FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[johnnie_esq]

Well, we had our chances.  Kofoed never ceases to scare me to death when he drops back to pass, and our o-line was perplexed by Kleppe, who picked a left shoulder and tried running over it every time (and we didn't adjust until the fourth quarter).  Our defense played well and gave us a great opportunity to win, but you have to take advantage of your opportunities, and we didn't do that today.  Congrats to UWW for making the best of their opportunities and stopping us when we wanted to.

Good season, and let's reload for next year.

[truebluefan05]

i think pat mentioned awhile ago about how someone should make a d3football.com facebook group. Well i thought it was also a good idea so i've created one.

it's called: d3football.com

and anyone can join it b/c it's open to the global network on facebook

[retagent]

KR, You may have seen more games this year than I have (today was my first), but from what I saw, the problem with the kicking game might not be the kicker. It looked to me like the snaps were just enough off that it threw the timing off. Anyone, Anyone, Bueller?

I guess with Kofoed, you get the good with the bad. Very good when good, and some bad decisions when bad. I do think, however, that he balances out on the plus side. The second TD pass to Weber was all Kofoed, and probably not too many others could have kept the play alive and thrown such a nice ball like he did.

I would have thought that the Johnnies had won the statistical battle. I guess the sacks really had an effect on the rushing stats. I figured the J's had well over 100. I'll have to look at the negative yardage.

[DuffMan]

I would have thought that the Johnnies had won the statistical battle. I guess the sacks really had an effect on the rushing stats. I figured the J's had well over 100. I'll have to look at the negative yardage.

4 sacks for 35 yards.

[sfury]

So depressing after the end of a football season. I need to do some Bennieesque retail therapy. Does anyone know if the Perfect Season DVD is still available? I never got it when it first came out. I didn't see anything on the Johnnies' football site. Living in the past helps after games like this.

[tmerton]

Had to leave right at the end of the game; some friends were waiting on us to go to high school fb playoffs. 

As much as this team never seemed to intimidate or dominate, this was a game that was definitely in their grasp.  Great play, Johnnies.   

#2 called from the bus around Madison; lots of chatter in the background.  Disappointment b/c of what could have been but these guys did a lot this year and played UWW better than most expected.  On to next year - good luck to UWW in the playoffs.

[janesvilleflash]

Tired, cold, and drunk. More tomorrow.

[usee]

I made the trek from the safety of my North Region home up to UWW today. I have to say I was very impressed with the Johnnies today. Their defense was huge holding UWW to 3 after a turnover on the their own 5 and limiting Beavers to 93 yds. I also like the SJU qb. He made some great throws and is a playmaker. I don't understand the criticism of him (I have only seen 1 game). #19 is an excellent reciever. On the missed FG the snap was barely catchable and the holder's knee had to come off the ground to get to it. definately threw off the timing of the kicker. Excellent defensive gameplan and execution. UWW scored 10 pts off turnovers and got the ball on the SJU 5 and 26 respectively for those scoring drives. Well done today.

Kleppe for UWW is a beast. he was unblockable.

[sumander]

Tmert,
I can no longer gloat! the hated Bruins did in the men of Troy! Fortunately, I was watching the J's BB team run their record to 3-0 with a drubbing of St. Mary's so I didn't see the game. If USC can't beat UCLA they don't belong in the championship game!

[BDB]

I have been at multiple hockey rinks today, rushing out to tune in 1330am to catch up on the game during period breaks.

I was able to follow somewhat the flow of events, and now home, after reading the last 30 pages  , I pretty much have it down.

SJU played a great season and a great game. They needed to keep the big mistakes to a minimum on the road, and didn't.

That 4th and 29 or whatever interception returned deep in SJU territory was exactly what the boyz couldn't do. It cost them the game.

I am very proud of them. The Perk is a tough place to play against a very tough team. The Johnnies did almost enough to pull it off.

BTW, BDB's hockey squad won 14-0 and 10-4 today and son of BDB got his 1st penalty box time and is all proud of it.  

3 games tomorrow.    At least they are home games.

[cobbernation]

Good season Johnnies.  Way to show the MIAC proud!

In other news: Mens bball

NDSU               64
#9 Marquette  60

[retagent]

BDB - Congrats on your hockey wins, and your son's PIMs. I watched the U of M - Minnesota State game tonight. If you can somehow see the game or highlights, Okposo scored a eye-popping goal.

[TC]

Well, I'm back.  Turned out to be a 17-hour roundtrip, plus another half hour to catch up with the board.

Thoughts:

--Tailgate was great as always.  Once again, it looked like the parking lot was at least half red.  Also, the tent that they had last year was made a full shed this season, but it didn't look nearly as full as last year.  Thanks to everyone who provided burgers, brats, polishes, eggs, Groovy beers, etc., etc.

--I think one of the reason why (relatively) no one goes to the Whitewater playoff games is because they charge $10 for tickets.  I don't remember playoff tickets--which I know are priced by the NCAA--being that expensive.  Not a huge issue, obviously, but it was higher than I expected.

--Wow, the Warhawk mascot is a badass among badasses.  The UWW team introduction really got me fired up.  I've never seen a mascot strut quite like he strutted.  And the team doing the emotionless badass slow walk?  Better get those shirtless posters printed up before the Stagg Bowl, fellas.

--Kleppe is a very good football player.  Seeing him in person, he looked like another massive Wisconsin lineman who would be playing somewhere else if he were any good.  He is not that.  Very impressive.

--Do the UWW fans know any chants that don't involve swear words?  

--I thought the defense played a hell of a game.  Besides the long pass inside our 5 and a couple Beaver runs they did a good job on minimizing the damage of protecting a short field and good pressure on the QB, even if they didn't always get to him.

--Huge swing: The Kofoed red-zone INT followed by the ridiculous return.  I'm not sure you can really pin it on Kofoed, though.  It was 4th down--what else was he supposed to do besides throw the ball up and hope something good happens?  I didn't have a perfect view of the pick and the start of the run, but I think the typical move there is to knock the ball down rather than intercepting it.  If that happens the Johnnie D takes over with over 70 yards of green behind them and the jump ball was harmless.

--Like (apparently) Duffman, I figured the game was over when they punched it in to make it 17-7, but I was pleasantly suprised to see the Johnnies show some life an almost pull it out.  I said before the playoffs started that I would be happy if the team could win a game or two in the playoffs and maybe even keep it close against UWW.  They did that, and I'm happy.  They certainly had their chances to win today if they hadn't made a couple of the mistakes they made or if they had one or two more playmakers.  But that's not the team they have this year, and the better team won.  There's no shame in that, especially when we know we'll be back next year.  And the year after that.  And the year after, and the year after, etc.

--The end of great careers for Gearman, Steffensmeier, Lofboom, McNamara among others.  I'm glad they had a chance to win a couple games in the playoffs after the Bethel loss.  It'll hurt to lose them, but that just makes room for the next batch of Johnnie superstars.

So that's it, that's the eulogy on the season.  A lot easier to swallow than last year's.  Let's do it again next year!

[tmerton]

Tmert,
I can no longer gloat! the hated Bruins did in the men of Troy! Fortunately, I was watching the J's BB team run their record to 3-0 with a drubbing of St. Mary's so I didn't see the game. If USC can't beat UCLA they don't belong in the championship game!

What goes around, comes around I guess.  That was not the same SC team that played last week.  But I have to say that UCLA deserved this one (and I was not rooting for them).  Guess it means a switch with the Skunkbears for the Rose Bowl.  Not a bad fall back.

The Song Girls rock.  The rest of SC, well ... 

[sfury]

Strib story on the game:

http://www.startribune.com/513/story/850210.html