FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DustySJU]

Back in my day (consider it was 1999 when I was being recruited  ), Fasching made a few phone calls to me (albeit pretty late compared to other schools).  I also had some pressure on me from John Elton, who was a defensive assistant and head wrestling coach.  After a few calls, Fasching and Elts had myself and a couple of my teammates out to campus for a visit and tour.  We literally spent 2-3 hours in John's office BSing with him.  It was a very fun visit.  If you've ever talked to John during the off-season, you know what I mean.  The guy can flat-out talk your ear off!

After the visit, I received a hand-written and personal letter from John, something that I thought was really cool.  I still have the letter.

A little later in the spring, my parents and I were at campus for a scholarship interview and ceremony.  We stopped in to see if John was around (my dad played for John in the early '70s) and ended up talking to him again for at least another hour. 

I don't know how things have changed since then, but that was my experience.  SJU definitely was not as aggressive (at least from a football perspective) as most of the other schools I was considering.

I know specifically that a certain starting Johnnie O-lineman was contacted by every MIAC school and a number of Division II institutions with the exception of SJU.  The only reason he ended up in Collegeville is because it's where he wants to be.  There's a whole pipeline of kids available from this high school but it appears they're not being actively courted.

What's being done by SJU in the area of actively seeking students/football players appears to be somewhat of an unknown. 

Maybe we could have Collegeville publish their official treatise on this subject.

[MasterJedi]

But saying Monmouth has the best QB in D-III is like saying Texas Tech always had the best QB in the Mike Leech era. Statistically sure. But Joe Bagofdonuts can come in and throw for 500 yards in certain systems.

Put Tanney in any system that throws the ball and he'd be an All-American. Or to put it another way...UST is a better team with Tanney at QB than with Tracy.

At this point I don't think there's any arguing how good Tanney is. If it was just the system, why was Monmouth so utterly average to below average last year after Tanney went down. Those systems you mention simply plug a warm arm into the offense and it continues to run. Monmouth went off the rails last year without Tanney. This year he's also got a running back to help him out.

I think UST wins and I think it'll be by double digits. But I think it's a better game than it was in 2009. And I think both UST and Monmouth are better this year than they were in 2009.

St. Thomas should win and win big, but I have this little voice in the back of my head that keeps saying that Tanney is going to be able to throw it all over the field versus STU and keep it a very tight game.

[SagatagSam]

I know specifically that a certain starting Johnnie O-lineman was contacted by every MIAC school and a number of Division II institutions with the exception of SJU.

How recently was this?

[USTBench]

But saying Monmouth has the best QB in D-III is like saying Texas Tech always had the best QB in the Mike Leech era. Statistically sure. But Joe Bagofdonuts can come in and throw for 500 yards in certain systems.

Put Tanney in any system that throws the ball and he'd be an All-American. Or to put it another way...UST is a better team with Tanney at QB than with Tracy.

At this point I don't think there's any arguing how good Tanney is. If it was just the system, why was Monmouth so utterly average to below average last year after Tanney went down. Those systems you mention simply plug a warm arm into the offense and it continues to run. Monmouth went off the rails last year without Tanney. This year he's also got a running back to help him out.

I think UST wins and I think it'll be by double digits. But I think it's a better game than it was in 2009. And I think both UST and Monmouth are better this year than they were in 2009.

UST has more of a "mobile quarterback" system. Not to say they wouldn't adapt had they had a Tanney at the helm, but getting Tracy out of the pocket where he has a run/pass option is what they're comfortable with.

Different guys do different things well. If we're talking from a "pure QB" standpoint, Tanney is probably at the top or, at the very least, top 3 of D-III quarterbacks. But, if had to choose a QB that could improvise when facing a good pass rush or a heavy blitzing team with a good secondary, I think I'd go with Tracy, purely from a mobility standpoint. If I were in a situation when the guy could just stand back there and pick teams apart, you go with Tanney. 

[cobbernation]

But saying Monmouth has the best QB in D-III is like saying Texas Tech always had the best QB in the Mike Leech era. Statistically sure. But Joe Bagofdonuts can come in and throw for 500 yards in certain systems.

Put Tanney in any system that throws the ball and he'd be an All-American. Or to put it another way...UST is a better team with Tanney at QB than with Tracy.

At this point I don't think there's any arguing how good Tanney is. If it was just the system, why was Monmouth so utterly average to below average last year after Tanney went down. Those systems you mention simply plug a warm arm into the offense and it continues to run. Monmouth went off the rails last year without Tanney. This year he's also got a running back to help him out.

I think UST wins and I think it'll be by double digits. But I think it's a better game than it was in 2009. And I think both UST and Monmouth are better this year than they were in 2009.

St. Thomas should win and win big, but I have this little voice in the back of my head that keeps saying that Tanney is going to be able to throw it all over the field versus STU and keep it a very tight game.

I would get the whole voice thing checked out by a doctor!    The only teams I think will give UST issues is MUC and UWW.  Wait one more team on the list Deleware Valley! 

[DustySJU]

I know specifically that a certain starting Johnnie O-lineman was contacted by every MIAC school and a number of Division II institutions with the exception of SJU.

How recently was this?

High school graduate 2011

[Retired Old Rat]

I think I'm pretty safe in assuming that Tanney has had time to throw.  I think St. Thomas takes that time away from him.  His older brother Mitch was also a stud.  They played SJU in 2005 and Kevin McNamara had 7.5 sacks, the Johnnies had a total of 13.  Held them to 115 total yards.

[USTBench]

But saying Monmouth has the best QB in D-III is like saying Texas Tech always had the best QB in the Mike Leech era. Statistically sure. But Joe Bagofdonuts can come in and throw for 500 yards in certain systems.

Put Tanney in any system that throws the ball and he'd be an All-American. Or to put it another way...UST is a better team with Tanney at QB than with Tracy.

At this point I don't think there's any arguing how good Tanney is. If it was just the system, why was Monmouth so utterly average to below average last year after Tanney went down. Those systems you mention simply plug a warm arm into the offense and it continues to run. Monmouth went off the rails last year without Tanney. This year he's also got a running back to help him out.

I think UST wins and I think it'll be by double digits. But I think it's a better game than it was in 2009. And I think both UST and Monmouth are better this year than they were in 2009.

St. Thomas should win and win big, but I have this little voice in the back of my head that keeps saying that Tanney is going to be able to throw it all over the field versus STU and keep it a very tight game.

The last time UST played Monmouth was 2009 and Tanney did pretty well. Some people say that without Ervin UST's secondary isn't what it was, but I think guys like Jack Gavin and Chinni Oji have been awesome this year.

Defensive stats last 3 years:

2009: 93/gm rushing - 190/gm passing
2010: 113/gm rushing - 142/gm passing
2011: 51/gm rushing - 159/gm passing

Typically if the rushing numbers are low the passing numbers get pretty high. I think UST has been pretty...ahem...stalwart in both areas of their defense this year. They did give up 30 to Concordia earlier this year, but most of those points came in the 4th quarter of a blowout.

[sjusection105]

2) If going on the fan blogs of schools in different divisions to raise interest in Caruso is the best way you guys can think of to beat UST, may a suggest a different approach? Have the assistant coaches get in their cars and drive to homes/schools of good high school football players in the area that would fit in well with the SJU program, and, I don't know, invite them to come play for you. Perhaps have them come to campus to participate in a campus visit or come see a game. Maybe do something more than say, "Hey, we're SJU, of course you're going to play for us."

This "recruiting" thing would violate Gag's list of "No's," wouldn't it?

It was kitschy and somehow worked in a different era of college football. But I think if the list of "NOs" includes, "NO doing anything all offseason" you might have a problem. Just saying.

I know that Gary Fasching does yeoman's work with recruiting, but the perception from outside the athletic department is that Gags doesn't get actively engaged in the process.
Gary will bring the players by John's office for a meet-and-greet, but aside from that I don't think John does very much.

I do know that I saw John and the rest of the coaching staff in a private suite at the prep bowl in '06. But, that doesn't mean John actually spoke to any prospective players.

SJU coaches were at the dome last weekend & will be there again for the finals

[SagatagSam]

High school graduate 2011

I know I'm playing armchair QB here, but that's simply unacceptable.

[DoubleO]

But saying Monmouth has the best QB in D-III is like saying Texas Tech always had the best QB in the Mike Leech era. Statistically sure. But Joe Bagofdonuts can come in and throw for 500 yards in certain systems.

Put Tanney in any system that throws the ball and he'd be an All-American. Or to put it another way...UST is a better team with Tanney at QB than with Tracy.

At this point I don't think there's any arguing how good Tanney is. If it was just the system, why was Monmouth so utterly average to below average last year after Tanney went down. Those systems you mention simply plug a warm arm into the offense and it continues to run. Monmouth went off the rails last year without Tanney. This year he's also got a running back to help him out.

I think UST wins and I think it'll be by double digits. But I think it's a better game than it was in 2009. And I think both UST and Monmouth are better this year than they were in 2009.

St. Thomas should win and win big, but I have this little voice in the back of my head that keeps saying that Tanney is going to be able to throw it all over the field versus STU and keep it a very tight game.

The last time UST played Monmouth was 2009 and Tanney did pretty well. Some people say that without Ervin UST's secondary isn't what it was, but I think guys like Jack Gavin and Chinni Oji have been awesome this year.

Defensive stats last 3 years:

2009: 93/gm rushing - 190/gm passing
2010: 113/gm rushing - 142/gm passing
2011: 51/gm rushing - 159/gm passing

Typically if the rushing numbers are low the passing numbers get pretty high. I think UST has been pretty...ahem...stalwart in both areas of their defense this year. They did give up 30 to Concordia earlier this year, but most of those points came in the 4th quarter of a blowout.

"Stalwart"...nice use. They've been pretty "stout" too, wouldn't you say?

[BDB]

Bringing up "stout" must be my clue to let SagatagSam know I'll be cruising through his home town this weekend, making sure to stop at:




My kids love the place. I may pick up a confederate flag, a couple of Visit Minnesota postcards with pictures of monster walleye and a rubber hatchet while I'm there. 

[USTBench]

Bringing up "stout" must be my clue to let SagatagSam know I'll be cruising through his home town this weekend, making sure to stop at:




My kids love the place. I may pick up a confederate flag, a couple of Visit Minnesota postcards with pictures of monster walleye and a rubber hatchet while I'm there. 

See if you can land that giant plywood pirate looking all Captain Morgany. Everything has a price.

[faunch]

This was just posted by D3football.com on Facebook.
Luther football player Chris Norton standing up on his own.
Makes me think how much we all have to be thankful for.  He is a true example of determination and inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S9tp51BhG0&feature=player_embedded

[USTBench]

This was just posted by D3football.com on Facebook.
Luther football player Chris Norton standing up on his own.
Makes me think how much we all have to be thankful for.  He is a true example of determination and inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S9tp51BhG0&feature=player_embedded

+K all around for that.