FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[MiacMan]

I don't buy that SJU needs to crush BU to have a chance against UST.

Of course anything can happen in a huge rivalry game like that one. My point would be that I don't think the Cobber game was a fluke. I think the Tommies are at least 3 scores better than Cobbers. I don't believe the odds are great that the Tommies won't show up to play in Collegeville the following week either. I'm guessing they'll have their "A" game.

[USTBench]

Several weeks back, somebody on this board made the statement that if the Cobbers couldn't beat Whitewater, they had no chance of winning the conference. A couple of folks (at least one) didn't really get the point (they took it literally). Well, I am going to make basically the same bold statement (don't take it literally, there's always a chance. Even Jim Carey had chance in Dumb&Dumber) that if SJ2 doesn't win big tomorrow (3+ scores) they won't have much of a chance the following week against the Tommies.

Are you a lawyer? For an attempt at a bold statement, you've got an awful lot of hedging language in there


I'm not sure I agree though. Bethel looks solid so far and I could see even the Tommies struggling to beat them by 3+ scores, because that's just the kind of game it generally has been with Bethel (last year excluded)

Yeah, I know, I just didn't want to get into 3-day discussion explaining like the guy who made the Cobber statement (which happened to be spot-on) I know we don't really know, which makes this game very intriguing but, my hunch is that the Royals are a very similar caliber team as the Cobbers.

Corncodia strikes me as a much higher variance team, which I think is common with the option. If they can control the game, fine, but they aren't going to do well if they get behind.
If Bethel beats the Johnnies, I'll be surprised (but terrified).

I agree w/ that re: bethel and concordia being on similar levels...that game in a couple of weeks may unfortunately be the only one that I make this year!      

Also, yes, I think that w/ Concordia's style, if they're getting stymied on their bread and butter, they're less capable of adjusting, which is I believe why you get the result vs. UST (not to take anything away from the Tommies - I think they're scary good this year).

I don't buy that SJU needs to crush BU to have a chance against UST.

Maybe, maybe not.

I just have a feeling UST is on another level this year. Their defense seems built to run with Mt. Union and UMHB. That coupled with their special teams have made for some ridiculously short fields this year.

It's one thing to do that against Hamline, it's quite another to that to Concordia at their place.

SJU is typically the most disciplined team UST plays, so I don't expect those types of short fields. SJU/Bethel should be a good barometer to see where the Johnnies are at.

[MiacMan]

Oh yeah, Jamto asked if I was a "Lawyer" the answer is no, but when I need one, "Better call Bench"

[DuffMan]

Absolutely. But if it's less than 3 TDs, are you significantly concerned?

No.  Strange things happen.  SJU barely eeked out a win over a mediocre U$T team in 2003, then went on to run the table and manhandle a Mount Union team that had outscored playoff opponents 161-24.  Comparisons are difficult; that's why they play the games.

[MiacMan]

Absolutely. But if it's less than 3 TDs, are you significantly concerned?

No.  Strange things happen.  SJU barely eeked out a win over a mediocre U$T team in 2003, then went on to run the table and manhandle a Mount Union team that had outscored playoff opponents 161-24.  Comparisons are difficult; that's why they play the games.

Right on, and I remember 2003 well!

[BDB]

My hatred of Bethel was slowly subsiding till I read Kevin's diatribe!

I didn't realize that SJU/Bethel was such a rivalry but now I got it.

[USTBench]

Absolutely. But if it's less than 3 TDs, are you significantly concerned?

No.  Strange things happen.  SJU barely eeked out a win over a mediocre U$T team in 2003, then went on to run the table and manhandle a Mount Union team that had outscored playoff opponents 161-24.  Comparisons are difficult; that's why they play the games.

Right on, and I remember 2003 well!

We were not even mediocre. We just had Andrew Ubbelohde.

[57Johnnie]

My hatred of Bethel was slowly subsiding till I read Kevin's diatribe!

I didn't realize that SJU/Bethel was such a rivalry but now I got it.

It wasn't when I was a student. They were not in the MIAC
Only been a member 40 years. How can that be a rivalry?   

[DuffMan]

We were not even mediocre. We just had Andrew Ubbelohde.

OK, I was being nice.  2002 you were mediocre, though with Barkley, Hilliard, et al, you should have been way better.

[USTBench]

We were not even mediocre. We just had Andrew Ubbelohde.

OK, I was being nice.  2002 you were mediocre, though with Barkley, Hilliard, et al, you should have been way better.

Barkley had a terrible groin pull in one of the first games and wasn't himself most of the year, Hilliard sprained his ankle really bad and was basically playing on one leg, Hall broke his foot. We were a MASH unit in 2002. They were almost forced to play me significant minutes. Could you imagine?

[OzJohnnie]

I don't buy that SJU needs to crush BU to have a chance against UST.

Need to?  No.
Want to?  Definitely.

Absolutely. But if it's less than 3 TDs, are you significantly concerned?

Massey puts it at a 10 point ball game.

The area which will have most of my attention is the pass defence.  Blown coverages will be concerning.  Any other area of play is not too worrying.

[DuffMan]

Barkley had a terrible groin pull in one of the first games and wasn't himself most of the year, Hilliard sprained his ankle really bad and was basically playing on one leg, Hall broke his foot. We were a MASH unit in 2002. They were almost forced to play me significant minutes. Could you imagine?

Barkley still rushed 24 times for 129 yards against us. 
If you were wondering, I had 2 solos and 2 assists. 

Edit:  Ross Denne threw for 408 yards!  I now remember that the U$T defense looked like they'd never seen shovel pass before.

[GoldandBlueBU]

My hatred of Bethel was slowly subsiding till I read Kevin's diatribe!

I didn't realize that SJU/Bethel was such a rivalry but now I got it.

It wasn't when I was a student. They were not in the MIAC
Only been a member 40 years. How can that be a rivalry?   

I think I found a roster picture from your days...

[jamtod]

Absolutely. But if it's less than 3 TDs, are you significantly concerned?

No.  Strange things happen.  SJU barely eeked out a win over a mediocre U$T team in 2003, then went on to run the table and manhandle a Mount Union team that had outscored playoff opponents 161-24.  Comparisons are difficult; that's why they play the games.

Right on, and I remember 2003 well!

Uggh. Vaguely. I didn't really have a concept of what was going on, I don't think I stayed for the whole game either as I was brand new to campus. Silly me. If I'd stayed to cheer, maybe we would have won.

[jamtod]

Absolutely. But if it's less than 3 TDs, are you significantly concerned?

No.  Strange things happen.  SJU barely eeked out a win over a mediocre U$T team in 2003, then went on to run the table and manhandle a Mount Union team that had outscored playoff opponents 161-24.  Comparisons are difficult; that's why they play the games.

Right on, and I remember 2003 well!

We were not even mediocre. We just had Andrew Ubbelohde.

I didn't go to many games but I can still hear in my head the PA announcer "Tackle by Ubbelohde." Until now, I didn't realize what a big deal he was. I had some classes with him I think.