FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[MIAC23]

This, from Cobber SID:

CORNGRATS to former Concordia College Football wide receiver Brandon John Zylstra who was named to the West Division All-Star Team in the CFL. Zylstra led the CFL in receiving yards and yards after catch. He also broke the Edmonton Eskimos record for 100-yard receiving games in a season. #FutureIsBright

It's always good to see the hometown boys doing well. Congrats to him. It is ironic that CON turns out a receiving all star. It just goes to show that all the Minnesota kids are well above average.

The D3/CFL version of Calvin Johnson. He survived an option offense at Ga Tech.

Cobber QB when Zylstra was there was Griffin Neal, who was part of the Saints camp. They also had another standout receiver in Jon Baune those years. Cobbs probably could have thrown for 400 yards a game with those three.

[finsleft]

Pretty funny FB string calling out the St. Cloud Times coverage of last weekend's SJU game. It seems they just popped 2 year old photos into the article. One obviously taken at Clemens field, with white facemasks last used in 2015, and with Zack Sundly who is in Togo Africa (as pointed out by Jim Platten). #fakenews #SJUfootball

[jamtod]

Projected playoff bracket is published:
http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/first-playoff-projection

They project almost a best possible scenario for St Thomas, imo. Likely home game against North Central in round 2, and then probably DelVal in round 3 before a (possible) Oshkosh rematch.
St John's would face Oshkosh in round 2.

NCC in round 2 would be very tough.

Agree. You would be trading an extremely tough 2nd round game for an easier potential quarterfinal round game, by being placed in a Del Vall region. Looking back on the last five or six years, I cant say there has been a year where the CCIW winner wasnt a top 8 team in the country. This year is no exception.

As far as what UST fans should root for this weekend, I would say its more important to have a close game than any particular team winning. A blowout might knock 1 or the other out of the regional rankings thus dropping UST's RRO win total. NO MONKEY STOMPS please, much to DuffMan's chagrin.

I think North Central is a tougher matchup than, say, Wartburg this year. But I suspect we'd get NCC at home but have to go to Wartburg if matched up that way. I feel pretty good about our ability to beat North Central

[DuffMan]

Pretty funny FB string calling out the St. Cloud Times coverage of last weekend's SJU game. It seems they just popped 2 year old photos into the article. One obviously taken at Clemens field, with white facemasks last used in 2015, and with Zack Sundly who is in Togo Africa (as pointed out by Jim Platten). #fakenews #SJUfootball

Ha ha ha.  That is funny!

[wm4]

I think North Central is a tougher matchup than, say, Wartburg this year. But I suspect we'd get NCC at home but have to go to Wartburg if matched up that way. I feel pretty good about our ability to beat North Central

I've got a lot of local knowledge on North Central and they deserve a lot of respect and would be a tough out, but I like UST's chances, particularly with the defense playing the way it has.  NCC has a very good QB in Broc Rutter, who actually went to Indiana State his freshman year.  He likes to get rid of the ball quickly, and has some scrambling ability.  I'd say he's got a slightly above average arm as well.  Reminds me a lot of Erdman at SJU, but in a much more wide open offense.  NCC's best receiver...and he was a game changer...Ryan Kuhl, was lost for the year to a knee injury in October.  Big, tall, athletic kid who was a match up nightmare for most corners.  Watching Ryan and Dowdle all day would have been worth the price of admission.  They can get pretty pass happy on offense, particularly when they get behind.  Defensively they're solid, but nothing of note. 

Their coaching staff is excellent and the core has been together for a while.  The thing I notice about NCC is that they really set their season goals around winning the CCIW.  That's a big deal to them and it's a tough conference, but it's not really a playoff mentality in my observation.  They absolutely do want a crack and playing the top teams, and traveling to UST would be way up on that list. 

UST's defense, in late November, in the upper midwest, should continue to dictate games.  If I had to guess a score, I'd say something along the lines of 28-17, UST. 

[USee]

The thing I notice about NCC is that they really set their season goals around winning the CCIW.  That's a big deal to them and it's a tough conference, but it's not really a playoff mentality in my observation. 

This would be a mistake to assume.  NCC has a prolific post season resume that would say otherwise. The top of the CCIW prepares you for the playoffs as well as any conference in the country.

[Pat Coleman]

The thing I notice about NCC is that they really set their season goals around winning the CCIW.  That's a big deal to them and it's a tough conference, but it's not really a playoff mentality in my observation. 

This would be a mistake to assume.  NCC has a prolific post season resume that would say otherwise. The top of the CCIW prepares you for the playoffs as well as any conference in the country.

Mount Union sets its season goal around winning the OAC and I can't say it's hurt them much.

[DuffMan]

No, you guys are wrong.  The Tommies wrote the book on postseason success.

[wm4]

The thing I notice about NCC is that they really set their season goals around winning the CCIW.  That's a big deal to them and it's a tough conference, but it's not really a playoff mentality in my observation. 

This would be a mistake to assume.  NCC has a prolific post season resume that would say otherwise. The top of the CCIW prepares you for the playoffs as well as any conference in the country.

Mount Union sets its season goal around winning the OAC and I can't say it's hurt them much.

I get all that, believe me.  I know how coaches work and I know how they set goals.  It's just my observation that NCC puts more emphasis on CCIW champtionships than you might find at other top tier D3 schools.  Not a criticism, just an observation.  I think as a program they could aim much higher.  With where they sit geographically in suburban Chicago and access to the kids in that area (and others of course), no reason they couldn't take the next step up and be a monster power.   

Not sure about prolific.  In the last 10 years of D3 playoffs, they've made it beyond the round of 16 just twice and missed the playoffs 3 times.  Nothing to sneeze at certainly, but there's room for more success there.  The CCIW is a very tough conference, particularly this year with 5 really good teams.  Loved their epic game against Mount in '13.

[OzJohnnie]

No, you guys are wrong.  The Tommies wrote the book on postseason success.

I believe they even wrote the book on writing books.

[OldAuggie]

Augsburg is done for the season, leaving the remaining eight teams to play their final regular season games.

Good luck to all the MIAC teams this weekend and especially to the teams that make it to the Playoffs. I was at my Deer Camp last weekend as well art76 and plan to be there this weekend so I have missed a few recent games. I am hopeful that Quinn Frisell and Co. can lift the team to the next level in the 2018 season and start to push for the upper tier of the MIAC.  There were plenty of positive things accomplished this year individually by the Auggies including Frisell establishing himself as one of the top QB's in a QB heavy league. Additionally Nick Heenie putting himself on the map as a receiver and the defensive front 7 looking great most of the year are all great things to see. There is a lot to build upon and the coaches will bring in some interesting talent for next year's Auggie team I am sure. 

[CobberHawkeye]

No, you guys are wrong.  The Tommies wrote the book on postseason success.

I believe they even wrote the book on writing books.

Gutenberg was kicked out....

[sjusection105]

There is a lot to build upon and the coaches will bring in some interesting talent for next year's Auggie team I am sure.

They never seem to disappoint with some very colorful characters over the years to say the least.
+K OldAuggie 

[BDB]

No, you guys are wrong.  The Tommies wrote the book on postseason success.

I believe they even wrote the book on writing books.

Is that like a coffee table book about coffee tables?

[DuffMan]

And it even turns into a coffee table!