FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

I will say this about SJU: they gave me the education I wanted. Only two classes in my time there were doctrinally political. One of them was freshman chemistry, which was particularly frustrating (I actually asked for a refund for some classes - denighed), and the other was some foreign policy some such which focused on pretty much Israel and the Palestinians four days out of five. Monotonous but not unexpected.

All my other classes were focused squarely on learning as they should be. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to take substantive classes during j-term, one of which was the most intellectually challenging of my school years.

So, hopefully SJU keeps an eye on teaching. There is plenty of life where we can have people tell us what to think. A little time spent learning how to think is a good thing.

[retagent]

Add Senator Amy Klobuchar to the list for political celebs who will be attending the Johnnie-Tommie game on Saturday. When was the last time that our governor and U.S. senator were in attendance at a MIAC football game? Now if I could only get Paris Hilton to make an appearance in Collegeville!

That may also be an omen that reinforces the final score predicted by maniac. 30 - 27 are also the IQ's of those two politicians.

[SagatagSam]

In the interest of bipartisanship, I'll roll out the red carpet for Kurt Bills, Tom Emmer, Tim Pawlenty, Paul Gazelka & Company.

[faunch]

Hello.....anybody, anybody?  Bueller?  Frye?

[Boys of Fall]

Who has more pressure this weekend, SJU to prove they're back or UST to prove they're worthy of moving to a higher division?

[sjusection105]

Who has more pressure this weekend, SJU to prove they're back or UST to prove they're worthy of moving to a higher division?

UST- they have to justify all the weight lifting, recruiting & organized practice is actually paying dividends.

[hazzben]

Who has more pressure this weekend, SJU to prove they're back or UST to prove they're worthy of moving to a higher division?

That's actually a good question.

My knee jerk was SJU. But UST isn't without pressure. They've now won two straight games against their rivals, but they aren't that far removed from over a decade of ineptitude. Losing despite superior talent (I think SJU is much better this year, but hasn't totally closed the gap) would be a dangerous return to form for the culture Caruso's trying to build.

All that said, I still think it's SJU. This game is at Clemens. And while they may not be the favorites, losing 3 straight to a surging UST program hurts on multiple levels, but especially recruiting. I have no idea, but when was the last time SJU lost 3 straight to UST? Gotta think that would be another serious blow to Johnnie pride. And then there's always the blowout factor. I'd be really surprised if this game got out of hand and shocked if SJU won in a blowout (but they've done that sort of thing before, 2001 Bethel  ). But you don't lose to a team 63-7 and not have a little something nagging the back of your mind going into the game next year. They need a good first quarter/half. If the Tommies get rolling the doubt could creep back in.

Personally, I think we see a return to the norm. A close fought, hard contested game. Even a horrible UST team in 2003 played the eventual national champs close. Should be a another great one on Saturday.

[DuffMan]

(but they've done that sort of thing before, 2001 Bethel  )

Oh, that was a fun game! 

[hazzben]

(but they've done that sort of thing before, 2001 Bethel  )

Oh, that was a fun game! 

No, no it wasn't 

[Retired Old Rat]

Add Senator Amy Klobuchar to the list for political celebs who will be attending the Johnnie-Tommie game on Saturday. When was the last time that our governor and U.S. senator were in attendance at a MIAC football game? Now if I could only get Paris Hilton to make an appearance in Collegeville!

That may also be an omen that reinforces the final score predicted by maniac. 30 - 27 are also the IQ's of those two politicians.

Yes, Yale and the University of Chicago Law School had special programs for retards from Minnesota that allowed them to attend and graduate.

[faunch]

Who has more pressure this weekend, SJU to prove they're back or UST to prove they're worthy of moving to a higher division?

That's actually a good question.

My knee jerk was SJU. But UST isn't without pressure. They've now won a two straight games against their rivals, but they aren't that far removed from over a decade of ineptitude. Losing despite superior talent (I think SJU is much better this year, but hasn't totally closed the gap) would be a dangerous return to form for the culture Caruso's trying to build.

All that said, I still think it's SJU. This game is at Clemens. And while they may not be the favorites, losing 3 straight to a surging UST program hurts on multiple levels, but especially recruiting. I have no idea, but when was the last time SJU lost 3 straight to UST? Gotta think that would be another serious blow to Johnnie pride. And then there's always the blowout factor. I'd be really surprised if this game got out of hand and shocked if SJU won in a blowout (but they've done that sort of thing before, 2001 Bethel  ). But you don't lose to a team 63-7 and not have a little something nagging the back of your mind going into the game next year. They need a good first quarter/half. If the Tommies get rolling the doubt could creep back in.

Personally, I think we see a return to the norm. A close fought, hard contested game. Even a horrible UST team in 2003 played the eventual national champs close. Should be a another great one on Saturday.

Thanks for saving me the trouble of writing my response...exactly what I was thinking.  Last year it was a forgone conclusion that UST was going to win.  People that follow the MIAC really weren't surprised by the beat down in St. Paul.  SJU needs this game to be competitive and a win would be huge confidence builder for the program.  A loss on Saturday would mean that only this year's senior class would have only one win against the Tommies.  I would think that could become a pretty big monkey on the back of the underclassmen.

[hazzben]

Add Senator Amy Klobuchar to the list for political celebs who will be attending the Johnnie-Tommie game on Saturday. When was the last time that our governor and U.S. senator were in attendance at a MIAC football game? Now if I could only get Paris Hilton to make an appearance in Collegeville!

That may also be an omen that reinforces the final score predicted by maniac. 30 - 27 are also the IQ's of those two politicians.

Yes, Yale and the University of Chicago Law School had special programs for retards from Minnesota that allowed them to attend and graduate.

Oh, this is getting fun. Johnnie fans fighting with Tommie fans and each other. 

[DoubleO]

The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of the Johns-no doubt about it. Considering the drubbing last year in the friendly confines, the whispers that perhaps JG's presence no longer serves as any recruiting advantage and maybe it is time for a change up top, playing at home with a healthy number of returning starters-they'd better win this game or it's all going to hit the fan. You know Gags would like nothing better than to avenge that beatdown that took place last year. Was that the worst of his SJU career? Should they not be able to, I can't imagine what that will do to his/their psyche.

The Toms are trying to achieve the level of sustained success that SJU has enjoyed both in conference and on the national level. Beating them up there again is just another step in the right direction. That being said, they still have a long way to go!

[hazzben]

On a different note, what are your thoughts about Notre Dame heading to the ACC.

Read an interesting article at the Sporting News essentially arguing that this was the path of least resistance for the ND's return to form.

I think its an interesting move. It probably means the death or significant diminishment of rivalries with BigTen schools Michigan, MSU and Purdue. It also allows them to pad the schedule with easier filler games and the 5 ACC games will cycle through all the conference schools. Read, a couple legit teams and lots of very mediocre football teams.

It definitely cashes in on the ND name for the ACC and helps both out in terms of TV dollars. Not sure if it helps either out in terms of quality on the football field. Given the ACC's limitations as a football conference and the fact that ND is barely above .500 against BCS schools since 1996.

[hazzben]

The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of the Johns-no doubt about it. Considering the drubbing last year in the friendly confines, the whispers that perhaps JG's presence no longer serves as any recruiting advantage and maybe it is time for a change up top, playing at home with a healthy number of returning starters-they'd better win this game or it's all going to hit the fan. You know Gags would like nothing better than to avenge that beatdown that took place last year. Was that the worst of his SJU career? Should they not be able to, I can't imagine what that will do to his/their psyche.

The Toms are trying to achieve the level of sustained success that SJU has enjoyed both in conference and on the national level. Beating them up there again is just another step in the right direction. That being said, they still have a long way to go!

There's at least a little pressure on UST. After the struggle they had on the road at UWEC, going on the road to Clemens will be a good test. They've got talent and depth. But beating up on UWRF doesn't mean you've replaced the leadership from last years exceptional senior class. And while SJU has the nasty pressure of not sucking, UST now has the flip side, the pressure of expectations. I'd take the latter in a heartbeat, but don't for a second think that going into a game against your hated rival as the ranked team, that is expected to win, doesn't carry some weight for Caruso and his boys.