Quote from: gobigred425 on Yesterday at 10:34:15 PM

Quote from: hazzben on Yesterday at 01:47:20 PMThe D1 transfer QB route isn't a bad problem to have, but I know Bethel landed a QB recruit this year that was down to them and SJU. One of the things that helped was simply pointing out it's been over a decade since SJU has had a QB1 for the season that didn't first transfer in from a scholarship program. Hard to argue against Eerdmann and Syverson and those results, it does however make it difficult to land guys right out of HS.

Yeah, because Jaran Roste and Cooper Drews for sure didn't transfer to Bethel from another school...

For sure, but Drew's actually backs up the narrative. He's an All Region caliber QB who is at Bethel because SJU kept going to the D1 transfer bucket. Both Roste and Drew's are examples where BU didn't have a talented guy on the roster waiting for a shot, we had a need.

The D1 transfer QB route isn't a bad problem to have, but I know Bethel landed a QB recruit this year that was down to them and SJU. One of the things that helped was simply pointing out it's been over a decade since SJU has had a QB1 for the season that didn't first transfer in from a scholarship program. Hard to argue against Eerdmann and Syverson and those results, it does however make it difficult to land guys right out of HS.

To SJUSection105's post, I haven't viewed SJU as a balanced offense for some time. There's been a focus on great QB/WR play, and what seems like a 70/30 pass to run approach. It makes for an explosive offense that puts up gaudy numbers. You've also had some very solid RB's during the past 8+ years. But if you're an elite RB, SJU doesn't strike me as a desirable destination. Heckendorf is a great OC, but he's a pass first guy through and through.

BU used to be more 60/40 run to pass a decade ago. Unless you're running an North Central/LL UWW oline, that's tough to pull off against the top 2-4 programs deep in the playoffs. New OC Duling is on record that he all about finding explosive plays. At Berry he had teams that led nationally in rushing and that led in passing. Same at Bethel. With Kidder, Niewald, & Co we were balanced, but more pass focused last year. This year with Geebli and Manns, we are balanced but run driven.

Neither of these offenses has finished the last step of getting to and winning a Stagg Bowl. But I think there are more pitfalls with the pass heavy approach of SJU deep in the fall when the weather gets really cold and you start to face elite defenses. Even Cortland with Boyes at QB was 10th in rushing in 2023.

That Stout win certainly has a little more shine on it right now.

Why D3 is great stat of the day:

James Franklin will make over 20 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY from Penn State for the next six years.

• Per minute: $15
• Per hour: $913
• Per day: $21,917
• Per week: $153,846
• Per month: $666,666

The greatest gig in the world. Getting fired as a a big time college head football coach.

Saw someone else say someling like Franklin's buyout was equal to the entire budget of D3 athletics for the NCAA for two years for all sports. That's just gross. Here's to d3 still having some semblance of priorities.

Quote from: corn horn on October 13, 2025, 10:51:43 AMIt seems a couple of learning trials of knee versus artificial turf would be enough to change a player's mind about exposed skin. That said, I'd rather see knees than exposed belly fat. I'm looking at Hamline here. Yikes!

Seriously, Hamline's Oline is clearly all in on the body positivity era    They'd be a sloppy looking Oline regardless, but proudly repping those belt-covering soft muffin tops for all to see is an interesting vibe to go for. 

Quote from: sfury on October 13, 2025, 12:23:29 AM

Quote from: DuffMan on October 11, 2025, 11:03:11 PMIt used to be that you had to have your knees covered by pads--I remember a flag or two being thrown.  These days, some guys are practically wearing mid-thigh shorts!

The uncle I took to the Johnnies game few weeks ago is a high school football ref. Does that mean in between him enjoying his first trip to an SJU game I had to listen to him for three hours complain about the knees not being covered and players wearing shorts? Yes, yes it does. In his high school games anyway he doesn't allow it.

The thing is, guys have been cutting down the size of those knee pads for years. It was to the point it was laughable what counted as a "Knee pad." Shoulder pads and helmet are essential, but it's not like most guys are wearing butt pads either nowadays. If you want to run with no knee pads, do so at your own risk. But the trend of cutting or rolling the pants to the point they are above mid-thigh just seems weird. There was a Florida dlineman with so much leg showing the announcers were joking he was gonna leave the game with a speedo tan line. 

WIAC has officially begun self-cannibalism season. If UWL comes out unscathed they'll have earned that top 4 seed.

Quote from: DuffMan on October 11, 2025, 02:54:51 PMSJU 42-0 in Q2. 

Chatted with OAS at the Mounds View HS game last night. He figured the Johnnie revenge tour wouldn't be friendly to his Scotts today. 

35-0 at half for Bethel over Augsburg. Not really much to report. No idea how Auggie scored that much last week???

MIAC Football Athletes of the Week

Offensive: Davion Henderson (Concordia)
Defensive: Devin Williams (Bethel)
Special Teams: Marcus Merkelbach (Carleton)

What are ARC opinions of Wartburg compared to last year? From the outside the D looks like a typical disciplined, physical team. But is the O a tinge more vulnerable? Hard to gauge from a distance since I don't know how good the rest of the league is comparatively.

The WIAC race isn't even close to over. That UWL v UWW game had horrific offensive numbers. I'm not sure there's a 10-0 team from the WIAC this year. UWRF is dangerous and can beat anyone, but also not consistent enough. Maybe it's UWO or UWL's year, but I'd love to see Logan Hansen's numbers on likelihood of any team coming out of the WIAC unscathed.

Honestly having gone back and watched yesterday's game, I think that was two top 10 teams battling it out.

It was a really great atmosphere Oz. Having the D1Rejects crew there was fun too. They do a nice job and it was cool to hear how they covered big matchups across all of small college football.

Carleton is looking pretty legit. Very interested to see how they matchup against SJU and BU. What a story for their QB.

That was a battle today. A few quick thoughts.

- Drew's 40ish yd TD pass to Terry in the 2nd quarter was a huge play. I think it was the only TD (or score?) going into the wind.
- Devon Williams was awesome all over. Great pick, a ton of huge hits. But no small thing was his tweak near the goal line. In the first half he blitzed off the edge and was just a little too deep on his angle, Wheeler TD. 3rd and goal in the second half he came down tighter and smoked Wheeler for a loss of 2. Subtle but big adjustment.
- Dylan Wheeler played well, but I don't think he's as effective running it as RB Wheeler. I get they want to get the ball to 2, but he's just too tall IMO to be shifty enough out of the backfield as a RB.
- Manns and Geebli were dudes. What an awesome 1-2 punch for the next few years.
- Both D lines made plays, but Bethel's back 7 were more physical.
- Bethel OLine played really well, that's a good unit and Janes at TE is tough.
- reminds you how good Syverson was. I think Bethel had the better team the last two years, but Syverson was just insane in his precision.
- young D for Bethel stood tall today, well done fellas!

Finally, I get it's a tough loss but two of the best teams in D3 played a physical, close game that came down to the final possessions of the 4th quarter. SJU is still a team that could do damage in the playoffs. I get you guys don't lose much, but you act as if the sky is falling. Bethel was a final play penalty away from the semi finals last year, and we lost to you twice. There's a ton of season left.

Quote from: repete on September 30, 2025, 04:07:59 PMMakes a lot of sense, Pat. What a doubleheader day.

And, wow, Bethel ... seems like a short-sided decision. Is space really that tight?

I mean, we could tell VOJ he doesn't have space.