FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

Stout in a nail-biter against the top fo the WIAC for the second week in a row.  This time they have taken the lead and now the defense has to hold Oshkosh for one drive and secure the win.

EDIT:  Doh.  Sorry, BDB, but I blame my post for jinxing the Devils and letting Oshkosh score so easily on two runs.  Plenty of time left.  I won't say squat now.

[RoyalsFan]

What a beautiful day for football today. Bethel had a sloppy day today with 5 turnovers (including a 99 yard pick 6) and 9 penalties for 100 yards. They better get those things cleaned up if they expect to have any shot of beating SJU in the championship game.

Question about a play today. Bethel punted and the returner called for a fair catch but it bounced off his chest into the air and a Bethel player grabbed it before it hit the ground and didn't touch the returner. The refs ruled that Bethel interfered with a fair catch. I thought once the returner touches the ball and he loses control then it is a live ball. Does the ball have to hit the ground in this case before Bethel could recover it?

[SJU13]

MU had a close shave. I don't think it's enough to move up to #4, but might get close depending on how the next couple of weeks play out.

Positive takeaways from this afternoon. Offense looked smooth with Backes as starter and Downs as backup. 2 incompletes, Backes only, with 1 being a drop and the other a deep ball just off the outstretched fingertips of a diving WR. I get the competition, but we looked smooth from start to finish.

In a game that showcased a lot of up and coming we have some good depth at RB, OL, and DL as we averaged 7.7 yards per carry and we were still able to get to the QB.

For what it's worth our points per game average should be just under 50 and 9 points allowed on defense. Both would get us into the top 10 nationally I believe. 52 points against Carleton would see us hit a 50 average and we have the potential to average 8 points allowed if we get the goose egg as well. Given the concerns about what the post Jackson era would look like offensively and defensive concerns after the Aurora game this group might be statistically better (depending on how you view the strength of the field in 2019 compared to this season).

[GoldandBlueBU]

What a beautiful day for football today. Bethel had a sloppy day today with 5 turnovers (including a 99 yard pick 6) and 9 penalties for 100 yards. They better get those things cleaned up if they expect to have any shot of beating SJU in the championship game.

Question about a play today. Bethel punted and the returner called for a fair catch but it bounced off his chest into the air and a Bethel player grabbed it before it hit the ground and didn't touch the returner. The refs ruled that Bethel interfered with a fair catch. I thought once the returner touches the ball and he loses control then it is a live ball. Does the ball have to hit the ground in this case before Bethel could recover it?

I was curious about this also- from what I found, they called it correctly. 

First, the fair catch rule is in effect until the ball hits the ground.

This means that if the returner bobbles the ball, he still must be given every opportunity to corral it before it hits the ground.

From this site- https://footballadvantage.com/fair-catch/

I don't necessarily see it happening, but if the Auggie's can get their passing game going the next couple of weeks the Johnnies could be down at Edor Nelson field championship weekend.

lol

[hazzben]

Yeah, the announcers thought it was because the defenders were too close. I think it's that the ball never hit the ground. Though in their defense it went right off the punt returner straight into the Bethel defenders hands. It was a straight muff by the returner. And then a straight reaction from the coverage team.

[sjujohnnie]

I wonder how many of the teams in the d3football.com Top 25 poll are left out of the 32-team playoff each year? I look forward to seeing the poll each week, but it's disappointing that it has no bearing on who makes the playoff field. For instance, assuming St John's defeats Bethel in the conference championship game, Bethel's only losses would be to St John's. I have to believe they'd beat at least half of the teams that will make the playoff, but will likely be snubbed.

[OzJohnnie]

@Wdavis5;

Did your son get hurt as you suspected?  If so, hopefully not too bad and he's available for this weekend against MAC.


On another note, I noticed that the CSS QB is from Sublimity, Oregon.  I've never heard of the place but it sounds beautiful.

[hazzben]

I wonder how many of the teams in the d3football.com Top 25 poll are left out of the 32-team playoff each year? I look forward to seeing the poll each week, but it's disappointing that it has no bearing on who makes the playoff field. For instance, assuming St John's defeats Bethel in the conference championship game, Bethel's only losses would be to St John's. I have to believe they'd beat at least half of the teams that will make the playoff, but will likely be snubbed.

Yeah, if it's true that the MIAC Championship game is to be short lived, it would really be annoying to have it cost Bethel a playoff spot. I think we are still a little green on the Oline to beat SJU this year. And being down a few Dlineman won't help either. Hoping I'm proved wrong.

[faunch]

Rumor Mill:
So a buddy of mine told me about a conversation he heard recently amongst some guys in the St. Paul area. Apparently there are some that believe that the Gophers will part with PJ Fleck soon and replace him with Glenn Caruso. I told him that's nuts....and we were having this discussion as the Gophs were rowing over Northwestern. The Gophs currently lead the west....as much as I'd like to see it my bet is they finish 8-4 at best.


PS...if you haven't fired up the furnace yet I would advise at least testing it out. As of last night ours is not heating. Amazed that I was able to get someone scheduled to come today!! 

[SagatagSam]

Rumor Mill:
So a buddy of mine told me about a conversation he heard recently amongst some guys in the St. Paul area. Apparently there are some that believe that the Gophers will part with PJ Fleck soon and replace him with Glenn Caruso. I told him that's nuts....and we were having this discussion as the Gophs were rowing over Northwestern. The Gophs currently lead the west....as much as I'd like to see it my bet is they finish 8-4 at best.


PS...if you haven't fired up the furnace yet I would advise at least testing it out. As of last night ours is not heating. Amazed that I was able to get someone scheduled to come today!!

I would have responded with something like, "You know that UST is out of the MIAC and I don't give a s**t about Glenn Caruso anymore, right?"

My guess is the guy was just trying to get you fired up with the prospect of the man you loved to hate for more than a decade taking over your beloved Gophs.

[DuffMan]

PS...if you haven't fired up the furnace yet I would advise at least testing it out.

We recently spent a week in FL and returned on 10/29.  It was 60 in our house when we got back, so I fired it up.  That's likely the latest I've ever turned it on. 

[faunch]

Rumor Mill:
So a buddy of mine told me about a conversation he heard recently amongst some guys in the St. Paul area. Apparently there are some that believe that the Gophers will part with PJ Fleck soon and replace him with Glenn Caruso. I told him that's nuts....and we were having this discussion as the Gophs were rowing over Northwestern. The Gophs currently lead the west....as much as I'd like to see it my bet is they finish 8-4 at best.


PS...if you haven't fired up the furnace yet I would advise at least testing it out. As of last night ours is not heating. Amazed that I was able to get someone scheduled to come today!!

I would have responded with something like, "You know that UST is out of the MIAC and I don't give a s**t about Glenn Caruso anymore, right?"

My guess is the guy was just trying to get you fired up with the prospect of the man you loved to hate for more than a decade taking over your beloved Gophs.

Coincidently he almost attended Scholastica but then ended up at Hamline. He's know more than his share of MIAC football misery. 

[Wdavis5]

@Wdavis5;

Did your son get hurt as you suspected?  If so, hopefully not too bad and he's available for this weekend against MAC.


On another note, I noticed that the CSS QB is from Sublimity, Oregon.  I've never heard of the place but it sounds beautiful.

Yes Sir, Torn UCL done for season.

[DuffMan]

Yes Sir, Torn UCL done for season.

Bummer.  Sorry to hear that. 

[SagatagSam]

@Wdavis5;

Did your son get hurt as you suspected?  If so, hopefully not too bad and he's available for this weekend against MAC.


On another note, I noticed that the CSS QB is from Sublimity, Oregon.  I've never heard of the place but it sounds beautiful.

Yes Sir, Torn UCL done for season.

Big bummer. Sorry to hear about it.