FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sjusection105]

St. John's is in at number #14 with Bethel just outside the pre-season top 25: https://www.d3football.com/top25/2024/preseason

Johnnies will move into top 10 with a win over Wartburg. If they struggle and lose by 10+ (which i think is possible) they will drop to the high teens or 20+.
This team better be inspired, motivated and play with a chip on their shoulder. Playoff wise SJU hasn't done anything since Erdmann's senior year. IMO this is a pivotal year for Gary, the coaching staff and the program. Need to finish with a couple playoff wins and a top 10 finish to remain a relevant top D3 program.

I concur

[GoldandBlueBU]

St. John's is in at number #14 with Bethel just outside the pre-season top 25: https://www.d3football.com/top25/2024/preseason

How many returning starters do the Johnnies vs Royals have this upcoming season? I think this is last year of "CovID year", correct?

I believe this is the last year of "extra year guys"?

I get why they did it, but also, it has to have created some frustrating situations...can you imagine if you came to SJU (or any of the countless other schools where this is the situation) as a freshman in the fall of 2021 with ambitions to play QB, and now you're a senior in the fall of 2024, and a guy who graduated from HS in 2019 is still the starting QB?

[chewey]

The Johnnies will be as good as their defense this year.  If the defense is as terrible as it was last year, it will be another year of mediocrity.  Seems like some lethargy and acceptable mediocrity may have set in at SJU.

[Retired Old Rat]

The Johnnies will be as good as their defense this year.  If the defense is as terrible as it was last year, it will be another year of mediocrity.  Seems like some lethargy and acceptable mediocrity may have set in at SJU.

Back for your once every 3 years post?  Does this mean TDT will also be making an appearance?

[sjusection105]

The Johnnies will be as good as their defense this year.  If the defense is as terrible as it was last year, it will be another year of mediocrity. Seems like some lethargy and acceptable mediocrity may have set in at SJU.

Spot on Chewey. What I don't understand is why the coaching staff is full of former All-Americans and the players are "Meh..... " Conventional wisdom would be that the kids would be sponges and soak up all the experience and knowledge around them. You'd also think the kids would want to prove something by playing at an All-American level and possibly earn those honors during their playing careers.

[faunch]

St. John's is in at number #14 with Bethel just outside the pre-season top 25: https://www.d3football.com/top25/2024/preseason

How many returning starters do the Johnnies vs Royals have this upcoming season? I think this is last year of "CovID year", correct?

I believe this is the last year of "extra year guys"?

I get why they did it, but also, it has to have created some frustrating situations...can you imagine if you came to SJU (or any of the countless other schools where this is the situation) as a freshman in the fall of 2021 with ambitions to play QB, and now you're a senior in the fall of 2024, and a guy who graduated from HS in 2019 is still the starting QB?

My oldest is 24 and is on her second "real job" since graduating college. Her senior year of high school was 2018. I remember going to watch Cretin play Minnetonka in the prep bowl semifinals in 2017 and Tonka had a junior quarterback named Aaron Syverson.
It's weird he's still the SJU quarterback and yes I feel bad for the guys one the bench that just want a shot.

[faunch]

The Johnnies will be as good as their defense this year.  If the defense is as terrible as it was last year, it will be another year of mediocrity.  Seems like some lethargy and acceptable mediocrity may have set in at SJU.

Top 3 areas for improvement.
1. Defensive line play...we got pushed around by teams last year.
2. Linebackers and secondary wasn't great either. Good passing teams picked us apart.
3. Any chance we develop any sort of legitimate run game on offense. I get it the short passing game kind is a de facto run game. Not having a target like Larson this year could be an issue. One would think that our passing game would actually set up a run game.

[MadRedFan]

The Johnnies will be as good as their defense this year.  If the defense is as terrible as it was last year, it will be another year of mediocrity.  Seems like some lethargy and acceptable mediocrity may have set in at SJU.

Top 3 areas for improvement.
1. Defensive line play...we got pushed around by teams last year.
2. Linebackers and secondary wasn't great either. Good passing teams picked us apart.
3. Any chance we develop any sort of legitimate run game on offense. I get it the short passing game kind is a de facto run game. Not having a target like Larson this year could be an issue. One would think that our passing game would actually set up a run game.

I don't really disagree with any of those points.

Looked at the stats from last year, and Johnnies gave up 87 yards per game rushing. Not sure how much better you get from there. Seems like they got pushed around some last year tho, for sure.

Short passing game - Feddema averaged 2 catches and 20 yards per game, Vouk 1 catch and 9 yards per game. Underwood 1 catch and 6 yards per game. Seems reasonably effective but need more of it?

Only averaged 113 yards per game rushing.  Definitely gotta get some more there.

[faunch]

The Johnnies will be as good as their defense this year.  If the defense is as terrible as it was last year, it will be another year of mediocrity.  Seems like some lethargy and acceptable mediocrity may have set in at SJU.

Top 3 areas for improvement.
1. Defensive line play...we got pushed around by teams last year.
2. Linebackers and secondary wasn't great either. Good passing teams picked us apart.
3. Any chance we develop any sort of legitimate run game on offense. I get it the short passing game kind is a de facto run game. Not having a target like Larson this year could be an issue. One would think that our passing game would actually set up a run game.

I don't really disagree with any of those points.

Looked at the stats from last year, and Johnnies gave up 87 yards per game rushing. Not sure how much better you get from there. Seems like they got pushed around some last year tho, for sure.

Short passing game - Feddema averaged 2 catches and 20 yards per game, Vouk 1 catch and 9 yards per game. Underwood 1 catch and 6 yards per game. Seems reasonably effective but need more of it?

Only averaged 113 yards per game rushing.  Definitely gotta get some more there.

The Johnnies will be as good as their defense this year.  If the defense is as terrible as it was last year, it will be another year of mediocrity.  Seems like some lethargy and acceptable mediocrity may have set in at SJU.

Top 3 areas for improvement.
1. Defensive line play...we got pushed around by teams last year.
2. Linebackers and secondary wasn't great either. Good passing teams picked us apart.
3. Any chance we develop any sort of legitimate run game on offense. I get it the short passing game kind is a de facto run game. Not having a target like Larson this year could be an issue. One would think that our passing game would actually set up a run game.

I don't really disagree with any of those points.

Looked at the stats from last year, and Johnnies gave up 87 yards per game rushing. Not sure how much better you get from there. Seems like they got pushed around some last year tho, for sure.

Short passing game - Feddema averaged 2 catches and 20 yards per game, Vouk 1 catch and 9 yards per game. Underwood 1 catch and 6 yards per game. Seems reasonably effective but need more of it?

Only averaged 113 yards per game rushing.  Definitely gotta get some more there.

I think i posted this at the end of last season.

Defensive stats against Trinity, UWW, Augsburg and GAC
Trinity:          31 points,    438 yards total offense,    65 rushing,    373 passing,    1 punt, Total Offensive Plays SJU 61, Trinity 66
UW-Whitewater:    56 points    513 yards total offense,    280 rushing,    233 passing, 3 punts, Total Offensive Plays SJU 71, UWW 66
Augsburg:       24 points,    405 yards total offense,    170 rushing,    235 passing    1  punt, Total Offensive Plays SJU 54,  AUG 79
GAC:          38 points,    465 yards total offense,    112 rushing,    353 passing    2 punts, Total Offensive Plays SJU 58, GAC 82
      
In arguably the four most difficult games last season this was the SJU defensive stat averages. Against all four teams the defense really struggle to get off the field.
37.25 avg points, 455.25 avg yds, 156.75 avg rushing, 298.5 avg passing, 1.75 punts

[faunch]

WBHR-Mark Lewandowski pre-season interview with Gary.

https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cirruscontent/index.cfm?stationcallsign=WBHR&autoStartApp=on-demand&autoStartPodcast=2513166

Listened to it and here's what stood out to me:

Last season of divisional play.
2025 will play all but one conference team (St. Olaf)
Will continue to have championship week...Gary is not a fan as it will likely require MIAC championship game teams to play an extra playoff level game. (My opinion is why have #1 and #2 play each other again? I think it's silly.)

Recruiting focused on Offensive linemen andD-backs...57 freshmen coming in...8 transfers...maybe 2-3 more
65 new players in all

Players report Aug. 14

Coaching staff...Alex Larson will coach tight ends

Gustavus, Augsburg and Bethel bring almost everyone back...Gary believes the league is as balanced as It's been in years.

[OzJohnnie]

Adelaide... smacked around by the young Hawks.  The Hawks went on a 87 - 4 run at one point.

A big game (again) against the Giants next week. Every game has been a big game for the last three months. Hawthorn has now won ten of their last twelve.

https://youtu.be/B5n02Si56AY?si=oJuaDEI8BqPlbawV

[carletonknights]

WBHR-Mark Lewandowski pre-season interview with Gary.

https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cirruscontent/index.cfm?stationcallsign=WBHR&autoStartApp=on-demand&autoStartPodcast=2513166

Listened to it and here's what stood out to me:

Last season of divisional play.

So no more championship week after this? Anyone know what conference schedules will look like? I really hope they preserve rivalries this time.

[faunch]

WBHR-Mark Lewandowski pre-season interview with Gary.

https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cirruscontent/index.cfm?stationcallsign=WBHR&autoStartApp=on-demand&autoStartPodcast=2513166

Listened to it and here's what stood out to me:

Last season of divisional play.

So no more championship week after this? Anyone know what conference schedules will look like? I really hope they preserve rivalries this time.

No it sounds like there will still be a a championship week.
From what Gary said in the interview the johnnies won't play Olaf the next year or two. Eight conference games, one non-conference and then championship week. What's stupid about it is that the championship week game would pit the #1 v #2....IMO it's dumb because the game could knock a team out of the NCAA playoffs which would start the next week ...so yuh have to play a conference championship and then try and make a 4-5 week playoff run? Dumb!

[Johns Knees]

WBHR-Mark Lewandowski pre-season interview with Gary.

https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cirruscontent/index.cfm?stationcallsign=WBHR&autoStartApp=on-demand&autoStartPodcast=2513166

Listened to it and here's what stood out to me:

Last season of divisional play.
2025 will play all but one conference team (St. Olaf)
Will continue to have championship week...Gary is not a fan as it will likely require MIAC championship game teams to play an extra playoff level game. (My opinion is why have #1 and #2 play each other again? I think it's silly.)

Recruiting focused on Offensive linemen andD-backs...57 freshmen coming in...8 transfers...maybe 2-3 more
65 new players in all

Players report Aug. 14

Coaching staff...Alex Larson will coach tight ends

Gustavus, Augsburg and Bethel bring almost everyone back...Gary believes the league is as balanced as It's been in years.

Is the new schedule a reaction to the playoff criteria?

My understanding is fewer losses basically trumps a strong schedule. So there isn't value in scheduling good non-conference teams.

I'm guessing all the top teams will schedule cream puffs in the non conference. So you're looking at likely a zero or one loss automatic and a two loss team?

Top teams will get a couple extra easy wins, too, I guess, in conference.

[DuffMan]

I ended up coaching against SJU AA Jeremy Hood in 12U baseball this weekend--hadn't seen him in a few years, so it was good to catch up.  The nephew of another of our teammates (and also a HS teammate of mine) was also on that team.