FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sjusection105]

It's 3 degrees in Collegeville right now, so the real question is will Jim Platten be wearing shorts?

[DustySJU]

It's 3 degrees in Collegeville right now, so the real question is will Jim Platten be wearing shorts?

Yes, Shorts Guy will be in shorts.


Go Johnnies!

[57Johnnie]

Game Day! Bring plenty of snow snake repellant and antidote.

GO JOHNNIES!

[DuffMan]

The sun is shining and the winds are calm, at least!

[Pat Coleman]

The SJU game, at least, is not a MIAC game. Would they still have to follow those rules?

Yes. Any game hosted by a conference school. (NCAA postseason exempted because the NCAA hosts those games.)

[sjujohnnie]

It's game day! Go Johnnies! Excited to see all the hearty fans that will brave the cold to cheer them on!

[sowilson]

I believe it is quite possible for Bethel to shut out St. Thomas tomorrow.

It's also quite possible that I will stay perfectly warm during the entire game tomorrow, but I don't see either of those happening in the real world.

Yes, I am prepared to eat crow if this somehow happens. Folks, let's just consider the GAC and SJU games an outlier blip for St Thomas and disregard them, ok? Onward to the playoffs, championship ahoy!

I'll take it a step further and say I think it's more likely that Bethel gets shut out than UST.
But I don't think either will happen.

Bethel has developed a very good defense, St. Thomas Oline and Dline are not nearly as good as they have been in past years.  I don't think it matters much if Perra steps up or not.  St. Thomas won't be able to run up the middle (which they like to do) and Bethel is very good at contain and shutting down the corners on the run so what's left is the pass and Bethel is good at defending that and St. Thomas isn't particularly good this year at executing an unbalanced, pass happy offense.  Toss in the home field, natural turf, advantage and it's not a good situation for St. Thomas.  Do St. Thomas linemen even have a pair of non-TPU cleats that work on well on grass?  I'm not predicting a shutout for Bethel but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.  I'm betting Bethel will beat the spread though 

[Pat Coleman]

I've seen a lot of predictions in general, but this seems like one most likely to be laughable when it's all said and done.

I believe it is quite possible for Bethel to shut out St. Thomas tomorrow.

I'm not predicting a shutout for Bethel but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.  I'm betting Bethel will beat the spread though 

[DuffMan]

Do St. Thomas linemen even have a pair of non-TPU cleats that work on well on grass?

I don't know how the GAC program works,  but I'm pretty sure the pockets at U$T are deep enough to provide proper footwear.

[MUC57]

St. John's fans

I don't care what some people are saying, if I had any money, it would be on the Johnnies. You have the players, the coaches, the tradition and something no one else has. You have John watching over you! I wouldn't bet against all that. Go Johnnies! See you in the playoffs?

[sowilson]

Do St. Thomas linemen even have a pair of non-TPU cleats that work on well on grass?

I don't know how the GAC program works,  but I'm pretty sure the pockets at U$T are deep enough to provide proper footwear.

they may have the money but are too cheap to spend it on player cleats.  The players probably get them like almost everyone else in D3 - via a discount player pack.  Having said that, there is less variety in the cleats they're wearing this year over previous years so who knows (any UST player parents want to chime in).  I doubt they have a 3rd pair of cleats (replaceable) for grass unless they buy them themselves.

[sjujohnnie]

My wife, student, & I will be sitting in camp chairs on the grassy noll overlooking the folding chairs & seating looking down on the field. Go Johnnies!

[Johnnie]

Johnnie -- I'm not quite following your trivia question. Can you explain it a different way?

ok, the 9 schools TMU has played thus far this year are from the states of:

NC, IN, WI, AL, NY, VA, MN, OH, and PA.  [9 games against 9 schools from 9 (uniquely) different states]

So, I conclude 9 games against 9 schools all from 9 different US states.  (that seems a bit unusual to me)

Furthermore, TMU is located in the state of KY. 

So they not only played schools from 9 different states, but not one of those 9 states was against a school from their 'home' state.

So, they have a streak of 9 straight games of playing a school from a different state then each prior opponents' state

So,  do they have a scheduling 'plan' to NOT play opponents located in their home state,  as well as NOT playing against a subsequent opponent whose location is a state in which they've already scheduled an prior opponent from the same respective state for that year)

(unless of course, the state is MN, since SJU will break their 9 game 'unique' state streak)

No.  They've had trouble finding regional d3 opponents to play TM since the mid-90s.  During my time as a player we played some d3, but also many 1-AA (how it was known back then), d2 and NAIA schools.  Before my time they played at Montana, who was defending 1-AA Champs at the time, I believe. The D3 schools played in my time there included ASC, WIAC, Albion, and Il Wesleyan and teams in NY.  Take a look at their historical schedules on the Thomas More website.

Their biggest rival, MSJ, has quit The Bridge Bowl twice now.  Some of this is related to a big fight at the conclusion of a game at Hanover in 1993 and some was how some didn't like the HC.  The program has always seemed to be regarded as renegade. 

The school first sponsored football in 1991 and didn't have an on-campus home stadium until 1999, so they've always traveled, even to Home Games during those years.

My guess is that TMU must have played the Griz about 1996. 
After SJU, I went to Montana State and the Bobcats and Griz were always big rivals.
The Griz were awesome during the 90s.

Since I live in WV, I went to that Griz v Marshall game in 1995 for the I-AA championship in Huntington, WV. 

I only hope that Montana was kind to TMU.

[OzJohnnie]

Well the day is not done and we'll see how it all sorts itself out tomorrow (with a d3football hint tonight) but I have to mention Erdmann now.  What a player.  He is throwing the ball like a phenomenon.  His growth from beginning of the season to now is nearly unbelievable.  And the team's growth since the Tommie victory.  It was like someone flicked a light switch and the Jays went from very good to a whole different level.  Five games in a row of dominant football.  They are hot and on a roll.  Long may it last!

Also, congrats to BU on playing their way in.  They turned out a great season and I think they are the dark horse of the post-season.

Lastly, commiserations must be passed UST's way.  A quality team this year but they were bested twice.  The MIAC has lifted this year at the top and I think the two teams we will send to the post season will be very good reps for the conference.

[WRMUalum13]

I've seen a lot of predictions in general, but this seems like one most likely to be laughable when it's all said and done.

I believe it is quite possible for Bethel to shut out St. Thomas tomorrow.

I'm not predicting a shutout for Bethel but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.  I'm betting Bethel will beat the spread though 

Well they certainly beat the spread!