FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[retagent]

Just flipping  through some of the obscure channels this morning. Stopped on CBS Sports Channel when I saw on thier menu "D III Championship." One of the hosts was a smokin' babe whose brother plays for UMU. Her name is Ally LaForce (That's phonetic -so if I got it wrong, I'm sorry. Not gonna look it up) They had a segment on the game, but I was disappointed to hear that they knew so little. They had St Thomas beating Whitewater last week. Ouch! She did know that Whitewater had "lost a couple" games this year. The guy made a reference to the U S Olympic hockey team beating the Russians then having to beat Sweden for the gold. I think tht he was trying to say that UMU beat the Russians (UMHB) last week, and the Tommies are their Sweden. He said that the emotional win last week might help the Tommies. I think that was his point.

They came back at their final minute wrap-up and again pointed out that the Stagg Bowl was tonight. Even with some of their inanity, the Pub was a good thing.

[DuffMan]

Got him "Raidered Up" this morning Duff?

Unfortunately, my hat is way too big for him, so no. 

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

The last time UMU or MUC or MU-CC or whatever it is now played an MIAC team in the Stagg, they los 24-6 despite being an overwheleming favorite (even among MIACPP posters in the pick-em at the time. Even the "reddest" of posters here then felt Mount was too good, too big, too srong, too everything.  I see many parallels between 2003 & 2012, so I'm sticking with the old score-- 24-6 for the MIAC champs.Go Tommies!! Bring home #2 of 2012-13!

[faunch]

The last time UMU or MUC or MU-CC or whatever it is now played an MIAC team in the Stagg, they los 24-6 despite being an overwheleming favorite (even among MIACPP posters in the pick-em at the time. Even the "reddest" of posters here then felt Mount was too good, too big, too srong, too everything.  I see many parallels between 2003 & 2012, so I'm sticking with the old score-- 24-6 for the MIAC champs.Go Tommies!! Bring home #2 of 2012-13!

This site predicts MU 41 U$T 17.  As much as I don't want U$T to win I can't see a 24 point spread.  Truth is you just don't get too many blowouts in the championship game. 

http://www.sports-ratings.com/college_football/2012/12/2012-division-iii-championship-game-preview-odds-and-prediction-mount-union-vs-st-thomas.html

1996   Mount Union   Rowan   56–24   Salem, Virginia
1997   Mount Union   Lycoming   61–12   Salem, Virginia
1998   Mount Union   Rowan   44–24   Salem, Virginia
1999   Pacific Lutheran   Rowan   42–13   Salem, Virginia
2000   Mount Union   St. John's (Minn.)   10–7   Salem, Virginia
2001   Mount Union   Bridgewater   30–27   Salem, Virginia
2002   Mount Union   Trinity (Tex.)   48–7   Salem, Virginia
2003   St. John's (Minn.)   Mount Union   24–6   Salem, Virginia
2004   Linfield   Mary Hardin–Baylor   28–21   Salem, Virginia
2005   Mount Union   Wisconsin–Whitewater   35–28   Salem, Virginia
2006   Mount Union   Wisconsin–Whitewater   35–16   Salem, Virginia
2007   Wisconsin–Whitewater   Mount Union   31–21   Salem, Virginia
2008   Mount Union   Wisconsin–Whitewater   31–26   Salem, Virginia
2009   Wisconsin–Whitewater   Mount Union   38–28   Salem, Virginia
2010   Wisconsin–Whitewater   Mount Union   31–21   Salem, Virginia
2011   Wisconsin–Whitewater   Mount Union   13–10   Salem, Virginia

[ron doney]

As talented as the Tommie's defenenders are, their best defense is their slow and methodical offense. Twice last weekend they scored on 75+ yard drives, one of 10 plays the other of 16.  They chewed up nearly 13 mins of clock combined.  If they can get three of those this weekend, I like their chances. That starts on the UST O-line and trusts O'Connell to not turn the ball over in his own backfield (long interceptions are fine).  When UST is stopped I like their punting game. Average starting field position for UMU will be key and that responsibility falls directly on the UST offense - limit three and outs, no backfield turnovers and no short punts.

The UST defense will need to stop the run with just their front seven - and get pressure on the QB. The secondary will be playing deeper than normal so they don't get beat over the top, especially on play action.  There will be a lot of room in the middle of the field and if the UMU QB can find receivers there all day, then they'll be unstoppable.

I like the Tommie's: 25 - 20.  The defense scores and Caruso goes for two at some point.

[Pat Coleman]

The last time UMU or MUC or MU-CC or whatever it is now played an MIAC team in the Stagg, they los 24-6 despite being an overwheleming favorite (even among MIACPP posters in the pick-em at the time. Even the "reddest" of posters here then felt Mount was too good, too big, too srong, too everything.  I see many parallels between 2003 & 2012, so I'm sticking with the old score-- 24-6 for the MIAC champs.Go Tommies!! Bring home #2 of 2012-13!

This site predicts MU 41 U$T 17.  As much as I don't want U$T to win I can't see a 24 point spread.  Truth is you just don't get too many blowouts in the championship game. 

http://www.sports-ratings.com/college_football/2012/12/2012-division-iii-championship-game-preview-odds-and-prediction-mount-union-vs-st-thomas.html

1996   Mount Union   Rowan   56–24   Salem, Virginia
1997   Mount Union   Lycoming   61–12   Salem, Virginia
1998   Mount Union   Rowan   44–24   Salem, Virginia
2000   Mount Union   St. John's (Minn.)   10–7   Salem, Virginia
2001   Mount Union   Bridgewater   30–27   Salem, Virginia
2002   Mount Union   Trinity (Tex.)   48–7   Salem, Virginia
2003   St. John's (Minn.)   Mount Union   24–6   Salem, Virginia

If you take out the Mount Union/UW-Whitewater games and look at just Mount Union games, the margins look different.

[nkwest]

The last time UMU or MUC or MU-CC or whatever it is now played an MIAC team in the Stagg, they los 24-6 despite being an overwheleming favorite (even among MIACPP posters in the pick-em at the time. Even the "reddest" of posters here then felt Mount was too good, too big, too srong, too everything.  I see many parallels between 2003 & 2012, so I'm sticking with the old score-- 24-6 for the MIAC champs.Go Tommies!! Bring home #2 of 2012-13!

This site predicts MU 41 U$T 17.  As much as I don't want U$T to win I can't see a 24 point spread.  Truth is you just don't get too many blowouts in the championship game. 

http://www.sports-ratings.com/college_football/2012/12/2012-division-iii-championship-game-preview-odds-and-prediction-mount-union-vs-st-thomas.html

1996   Mount Union   Rowan   56–24   Salem, Virginia
1997   Mount Union   Lycoming   61–12   Salem, Virginia
1998   Mount Union   Rowan   44–24   Salem, Virginia
2000   Mount Union   St. John's (Minn.)   10–7   Salem, Virginia
2001   Mount Union   Bridgewater   30–27   Salem, Virginia
2002   Mount Union   Trinity (Tex.)   48–7   Salem, Virginia
2003   St. John's (Minn.)   Mount Union   24–6   Salem, Virginia

If you take out the Mount Union/UW-Whitewater games and look at just Mount Union games, the margins look different.

And if you narrow it down to Mount Union vs. MIAC teams, the margins look even more different. 

I really have no idea what to expect tonight; of four general possible outcomes:

Mount Union in a blowout
Mount Union in a close game
UST in a close game
UST in a blowout

Only UST in a blowout would shock me.

[sfury]

Great stat in the Triple Take:

Since 1992, the Purple Raiders are 29-2 against first-time opponents in the postseason — UW-LaCrosse in 1992 and Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2004 are the lone winners — and in that span they have scored 50+ points 12 times while giving up less than 10 points 12 times.

[dlippiel]

Good luck to the UST program as a whole tonight (players, coaches, fans, alum, etc). dlip will be rooting for you big time! What an excellent year for the Tommies so far! Go ****in get'um fellas!

Go ****in Get'um

[BDB]

Speaking of TDT, he's got some holiday work as a mall Santa:

http://www.92kqrs.com/article.asp?id=2593335&SPID=6546

[joelmama]

As talented as the Tommie's defenenders are, their best defense is their slow and methodical offense. Twice last weekend they scored on 75+ yard drives, one of 10 plays the other of 16.  They chewed up nearly 13 mins of clock combined.  If they can get three of those this weekend, I like their chances. That starts on the UST O-line and trusts O'Connell to not turn the ball over in his own backfield (long interceptions are fine).  When UST is stopped I like their punting game. Average starting field position for UMU will be key and that responsibility falls directly on the UST offense - limit three and outs, no backfield turnovers and no short punts.

The UST defense will need to stop the run with just their front seven - and get pressure on the QB. The secondary will be playing deeper than normal so they don't get beat over the top, especially on play action.  There will be a lot of room in the middle of the field and if the UMU QB can find receivers there all day, then they'll be unstoppable.

I like the Tommie's: 25 - 20.  The defense scores and Caruso goes for two at some point.

You need to look at what you just wrote a second time IMO.  You said last week UST sustained two long drives against UWO.  No doubt that is the strength of the team in the line play being able to dominate.  You said you like their chances against Mount if they get three long drives.  You do know the defense you are talking about and looking at UWo I think Mount's defense is superior.  So UST has to do 50% better against the best defense in the country.  Also you are projecting Mount to score 20 points for the game when they have averaged more than 60 per game in the playoffs and nearly that for th year.  I think Mount score 20 points in the last half of the 4th quarter last week against a team with a pretty good defense UMHB.  If USt has a chance to win they will need to score over 30

[tommiegun]

This is not the first time a group largely composed of Minnesotans took on a seemingly invicible machine.

I like our odds.

[tommiegun]

Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here, tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we [play] with 'em. Tonight, we stay with 'em, and we shut them down because we can! Tonight, we are the greatest [Division III football] team in the world. You were b
orn to be [Division III football] players -- every one of ya. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time -- is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearin' about what a great [Division III football] team [Mount Union] has. Screw 'em!

This is your time!!

Now go out there and take it!

GO GET A CHAMPIONSHIP TOMMIES!

[tommiegun]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CdJTfGiRCI

[emma17]

Does anybody know if a Stagg Bowl press guide has been released?  I'm looking for info on starting lineups and appreciate any direction you can give.