FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[footballfan413]

I think the Cheese sombero is more your style!!!  8)

[DuffMan]

I think the Cheese sombero is more your style!!!  8)

I'd like one of those old German helmets with the spike on top in "Cheese" version.  Can someone locate one for me? 

Karma for the rest of the week if anyone finds one.

Sincerely,
DuffMan "The Crybaby "

[57Johnnie]

SJU +9.5 according to ESQ. So, the home team get 3 points for being at home-thus ESQ has SJU as less than a touchdown dog-very interesting.

Especially when the OAC board has SJU +17.5 

[BDB]

Sorry Duff. I couldn't locate a World War 1 cheese helmet. 

You may want to consider some other interesting options however. 

[johnnie_esq]

From questions with Bob Sansevere this morning-- Mike Grant:

BS I'm always running into people who say, "When John Gagliardi retires, Mike Grant should replace him at St. John's." I'm sure you hear it a lot, too. How do you respond to that?

MG Here's the thing: As an alumni, you'll always be interested in the job. It doesn't mean you'll take the job. But I'm not interested in John's job. I want John to coach forever. There's a comfort level that John is coaching at St. John's and the Johnnies are in the playoffs. We all get older, and John is still there and that special part of our life hasn't changed. I'm thinking he'll go until he's 90. I want John to coach forever.

[tafkaw]

From questions with Bob Sansevere this morning-- Mike Grant:

BS I'm always running into people who say, "When John Gagliardi retires, Mike Grant should replace him at St. John's." I'm sure you hear it a lot, too. How do you respond to that?

MG Here's the thing: As an alumni, you'll always be interested in the job. It doesn't mean you'll take the job. But I'm not interested in John's job. I want John to coach forever. There's a comfort level that John is coaching at St. John's and the Johnnies are in the playoffs. We all get older, and John is still there and that special part of our life hasn't changed. I'm thinking he'll go until he's 90. I want John to coach forever.

That's a great quote by Grant...very true.

[samwill47sju]

Thanks Duff!  Updates would be much appreciated.

Go Johnnies!

[VOJ]

From questions with Bob Sansevere this morning-- Mike Grant:

BS I'm always running into people who say, "When John Gagliardi retires, Mike Grant should replace him at St. John's." I'm sure you hear it a lot, too. How do you respond to that?

MG Here's the thing: As an alumni, you'll always be interested in the job. It doesn't mean you'll take the job. But I'm not interested in John's job. I want John to coach forever. There's a comfort level that John is coaching at St. John's and the Johnnies are in the playoffs. We all get older, and John is still there and that special part of our life hasn't changed. I'm thinking he'll go until he's 90. I want John to coach forever.

Here is the real truth...in talking with folks who know John really well, he and they are pissed that this subject keeps coming up...they were not happy when Frank R wrote his article and they will not be happy with this either. 

My take is this...how can you ignore Jerry, Jimmy and Gary and think that someone "outside" the current coaching staff would be the pick?  Yes Mike Grant is an accomplished coach who has a sparkling resume, but to think that SJU will just tab him to take over when John decides he is done coaching(in about 10-15 years) is a real slap in the face to those currently working there.  I wish that all of that "talk" would just stop.

[tafkaw]

From questions with Bob Sansevere this morning-- Mike Grant:

BS I'm always running into people who say, "When John Gagliardi retires, Mike Grant should replace him at St. John's." I'm sure you hear it a lot, too. How do you respond to that?

MG Here's the thing: As an alumni, you'll always be interested in the job. It doesn't mean you'll take the job. But I'm not interested in John's job. I want John to coach forever. There's a comfort level that John is coaching at St. John's and the Johnnies are in the playoffs. We all get older, and John is still there and that special part of our life hasn't changed. I'm thinking he'll go until he's 90. I want John to coach forever.

Here is the real truth...in talking with folks who know John really well, he and they are pissed that this subject keeps coming up...they were not happy when Frank R wrote his article and they will not be happy with this either. 

My take is this...how can you ignore Jerry, Jimmy and Gary and think that someone "outside" the current coaching staff would be the pick?  Yes Mike Grant is an accomplished coach who has a sparkling resume, but to think that SJU will just tab him to take over when John decides he is done coaching(in about 10-15 years) is a real slap in the face to those currently working there.  I wish that all of that "talk" would just stop.

I totally agree with that VOJ, which is why I thought it was a good move by Grant to come out and say this. 

[finsleft]

Well I don't suppose it would be too early for me to throw my hat into the ring to be the next coach at SJU. DustySJU can attest to my football acumen and John and I will probably hit retirement age from our present jobs at about the same time. This would be a smooth transition. I promise that most, if not all, of my coaching decisions would be made after reading the collective wisdom of MIACPP posters. And Life Safety would be restricted to an area outside of 100 feet from the stadium perimeter.
This could really screw up fishing and hunting for me, but I suppose by the time the torch passes, I'll be too old for that nonsense anymore.

[57Johnnie]

From questions with Bob Sansevere this morning-- Mike Grant:

BS I'm always running into people who say, "When John Gagliardi retires, Mike Grant should replace him at St. John's." I'm sure you hear it a lot, too. How do you respond to that?

MG Here's the thing: As an alumni, you'll always be interested in the job. It doesn't mean you'll take the job. But I'm not interested in John's job. I want John to coach forever. There's a comfort level that John is coaching at St. John's and the Johnnies are in the playoffs. We all get older, and John is still there and that special part of our life hasn't changed. I'm thinking he'll go until he's 90. I want John to coach forever.

Here is the real truth...in talking with folks who know John really well, he and they are pissed that this subject keeps coming up...they were not happy when Frank R wrote his article and they will not be happy with this either. 

My take is this...how can you ignore Jerry, Jimmy and Gary and think that someone "outside" the current coaching staff would be the pick?  Yes Mike Grant is an accomplished coach who has a sparkling resume, but to think that SJU will just tab him to take over when John decides he is done coaching(in about 10-15 years) is a real slap in the face to those currently working there.  I wish that all of that "talk" would just stop.

I will restate what I've said many times - When John retires, all of the above mentioned fellows will be too old to coach.

[realistic]

 

I'm with BDBob. No Busch Light. I mean really. You're not in high school anymore.

On Thanksgiving, my brother in law & I went to the garage at our father in law's house to get a couple of beers- what do you think was there? Busch Light as well as High Life Light- we asked the 16 year old nephew if the Stearns County high school kids still drink Busch Light? Yep

Apparently so does the 70+ Stearns County crowd

thats great.....my sister's father-in-law ONLY drinks Busch Light.  At their wedding there was 2 or 3 beers on tap and a case of Busch Light for the father....just wrong.

[finsleft]

Some info for you Whitewiffer travelers from the Wickster...

Greetings, Friends,

Sorry for the delay in getting this info to you.  I've been very busy on the domestic front the past day  and a half.  In the meantime I've spoken with (in this order) Jeff Norman who's coming and wants to fit in someone's van (same with me, by the way); Ron Sandeen who's coming with Mark Lohmann; Mark Lohmann himself who spoke with Jay Cutler on his way back from Ohio, but who's also coming; Mike Fahey who took time out from his murder trial to get details on the Super 8 Motel; and Ron Tomczik who told me that his brother Gary is coming in from Santa Barbara for the game and that while at Spokane last week he heard from several people how much they enjoyed having Olde Johnnie Ale there and would I mind doing that again.  So, I know that Mike Fahey is going to be at the Super 8 in Janesville, where we were last year.  Ditto John Quinlivan and his pal Jerry Fesenmaier, who both joined us last year...as did Mark Lohmann and Ron Sandeen (and I think John Lohmann.)  Also last year Leon Grahn, Tom McKasy, Jay Cutler and I were there.

Let's see if we can get even more of a crowd there this Friday night.  Already the manager, Bonnie, has given us $5 off the regular price, but if we have ten or more reservations she will give us an additional $5 off.  So — a regular single is $53.89 (with tax) and when you call and say you are with the St. John's Group, your single rate will be $47.49 (with the possible chance of $5 more coming off.  The regular double rate is $58.98 and the Johnny double rate is $52.19.  BUT BE SURE TO SAY YOU'RE WITH THE ST. JOHN'S GROUP.  And ask for Bonnie just to be sure.

Re lodging in Janesville on Friday night:

Our Super 8 is on Milton Avenue, which is Exit 171A right off I-90 on the north approach to the city.  Milton Avenue is also Hwy 26, which is the road to Whitewater...or at least part of it; we take Hwy 26 for 4 miles, then turn right on Hwy 59 for the 12 miles to Whitewater. The folks I talked with said it was about a half hour drive.

Super 8 (608) 756-2040  — Talked with Bonnie who'd give us a preliminary discount rate of $5 if we mention "St. John's".   And $5 more if we get a good gang there.

Last year we also enjoyed a fine dinner at the very nearby (walking across two parking lots) Milwaukee Grill (I mistakenly called it the Chicago Grill yesterday...my bad!)   In addition to the comfortable ambience, good food and friendly service, they have a great bar for us to take over as we did last year.

Hope this brings everybody up to date.  If you need more info, please give me a call on my cell: 612-414-4643.

I stlll plan to get out an Underground and much of this info will be there too.

Best regards...and GO JOHNNIES!

Bob Wicker

P.S.  Would someone please forward this to Tom Stock.  I sent him the prelim info yesterday and his message came back as undeliverable; apparently I don't have his correct email.  The same with Dusty Wagner.  Additionally, please pass this on to anyone you think should know about our plans.

[johnnie_esq]

Here is the real truth...in talking with folks who know John really well, he and they are pissed that this subject keeps coming up...they were not happy when Frank R wrote his article and they will not be happy with this either. 

My take is this...how can you ignore Jerry, Jimmy and Gary and think that someone "outside" the current coaching staff would be the pick?  Yes Mike Grant is an accomplished coach who has a sparkling resume, but to think that SJU will just tab him to take over when John decides he is done coaching(in about 10-15 years) is a real slap in the face to those currently working there.  I wish that all of that "talk" would just stop.

The "talk" is inevitable, considering the amount of interest in the SJU program from casual outsiders whose only experience with SJU comes from SI or ESPN.  They see an amazing program coached by an even more amazing old-timer, and compared to what we know today-- these old-timers are on the hot seat all the time-- See JoePa and his injury, or Bowden and his subpar season.   Combining that with the increased chances of health-related reasons to stop coaching (far more likely than, say, the Northwestern coach falling over dead), and the outsiders will question whether this program can sustain in the same manner, given the success of Gagliardi disciples outside of the Pine curtain.

I'm not advocating anybody for the job (it's not necessary-- SJU has a coach currently)-- but it's foolish to think that it won't be discussed, as it will be, if only because outsiders want to know-- and there are more outsiders than "knowledgeable fans".  The SJU job is arguably the third-most visible football coaching job in Minnesota, after the Vikes (with whom Grant has a connection) and the U (who nobody likes the coach). 

I don't blame Sansevere for asking the question-- frankly, I'd be concerned as a sports fan if he didn't ask the question, considering Grant has turned down UST already-- and Grant's response was appropriately measured.  As John gets older, as he now owns every longevity record in the book, each passing year will find more curiosity from outsiders.  So the discussion is going to happen whether it is liked or not-- and it has been going on since the early 90s, at the least.  I can't tell you how many times I will introduce myself as a Johnnie to someone not familiar with MIAC football who'll ask what's going to happen when John dies/retires.  Considering the program insiders haven't been name-grabbing outside of the program in some time, (Gary's Cathedral teams were 15 years ago now!) the successful high school coach alumni in the Twin Cities, since they see the media more often, will be asked the question repeatedly, at the least. 

I'm beginning to believe more and more that 57Johnnie is right on.  Soon we'll be substituting Ramler and Pigpen for the names... 

[Johnnie]

Here is a pic of the whitetail I shot last week!

Hey cobbernation....yes...been to Judith Gap....nice whitetail....looks delicious...i'll take 5lbs of steak, 10 lbs of hamburger, and all the sausage and jerky you can part with!!!!!!!!!!

johnnie...