FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

Man, that GAC QB can sling it.  And the receivers were very good at finding space.  They are a good team. Finish top 3 in the MIAC would not surprise me.  It’s a long season but I wouldn’t be surprised if they finish second.  Bethel and the Tommies will be challenged like we were if the QB keeps playing hot.

The Johnnies were much improved, which was good to see. The offence was running much better with receivers sticking their catches. O-line was better too (zero sacks after giving up three against Stout) and Erdmann was firing the ball really well. Room to improve, of course, but it was great to see the improvement we did see from the opening round.  And even though the defense was carved up by the GAC qb, they made a number of big plays when needed and kept a potent scoring machine in check for most of the second half and the entire fourth quarter when the pressure was on.

Looking back on the last two games I’m glad the Johnnies were pushed hard (to having two reasonable shots of losing)  at the start of the year. If they had a creampuff instead of Stout and Hamline instead of GAC then they almost certainly been under tuned come the money stretch in the conference.  Also, the first team is getting some complete games in which is good.  I’m feeling much better about the Johnnies’s prospects after these games.

[MiacMan]

Always interesting how people view things. The Johnnie faithful look at it like both Stout and GAC are top 10 teams and the rest of the country outside of the WIAC and MIAC will view it as SJ2 has barely squeaked by two  unranked teams, is overrated and should drop further in the polls. Time will tell.

[BDB]

People will view it as Stout and GAC are 2 pretty good teams and SJU won those games.
Taking away the dignity of the opponent has always bothered me.

[retagent]

You're talking dignity with a Tommie, BDB. That's like talking with a cockroach about fine wine.

[jamtod]

You're talking dignity with a Tommie, BDB. That's like talking with a cockroach about fine wine.

Pretty sure that was a reference to the way many of your fellow Johnnies have been talking about Stout, ret.

Glass houses and all, as a few years ago it was UST in this position (after an actual loss to Stout).

[MiacMan]

Actually, what I meant (myself included) was that we think the top ten teams are UMHB, Mount and the next eight should come from the  MIAC or the WIAC. I was merely pointing out that I don't think the rest of the country feels that way.

[faunch]

Always interesting how people view things. The Johnnie faithful look at it like both Stout and GAC are top 10 teams and the rest of the country outside of the WIAC and MIAC will view it as SJ2 has barely squeaked by two  unranked teams, is overrated and should drop further in the polls. Time will tell.

And U$T has played nobody and nobody....so there's that.

[hazzben]

Nice win by the Cobbers.

Also, how bad is Augsburg?

[OzJohnnie]

A good post-game interview with Gary Fasching and some players.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMxk_T4nuns

[MiacMan]

Always interesting how people view things. The Johnnie faithful look at it like both Stout and GAC are top 10 teams and the rest of the country outside of the WIAC and MIAC will view it as SJ2 has barely squeaked by two  unranked teams, is overrated and should drop further in the polls. Time will tell.

And U$T has played nobody and nobody....so there's that.

Good one!  Faunchy!

[retagent]

You're talking dignity with a Tommie, BDB. That's like talking with a cockroach about fine wine.

Pretty sure that was a reference to the way many of your fellow Johnnies have been talking about Stout, ret.

Glass houses and all, as a few years ago it was UST in this position (after an actual loss to Stout).

I really didn't see much disrespect for Stout after that game. Maybe you could infer that was the case, but most of the "analysis" was about how poorly the Johnnies played. Again, maybe you could infer that was meant to debase Stout's role in the game, but I don't think pointing out dropped passes, badly thrown balls and mental errors by the Johnnies implied that sentiment.

[corn horn]

Nice win by the Cobbers.

Also, how bad is Augsburg?

Augsburg appears to be about what they were last year, if that helps. They have a nice running back. They actually came out of the gates well yesterday, but when the Cobbers got a couple quick scores on them in the second quarter the Auggies caved. Cobbers did massive substitutions in the third quarter and played even more conservatively (to the extent that is possible) to stop the bleeding. Cobber defense has been tough this year. Augsburg made it to the red zone twice, but had a blocked FG (with a long Cobber run back) and a turn over on downs to show for it.

[corn horn]

Re: all the talk about the MIAC having two-tiers or three tiers. I often feel that conversation gets wrapped up in maybe a 10 year lookback. Perhaps that is the most relevant for now, but I thought I would just throw the whole MIAC history out here for a bit of banter. I was at Concordia in a period when the Cobbers had three conference and two national championships (NAIA D2), so that has certainly shaped my bias. Gustavus ruled in the 50s. Obviously, the Johnnies have been a consistent front runner. St. Thomas' recent success hadn't been seen since the 40s. Bethel is, in the grand scheme of things, a recent contender.

MIAC Football Championship History
All-Time Football Championships   
Institution   Championships
Saint John's   33 (1932-35-36-38-53-62-63-65-71-74-75-76-77-79-82-85-89-91-93-94-95-96-98-99-2001-02-03-05-06-08-09-14-18)
Gustavus   22 (1926-27-33-35-36-37-40-45-46-50-51-52-53-54-55-58-59-67-68-71-72-87)
St. Thomas   20 (1922-29-30-39-41-42-47-48-49-56-73-79-83-90-2010-11-12-15-16-17)
Concordia   18 (1931-34-42-52-57-64-69-70-74-78-79-80-81-86-88-90-95-2004)
St. Olaf   6 (1922-23-30-35-78-79)
Bethel   5 (2000-01-06-07-13)
Hamline   5 (1920-21-66-84-88)
Minn.-Duluth   3 (1960-61-73)
Augsburg   2 (1928-97)
Carleton   2 (1924-92)
Macalester   2 (1925-47)
Saint Mary's   1 (1928)

[sjusection105]

It's a long season.  SJU made big strides last year, and they stayed healthy.  As long as this team improves each week, they'll be fine.  There were already some big improvements over the Stout game.

True but frustrations are still present from my point of view.

1.) Getting stopped on the 1 for the second consecutive game.
2.) Ball security. These young receivers are explosive, but holding onto the ball through the conclusion of the play is most crucial.
3.) Kicking game. 190 guys, you'd think one could be perfect in FGs under 35 yards and PATs.

Clean these things up before the meat of the season rolls around.

[faunch]

Big East...really??
Now there's talk that the University of St. Thomas, ousted by the Division III MIAC, is exploring the Division I Big East Conference.

https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/21/charley-walters-its-vikings-fault-theyre-stuck-with-kirk-cousins/