FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AO]

stop me if you've heard this before....

A force on the football field, basketball court and classroom, indeed. Simmet will continue his demanding lifestyle at a rival school, considering much of his family pedigree.

"I grew up and my dad was a Johnnie, my mom was a Bennie and my sister's a Bennie. I never even contemplated going to St. Thomas. Now it seems like the best place for me," Simmet said.

In what has become a rarity in college athletics, St. Thomas gave Simmet the option to play both sports. For someone who's been playing both sports for as long as he can remember, he couldn't have been more thrilled. There never has been a moment in his life where he felt the need to choose between his favorite activities.

I'm assuming there's something else behind his decision as I can't quite imagine coach Smith turning this kid down even if he couldn't play until December.

[SagatagSam]

stop me if you've heard this before....

A force on the football field, basketball court and classroom, indeed. Simmet will continue his demanding lifestyle at a rival school, considering much of his family pedigree.

"I grew up and my dad was a Johnnie, my mom was a Bennie and my sister's a Bennie. I never even contemplated going to St. Thomas. Now it seems like the best place for me," Simmet said.

In what has become a rarity in college athletics, St. Thomas gave Simmet the option to play both sports. For someone who's been playing both sports for as long as he can remember, he couldn't have been more thrilled. There never has been a moment in his life where he felt the need to choose between his favorite activities.

I'm assuming there's something else behind his decision as I can't quite imagine coach Smith turning this kid down even if he couldn't play until December.

History shows that those who start playing two sports in college--even at the D3 level--rarely finish that way. It's all well and good to sell a kid on being able to play two sports, but the student usually ends up burning out playing in sports that have overlapping seasons.

Blake Elliott and Ryan Keating both came to SJU with the intent of focusing on basketball while playing football in the fall to stay active. And, we all know how that turned out.

[NCF]

stop me if you've heard this before....

A force on the football field, basketball court and classroom, indeed. Simmet will continue his demanding lifestyle at a rival school, considering much of his family pedigree.

"I grew up and my dad was a Johnnie, my mom was a Bennie and my sister's a Bennie. I never even contemplated going to St. Thomas. Now it seems like the best place for me," Simmet said.

In what has become a rarity in college athletics, St. Thomas gave Simmet the option to play both sports. For someone who's been playing both sports for as long as he can remember, he couldn't have been more thrilled. There never has been a moment in his life where he felt the need to choose between his favorite activities.

I'm assuming there's something else behind his decision as I can't quite imagine coach Smith turning this kid down even if he couldn't play until December.

History shows that those who start playing two sports in college--even at the D3 level--rarely finish that way. It's all well and good to sell a kid on being able to play two sports, but the student usually ends up burning out playing in sports that have overlapping seasons.

Blake Elliott and Ryan Keating both came to SJU with the intent of focusing on basketball while playing football in the fall to stay active. And, we all know how that turned out.

It is a lot easier to play two sports in college if your two are football and track. Football /Basketball or Football/Wrestling have a bigger overlap in college than they do in college.

[faunch]

stop me if you've heard this before....

A force on the football field, basketball court and classroom, indeed. Simmet will continue his demanding lifestyle at a rival school, considering much of his family pedigree.

"I grew up and my dad was a Johnnie, my mom was a Bennie and my sister's a Bennie. I never even contemplated going to St. Thomas. Now it seems like the best place for me," Simmet said.

In what has become a rarity in college athletics, St. Thomas gave Simmet the option to play both sports. For someone who's been playing both sports for as long as he can remember, he couldn't have been more thrilled. There never has been a moment in his life where he felt the need to choose between his favorite activities.

I'm assuming there's something else behind his decision as I can't quite imagine coach Smith turning this kid down even if he couldn't play until December.

I believe there are other things behind his decision.  The fact that UST spent gazillions jazzing up their facilities is one of them.  The other reason is that the UST coaching staff knows how to recruit!!!  SJU needs to figure it out soon or else get used to looking up at the pack. 

[Retired Old Rat]

We're getting all political here, which isn't wise, so I'll keep my comment very short.  It is this: I'll be impressed by this sort of article when it is written according to principle rather than interest.

There are many women who have been called sl*t or even the c-bomb in a public arena (and even speculation about one presidential candidate's wife's adult toy preferences) that did not get the same notes of chivalry in their defense.  In fact, Frank defends those slanders because they happened to public figures.  There is a difference between criticism and debasement.  Call me unimpressed that Frank argues that difference is immaterial for public figures.

So, "Yay!" to Frank for writing the article and "Boo!" to Frank for being so wrong.

EDIT:  Ha!  And this morning Imus called Limbaugh a "fat, gutless, pill-popping loser."  Good thing Rush is a public figure so there are no standards of decency demanded of any individual when discussing Limbaugh.  Our country is going to Hell in a handbasket.  I'm teaching my kids manners and respect.  All these bozo's need to sit in on a few lessons in the Oz household.  I'm unimpressed with the whole lot of them and give none of them any money.  I don't buy their books; I don't read their articles; and, I don't listen to their shows.  They can keep themselves warm by the burning fires of Rome all by themselves.

On a contrasting note.  Remember when that Johnnie wrestler (who I believe was very good) raped a girl a few years ago?  There was no defense.  There was no equivocation.  There was only an immediate expulsion.  That was a defining moment for SJU.  Call me impressed when our "elite" demonstrate the same integrity.

Don Imus is hardly a good example of someone to measure against your standard.

p.s.  If you are not listening to Imus, how do you know what he said?   

[OzJohnnie]

Don Imus is hardly a good example of someone to measure against your standard.

p.s.  If you are not listening to Imus, how do you know what he said?   

I'm psychic.

Actually, I read it in an article on the whole kerfuffle.

And my point is that virtually none of the people clamoring for attention and looking to influence our thinking are providing a good example.  My standard, civil criticism (however pointed) as opposed to debasing ad hominem, is hardly unreasonable and certainly not only mine.  And if it is unreasonable or only mine, then screw you all you friggin' brain-damaged pack of sexually deviant idiots (see my point?).

And because I'm enjoying this discussion, I'll add one more point.  If the line between criticism and debasement is blurred, then all criticism can be ignored as debasing and all debasing can be legitimized as criticism.  That is the reason that Frank's article is so wrong.  By excusing bad behavior because the victims are in the public square, he assists in the legitimization of personal, ad hominem attack and the delegitimization of criticism.  That's why I applauded him for giving it a go and booed him for the bad result.

[DuffMan]

It is a lot easier to play two sports in college if your two are football and track. Football /Basketball or Football/Wrestling have a bigger overlap in college than they do in college.

There are actually quite a few that play football and wrestle at SJU (Brandon Novak was an all-American linebacker and national champ wrestler).  I had plans of going that route, too,but once wrestling season rolled around, I decided that it was just too much.

[OzJohnnie]

Ready for a change of pace?  There is flooding in the country north of Melbourne, no wind and spiders looking to escape.  Arachnophobes beware...

Wolf creek: spiders spinning out of control as waters rise

[sjusection105]

THis seems to provide a huge opening for alternative content providers...blogs, tweeters and johnniefootball.com

And, Frank Rajkowski writing political commentary with a loosely affiliated sports reference creates an even wider opening for alternative content to the SC Daily Planet.

Must be a slow news day.

Thanks for pointing that out.  I might have to spring for the paid on-line thing now.   

Must say, kudos to Frank for tackling the subject and his editor for being willing to publish it.

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120306/SPORTS/103060044/Rajkowski-column-Choice-targets-matters-Rush

Where is the in-depth coverage of the Little Falls Boys Hockey Team vs. St. Thomas Academy? 
The Times Sports Section needs to understand their limitations, politcal talk has no place in the Times Sports Section- try the Editorial page next time Frank   

[SagatagSam]

Where is the in-depth coverage of the Little Falls Boys Hockey Team vs. St. Thomas Academy? 
The Times Sports Section needs to understand their limitations, politcal talk has no place in the Times Sports Section- try the Editorial page next time Frank   

The Brainerd Dispatch has superior coverage of the LF Flyers hockey team (despite serving a metro area that is half the size of St. Cloud).

I think the Dispatch has better content because its parent company--Morris Communications of Augusta, Georgia--allows for more control of the content delegated down to local managers of the paper.

By comparison, the SC Times is tone deaf, which is a bit of an embarrassment. I could go on, but I think I'll stop there (for now)...

[OzJohnnie]

I'm a big supporter of Frank.  I reckon he does very good content, particularly on the Johnnies.  Of course, I'm not interested in any other local content (me being a Northern Minnesota boy).  So, I guess I don't really matter as I represent the overseas, non-revenue generating, little local connection consumer that drives profits right into the dirt.  Probably not the SCT's target audience.

[DuffMan]

Good luck to Johnnie wrestlers Chad Henle, Chris Stevermer, Matt Pfarr, Mitch Hagen, and Dustin Baxter, all competing in the NCAA DIII championships this weekend!!!

Johnnies in National Tournament

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I hear the aurora borealis is supposed to be especially active lately.  Has anyone up there seen them?

[57Johnnie]

I hear the aurora borealis is supposed to be especially active lately.  Has anyone up there seen them?

Crux is more likely for OZ.

[bennie]

Actually, I read it in an article on the whole kerfuffle.

I have been absent for a while due to being super busy with work, but I am so glad that I checked in just to see the use of the word "kerfuffle"! That word just isn't used enough!

Just to add to the list of multi sport Johnnies, I can remember Todd Fultz played football and basketball, Tom and (I think) Mick Ramboldt both played football and baseball, and for some reason I am thinking Pat Mayhew played football and tennis. Cripes I'm old!!