FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Texas Ole]

The article Coach Gagliardi seemed to shed some a different light on the football program.  It is interesting because I think some people questioned whether he still had it in him to coach.  I think the thing that may have changed were the players and not the coach.  It sounds like the players changed and not all the methods kept up with them.  If you are going to play in a loose system then you need to make sure you outwork your opponent.  Saban coached teams are notorious for this one.  They know they better be working harder than anyone else, because that player behind them may be catching up on them.  Then you have the fact that Mike Grant turned them down.  It may not have been a SJU thing, but rather an EP and family thing.  Some of it may be not wanting to move or commute, but you have to remember he has a great situation at EP.  He is a public employee which has great benefits.  He is in a great area to live.  He knows he pretty much has things set for him.  Many coaches look at the grass being greener on the other side.  Gary Patterson of TCU has been offered several jobs over the years including the one at the U and at Arky.  He has turned them down due to a love of and comfort at TCU.  I think Jeff Bower (formerly of Southern Miss) was the same way.  Jim Wacker was set at TCU before going to the U.  He did not want to leave, but the U called and he listened since TCU would not listen to him.  It hurt both schools big time.  Hiring the replacement is never easy.  Jim Gagliardi not getting the job may be the best thing for the Gagliardi family.  If the team struggles during this change the Gagliardi family should not be on the hook for the mess.  Coaches need to build their own legacy and that takes time.  I don't think Willingham was ever given the time at Notre Dame.  When a coach reaches a certain age they should decide how their career ends.  Tom Osbourne recognized that when he announced his resignation as the Nebraska AD.  When you do what certain coaches do such as Gagliardi, Bowden, Bear Bryant and others you have earned that right.  I do find it a little strange that Gagliardi still has an office.  My question is does he have a title like Coach Emeritus or a role like Bobby Bowden where he is a fundraiser.  It seems many people still revere him.  He might as well be the St. John of Football.

The coaching turnover in the MIAC seems quite accelerated right now.  I find this to be a disturbing trend in the conference.

[Capn34]

Good luck to the Johnnies tonight, let's hope Gary gets off to a great start to the season and is 2-0 heading into the Tommie Game. 

It's time for the Tommies on the board to assume the position they have had for most of thier football history, playing second fiddle to the Johnnies.  It seems some Tommies take a three year run to mean that they have been historically the dominant team in the MIAC.  Fact is if you look at MIAC history they are probably at best, third fiddle to SJU and Concordia, and maybe even fourth to the Gusties(historically speaking). 

[OzJohnnie]

Far out. Still waiting to hit in the 16th. A group fat, slow, probably drunk Englishmen in front if us.  They're going to make me miss the opening kick off. Guess I might as well stop at the clubhouse and drink a couple beers then.

[stanbob]

Far out. Still waiting to hit in the 16th. A group fat, slow, probably drunk Englishmen in front if us.  They're going to make me miss the opening kick off. Guess I might as well stop at the clubhouse and drink a couple beers then.

They are fat, slow, probably drunk tommies no doubt Oz.  Get here when you can.

[Texas Ole]

Far out. Still waiting to hit in the 16th. A group fat, slow, probably drunk Englishmen in front if us.  They're going to make me miss the opening kick off. Guess I might as well stop at the clubhouse and drink a couple beers then.

They are fat, slow, probably drunk tommies no doubt Oz.  Get here when you can.

That sucks!  I hate slow golfers that for some reason want to take their sweet time on the course.  It keeps people from enjoying and at times finishing a well deserved round of golf. 

Good Luck to all MIAC teams in their OOC games!

[SagatagSam]

Well, that was 3.75 quarters of football misery, followed by three minutes of heart-pounding excitement.

[OzJohnnie]

I can't tell if Gary was crying or not. Emotional moment this first interview as a winning Johnnie Head Coach.

[BDB]

The team obviously has some no quit in them. A very good thing.

[Tom Thumb]

This pretty much sums up River Fall's last few minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1EyN9xTK94

[Robert Zimmerman]

Nice game for the freshman place kicker.  Makes the (long because of the penalty) game tying extra point and then the winning 40 yard field goal.

[OzJohnnie]

Alright, what a sporting weekend. First the hawks run riot over Sydney, then the Johnnies dig into the magic well and open Fasching's career with a win, and now I hope to see #1 and her team win their netball playoffs semi-final.

GO JOHNNIES!!

[tommiegun]

Did anyone else notice the homepage said "Post John, Johnnies go down" for a few minutes?

[ron doney]

Good luck to the Johnnies tonight, let's hope Gary gets off to a great start to the season and is 2-0 heading into the Tommie Game. 

It's time for the Tommies on the board to assume the position they have had for most of thier football history, playing second fiddle to the Johnnies.  It seems some Tommies take a three year run to mean that they have been historically the dominant team in the MIAC.  Fact is if you look at MIAC history they are probably at best, third fiddle to SJU and Concordia, and maybe even fourth to the Gusties(historically speaking).

Alright a self proclaimed man of facts.....what's the history say about going undefeated in the conference three seasons in a row? Or maybe 34 regular season games in a row?

As the guy who checks the facts at UST wrote.....
Glenn Caruso (57-8 record), last season's AFCA and Liberty Mutual Division III National Coach of the Year, surpassed 50 Tommie coaching victories in 2012, his fifth seasons at UST. By comparison, John Gagliardi won his 50th game at St. John's in his 10th season; Mount Union's Larry Kehres won his 50th game in his seventh season.... Caruso moved into first in UST football coaching victories last postseason he passed Frank Deig (56 wins, 1947-58).

Caruso has done something possibly unprecedented in college football –- improve his team's record in each of his first seven seasons as a head coach. He took over a Macalester team coming off an 0-9 season in 2006 and went 2-7, then 4-5. He took over a 2-8 Tommie program in 2008 and posted season records of 7-3, 11-2, 12-1, 13-1 and 14-1. 

[ron doney]

I don't think it's been said in all this talk of replacing a legend, but Gary is going to need to be a better coach than John if the SJU faithful are going to be happy.  John's .775 winning percentage won't win the conference or get this team into the playoffs. Gary is going to have to go undefeated to win his first MIAC crown....and going undefeated takes more than one or two tries. John had a hard time going undefeated in the conference.  Only did it 6 times in his last 20 seasons if I can read the eye charts of historical records correctly (with MAC on the schedule).

If Gary had talked about taking one game at a time, instead of restoring the Johnnies winning standard, maybe they wouldn't have overlooked UWRF so badly.

[Capn34]

Good luck to the Johnnies tonight, let's hope Gary gets off to a great start to the season and is 2-0 heading into the Tommie Game. 

It's time for the Tommies on the board to assume the position they have had for most of thier football history, playing second fiddle to the Johnnies.  It seems some Tommies take a three year run to mean that they have been historically the dominant team in the MIAC.  Fact is if you look at MIAC history they are probably at best, third fiddle to SJU and Concordia, and maybe even fourth to the Gusties(historically speaking).

Alright a self proclaimed man of facts.....what's the history say about going undefeated in the conference three seasons in a row? Or maybe 34 regular season games in a row?

As the guy who checks the facts at UST wrote.....
Glenn Caruso (57-8 record), last season's AFCA and Liberty Mutual Division III National Coach of the Year, surpassed 50 Tommie coaching victories in 2012, his fifth seasons at UST. By comparison, John Gagliardi won his 50th game at St. John's in his 10th season; Mount Union's Larry Kehres won his 50th game in his seventh season.... Caruso moved into first in UST football coaching victories last postseason he passed Frank Deig (56 wins, 1947-58).

Caruso has done something possibly unprecedented in college football –- improve his team's record in each of his first seven seasons as a head coach. He took over a Macalester team coming off an 0-9 season in 2006 and went 2-7, then 4-5. He took over a 2-8 Tommie program in 2008 and posted season records of 7-3, 11-2, 12-1, 13-1 and 14-1.
Point proven....Tommie fans think the conference began 5 years ago.
BTW they didn't play as many games and have 32 team playoffs back in the 1950's.