FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

True enough.  A Johnnie interviewed me for my current job.  I walked into the interview, told him that, as much as it made me viscerally sick, I supposed I probably had to shake his hand - he said, "Tommies Suck," and I was as good as employed.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.  A Tommie working for a Johnnie?  How is that possible?  You must have dropped out of U$T, right?

I've had two Tommie's on the payroll over the years, even down here. Neither one worked though.

[ron doney]

Pat has an interview with Caruso included in this Monday's post game piece....worth a listen.

Setting SJ1 aside, UST has a handful of issues to resolve coming out of an up and down first two weeks.  In the process, I would like to see them establish an identity on the offensive side of the ball. I think that starts with the QB.  Curious what others think of his play over the first two weeks.....and what they are expecting of him through the heart of the MIAC season?

Two quick thoughts on the QBs development.....
1) IMO, he needs to start playing like a savy veteran from here on out.  He may only be in his second year but with last years run he has nearly two seasons of experience.  Caruso mentioned O'Connell took a quarter to get back into a rhythm last week.  Can't have that, needs to be consistent week in week out, quarter to quarter - a true stalwart as Caruso likes to use.  In short, he needs to start carrying this team. 

O'Connell should take a look at Wartman's career.  Caruso won't hesitate to bench him if he plateaus. 

2) Speaking of which, I think it is time to start holding Caruso, the QB coach, just as responsible for the development of these guys.  Last year we learned that the program wants to be known as 'O-Line U,' which is all the more reason it should be able to support a top 5 QB every year.  I like Caruso's approach with small town talents who have a chip on their sholder, etc......but he needs to develop them into more accurate passers.  Tracy was great at throwing it up to Fritz, but struggled to find receivers in seams 10 - 20 yards down field.  I will be disappointed if Caruso can not develop O'Connell beyond this. 

[Texas Ole]

It'll be different not having Dobson throwing to Schmeising and Asp.  By the time Penz gets in a groove those two might be gone.

Unfortunately I expect it will take Penz about a year to figure it out.  It is nothing against anyone at Olaf, but just the nature of the beast.  The other thing that hurts is the St. Olaf rushing attack.  I haven't seen a game, but by looking at the stats if we have gained less than 150 yards on the ground and less that 200 if you remove any sacks then we have a problem.  I don't care what kind of passing attack you have; you cannot win games unless you run the football.  It may not be much longer before we start seeing 6 or fewer in the box on D with the down linemen just pinning the ears back on the rush.  The good news is that Penz isn't throwing a ton of INTs.  I also don't see the Oles giving a ton of points.  Concordia is up this week in the battle for the Troll which will hopefully be a good game.

[Mr.MIAC]

UPDATE: Coach Gary Fasching, still troubled by UST's dominance, has decided that holding hands is not enough to ensure an SJU victory.  He's called for team back massages in order to loosen up for the weekend game.  He's quoted as saying, "Carpe Diem...seize the day boys, make those massages extraordinary."  Coaching legend John Gagliardi, asked for his thoughts on the rather unorthodox coaching technique, replied with, "Aw Shucks."  Meanwhile, UST Coach Glenn Caruso, citing Sun Tzu's direction to "know your enemy," has changed his PhD dissertation topic to A Psychology of Male Massage: The Collegeville Experiment.

[bennie]

Your browser history must be fascinating!

[sfury]

Rev, I ask this, not as a Johnnie inquiring about a Tommie; not as someone already tired of St. Thomas's dominance and jealous at their success; not as someone who still chuckles at jokes making fun of St. Thomas, even after their 500th iteration; not as someone who still chuckles at jokes making fun of St. John's, even after their 500th iteration; not as someone bemused by the posts of yourself and the other Tommies on the board; not as someone who has actively tried to get Caruso another job that would take him out of the MIAC; not as someone who fears that the Tommies might dominate for decades to come; not as someone who is, let's be honest, way too wrapped up in the fortunes of a Division III team located in central Minnesota, which took tens of thousands of dollars from me.

I ask as one human to another, one screen name to another:

Are you okay?

[Mr.MIAC]

Rev, I ask this, not as a Johnnie inquiring about a Tommie; not as someone already tired of St. Thomas's dominance and jealous at their success; not as someone who still chuckles at jokes making fun of St. Thomas, even after their 500th iteration; not as someone who still chuckles at jokes making fun of St. John's, even after their 500th iteration; not as someone bemused by the posts of yourself and the other Tommies on the board; not as someone who has actively tried to get Caruso another job that would take him out of the MIAC; not as someone who fears that the Tommies might dominate for decades to come; not as someone who is, let's be honest, way too wrapped up in the fortunes of a Division III team located in central Minnesota, which took tens of thousands of dollars from me.

I ask as one human to another, one screen name to another:

Are you okay?

Yep, you?  As it's Tommie/Johnnie game week, I've decided to raise it up a notch and put a bit more creativity into my SJU digs...

[BDB]

Trust me RevMIAC, you have not "raised it up a notch" or added any creativity. I don't care what damn week it is.

[finsleft]

Rev, you are in desperate need of a filter, an inner voice to tell you, "No, don't do that" once in a while...or duct tape.

[sjusection105]

True enough.  A Johnnie interviewed me for my current job.  I walked into the interview, told him that, as much as it made me viscerally sick, I supposed I probably had to shake his hand - he said, "Tommies Suck," and I was as good as employed.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.  A Tommie working for a Johnnie?  How is that possible?  You must have dropped out of U$T, right?

Nope....I believe you call it overachieving. 

[Mr.MIAC]

Trust me RevMIAC, you have not "raised it up a notch" or added any creativity. I don't care what damn week it is.

Hmmm...stringing together Fasching, SJU, male massages, Gagliardi, Dead Poets Society, Sun Tzu, Caruso, and academic research in a single post seems rather creative.  I'll have to try harder...thank goodness we have a few days before the game. 

[BDB]

Hmmm...stringing together Fasching, SJU, male massages, Gagliardi, Dead Poets Society, Sun Tzu, Caruso, and academic research in a single post seems rather creative.

You are right. Frickin' genius. Don't know how I missed it.

[DuffMan]

My guess is most Tommie fans want nothing to do with you, Rev.  Have a lonely visit to St. Paul! 

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
I think the house won week 2.  also, finsleft is back.
WEEK 2 STANDINGS

Name	W1	W2	W3	W4	W5	W6	W7	W8	W9	W10	W11	Overall
mr_mom	10	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	22
Repete	9	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	21
AlmostEx	10	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20
ChicagoTommie	10	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20
finsleft	6	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	19
GoldandBlueBU	12	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	19
hazzben	14	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	19
miacmaniac	12	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	18
FCGrizzliesGrad	10	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	17
AO	5	11	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	16
OzJohnnie	9	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	16
sju56321	9	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	16
desertcat1	10	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	15
art76	7	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	14
FearTheEar	11	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	14
wm4	10	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	13
jayhawkdaddy	10	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12
ron doney	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12
OldAuggie	11	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11
stanbob	9	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10
USTBench	4	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10
Capn34	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7
raiderguy	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4

Week 3 September 21
Trophy: 4pts
St. John's (+24.5) @ #2 St. Thomas "The Holy Grail"
St. Olaf (+20.5) @ Concordia "The Troll"

Conference: 3pts
Gustavus (+13.5) @ Augsburg
Carleton @ Hamline (+7.5)

Non-Conference: 2pts
#7 Bethel @ Buena Vista  (+19.5)

West Region: 1pt
#15 UW-Whitewater @ Buffalo State (+10.5)

National: 1pt
#5 Wesley (+6.5) @ #4 Mary Hardin-Baylor

[SagatagSam]

Trust me RevMIAC, you have not "raised it up a notch" or added any creativity. I don't care what damn week it is.

Hmmm...stringing together Fasching, SJU, male massages, Gagliardi, Dead Poets Society, Sun Tzu, Caruso, and academic research in a single post seems rather creative.  I'll have to try harder...thank goodness we have a few days before the game.

I once made a necklace with some sea shells, cheerios, bottle caps, shark teeth, and some metal washers from the local hardware store.

...and I'm still waiting for the world to recognize my brilliance. Have a seat in the waiting room with me, Rev.