FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[57Johnnie]

I know it's the offseason and all... but you guys are a tough crowd! That's a beautiful looking field.

I like everything except the helmet.

Same here.

[faunch]

Was the old turf always that dark or was it showing it's age?

[SagatagSam]

Was the old turf always that dark or was it showing it's age?

I don't think the old turf was necessarily that "dark" I just think the new turf is incredibly light and vibrant. The new turf is like I was looking at grass on a tropical island instead of natural grass tones from around central Minnesota.

[SagatagSam]

I know it's the offseason and all... but you guys are a tough crowd! That's a beautiful looking field.

I like everything except the helmet.

Same here.

That seems to be the consensus. I haven't heard anyone say they love the helmet.

The range of opinion seems to run from "I don't like it" to "I'll reserve judgment until a date to be determined."

[jknezek]

I know it's the offseason and all... but you guys are a tough crowd! That's a beautiful looking field.

I like everything except the helmet.

Same here.

That seems to be the consensus. I haven't heard anyone say they love the helmet.

The range of opinion seems to run from "I don't like it" to "I'll reserve judgment until a date to be determined."

Just a thought from an outsiders point of view, but I think it makes a pretty neat statement. Most schools use their "football field" for a multitude of sports. So not only can't you put the football helmet on the field, but it's lined 7 ugly ways from Sunday. St. John's is making the statement to football players, and recruits, that this field is for you and you only. That's pretty cool and not something too many schools can do anymore.

[AO]

I know it's the offseason and all... but you guys are a tough crowd! That's a beautiful looking field.

I like everything except the helmet.

Same here.

That seems to be the consensus. I haven't heard anyone say they love the helmet.

The range of opinion seems to run from "I don't like it" to "I'll reserve judgment until a date to be determined."

Just a thought from an outsiders point of view, but I think it makes a pretty neat statement. Most schools use their "football field" for a multitude of sports. So not only can't you put the football helmet on the field, but it's lined 7 ugly ways from Sunday. St. John's is making the statement to football players, and recruits, that this field is for you and you only. That's pretty cool and not something too many schools can do anymore.

Everyone would have given it an A+ if they moved the track, brought the field in closer to the stands and made it a truly football only facility.

[johnnie_esq]

Hey gang, hope all is well- thought I would check in after I saw the field myself too.

Field looks bright now, but will dullen a bit once they put the black rubber infill in.  It will still be brighter, but not quite so much then.

I really think the helmet is lame.  It isn't unique and doesn't make a branding statement.  It's just a waste of the marquee space.

I would have liked to see a giant rat in the middle of the field.  Would have been impressive as a brand and would have made the field something to talk about. Visitors could chuckle about how silly it would look-- until the game starts and we're monkey stomping 5 minutes in.

The helmet just looks boring.

And we are going to have to live with it for 10 years.  Ugh.

[OzJohnnie]

Well, if you're in the D3 football arms race, which we clearly are, then you need a brand which screams football.  Times, they are a changin'.  I don't mind the helmet mainly because I know that even if I did, I would be used to it in a couple seasons and not really care anymore.

I wonder if they focus grouped some designs with potential recruits, etc.

[jamtod]

I know it's the offseason and all... but you guys are a tough crowd! That's a beautiful looking field.

I like everything except the helmet.

I like everything except the helmet and all the red stuff and the johnnies stuff

Happy off-season!

[OzJohnnie]

Wisconsin man suctions 10 cans to his head for Guinness World Record

[OzJohnnie]

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/most-popular-song-year-you-were-born?utm_source=RSS

@57, unfortunately music hadn't been invented yet when you were born.

[57Johnnie]

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/most-popular-song-year-you-were-born?utm_source=RSS

@57, unfortunately music hadn't been invented yet when you were born.

Fortunately, I have never heard of a single No.1 from this century! 

Red Sails in the Sunset 1935.

[57Johnnie]

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/most-popular-song-year-you-were-born?utm_source=RSS

@57, unfortunately music hadn't been invented yet when you were born.

Like them or not, I was surprised Roy Orbison or The Carpenters are not on the list.

[SagatagSam]

How many of you remember the diagonal lines in the end zones when the field was grass?  One of my grounds crew duties in '99 was helping Rich Froehle paint the field--I spent a lot of time holding guide strings so that Rich could paint. 

I loved working with Rich on the grounds crew. I started in the fall of 2003, so I never got to paint the field.

I know many of you outside of Duff and I may not have known Rich Froehle ('65). He was probably one of the toughest and kindest men I've ever met. He took a genuine interest in the students that worked on the grounds crew with him. He was a two-time All-MIAC fullback in 1963 and 1964, helping the Johnnies bring home its first national championship in a 33-27 win over Prairie View A&M in 1963.

Sadly, Rich passed away last October.

https://www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/0000406050/

[DuffMan]

Thanks, Sag.  I do recall hearing that last year.  Toughest and kindest--I couldn't have put it better.