FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sju56321]

Sfury-remember a few if those guys I mentioned were all-American. Do you see that out of the guys you mentioned?

[Willy Wonka]

I don't mean to rub it in (well, I kinda do ) ... but is it time to ask if Johnson owns Gags? Bethel has now won 4 of 5, with the only SJU win coming on a record-breaking FG.

*sfury contributed information for this report

[sfury]

Sfury-remember a few if those guys I mentioned were all-American. Do you see that out of the guys you mentioned?

That's true, and I'd probably say no. But, I don't think anyone was predicting those guys in 1997 would necessarily be All-Americans in the coming years. For example, Labore and Moore were freshmen. Certainly couldn't have predicted what they would become by 2000. Even Novak, not many were probably thinking he'd be an All-American going into the 1998 season. Or lineman Joe Kaczrowski. Neither of those guys were even all-conference in 1997, yet both were All-Americans the following season. So certainly there could be some guys like that on this team who step up in the coming year(s).

[AuggieBacker]

St. Thomas turned a 14-10 halftime lead over Augsburg into a blowout, 54-17.

I'll post links to the video highlights as soon as they are ready.

[AuggieBacker]

Correction...  55-17.

[hazzben]

Gritty win for BU today. Got out to the early lead and played some ball control in the second half. Felt like they got awfully conservative in the 2nd half, but they were also running out of healthy options. The D made the plays they needed to down the stretch.

I'll definitely say this for SJU, they never quit. They always seem to play us until the very bitter end anyway. Thought 97 on the d-line was very disruptive. And Boyle is one elusive cat.

This was a big win and puts us in position to contend for a conference title. But to really be a factor I think we need to get healthy, especially on offense. The way we are built we need Flannery and Lindh down the stretch.

Side note: really almost too nice today. I was sweating like crazy in the stands, so I can't imagine how the players felt.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Any idea about the status of flannery, lindh, and the starting receivers that were out?

[hazzben]

Any idea about the status of flannery, lindh, and the starting receivers that were out?

Flannery hurt his ribs pretty bad. The hope is that it's just bruised and not cracked or broken, hence his 9 carries for 55 yds. He did come back in late in the 4th, but seemed more of a decoy than anything else.

Lindh's best friend was killed (car crash??) this week and the funeral was Saturday. He should be good to go. I was more saying we ideally need them both as their styles compliment one another.

WRs:
Hans Dunnick is out for the year with an ACL so we have no chance to see him again.
Jay Hilbrands is out with a broken collar bone suffered against the Knights. If we win out and make the playoffs, the staff has a tough call. Do you burn a medical hardship to bring back your best WR with the risk it may only be for a few games 
Mitch Hallstrom took a nasty (not dirty) shot to the midsection and was down for a while. He did return later in the game so hopefully he's good to go.
One other guy also out, but I don't know the reason.

Obviously Logan's the biggest deal. The other guys are either likely to return or just done for a while. But Logan is one of the key elements in the offense. It would have been a lot harder and less effective for SJU to stack the box yesterday like they did with a healthy Flannery and Lindh present.

All that said, you play with who you have. Every team is going to have injuries and get banged up as the season progresses, that's football. The key is having the depth. I think we've got some good depth, the back-up RB's looked pretty good on Saturday. But the WR's are getting awfully thin.

On the plus side, with the exception of Andrew Johnson playing on a torn MCL the D has been very healthy. It's too bad for AJ though as a senior. Even at only about 80% he's still having a good year, just hope the weekly grind doesn't make the knee worse. We'll see

Should be a fun second half to the season.

[sjusection105]

Royal/SJU game story/recap at www.JohnnieFootball.com

[sju56321]

Why? 

[WithasilentK]

Any idea about the status of flannery, lindh, and the starting receivers that were out?

Jay Hilbrands is out with a broken collar bone suffered against the Knights. If we win out and make the playoffs, the staff has a tough call. Do you burn a medical hardship to bring back your best WR with the risk it may only be for a few games 

I think it's up to the player, with the backing of the staff. If he's fully healthy and they have a chance to win some games, then he should play. You never know what's going to happen after this year, take the opportunity when you get it.

If he's not 100% and wouldn't help his team win, then don't play.

[WithasilentK]

I hope the SJU coaching staff gives a couple of the backup quarterbacks a few looks in the final 4 games.  I understand that they'll want to let Boyle play out most of the season but they really can't afford to go into next season unsure and start out playing revolving quarterback. 

If Boyle is the best QB for the job and the coaches don't think the other QBs give SJU a better shot at winning, I really hope this isn't the case. It's his senior season, and while I understand that not winning the MIAC or making the playoffs puts a damper on SJU's season, the players will still enjoy every game up until their last. Taking that away because you think your players can't show you enough in the off season and camp to make a decision at starter would be disgusting.

I don't think the SJU coaches would do that, and garbage time at the end of the game is understandable (which is what I think you're talking about), but if it did happen I would be very disappointed in SJU.

[janesvilleflash]

One of my sons played on a very poor Highschool team. There was serious talk of having the JV team play the final half of the varsities final game of the season. When I asked my son about it, he said there might be 10 sophmores on the field in the second half, but there would be one senior, as he didn't feel any of the sophmores could force him to leave the field. ....yes, every minute of playing time is cherished by players, and while I understand the temptation to play younger players, it just isn't right.

[faunch]

I hope the SJU coaching staff gives a couple of the backup quarterbacks a few looks in the final 4 games.  I understand that they'll want to let Boyle play out most of the season but they really can't afford to go into next season unsure and start out playing revolving quarterback. 

If Boyle is the best QB for the job and the coaches don't think the other QBs give SJU a better shot at winning, I really hope this isn't the case. It's his senior season, and while I understand that not winning the MIAC or making the playoffs puts a damper on SJU's season, the players will still enjoy every game up until their last. Taking that away because you think your players can't show you enough in the off season and camp to make a decision at starter would be disgusting.

I don't think the SJU coaches would do that, and garbage time at the end of the game is understandable (which is what I think you're talking about), but if it did happen I would be very disappointed in SJU.

I'm not saying they should bench Boyle or any of the other seniors.  I just think they might want to try to get the #2 and or #3 QB a few drives in the remaining games.

[badgerwarhawk]

When was the last time SJU didn't make the playoffs?