FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[USTBench]

More national media attention for John Gagliardi: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/college-footballs-top-coach-does-073650631--ncaaf.html

Fascinating. I didn't know his players called him "John" and that there wasn't any tackling at his practices.

Now that surprises me.  The first time you forget a birthday or anniversary and your "pay attention skills" will be sharpened up. All that money spent on Summit to no affect when all that was needed were vows of indentured servitude. Tommie's never cease to amaze me.

Little trick my old man taught me: Drinking beer in the house on a Sunday afternoon will get you in a situation where you're doing crap you don't want to do. Drinking beer in the garage on a Sunday afternoon, and the wife leaves you alone. Probably why my dad has such a nice garage.

[Pat Coleman]

What's the word on the Tommie passing game?
I was a bit stunned to see that the Toms offense attempted 54 passes against UWRF and 37 against UWEC.
Whatever happened to establishing the run first?

From watching the River Falls game, I don't think that's how UST really intends to operate. They have the horses to pound the ball as usual. I suspect that was just game-planned for those teams.

[Pat Coleman]

If they need to run 50 times a game, I'm sure they can and will do it. But if they can win without it and keep the backs fresh for later in the season, makes sense to do so.

Just my $.02. I am not a great X's and O's guy.

[hazzben]

What's the word on the Tommie passing game?
I was a bit stunned to see that the Toms offense attempted 54 passes against UWRF and 37 against UWEC.
Whatever happened to establishing the run first?

New QB had a stellar prep career in Wisconsin, set a state record for total offense or something of that nature. Legit dual threat, so not just an athlete who sorta throws. From what I understand, he's a proficient passer who's also an outstanding runner.

Experience will be his big limitation this weekend, but ability shouldn't be.

[corn horn]

Very strange to have traditional regular season-enders as conference openers. Obviously, the focus is in Collegeville, but there should be another good battle for THE TROLL in the Concordia -St. Olaf "Lefse Bowl" down in  Northfield. Cobbers offense appears to be clicking early. I'm (naively) optimistic that they can tip the scales in their favor on the "even matches" this season.

As for "that other game", I can't believe it, but I'm actually gonna pull for the Johnnies this year. I don't recall that ever happening before. Must be early season madness.

[sjusection105]

As for "that other game", I can't believe it, but I'm actually gonna pull for the Johnnies this year. I don't recall that ever happening before. Must be early season madness.

Thanks for the support this week, as I'm sure next week when the Jays travel to Canada to play the Cobs your allegiance will switch back to your boys in maroon & gold 

[BDB]

What a beautiful day for the UST v. SJU game. Have a great time boyz as I will watching #13 North Central v. My Blue Devils. 

[sju56321]

Looking forward to a good game today.
I did watch the UST v. Eau Claire game and from that game, I think if SJU can contain the QB or at least limit the runs around the end, they will be in great shape. I would let UST try to win by the air, their WRs are nothing special and the QB looked just ok in that game. As for pounding the ball, the RB they had in the game at Eau Claire was not a big back, so not sure they can pound the rock at will.
SJU needs to have the QB as sharp as at Eau Claire and SJU can and needs to pound the rock.
Looking at 28-21 SJU.

[edstone]

I'll jump on the band wagon and lend my support to the Red team over the Purple team today. Then I'm off to watch my Blue team play defense. 

[SagatagSam]

It's Johnnie gameday!
Wish I could be there in the Natural Bowl today to cheer the Johnnies onto victory.

Bench, even though I will not be there, will the new cow cup be present?

[sju56321]

I wonder if OZ will joining us today?

[tmerton]

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.

And Pat locked down the political discussion board why??
Can we please keep the discussions to FB, Beer, Ice Fishing and other things not so volatile in this election season --PLEASE MAKE IT STOP

I'm sure it was only a momentary lapse - retagent just got all fired up at the Value Voters convention. 

[corn horn]

As for "that other game", I can't believe it, but I'm actually gonna pull for the Johnnies this year. I don't recall that ever happening before. Must be early season madness.

Thanks for the support this week, as I'm sure next week when the Jays travel to Canada to play the Cobs your allegiance will switch back to your boys in maroon & gold 

Cobbers looked very strong versus the Oles today. Rolled to 28-0 before, well, rolling the other direction for a spell in the 4th quarter. The face grinding Cobbers are back with the big fullback attack, some capable options, and a true passing game to mix it up. It promises to be another good one next week against the Johnnies, and yes, my support of the red machine is expired. It wasn't very effective today anyhow.

[hazzben]

As for "that other game", I can't believe it, but I'm actually gonna pull for the Johnnies this year. I don't recall that ever happening before. Must be early season madness.

Thanks for the support this week, as I'm sure next week when the Jays travel to Canada to play the Cobs your allegiance will switch back to your boys in maroon & gold 

Cobbers looked very strong versus the Oles today. Rolled to 28-0 before, well, rolling the other direction for a spell in the 4th quarter. The face grinding Cobbers are back with the big fullback attack, some capable options, and a true passing game to mix it up. It promises to be another good one next week against the Johnnies, and yes, my support of the red machine is expired. It wasn't very effective today anyhow.

That was a very nice win for the Cobbers. I think we've got ourselves an exciting MIAC race this year. UST isn't other worldly, SJU is back on the right track. Bethel looks solid again. GAC no longer appears to be a doormat. St. Olaf still has some dangerous weapons offensively. This could get interesting!

[sfury]

I'm not as pessimistic as probably some Johnnie fans will be after this one (although I'm more half-full anyway), but it's certainly going to be a tough couple weeks coming up with the Cobbers and St. Olaf. Hopefully they get through those and the rest to make that game against Bethel mean something. But Cobbers will certainly be really tough.

Those two drives before half were killers but Tommies also had scoring drives of 33, 2 and 1 yards. So defense got some stops. And offense had chances in first half to open it up a bit when up 14-7 and driving but big penalties killed them. And the missed interception opportunity on St. Thomas' last drive of the first half, was it a really bad drop?

There will be plenty of Johnnie fans wailing -- although at least this week we can be miserable with Whitewater -- but interested to see what what people who saw the game think of the Tommies. The D sounds like it's as tough as ever but offense not as explosive. And 3 picks by the QB, but he also made big plays.

Thought Johnnies would actually win this one and this one was maybe closer than score indicated and it wasn't 63-7, but...it's still a Tommie world. Sigh.