FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

It's the morning of game  day and John is rumbling around the hallways looking for Brad Eustice, the bowling ball of a running back who lived a few doors down.

Good God!  You're about my dad's age.   

[repete]

And, sadly, you're not the first, Duff. I had one guy here tell me his mom was at CSB when I was in school.

[sfury]

Congrats, John.

Saw him at three Stagg Bowls and was a neighbor for one summer, but my enduring  memory comes from my freshman year when a bunch of us were sitting around my room on 4th Tommy. It's the morning of game  day and John is rumbling around the hallways looking for Brad Eustice, the bowling ball of a running back who lived a few doors down.

It was fairly late in the morning and John was frantic to find Brad (AKA Baby Bull) and our door was open. He stuck his head in, asked if we'd seen Eustice. Someone asked something about the game just a few hours away and John leaned against the wall and started talking. A few minutes later he sat down. He held court for at least half an hour and then wished us luck in our freshmen year and scurried off.

Amazing guy. Unmatched career. Here's hoping for a great, well-earned retirement.

Best interaction I had was senior year on campus post office. I was in Theory of Football at the time and John was in the post office and we started talking. Must have been 20 minutes. He didn't know me. But he found out I was from Janesville and brought up Dave Arnold, a guy from Janesville who was a really good receiver for the team in the early '70s, before the Johnnies threw much. Just chatted about Janesville and the surrounding towns, including a lot about Waseca and the Eustice boys. Finally he realized he had someplace to be and was running late, but he didn't exactly rush off.

[DustySJU]

Maybe Caruso would like to end up behind the pine curtain??? 

I'm curious who is/will be on the search committee.

We hate him now but could love him later...

Thanks for the great memories coach Gagliardi, you've been a big part of our family.

JohnnieUp Everybody!

[DuffMan]

And, sadly, you're not the first, Duff. I had one guy here tell me his mom was at CSB when I was in school.

Just giving you crap.  I've heard stories about Brad from my dad.  They were both Johnnie wrestlers from that era.

[sfury]

Some great lines from the press conference:

JG: I've been on search committees, they are worthless.

John will not be on search committees but will provide thoughts and ideas.

Dave Aeikens - SC Times: How much have teams struggles contribute to decision? Says probably wouldn't be retiring if team was winning at previous levels.

Dave Aeikens - SC Times: Maybe I better change my vote.

Dave Aeikens - SC Times: The White House sent out congratulatory note. The WH? I can't believe that. I didn't vote for him.

Question: Legacy? JG: What does that mean? I'll be some guy they forget. No one remembers Johnny Blood McNally.

[D O.C.]

I will actually cherish shaking his hand in McMinnville in 2002. There was just the two of us passing. He stopped and looked me in the eye, "Thanks." ( I later read Business As Usual)

[repete]

Congrats, John.

Saw him at three Stagg Bowls and was a neighbor for one summer, but my enduring  memory comes from my freshman year when a bunch of us were sitting around my room on 4th Tommy. It's the morning of game  day and John is rumbling around the hallways looking for Brad Eustice, the bowling ball of a running back who lived a few doors down.

It was fairly late in the morning and John was frantic to find Brad (AKA Baby Bull) and our door was open. He stuck his head in, asked if we'd seen Eustice. Someone asked something about the game just a few hours away and John leaned against the wall and started talking. A few minutes later he sat down. He held court for at least half an hour and then wished us luck in our freshmen year and scurried off.

Amazing guy. Unmatched career. Here's hoping for a great, well-earned retirement.

Best interaction I had was senior year on campus post office. I was in Theory of Football at the time and John was in the post office and we started talking. Must have been 20 minutes. He didn't know me. But he found out I was from Janesville and brought up Dave Arnold, a guy from Janesville who was a really good receiver for the team in the early '70s, before the Johnnies threw much. Just chatted about Janesville and the surrounding towns, including a lot about Waseca and the Eustice boys. Finally he realized he had someplace to be and was running late, but he didn't exactly rush off.

Arnold was very, very good. For a while, we dated roommates from CSB's Regina Hall. If he'd had one of the later SJU gunslingers, he would have had incredible numbers. There was a great showdown with St. Cloud State, which featured John Kimbrough, a wideout who was later played for the Bills.

Beating SCSC, which SJU almost always did, was great fun.

Duff, those were some darn good grapplers. And fire away, I'll just hitch up the Depends.

[retagent]

repete, "Diamond" Dave Arnold graduated a year after I did, so you're not the only fogey here. We went when John was more a Legend in the making. Who knew I would retire before he did? Best wishes to him and his family. Hope the searchers find what they're looking for (unlike Bono).

[RFMichigan]

     I realize that this is going to be lost in the wake of the announcement of the retirement of Coach Gagliardi, but I wanted to get it out there.

     I want to congratulate Bethel on their win on Saturday against Concordia and wish them the best of luck in their game against UW-Oshkosh.

     The Royals' strong, physical play on defense was truly impressive, and I was especially impressed by the speed and persuit of their linebackers and defensive backs in flowing to the ball. CUC's Maddox was never able to get to the second level on running plays and their wide receivers could never get much YAC, and that was due to their excellent team defense.

     #5 (LB) - truly a stud. The NAC just doesn't have anyone like him who combines good size with athleticism, a nose for the ball, and great instincts for the position. And the catch by Holm...(?). Should be a SportsCenter top 10 play.

     All in all, a great college football game. I was disappointed that Concordia lost, but the fact that they lost to a team that played football with class and toughness takes a little bit of the sting away. (But not much )

     Again, good luck, good health, and blessings in your game against Oshkosh.

[footballfan413]

I would like to add my congratulations to Coach G and the SJU family.  What an amazing career and life he has had.  His legacy and impact on college football and so many young men can never be measured or forgotten. 

[sjusection105]

Patrick Reusse Tweeted that the next head coach at SJU will be either one of two- A.) Mike Grant or B.) Gary Fasching I'd say we will know before Christmas if Patrick is right or not.......
I'm sure the email for Athletic Director Tom Stock is already filling up with quality candidates interested in the position.

[BDB]

Sometimes things don't go in cycles. Sometimes things are one of a kind. What John has accomplished is one of kind. I love hearing former players like Duff give tribute to him.

"The Sweet Season" is getting dusted off for another read.

[sju56321]

Not Fasching-with that defense.

[sjusection105]

Not Fasching-with that defense.

Last week I watched the "409Game" vs. Bethel again- I forgot what beasts the defense had like McCambridge,Hood,Weinandt. Speed,quickness and the ability to create chaos. The coaching staff didn't forget how to coach,but the recruiting process has fallen off dramatically- they simply are not getting the high caliber players that came to SJU in years past. The reserves in 2003 would,most likely, have been runners-up in the MIAC- although Bethel would have had something to say about it- the team had so much depth and versatility on both sides of the ball. The luxury of depth has been missing for the past couple seasons. The other teams in the MIAC have had a lot to say about that,but not identifying,targeting and securing the right players to create depth has been part of the downturn in the past couple years in my opinion- for what it's worth.