FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SJUrube]

Thanks AO. So what you're telling me is after 2+ years of the MIAC being maligned the league not only got in a two loss team but also has either the #1 or #2 overall seed? This simply can't be true. It was only two seasons ago where a two-loss MIAC team didn't make the playoffs as Pool C bid. How could that happen this year? 

I have it as 21 point game.
Looking at final rankings if NCAA, SJU is ahead of UWW, so it looks that way-hosting if win-but that will be extremely difficult with bracket set up.

My understanding is regional rankings are separate from how the full tournament is seeded. Regional committees are in charge of the region rankings but after using those to fill out the field I believe the national committee could seed teams differently. So even though SJU is #1 in region 6 and UW-W is #2 the national committee might see it differently.

The regional rankings are also under the control of the national committee.  The Warhawks are heading to Collegeville if they keep winning.

[SagatagSam]

SJU-Lake Forest Game Notes have been released:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gojohnnies.com/documents/2021/11/17/112021_LakeForestNCAA_GameNotes.pdf

[OzJohnnie]

SJU-Lake Forest Game Notes have been released:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gojohnnies.com/documents/2021/11/17/112021_LakeForestNCAA_GameNotes.pdf

Trost is named in the starting lineup.  The only change to either the starting offiense or defense is that Fike is out and Peroutka is in at right guard on offense.  Let's hope that holds.  The boys were getting a bit beat up these last few weeks.

[OzJohnnie]

Nice feature article on Bethel at d3football.com.  Almost enough to make them seem human and likeable.

https://d3football.com/playoffs/2021/whirlwind-weekend-extends-royals-run

[SagatagSam]

Nice feature article on Bethel at d3football.com.  Almost enough to make them seem human and likeable.

https://d3football.com/playoffs/2021/whirlwind-weekend-extends-royals-run

A heck of a rollercoaster for the guys at Bethel. I didn't think the NCAA was going to let them in (which, in my opinion, leaving them out would've been the wrong thing to do). I guess that shows how little faith I have in the NCAA to choose rightly.

[SagatagSam]

Now, for Bethel a couple of unanswered questions heading into the first round:

1) What is Roste's health status?
and
2) How does Bethel come back from a) a tough loss, b) and the aforementioned emotional rollercoaster?

It's a double-edged sword. Could they be like the old Gopher football teams after a loss to Michigan (aka, the "Michigan Hangover")? Or could it have a galvanizing effect and the next thing you know we are seriously talking about a potential third installment in the SJU-BU 2021 trilogy in the semifinals?

I, for one, can't wait to find out.

[hazzben]

Here's what I anticipate being the best and worst Rd 1 games?

Best/Most Intriguing:
- Bethel @ Central - ARC seems down, Central appears up. How much for each respectively? Is Central an SJU caliber team, and if so, can Bethel finally close one out?
- Trinity @ UMHB - I expect UMHB wins by a comfortable margin, but it's a different Rd 1 look that makes it compelling
- Rose-Hulman @ DePauw - Should be a very competitive game, both programs looking for their first playoff win.
- Johns Hopkins @ Salisbury - Two teams that have made noise before. JHU seems a bit down from their best teams.
- Aurora @ Wheaton - IMO Wheaton wins this by 3+ scores. But it's the contrast in styles. It's not like Aurora wants to make it's living running into the buzzsaw of a Dline for Wheaton. Feels more shades of NCC than SJU for Aurora, but a closer than expected game wouldn't be surprising at all.

Monkey Stompville:
- Greenville @ UWW - Panther's SOS seems almost unfathomably low. If Garrett can get north of 80 yds rushing, he might have a chance at 2nd or 3rd team AA. If not, it shows the stats are fluff against one of the nations weakest schedules.
- Springfield @ Cortland - Cortland is a region finals caliber team, against one of the Pool A weak sisters.
- W&L @ Mount Union - if Greenville wasn't about to be pounded into oblivion at Whitewater, this would be my pick for biggest blowout.
- LF @ SJU - SJU will win this comfortably and be able to get healthy for Linfield.
- Anna Maria @ DelVal - 1st time playoff teams from less than stellar conferences tend to get a wakeup call against top seeds.
- Opponent @ NCC - Insert low seed about to be destroyed by NCC, it's nothing against Carnegie Mellon in particular
- Albion @ UWL - Albion's best hope is that UWL plays very conservative to keep things off film for NCC.

[hazzben]

Or could it have a galvanizing effect and the next thing you know we are seriously talking about a potential third installment in the SJU-BU 2021 trilogy in the semifinals?

I, for one, can't wait to find out.

I'm firmly in the camp of "galvanizing effect' for Bethel. I think the fact we've already played playoff caliber game last Saturday, where Central hasn't been challenged (since St. Olaf??) in weeks.
I think the biggest hurdle for Bethel is the state of our DLine against the run, given who we'd face if we beat Central. Wheaton and UWW both feature elite Oline and RB play. Historically that's Bethel's kind of game, but this year we've been more vulnerable to the run than in years past.

In all honesty, I think Central is very good (like Wart in 14 and 17), but they've also played absolutely no one and the ARC is clearly down.

[Ice Bear]

Ice Bear says he ****ing loved the write up on Bethel. Ice is damn well aware of the quality of football being played in the MIAC and will certainly be tuning in to watch Bethel come Saturday. Mother****, losing to a team like St. John's, twice, by a combined seven ****ing points? Ice Bear calmy states that Bethel is most definitely one of the top teams in the nation.

Ice is really trying to expand his experience/exposure around D3 football to outside of his beloved region 2. Ice has a **** load of respect for the MIAC and region 6 as a whole.

Let's ****ing go Royals!

[OzJohnnie]

Heh, Bartch has gone from a stick-out-of-the-crowd giant to just one more giant in a land of giants.  It would be entertaining if he could come back and join the scout team one week so the starting d-linemen could see what two years in the pros does to a guy.

 

(Also, his hair is far too pretty for an NFL lineman these days.)

[oldsju67]

I know I lurk a lot more then post in here these days, but man this has to be the most boring and quiet week going into a first round play off game in my 20+ years of following and posting on this board.  Ice Bear not withstanding.... Maybe we should pay someone to pretend to be Lake Forest fans and stir the pot in here!!!  I know Central has posters, where the hell are they?!?!?

Going back to my cave...

[DuffMan]

This board does need more Ice Bear. 

[wildcat11]

I know I lurk a lot more then post in here these days, but man this has to be the most boring and quiet week going into a first round play off game in my 20+ years of following and posting on this board.  Ice Bear not withstanding.... Maybe we should pay someone to pretend to be Lake Forest fans and stir the pot in here!!!  I know Central has posters, where the hell are they?!?!?

Going back to my cave...

The burgers that get severed up at the SJU tailgates are the most overrated in college football.

[OzJohnnie]

Covid apparently has the until now unrecognized side effect of making the school with the least spirit in the history of the planet lose whatever remaining pride they had.  I expect that even if a Forester left his moss-lined hovel to post something here, it would be a milquetoast ode to the wonders of herbology and adult 4-H membership.

How do you even attempt banter with an institution literally as stimulating as watching lichen grow?

[hazzben]

Ice Bear says he ****ing loved the write up on Bethel. Ice is damn well aware of the quality of football being played in the MIAC and will certainly be tuning in to watch Bethel come Saturday. Mother****, losing to a team like St. John's, twice, by a combined seven ****ing points? Ice Bear calmy states that Bethel is most definitely one of the top teams in the nation.

Ice is really trying to expand his experience/exposure around D3 football to outside of his beloved region 2. Ice has a **** load of respect for the MIAC and region 6 as a whole.

Let's ****ing go Royals!

Welcome aboard the bandwagon Ice ... Feel free to drive for a bit, seems like you'd make the ride more interesting