FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr.MIAC]

I call it now: Tommies beat Concordia and Bethel, win the MIAC.

[DuffMan]

We used to have some classic "drunk" posts on here with regularity, but they seem to have tapered off.

I got old and had kids.  Sorry. 

[retagent]

Even at that, if the Johnnies win out...................

[Mr.MIAC]

Even at that, if the Johnnies win out...................

EDIT: I call it now: Johnnies lose to Bethel. Tommies beat Concordia and Bethel, win the MIAC.

PS: I ran into some Bennies here in DC today. They were smart, charming, and pleasant on the eyes. We might have to rethink the stereotype...

[AO]

For the first time since 1987, the Gusties are 6-0. 

[art76]

So what happened at Manitou Field? Did the Gusties simply overlook the Oles for the St. John's game this week? Or did the coaches at Gustavus play a bunch of backups to give them some playing time? Or are injuries catching up? Or did the Oles simply have some fire in their gut? Do we have a Jekyll and Hyde team in our midst? Anybody on the boards here that was at the game that could give us some explanation for the surprisingly close game?

Personally, I went to watch a 6th grade football game on Saturday and didn't get home until the MIAC games were all in the second halves. I didn't think there would be much question about the outcomes of the games. So I fired up the computer to check the D3 scoreboard and was very surprised to see the score out of Northfield being so close. It changes how I perceive what will happen through the remainder of the season.

All nine teams are in play this coming week, (for the last time this season) as Bethel has the last non-conference match up this year in the MIAC. The MIAC is 12 - 5 so far this year in non-conference play. While the Chicago Maroons are 5 – 0 so far this year, they are like Gustavus in that they haven't really played any top flight schools yet. The Royals should be able to control the flow of this game and take command early. This doesn't appear to be a close game as you look at the two teams resumes.

In conference play this week there appear to be two more games that don't appear to be too difficult to pick a winner from. St. Thomas is at Hamline and Concordia is at Augsburg. Neither home team stands much of a chance of winning their games. The Auggies will keep it interesting but the Cobbers will shut them down.

This week is the Cereal Bowl between St. Olaf and Carleton for the Goat Trophy and to determine which direction the eagle that sits atop Bridge Square's Civil War Monument will face for the year. Until St. Olaf showed up for the game this past week with Gustavus, I would have picked Carleton as a shoe-in. But no more. This has the makings of being the best game of the week in the MIAC as these two teams battle it out to determine who sits on the bottom of the conference.

And until this past week's poorer performance by GAC I would have picked this game with St. John's as being the game of the week. So which team from Gustavus will show up? The one that puts up 50+ points in a game or the one from last week which squeaks out a win over the doormat of the league this year? If the former shows up to play, the Johnnies will have their hands full and in my mind the game could come down to the team that has the ball last. If the latter shows up, then the Johnnies roll and pick up steam as they vie for the league championship. If the Johnnies lose, Gustavus moves into the top 25 and the Johnnies drop out. Highly unlikely that there will be 5 MIAC teams in the top 25.

What makes this game interesting for the rest of the country is that this is the first of 7 games left in the season between the unbeatens and one loss teams in the league. Obviously, as the games play out the number of no loss and one loss teams dwindles. Here's the schedule for the current one and no loss teams playing each other through the remainder of the conference schedule:

10/18 – St. John's at Gustavus

10/25 – St. Thomas at Bethel

11/1 – Bethel at Gustavus and Concordia at St. Thomas

11/8 – Bethel at St. John's and Gustavus at Concordia

11/15 – Gustavus at St. Thomas

Hands down, Gustavus has the roughest schedule over the last 5 weeks of the season. Then it appears to me that Bethel or St. Thomas have the next roughest schedule, and lastly Concordia and St. John's. There is going to be some really good football in the MIAC to be played as the season winds down – and I for one can't wait.

[USTBench]

I call it now: Tommies beat Concordia and Bethel, win the MIAC.

Not unless UST can figure out how to play 4 quarters of football and STOP COMMITTING STUPID PENALTIES.

Personal fouls, false starts, holding penalties, a tight end that got drilled in the ear hole because he wasn't looking for a pass, not being ready for an onside kick.

After jumping out to a 28 - 0 lead in the first quarter we absolutely slept walked through the rest of the game. I felt like the defense was on the field for 90% of the second half. Tip of the hat to Augsburg because they showed a lot of heart. Scott was taking some brutal shots and kept getting back out there. Sonnenfeld absolutely had his way with our secondary. He may be the best WR in the MIAC.

The one thing I did like was Kaiser shouldering the bulk of the carries and getting Waldvogel in space a bit more often. But UST had better develop a killer instinct quick or they could easily go 7-3/6-4.

[DuffMan]

But UST had better develop a killer instinct quick or they could easily go 7-3/6-4.

6-4?  That's the Roney-esque Tommies that I know and love! 

[Mr.MIAC]

I call it now: Tommies beat Concordia and Bethel, win the MIAC.

Not unless UST can figure out how to play 4 quarters of football and STOP COMMITTING STUPID PENALTIES.

Personal fouls, false starts, holding penalties, a tight end that got drilled in the ear hole because he wasn't looking for a pass, not being ready for an onside kick.

After jumping out to a 28 - 0 lead in the first quarter we absolutely slept walked through the rest of the game. I felt like the defense was on the field for 90% of the second half. Tip of the hat to Augsburg because they showed a lot of heart. Scott was taking some brutal shots and kept getting back out there. Sonnenfeld absolutely had his way with our secondary. He may be the best WR in the MIAC.

The one thing I did like was Kaiser shouldering the bulk of the carries and getting Waldvogel in space a bit more often. But UST had better develop a killer instinct quick or they could easily go 7-3/6-4.

Agreed. The defense was a machine during the first half, but they were on the field way too long in the second. I don't get all the penalties this year and to a lesser degree last year. I'm not looking at data, but it feels like our numbers are through the roof compared to 2011 and 2012. Nerves? Lack of discipline? That being said, I think the refs were getting a little ridiculousness toward the end of the game on Saturday. One of the scariest aspects of that game, though, was watching O'Connell go cold. He's done it a couple of times this season and if we weren't up by 28, it could have been disastrous. Also, kudos to Augsburg for making the second half a nail-biter.

[faunch]

No surprise the U$T / Auggie Tech game had a few penalties as they are the most flagged teams in the league.  Makes it tough to win tough games when a team gives away an average of 80 and 100 yds respectively.

http://miacathletics.com/sports/fball/2014-15/teams?sort=pen&r=0&pos=pen

[art76]

No surprise the U$T / Auggie Tech game had a few penalties as they are the most flagged teams in the league.  Makes it tough to win tough games when a team gives away an average of 80 and 100 yds respectively.

http://miacathletics.com/sports/fball/2014-15/teams?sort=pen&r=0&pos=pen

And Bethel is right between them at 81.6 - the Royals have shot themselves in the foot way too many times this season as well.

[2115 Summit]

I call it now: Tommies beat Concordia and Bethel, win the MIAC.

Not unless UST can figure out how to play 4 quarters of football and STOP COMMITTING STUPID PENALTIES.

Personal fouls, false starts, holding penalties, a tight end that got drilled in the ear hole because he wasn't looking for a pass, not being ready for an onside kick.

After jumping out to a 28 - 0 lead in the first quarter we absolutely slept walked through the rest of the game. I felt like the defense was on the field for 90% of the second half. Tip of the hat to Augsburg because they showed a lot of heart. Scott was taking some brutal shots and kept getting back out there. Sonnenfeld absolutely had his way with our secondary. He may be the best WR in the MIAC.

The one thing I did like was Kaiser shouldering the bulk of the carries and getting Waldvogel in space a bit more often. But UST had better develop a killer instinct quick or they could easily go 7-3/6-4.

Agreed. The defense was a machine during the first half, but they were on the field way too long in the second. I don't get all the penalties this year and to a lesser degree last year. I'm not looking at data, but it feels like our numbers are through the roof compared to 2011 and 2012. Nerves? Lack of discipline? That being said, I think the refs were getting a little ridiculousness toward the end of the game on Saturday. One of the scariest aspects of that game, though, was watching O'Connell go cold. He's done it a couple of times this season and if we weren't up by 28, it could have been disastrous. Also, kudos to Augsburg for making the second half a nail-biter.

Just my two cents worth.....
Even with all this said, I'm not the least bit worried about UST's 1st team defense playing well.  The last drive of the first half the auggies marched down the field on alot of UST's second and third team defense. Not suprising UST gave up that score, however, the ability to march right down after and having Graupner kick a 43 yarder in 30 seconds of time to me shows some promise of a kicker gaining some confidence back.  'fingers crossed tho'

I think the second half is a misleading one, after the half way point of the third quarter, St. Thomas went up 45-7, stopped playing their first team offense, and began playing alot of second and third team personel at multipule defensive positions. These second and third teamers to me, looked to be a couple steps slow in their reads and play (which is why at this point they are second and third teamers - TBD Tho) and gave the Auggies alot ability to make plays which showed on the final scoreboard.

The errors you bring up BENCH are definetly a concern for me as well. Way, way too many penalty's and dumb mistakes, TE's not looking for passes, second team offense unable to move the ball, dropped ball by punter, and a ball to the head on KR team.  I also have concerns about this team possibly going 7-3.  And to your point REVEREND is how hit or miss the QB's play is this late in the season and the penalty yards committed each game.

However, My Kudos to Augsburg for capitalizing as well! That QB showed alot of Grit and Guts!

[badgerwarhawk]

Numbers:

2013: 64 penalties/10 games : 6.40
2012: 107 penalties/15 games: 7.13
2011: 94 penalties/14 games: 6.71
2010: 37 penalties/13 games: 2.85

2014: 44 penalties/5 games: 8.8

I don't know that I'd call it "through the roof" (with the exception vs. 2010) but they have increased.

[Boys of Fall]

This year certainly isn't any different than years past, and all teams seem to have some, so this question isn't pointed at anyone's alliances, but what does everyone think about transfers coming in from higher level programs being able to keep their red-shirt year and extend their eligibility?  I understand this is playing within the NCAA rules, but it seems to be against the spirit of D3 athletics which are normally at four year institutions.  Any thoughts on this?

[USTBench]

I call it now: Tommies beat Concordia and Bethel, win the MIAC.

Not unless UST can figure out how to play 4 quarters of football and STOP COMMITTING STUPID PENALTIES.

Personal fouls, false starts, holding penalties, a tight end that got drilled in the ear hole because he wasn't looking for a pass, not being ready for an onside kick.

After jumping out to a 28 - 0 lead in the first quarter we absolutely slept walked through the rest of the game. I felt like the defense was on the field for 90% of the second half. Tip of the hat to Augsburg because they showed a lot of heart. Scott was taking some brutal shots and kept getting back out there. Sonnenfeld absolutely had his way with our secondary. He may be the best WR in the MIAC.

The one thing I did like was Kaiser shouldering the bulk of the carries and getting Waldvogel in space a bit more often. But UST had better develop a killer instinct quick or they could easily go 7-3/6-4.

Agreed. The defense was a machine during the first half, but they were on the field way too long in the second. I don't get all the penalties this year and to a lesser degree last year. I'm not looking at data, but it feels like our numbers are through the roof compared to 2011 and 2012. Nerves? Lack of discipline? That being said, I think the refs were getting a little ridiculousness toward the end of the game on Saturday. One of the scariest aspects of that game, though, was watching O'Connell go cold. He's done it a couple of times this season and if we weren't up by 28, it could have been disastrous. Also, kudos to Augsburg for making the second half a nail-biter.

Just my two cents worth.....
Even with all this said, I'm not the least bit worried about UST's 1st team defense playing well.  The last drive of the first half the auggies marched down the field on alot of UST's second and third team defense. Not suprising UST gave up that score, however, the ability to march right down after and having Graupner kick a 43 yarder in 30 seconds of time to me shows some promise of a kicker gaining some confidence back.  'fingers crossed tho'

I think the second half is a misleading one, after the half way point of the third quarter, St. Thomas went up 45-7, stopped playing their first team offense, and began playing alot of second and third team personel at multipule defensive positions. These second and third teamers to me, looked to be a couple steps slow in their reads and play (which is why at this point they are second and third teamers - TBD Tho) and gave the Auggies alot ability to make plays which showed on the final scoreboard.

The errors you bring up BENCH are definetly a concern for me as well. Way, way too many penalty's and dumb mistakes, TE's not looking for passes, second team offense unable to move the ball, dropped ball by punter, and a ball to the head on KR team.  I also have concerns about this team possibly going 7-3.  And to your point REVEREND is how hit or miss the QB's play is this late in the season and the penalty yards committed each game.

However, My Kudos to Augsburg for capitalizing as well! That QB showed alot of Grit and Guts!

My only point of contention to your analysis is that there were plenty of 1st teamers or guys that receive enough reps to where they could be considered major contributors playing well into the second half, and not playing disciplined football.