FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DustySJU]

Apparently, Kurt Ramler has been on a sabbatical for the last year.

"I really had a unique opportunity to take a true sabbatical and I was able to shadow a number of programs," Ramler said. "I was able to take a look at how things are being done in different places."

As a matter of pure curiosity, I wonder which schools he elected to follow.

And I wonder who picked up the tab?  Are there grants just lying around waiting for people to pick up and use to fill their time?

I like the idea and would imagine coach Ramler slept in his share of coaches offices, dorm rooms and broom closests and ate a fare share of Refectory like food.

[pumkinattack]

At the end of the day, I don't really care what others think about a region or team in general...

But, I would like to make a couple of points for the many that believe this game will be a cakewalk in the theory that all East teams suck all the time.

I haven't seen much of that at all this year, pumkinattack.

I definitely get the sense it's out there and frankly if (per your podcast) the East's reputation rides on this game, then implicitly the consequence is that the mentality going in is that the East is weaker.  The very gracious and unassuming SID at STU (on a podcast that wasn't yours) made the point that the players last year didn't think the brand of football in the East just was on the same level  - to wit my point that UST might have ended up playing the 3rd best team in the East last year and actually won by a similar margin as an East team beat them (if you scroll through East boards you'll see all sorts of excuses for that game pop up right after the bids were announced about an extra bye week and how they were better later in the year though they lost to Sals by 20 in like week 7).  In flipping through the pick-ems, it sure looked like Hobart was the least favored "#2 seed" of the four (prior to this round, obviously no one's picking Widener over MUC).  In fairness, the OAC pick em has a very tight line.  Maybe I just read the NWC boards too much though. 

I know someone else thought Hobart had to run to win, but I think they have to be roughly 60% completion percentage and no worse than parity in the +/- to have a chance to win.  Interestingly, it seems like both teams have very strong (and young) defenses that are highly penalized, along with athletic offenses with a propensity to turn the ball over.  Perhaps +/- alone will be the deciding factor. 

[boobyhasgameyo]

At the end of the day, I don't really care what others think about a region or team in general...

But, I would like to make a couple of points for the many that believe this game will be a cakewalk in the theory that all East teams suck all the time.  I actually was very defensive at the end of last year and the first 3-4 weeks this year about Hobart's preceived relative positioning - largely vis-a-vis St John Fisher.  Most people treat SJF as the best team in the East and many apologists made lots of excuses for why they lost (with their starting QB @ home) vs. Hobart 56-20 (actually 1pt more than UST won by on their home field).  The reality is that SJF was lucky to get into the field last year at 8-2 with two blowout losses (also lost by 20 to Salisbury) and then got a very nice path to the quarters (JHU - the Centennial IMO is not as strong as Hobart's very average league, then a clearly overrated DelVal - another team that had gotten some benefit of being pretty good the prior few years).  Hobart had a bizarro loss by one pt at home to RPI (w a 2x League OPOY some claim has had NFL interest which I'm personally skeptical of) with zero kicking game and a weird 8 game schedule (bc Widener dropped us over the summer), but otherwise beat everyone by 17+ including the 5td win over SJF and yet ends up going to top 4 Wesley in the first round and comes up just short losing by 7 with multiple starters out.  Somehow SJF ends up 8th in the D3 poll and Hobart is unranked.  Considering we lost to a final four team by 7 at their place and won head to head over SJF by a lot, I'd argue that Hobart was actually a better team last year than SJF.  I think Hobart is better this year, not graduating all that much. 

Just some food for thought and perspective from admittedly a big Hobart fan about the East and perception.  The team you blew out got blown out twice that season earlier.

Can you guys tell how much PA loves Fisher?  My favorite part is how he consistently negates how Fisher beat two teams with a combined record of 21-0 heading into their game against us.  Last year's game against Hobart was a turning point in the season for the team.  It was a perfect storm of a fluke that day.  If you are inferring Hobart would have done that again had they met in the playoffs I'd say you are crazy.  The loss to Saint Thomas was legitimate even though our QB position was in a state of flux having been hurt in the Del Val game and the defense was banged up.  Saint Thomas last year had a WR that we did not have the talent to defend - he did better against Fisher than the 3 times we faced Pierre Garcon.  Luckily for Hobart he is gone.  In my opinion having seen both teams play if Hobart would have played Saint Thomas last year they would have gotten rolled as well that day.  They played a pretty sound game.  It wasn't Fisher's best day but I think even if Fisher would have turned in their best performance of the season that day they still would have come up short.

As for this year - It seems Hobart is fielding the same type of team talent wise while St. Thomas does not look to be as strong as they were last year.  This is why I think this game will be close.  But please continue to let pumkinattack tell you how horrendous Fisher is and how Hobart is leagues better.  Ignore how we beat them by 3 touchdowns at their home field the year before in that home-and-home series because that is the past and teams aren't allowed to get better after a lame duck performance...unless you are Hobart of course.  The best team the East has ever seen!!!! 

[AO]

One thing is for sure, the East Region has a little AJ Barker in them.  National respect is not required in order to enjoy your football season.  Hobart winning one game against a West Region power doesn't mean that teams 2-10 from the East are equivalent with 2-10 from the West. 

[USTBench]

At the end of the day, I don't really care what others think about a region or team in general...

But, I would like to make a couple of points for the many that believe this game will be a cakewalk in the theory that all East teams suck all the time.  I actually was very defensive at the end of last year and the first 3-4 weeks this year about Hobart's preceived relative positioning - largely vis-a-vis St John Fisher.  Most people treat SJF as the best team in the East and many apologists made lots of excuses for why they lost (with their starting QB @ home) vs. Hobart 56-20 (actually 1pt more than UST won by on their home field).  The reality is that SJF was lucky to get into the field last year at 8-2 with two blowout losses (also lost by 20 to Salisbury) and then got a very nice path to the quarters (JHU - the Centennial IMO is not as strong as Hobart's very average league, then a clearly overrated DelVal - another team that had gotten some benefit of being pretty good the prior few years).  Hobart had a bizarro loss by one pt at home to RPI (w a 2x League OPOY some claim has had NFL interest which I'm personally skeptical of) with zero kicking game and a weird 8 game schedule (bc Widener dropped us over the summer), but otherwise beat everyone by 17+ including the 5td win over SJF and yet ends up going to top 4 Wesley in the first round and comes up just short losing by 7 with multiple starters out.  Somehow SJF ends up 8th in the D3 poll and Hobart is unranked.  Considering we lost to a final four team by 7 at their place and won head to head over SJF by a lot, I'd argue that Hobart was actually a better team last year than SJF.  I think Hobart is better this year, not graduating all that much. 

Just some food for thought and perspective from admittedly a big Hobart fan about the East and perception.  The team you blew out got blown out twice that season earlier.

Not sure why you guys are getting all worked up about a perceived lack of respect, it's like someone who went to UPenn going on and on about the Wharton School and all their Nobel laureates because of an inferiority complex when talking to a Harvard MBA.

The only explanation I have for it, is that you lurked on our page when SJF came to St. Paul last year. Well, they (They being SJF posters) certainly overhyped their program and then WHINED WHINED WHINED after they couldn't prevent UST's 2nd team from scoring points late in the game. "THROWING THE BALL LATE IN THE GAME WHEN YOU'RE UP BIG, CLASSLESS! WAAAAH!"

I have no real opinion about East teams because UST has only played one, but I think we're smart enough to understand that SJF and their whiner fanbase is not indicative of the rest of the region.

[tommiegun]

One thing is for sure, the East Region has a little AJ Barker in them.  National respect is not required in order to enjoy your football season.  Hobart winning one game against a West Region power doesn't mean that teams 2-10 from the East are equivalent with 2-10 from the West. 

Wasn't St. Thomas #3 in the final (reported) west region rankings?

[boobyhasgameyo]

I struggle to see how a fanbase correlates to the strength of the team.  Maybe you are using some advanced statistical analysis?  It's funny you brought up Wharton and Harvard as I actually go to an upper echelon business school, so I have dabbled with such statistics.  You have to be weary of heteroskedasticity if you are taking samples over time   

I'll summarize briefly and call it as fairly as possible, then I will Swayze it out of here. 

Hobart is a very good team and I believe they have a great chance of winning Saturday.  St. Thomas does not appear as formidable.

You forget how last year started.  We came over to these boards being nice and somebody was a big meanie from UST...that started that. 

There was definitely whining.  We wanted to put up a better performance against an out of region team (even though Johns Hopkins is in the south) and we laid an egg.  Fisher has a select few posters who get very animated and we are painted with a broad brush as a result.  Though I will admit you guys got under my skin big time.  Haven't had my blood pressure spike that much since the Ithaca posters of old    

It would be to your detriment to view eastern teams as weak because we didn't have our best performance that day.  I'm glad you guys aren't.  I'm very much looking forward to the game.

I love you St. Thomas.  I love you Hobart.  Pumkinattack you make it harder for me to cheer on Hobart as much as I'd like but I love you too. 


       

[DustySJU]

Mike Grant sighting this morning at 8:40am entering the Bakers Squares in Eden Prairie... Mike is looking well coifed and hungry.  Guessing coach Grant is basking in another State Championship and anticipating downloading the online app from SJU.

Developing....

[AO]

One thing is for sure, the East Region has a little AJ Barker in them.  National respect is not required in order to enjoy your football season.  Hobart winning one game against a West Region power doesn't mean that teams 2-10 from the East are equivalent with 2-10 from the West. 

Wasn't St. Thomas #3 in the final (reported) west region rankings?

The point was that a win for an undefeated Hobart in the East, doesn't mean much for the rest of the region as they weren't able to beat Hobart either.

St. Thomas jumped Oshkosh in the secret rankings, I wouldn't think geography is the reason why the Tommies are not flying to Oregon Saturday. 

[faunch]

Mike Grant sighting this morning at 8:40am entering the Bakers Squares in Eden Prairie... Mike is looking well coifed and hungry.  Guessing coach Grant is basking in another State Championship and anticipating downloading the online app from SJU.

Developing....

Or maybe downloading some French Silk Pie 

[DustySJU]

Mike Grant sighting this morning at 8:40am entering the Bakers Squares in Eden Prairie... Mike is looking well coifed and hungry.  Guessing coach Grant is basking in another State Championship and anticipating downloading the online app from SJU.

Developing....

Or maybe downloading some French Silk Pie 

Speaking of sustenance, did you get your specially crafted loaf of manna yesterday?

[pumkinattack]

Some great responses, and maybe it's my problem (or again reading the NWC board too much where they're expecting you to be there next week no matter what).  My only counter would be to suggest that I often see the result of a MUC or other quarterfinal game as evidence of the entire region.  If that's the case, then a win against a #1 seed (#2 in region, but considered a top 4, maybe top 5 team in the country) on their field ought to negate that argument, at least for this year. 

I like Booby and he clearly has a problem with what I'm saying, but I presented evidence to consider, that's all.  And the 20pt loss to Sals was on 11/5, the second to last regular season game, to a team that wasn't in the top 5 or 6, so I fail to see how improved the team got a week later before heading into the playoffs.  I can't go back through 3,000 pages, but somewhere shortly after the seedings came out there was a lot of excuse making and stories that didn't fit the reality (not by all SJF fans, but many).

Perhaps UST will roll Hobart and send us to the airport like a bunch of red headed step children.  All I'm saying is that I wouldn't take anything from the game with SJF last year to mean anything about the entire region.  I haven't seen a ton of posts about this, but you see the "oh MUC has this cakewalk to the quarters" posts, the Linfield guys talking about their game with UST next week, the D3 podcast about how Hobart is representing the strength of the entire region, etc., etc. and I just felt compelled to point out the vast differences between your eastern opponent last year and your opponent from East of the Miss this year. 

[pumkinattack]

I'm not trying to pick a fight here or anything, just sticking up for my beloved alma mater - whom I truly believe had a good chance at winning next Sat.  I may be out of my mind and have no idea about teams beyond the ones I've seen Bart play in the past few years, but if Bart ever had a chance at going to the national semis, this (and perhaps next year) is the best opportunity I've ever seen them have. 

Not much chatter, but maybe that's the composition of this board.  One guy came over to the east side.  Either way, I'll be rooting for the winner the following week. 

[faunch]

Mike Grant sighting this morning at 8:40am entering the Bakers Squares in Eden Prairie... Mike is looking well coifed and hungry.  Guessing coach Grant is basking in another State Championship and anticipating downloading the online app from SJU.

Developing....

Or maybe downloading some French Silk Pie 

Speaking of sustenance, did you get your specially crafted loaf of manna yesterday?

Today actually.  Wish I had some Jif peanut butter!!!

[faunch]

Let's do lunch!

http://www.gojohnnies.com/news/2012/11/28/FOOTBALL_1128125826.aspx