FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[faunch]

One thing  I do think can hurt a team such as Olaf is that they get to hyped up for the BIG game.  Undefeated, walking into the greatest football venue in the area in front of the biggest crowd they've ever played in front of and all of a sudden all the wind goes out of their sails. 
St. John's is used to keeping emotions in check.  A team like Olaf could find (and has found) themselves "blowing their load" if you will, before the end of the 1st quarter!

We'll see Saturday! 

[faunch]

Homecoming 2003....Opening Kickoff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyFHHc28rxA#GU5U2spHI_4

[Seton41]

Homecoming 2003....Opening Kickoff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyFHHc28rxA#GU5U2spHI_4

Nice find!

[Seton41]

I have to agree with the others that the crowd doesn't matter when you are playing, it may be a factor in pro stadiums with 50k+, but at an outdoor field with 10k it is not noticable.  I never heard anything from the crowd while actually on the field playing, and it was never loud enough to not hear the audibles.  Maybe it's just that you have to be so focused and kind of in a zone for the games that all the outside stuff just gets blocked out.  

I agree that the sound will not drown out any audibles, but the fact remains that the Oles probably never have (and probably will never again have) seen 12-13k people in a venue like this.  Remember that 2005 was very late in the season, not homecoming.  The students are all concentrated in one spot very near the field in an unparalleled setting.  The home field advantage will be an undeniable factor...The question is how much? 

All-time SJU home records

Hopefully, the good matchup will motivate the Johnnie fans to get into the game.  Most games (like the 2005 St. Olaf matchup) tend to be snoozers...

[chadbrochillseventeen]

I have to agree with the others that the crowd doesn't matter when you are playing, it may be a factor in pro stadiums with 50k+, but at an outdoor field with 10k it is not noticable.  I never heard anything from the crowd while actually on the field playing, and it was never loud enough to not hear the audibles.  Maybe it's just that you have to be so focused and kind of in a zone for the games that all the outside stuff just gets blocked out. 

I agree that the sound will not drown out any audibles, but the fact remains that the Oles probably never have (and probably will never again have) seen 12-13k people in a venue like this.  Remember that 2005 was very late in the season, not homecoming.  The students are all concentrated in one spot very near the field in an unparalleled setting.  The home field advantage will be an undeniable factor...The question is how much? 

All-time SJU home records

Hopefully, the good matchup will motivate the Johnnie fans to get into the game.  Most games (like the 2005 St. Olaf matchup) tend to be snoozers...

   It is not as though the St. Olaf players have never encountered 'big time' situations, there are many guys on the team who have been in State title situations, All-Star games and National competitions in multiple sports and even one who plays professional baseball for the Twins farm system. I'm sure they can handle this game just fine.

[OleFan]

I have seen 20K plus for high school scrimmages.  I am sure plenty of the Oles from other parts of the country have seen bigger crowds.  I don't think it will be a big deal.

[piperinsider]

Is it Saturday yet? Seven pages of SJU vs STO banter. For good reason, though.

SJU 24
STO 14

[AO]

I have seen 20K plus for high school scrimmages.  I am sure plenty of the Oles from other parts of the country have seen bigger crowds.  I don't think it will be a big deal.

I assume this high school was in Texas?

I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that you don't have 8000 people all screaming at St. John's games.  I wouldn't be surprised if Bethel fans weren't louder than St. John's fans.  What down is it?  Third Down!  De Feaanse De Feaanse De Faaanse De Feaaanse.......

[warthog]

Not being a MIAC fan, I guess I didn't know or don't remember St. Olaf being out of the current league.  When was that and what is the story?

[stanbob]

Not being a MIAC fan, I guess I didn't know or don't remember St. Olaf being out of the current league.  When was that and what is the story?

Well, this Saturday St Olaf will be out of their league.

[johnnie_esq]

Not being a MIAC fan, I guess I didn't know or don't remember St. Olaf being out of the current league.  When was that and what is the story?

St. Olaf was a charter member of the MIAC, but left in 1950 in favor of what is now known as the Midwest Conference.  They returned to the MIAC in 1975. 

[familyguyfaneightyfour]

One thing  I do think can hurt a team such as Olaf is that they get to hyped up for the BIG game.  Undefeated, walking into the greatest football venue in the area in front of the biggest crowd they've ever played in front of and all of a sudden all the wind goes out of their sails. 
St. John's is used to keeping emotions in check.  A team like Olaf could find (and has found) themselves "blowing their load" if you will, before the end of the 1st quarter!

We'll see Saturday! 

I think that you are right.  The past two seasons the Oles have been too psyched up to play the Johnnies, and that has hurt them.   

If the Oles play hard, and smart this Saturday, I really think that they can walk out of Collegeville with a W.

[familyguyfaneightyfour]

... and how about that Josh Beckett tonight? 

[retagent]

bennie - If I may be so bold as to offer you some advice on making best use of your "Package" Pick out maybe two games you really want to see and use the back button to flip back and forth. Since the games usually have a staggered start, you can catch quite a bit when they start 1/2 hour apart. Between periods of one game, you can catch a good deal of the other. If you try to get too ambitious, and catch more than two, with another maybe as a "check in just to get the score, and maybe watch through the commercial," you just get nuts. Then you have the east, midwest, west thing too. Have fun.

[chadbrochillseventeen]

... and how about that Josh Beckett tonight? 

   Josh Beckett was sick, Bo Sox '07