FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

You may be right, Sam.  From what I recall:

Ryan Weinandt - Wabasha-Kellogg
Matt Darling - Sartell
Damien Dumonceaux - SJ Prep
Jeremy Hood - Buffalo
Paul Gans - Sauk Rapids-Rice
Cole Deible - Sleepy Eye
Nick Thielman - SC Tech
Mike Zauhar - Brainerd
Jeremy Goltz - Tracy-Milroy

I'm missing a couple, but that's a lot of outstate talent.

[SagatagSam]

You may be right, Sam.  From what I recall:

Ryan Weinandt - Wabasha-Kellogg
Matt Darling - Sartell
Damien Dumonceaux - SJ Prep
Jeremy Hood - Buffalo
Paul Gans - Sauk Rapids-Rice
Cole Deible - Sleepy Eye
Nick Thielman - SC Tech
Mike Zauhar - Brainerd
Jeremy Goltz - Tracy-Milroy

I'm missing a couple, but that's a lot of outstate talent.

Was it one of the Steffensmeier or Hawn brothers that filled out that defense?
I know Jamie Steffensmeier was on that squad, but I'm not sure if he was hurt. Either way both sets of brothers were from "outstate" style areas (Mankato and Eau Claire, WI, respectively).

There were some great ones from AA and AAA schools on offense, too.

Issac Flenner (Breckenridge)
Josh Nelson (Milaca)
Brandon Keller (Bismarck, ND)
Jed Reigelman (Red Wing)

....and some kid named Elliott from Melrose.

[SagatagSam]

Actually, I answered my own question.
Jamie Steffensmeier was All-MIAC in 2003.

[DuffMan]

There you go.  Those are the ones I was forgetting. 

[finsleft]

A good read...

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/137943668.html

[Knightstalker]

A good read...

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/137943668.html

Thanks Fins, +K

[DuffMan]

A good read...

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/137943668.html

Where did they dig up that ancient photo of John?

[faunch]

A good read...

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/137943668.html

Where did they dig up that ancient photo of John?

I thought the same exact thing.  If they did a google search they could have found a dozen that were better. 
That photo not only has the grass field (w/ white stripes in the zone) in the background but John is sitting on the old wooden bleachers.  That's got to be late 1980's or early 90's.

[faunch]

Reusse tweeted that Wayzata QB Nick Martin is going to St. John's. Seems like a great get.

I would bet that most anybody that watched the 5A Minnesota state championship would not be terribly impressed by this.  The QB's and passing games of E.P. and Wayzata were below par.  Maybe the Martin kid is better than I recall, however SJU has had a number of Wayzata QB's over the years and not had much for results.  I hope he proves me wrong and I would love to be there to shake his hand in Salem in a couple of years. 

Watch the highlights against CDH or Carmel (Ill.) if you want to see a wide-open offense.  The Wayzata-EP game was more about the elite level of the two defenses.  Martin is better prospect than Ries was.  Ries may have appeared to be a little better than he actually was in HS as he was throwing to multiple D-1 receivers; Fritz Rock at Illinois, Cecil Doe at Hawaii and Matt Tarpley at Ole Miss. 

I don't know if I'd give full credit to the Johnnie coaches for recruiting Nick---he may have gotten a little advice from his QB coach.

Two things:
1.  I thought I followed SJU football and basketball closely over the years but I had no idea that Linnemann played basketball for the Johnnies.  I also heard at one time that Blake Elliott considered playing hoops at SJU.

2.  Martin does look pretty good after viewing his highlight reel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgUFghv7JEE).  Manages the game, carries out the play action well, throws a nice short and long ball and runs well.  Considering the Johnnies currently have 3 different QB's that each have one or two characteristics, maybe in a year or two under Martin's leadership they'll have 1 QB that has all these characteristics.    

[DuffMan]

... grass field (w/ white stripes in the zone)...

Freshman year, one of my work-study duties was painting those stripes with Rich Froehle. 

[SagatagSam]

... grass field (w/ white stripes in the zone)...

Freshman year, one of my work-study duties was painting those stripes with Rich Froehle. 

Elliott only played freshman year, Ryan Keating from 2000-2002.

I also worked for the grounds crew, but by that time the stadium had SprinTurf. Rich is a great guy. Br. Mark was an interesting character as well....

[DuffMan]

I also worked for the grounds crew, but by that time the stadium had SprinTurf. Rich is a great guy. Br. Mark was an interesting character as well....

I worked the summer of '99 through the '99/'00 school year.  I spent a lot of time with Rich--repairing pavers in the summer and painting the athletic fields during the year.  He was a good man and a stud of a football player for SJU, from what I hear!

[SagatagSam]

I always knew it would be a good day when I was working with Rich.

Rich was All-MIAC in 1963 on John's first national championship team and an All-American in 1964.

[57Johnnie]

I always knew it would be a good day when I was working with Rich.

Rich was All-MIAC in 1963 on John's first national championship team and an All-American in 1964.

I was a classmate of 3 time All-American Chuck. Is Rich the younger brother of Chuck & Pete?

[DuffMan]

I was a classmate of 3 time All-American Chuck. Is Rich the younger brother of Chuck & Pete?

Yep.