FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Iluvd3BBALL]

Can't believe we haven't heard anyone questioning the 4th down half back pass with the game on the line!  STU QB was putting balls on the money all day it seemed, he didn't complete many since Flaherty seemed to be breaking up passes all day, but seriously with the game on the line you think you'd put the ball on the arm of your teams best passer and not think on 4th and 8 the defense will bite hard on a sweep.  Just my thoughts, seeing what you all think.

[rscl70]

Congrats to STU on a great season.  And to Bethel:  Thank you, and welcome back to Mount Union!  It should be a great game next week.

[BU5758]

"Bethel again survived its utter lack of a kicking game."
So far, Bethel hasn't needed a "kicking game" to win.  It could have helped tie in the first game against STU, which would have been nice.  "Survived" may be too strong a word.
FYI:  In three playoff games, Ryan, Keith and Pat together have predicted that Bethel would lose.....a total of nine predictions between them and seven predictions that Bethel would lose.  Three more predictions that Bethel will lose next Saturday could mean a Bethel win!!!
Ryan, Keith and Pat.....thanks for your great work on the DIII website!!  Outstanding.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Can't believe we haven't heard anyone questioning the 4th down half back pass with the game on the line!  STU QB was putting balls on the money all day it seemed, he didn't complete many since Flaherty seemed to be breaking up passes all day, but seriously with the game on the line you think you'd put the ball on the arm of your teams best passer and not think on 4th and 8 the defense will bite hard on a sweep.  Just my thoughts, seeing what you all think.

I thought it was a strange call as well...but I do understand some of the logic behind it.  BU tries to spill plays to the outside, so I'm sure Caruso was banking on bethel coming up hard to the outside, and that the corner / safety wouldn't be disciplined enough to stick w/ the receiver.

It worked for SJU late in the game vs bethel in 2009.

[Life Long Tommie]

Congratulations to the Bethel Royals for a great game played. You deserved the win & did it your way! Good luck next week & show the West & MIAC PROUD...

LLT

[hazzben]

Congratulations to the Bethel Royals for a great game played. You deserved the win & did it your way! Good luck next week & show the West & MIAC PROUD...

LLT

Classy LLT. Good season for you as well.

Can't believe we haven't heard anyone questioning the 4th down half back pass with the game on the line!  STU QB was putting balls on the money all day it seemed, he didn't complete many since Flaherty seemed to be breaking up passes all day, but seriously with the game on the line you think you'd put the ball on the arm of your teams best passer and not think on 4th and 8 the defense will bite hard on a sweep.  Just my thoughts, seeing what you all think.

I thought it was a strange call as well...but I do understand some of the logic behind it.  BU tries to spill plays to the outside, so I'm sure Caruso was banking on bethel coming up hard to the outside, and that the corner / safety wouldn't be disciplined enough to stick w/ the receiver.

It worked for SJU late in the game vs bethel in 2009.

I thought Caruso had several strange calls on key 3rd and 4th downs.
Great call with the naked boot by Tracy in the 1st half. After that, he seemed to get swayed by the sexy play. Long PAPs downfield, halfback passes, etc. However, at that point in the game UST had gotten nothing going offensively for about 2.5 quarters. They weren't running effectively and Tracy had several of his most recent passes batted away by great secondary play. And 4 and 8 isn't exactly a coaches dream scenario...

[Johns Knees]

Can't believe we haven't heard anyone questioning the 4th down half back pass with the game on the line!  STU QB was putting balls on the money all day it seemed, he didn't complete many since Flaherty seemed to be breaking up passes all day, but seriously with the game on the line you think you'd put the ball on the arm of your teams best passer and not think on 4th and 8 the defense will bite hard on a sweep.  Just my thoughts, seeing what you all think.

I'm with you. That was a bizarre call. Folks near me were saying they loved the call, it just wasn't executed. And I'm sitting there thinking "A halfback pass on fourth and 8? With the season on the line?"

How about Flannery? Man, he's good. I've been watching MIAC football since the early 90s and he may be the best back I've seen. Not ultra fast, not real big, but he's so active and has great vision. The definition of a productive running back.

Also want to point out how classy Aakre was. After the game, while his team was celebrating, he went over to a couple of guys in the St. Thomas secondary and shook their hands. He's the game-winning QB and went to talk to the opponent instead of celebrating with his team. That's what MIAC football is about.

[hazzben]

Amazing what a single sentence can do:

"Flannery came up with the afternoon of a lifetime, rushing for 200 yards on 38 carries in the win."

Thanks Pat, I feel much better now. Hope my complaint didn't come across as too whiny!  (of course, you may have not even read my complaint yet, guess I'm assuming the update was in response to me  )

[CobberHawkeye]

Congrats to both BU and UST on a great hard fought game, and to UST on a great season. Even though the loss means it was my last football to cover (no offense to BU, but I would have loved the opportunity to shoot MTU), I'm glad that it was a game like this.

Safe travels to Alliance, good luck, and fight hard.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Congrats to both BU and UST on a great hard fought game, and to UST on a great season. Even though the loss means it was my last football to cover (no offense to BU, but I would have loved the opportunity to shoot MTU), I'm glad that it was a game like this.

Safe travels to Alliance, good luck, and fight hard.

"shoot MTU"?  Were you going to snipe the Raiders so they couldn't score?   

[warthog]

I hated Wartburg's one touchdown loss to Bethel a couple weeks ago.  
Suddenly I'm thinking; hey, that wasn't so bad.   

Best of luck to the Royals as the continue down the road tp Salem. 

[CobberHawkeye]

Congrats to both BU and UST on a great hard fought game, and to UST on a great season. Even though the loss means it was my last football to cover (no offense to BU, but I would have loved the opportunity to shoot MTU), I'm glad that it was a game like this.

Safe travels to Alliance, good luck, and fight hard.

"shoot MTU"?  Were you going to snipe the Raiders so they couldn't score?   

Nah...I'm more accurate with camera lenses than firearms.

[DuffMan]

I got to listen to a bit of the game in the car today.  Sounded like a battle!  It was quite nice to have the game on the radio as to not be tethered to a computer.  Congrats to Bethel.

So far, Bethel hasn't needed a "kicking game" to win. 

I'd bet a kicking game won't be a deciding factor against the Purple Raiders, either.

FYI:  In three playoff games, Ryan, Keith and Pat together have predicted that Bethel would lose.....a total of nine predictions between them and seven predictions that Bethel would lose. 

No one (save for OAS) thought the Johnnies could beat Mount in 2003, either.  We saw what happened there...

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Sorry for the delay in posting.,..I hung out in St Paul after the game then took in the UST/BU hoops game, which reduced the pain of UST's football loss.

First off, congrats to Bethel on a truly outstanding game! Well played, well coached,,,a strong defensive showing and a hell of a game from Flannery. Good luck in Alliance...a win there would be awesome....It would be 4 in a row in 4 different states

Congrats to UST as well.. and excellent season, one to be proud of. The seniors can be especially proud of the contributions they've made to turning the program in the right direction!

All in all, it was an awesome game.....mighta ended differently with Wartman and Waldvogel in the lineup, but no point making excuses....BU outplayed UST and earned the win.

No one (save for OAS) thought the Johnnies could beat Mount in 2003, either.  We saw what happened there...

I seem to remember one UST alum winning a pool on here by picking USJ to win it all....

[tmerton]

Condolences to TDT on the Tommies' loss; sorry you have to put your purple wardrobe away for the season, though you can still be a front-runner for their hockey team if you like.  They're pretty good.