FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[GoldandBlueBU]

I am a WIAC diehard supporter but wanted to stop over here to get some thoughts. I am heading up to the UWRF vs Bethel this weekend. I pick one game each weekend to go to and this is the one I picked this week. Bethel lost most of their starters from what I am seeing while UWRF retrun most of theirs. It was a 5 point game last year at Bethel I am curious why everyone thinks this one will be a blow out?

Also, I was at the UWL vs CM head game. I thought CM had their chances to win all day long. UWL has one of the top defenses in the WIAC. I was very impressed with how physical CM was in the run game and did not have much trouble with UWL passing attack. They will be a fun team to follow this year! Thanks everyone!

14 and a half points isn't a blowout around the MIAC, that's a close game.  River Falls did play Bethel tough last year, but that might have been their best game of the year.  They couldn't compete with anyone in the WIAC except Stout and Eau Claire.

I certainly don't expect a blowout either.  I hope that BU wins, and sort of expect it, but would guess that it'll be in the 10-15 point margin, so I think the 14.5 line is pretty good.  I could've gone either way, but I'm a homer, so I picked BU.

The defense played better last week than I expected (which is where they lost most of their starters, as you noted), so that gives me a little more confidence in them, and Roste also has a season under his belt now, so he's more of a proven commodity.

Obviously it's on the road in the WIAC, so anything can happen, as we saw with a tight SJU game last week.

[Brad]

I am a WIAC diehard supporter but wanted to stop over here to get some thoughts. I am heading up to the UWRF vs Bethel this weekend. I pick one game each weekend to go to and this is the one I picked this week. Bethel lost most of their starters from what I am seeing while UWRF retrun most of theirs. It was a 5 point game last year at Bethel I am curious why everyone thinks this one will be a blow out?

Also, I was at the UWL vs CM head game. I thought CM had their chances to win all day long. UWL has one of the top defenses in the WIAC. I was very impressed with how physical CM was in the run game and did not have much trouble with UWL passing attack. They will be a fun team to follow this year! Thanks everyone!

I could be wrong but looking at the starters on Bethel DL they are no bigger than 235 pounds. UWRF goes 285 across the front. It would also be a fair statement that Bethel is not playing Simpson again. I think it will be one heck of a football game thats why I am heading up to check it out. I do not even count UWRF win vs Morris. I am just going off of last year box score and what each team is return. I see this being a 7 point game either way and right now I am leaning that in the end UWRF will wear that DL out. I could be wrong but we will see Saturday!

Welcome to the better side of the St. Croix, Brad! If, you mean by blow-out, that Bethel wins by at least two touchdowns, then yes, it could be a blow-out. Bethel pretty much chewed up Simpson last week. I know that River Falls won handedly at Minneosta-Morris, 45 to 7, last week. Bethel is no Minnesota-Morris. There is a reason they are still ranked 10th in the country. It will be a good hard fought game, but I would be very surprised if it is close.

[art76]

I am a WIAC diehard supporter but wanted to stop over here to get some thoughts. I am heading up to the UWRF vs Bethel this weekend. I pick one game each weekend to go to and this is the one I picked this week. Bethel lost most of their starters from what I am seeing while UWRF retrun most of theirs. It was a 5 point game last year at Bethel I am curious why everyone thinks this one will be a blow out?

Also, I was at the UWL vs CM head game. I thought CM had their chances to win all day long. UWL has one of the top defenses in the WIAC. I was very impressed with how physical CM was in the run game and did not have much trouble with UWL passing attack. They will be a fun team to follow this year! Thanks everyone!

I could be wrong but looking at the starters on Bethel DL they are no bigger than 235 pounds. UWRF goes 285 across the front. It would also be a fair statement that Bethel is not playing Simpson again. I think it will be one heck of a football game thats why I am heading up to check it out. I do not even count UWRF win vs Morris. I am just going off of last year box score and what each team is return. I see this being a 7 point game either way and right now I am leaning that in the end UWRF will wear that DL out. I could be wrong but we will see Saturday!

Welcome to the better side of the St. Croix, Brad! If, you mean by blow-out, that Bethel wins by at least two touchdowns, then yes, it could be a blow-out. Bethel pretty much chewed up Simpson last week. I know that River Falls won handedly at Minneosta-Morris, 45 to 7, last week. Bethel is no Minnesota-Morris. There is a reason they are still ranked 10th in the country. It will be a good hard fought game, but I would be very surprised if it is close.

Have fun at the game - and wave at the camera, I'll be looking for you from way up North this weekend!

[GoldandBlueBU]

I could be wrong but looking at the starters on Bethel DL they are no bigger than 235 pounds. UWRF goes 285 across the front. It would also be a fair statement that Bethel is not playing Simpson again. I think it will be one heck of a football game thats why I am heading up to check it out. I do not even count UWRF win vs Morris. I am just going off of last year box score and what each team is return. I see this being a 7 point game either way and right now I am leaning that in the end UWRF will wear that DL out. I could be wrong but we will see Saturday!

That is very typical of BU defensive lines - they tend toward smaller, faster guys.

I wouldn't be shocked at all if BU lost.  As you noted, it is hard to take much from the first games with so little known about the quality of the teams.

I think what you're seeing with most folks picking BU on the line is simple expectations for a top third MIAC team from last year against a bottom third WIAC team from last year.  No disrespect, or deep analysis, just trends on a game like this.

Enjoy the game!  I might have made the drive over there if not for some family commitments.

[TheChucker]

Looking forward to the Whitewater vs. Concordia game this weekend. Probably streaming as I doubt we can make the road trip up to Moorhead. It should be pretty physical on both sides of the ball. The Cobs defense looks legit, but if the offense doesn't figure out how to complete an option pitchout safely in that offense (which I hate by the way) after 5 fumbles against La Crosse, it could get ugly.

Talk about a tough noncon schedule. I suppose next year the Cobs might as well schedule UMHB and/or Mount Union along with the normal run of USJ, UST and Bethel. That way they'd get to play all the nation's top teams without ever going to the playoffs...always a win or two short.

[hazzben]

I am a WIAC diehard supporter but wanted to stop over here to get some thoughts. I am heading up to the UWRF vs Bethel this weekend. I pick one game each weekend to go to and this is the one I picked this week. Bethel lost most of their starters from what I am seeing while UWRF retrun most of theirs. It was a 5 point game last year at Bethel I am curious why everyone thinks this one will be a blow out?

Also, I was at the UWL vs CM head game. I thought CM had their chances to win all day long. UWL has one of the top defenses in the WIAC. I was very impressed with how physical CM was in the run game and did not have much trouble with UWL passing attack. They will be a fun team to follow this year! Thanks everyone!

14 and a half points isn't a blowout around the MIAC, that's a close game.  River Falls did play Bethel tough last year, but that might have been their best game of the year.  They couldn't compete with anyone in the WIAC except Stout and Eau Claire.

I could be wrong but looking at the starters on Bethel DL they are no bigger than 235 pounds. UWRF goes 285 across the front. It would also be a fair statement that Bethel is not playing Simpson again. I think it will be one heck of a football game thats why I am heading up to check it out. I do not even count UWRF win vs Morris. I am just going off of last year box score and what each team is return. I see this being a 7 point game either way and right now I am leaning that in the end UWRF will wear that DL out. I could be wrong but we will see Saturday!

Two things to note.

1. Bethel was still finding their way week 2 last year. It was Roste's first game as a starter and the offense was still figuring out how to play to his strengths. If the two teams had played a month later, it wouldn't have been that close of a game.

2. Bethel's D line isn't huge, but they are very athletic. Especially Max Janes, 93 (transfer from Minn who played on all their special teams last year, unfortunately for us since it burned a year of eligibility). A line averaging 283 isn't new for Bethel. That's what we usually see from Concordia, UST, SJU, etc. I actually think we'll hold up just fine.

After watching Simpson last week and the video of UWRF vs. Morris (first half only) I think Bethel's in a much better position. UWRF is unorthodox up front, with multiple standing dlinemen. But it's to cover for their lack of size. I think Bethel moves the ball pretty well on them. The other major advantage, Bethel faced a quality opponent week one. They were pushed a lot harder than UWRF and learned a lot more about their team from it.

I think the spread is pretty good. Barring weird injuries for either team.

[Brad]

I am a WIAC diehard supporter but wanted to stop over here to get some thoughts. I am heading up to the UWRF vs Bethel this weekend. I pick one game each weekend to go to and this is the one I picked this week. Bethel lost most of their starters from what I am seeing while UWRF retrun most of theirs. It was a 5 point game last year at Bethel I am curious why everyone thinks this one will be a blow out?

Also, I was at the UWL vs CM head game. I thought CM had their chances to win all day long. UWL has one of the top defenses in the WIAC. I was very impressed with how physical CM was in the run game and did not have much trouble with UWL passing attack. They will be a fun team to follow this year! Thanks everyone!

14 and a half points isn't a blowout around the MIAC, that's a close game.  River Falls did play Bethel tough last year, but that might have been their best game of the year.  They couldn't compete with anyone in the WIAC except Stout and Eau Claire.

I could be wrong but looking at the starters on Bethel DL they are no bigger than 235 pounds. UWRF goes 285 across the front. It would also be a fair statement that Bethel is not playing Simpson again. I think it will be one heck of a football game thats why I am heading up to check it out. I do not even count UWRF win vs Morris. I am just going off of last year box score and what each team is return. I see this being a 7 point game either way and right now I am leaning that in the end UWRF will wear that DL out. I could be wrong but we will see Saturday!

Two things to note.

1. Bethel was still finding their way week 2 last year. It was Roste's first game as a starter and the offense was still figuring out how to play to his strengths. If the two teams had played a month later, it wouldn't have been that close of a game.

2. Bethel's D line isn't huge, but they are very athletic. Especially Max Janes, 93 (transfer from Minn who played on all their special teams last year, unfortunately for us since it burned a year of eligibility). A line averaging 283 isn't new for Bethel. That's what we usually see from Concordia, UST, SJU, etc. I actually think we'll hold up just fine.

After watching Simpson last week and the video of UWRF vs. Morris (first half only) I think Bethel's in a much better position. UWRF is unorthodox up front, with multiple standing dlinemen. But it's to cover for their lack of size. I think Bethel moves the ball pretty well on them. The other major advantage, Bethel faced a quality opponent week one. They were pushed a lot harder than UWRF and learned a lot more about their team from it.

I think the spread is pretty good. Barring weird injuries for either team.

I would agree with you that Bethel has been small up front. I also noticed a couple new starters up front for Bethel offense and a center that is only 240?. I will be interested to see how they handle the weird defense from UWRF that tries to create confusion. I have heard of the Max Janes kid before. Saw he even got some carries in the box score. Like I have said before I am not a UWRF fan just a WIAC supporter. Everyone in the league has been waiting for UWRF to take the next step for the past 5 years and I think this would be a game they could take a step in the right direction. Don't get me wrong it is going to be one heck of a game. The Roste kid is heck of a player I saw him in the playoff game against Whitewater.

[DuffMan]

Not a lot of chatter this week.  I'll be interested to see how the GAC/Stout game plays out.  I think Stout will win, but it will hopefully tell us something about GAC.  The UWW/Cobber game will be interesting, too.

[DuffMan]

Congrats to SJU's Ben Bartch, named to the 2019 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.  Congrats, also, to Bethel's Danny Munoz, who also made the team.

[MUC57]

Congrats to SJU's Ben Bartch, named to the 2019 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.  Congrats, also, to Bethel's Danny Munoz, who also made the team.

What he ^^^^^ said. Congrats to all. Go Teams!    

[MUC57]

57Johnnie

I just found out that a poster on the WIAC BOARD, "fredfalcon", a River Falls fan, is older than us. Do WE now have some kind of "secondary" senior status? Or, why do we care? Just thought I'd mention it! Go Johnnies!   . 

[57Johnnie]

57Johnnie

I just found out that a poster on the WIAC BOARD, "fredfalcon", a River Falls fan, is older than us. Do WE now have some kind of "secondary" senior status? Or, why do we care? Just thought I'd mention it! Go Johnnies!   . 

Older than we are??? 
No secondary status-once a Codger always a Codger.

[OzJohnnie]

[MUC57]

West 57

You ARE a few months older than I and obviously much smarter. I defer to your keen assessment of the situation.

Go Johnnies! Go Raiders! And GO CODGERS!     

East 57 (actually, since I'm in Ohio, it's probably Midwest 57. I don't know!)

[BU5758]

Senior Status?

I notice the posts today re older posters..... Can I assume that MU57 and 57Johnnie both played in 1957? Of course, Bethel wasn't in the MIAC at that time, so we wouldn't have played against each other.

I haven't posted much over the years, but my first post in September, 2004 got this response from OneArmedScott......
"Keep in mind BU5758 is a 65 year old retired minister according to his profile. So, while his heart is in the right place, his thought process might be a bit distorted."

The next fall, 2005, I met OneArmedScott at a Pacific Lutheran Game here in Puyallup, WA, and we both had a good laugh over my initial post and his response.

Getting older is great fun!...Will be in the Twin Cities in  two weeks to watch my grandkids play eight soccer games and two football games in two weeks, plus Bethel vs. Carlton at Homecoming.

Finally, nice to see five guys from Washington State playing for Bethel.
Go Bethel.....