FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[skunks_sidekick]

Yah......and that dumb jock QB from Mount made first team.  He has some silly, easy, means nothing major like math & physics or something.  What a crock!   

To say that Alliance isn't the hot bed of excitement and nightlife is the understatement of the year.  Alliance is an unusual town for one its size.  You have the campus, which is nice, idyllic, etc...  You have the south part of town, which is a mix of blue/white collar, very middle-class respectable.  And then......you have the the downtown area which quite honestly is a microcosm of any bad "hood" in a big city.  It's a bit scary.

If any of the Bethel fans are coming over to Ohio, I would highly suggest you stay in the Belden Village area of Canton/North Canton.  A very nice mall, a gazillion restaurants, the Pro Football HOF down the road, etc...  You are about a 1/2 hour drive to Alliance and the stadium. 

Oh....and screw the brunch.......come to Pancho's and have "breakfast margaritas" with a few of us Mount backers.  We started that tradition about ten years ago, and dayum if we don't feel the obligation to keep it up.  Maybe if Bethel beats Mount we can finally start to tailgate in the parking lot.   

[repete]

Oh....and screw the brunch.......come to Pancho's and have "breakfast margaritas" with a few of us Mount backers.  We started that tradition about ten years ago, and dayum if we don't feel the obligation to keep it up.  Maybe if Bethel beats Mount we can finally start to tailgate in the parking lot.   

Wonder what the over/under for Bethel fans is at Pancho's ....

[stanbob]

And you thought it was cold today, the snowball in hell will be in no danger of melting next week.

I don't think many people have any illusions that bu will win next week, in fact I think we'll get routed,  but we're proud of our team, and we're still cheering them on in december. how 'bout you stanbob?

still behind my team, when was the last time you could say that in december, if you say last year and before stfu.

As it has been discussed on this board, sju will always have history on its side, and you know what, they will probably win the miac 40 of the next 50 years, but the fact that in those years that someone is better than them, you have to sit at home and take shots at that team shows that you don't deserve to be lumped in with the class act that the rest of johnnie nation is.
I could not care less if people choose not to "cheer" for bethel that week, it really doesn't matter, but I am sick of people dragging us through the mud just because that person can't stand to see someone doing better than them, even if it's just for a little while. grow up.

Where in the hell did that come from?   I made the comment in which I feel about 96% of the followers of D3 football feel about the game and you attempt to ridicule me about "my" team not playing in December, I comment on my still being behind them with a slight jab of never hearing you backing your team in ANY previous December and this crap comes out, don't be blaming your inferiority complex on me.

[OzJohnnie]

Where in the hell did that come from?   I made the comment in which I feel about 96% of the followers of D3 football feel about the game and you attempt to ridicule me about "my" team not playing in December, I comment on my still being behind them with a slight jab of never hearing you backing your team in ANY previous December and this crap comes out, don't be blaming your inferiority complex on me.

I feel awful.  His inferiority complex is bigger than mine.  I'm so inadequate.

[Toph]

Keep it close with MUC and MUC will probably panic.

I seriously doubt that.  I won't list the accomplishments, but you don't acheive what they have by panicking when the game gets tight.  

I'd be surprised if this game is close.  Looking at the stats, Bethel seems to be a run first offense.  Mount is allowing a staggering 12.2 yards per game, 0.4 yards per carry, and only one rushing touchdown all year.  Bethel has almost twice as many rushing TDs as passing.  If Wetzell is out, they could be in even more trouble.  Has Einerson gotten solid game experience sometime before this season?  Looking at his stats, he's only attempted 45 passes this year, and only attempted 10 rushes.  If someone could let me know what to expect from him, that would be fantastic.

One thing that I am impressed with is the interception total.  23 INT's is awesome.  

Is it just me, or does 44 4th down attempts seem awfully high?  I mean, that's over 3 fourth down tries per game.  What gives there?

[BDB]

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

Well said Duff, and ditto.

Raider, get well soon. Your squad is playing Bethel in the National Semi-Finals ferchrissakes! 

[Touchdown Tommy]

Oh....and screw the brunch.......come to Pancho's and have "breakfast margaritas" with a few of us Mount backers.  We started that tradition about ten years ago, and dayum if we don't feel the obligation to keep it up.  Maybe if Bethel beats Mount we can finally start to tailgate in the parking lot.   

Wonder what the over/under for Bethel fans is at Pancho's ....

1...




MUCk fans: Eagerly awaiting the carnage in Alliance on Saturday.  I have a feeling Bethel won't know what hit them after the 1st qtr...

[Redtooth]

Keep it close with MUC and MUC will probably panic.

I seriously doubt that.  I won't list the accomplishments, but you don't acheive what they have by panicking when the game gets tight. 

I'd be surprised if this game is close.  Looking at the stats, Bethel seems to be a run first offense.  Mount is allowing a staggering 12.2 yards per game, 0.4 yards per carry, and only one rushing touchdown all year.  Bethel has almost twice as many rushing TDs as passing.  If Wetzell is out, they could be in even more trouble.  Has Einerson gotten solid game experience sometime before this season?  Looking at his stats, he's only attempted 45 passes this year, and only attempted 10 rushes.  If someone could let me know what to expect from him, that would be fantastic.

One thing that I am impressed with is the interception total.  23 INT's is awesome. 

Is it just me, or does 44 4th down attempts seem awfully high?  I mean, that's over 3 fourth down tries per game.  What gives there?

Toph,

Not knowing who said what you quoted, let me say that no one from this conference with experience playing Mount Union would ever use the word panic.  Like most mortal teams (which I question about Mount) if the game is close for any reason, Mount may tightened up slightly.  That was our (SJU) experience against them in 2000 and 2003.  That being said, it is highly unlikely to happen this Saturday.  Mount Union's defense will not stay on the field long enough for Bethel to get any traction.  A couple quick three and outs on defense followed by some typical Mount Union big plays on offense and the score will be 28-0  after 1.  Not that Larry needs any help with his offensive gameplan, but I would throw to Garcon early and often to challenge Bethel's corners (see Augsburg gameplan).  A quick lead for Mount could also lead to a blowout as Bethel will have to abandon its running game for the air with an inexperienced QB   8) 8)  Bethel's offense doesn't score fast enough to play catchup.

On the issue of the 4th downs....from my understanding it comes from a combination of faith in their very effective running game and O-line, shaky kicking skills (both punting and placekicking) and Steve Johnson's success being the "Les Miles/River Boat Gambler" of the West Region this year......a couple conversions in meaningful situations lead to expanded confidence by the team and coach. 

[onearmedscot]

"I have a feeling Bethel won't know what hit them after the 1st qtr..." -- TDT

You mean like SJU at the end of one quarter in Pella, Two weeks back??  

At least I know you know that feeling.

oAS.

[mtfan]

Best wishes on a speedy recovery Raiderguy!! Our prayers are with you and know you'll do well.

[onearmedscot]

One thing that somewhat scares me is Johnson does has a tendency to make bad play calls.

I.E. going for it against Central on 4th and 1 on their own 28 yard line.

Wetzell fumbled, Central stopped and took over and scored their first TD.

That type of bone head call won't fly against MUC and could lead to trouble.

oAs.

[Redtooth]

"I have a feeling Bethel won't know what hit them after the 1st qtr..." -- TDT

You mean like SJU at the end of one quarter in Pella, Two weeks back?? 

At least I know you know that feeling.

oAS.

Careful there Mr. Wetballs......although SJU was down by 14 at the end of one quarter in Pella, a quick glance at the Mac stats during your career there would show that you could count on one hand (with leftovers) the number of times Mac wasn't down by double that at the end of one quarter. 8) 8)  You probably know the feeling better than all of us.

You did a nice job on the broadcast the other day with Pat.

[TC]

One thing that somewhat scares me is Johnson does has a tendency to make bad play calls.

I.E. going for it against Central on 4th and 1 on their own 28 yard line.

Wetzell fumbled, Central stopped and took over and scored their first TD.

That type of bone head call won't fly against MUC and could lead to trouble.

oAs.

I don't want to make this sound like I'm throwing you under the bus or anything (afterall, you did pick SJU to beat MUC in 2003 so you know what it takes to beat the Purple Raiders).  With that said, I think Johnson's proclivity for the "bonehead" call is exactly the high-risk/high-reward playcalling that Bethel will have to take advantage of if they want to beat Mount Union. 

Let's take a look at a few numbers... 

--I was surprised to find out that Bethel only converted on 45% of their 4th down tries (20 of 44).  By comparison, Bethel's opponents were 22 of 43 (51%), St. John's was 18 of 37 (49%), the Johnnies' opponents were 8 of 29 (28%), and Mount Union was 16 of 26 (62%) while holding their opponents to 6 of 23 (26%).  I really wish these numbers were broken down to show 4th-and-short.

--Bethel netted and average of 28.4 yards per punt.

--Bethel was 4 of 11 on FG attempts (36%) with a long made field goal of 34 yards and misses as close as 25, 28, and 29 (x2) yards. 

--No team in the history of Division 3 college football has ever stopped Mount Union from scoring a touchdown (almost).

**Disclaimer: What I'm about to say only makes sense if Bethel is showing some semblence of offensive cohesion.  If they aren't coming close to threating to move the football it doesn't matter because Mount Union is going to win by about a million points anyway.**

Discounting obvious kicking situations--4th-and-20 from your own end zone, down by a point or two late at the opponent's 10, etc.--isn't Bethel better off taking the 25%-50% chance of picking up a first down on 4th-and-3 than punting the ball back to Mount Union's offense and gaining, maybe, 30 yards of field position?  If it's the opening drive of the game and I'm Bethel, facing a 4th-and-1 at my own 28 yard line, I'm asking the strength of my team--the offensive line, Flannery, and (hopefully) Wetzell--to get me one yard. 

Everyone knows that Bethel is going to need to do a few things to stay in the game: move the ball on the ground, eat up the clock, and run the football.  This is a calculated risk that allows them to accomplish all three things in one play.  Plus, I don't feel any better giving Mount the ball back with 60 yards of green behind me following a punt than I would with 28 yards of green behind me after a missed 4th down try.

I think Bethel's better off being aggressive in these situations, hoping they get lucky and convert more of them than they "should".  They're going to need to take risks--and have them pan out--if they have any shot of climbing the Mount.

[Redtooth]

TC,

Not addressing your going for it ideas.......If I were Bethel with their offensive style and lack of need for tempo, I would come out of the huddle very slowly and have the snap occur at 1 or 0 on every down.  This strategy could/would/should shorten the game....the catch is you need to pick up some first downs along the way which I question with Mount's defense.  St. Olaf used this strategy very effectively to defeat SJU in 95 when Ramler was the QB and SJU's offense was very tempo/fast break oriented. 

On the flip side, Mount Union could come out with Kmic and shove the ball down Bethel's throat just to show they can do it and have their way with them the rest of the day.  Mount did this to Trinity in the Stagg in 02 with Pugh rushing 48 times (most of which came into the wind) and throwing those quarters they had the wind.  Garcon should be licking his chops for the Bethel corners.....I could see 10 catches for 150 and 3TDs.

[BU5758]

raiderpa
Second-stringer

Re: Ohio Athletic Conference
Reply #14017 on: December 01, 2007, 06:11:12 pm » 
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BTW...some off the wall info...Truman Turnquist, former dean of everything and chemistry prof at Mount Union is a Bethel alumnus.  He and his three sons had very successful basketball careers there (Bethel)...son, Dale had a cup of coffee in the NBA and played professionally in Europe and Australia... If they represent what kind of folks  Bethel brings to the table, they will be some fine fine people...
Again, it is good to see a different team coming to Alliance...

Nice words from an OAC poster!! 
Which team will this family be pulling for?