FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[TC]

Notes from the Steve Johnson interview:

--Johnson is not very good at listening to a question, comprehending it, and directly answering it.

--Sounds like Wetzell's a go. 

--Johnson claims that no one's tried to "punch Mount Union in the mouth" and that teams fall behind early and get out of their gameplans, so Bethel's just going to go and run right at them.

--Division III is better than Division II.

--Wetzell's getting married in two weeks and he hopes everything's working.

--"Flannery's not big but he's built."

--They were inspired to beat Central to honor St. John's and the MIAC.

--Jesus has installed Bethel as a 6 1/2 point favorite.

[DustySJU]

Not only did Steve Johnson control the line of scrimmage against the Johnnies he completely dominated his interview with Dubay...

Puffy couldn't manage to squeeze in a word edgewise.... 

[Shark]

I love it... Steve Johnson calls 'em The Mount Union "Buckeyes" 

Heard that as well

We'll see how that "punch in the mouth" approach will work but I wouldn't hold my breath

[TC]

Yeah, if Bethel is able to push around Mount Union as easily as Johnson pushed around Doobers they'll win by 3 scores.

[DuffMan]

--Johnson claims that no one's tried to "punch Mount Union in the mouth" and that teams fall behind early and get out of their gameplans, so Bethel's just going to go and run right at them.

Bethel will be getting a hard kick-in-the-pants from MUC.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Notes from the Steve Johnson interview:

--Johnson is not very good at listening to a question, comprehending it, and directly answering it.

--Sounds like Wetzell's a go. 

--Johnson claims that no one's tried to "punch Mount Union in the mouth" and that teams fall behind early and get out of their gameplans, so Bethel's just going to go and run right at them.

--Division III is better than Division II.

--Wetzell's getting married in two weeks and he hopes everything's working.

--"Flannery's not big but he's built."

--They were inspired to beat Central to honor St. John's and the MIAC.

--Jesus has installed Bethel as a 6 1/2 point favorite.

Didn't listen to the interview yet, but I can definitely attest to the first point.  Johnson likes to hear himself talk, and will meander towards what he wants to talk about regardless as to what the question was.

[nuggs]

I think the part you guys are missing is the fact the interview was done over the phone, and not in studio.

[AO]

Notes from the Steve Johnson interview:

--Johnson is not very good at listening to a question, comprehending it, and directly answering it.

--Sounds like Wetzell's a go. 

--Johnson claims that no one's tried to "punch Mount Union in the mouth" and that teams fall behind early and get out of their gameplans, so Bethel's just going to go and run right at them.

--Division III is better than Division II.

--Wetzell's getting married in two weeks and he hopes everything's working.

--"Flannery's not big but he's built."

--They were inspired to beat Central to honor St. John's and the MIAC.

--Jesus has installed Bethel as a 6 1/2 point favorite.

I agree TC, those are all solid points.

[sfury]

Notes from the Steve Johnson interview:

--Johnson is not very good at listening to a question, comprehending it, and directly answering it.

--Sounds like Wetzell's a go. 

--Johnson claims that no one's tried to "punch Mount Union in the mouth" and that teams fall behind early and get out of their gameplans, so Bethel's just going to go and run right at them.

--Division III is better than Division II.

--Wetzell's getting married in two weeks and he hopes everything's working.

--"Flannery's not big but he's built."

--They were inspired to beat Central to honor St. John's and the MIAC.

--Jesus has installed Bethel as a 6 1/2 point favorite.

He didn't mention anything about Flannery's relationship to Scrubby?

[D1HawkD3CUI]

Wetzel is going to play? That definitely helps BU. I would love to see the Royals go out there and at least compete. Bethel's gameplan against us of "punching them in the mouth" seemed to work out pretty well. Can they push around MU you think? Represent the West, I'll be pulling for the Royals to shock the D3 world!

[AO]

The podcast from the KFAN interview.

[skunks_sidekick]

As I posted on the OAC.........

First we have to worry about the Bethel players crotch-grabbing (allegedly)...and now their coach is going to have them punch Mount players in the mouth.......that is SO un-Christianlike!   

[HScoach]

The "punch them in the mouth" power running game between the tackles will be an interesting contrast to what MUC usually sees in the OAC and has seen so far in the playoffs.  The OAC is typically as pass-happy conference.  No one in the OAC runs a true power running offense.  The closest thing to it is Baldwin Wallace, but their just really a standard pro-set that runs more often than they throw.  The last truely running team they played was Augustana a few years ago.

What makes further makes this an interesting contrast is that MUC's defense is a 4-2-5 with a ton of speed, not a lot of beef.  The only player that I would consider big for his position is the one LB who goes 6-2, 235.  Everyone else in undersized.  The other LB is only 5-10, 205 and the weakside DE is 6-1, 205 and both DT's are in the 260 range.  But all are faster and more athletic than the typical player at their respective position.  Especially along the D-Line.

Offensively, what makes MUC so tough is their depth and versatility.  They can kill you thru the air and on the ground with the same 11 guys in the huddle as the RB's are very good receivers too.  They'll go 5 wide - shotgun on one play and then offset-I with a TE and pound the ball the next play without changing personnel.  Makes it very difficult for the D-coordinator to adjust his attack based on personnel groupings.   And Kehres is more than willing to adjust his offensive gameplan on the fly based on what's working and what's not. 

[Rugman]

--Johnson claims that no one's tried to "punch Mount Union in the mouth" and that teams fall behind early and get out of their gameplans, so Bethel's just going to go and run right at them.

Bethel will be getting a hard kick-in-the-pants from MUC.

Just dont' think it is smart to tell MUC you plan to punch them in the mouth.  The last thing you need is to piss them off; would seem like it would be better to catch them off guard, if you think you're going to out-tough them.

[Rugman]

The "punch them in the mouth" power running game between the tackles will be an interesting contrast to what MUC usually sees in the OAC and has seen so far in the playoffs.  The OAC is typically as pass-happy conference.  No one in the OAC runs a true power running offense.  The closest thing to it is Baldwin Wallace, but their just really a standard pro-set that runs more often than they throw.  The last truely running team they played was Augustana a few years ago.

What makes further makes this an interesting contrast is that MUC's defense is a 4-2-5 with a ton of speed, not a lot of beef.  The only player that I would consider big for his position is the one LB who goes 6-2, 235.  Everyone else in undersized.  The other LB is only 5-10, 205 and the weakside DE is 6-1, 205 and both DT's are in the 260 range.  But all are faster and more athletic than the typical player at their respective position.  Especially along the D-Line.

Offensively, what makes MUC so tough is their depth and versatility.  They can kill you thru the air and on the ground with the same 11 guys in the huddle as the RB's are very good receivers too.  They'll go 5 wide - shotgun on one play and then offset-I with a TE and pound the ball the next play without changing personnel.  Makes it very difficult for the D-coordinator to adjust his attack based on personnel groupings.   And Kehres is more than willing to adjust his offensive gameplan on the fly based on what's working and what's not. 

I think a speed defense will have a better chance of stopping Bethel's running game.  Looks to me in the two games I saw them play that it was more of a finese running game rather than straight ahead smash mouth.