FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[57Johnnie]

57, are you getting the pregame show?  johnniepress had me worried there for a bit.

I got it but I was worried - I'm a pessimist when it come to my computer - experience although I 'usually' muddle through.

[stanbob]

The sun is about to pop out here in Wisconsin Stanbob, time to break out the Baileys.

Flash it is 12 degrees here this morning, had to upgrade to coffee, Baileys, and Brandy

[57Johnnie]

I had two bummers this week: I contacted my home church for a copy of my Baptismal certificate and they told me their records don't go back that far so I had to go to the diocese office.
I renewed my driver's license and the lady didn't even ask but just put in : hair color - grey

[Freebird]

A good day would be a Johnnies victory which would send thefreebird back into blogger oblivion.

Hmmmm.  I had a pretty good day.  How did yours turn out? 

[Freebird]

Freeb's...still working for MNF?...I like your style...you're a good man...

I like your moves

Yes I am.  Flying out to New Orleans in the morning.

[sju56321]

I didn't realize TC's bitter comment to me would include SJU-I am now having an official Bitter Fall.

[faunch]

It is time for the Johnnies to seriously evaluate what they are doing offensively.  This means not only their preparation, practice, and on the field performance but in their attempts (or lack of) to recruit better players. 

[faunch]

19.4 points per game for the Johnnies this season.  I get that they may have faced some good defenses but let's face it....it's not good and Johnnie fans know why.

[Lone Auggie Backer]

We'll take a win. We didn't play like we deserved the win, but a W's a W none-the-less. I felt that our guys didn't feel like they won the game afterwords. Hamline's game plan in the second half was solid. Their QB is VERY good on his feet, and he made us pay. They spread us out completely, and then rean a LOT of QB draws. Their line did a good job winning their one-on-one match-ups.  Their offense nearly did enough to win the game. 

Jordan Berg did not play his best game.  He didn't get much help, as we had a BUNCH of VERY costly penalties.  I'm in no way stating that the outcome was on his shoulders.  He, as well as every other guy on the team, did not play as well as they can, and as well as they've played this year, and our near loss outcome proves it.  It seemed as if we arrived at Klass field today expecting to win, and didn't come prepared to do the work to earn the victory. Fortunately, our defense bent but didn't break.  They earned us the win today. Our offense looked like we were really missing something.  Having Muneer out of the line-up hurt. His possession receptions are a key part of our offense, and his absence (injury) hurt. However, the lack of motivation/fire by our squad may have even made his inclusion mute.  We just didn't look like the Auggies today. 

Hamline's QB is a good athlete. He did a good job of buying time for his receivers to get open, and if they didn't he'd make a play himself with his legs.  We had very little pass rush today, and I think that hurt us.  It seemed that every phase of our play today was made with batteries that had only been charged to half full.  Somehow we got the win.  Royce Winford played another good game for us. His offensive and defensive contributions give him my early nod for the conference MVP. He had a HUGE Int. today that really kept us in the game. Plus, his TD and 2 pt. catch were huge. 

I was just very disappointed with Augsburg's effort today.  I truly hope that this will be a wake-up call. We MUST come out FULLY prepared to deal with this VERY solid Carleton team next Saturday. 

Congrats to Carleton. Mr. Ramler has his team going in the right direction, and a crosstown win for them is huge. 

Congrats to Bethel.  To beat the Johnnies any year is a feat.

Congrats to Hamline. They made us play all four quarters, and nearly did enough to send our game to overtime and a potential homecoming win. They are markedly better than they were when I played against them. 

Pick it up Auggies. Everyone that had a helmet on today knows that our effort wasn't good enough to be an elite team in the MIAC this year. We need a GREAT week of practice, and all hands on deck next Saturday in what will be quite the contest in Northfield.

Two Cents.

[Willy Wonka]

19.4 points per game for the Johnnies this season.  I get that they may have faced some good defenses but let's face it....it's not good and Johnnie fans know why.

Cause it's finally time for the old guy to retire??

[DutchFan2004]

Not trying to me rude to you SJU posters but have a question.  Have things changed now that the Johnnies lost to Bethel three years in a row?  I know things have changed down here in the IIAC.  Wartburg is now not in the drivers seat and I think the Dutch are now all but eliminated from the running for the IIAC crown.

[PRF07]

Great game in Northfield today.  Carleton dominated start to finish.  Offensively they were able to move it up and down the field almost all day.  Defense was huge as Olaf was never able to get on track.  Quite a sight to see that eagle turned to face the right direction for the first time in 11 years!

Little bit of rebuilding this year for Olaf, but the pieces are definitely there.  #5 got his hands on the ball a few times and when he did there was no stopping him.

Should be a great matchup next week w/ Augsburg.  It will be a tough one for Carleton, but if anything is true this year in the miac anyone has a chance!

[CCKnight]

Who would have thought the MIAC standings would look like this so far at the beginning of the year:

2008 MIAC Football
School            MIAC   Overall
1. Augsburg     2-0        4-0 
Carleton          2-0       4-0 
Concordia       2-0        3-1 
4. St. Thomas   2-1       3-1 
5. Saint John's 1-2        3-2 
St. Olaf           1-2        3-2 
Gustavus        1-2        2-2 
Bethel            1-2         2-3 
9. Hamline       0-3        1-3

Congrats to the knights on a huge win over the Oles.  Great to finally right the ship and end the winning streak they've had going in the series recently.  They were definately the better team on the field today, a huge game by Frank today.  If he can stay relatively healthy he is impossible for teams to match up with.  Ziller at safety is a beast as well, a couple huge sacks on 3rd and 4th downs and always seems to deliver big hits.  Olaf needs to get the ball in the hands of their freshman RB/WR #5 Clark more, he seemed to be the most explosive player they had, but I didn't even notice him until the second half.  Definately not the explosive offense that we've seen from Olaf in recent years.

Looks like it's going to be a good one down in Northfield for homecoming next weekend in a battle of the undefeateds.  I'm excited and curious to actually see Augsburg play this year.  It should be an interesting matchup of two teams that like to throw the ball around, although Carleton's been much more balanced as of late, some of which could be attributed to playing with leads later in the games.  Should be fun.

The eagle is finally pointed in the right direction again...Go Knights!

[D O.C.]

Hey...nine points is good enough to win when you give up zero.

[DuffMan]

Warning--serious rant to ensue:

I have never seen a Johnnie team display such a lack of desire and discipline as I did today.  What kind of effort was that?  Offensively, that was a terrible display.  Hansel seems to not be able to throw a short pass.  In the dirt or way too high was the norm.  And late throws resulting in INTs--there should of been several more had BU's defenders had better hands.  He apparently has his receiver picked out ahead of time because Overman and Busack were open all day, but not much was thrown their way.  The O-line continued to look marginal at best.  The draw was about the only play that we had success on, and that's about the easiest play for an o-lineman to block.  Defense buttoned up towards the end of the game, but what ever happened to the QB contain?  He cannot be allowed to run outside!!!  Contain the QB and the game is much easier.

BU tried to give us the game.  Cripes, giving us the ball back 3 times in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter.  Put together a decent offensive series and the game is ours.

Hats off to Bethel.  That game was not as close as the score indicated.

Plus side, the field looked fantastic, and my keys did not get locked in my car this year.

I could write a lot more, but I'll cut things short.

SJU will be lucky to win half it's games this year.