FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[corn horn]

The Johnnie game is first up before the Cobbs get their hands on the boys from Arden Hills... Is it just me or after looking at the box scores and play by play for the Johnnies that they are 3 plays away from being 0-3? Everyone knows the missed field goal at UST, but RF and EC are both games that they really could have lost. I didnt realize EC fumbled going into score at the end of the game.... The Cobbers could very well be facing a 0-3 team just as easy as a 3-0? But I suppose that is why you play the game. And good teams win close games.

Thoughts?

Well, if I were a Cobber I would be worried by the 3-0 team that could easily be 0-3.  They know how to win.  The Magic is with them.  Yoda (pre-prequel) says that fear them you must.

Should the Johnnies be nervous playing the Cobbers? Or is the "magic" all they need. I might be new to the boards, but last I checked "magic" isn't real. There just seems to be a lot of faithful Johnnie fans that think it is.

Both. Look at history,the Johnnies & Cobbers play tight games quite often. The Johnnie fans (for the most part) have a healthy respect for the Cobbers.
BTW- Johnnie Magic is real,just ask some of the other long time Cobbers on this board- they can fill you in 

Sooo correct. I guess I qualify as a long time Cobber on this board. Probably more so against the Cobbers than any other team, Johnnie magic...that ol' black magic...is real.

It's the magic that makes a preacher swear.
It's the magic that turns the relinquishes the brats and Coke you had at the game into a biting squirt of gastric juice refluxed into the back of your throat, burning as you exit in disgust.
It's the magic that turns a rockin' Jake into a morbid wake.

The game is never, ever "put away" versus the Johnnies. From the unfortunate, to the bizarre, to the devastating, it has and can happen.

That said, Cobbs always play well at Clemens, and have dropped a few bitter pills down the throats of Johnnie loyals as well...more method than magic though. Almost always a very emotional and well fought game.

[hazzben]

Thats a close race for play of the week.

I think the Auggie Tech play shows the most athleticism.  Cobber play is pretty solid.  I was hoping for some kind of trick play from the SJU video, but it's just a running back going untouched for 40 yds.

It is a guess, but I am thinking the SJU O-line is just a little proud of that clip.  Conversely, I wonder how many times GC showed this play at Plums during his weekly film study, just asking!

I think the film is pretty clear.  The Tommie's screwed up....on both sides of the center, a linemen and backer both filled the b gaps.

Wouldn't that be a case of "live by the blitz, die by the blitz" ? 

To be honest, the Sura run reminds me a ton of the Mike Johnson run against SJU in 2000. SJU came with the blitz, Bethel picked it up. Mikey J rumbled untouched to the 1 yd line where a DB caught him.

If I remember correctly (and I do  ) there were multiple SJU people who made it very clear that it wasn't that Bethel had made a great play, but that one SJU linebacker had missed his gap. Just sayin'   

[hazzben]

I am quite certain THIS will be on Robert Zimmerman's Christmas list.

I am a bit of a Bob fanatic, so I already have all of his albums except one.  I refuse to buy the album he released a couple years ago called, "Christmas In The Heart," that's where I draw the line!  Other than that, I have all the studio albums, live albums, and even some unreleased bootlegs.  I consider myself an amateur Dylan impersonator; I even have a harmonica neck holder so I can play guitar and harmonica at the same time.  Here I am doing one of Bob's songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeRQ8LbZ7jE

Wow, that is really impressive. Well done! +k

[hazzben]

I just have to pull this picture forward because it is too damn funny. I'd say the "Caruso Crew" as they call themselves put more effort in to making the oversized tools then they ever did towards freshman English. 

BDB. They are seminarians. They've been showing up to games way before UST was good. They have an odd amount of enthusiasm, but you can't blame them for the effort.

And as far as seminaries go, Vianney is the best in the country over the last decade.  It's things like this that set them apart. Might make you laugh, but it works in that world.   

I don't see how the fact that these guys are seminarians is at all relevant. They dress liked goons for the game and they're ripe for ridicule afterwards. Obviously I congratulate and encourage them in their pursuits but they still deserve (and will get) grief for their get ups.

Now if we picked on them because they were seminarians then that would be something to talk about. But we aren't; we're picking on them because they are Tommies. Obviously not every decision these guys make is a good one.

As a former seminarian I see nothing wrong with going after them. Good for them for having fun, but seriously, you dress up like this and you're really asking for people to give you a hard time. And for their sake, I hope they can handle it. They're going to get a lot worse than this if they go into the ministry (sadly).

[OzJohnnie]

Thats a close race for play of the week.

I think the Auggie Tech play shows the most athleticism.  Cobber play is pretty solid.  I was hoping for some kind of trick play from the SJU video, but it's just a running back going untouched for 40 yds.

It is a guess, but I am thinking the SJU O-line is just a little proud of that clip.  Conversely, I wonder how many times GC showed this play at Plums during his weekly film study, just asking!

I think the film is pretty clear.  The Tommie's screwed up....on both sides of the center, a linemen and backer both filled the b gaps.

Wouldn't that be a case of "live by the blitz, die by the blitz" ? 

To be honest, the Sura run reminds me a ton of the Mike Johnson run against SJU in 2000. SJU came with the blitz, Bethel picked it up. Mikey J rumbled untouched to the 1 yd line where a DB caught him.

If I remember correctly (and I do  ) there were multiple SJU people who made it very clear that it wasn't that Bethel had made a great play, but that one SJU linebacker had missed his gap. Just sayin'   

I say this time and again: consistency is repeatedly overrated.

[D O.C.]

I,for one, am glad you can't move along after last Saturday. It's fun.

[DoubleO]

Congrats to the Johns-nice W on Saturday. Unfortunately (or fortunately based on the outcome), I was out of pocket on Saturday and completely unable to follow the game as I was belly deep most of the day fishing the Eagle River in CO.  You'll be happy to know you cast (pun intended) a shadow on what was otherwise a perfect day for me. I came out of the river around 6 pm, shed my waders, grabbed my phone from the car and about vomited when I saw the score. Your victory was unexpected to say the least, but as much as I hate to admit it, I was reminding myself in the back of my mind that records often go out the window when these two teams get together. Sounds like it was another great atmosphere and the Toms have some work to do protecting the ball and cleaning up penalties. Both seem to be consistent problems from previous years.

It's a LONG season and there are too many other solid MIAC teams to be cogitating in regards to playoff scenarios. Plenty of time for Caruso & crew to right the ship. I am confident they will do just that.

[sjusection105]

I,for one, am glad you can't move along after last Saturday. It's fun.

The Tommies have a bye week,so they have another week to let the salt work it's way deeper & deeper into the the wound.

The Johnnies aren't dwelling on the past, they will have their hands full with the Cobbers and their Navy Split Bone running attack!

[cobbernation]

So, for the Cobber game on Saturday is the best defense against the Sailor's Chop Block offense to run up some scores early and force the Cobbers to the air?

Usually a good plan, apparently the cobbers are showing more balance this year in run/pass.  Plus, the QB can throw.  I won't catch the game this saturday, I will be at TCF bank cheering on the undefeated Gophers.

[finsleft]

I am quite certain THIS will be on Robert Zimmerman's Christmas list.

I am a bit of a Bob fanatic, so I already have all of his albums except one.  I refuse to buy the album he released a couple years ago called, "Christmas In The Heart," that's where I draw the line!  Other than that, I have all the studio albums, live albums, and even some unreleased bootlegs.  I consider myself an amateur Dylan impersonator; I even have a harmonica neck holder so I can play guitar and harmonica at the same time.  Here I am doing one of Bob's songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeRQ8LbZ7jE

I saw you do this when you were the selected faculty speaker/performer for my son's HS graduation. (Apollo '05) It was memorable.

[USTBench]

I,for one, am glad you can't move along after last Saturday. It's fun.

The Tommies have a bye week,so they have another week to let the salt work it's way deeper & deeper into the the wound.

The Johnnies aren't dwelling on the past, they will have their hands full with the Cobbers and their Navy Split Bone running attack!

I feel bad for Carleton.

If SJF thought UST ran up the score two years ago, they ain't seen nothin' yet.

[ron doney]

I,for one, am glad you can't move along after last Saturday. It's fun.

I don't think looking at the film is "not moving along."  Surely Linfield reviews film of the prior weekends game.  I was two bloody marys deep by the kickoff last Saturday watching the game on a fuzzy screen...just wanted to make sure I saw what I saw before throwing out opinions on this board.  After watching the film, the Tommies, as a team, were not as bad as I remember.  All correctable mistakes. 

I'm hoping UST can perform just as well as all those 1 loss Johnnie teams of the 90s and 2000s.  And if the Tommies were going to have one loss in the season, last weekend was the perfect time.  Unfortunate it had to be against SJ1.

[ron doney]

I,for one, am glad you can't move along after last Saturday. It's fun.

The Tommies have a bye week,so they have another week to let the salt work it's way deeper & deeper into the the wound.

The Johnnies aren't dwelling on the past, they will have their hands full with the Cobbers and their Navy Split Bone running attack!

I feel bad for Carleton.

If SJF thought UST ran up the score two years ago, they ain't seen nothin' yet.

I think Caruso keeps the starters in longer than he otherwise would against Carleton, because they clearly need the reps.  That will, as you predict, run up the score.

[ron doney]

Excited for SJU football in one week.

Agreed. Looking forward to seeing what the new coaching staff is able to do in year one. I'm a complete Ramler bobo and think some of the staff changes should provide a more cohesive staff. Hoping that cleans up some of the silly mistakes that have bit SJU in the last few years that were never a problem before.

I was curious and wanted to look back at what folks had anticipated for Ramler this season.  I found this post funny b/c the staff may be cohesive, but Ramler's ball security drills are anything but 

Looking forward to the game at the Scoreboard Bowl Sat. St Glenn and his costars, or are they just extras, are the favorites for obvious reasons...#2 ranking (or is it #1), 36 straight MIAC wins, 3-in-a-row over SJU and a home field advtange which should be roughly 60% UST supporters.

Ramler though is one of the reasons I have some optimism this weekend. The Jays have not been world beaters the first two weeks but 2-0 is better than the alternative. I gave the team a pass on week one for it being a road game to open the season with a lot of obvious changes. The week two opponent was better, and at full strength, and it sounds like the Jays had chances to break it open.

My hope is Ramler and company have been holding some things back in anticipation of this game. A win at this stage for new staff would be a huge start for them. I have to imagine there will be some new formations or play calls this Sat on offense that haven't been used so far.

Defense will probably be as is in terms of scheme. The Johnnies should be ready for St Glenn's play calls. I feel like I know what they are going to run or fake 75% of the time. SJU cannot give up a TD on the roll out right, throwback to the left play this Sat. It's coming, you know it is. A friend of mine who is a UST grad and did his grad work at Bethel mentioned the Royals call that play "A$$hole." I'd tend to agree but every team falls for it.

I'm guessing that was the case, as you predicted.

UST proved in the second half that Ramler's creativity can be stopped.....stopped blitzing and plugged up quick hitting bubble screen and draws.

Does Ramler have anything left?  If not, I give the advantage to Bethel and Concordia. Given Ramler's schemes and how to stop them are now on film.
(my guess is nothing left that is very effective, or Ramler would have used it in the 4th quarter at UST).

[DuffMan]

(my guess is nothing left that is very effective, or Ramler would have used it in the 4th quarter at UST).

Yeah, I am sure Ramler tapped out all of his offensive ideas within three games at SJU.  Keep telling yourself that, Doney.