2004. 
Next year's freshman class was only 11 years old when SJU beat Mount Union in the 2003 National Championship game.  It really doesn't mean much to these kids.  It's time for the SJU program to step up to the challenge.

[sjusection105]

USTBench:
I agree with many of your points. 
I believe that the SJU staff has or will soon come to the realization that the UST football program is no longer in the hands of a bunch of bungling buffoons.  It's my hope this will bring out the best in the SJU football program.  It's my opinion that SJU might have been relying past performances or as I call it the "Field of Dreams" problem.  "If you build it they will come."  The truth is you'e got to go out and get some of that talent.
The reality is that SJU could very likely be 3-3 after this Saturday.  I think the last time SJU had 3 losses in the regular season was 2004. 
Next year's freshman class was only 11 years old when SJU beat Mount Union in the 2003 National Championship game.  It really doesn't mean much to these kids.  It's time for the SJU program to step up to the challenge.

You both make good points about both programs. The face of the MIAC has changed over the past decade and will continue to change. Bethel has it's strongholds of recruiting as does Concordia,Olaf, Carleton & Augsburg bring other things to the table. The talent pool in Minnesota is only so big. A few kids are good enough for national division 1 programs, then the 1aa schools siphon off the next layer (schools in the Dakotas- look at their rosters) then you have the "in-between" kids- nearly every roster in the MIAC has these kids, they start at a D2 school and then decide they want a different college experience and come back to the MIAC after a year of redshirting at the D2 level. The trick is to convince these kid to come to your MIAC school right away. The competition for these kids & the financial aid packages are very competitive. Don't even get me started talking about the WIAC,but the days of "build it and they will come" the kids like Duffman & Wooderson, who had a connection at the school are fewer and fewer and SJU can not continue to rely and the Central Minnesota All-Stars automatically enroll- kids are different today & feel the need to be "wanted". It's a continually changing game,but SJU has kept up with the changes over 50 years,I suspect they will have no problem adapting in the future.

[sfury]

If you're using that quote Winterhawk, you might want to remember what happened to The Turk.

[AuggieBacker]

Interesting discussion going on here.  sjusection105 makes a very good point about kids today needing to feel wanted.  I know of a couple of recruits that were seriously looking at St. Johns but ended up choosing St. Thomas because it "felt" right to them.  One parent I chatted with about it said that his son didn't feel like St. Johns really wanted him.  Instead there was an arrogance from the staff that he should feel honored that they were even talking to him.  I think that speaks to the point about St. Johns relying a lot on their reputation to land recruits instead of doing all they could/should to recruit athletes these days.

It's hard to argue with their approach because year after year they compete for the MIAC championship.  They have to be careful though because perception often times becomes reality and it only takes a couple of bad years of recruiting to change that.

[sjusection105]

Interesting discussion going on here.  sjusection105 makes a very good point about kids today needing to feel wanted.  I know of a couple of recruits that were seriously looking at St. Johns but ended up choosing St. Thomas because it "felt" right to them.  One parent I chatted with about it said that his son didn't feel like St. Johns really wanted him.   Instead there was an arrogance from the staff that he should feel honored that they were even talking to him.  I think that speaks to the point about St. Johns relying a lot on their reputation to land recruits instead of doing all they could/should to recruit athletes these days.

It's hard to argue with their approach because year after year they compete for the MIAC championship.  They have to be careful though because perception often times becomes reality and it only takes a couple of bad years of recruiting to change that.

Auggie Backer- do you care to let us know what side of the ball said recruit played on 

[DuffMan]

One parent I chatted with about it said that his son didn't feel like St. Johns really wanted him.  Instead there was an arrogance from the staff that he should feel honored that they were even talking to him.  I think that speaks to the point about St. Johns relying a lot on their reputation to land recruits instead of doing all they could/should to recruit athletes these days.

I can't say that things have not changed in the past 11 years, but I can't say I got that feeling at all from the SJU staff (and I was by no means an all-star).  I truly felt welcome there and had a great time on recruiting visits.  They were not as persistant as other schools, though, and perhaps that could be viewed as arrogance?

I, too, considered UST, but didn't really feel that they wanted me.  But, that's the recruiting process, I guess.

In hind sight, if I would have gone to the place where I was recruited hardest, I would have ended up at Hamline or Bemidji State...glad I made the right choice 

[stanbob]

If you're using that quote Winterhawk, you might want to remember what happened to The Turk.

I see that wh has been relegated to guest status (again?)  How bad was it?

[Pat Coleman]

As I remember, it was a pretty ill-considered post but I didn't think it was actionable or say anything to him about it.

[AO]

Week 6 Pickems

No games between top 25 teams this week.  St. John's is getting used to being the underdog and the Auggies hope to stay within 6 TDs of the Tommies.