FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[onearmedscot]

What a weekend.

First, my column will officially change it's name to Mapping the West Region after navigating Iowa and Minnesota roads on Saturday ngiht for 9 hours to get back to the cities.  Leave Pella at 5:15 get home at 2:50am.  Ugh.  Thank goodness no accidents!

The weather conditions for that BU Central game were ridiculous.  Never seen a game played in that kind of weather.  Definite some wet balls out there VOJ!

Biggest ? is Wetzell's injury.  If he is even 80% and the Royals can run their ball control offense, you never know.  I mean who thought SJU would beat MOUNT in the Stagg in 2003? (no need to answer, we all know, but it wasn't a lot of people )

UWW AD has to be happy.  His alma mater (Bethel) in one game and his current school in the other.  If they both make it he'll be one excited dude!

oAs.

[raiderfan1983]

To all the Bethel fans traveling to Alliance this weekend, safe travels.  There are a few hotels in the area around Alliance and having never stayed in one, I wouldn't be a good judge of which ones are better than others.  I'll leave you to your own best judgement there.  There is tailgating in the parking lot behind the stadium, but you have to get there early as it fills up fast.  When getting tickets, ask to be as high as possible.  The stadium isn't very big, and the view of the field in the lower seats gets blocked by players.  Also, I reccomend the pregame brunch in the campus center.  It's only a few bucks and the spread is impressive.  Lastly, if you make a whole weekend out of it, the pro football hall of fame is just down the road and would be a good stop if you can make the time.  Again, safe travels, and enjoy your time at Mount.

[DustySJU]

Central 42
Bethel   3

KR Checking in for my pre-ordered serving of Humble Pie with a side of crow please!

KR- I will do my best to bring your Humble Pie to your Stif next year in Arden Hills. Perhaps you can share it around with some of your friends from St. John's. If I find a crow lying along I-90 on my way out here from Tacoma next Fall, I will bring that with. Seriously, nice to meet you guys from St. John's who post on here.  Usually good for some laughs every time I read through the posts.

Also, due to poor weather conditions in Pella yesterday, I was not able to talk to Flannery's parents to get the "undeniable, irrefutable, conclusive evidence" that Scruby41 is not Flannery's grandfather. Will make another attempt this weekend in Alliance.

RaiderGuy - Will you be in Alliance this Saturday?

I doubt RaiderGuy will be in Alliance this Saturday...this past Saturday he was discharged from the hospital after suffering a stroke earlier last week, I happened to learn of this by talking to his wife on Saturday, because I thought he might be in Alliance this past Saturday.  The good news is he has showed no signs of memory loss, he temporarily lost feeling on his left side but that has returned and his speech has not been affected...I and the rest of the Johnnies broadcast crew hope for a speedy return to normal life for RaiderGuy and hope to see him passing out the jello shots at the first tailgate next year...

I would also like to echo VOJ and wish RaiderGuy a speedy recovery.  I would also like to thank TheoWick for including information in his Underground News regarding Jay's condition and also JohnnieTailgate mainstay Tom Arth's double knee surgery.

Theo responds in his newsletter regarding a Johnnie/Central recap from "The Flying Tomzcik" writing; "...I concur with your recognition of and gratitude for the team and coaches; athletic, university relations and media department staffs; Stiftungsfestivites crew; and all those fans who toiled this year to make Johnny Football the great fun and bonding adventure it has been, is and will continue to be, no matter what our W-L record is. 

Go Johnnies, indeed!

[criswyly]

From what I am reading here, it sounds like there is notbing official about whether Wetzell will play this weekend.  Any word on this out there or is BU going to keep the Raiders guessing?

[retagent]

Raiderguy - Get well soon, we miss you on here. We're all thinking of you.

[VOJ]

I have to say I was not surprised by the victory by Bethel this weekend, given the weather conditions...I am not saying Central can't play in the snow and cold, what I am saying is that the conditions favored the Royals and that O line...they are very good and obviously they took over, I alluded to that in an earlier post when the poor weather forecasts made their rounds...

I think Bethel can go to Alliance and give Mount Union a battle...I am not saying they will win...I am saying their style of play could help them shorten the game, keep it close and make for an interesting playoff game, hell the way Whitewater has crapped their pants against the Raiders in the Stagg...this might be the "unofficial Stagg Bowl"

Oh that does mean I don't see any chance in hell of MHB beating the Warhawks in Whitewater...another free pass to finals for whoever faces the south in the DIII playoffs...

Good luck Royals...congrats on the West Region Title...

[skunks_sidekick]

If Raiderguy is reading PP....here's a get back to 100% soon from Ohio.  If there's anything we can do from over this way, let us know.  I think Mount will give you a nice warm feeling come this Saturday afternoon.

[repete]

Raiderguy,
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Rugman]

Raiderguy; I only met you once and I'm sure you don't remember me, but best wishes for a speedy recovery and we'll talk next Fall. 

[rscl70]

Raiderguy,

Just want to add my best wishes to you for a speedy and full recovery!

[TC]

It was a shock to read about Jay in the Underground on Friday--hoping for a full and speedy recovery.

Through 3rd Qrt., Cen has 65 total yards!
After BU goes up 27-7,  Central gains over 100 yards and I see several subs for BU via of tackling stats!
Not sure field or "weather" is a legit statement at all!!

Hello Scrubby.  It is good to see you on the board again.  You never did tell us where your grandson decided to pursue his higher education.  Which was the lucky school?  Did he have a chance to play any football this fall or did he elect to focus on his studies?  Eagerly anticipating your response.



Congrats to Bethel, it sounds like they played a great game against an obviously talented opponent.  The West Region has consistently been the deepest region since the playoffs expanded so it is quite an accomplishment just to get this far. 

Hate to think about what this does for Bethel's ability to get the top players from the Twin Cities into Royals uniforms.  Hopefully the Johnnies' staff and players uses this season's result as motivation.

To the Bethel fans, I highly recommend a trip to Alliance.  Who knows when you'll have another opportunity to support your team this far into the playoffs?  While the MUC fans are just as arrogant and jaded as Johnnie fans (and they'll talk endlessly about how rediculously good the pregame buffet is--and cheap, too!), it's a fun experience and you'll always be able to say you made the trip. 

To the Bethel students, don't let Friday afternoon class be the thing that keeps you from making the trip.  I can tell you from personal experience that you can leave Friday at 4:00, drive straight through, and still make it to the field in time for an hour or two of pregame festivites (or bible study or prayer circle or volunteer work or whatever it is you guys do before games).

I really hope Wetzell is healthy enough to play on Saturday, partially because I don't want Bethel to have a ready-made excuse for a loss, but primarily because it would have to be disappointing for a team to get as far as the Royals have and then be missing such a key player.  Remember, only 72 hours before the 2003 Stagg Bowl, Blake Elliott was in a full body cast and doctors were trying to figure out which leg to amputate first, and that worked out OK.

I made a bet about half a season ago that no team stays within 21 points of Mount Union this year, and I stand by that.  But Bethel has one of the best O-lines I have seen at the D3 level and (especially if they get an assist from the weather) I think they are the type of team that can stay competitive with the Purple Raiders.

That said, I hope Mount Union hangs 100 on 'em.

[retagent]

I see Kevin Boegel made ESPN The Magazine's Academic All America team. The Beaver and some guy from MUC did too. They are both Phys Ed Majors. Boegel is Pre-med. Maybe some scholar athletes are more equal than others. Let the smiting begin.

[ritz72]

To all the Bethel fans traveling to Alliance this weekend, safe travels.  There are a few hotels in the area around Alliance and having never stayed in one, I wouldn't be a good judge of which ones are better than others.  I'll leave you to your own best judgement there.  There is tailgating in the parking lot behind the stadium, but you have to get there early as it fills up fast.  When getting tickets, ask to be as high as possible.  The stadium isn't very big, and the view of the field in the lower seats gets blocked by players.  Also, I reccomend the pregame brunch in the campus center.  It's only a few bucks and the spread is impressive.  Lastly, if you make a whole weekend out of it, the pro football hall of fame is just down the road and would be a good stop if you can make the time.  Again, safe travels, and enjoy your time at Mount.

Make sure you visit the mall....with the bowling alley!
Bring a deck of cards or something, because the Alliance is not the hot bed of nightlife and excitement (no offense, just the truth!)

[ritz72]

I see Kevin Boegel made ESPN The Magazine's Academic All America team. The Beaver and some guy from MUC did too. They are both Phys Ed Majors. Boegel is Pre-med. Maybe some scholar athletes are more equal than others. Let the smiting begin.

Phys Ed. is a really tough major.  I was perusing electives in the major, and I could not imagine taking classes like Intro to Pitching Kickball and Using Your Hands to Catch during football season.

[DuffMan]

Just wanted to echo everyone elses well-wishes to Raiderguy!  Jay, I feel fortunate to have met you and hope your recovery is quick!