FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[57Johnnie]

I also believe Touchdown Tommy ghostwrote the release.

Nope! Tommy is still recovering from the Royal Wedding. 

[OzJohnnie]

Special Forces Dogs!

[tmerton]

Really, those quotes from Caruso were probably said at various times - perhaps verbatim - by Jim Wacker and Tim Brewster. Ya never know.

And I'm not sure if those guys will be great football players, but by that release they're definitely well on their way toward beatification.

And TMert would know better than anyone - when John came to SJU no one would have even known or blinked if not for his old man being on here. No one would have been touting him as the next great linebacker or saying it was proof SJU had outworked and outrecruited everyone in the MIAC. A few years later he was as good as it got in the league. There will be plenty of time to brag about the Tommies. No need to wave a white flag now.

I also believe Touchdown Tommy ghostwrote the release.

Let me be clear that I'm not dissing the Tommies' recruits.  They may well be good players, and Caruso has shown he's a pretty good coach.  Indeed, I told my son over 3 years ago, around the time that Caruso was hired, that I thought the Tommies were a sleeping giant in the MIAC.  They have all the advantages (large enrollment, attractive urban location, great facilities) and they had good players even when they sucked.  I never listened to Wacker or Brewster tout their recruits, but I've followed college football recruiting a good deal and I have never heard a coach blow so much smoke up the ass of anyone who would listen as Caruso did in that article (okay, press release) about players who have not yet enrolled or been through even a single practice.  And I have never heard a football coach use the word "exude" - at least not on purpose. 

Congrats to SJU for leading the nation in having 12 senior football players named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society (3.2 average or better during their entire undergraduate course of study plus being either a starter or significant contributor - see http://www.gojohnnies.com/news/2011/5/4/FOOTBALL_0504115839.aspx?path=football) - more than any other school except the Univ. of Dayton, which also had 12.  Congrats to the other MIAC schools represented (lots of D-III players on the list; far fewer players from D-1 programs - Stanford, for example, had 2 players on the list - which goes to show how much time football takes at the D-1 level).  See http://www.footballfoundation.org/nff/story/2260/nff-announces-members-2011-hampshire-honor-society

[hazzben]

At least one of the recruits appears to have some pretty nice blood lines. His father is a HOF Kansas City Royal.

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/sports/local_sports/high_school/5-must-see-high-school-football-games-

Skip to the bottom of page 5. Very interesting. Will he be playing baseball for the Tommies as well?!?

[faunch]

Do you know that as a fact, faunch, or is it more your suspicion?  I have no idea what players he is attracting compared to SJU since if a recruit wasn't a relative of some sort I wouldn't know a Minnesota high school football player if he walked up and rang the door bell.

We got out hustled on recruiting for two years in a row, apparently.  Is it now three?  For reals?

It's solely my opinion based on observations and other information I have gleaned.  

1.  I know for a fact that UST has various recruiting coordinators (507, 320, 218 based on area codes as well as metro).  They get out and watch and meet kids.  I believe that Gary and Damien D do the bulk of SJU's recruiting work.

2.  I know that Caruso turns over a lot of stones.  He actually gets out on his own and does a lot of the work.  He knows about kids all over the place and is a big fan of small town kids that can contribute in college.

3. I know of a current high school junior that is a solid D3 recruit whose dad is Johnnie and 2 uncles that are Johnnies.  He has received letters from UST and GAC yet has got nothing...not even a cheesy form letter from SJU. Those little things help.  17 and 18 year old kids like to feel like they're getting noticed and that somebody is interested in them. 

4.  I work in large metro high school in the Lake Conference.  Until a couple years ago (right around the time Caruso took over at UST) nobody from SJU had been to our building to recruit.  To SJU's credit they have had coaches come in and meet with players the past 3 years or so.  Gary Fasching and Damien Dumonceauk came through this year.  This year one kid from my school is going to UST and two are going to SJU.  In my judgement UST got the best one of the three.

5.  My opinion is that SJU has rested on their laurels...they've relied on their history and tradition to lure kids. Actively recruiting kids has not been necessary but now it is.  I believe that the SJU coaching staff is putting more time into recruiting.  I've always thought it shouldn't take much to sell SJU.  Great school, great program, great college football atmosphere. 

[sjusection105]

Times are changing.  If you don't keep up, you are left in the dust,just like the business world. 

[OzJohnnie]

I thought you were about to break out in song there, 105.

Other MIAC news... The Johnnies are tied for first after day one of the national golf championships.  GAC is tied for thirteenth and can make the cut if they stay there after day two.

[faunch]

One thing in SJU's favor when it comes to recruiting....Bo Did's kicks Davanni's ass when it comes to subs! 
The St. Paul Davanni's had a promo tonight for my kid's school.  If you bring in a special sheet 20% of those sales go to the school....which is very generous Since I've had a lot of pizza lately (and Davanni's pizza sucks) I decided to go with a hot hoagie.  It was very disappointing!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

At least one of the recruits appears to have some pretty nice blood lines. His father is a HOF Kansas City Royal.

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/sports/local_sports/high_school/5-must-see-high-school-football-games-

Skip to the bottom of page 5. Very interesting. Will he be playing baseball for the Tommies as well?!?

according to my sources, yes. a nice addition as the 2012 baseball Toms go for their 10 MIAC titles in a row  Which reminds me, MAC shared the title this year, their first since 1950..amazing

[repete]

Nice to see the Nook back in business ... now with 16 beers on tap up from 10.

[faunch]

Nice to see the Nook back in business ... now with 16 beers on tap up from 10.

Also they are adding 10 taps down in the bowling alley and along with it a mechanical dumb-waiter to deliver food.

[johnnie_esq]

Hey Gang-- been a while (a bit crazy working with the HS baseball team this spring) so I hope everything is well.

Found this story this morning and a bit surprised.  I think the Johnnie broadcast network has just been usurped in one big fell swoop, unfortunately.

WCCO Radio to broadcast St. Thomas football games

On one hand, the Johnnie gameday crew's quality beats Dave Lee giving play-by-play eight days out of the week.  But having the WCCO radio coverage across the state is downright fantastic for the Tommies.  Ugh.

[faunch]

Hey Gang-- been a while (a bit crazy working with the HS baseball team this spring) so I hope everything is well.

Found this story this morning and a bit surprised.  I think the Johnnie broadcast network has just been usurped in one big fell swoop, unfortunately.

WCCO Radio to broadcast St. Thomas football games

On one hand, the Johnnie gameday crew's quality beats Dave Lee giving play-by-play eight days out of the week.  But having the WCCO radio coverage across the state is downright fantastic for the Tommies.  Ugh.

Kind of demonstrates the sad state of affairs over at the old neighbor.  They are now carrying the T-Wolves and the Tommies.  I think Tommie football game attendance average might actually beat the T-wolves this year.

This will give UST more exposure...I do think this is another reason SJU needs to consider doing game webcasts to market the University and football experience to an audience around the world.  They already run live video in the concession stand and the luxury boxes at Clemens.  It wouldn't be too hard to send it over the web and dub in the Johnnie radio broadcast.  Additionally they could create video segments to run pre-game that would highlight the University experience and additionally the athletic programs. 

(Either I'm onto to something or on something!)

[johnnie_esq]

Hey Gang-- been a while (a bit crazy working with the HS baseball team this spring) so I hope everything is well.

Found this story this morning and a bit surprised.  I think the Johnnie broadcast network has just been usurped in one big fell swoop, unfortunately.

WCCO Radio to broadcast St. Thomas football games

On one hand, the Johnnie gameday crew's quality beats Dave Lee giving play-by-play eight days out of the week.  But having the WCCO radio coverage across the state is downright fantastic for the Tommies.  Ugh.

Kind of demonstrates the sad state of affairs over at the old neighbor.  They are now carrying the T-Wolves and the Tommies.  I think Tommie football game attendance average might actually beat the T-wolves this year.

This will give UST more exposure...I do think this is another reason SJU needs to consider doing game webcasts to market the University and football experience to an audience around the world.  They already run live video in the concession stand and the luxury boxes at Clemens.  It wouldn't be too hard to send it over the web and dub in the Johnnie radio broadcast.  Additionally they could create video segments to run pre-game that would highlight the University experience and additionally the athletic programs. 

(Either I'm onto to something or on something!)

But faunch, who would show up to the games if you can watch them on the web?
[/sarcasm]

Seriously, SJU could and should use technology to enhance the at-home experience for those who can't make it to Collegeville on any given Saturday.  The reasoning for why they do not was what I said above-- which I find absolutely incorrect.  People show up to Collegeville for the true gameday experience-- Stiffyfest, seeing classmates and friends, and just being in the midst of greatness-- and no webcast will be able to convey those things. 

So why not do it and try to rake a few bucks in from those who otherwise wouldn't give you any?  {sigh}

[sjusection105]

Hey Gang-- been a while (a bit crazy working with the HS baseball team this spring) so I hope everything is well.

Found this story this morning and a bit surprised.  I think the Johnnie broadcast network has just been usurped in one big fell swoop, unfortunately.

WCCO Radio to broadcast St. Thomas football games

On one hand, the Johnnie gameday crew's quality beats Dave Lee giving play-by-play eight days out of the week.  But having the WCCO radio coverage across the state is downright fantastic for the Tommies.  Ugh.

Kind of demonstrates the sad state of affairs over at the old neighbor.  They are now carrying the T-Wolves and the Tommies.  I think Tommie football game attendance average might actually beat the T-wolves this year.

This will give UST more exposure...I do think this is another reason SJU needs to consider doing game webcasts to market the University and football experience to an audience around the world.  They already run live video in the concession stand and the luxury boxes at Clemens.  It wouldn't be too hard to send it over the web and dub in the Johnnie radio broadcast.  Additionally they could create video segments to run pre-game that would highlight the University experience and additionally the athletic programs. 

(Either I'm onto to something or on something!)

You are onto something.

Please forward this thread to Tom Stock