FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[johnnie_esq]

Congrats to BU, who truly stuck with it and outplayed the Jays today.  They took advantage of the situations and benefits given to them by SJU, and good teams do that.  They deserved to win today, and earned it.

That said, I haven't been this angry at a Johnnie team since Whitewater last year.  This team showed little spirit and heart and made brainless mistakes all day, and appeared that they packed it in while up 13-0.  Lofboom didn't appear to want to get hit today, as he fumbled to give the Royals a chance right before halftime; he trips over his own two feet with endzone a good possibility; he runs tenative on kick returns.  Gearman drops a pass in his hands with endzone all over him; Kofoed locks in on a receiver in a pressure situation and throws long into double coverage to give away an INT.

I don't think either BU or SJU will be long for the playoffs-- BU was predictable offensively (I could pretty much tell what they were going to do-- SJU just didn't stop them because BU wanted it more) and got burned pretty good on some deep routes.  Defensively.  SJU ran as well as they have all year against the vaunted BU defense as well, with 3-4 yards per carry.   And if the Royals don't play with the same intensity as they did today, they will not beat the LaCrosse and Whitworth type balanced squads who can run the ball better than SJU and have some good passing threats. 

SJU's coaching was not good today.  Defensively, I have hard time thinking we didn't know what they were going to do.  "We got tired" doesn't cut it in my book when you have 100 players on the sideline ready to play.  Sub!!!  Offensively, the second half was depressing.  We got out of our game plan and made stupid plays.  Screen plays to the short side of the field?  Ummm....hello Jimmy? 

We got our butts kicked, but this was a game of field position.  We won that battle pretty good until the second quarter, when we handed it over and never got it back.  If we went into halftime leading 13-0 or even 20-0, BU rolls over and dies.  We let them back into it and it killed us today.  We didn't get many breaks, but we didn't deserve many.  So congrats to BU, as they earned it, but I hope we take from this one like we did in 2000.

BTW, the box score noted 8683 for attendance, with the weather being "Frost on da pun'kin".

[TC]

I'll get it out of the way:  Congrats to Bethel.  They played a great game and deserved to win.  St. John's was the distinctly better team for most of the first half, but Bethel was the distinctly better team all of the second half, and definitely made the most of their opportunities.  As much as I hate to say it, they look like a dangerous first round playoff opponent for someone.

---

I'm sure this has already been discussed to death, but I haven't had a chance to catch up on my reading...  I hope Porta is good to go for the playoffs.  It would be a crushing blow for Bethel to fight back after an early loss and beat SJU to make the playoffs only to go into them shorthanded.

---

A former D-Lineman mentioned after the game that even Mount Union didn't control the line of scrimmage against St. John's like Bethel did today.  It's true, Gunderson et al were absolutely handled from the 2nd quarter on.  As much as I hate to say it, Steffensmeier looked a step slow, almost like his knee was bothering him.  McNamara and Gunderson made some plays, but didn't dominate like normal.  Tough to watch a defense that has been so good this year spend what felt like 27 minutes on the field in the 2nd half.

---

Scrubby was right ( ), St. John's couldn't run on the best run defense since the '85 Bears.  Then again, they haven't been able to run on any reasonably talented all year, so I don't see why this game should have been any different.  Still, I was expecting more short passes--the offense just didn't click all game.

--

Like Duffman mentioned, it certainly doesn't feel like SJU is a playoff team right now.  Earlier today, I said that they just don't feel like a "special" St. John's team.  That said, going 9-1 in one of the tougher conferences in D3 with their only loss to a legitimate playoff team is nothing to be ashamed of.  I'm glad that, unlike professional college football, the team will get to decide their fate on the field, for better or for worse.  I'll be following and hoping for a deep playoff run, but I'll admit that I'm skeptical.

[johnnie_esq]

Scrubby was right ( ), St. John's couldn't run on the best run defense since the '85 Bears.  Then again, they haven't been able to run on any reasonably talented all year, so I don't see why this game should have been any different.  Still, I was expecting more short passes--the offense just didn't click all game.

SJU rushed for its average in yards per carry, so it wasn't Bethel's defense doing much different, and it could be said that Bethel's offense, for staying on the field so long, was its best defense, as SJU even surpassed its passing average.  Bethel's defense just clamped down when it counted, and that was the difference in the game. 

[sfury]

And the third and fourth-down conversions were just maddening, allowing the bethel O to stay on the field. They were in good positions for those because it seemed like it was usually 3rd and 3 or 4 and Fourth and 1. They mentioned this on the radio, but it has to have been a long time since the Johnnies allowed two runners to get 100 yards. And if it would have lasted five more minutes, the Bethel backup running back would have joined Wetzell and Porta.

[D O.C.]

johnnie_esq

This team showed little spirit and heart and made brainless mistakes all day

Perhaps the Johnnies and WILDCATS should get together for an exhibiton game. Oh, wait! You guys can still get to the playoffs.

[johnnie_esq]

The way the Johnnies played today, I would vote to abdicate our playoff bid to Linfield, who I'm sure could give a better showing.


Edit:  But it's a good thing they don't let me have a vote, I suppose...

[DuffMan]

I agree, Esq.

Good to see the usually absent RHB and son today!!!

[D O.C.]

The 21 point differential for a monkey stomp really cannot apply to programs like Lewis and Clark (-40) or Macalester (-30) today.
I believe you feel like you were stomped.

[Lone Auggie Backer]

My thoughts for today's game (SJU vs. BU)---

Having played both of these two my feeling is that the J's will win this one.  To me it is not a complete gimme though.  Now, I'm not in any way trying to take anything away from the J's, but it is a style thing that leads me to believe that the Royals do have a chance.  With the "reading" that the Johnnie D line uses, it could allow Bethel's massive o-line to get a push, at least enough for 3 or 4 yards a play.  Porta does a heck of a job at using that big line, so, potentially Bethel could keep the Johnnie offense off the field.  If that takes place, if Bethel can turn it into a boring ground and pound game, and rack up like 250 yards on the ground, they could keep the field tilted in their favor.  However, if that Johnnie D-front is at all able to get off, and control the gaps, I think that the Johnnie offense is much too strong for the Bethel D.  I know that statistically the Bethel defense is one of the top defenses in the nation, however, that receiving corp from St Johns is awesome.  I don't think that anyone else, with the exception of maybe Olaf, has the size and speed at receiver that Bethel has seen yet.  I think this will be a good game.  I'm disappointed that I'm not able to travel up to see it first hand.  Best of luck to all teams that are playing today, and congrats to all of the seniors that are finishing their careers in the MIAC today.  It has been an honor taking the field with each one of you the last three years.  I look forward to meeting a bunch of you next year, now that beverages before the game are in play! 

for the last time with this sign off ----  #9

I'm on my way to buy a Powerball ticket right now.  Sorry my statements came true and made for a not-so-fun weekend for many of you.  It shocks me quite a bit to hear the Johnnies shot themselves in the foot numerous times.  That was not what I would have expected after the thrashing that they gave us earlier, with the sheer precision they showed at Edor Nelson.  Too bad for the J's.  That being said, it would be nice to have an all MIAC west bracket, wouldn't it?  Is that even possible?  I'm certainly not bracket educated and don't know if they tend to split up conference teams to avoid that, but it seemed that CC and SJU were in the same bracket last year.  

Any further update on the LAX game?  I assume that is going to be highly influential in the J's placement.  And, where do the Royals end up in the bracket?  Congrats to the Royals by the way.  In my shock I have failed to give credit where credit is due.  

LAB

[sfury]

LAB, you were indeed prophetic, unfortunately so for Johnnie fans.

[D O.C.]

Bethel's in the playoffs because of the head-to-head, is that correct?

Now I have to go back through the Bethel archives and find out how the Carleton game was lost.

[Lone Auggie Backer]

sfury -
If I had enough posts thus far to have Karma abilities, I'd give you plenty for your performance today.  Thanks so much for all of the updates. 

LAB

[TC]

Wow, LAB, hell of a prediction...

Also, Wartburg failed to hold up their end of the bargain, so they won't be the team that the Johnnies bump from the bracket, and UW-LaX held on to win as well.  That means the West SHOULD be something along the lines of:

1.  UW-Whitewater
2.  Central
3.  Bethel
4.  Whitworth
5.  Occidental
6.  UW-LaCrosse
7.  St. John's
8.  St. Norbert's

Obviously, teams could be moved around but if I'm not mistaken those would be the 8 if the West were to actually, you know, get 8...  I have no idea how far off I am on the seedings--that is simply where it "feels" like those teams should be. 

At Central, at Bethel, at Whitewater (assuming SJU wins and the seeds holding) would be about the best SJU could hope for at this point, but I could be WAY off.  At LaCrosse or at Whitewater any time before the regional finals would be a death sentance, I would think.  I guess we'll know at this time tomorrow.

[sfury]

It was fun giving the updates. Well, for one and a half quarters anyway...

Hopefully the broadcasts are back up for next week (assuming the Johnnies are in of course). Still not sure why I was able to get on when most couldn't.

[DutchFan2004]

Congrats to BU.  After watching you guys the past two years I think you deserve the playoffs.