FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sjusection105]

I don't think enough can be said about Gary and his coaching staff. After 3 ho-hum seasons from 2010-2012 the wagons were circling SJU. In now his 7th season he's evened up his record at 4-4 against his biggest rival, should win his 3rd MIAC title and tie John Gagliardi as the only MIAC coaches to lead teams to the playoffs in 6 consecutive seasons.

He's done a phenomenal job on the transition of the program to the model needed for national competitiveness in the current era.  It's easy to see things that are needed like national recruiting and a JV program, but it's another thing to build those effectively.  And although he's said yes to a few things John Gagliardi said no to (and a few other changes which would have been very difficult but are clearly working today), I think Gary has done an excellent job of building on and preserving the legacy he was entrusted with.  What do others think?

Keeping the best of what makes St. John's  well, St. John's and then improving on it.  I like the direction things are going.

[jamtod]

http://www.startribune.com/st-john-s-rips-tommies-while-it-remains-as-a-perfect-fit-for-miac/563544872/

There was some grumbling from a minority of St. Thomas followers on Saturday, when St. John's quarterback Jackson Erdmann threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to receiver T.J. Hodge with 34 seconds remaining to increase the final to 38-20 in favor of the unbeaten Johnnies.

Where are these people? I'd like to have a word with them and tell them they are dumb.
Unless it was done tongue-in-cheek. Then I applaud it.

I think the next paragraph recovers the situation.  Tommies may suck but they aren't, by and large, drooling morons.

The more-astute Tommies supporters would be aware of the nonsense in questioning an add-on touchdown in a competitive game against the archrival opponent – considering a good share of the reason St. Thomas was invited to leave the MIAC was the brutal drubbings it had administered to overmatched opponents since coach Glenn Caruso turned it into a national power in Division III football.

No doubt this is a minority of purple supporters, unlike the 10k+ folks in red on Saturday, for which the opposite is true.


The game situation itself suggests that it's just a dumb thing to complain about, but the context against St Thomas just adds to it.

[DuffMan]

St. Glenn is obviously a fierce competitor, and his teams follow suit.  I guarantee that no one that actually matters had their feelings hurt by the final TD, and I would be willing to bet that were the situations reversed, Dolan would have thrown for the endzone, too (though a better bet would have been to give it to Parks).

[Retired Old Rat]

I am pleased Parks is graduating and we won't face him again.

I don't look forward to Erdmann graduating. I think he should get in touch with Ryan Keating to see if he has any tips on getting another year of eligibility.

[DuffMan]

I don't think this has been mentioned, but I thought Matt Mohr (#1) had a great game on Saturday.  Stepping up for and injured VanErp in a huge game, he caught 4 passes for 70 yards, and those were some darn nice catches!  That's great to see.

Also, Hodge seems to need to drop the first 3-4 passes thrown to him.  After that, he settles in, but it's happened at the start of the Bethel and U$T games!

[DuffMan]

I am pleased Parks is graduating and we won't face him again.

I said the same thing when Roberts graduated.  Then, they got Parks.

[jamtod]

I am pleased Parks is graduating and we won't face him again.

I said the same thing when Roberts graduated.  Then, they got Parks.

Parks and Roberts played together for a bit, but Roberts was mostly injured so we didn't get the full 1-2 punch. Same with Trettel.

We'll have Loeffler next year (as a Senior). He doesn't get quite the same press as Parks, but he's darn fun to watch and isn't afraid to shove a would-be tackler out of the way.

Will certainly be interesting to see how recruiting talent looks next year in the transition.

[sjusection105]

Will certainly be interesting to see how recruiting talent looks next year in the transition.

This is a very interesting question. Kids surprise me, but coming in not knowing what's going to happen during their time at a prospective school could be a blessing or a curse,depending on how they (and their parents) view it.

Those that work in education, especially high school education- what are your views on this situation?

[DuffMan]

We'll have Loeffler next year (as a Senior). He doesn't get quite the same press as Parks, but he's darn fun to watch and isn't afraid to shove a would-be tackler out of the way.

Loeffler is good, but he's no Parks.  SJU will have to replace Erdmann, and anyone they find is likely going to pale in comparison. 

Will certainly be interesting to see how recruiting talent looks next year in the transition.

I'm very intrigued at how this will play out...how it's being spun to this season's underclassmen and how they're spinning it to recruits.

[jamtod]

We'll have Loeffler next year (as a Senior). He doesn't get quite the same press as Parks, but he's darn fun to watch and isn't afraid to shove a would-be tackler out of the way.

Loeffler is good, but he's no Parks.  SJU will have to replace Erdmann, and anyone they find is likely going to pale in comparison. 

Will certainly be interesting to see how recruiting talent looks next year in the transition.

I'm very intrigued at how this will play out...how it's being spun to this season's underclassmen and how they're spinning it to recruits.

My brother suggested that they should do a documentary of the kids on the team going through this process. It would be fascinating. I would think for some of the current young guys, it's exciting. For some, they know they will be getting squeezed out in the move.

[SJUrube]

I don't think this has been mentioned, but I thought Matt Mohr (#1) had a great game on Saturday.  Stepping up for and injured VanErp in a huge game, he caught 4 passes for 70 yards, and those were some darn nice catches!  That's great to see.

Agreed on Mohr. Blake Patrick is another unsung hero. He had a couple of nice catches, including one on the SJU sideline, that were nice to see for a guy we've heard about over the last couple of years. I looked at the box score drive summary and both of his catches came on the drive that made it 31-20 in the 4th quarter.  They were on back-to-back plays and covered 37 yards. The drive summary also shows he was the WR that drew the pass interference on 4th and 15th that nearly sealed the game, before the exclamation point TD.

Erdmann won't be replaceable but there's a really nice group of underclassmen at the skill positions that will help whomever the successor at QB is.

[DuffMan]

Blake Patrick is another unsung hero.

His hands have been a bit questionable the past few years, but he has always been in the mix.  Good time for him to step into a bigger role.  I know that I questioned who Jackson was going to throw to this year, at the midpoint of the season, I'd say we don't have a lack of talent at WR! 

[OzJohnnie]

Blake Patrick is another unsung hero.

His hands have been a bit questionable the past few years, but he has always been in the mix.  Good time for him to step into a bigger role.  I know that I questioned who Jackson was going to throw to this year, at the midpoint of the season, I'd say we don't have a lack of talent at WR! 

That we do not.  Although greener, I think this year's receiving corp is even better than last year's.  Gillach was a superstar, but I reckon this set is deeper.  When these four sophomores are all seniors together?  It will be criminal.

I'm amazed by the factoid I picked up a week or two ago on an article about Alston that his TD catches this year were his first since the 8th grade.  As good as he is, he couldn't break into high reps with three or four D1 receivers at his high school in front of him.  Sheesh.  Whatever veggies they are eating out in that Cali town sure grow an abundance of fast kids with good hands.

[jamtod]

Blake Patrick is another unsung hero.

His hands have been a bit questionable the past few years, but he has always been in the mix.  Good time for him to step into a bigger role.  I know that I questioned who Jackson was going to throw to this year, at the midpoint of the season, I'd say we don't have a lack of talent at WR! 

That we do not.  Although greener, I think this year's receiving corp is even better than last years.  Gillach was a superstar, but I reckon this set is deeper.  When these four sophomores are all seniors together?  It will be criminal.

I'm amazed by the factoid I picked up a week or two ago on an article about Alston that his TD catches this year were his first since the 8th grade.  As good as he is, he couldn't break into high reps with three or four D1 receivers at his high school in front of him.  Sheesh.  Whatever veggies they are eating out in that Cali town sure grow and abundance of fast kids with good hands.

I suspect we'll see a bit of regression next year when they have a mere mortal finding them the ball.

[repete]

And rebuilding the o-line will be a huge task ....