FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Willy Wonka]

A wedding forced me to miss OAS crying in the Mac stands as my Gusties demolished the Scots, 51-0. It also kept me away from these boards for the longest stretch in more than a year.

In summation of 10+ pages read...

*I hope Scrubby holds true on his promise to never post again. Somehow, I doubt I'm the only one.

*royalachilles owns TDT

*Based off roughly 5 SJU games, Royce-Diop seems like one of those guys in high school who dominates without having a clue of what he's supposed to be doing. Easy to get away with in HS, not so much in college.

*Most importantly...will anyone be dressing up in Halloween gear for Saturday? I've got an amazing Cat in the Hat costume that would be prime SJU colors, including a sweet red-and-white striped hat. Would I be the only one dressed up??

[knights]

SOME THOUGHTS LEADING UP TO THE GAME:
Interesting reading some of the more cautious SJU posts.  As one of the lone UST supporters on this board, I really believe that this Saturday's game will be more like 2003 (Kostner fumble and SJU kicks winning FG to escape with a win) than the last couple of years.  Nobody gave UST a chance against the vaunted Blake E.-led SJU team in 2003.  I recall they went on to become National champs that year and UST gave them all they wanted that day, so it can happen.  I get a sense from reading previous game comments from the SJU bunch that SJU hasn't been as consistent as in years past and I think the UST defense will hold its own, especially if SJU is a bit off.  If SJU offense is on, then I think it could get ugly (ie. last year).  SJU always seems to have the weapons to score from anywhere, and seem to do so with regularity.  

Not having Theisen in the lineup won't help the UST offense, esepcially in the red zone, but the kids they have filling in have done a decent job but need to come up big.  Not sure of the RB Casey status but this Brink runs hard for his size and has quick feet, he will make people miss.  The QB Sauer needs to play within himself and make good decisions.  He has skills and maybe his playing in this game last year will remove some of the nerves, lets hope so.  He is very capable though of leading this team offensively.
O-line will, in my estimaton, hold the key to any UST success (keeping the SJU offense off the field, giving Sauer time and eliminating penalties).

It appears that SJU has played very well, especially offensively, against the Tommies the last two years, maybe I am hoping for one of their "off-days" to make it interesting.

No witty response just hoping for a good, well-played, clean game and nobody gets hurt, spoken like a true parent.   More later.

[johnnie_esq]

Knight, the difference between this and 2003 is that the Johnnies don't have the national media attention focused upon them this year.  SJU played about as tight a game as possible that day in 2003--- they were certainly not themselves.  SJU is just playing now, so it's a matter of doing their jobs.  I don't see UST moving the ball much on the Johnnies, however, so it'll be more a matter of the Johnnie offense, whether they come to play or whether they stutter through another half. 

[Retired Old Rat]

*Most importantly...will anyone be dressing up in Halloween gear for Saturday? I've got an amazing Cat in the Hat costume that would be prime SJU colors, including a sweet red-and-white striped hat. Would I be the only one dressed up??

WW, we're all dressing up for Halloween.  Hope to see your amazing costumer.

[Whoa Nelly]

Interesting observation from Gopher/Bison game:

At halftime, Glen Mason was "escorted" by a few guys through that small end zone opening that leads into the bowels of the stadium via the visitor's baseball dugout.  There are reasons for everything, but my assumption (we all know what happens when you assume) is he didn't want any part of the student section at the break, which was in full "Fire Mason" force.  If my assumption is correct, cocky/drunk college students should be the least of his worries.

I've heard 15-20k NDSU fans as the official tally – this maybe was true to start the game, but there were about 45k NDSU fans when they kicked that last field goal.

[Kilted Rat]

Warning: I will probably get a lot cockier as the real game approaches

Can't wait to go back and forth as the time approaches KR! 

Should be another fun battle of vernaculars, US News rankings, and poetry as needed!

"I see your vernacular is as big as mine, now lets see how you handle it."

Chuck Norris Fact of the Day:

Chuck Norris owns a chain of fast-food restaurants throughout the southwest. They serve nothing but barbecue-flavored ice cream and Hot Pockets

Mighty Royal

GBFOTD:

Guy Bellair once at 72 deep-fried Twinkie's dipped in barbeque sauce in one sitting.

Bonus GBFOTD:
Guy Bellair's old shoes are considered toxic waste in 37 states. In New Jersey they're considered air fresheners.

Hey Hey Hey!!!

Tommie/Johnnie Week, T-Shirts are printed, Tiff's is cleaned!!!!

Was listening to the Johnnie game as I was playing in a poker tourney at Mille Lacs!!!

Johnnie's luck was the same as my skill in the tourney!!!! took 13th out of 200, for a nice payday!!!!

And the new record for most exclamation posts in a 4 paragraph (5 sentence) post goes to Ritz with 17!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Willy Wonka]

It's not Hamms, but I figure most of you all would appreciate this anyway.

Go to the following link and click on the 1st place commercial. What you see will be former Gusties at Patty's in St. Pete. Frank and Mongo should recognize a certain southerner in his LSU hat.

http://grainbelt.com/commercial/index.html#

ROR - I see right through you. However, I'm willing to play along if your daughters will be impressed by the outfit...

[cobbernation]

knight fans,
Other than RJ, who is expected to do well for CAR?  QB? Defense?

[knights]

Johnnie E.

I believe your assessment may be accurate about the 2003 game with Gag's victory total being the focus.  So lets see which SJU offense shows up.  If the one you are concerned about does, it might just give UST some much-needed momentum.  But the UST offense is going to have to make things happen which may be a problem against SJU's defensive side.  Defenses, if good, usually don't have off days whereas offenses sometimes do.  But the longer UST stays in the game the more pressure on the Johnnies, since almost everyone expects them to win going away.  You speak about playing tight in 2003 well the same could happen, but for different reasons should UST still be in the game in the 2nd half, especially if the crowd is into it.  I remember my son (he played in that 2003 game as a sophomore) telling me how loud it was on the field in 2003 he couldn't hear the defensive calls from a guy 3 feet away.  He said it was awesome to play in that environment.  Obviously I am hoping for the same on Saturday.

[johnnie_esq]

Knights,

Regardless, it should be a fun game.

Make sure to stop over at our tailgate and introduce yourself to the crew here-- we'll be right in front of the Cretin Avenue entrance to the stadium-- you won't miss us!  You may be able to catch ROR and Duff doing a shotgunning contest!

[DuffMan]

Esq,

You shouldn't use the terms "we'll" and "us" when you will probaby be a no-show

[The White Silly]

Chuck Norris Fact of the day #2

Chuck is weaksauce, and is asexual

[VOJ]

Knights....in looking over the stats from the Concordia game...lets just say the only reason the Tommies have a chance albeit a slim one at the conference title is that they got a punt return for a TD...otherwise they lose that game....

I expect Kofoed to come out like he did against St. Olaf, maybe not going 12 for 12 but definitely playing well.  I encourage the Tomms to blitz, the J's eat that up...

If Tyson is not in the lineup, the Toms will be hard pressed to move the ball through the air and will become one dimensional by the second quarter.

[DuffMan]

Duffman, thanks, in the unlikely event that BU does lose to St. Johns, what sort of chance do they have of seeing a playoff spot?

I don't think bethel has a chance in hell at a playoff berth if they end up with 2 losses.

Someone in the Bethel know:  what ever happened to Ross Mullenberg?  I remember he was pretty good at RB a few years ago (when he and Porta were frosh).  He's listed as a WR now and I didn't see any stats for him.

(edited to please Pat)

[cheese]

I think if the butt pirates of Whitworth beat Linfield, BC(u) gets in even if they lose at St. Johns - assuming its a respectable showing. 

While neither of the IIAC teams Bethel beat are show stoppers, both are wins over another conference in the West.

Essentially, I'm saying that with a little help, a 2 loss BC(u) team could get in as the #8 in the West.