FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Retired Old Rat]

Bennie,

It was great meeting you Sat.  Wish I had more time to chat with you.  I tried to make it out to your car at halftime.  10 out houses for a crowd of 3,000 just wasn't enough and time ran out.  By the time I made it back to that side after the game everyone had cleared out.

[Retired Old Rat]

I am going to take a pass on the game at Whitewater next Sat.

Just finished making travel arrangements for the entire family to spend the weekend in Spokane.  The 4.5 hours at the Northtown mall just wasn't enough.  After I described the great time I had they demanded equal time at the mall.

[D O.C.]

This is possibly what Frank R had on his blog

By John Blanchette
The Spokesman-Review
November 26, 2006

Another big game at the Pine Bowl. This late in November, how could it not be?

But Whitworth College athletic director Scott McQuilkin didn't realize
how big until he happened to see famed pianist/infotainer John Tesh
behind the bleachers – and then saw his actress wife, Connie Sellecca,
emerge from one of the Honey Bucket porta-potties nearby.

It ain't the red carpet on "Entertainment Tonight," but so what?

Just how did the beautiful people happen to be at Saturday's
Whitworth- Saint John's NCAA Division III football playoff game?
McQuilkin was apparently too star-struck to ask, but perhaps they were
just in the mood for surprises, and at the Pine Bowl, they never run
out.

Take the weather. Before they'd played a half, the Pirates and
Johnnies had endured snow, brilliant sunshine and popcorn hail.

"You get everything when you come here," marveled the Johnnies'
80-year-old icon, coach John Gagliardi, who last brought his team from
Collegeville, Minn., here in 1975 – to play in a wind-and-rain storm.

Then there was the streaker who bolted naked down the Pine Bowl track,
through the trees south of the field and into a waiting getaway car on
Hawthorne just before kickoff. Oddly, the A.D. was not concerned about
the breakdown in security that allowed his entrance and escape.


"I was just glad he made the fence," McQuilkin said, wincing at the
image of chain link meeting, well, you know.

Oh, and one more surprise: no miracle finish.

The Pirates always seem to have one in them. They pulled it off to get
into overtime and beat Wisconsin-Stout, to down Azusa Pacific a week
later, even a defensive stop to salvage the rare win over Linfield.
Just last week, a touchdown pass by Joel Clark with 24 seconds left
gave Whitworth its first postseason football victory in history, over
Occidental.

But not Saturday.

This time, the Pirates had to rue the half-dozen or so plays that went
haywire or just missed, plays in the gut of the game that made a
comeback out of the question against a team as steady as Saint John's
– a 21-3 winner on this afternoon and the survivor headed to the D-III
quarterfinals next week.

A couple of passes blown up, a couple more dropped. A fumble. A costly
delay of game penalty. A shotgun snap that never got from here to
there.

That may have been all that kept the Pirates from being victors
instead of victims, though the Johnnies themselves threw a couple of
interceptions in the red zone to make things more interesting than
they might have been.

"They're a quality team," said Jay Tully, the two-way safety/slotback.
"We're a quality team, too, but we didn't play our best today. We
moved the ball well but didn't put it in the end zone, and the defense
could have come up with a few more stops. We play them another time,
we've got a good shot."

But there are no second chances in the merciless playoffs. While Tully
felt the sting, his father John, who has resurrected the Whitworth
program over the course of his 12 years at the school, quite properly
looked at the bigger picture – the 10-0 regular season, the first-ever
playoff win, the unprecedented success to celebrate the school's 100th
year of football.

"It's a special group that did special things," said the coach. "When
these guys first came in as freshmen, they came in with high
expectations – and that's what we want when we go out recruiting. And
what they accomplished was unbelievable. I doubt there were five
people on the West Coast who 16 weeks ago thought Whitworth would go
undefeated and win a national playoff game."

The obvious question is whether this is a culmination or a handhold on
some higher climb – and there are 16 starters back, though not
quarterback Joel Clark or tight end Michael Allan, maybe the two best
players in school history.

The not-so-obvious question is whether the obvious one is all that
relevant. The Pirates will go wherever Tully and the players take
them.

There are strata even within the non-scholarship lodge of Division
III, and while there may not have been all that much separating the
Johnnies and Pirates on the field Saturday, there is more to the
equation. There is tradition – SJU is a perennial, with 38 playoff
wins in its history. And there are resources. The Johnnies play before
nearly 8,500 fans every home game, and the facilities – including a
fieldhouse to practice in – couldn't be nicer. And all of it was
honorably earned.

And Whitworth? Well, the Pirates are playing ball.

"Five years ago, we hadn't beaten Pacific Lutheran in so long,"
McQuilkin pointed out. "Now it's four of the last six regular-season
games. This year we exorcised the demon of Linfield, and won a playoff
game. I don't think our students go into any game awed or
intimidated."

Noted the elder Tully, "We're a national-caliber team, a top 10 team.
And we have to be one of the funnest teams to watch anywhere."

Throw in the celebs and the streaker, and it's not even a contest.

[Johnnie]

Good win for the Johnnies today!  Looks like the D is stepping it up!  Good Luck vs. WW this weekend!

The Montana Grizzly game was absolutely awesome!  I think the Louisiana boys had some trouble with the temp and snow!  I think it was in the teens all game long.  The Griz dominated all game long, it was fun to watch!

Even MT State won today over Fuhrman.  However, Carroll College lost 14-7 to St. Xavier ending their season and a chance at a 5th consecutive Nat'l title!

hey cobbernation....looks like the Griz were on top of their game today...i listened to the Bobcat game....they had a surprisingly easy time with Furman today.... i will try to go to the Appy State game in Boone NC since i live about 4 hrs north in Charleston, WV....

go Johnnies....go Bobcats...

johnnie..

If you go to the App St. game this sat.  Definately let me know how good they really are.  I know they are the defending champs, but can they be beat?  Hopefully the Griz will get a chance at them in TN for the championship!

Cobbernation....

will give you my assessment if i go to the appy game...they are supposedly really good

...by the way where were you huning in montana?  

we use go up by lewistown, and the booming metroplis of Two Dot, Montana....
for deer and antelope hunting....i still remember the outdoor 'jail' at the end of main street in two dot...now that was a place for real men to dry out after a heavy nite of drinking....

johnnie....

[Touchdown Tommy]

Ok, the President of the Classless A$$hole Club has returned/recovered from the trip to the west coast.  Here are a few trip "highlights"...

1. The trip was long.  The trip was good.  The trip was successful.  Very nice following with a full charter out there and 4 fan buses.  Very amusing to see the reactions of the piRATes players/coaches/fans when they saw how many Big Red followers were there and the noise level.  Nothing like the S J U S J U chants on critical 3rd downs led by DustySJU.
2. The officiating was suspect.  But suspect both ways.  It really didn't affect the outcome, but prolly kept the score closer than the final would indicate to a casual observer.
3. Clearly the event planning staff at Whitworth wasn't prepared for this size crowd.  The limited porta pottys and running out of concessions (to "restock") left something to be desired.  I have never seen such a small "pressbox" with a tin roof.  The field was on the edge of getting ripped to shreds.  A hard rain with a football game would make it a mud bath.  That being said, the enormous tall pines surrounding the field were a sight to behold and the service/direction by the AD/SID?? from Whitworth was nice.
4. The Johnnie rushing 3 prong attack was solid.  Lubby, Lofboom, and Patnode all bring a different style/element to the offense.  Very nice to see the ball control and methodical long drives.  The key to the game next weekend at Whitewater is the Johnnie rushing attack.  If they can have moderate success and keep the ball away from the potent Warhawk offense the game is a TOSS UP.  Eliminate costly turnovers especially in the Red Zone where it is critical to finish drives with TDs (something that didn't happen enough in Spokane).
5.  Very nice to see Bennie again and much thanks for the offerings from your trunk.  The award for the "trooper of the trip" goes to none other than Johnnie Irish.  He has been AWOL from Post Patterns this season, but rest assured he is lurking.  Commitment has been discussed with DustySJU.  You have redeemed yourself Irish for the "racquetball" tournament.  Nice to meet Chewey and Brice, join the Stiftungsfestivities next week, you'll feel right at home with the beverage options.  Time to come out and play fellas.  Which reminds me, hey Brice, how in the hell did you score that seat on the way home?  Next to 2 smokin' hot girls, I trust you worked some mojo...
6. The streaker incident was pretty funny.  Apparently coming out of nowhere, running very very fast down the sideline, scaling a 12-14 ft chain link fence, and jumping into a silver getaway vehicle to howls of the crowd.  Which reminds me of a planned streak at Clemens Stadium.  TDT is a soph in Bernard Hall.  His friend down the hall nicknamed "Dirt Ball" decides he is gonna streak the field for the Tommie/Johnnie game in his yellow smiley face thong.  He scouts it out and is ready to go on Saturday but eventually bows out due to the overwhelming number of Stearns County troopers prowling the sidelines.  KR do you remember all this?
7.  Gunderson was sick and under the weather on Saturday.  He didn't feel well.  Spoke to his parents on the charter, they said he eats once a week....on Saturday afternoons.  Kid continues to terrorize opposing lines.  KR: Of note, Anna is teaching in Miami...
8. Funniest moment of the trip.  2:30am on the flight back to MSP.  Chewey is seated next to DustySJU who is next to TDT.  Out of nowhere (at least that I remember  ) Chewey asks DSJU is Red Hot Bennie is hot.  Fellas, it was simply priceless.

Ok, so the President was about 50/50 on this trip to Whitewater this week.  After sleeping in the friendly confines of DustySJU's pad and then most of the day on Sunday, I logged on to orbitz to check airfare to Chicago.  Well I found a terrific airfare and am CONFIRMED for the game next weekend.  Oldpa: don't forget to stock up on Hamm's for the trunk.  Might want to park near where the Johnnie tailgate is so you can join us for the duration.  Will the UWW alums be hosting that tent/tailgate party with the complimentary chili/hotdogs/beer adjacent to the SJU Stiftungsfestivities?  Keep us posted.  Duffman: Where has MyYak aka Big Lee been?  Lurking?  Finsleft will you be FINALLY joining the traveling party this week. Tmerton? Ritzy?  TC don't forget the 24 oz Milwaukee's Best Ice for the shotgunning contest.

Thanks your President

[DustySJU]

Attention!  What you have just read is the first edition of "TDT's Football Corner"!  The first of many regularly scheduled features from the outspoken one....

Developing....  8)

[johnnieirish]

TDT:

Arguably the best post ever after a football game...enough to get me out of the darkness and back on the board. To tell you the truth, my commitment to SJU is stronger than ever. C'mon, how many guys do you know would take their 3-year-old son on a 3-hour flight to Washington to watch a DIII football game in 33 degree weather? Throw in the 4-hour mall extravaganza and the red-eye getting us home at 4:30 am? Enough said.

Glad to hear you are in for SJU/WW. It kind of reminds me of when I made the flight out to Mount Union to watch us get throttled by them in the semis in 2001, only to return the favor in 2003. I would be shocked to see any team handle SJU twice in a row. Expect to see a solid performance this Saturday by SJU and a much better prepared football team for Beaver and his supporting cast.

Looking forward to the roadtrip with Dusty and having a few brews at the tailgate. Is it Saturday yet?

Irish

[Retired Old Rat]

Probably the same for Fins and ROR.

Hey smart-a$$, I got home form Spokane about an hour ago.   
See you in Whitewater next weekend?   

Well if I can get to Baghdad I can take Iraq air to Amman Jordan and catch a Chater flight to.... yeah right
Not happening ROR.  Just Whisful thinking on my part

kubiack78,

Excuses, excuses.

That sounds to me like a shorter trip than the one we had to Spokane.   

[DuffMan]

Welcome back, Irish!!!  I like your commitment.  Please have a brew or two for me in Whitewater.

It kind of reminds me of when I made the flight out to Mount Union to watch us get throttled by them in the semis in 2001...

By the way, let's not talk of that game again .

[johnnieirish]

Duff,

Wow, how many games will that be for not being in attendance?

How do you feel about that?

If he hasn't already, Dusty might be giving you his "What are you committed to?" speech. Be wary...it can be painful for the listener.

Irish

[Retired Old Rat]

Duffman,

Love your signature.

Where did you find a geek to create that for you?   

[sumander]

Mr. President,

Nice post!

I will be at the reins of the SJU BB bandwagon on Saturday as they destroy SMU!

[Retired Old Rat]

I just =K'd Duffman to put him at 418.

John's number of wins at SJU now stands at 419.

I propose that Duffman's karma be permanently kept at the number
of wins John racks up at SJU.  419 for now, 420 Sat. pm. 

[DustySJU]

Duff,

Wow, how many games will that be for not being in attendance?

How do you feel about that?

If he hasn't already, Dusty might be giving you his "What are you committed to?" speech. Be wary...it can be painful for the listener.

Irish

He's back...

Hell, it's even more painful for me. 

Developing.....

[johnnie_esq]

I just =K'd Duffman to put him at 418.

John's number of wins at SJU now stands at 419.

I propose that Duffman's karma be permanently kept at the number
of wins John racks up at SJU.  419 for now, 420 Sat. pm. 

I second that idea-- though a karma of 420 permanently would be cool too.  I suppose we could save that for Wooderson, though-- it's more fitting for the moniker...

"alright alright all right"