FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[RoyalsFan]

And what was up with Seth Mathis getting the personal fouls throughout the game?

Since I wasn't at the game today, I can only go by what I think I saw. Frustration! I think Seth just figured GAC was a team that should have been "put-away" and for much of the day that wasn't happening.
The pitch and pass was a thing of beauty to watch. I got the feeling some of the GAC players were watching it rather than defending it.

As I stated earlier, GAC was pretty much committed to stopping the run today, so when the defenders saw the swing pass to Hallstrom which they had done a few times before, and the defense bit on it and by then it was too late as Hilbrands got a couple steps behind the defense and it was a great pass by Hallstrom.

I think Hallstrom has a shot at MIAC offensive player of the week and Mehlhorn with his BU record 101 yard int return and a blocked field goal has a chance at defensive player of the week.

[RoyalsFan]

SJU did exactly as expected today -- congrats to Gary and crew.  In other MIAC news, UST did exactly as expected, and did not cover the spread.  I haven't seen the game summary yet, so I cannot comment on the game any further.  There is however an unheralded inter-link rumor that the F.A.M.I.L.Y. held a closed meeting earlier this week and in support of the Anti-bullying Football patents of The United States (ABFPOTUSA or UFTA for short), they unanimously decided that should they be fortunate enough to win the game, they would do so within the margin of spread so as to silently protest bullying in football across the great union of the Unites States.  Hat's off to GC and the  F.A.M.I.L.Y. for the exemplary example they see for youth everywhere.

[retagent]

BlueDevilBob - I sent you a PM, could you do a fover for me by reading and heeding?

[AO]

How can St. Olaf be favored?

The Goat tweeted at me.

Never trust a goat.

[hazzben]

Wartburg's win over Dubuque today was huge for Bethel. Puts Wartburg in the drivers seat for the IIAC. Likely gives Bethel a win over another Regionally Ranked Opponent.

And that leads to this, how do you rank all the unbeaten and one loss teams in the West?!?

Unbeaten's by SOS

Bethel - MIAC, SOS 4
UWW - WIAC, SOS 48
Linfield - NWC, SOS 63
Illinois College - MWC, SOS 186
Greenville - UMAC, SOS 212
UWP - WIAC, SOS 215


One Loss by SOS

PLU - NWC, SOS 12
Pacific - NWC, SOS 25
Concordia Moorhead - MIAC, SOS 53
SNC - MWC, SOS 78
Wartburg - IIAC, SOS 98
SJU - MIAC, SOS 123
Willamette - NWC, SOS 143
UWO - WIAC, SOS 176
Lake Forest - MWC, SOS 179
Chapman - SCIAC, SOS 225 EDIT: They lost to Redlands shortly after I originally posted

[hazzben]

Here's how I'd rank them, based on the criteria, the eye test and knowledge of conference strength:

1. Linfield: Solid SOS, eye test and strong conference, beat PLU - they look really good right now
2. Bethel: Very Solid SOS, eye test and strong conference, beat UST, CM, Wartburg - could make the argument for them as #1 on the criteria alone
3. UWW: Solid SOS, eye test and strong conference, beat UWO - impressive win today, maybe best in the West, but criteria counts for something, UWP next week
4. UWP: very weak SOS, eye test and strong conference - UWW and UWO still to play
5. PLU: Very Solid SOS, strong conference, only loss to Linfield, beat Pacific & Willamette - strong criteria, quality loss...we'll see how good Pacific & Willamette are down the stretch
6. CM: Solid SOS, strong conference, beat SJU, only loss to Bethel - strong criteria, game against UST is huge for playoff hopes
7. Pacific: Very Solid SOS, strong conference, loss to PLU - strong criteria, could still end up with 3 losses
8. Wartburg: OK SOS, ok conference, only loss to Bethel - in the drivers seat in the IIAC with the win over UD today
9. UWO: very weak SOS, strong conference, only loss to UWW - SOS really hurts them, strong showing against UWW
10. SJU: weak SOS, strong conference, beat UST, only loss to CM - UST win might push them into top 10
11. UST: OK SOS (74), strong conference, lost to Bethel, SJU - I don't know if they'd actually get slotted here, but it's where I'd put them.
12. Willamette: Very weak SOS, strong conference, only loss to PLU - SOS hurts, Pacific and Linfield still to play
13. Ill Co: Very weak SOS, poor conference, no quality wins - nothing stands out
14. Greenville: Very weak SOS, poor conference, no quality wins - even less stands out
15. SNC: OK SOS, weak conference, loss to JCU - got crushed by JCU earlier this year
16. Chapman: Very Weak SOS, ok conference, loss to Redlands - loss to Redlands has them plummeting down the RR
17. Lake Forest: Very weak SOS, poor conference, loss to Ill Co - nothing compelling in their favor.

By years end I think Pacific and Willamette each have two losses and one will have 3. I'd put UST ahead of both right now and the committee might by years end.

This isn't exactly how I'd rank the teams, but it's a mix of taking the criteria into consideration as well as some subjectivity. I'm not sure how much of the latter the committee will allow itself.

It's also a lot of teams, but each has at least some shot at the playoffs should they win out. The exception is probably UST, but they are too good a team to leave off.

Thoughts??

[D O.C.]

Yes.  I think those are viable criteria for projections of maybes down the road.
I'll take a well trained, 3 deep team to play at home and find the ways to win.
One can use a shim and block and tackle to tryget Bethel the home field but the selection committee is not crazy, they're just....

[art76]

The St. Paul Pioneer Press messed up pretty bad in this morning's edition - they have Gustavus beating Bethel in the box score - so that Bethel is listed as having one loss in the MIAC rankings. Yeesh - you'd think someone on their staff would have an inkling of what the #5 team in the country did the day before.

[sjusection105]

From the sounds of it he will have time to rest the hamstring the whole first half next week after back to back unsportsmanlike penalities in the 4th Q.... The radio sounded like his temper isn't the greatest. Told all of the Cobber fans that he thought they were No.1 on his walk to the locker room too.

So it's your understanding that he is suspended for the 1st half next week against UST.....?  Geez

[ron doney]

Sounds like Caruso should move Gould to WR....

Caruso marveled at Gould's touchdown run.

"John's vision is impeccable," he said. "It reminds me of Fritz (Waldvogel, a wide receiver and returner on Caruso's first four St. Thomas teams). "One commonality as shorter athletes is they see between people, not over them, and they know how to take advantage of that."

Ferrazzo put it another way in assessing Gould's running: "He's got some moves!"

[GoldandBlueBU]

Sounds like Caruso should move Gould to WR....

Caruso marveled at Gould's touchdown run.

"John's vision is impeccable," he said. "It reminds me of Fritz (Waldvogel, a wide receiver and returner on Caruso's first four St. Thomas teams). "One commonality as shorter athletes is they see between people, not over them, and they know how to take advantage of that."

Ferrazzo put it another way in assessing Gould's running: "He's got some moves!"

The fact that he was able to put on such a display against the Juggernaut known as Hamline is all the more impressive. He must be really good.

[SagatagSam]

The Week 8 Top 25:

Bethel holds at #5
UST drops 3 spots to #18
Concordia moves up one to #21
and SJU moves up one to #22

[OzJohnnie]

It must have been that big Johnnie victory on Saturday that had them keep pace with CON and their big victory over AUG.

EDIT: Actually, I see that CON almost moved up to 20 with that victory over AUG.  I reckon 20 would have been fitting for CON.  It looked like a pretty strong performance.

[OzJohnnie]

I'm really anticipating this weekend now. It's a big game for the Johnnies. I'm looking forward to the early Sunday morning.

I actually can't remember the last time I was getting this nervous toward the end of the year. Maybe about four of five years ago when we lost to Coe is the first round.

[faunch]

Anybody notice something kind of humorous and presumptuous  on the U$T football schedule? 
I think they should consider updating the Nov. 23rd game.

http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/schedule/