FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

Is it really? Teams often get votes without beating anyone.

Maybe in the case of teams with a reputation or some history of success on the national level, but what has GAC done in the past several decades?  Not that it really matters.  Just an observation on my part.

[Pat Coleman]

It's 11 points. Not really close to the Top 25 and just the product of two or three voters. I'm surprised the AFCA poll hasn't ranked them, though. They like unbeaten teams who haven't played anyone yet.

[faunch]

Hamline Spin Doctors
http://www.hamlineathletics.com/news/2014/10/4/FB_1004143217.aspx?path=football

[Retired Old Rat]

From the Hamline story:  "For the game, Duncan outgained the fellow ahead of him in the league rushing race, Sam Sura, a dozen yards."

Now, the rest of the story.

                   No.    Gain    Loss    Net    TD    Lg    Avg.
Sam Sura     16    123    0    123    2    24    7.7
Austin Duncan    30    144    9    135    0    12    4.5

[art76]

From the Hamline story:  "For the game, Duncan outgained the fellow ahead of him in the league rushing race, Sam Sura, a dozen yards."

Now, the rest of the story.

                   No.    Gain    Loss    Net    TD    Lg    Avg.
Sam Sura     16    123    0    123    2    24    7.7
Austin Duncan    30    144    9    135    0    12    4.5

Might be urban legend, but this reminds me of a story I heard in high school journalism class (circa 1975) about the race between just two runners from the US and the USSR and the socialist paper reporting that the US came in next to last and that the USSR placed second, simply neglecting to mention that the US runner won the race. Context is everything.

[OldAuggie]

GAC will finish 7-3 or better. Unlike most of you I have watched them dismantle a defense. The Auggies were not much of a test that day but we held Wartburg to fewer points than we did GAC.

[DuffMan]

GAC will finish 7-3 or better.

7-3 maybe, but no better. 

[OzJohnnie]

GAC will finish 7-3 or better. Unlike most of you I have watched them dismantle a defense. The Auggies were not much of a test that day but we held Wartburg to fewer points than we did GAC.

Really?  You think they'll beat UST?

[DuffMan]

Unlike most of you I have watched them dismantle a defense.

You've seen them dismantle an Auggie defense that's giving up an average of 38.5 points per game (46.7 points per game if you throw out the Carleton game in which they only gave up 14 points).

I know the Gusties are improved, but let's not anoint them MIAC champs just yet.

[OldAuggie]

GAC will finish 7-3 or better. Unlike most of you I have watched them dismantle a defense. The Auggies were not much of a test that day but we held Wartburg to fewer points than we did GAC.

Really?  You think they'll beat UST?

I think they will beat whichever team has the most vulnerable pass defense.

[sjusection105]

OldAuggie,During the AUG-GAC game couldn't the AUG D get a pass rush or was the secondary not able to cover? How good are the twin brother receivers for GAC?
Is Hendricks threading the passes in tight places or receivers just that wide open?

[hazzben]

GAC will finish 7-3 or better. Unlike most of you I have watched them dismantle a defense.

Augsburg has a defense?   

Seriously though, 7-3 isn't an unlikely possibility. Neither is 8-2 or 9-1 for that matter. If they go unbeaten, they'll have proven a lot. Certainly still possible, but I'd be surprised.

No one here seems to be over-reacting to GAC's early success, acknowledging the quality of competition. But two things that bear remembering:

First, this is a GAC squad that beat SJU last year and went toe to toe with UST. So there's no reason to think they don't have at least a 50-50 shot in both of those. In fact, aside from the Bethel game last year, every loss was from 3-8 pts. They were a very competitive 6-4 last year. I'm sure SJU fans feel like GAC crept up on them and that it was a surprising result. Keep in mind, that was how many felt about the SJU-UST result last year, but it still got repeated this year.

Second, the schedule has been heavy on the cream puffs thus far. But they've also been beating those teams by the margins you'd expect from a team that could threaten for a title.

So while I wouldn't say they are the favorites to win the MIAC at this point, they are definitely worthy of being in the discussion. And SJU has the first opportunity of showing all of us just how legit GAC is or isn't. That should be a great game and definitely the best MIAC game that week. Advantage SJU for having the bye week to get healthy and put in some wrinkles. On second thought, St. Olaf might as well be a bye for GAC too ... 

[OldAuggie]

The Auggie secondary had trouble with the GAC receivers all day. QB Hendricks has a quick release and very good accuracy so he was able to put the ball right where he wanted it. One play stands out where he thread the needle and I thought for sure the ball would get knocked down but the play resulted in a touchdown. Some of the GAC receivers were wide open yes, but the timing he has with the receivers and their routes is excellent and the receivers are ready for the ball when it gets there. The Auggies made GAC look good and the pass rush was not great. The twin brothers killed us and they had another receiver that was not far behind. My main takeaway was that Hendricks has excellent accuracy and timing and his receivers look for the ball right away and make the catch. I recall being shocked when they had an incompletion.  They have a bunch of seniors on defense too so I think they will build off last year and improve. The GAC defensive line is not huge so a good running game will probably do some damage and keep that offense off the field.

[faunch]

I will say that GAC has got a bitch of a final 4 games on the schedule.

[art76]

So while I wouldn't say they are the favorites to win the MIAC at this point, they are definitely worthy of being in the discussion. And SJU has the first opportunity of showing all of us just how legit GAC is or isn't. That should be a great game and definitely the best MIAC game that week. Advantage SJU for having the bye week to get healthy and put in some wrinkles.

My thoughts exactly, Hazz, I just didn't want to start looking too far past the upcoming week. Along that vein, after the Johnnies get the Gusties, the Gusties get a bye week to get ready for Bethel.