FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[tmerton]

Hello Johnnie fans and MIAC fans.  Glad for the season to finally get here.  Going to be off the board for a few days after today, so wanted to toss a couple things out there for discussion.

I'm one who prefers some beef in the middle, both sides of the ball, but especially DL and LB.  I don't see Joe Zrust on the roster, and I always felt like the line played much better with him in the middle.  Wasn't he just a freshman last year - anyone know what happened?  Joe Donner was a senior last year?

There's lots of question marks, but no one has mentioned RB really.  We don't bring much experience, or "stats" back, at all.  Is Colin Moynahan gonna be the man?  Will Sura and - Essler, Vakulskas - become a young capable RB by committee??  I'm a little worried, considering the running game has been pretty sad the last couple years - I mean, I thought Steve Johnson and Nick Schneider were a very capable running duo but they only gained 600+ yards between them last year.  Tell me it will get better!!

Looking forward to an entertaining season!

We are learning as we go. The change to Ramler as OC could see a lot of faces in different places.

D is a work in progress,also different faces in different places.

Best athletes on the field and speed will be the motto for 2013- IMHO

I want to win in the trenches.  Strength and conditioning is where the Johnnies need to be stronger IMO. 

[tmerton]

Now that Fasching's got the pads out for practice at SJ1, I'm sure ND is not the only one with this problem.... 

http://instagram.com/p/c_996gvUxi#

That was almost disturbing - and must have left a mark.  Gotta get those Texas kids to learn coming from going. 

[Mr.MIAC]

What do you all think of UST's new scoreboard? Maybe it's the angle, but the masonry seems to lack symmetry.

http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/8-14Blog.html

[AO]

What do you all think of UST's new scoreboard? Maybe it's the angle, but the masonry seems to lack symmetry.

http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/8-14Blog.html

Now that Kasota stone closed, does this mean the St. Thomas can't build any more buildings?

[Mr.MIAC]

What do you all think of UST's new scoreboard? Maybe it's the angle, but the masonry seems to lack symmetry.

http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/8-14Blog.html

Now that Kasota stone closed, does this mean the St. Thomas can't build any more buildings?

I think there are other sources for the stone, but to be honest I'd rather see them adopt a different aesthetic.  For me great architecture isn't about uniformity...it's about creativity and it would be nice to see some diversity of style on campus.

[Boys of Fall]

I thought it was lopsided because of all the points the home team is expected to put up.

[hazzben]

I don't recognize any of those kids from California schools that are perennial football powers.

I think criswyly was saying he didn't recognize the players as being 'big names.' I don't think it was knock on the schools themselves. At least that's how I read his comment.

Do you refer to players as "perennial football powers"?   

Umm, really 

No, I don't refer to players as 'perennial football powers.' And when I read criswyly's comments, I don't think he does either. Which was precisely my point. I think he's saying he doesn't recognize any of the cali players that attended one of the perennial football power schools.

I took the the clause "perennial football powers" to be modifying the schools, not the players.

Your response and others indicated that you were proving him wrong by listing several programs that were indeed quality. I maintain that his point seemed to be, and at the very least could be read to be, that it wasn't that he didn't recognize quality programs, but rather that he didn't recognize any players from those programs.

Does that mean they aren't good players. Not for a second. Plenty of All MIAC players were unheralded recruits coming out. But just because they played for really good high school programs also doesn't automatically mean they'll be good in the MIAC.

This really isn't a big deal. Except that you jumped all over his initial assertion (I.e. 'how dare he say our recruits don't come from the Eden Prairies of California'). When in reality it looks like it was your reading comprehension that was the issue all along. 

[ChicagoTommie]

Wow does SJU normally have 200 kids on the roster for the whole season?  I heard that they have 90  freshmen at camp.  Pretty impressive size, one thing that was strange that I read was that the fastest kid in camp is a DE and he ran a 4.7 - 40... Not that the 40 yard dash means a lot just seem alittle light on team speed especially at the skill positions. Just an observation

[DuffMan]

Yes, that is a normal SJU roster.  And in regards to 40 times, I've always been a bit suspect of SJU's electronic system.  It generally records pretty slow times for guys.  John never made returning starters run a 40; I don't know if Gary has changed that.

[Mr.MIAC]

Yes, that is a normal SJU roster.  And in regards to 40 times, I've always been a bit suspect of SJU's electronic system.  It generally records pretty slow times for guys.  John never made returning starters run a 40; I don't know if Gary has changed that.

SJU doesn't need silly things like speed, weight training, full contact practices, shiny facilities, girls...they have "Johnnie Magic."     

[OzJohnnie]

Yes, that is a normal SJU roster.  And in regards to 40 times, I've always been a bit suspect of SJU's electronic system.  It generally records pretty slow times for guys.  John never made returning starters run a 40; I don't know if Gary has changed that.

SJU doesn't need silly things like speed, weight training, full contact practices, shiny facilities, girls...they have "Johnnie Magic."     

The winningest coach in history and four national championships along the way proves your comment correct despite the sarcasm. Will there still be magic when the magician is gone?  We'll find out soon enough, but you Tommies would sure be hoping it is gone.

Gagliardi won a conference championship in his first season after SJU had spent years in the dog house.  Can lightening strike twice?  I sure hope it can.

[BDB]

SJU doesn't need silly things like speed, weight training, full contact practices, shiny facilities, girls...they have "Johnnie Magic." 

Oz, I'm pretty sure he got this part wrong.

[sjusection105]

As Fins mentioned earlier, the kicking (place kicking) game could be an adventure. After having some pretty outstanding kickers over the years, what I saw in the Red & White- Spring Game did not exactly instill  my confidence in the  2013 version of the SJU Kicking Game.

Who knows, they needed a punter last year & found a pretty good one in Martin as a Freshman. Time will tell.....

[Mr.MIAC]

Yes, that is a normal SJU roster.  And in regards to 40 times, I've always been a bit suspect of SJU's electronic system.  It generally records pretty slow times for guys.  John never made returning starters run a 40; I don't know if Gary has changed that.

SJU doesn't need silly things like speed, weight training, full contact practices, shiny facilities, girls...they have "Johnnie Magic."     

The winningest coach in history and four national championships along the way proves your comment correct despite the sarcasm. Will there still be magic when the magician is gone?  We'll find out soon enough, but you Tommies would sure be hoping it is gone.

Gagliardi won a conference championship in his first season after SJU had spent years in the dog house.  Can lightening strike twice?  I sure hope it can.

Of course no one would question SJU's historical success.  However, I do find it interesting when the SJU nation condemns UST for taking the same path followed by most successful programs.  Apparently the "right" way to do things is to conjure up some sort of "magic."  As an aside, and I'm not questioning anyone's bona fides here, but Gagliardi had the most wins (over an unusually long career)...did he also have the highest winning percentage?

[Mr.MIAC]

Yes, that is a normal SJU roster.  And in regards to 40 times, I've always been a bit suspect of SJU's electronic system.  It generally records pretty slow times for guys.  John never made returning starters run a 40; I don't know if Gary has changed that.

SJU doesn't need silly things like speed, weight training, full contact practices, shiny facilities, girls...they have "Johnnie Magic."     

The winningest coach in history and four national championships along the way proves your comment correct despite the sarcasm. Will there still be magic when the magician is gone?  We'll find out soon enough, but you Tommies would sure be hoping it is gone.

Gagliardi won a conference championship in his first season after SJU had spent years in the dog house.  Can lightening strike twice?  I sure hope it can.

Of course no one would question SJU's historical success.  However, I do find it interesting when the SJU nation condemns UST for taking the same path followed by most successful programs.  Apparently the "right" way to do things is to conjure up some sort of "magic."  As an aside, and I'm not questioning anyone's bona fides here, but Gagliardi had the most wins (over an unusually long career)...did he also have the highest winning percentage?

Just found the answer to my question:

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2013/coaching.pdf