FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sfury]

I enjoyed the Tommies punting when down 28-10. At that point in time, their big goal was apparently to keep from losing 35-10, with trying to win being the secondary option. Maybe it's better telling recruits you only lost by 18 in the title game. Felt like all was right in the world again with the Tommies seeking moral victories.

(I realize I'm typing that a month after the Johnnies' season ended and three months after it actually died. But still...it was satisfying.)

[DoubleO]

I enjoyed the Tommies punting when down 28-10. At that point in time, their big goal was apparently to keep from losing 35-10, with trying to win being the secondary option. Maybe it's better telling recruits you only lost by 18 in the title game. Felt like all was right in the world again with the Tommies seeking moral victories.

(I realize I'm typing that a month after the Johnnies' season ended and three months after it actually died. But still...it was satisfying.)

Whatever they've been telling recruits has been working, so I hope they don't deviate from it. All the exposure won't hurt their efforts either!

[faunch]

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20121215/SPORTS04/312150019/St-John-s-football-players-following-search-Gagliardi-s-replacement

But junior defensive lineman Sean Tillman , who saw action in eight games last fall, said he wouldn't mind seeing some tweaks.

"I think one of the things guys have talked about is getting a little more structure in the program," Tillman said. "John was able to do things his way for a very long time and it was very successful.

"But from a new coach, one of the things I'd like to see would be a written down depth chart. That way kids who are third and fourth string would know exactly where they stand.

"Until this past season, I was one of those guys. And it can be a little hard when you don't know exactly where you're at."

[faunch]

Can someone tell me why this  guy didn't get more playing time this year at SJU?

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/748761/highlights/2466540
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I
http://www.mnfootballhub.com/roster_players/537790
http://www.gojohnnies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8418&path=football

Compare him to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I

[sjusection105]

I enjoyed the Tommies punting when down 28-10. At that point in time, their big goal was apparently to keep from losing 35-10, with trying to win being the secondary option. Maybe it's better telling recruits you only lost by 18 in the title game. Felt like all was right in the world again with the Tommies seeking moral victories.

(I realize I'm typing that a month after the Johnnies' season ended and three months after it actually died. But still...it was satisfying.)

Whatever they've been telling recruits has been working, so I hope they don't deviate from it. All the exposure won't hurt their efforts either!

As an outsider looking at the UST program I would imagine that the first recruiting class with Waldvogel & D. Tracy were told they could come in & have a legitimate opportunity to be starters as Freshmen. Add to this they would be the nucleus of the next chapter of UST football. Well that worked. Now with so much depth on this team,will they run into resistance from recruits? Will a kid say, I want to play I don't want to sit & the kid goes some place else. This has happened at SJU in the past (not the last couple years) where kids trade riding the bench for 3 years in exchange for being part of a deep play off run (think 1999-2003 era Johnnie teams). Other guys say- no way, I'll go somewhere else where I can get as good of an education as SJU ( I guess that rules out U$T  ) and extend my playing career. That's something to think about how the UST success may play out.

[oldsju67]

Can someone tell me why this  guy didn't get more playing time this year at SJU?

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/748761/highlights/2466540
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I
http://www.mnfootballhub.com/roster_players/537790
http://www.gojohnnies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8418&path=football

Compare him to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I

Faunch, the compare video is also of Sam.  Quick answer to your question, because in John's system he leans heavily on upper classmen.  Even if a freshman is slightly better...

[Tom Thumb]

I enjoyed the Tommies punting when down 28-10. At that point in time, their big goal was apparently to keep from losing 35-10, with trying to win being the secondary option. Maybe it's better telling recruits you only lost by 18 in the title game. Felt like all was right in the world again with the Tommies seeking moral victories.

(I realize I'm typing that a month after the Johnnies' season ended and three months after it actually died. But still...it was satisfying.)

Whatever they've been telling recruits has been working, so I hope they don't deviate from it. All the exposure won't hurt their efforts either!

Speaking of recruits, what happened to UST's 2011 highlight video?  They removed it from youtube a few months ago.  Just curious that's all. 

[oldsju67]

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20121215/SPORTS04/312150019/St-John-s-football-players-following-search-Gagliardi-s-replacement

But junior defensive lineman Sean Tillman , who saw action in eight games last fall, said he wouldn't mind seeing some tweaks.

"I think one of the things guys have talked about is getting a little more structure in the program," Tillman said. "John was able to do things his way for a very long time and it was very successful.

"But from a new coach, one of the things I'd like to see would be a written down depth chart. That way kids who are third and fourth string would know exactly where they stand.

"Until this past season, I was one of those guys. And it can be a little hard when you don't know exactly where you're at."

Again, it's John's system.  Twenty plus years ago when I played that was the case too.  I had no idea I was starting my first game until 10 min before we took the field when John announced the starters.  It's nerve racking and you never truely knew where you were on the depth chart.  But to argue the other side, it sure forced you to be prepared and ready to play for every game

[faunch]

Can someone tell me why this  guy didn't get more playing time this year at SJU?

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/748761/highlights/2466540
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I
http://www.mnfootballhub.com/roster_players/537790
http://www.gojohnnies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8418&path=football

Compare him to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I

Faunch, the compare video is also of Sam.  Quick answer to your question, because in John's system he leans heavily on upper classmen.  Even if a freshman is slightly better...

Sorry...compare to: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/roster/Braddock_Brenton.html

I understand that's how the system worked.  Don't necessarily agree w/ it.  If every coach in the country did that Johnny M might not have won the Heisman this year.

That said I'm trying to be optimistic that the Johnnies have a few underclassmen waiting in the wings.

[Tom Thumb]

I enjoyed the Tommies punting when down 28-10. At that point in time, their big goal was apparently to keep from losing 35-10, with trying to win being the secondary option. Maybe it's better telling recruits you only lost by 18 in the title game. Felt like all was right in the world again with the Tommies seeking moral victories.

(I realize I'm typing that a month after the Johnnies' season ended and three months after it actually died. But still...it was satisfying.)

Whatever they've been telling recruits has been working, so I hope they don't deviate from it. All the exposure won't hurt their efforts either!

As an outsider looking at the UST program I would imagine that the first recruiting class with Waldvogel & D. Tracy were told they could come in & have a legitimate opportunity to be starters as Freshmen. Add to this they would be the nucleus of the next chapter of UST football. Well that worked. Now with so much depth on this team,will they run into resistance from recruits? Will a kid say, I want to play I don't want to sit & the kid goes some place else. This has happened at SJU in the past (not the last couple years) where kids trade riding the bench for 3 years in exchange for being part of a deep play off run (think 1999-2003 era Johnnie teams). Other guys say- no way, I'll go somewhere else where I can get as good of an education as SJU ( I guess that rules out U$T  ) and extend my playing career. That's something to think about how the UST success may play out.

I understand your point, but I think Caruso can tell those players that he had seven freshmen (Simmet, L. Marks, Braddock, Dowdle, Misiewicz, Graupner, and Vonnahme) and five sophomores (O'Connell, Hamlin, Ferrazzo, Payne, and Woodrow) start in the national championship game against Mount Union.  While I have no doubt that Caruso will be frank about their chances of starting as a freshman, it certainly can be done and he has shown he has no problem starting a younger guy if they are the better player.  Caruso made several uncomfortable decisions this year in favor of younger players.  I think frustration sets in when players know they're the better player but they're not playing.  But as long as a player knows that they are not starting because they need to improve, that can be a source of motivation to get on the field. 

[oldsju67]

Can someone tell me why this  guy didn't get more playing time this year at SJU?

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/748761/highlights/2466540
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I
http://www.mnfootballhub.com/roster_players/537790
http://www.gojohnnies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8418&path=football

Compare him to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I

Faunch, the compare video is also of Sam.  Quick answer to your question, because in John's system he leans heavily on upper classmen.  Even if a freshman is slightly better...

Sorry...compare to: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/roster/Braddock_Brenton.html

I understand that's how the system worked.  Don't necessarily agree w/ it.  If every coach in the country did that Johnny M might not have won the Heisman this year.

That said I'm trying to be optimistic that the Johnnies have a few underclassmen waiting in the wings.

Agree, but remember there has been freshman who've started at SJU.  Bungum this year is an example and Nick Martin too.  We just had a lot of running backs this year and they didn't get injured, plus Sura did see game time which is more than a lot of freshman at SJU can say.  I'm sure if you went back to Steve Johnson's high school videos you would see he busted off the same types of runs that we see in Sam's video...

What really needs to happen is SJU to put together a JV squad.  As was mentioned by some current players, and felt by former players, they went out for the football team to play football and many never get a chance to show if they're even able to play.  It's easy to get lost in the swarm of 180 players.  That being said, running a JV squad is gonna be an expense for the department.  Travel costs, someone to coach the game while the head coach is with the varsity team etc...  I can see a tradeoff if you cut the roster size from 180 to 100 ish, but if you don't where does the money come from?

I think the other thing that has to happen at SJU, are more position coaches.  An individual very close to the team made a comment to me at an alumni function a few years ago regarding QB's specifically, but I think it fits for all positions.  This person made the statement that QB's that come into the system generally are the best they will ever be when they walk in the door as freshman.  That's because there's no position coach to work with them on mechanics, reading a defense etc... and when you think about it that person is right.  So, if it's true for one position it must be true for all positions, right?  Again, more money then the University had to spend in the past, so will they spend it now....

[sjusection105]

Can someone tell me why this  guy didn't get more playing time this year at SJU?

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/748761/highlights/2466540
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I
http://www.mnfootballhub.com/roster_players/537790
http://www.gojohnnies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8418&path=football

Compare him to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I

Faunch, the compare video is also of Sam.  Quick answer to your question, because in John's system he leans heavily on upper classmen.  Even if a freshman is slightly better...

Sorry...compare to: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/roster/Braddock_Brenton.html

I understand that's how the system worked.  Don't necessarily agree w/ it.  If every coach in the country did that Johnny M might not have won the Heisman this year.

That said I'm trying to be optimistic that the Johnnies have a few underclassmen waiting in the wings.

Agree, but remember there has been freshman who've started at SJU.  Bungum this year is an example and Nick Martin too.  We just had a lot of running backs this year and they didn't get injured, plus Sura did see game time which is more than a lot of freshman at SJU can say.  I'm sure if you went back to Steve Johnson's high school videos you would see he busted off the same types of runs that we see in Sam's video...

What really needs to happen is SJU to put together a JV squad.  As was mentioned by some current players, and felt by former players, they went out for the football team to play football and many never get a chance to show if they're even able to play.  It's easy to get lost in the swarm of 180 players.  That being said, running a JV squad is gonna be an expense for the department.  Travel costs, someone to coach the game while the head coach is with the varsity team etc...  I can see a tradeoff if you cut the roster size from 180 to 100 ish, but if you don't where does the money come from?

I think the other thing that has to happen at SJU, are more position coaches.  An individual very close to the team made a comment to me at an alumni function a few years ago regarding QB's specifically, but I think it fits for all positions.  This person made the statement that QB's that come into the system generally are the best they will ever be when they walk in the door as freshman.  That's because there's no position coach to work with them on mechanics, reading a defense etc... and when you think about it that person is right.  So, if it's true for one position it must be true for all positions, right?  Again, more money then the University had to spend in the past, so will they spend it now....

If the university is truly interested in being competitive these things have to happen in order to keep up. It is like trying to run the academic side of the university without have internet access,can it be done? Sure it can be done,but what type of students would you attract?

If the university is not committed, as well as alumni & sponsors, to provide an environment to succeed then 6-4 and 5-5 seasons will be the norm for the foreseeable future. It doesn't matter who the coach is. What was one of the reasons that Bret Bielema went to Arkansas? Wisconsin didn't allow him to pay assistant coaches a competitive wage,so he had turnover. You can't blame him (or his former assistants) for wanting to keep staff in place,but you can't do this without being competitive with staff & facilities.

[oldsju67]

Can someone tell me why this  guy didn't get more playing time this year at SJU?

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/748761/highlights/2466540
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I
http://www.mnfootballhub.com/roster_players/537790
http://www.gojohnnies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8418&path=football

Compare him to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKsCDX8Cq3I

Faunch, the compare video is also of Sam.  Quick answer to your question, because in John's system he leans heavily on upper classmen.  Even if a freshman is slightly better...

Sorry...compare to: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/roster/Braddock_Brenton.html

I understand that's how the system worked.  Don't necessarily agree w/ it.  If every coach in the country did that Johnny M might not have won the Heisman this year.

That said I'm trying to be optimistic that the Johnnies have a few underclassmen waiting in the wings.

Agree, but remember there has been freshman who've started at SJU.  Bungum this year is an example and Nick Martin too.  We just had a lot of running backs this year and they didn't get injured, plus Sura did see game time which is more than a lot of freshman at SJU can say.  I'm sure if you went back to Steve Johnson's high school videos you would see he busted off the same types of runs that we see in Sam's video...

What really needs to happen is SJU to put together a JV squad.  As was mentioned by some current players, and felt by former players, they went out for the football team to play football and many never get a chance to show if they're even able to play.  It's easy to get lost in the swarm of 180 players.  That being said, running a JV squad is gonna be an expense for the department.  Travel costs, someone to coach the game while the head coach is with the varsity team etc...  I can see a tradeoff if you cut the roster size from 180 to 100 ish, but if you don't where does the money come from?

I think the other thing that has to happen at SJU, are more position coaches.  An individual very close to the team made a comment to me at an alumni function a few years ago regarding QB's specifically, but I think it fits for all positions.  This person made the statement that QB's that come into the system generally are the best they will ever be when they walk in the door as freshman.  That's because there's no position coach to work with them on mechanics, reading a defense etc... and when you think about it that person is right.  So, if it's true for one position it must be true for all positions, right?  Again, more money then the University had to spend in the past, so will they spend it now....

If the university is truly interested in being competitive these things have to happen in order to keep up. It is like trying to run the academic side of the university without have internet access,can it be done? Sure it can be done,but what type of students would you attract?

If the university is not committed, as well as alumni & sponsors, to provide an environment to succeed then 6-4 and 5-5 seasons will be the norm for the foreseeable future. It doesn't matter who the coach is. What was one of the reasons that Bret Bielema went to Arkansas? Wisconsin didn't allow him to pay assistant coaches a competitive wage,so he had turnover. You can't blame him (or his former assistants) for wanting to keep staff in place,but you can't do this without being competitive with staff & facilities.

So, if you read the interview with the new SJU president that faunch posted, what do you think the schools position is?

"I'm not naive when it comes to the need to stay competitive with the rest of our conference when it comes to staffing and facilities. But we did a departmental review in the past year, and as I observe it, we are competitive. And we're committed to staying that way."

Well the way I see it the football team, and in my opinion the other sports teams too, are WAY behind the times.  You just can't have the head baseball coach be the d-coordinator!  (Not picking on Jerry, just an example.)  That's a cost savings measure that high schools use, not that a University should use.

This is just my opinion, if Grant is the new head coach it's because the school commited to ponying up the resources.  If he's not, it's because he turned down the job or pulled out for lack of good commitment.  I'm not saying we need to mirror U$T, but where we are now is not acceptable.

[oldsju67]

If the university is truely interested in being competitive these things have to happen in order to keep up. It is like trying to run the academic side of the university without have internet access,can it be done? Sure it can be done,but what type of students would you attract?

... as a sidenote, I also hear, ironicaly, this statement regarding technology in general at SJU is not too far off!

[raiderpa]

After reading many of your posts, I think SJU needs to understand what Mount Union figured out when Kehres started winning.  Winning brings students..players and regular students.
Every player that is brought in is a huge amount of $$$, and students who come because of the recognition bring cash.  With winning comes more alumni dollars...a lot more alumni dollars.  We are now in the position where many of the first successful players are now becoming successful businessmen and that has been a boon to the college as well, ie: pressbox, weight and training facility, locker rooms and more.
So, forward thinking must be used to anticipate what successful programs can bring to a school and investments must be made for the future of the program and the college as a whole.  It is not brain surgery.