FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bennie]

Congratulations to the Johnnie golf team which won the MIAC title by 28 strokes.  All five Johnnie golfers finished in the top seven.

Do you think any of them can throw a football? 8)

[TC]

The Tommies suck no more and have the ship steered in the right direction.

This may be overstating things a bit (I'm not exactly overwhelmed by wins over GAC, Mac, and Hamline and an admittedly very close loss to a pretty ordinary St. Olaf), but I'm afraid you are right about the program heading in the right direction.

Between a supposedly star-studded recruiting class and replacing Roney with Caruso it's not impossible to think UST will be relevant again in the next few years.  Which goes back to my earlier point: there's reason for optimism with pretty much every team in the MIAC (except for, relatively speaking, St. John's).  Gustavus and Hamline just got facilities upgrades, St. Thomas just had a regime change, Carleton has the Eagle pointed in the right direction for the first time in forever, Augsburg has MIAC title hopes, Concordia has a helmet color scheme that doesn't automatically induce vomiting, and Bethel has beaten St. John's three years in a row and has a Western Region championship to show for it.  I'd say that's a pretty strong conference.







Also, plans are in the works to rebrand www.JohnnieFootball.com.  Coming soon, from the makers of JF.com: www.JohnnieGolf.com!

[DutchFan2004]

One other thing I thought of today in regards to the QB situation.  The coaches may not let them use this as they have not had much experience with checking in game situations.  So you might take this in consideration when critiquing the Johnnie QB's.  Just some thoughts.  I know that expectations are high.  They are just as high for the Dutch but sometimes you have to come down to earth and realize the situation the players are in. 

[chewey]

Yes, Concordia's uniforms are much better now.  The helmets used to be god-awful.

[USTBench]

The Tommies suck no more and have the ship steered in the right direction.

This may be overstating things a bit (I'm not exactly overwhelmed by wins over GAC, Mac, and Hamline and an admittedly very close loss to a pretty ordinary St. Olaf), but I'm afraid you are right about the program heading in the right direction.

Between a supposedly star-studded recruiting class and replacing Roney with Caruso it's not impossible to think UST will be relevant again in the next few years.  Which goes back to my earlier point: there's reason for optimism with pretty much every team in the MIAC (except for, relatively speaking, St. John's).  Gustavus and Hamline just got facilities upgrades, St. Thomas just had a regime change, Carleton has the Eagle pointed in the right direction for the first time in forever, Augsburg has MIAC title hopes, Concordia has a helmet color scheme that doesn't automatically induce vomiting, and Bethel has beaten St. John's three years in a row and has a Western Region championship to show for it.  I'd say that's a pretty strong conference.







Also, plans are in the works to rebrand www.JohnnieFootball.com.  Coming soon, from the makers of JF.com: www.JohnnieGolf.com!

I wouldn't say that "The Tommies suck no more" is overstating things. Lol. A win is a win.

UST...we're selling hope this year.

[repete]

For Ritzy, Duffman and any other hockey-haters:

New NHL Ice Crews.  8)

I quoted the whole thing just to keep the pics .... but I hear the NHL Network will carry "Hockey Night in Canada" this season. All former wrasslers can smite me now.

[Lone Auggie Backer]

Carleton beat Olaf.....  I quit. 

on a side note... the hot carls forgot to point the eagle towards carleton after turning it.  its still pointing at St. Olaf.  You're killin me Carleton.

I saw the eagle pointed appropriately as well. On a side note, after the end of the current losing streak the knights only trail by 4 in the all time series.

As did I. Congrats to Carleton. I'll have a feature story on this later in the week.

I wonder if someone at Olaf couldn't stand that the eagle was moved and climbed up to turn it back later ...

As one that grew up in Northfield, is the son of a long time Olaf employee, and actually worked as a tour-guide at the 1st National Bank (where we shut good ol' Jesse down!) I actually have the simple answer to the eagle dealy.

Whenever Carleton wins, the Eagle on the statue is TEMPORARILY turned towards the east. However, the sculpture/statue was designed with the eagle facing the setting sun. So, soon after the Knights get to put their stamp on the rivalry, the Eagle goes back to the West - in no way suggesting the Olaf superiority. Instead, it is returned to the west simply to comply with the artists design/intentions.  So, sorry Knights. You only get to gloat for a short time (though those of us that follow this game will definitely give you your due!)

[sjusection105]

UST...we're selling hope this year.

Bench,

Glad you joined the party again. That Law School thing must be complete now, huh??

Speaking of selling hope. Do you think the Tommie student body will ever pick supporting their football team vs. getting wasted? Being the largest enrollment in the MIAC your student body could actually give the Tomcats a home field advantage. Let them know they can get drunk and still show up for the game....we do 

[OzJohnnie]

I'm back in the saddle.

What a catch-up over the last few pages.  The most important thing I learned reading them was that hockey chicks are hot enough to melt ice.

[bcflyguy1]

Great fun to be back home this weekend for MIAC football for the first time in three years.  It might be the only thing I miss about living in MN.  Great to hang out with section105, Dusty, Esq, RetiredOldRat, and of course the Godfather.  I've been to both hemispheres and literally around the world and I still haven't found a better burger.  Cheers to JohnnieRed and the rest of the tail-gating crew for allowing an imposter and his wife to feel welcome!

My thoughts on the game are somewhate brief.  Going into it, I thought there was no way SJU could be as mediocre as has been reported on this board.  I was wrong.  The offensive play-calling and execution (or lack of both) was shocking at times.  The problems start up front, but I also don't think Hansel is good enough to take even a good SJU team where their fans expect to go.  7-3 would be a great finish for them based on their current form.  As for Bethel, I was very encouraged by what I saw.  The defense played great, and alot of their key performers on that side of the ball are young.  Aakre certainly looks to have the tools, and with Scotty Kirchoff coaching him up I expect that he will continue to improve.  Were it not for a snap over the punter's head that completely shifted momentum, the game finishes 14-3 and everybody in blue would have been spared another coronary.  BU still has to play Auggie which could be trouble, but overall reports of the demise of Bethel football had been greatly exaggerated.

BTW, there was a piece written on Johnniefootball.com taking a pot shot at the way Bethel teams in the past have celebrated wins over SJU.  My take on it is that SJU needn't be offended, but rather take it as a compliment that a win over their team means so much to others.  The post-game scenes were not nearly as raucous this year.  When beating SJU is no longer a big deal to the Bethel's of the world, that is what should concern Johnnie fans more than any spontaneous dancing or joy you might see from opposing fans or players.  That's all I've got.  Gunga-galunga!

[Rugman]

God, I'm glad I'm not a Viking's fan.

[cobbernation]

It would be sweet if the vikings keep punting the ball to reggie bush!  He only has 2 returns for TD's.  Childress is a genius!

[OzJohnnie]

So, how long before Ziggy gives "Childless" the flick?  It might as well be mid-season, right?  It's not as if there is anything salvageable from this position.

Is Brady available for trade?

[Rugman]

It would be sweet if the vikings keep punting the ball to reggie bush!  He only has 2 returns for TD's.  Childress is a genius!

It's almost like the attitude is "we're going to keep playing to our weaknesses until we get good at it".

[TC]

They've simply got to fire Childress at this point, right?  I mean, that's professional incompetance.  That's worse than trying a 76-yard field goal.