FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Maybe a Maroon Shirt is just a fancy/branded term for a redshirt?

[AO]

Perra had an FCS offer from South Dakota, Roste and Erdmann did not have any FCS offers. 

All three guys could have thrown a more accurate ball than Demry Croft did for the Gophers last year.

[art76]

Maybe a Maroon Shirt is just a fancy/branded term for a redshirt?

Transfers from The University of Chicago? 

[jamtod]

No question OldAuggie. I'm fully aware Roste wasn't next man up on the depth chart before he left. I also think it's a little humorous to hear people talk about Perra as if he was in a battle for the starting role at the U.

But just to be invited to walk-on (or be a preferred walk on) at a D1 school requires legit skill. There's a reason these guys weren't scholarship players to begin with. There's also a reason they got the chance to be a part of FBS programs and other kids don't. Roste, Perra, and Eerdman were all exceptional HS QB's. Not quite good enough to warrant FBS scholarships (not sure what kind of FCS or DII offers they had), but very talented all the same.

As we've seen over the past few years, when those kinds of players, whether they are QB's or a LB like Seth Mathis make their way to the D3 level, they can be really dominant.

On a similar note, PJ was waxing eloquent about this walkon program he's trying to build (I think it's gonna be a major uphill battle given the U's other challenges.) But he was talking about Walk-ons and preferred walk-ons and gray shirts, all of which I'm familiar with. But then he was talking about 'Maroon Shirts' and I was lost. What on earth is a 'Maroon Shirt'? Is that a common type thing I'm just not familiar with or is PJ rowing the boat in some super new, sneaky creative way??

Some of the mythology around Perra stems from the fact that:
* He actually saw some playing time his freshman year at the U against Purdue and
* The years since then have been mostly devoid of quality QB play, including a decent amount of starts from actual walk-ons. I don't have a great handle on what the depth chart would have looked like, but I believe while he was there, Perra might have been ahead of Rhoda.

[Pat Coleman]

Maybe a Maroon Shirt is just a fancy/branded term for a redshirt?

Transfers from The University of Chicago? 

Bugs Bunny would say: What a maroon!

[MiacMan]

No question OldAuggie. I'm fully aware Roste wasn't next man up on the depth chart before he left. I also think it's a little humorous to hear people talk about Perra as if he was in a battle for the starting role at the U.

But just to be invited to walk-on (or be a preferred walk on) at a D1 school requires legit skill. There's a reason these guys weren't scholarship players to begin with. There's also a reason they got the chance to be a part of FBS programs and other kids don't. Roste, Perra, and Eerdman were all exceptional HS QB's. Not quite good enough to warrant FBS scholarships (not sure what kind of FCS or DII offers they had), but very talented all the same.

As we've seen over the past few years, when those kinds of players, whether they are QB's or a LB like Seth Mathis make their way to the D3 level, they can be really dominant.

On a similar note, PJ was waxing eloquent about this walkon program he's trying to build (I think it's gonna be a major uphill battle given the U's other challenges.) But he was talking about Walk-ons and preferred walk-ons and gray shirts, all of which I'm familiar with. But then he was talking about 'Maroon Shirts' and I was lost. What on earth is a 'Maroon Shirt'? Is that a common type thing I'm just not familiar with or is PJ rowing the boat in some super new, sneaky creative way??

Some of the mythology around Perra stems from the fact that:
* He actually saw some playing time his freshman year at the U against Purdue and
* The years since then have been mostly devoid of quality QB play, including a decent amount of starts from actual walk-ons. I don't have a great handle on what the depth chart would have looked like, but I believe while he was there, Perra might have been ahead of Rhoda.

He actually was ahead of Rhoda and was definitely in the mix to start. I can and have verified this on more than one occasion from a buddy of mine that was on both Kill's and Claey's staffs. They were not happy to see him leave. I believe for most programs OA and Hazz are correct that the scholy QB's are significantly better but at Minnesota??? I don't think they have had legit Big Ten QB (meaning you could win the Conference with type QB) since Tony Dungy.

[hazzben]

Good point Maniac,

This sounds like a combination of two things. Perra's a better QB than I was giving him credit for (in terms of his D1 chances) and the U of M hasn't had a real D1 QB since Adam Weber.

[faunch]

Live stream link to the MSHSL Semifinals and Finals....free of charge...something to check out over the lunch hour...from my count 9-man team Cromwell is dressing 17.

https://www.prepspotlight.tv/MSHSL

[MiacMan]

Good point Maniac,

This sounds like a combination of two things. Perra's a better QB than I was giving him credit for (in terms of his D1 chances) and the U of M hasn't had a real D1 QB since Adam Weber.

Well, let's face it, Perra was kind of a lost soul this year since the shipwreck in Collegeville. Up until that point he was rock solid. My brother-in-Law who ran the D for a long time at CDH said Perra was the best QB he ever had to prepare for, which is saying a lot. As for the U, I'm not even sold on Adam Weber, as an athlete absolutely, but not necessarily as a QB. The kid from Hutchinson wasn't too bad, can't even remember his name though? Andy R---?

[jamtod]

Good point Maniac,

This sounds like a combination of two things. Perra's a better QB than I was giving him credit for (in terms of his D1 chances) and the U of M hasn't had a real D1 QB since Adam Weber.

That first one is really tied to potential which... welp.... never really came together.

But don't forget about PROJECTED 1ST ROUND NFL DRAFT QB Mitch Leidner.

[MiacMan]

Good point Maniac,

This sounds like a combination of two things. Perra's a better QB than I was giving him credit for (in terms of his D1 chances) and the U of M hasn't had a real D1 QB since Adam Weber.

That first one is really tied to potential which... welp.... never really came together.

But don't forget about PROJECTED 1ST ROUND NFL DRAFT QB Mitch Leidner.

You mean the QB that would never go away!

[USTBench]

My time at UST overlapped with Nick Ambrassas (walk-on at the U of M transfer) and my time in high school overlapped with Brooks Bollinger, starter for the University of Wisconsin and NFL player.

I consider Nick a good friend and a phenomenal DIII quarterback, but seeing Brooks up close for two years of HS was something else.

I think Nick's arm was every bit as good as Brooks's, so I can't pinpoint it, but I think just from a sheer athleticism and strength perspective was where the difference lied. To the untrained eye, maybe it was a coin flip.

Oddly enough, for two years of HS Brooks split time with Joe Wilson, who ended up being UND's QB. That was an embarrassment of riches my HS may never see again. Our coach had a tough call to make, and Joe Wilson ended up making it for him by transferring to the HS across town.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Live stream link to the MSHSL Semifinals and Finals....free of charge...something to check out over the lunch hour...from my count 9-man team Cromwell is dressing 17.

https://www.prepspotlight.tv/MSHSL

Further on the Cromwell roster size...

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/football/4529461-prep-football-despite-small-roster-cromwell-wright-heads-state-semis

[MiacMan]

My time at UST overlapped with Nick Ambrassas (walk-on at the U of M transfer) and my time in high school overlapped with Brooks Bollinger, starter for the University of Wisconsin and NFL player.

I consider Nick a good friend and a phenomenal DIII quarterback, but seeing Brooks up close for two years of HS was something else.

I think Nick's arm was every bit as good as Brooks's, so I can't pinpoint it, but I think just from a sheer athleticism and strength perspective was where the difference lied. To the untrained eye, maybe it was a coin flip.

Oddly enough, for two years of HS Brooks split time with Joe Wilson, who ended up being UND's QB. That was an embarrassment of riches my HS may never see again. Our coach had a tough call to make, and Joe Wilson ended up making it for him by transferring to the HS across town.

Bench

I actually know both of these gentlemen you speak of. I can tell you Brooks is one of these guys that is good at everything he does. He is a scratch golfer that wins the long drive contest nearly every year at our CDH benefit Golf tourney. My brother coached Nick at Bethlehem Academy and then Nick lived in the basement of my brother's home when he went to Arlington HS. Small world. How's he doing these days?

[USTBench]

My time at UST overlapped with Nick Ambrassas (walk-on at the U of M transfer) and my time in high school overlapped with Brooks Bollinger, starter for the University of Wisconsin and NFL player.

I consider Nick a good friend and a phenomenal DIII quarterback, but seeing Brooks up close for two years of HS was something else.

I think Nick's arm was every bit as good as Brooks's, so I can't pinpoint it, but I think just from a sheer athleticism and strength perspective was where the difference lied. To the untrained eye, maybe it was a coin flip.

Oddly enough, for two years of HS Brooks split time with Joe Wilson, who ended up being UND's QB. That was an embarrassment of riches my HS may never see again. Our coach had a tough call to make, and Joe Wilson ended up making it for him by transferring to the HS across town.

Bench

I actually know both of these gentlemen you speak of. I can tell you Brooks is one of these guys that is good at everything he does. He is a scratch golfer that wins the long drive contest nearly every year at our CDH benefit Golf tourney. My brother coached Nick at Bethlehem Academy and then Nick lived in the basement of my brother's home when he went to Arlington HS. Small world. How's he doing these days?

Great job in Chicago. Travels the world with his wife. Not too many guys I know have it as good as Nick.