FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Life Long Tommie]

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

A collapse of epic proportions... I see NO recovery here! a downward spiral that'll culminate in a perennial bottom feeder from here on out!!!

[sjusection105]

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

2004, the year after winning their most recent national title.

[Phred]

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

Looks like SJU is done for the year.  Will the Cobbers ever return?

[sju56321]

I agree-the underclassmen should play a series or two in meaningful situations. This is college ball and the object is to win a championship and the way you do that is prepare the players. Sure in old days, SJU could play their second string and third against the first string opponent and gain experience, but no more big victories-let alone a victory-so these young players need good experience somehow.

[sfury]

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

A collapse of epic proportions... I see NO recovery here! a downward spiral that'll culminate in a perennial bottom feeder from here on out!!!

"The best debut by a Tommie writer since Vince Flynn. His brilliant use of all caps blends perfectly with his exclamation points. Passionate and well-reasoned. A must-read for those who enjoy the works of YouTube commenters."

-Publisher's Weekly

[tmerton]

Gee, no comment about the decision not to kick an easy FG at the end of the first half?

The 4th quarter was all Boyle, calling his own plays.

[Flameburger]

I really enjoyed the Royal game yesterday. 4 out of the last 5 isn't bad. I noticed the celebration is less and less every year for the Royals.

I truly feel that the whole Johnnie "NO" thing is starting to hurt them. St. John's will always have good football players, but looking at the teams yesterday the Bethel players were a lot more physical as a whole and everyone  could tell they had been in the weight room more than the Johnnies by just looking at them. Plus the tempo that the Johnnies play at drives me crazy. It can't help the team moral when everyone mozzies around out there. I hope for the conferences sake that the Johnnies can bounce back from this season, because I love when it comes down to having to play them for a shot at a conference title (I hate the Tommies). I do feel if they don't change a few things about how they go about their off season training they will be stuck finishing 3rd or 4th in the conference in the future. The game has changed within the last 10 years so that the strengh and conditioning of a program is extreamly important now.

[sjusection105]

I really enjoyed the Royal game yesterday. 4 out of the last 5 isn't bad. I noticed the celebration is less and less every year for the Royals.

I truly feel that the whole Johnnie "NO" thing is starting to hurt them. St. John's will always have good football players, but looking at the teams yesterday the Bethel players were a lot more physical as a whole and everyone  could tell they had been in the weight room more than the Johnnies by just looking at them. Plus the tempo that the Johnnies play at drives me crazy. It can't help the team moral when everyone mozzies around out there. I hope for the conferences sake that the Johnnies can bounce back from this season, because I love when it comes down to having to play them for a shot at a conference title (I hate the Tommies). I do feel if they don't change a few things about how they go about their off season training they will be stuck finishing 3rd or 4th in the conference in the future. The game has changed within the last 10 years so that the strengh and conditioning of a program is extreamly important now.

Weird but when the Royals played Mount Union in the 2007 National Semi-Finals and lost 62-14 they (Bethel) must not have had a lifting routine. The weight room has sure helped them over the past 3 seasons 

For those on the outside of the SJU program looking in and thinking you've got it all figured out,the thing you are missing is there is no mandatory weight lifting,that doesn't mean there is no weight lifting.

Don't lose any sleep second guessing the SJU coaching philosophy- there are enough uninformed fair weather Johnnie fans doing that already 

[Retired Old Rat]

'Twas the morning before gameday, when all through the board
Not a thing was stirring, not even TDT in a blouse
The Johhnies were done and fall is barely in the air
But they still hold out hope of a miracle and that a pool c bid would be there
The Tommies are thinking of the Stagg Bowl, but really they're dead
As visions of Caruso bolting to the Goophies danced in their heads


That's all I got...

Must admit, pretty good.  +k

[WashedUp]

I really enjoyed the Royal game yesterday. 4 out of the last 5 isn't bad. I noticed the celebration is less and less every year for the Royals.

I truly feel that the whole Johnnie "NO" thing is starting to hurt them. St. John's will always have good football players, but looking at the teams yesterday the Bethel players were a lot more physical as a whole and everyone  could tell they had been in the weight room more than the Johnnies by just looking at them. Plus the tempo that the Johnnies play at drives me crazy. It can't help the team moral when everyone mozzies around out there. I hope for the conferences sake that the Johnnies can bounce back from this season, because I love when it comes down to having to play them for a shot at a conference title (I hate the Tommies). I do feel if they don't change a few things about how they go about their off season training they will be stuck finishing 3rd or 4th in the conference in the future. The game has changed within the last 10 years so that the strengh and conditioning of a program is extreamly important now.

Weird but when the Royals played Mount Union in the 2007 National Semi-Finals and lost 62-14 they (Bethel) must not have had a lifting routine. The weight room has sure helped them over the past 3 seasons 

For those on the outside of the SJU program looking in and thinking you've got it all figured out,the thing you are missing is there is no mandatory weight lifting,that doesn't mean there is no weight lifting.

Don't lose any sleep second guessing the SJU coaching philosophy- there are enough uninformed fair weather Johnnie fans doing that already 

With or without mandatory weightlifting sessions, the kids that want to lift will lift and the ones who don't will always find a way out.  As long as the means to improve are present (proper facilities, time, knowledge about lifting programs, nutrition, etc.), I don't really think it matters whether it is required or not.  I didn't hear any of this criticism last year when SJU was going undefeated in the conference.  Aren't there rules about required offseason workouts anyways? I know Carleton got burned when Brann was the coach, but I'm not sure what the specific circumstances were.

[Retired Old Rat]

GAC freshman Jeffrey Dubose, from St. Croix Lutheran, is quietly having a great freshman season. He was already fourth in the league in rushing...and he's got more than 200 yards today in what's looking like a big win over Hamline. That could bump him all the way up to second, behind scrubby's kid.

When was the last time my Gusties had a better record than SJU this late in the season, assuming Bethel holds on? 10 years ago? 20 years ago?

Wonka, how many points are you giving on 10/23?

[Retired Old Rat]

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

I would, of course, argue the characterization of "owns Gags."  I have felt for the past 5 years that Bethel's post Chris Meidt offensive philosophy of big, physical, athletic offensive lineman and an emphasis on running the ball was a match up issue for the Johnnies preference for smaller, quicker defensive lineman.  With St. John's reliance on big plays on offense, and resulting lack of time of possession, there is added pressure on the SJU defense.

I was not at the game yesterday.  The first stat I looked at when I got to my computer was time of possession.
                                   SJU        BU
Possession Time    22:14    37:46

Offense has to finish if the defense is going to spend that much time on the field.

[Retired Old Rat]

Apologies in advance for the multiple posts.

Great weekend.

Gophers are embarrassed again.  And I'm in Madison visiting my daughter who lives a block from Camp Randall.  Fortunately, she doesn't care and doesn't rub it in like my Tommie daughter did last week.

Johnnies lose any chance of a playoff spot.

Twins.  Never mind.

And, my wife backs into the side of a parked car in Madison.

[OzJohnnie]

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

A collapse of epic proportions... I see NO recovery here! a downward spiral that'll culminate in a perennial bottom feeder from here on out!!!

"The best debut by a Tommie writer since Vince Flynn. His brilliant use of all caps blends perfectly with his exclamation points. Passionate and well-reasoned. A must-read for those who enjoy the works of YouTube commenters."

-Publisher's Weekly

Ha.  +k

It's good to be home - shame about the season.  That being said, I've got a feeling that the J's will play it tight from here on out and give us interwebs dwellers some good football entertainment in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

[AO]

Gee, no comment about the decision not to kick an easy FG at the end of the first half?

The 4th quarter was all Boyle, calling his own plays.

I was listening to the postgame on the drive home from arden hills and heard Jim G claim he had very good confidence in the kicker from out to 57 yards.  Which I suppose only throws more doubt into the play calling last week leading to an interception when a 40 yarder was the most likely outcome of running the ball a couple of times.  The decision to go for it on 4th down against Bethel made a lot more sense as it was in the 1st quarter, they had a pretty easy time moving the ball during the drive and they had made Bethel go 3 and out their only possession of the game.