Nice to see the Cobbers open the season with a "beat the heat" monkey stomp shutout at Neb-Wesleyan, followed by a double monkey stomp plus shutout of St Olaf. Cobbers were absolute world beaters in the second half of both games. The stat sheet is stellar but for penalties (really an issue versus NWU) and some shorter punts into the wind versus STO. Nice depth at the offensive skill positions. Two very capable QBs with complementary styles, one junior and one frosh.

Now, what happened to St Olaf? While I felt it was a fluke in a big way last year when they managed to be less terrible than the Cobbers and took the W, I expected a little more pluck from them last night. They had one drive in the entire game. resulting in a fumble.

Cobbers at GAC will be interesting on the 26th. Glad the Cobbs get 2 weeks to prepare. They have a couple things to work on, but when you open the season out scoring your opponents 79-0, it isn't nit-picking time unless you're coaching.

ROLL COBBS!

Oh, they even had a beer garden set up at the Jake last night. What is this world coming to?

This will break the heart of many posters here (sarcasm alert), especially those who think MIAC football streaming should parallel ESPN, but Larry Knutson, radio voice of the Cobbers (and Spuds) for nearly 5 decades has decided to retire. I, for one, will miss the down-home style of our own prairie home companion.

Quote from: hazzben on October 13, 2025, 09:35:08 AM

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. 

It 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!

Quote from: faunch on September 20, 2025, 05:14:54 PMSo is Olaf better than expected are the Cobbers cheap pretenders once again?

Sadly, after watching this train wreck of a game, I'd say STO is same ole, same ole, and Cobbers have no offense. None.

Went to Northfield to see the Cobbers at Oles. No offense from either. Abysmal officiating. Mediocrity abounding. Given what BU did to GAC today, I'd say the chasm between SJU/BU and the rest of the pack has never been wider.

Cobbers looked downright pathetic on offense out of the gates last night. In the past four years, they have stumbled similarly, resulting in come from behind squeaker victories against Valley City State and losses to what should have been a beatable WI-Eau Claire team. Defense is way ahead of the offense. Red zone stalls and a momentum killing turnover in the first half did make the score appear tighter than the game play did, but the first half was truly about as ugly as it gets offensively. For some of the passes, the term incomplete doesn't even capture it...they were throws to nowhere.

Grateful for a second half recovery, where the Cobbers had dominating drives and controlled the game.

I think the Cobbers will show up at St. Olaf in two weeks with those opening nerves settled and return to Moorhead with the troll trophy still safely in Horan's office. Quarterback play still a big question based on last night, so it is really hard to say at this point whether or not this team will be in the mix for top of conference. I would guess at this point they are probably shooting for #3.

WHILE I WAS SLEEPING... Did the MIAC drop the old skylines and silos divisions? I just checked the conference website to remind myself what miracles St Scholastica did last year that keeps them out of the "bottom tier" outlook, and saw the 2025 standings set up as one solitary unit. It also had 0-1 Augsburg on top, so who knows what to believe.

Disclaimer—I do know why Auggies are listed as they are.

Roll Cobbs!

Quote from: GoldandBlueBU on November 11, 2024, 10:44:36 AMHappy to see how the Royals took care of business against the Cobbers.  Certainly left no doubt in a game I expected to be much closer.  I'm not sure what to make of the comparative SJU result against Concordia.

My gut says it will be closer than the 25 point margin in the first matchup, but I think BU will have to really perform well to knock off an SJU team led by an experienced QB playing the way that Syverson is on his last go-around.

I've never seen Bethel play better all around in a game as they did against the Cobbers last week. Cobbers lack of a run game was exploited, as their passing attack couldn't keep pace with Bethel's...and of course the turnovers didn't help. I was hoping for a close game.

If Bethel executes Saturday vs the Johnnies like they did last week, they win. Johnnies are strong, but I think the Royals have been more consistent and dominant, especially in recent weeks. I don't base that on inflated scores against against deflated opponents, but in the overall quality of play.

MAC made a game of it, falling 37-35. Hamline takes the paint bucket, for what it's worth.

Nice complete game by the Cobbers today. Next week should be interesting vs Bethel. Cobbers still need to show a more promising rushing offense to overtake Bethel though, as a lot of the rushing yard totals are coming from QB draws and scrambles. Not sure if the O line isn't creating any holes, or if the backs just aren't hitting them, but it just isn't happening from the RBs.

Not keeping up with the "Johnses" today, but the Cobbers are looking extraordinary in all facets of the game today against an Augsburg team that showed some fight coming in. Roll Cobbs!

Quote from: GoldandBlueBU on October 21, 2024, 10:08:57 AMI kinda like the Cobbers guy.  Sounds like some nice older dude around my dad's age calling the game.

You're probably right... he's Larry Knutson, 68, and he's been calling the games for 38 years up in Moorhead. Old school charm.

The nail biter game of the week is a 30.5 point spread. This speaks volumes about the status of MIAC football. Ouch.

Quote from: OzJohnnie on October 13, 2024, 10:10:15 PMHow about that Johnnie Magic (tm) on the weekend?  I woke up with three minutes to play (we were on a weekend away with some friends and I had been a little sauced night before, so...) and said to myself, "Cobbers.  Time nearly expired.  Magic will deliver."


I feel for the Cobbers.  While the Magic so often delivers, it ALWAYS delivers against Concordia.  Especially in Moorhead.  I reckon the Cobbers must be suffering Martin Luther's penance or something.

Agreed...it bites, and the Cobbs have had a couple equal heartbreaks against Bethel in the last 2 decades. I keep going back to the big nail in the coffin pass that essentially won it for SJU this weekend and how close it was to being intercepted, but even that overlooks th Cobbers failure to punch it in from a yard out on 4th down, setting up the final Johnnie heroics. If the had gone for what I'll call the easy 3 instead, I'm curious as to what butterfly effect that might have had on the outcome. We'll never know, but I ponder that decision.

In the meantime, is anyone out there peddling gently used indulgences?

Quote from: DuffMan on October 12, 2024, 07:58:15 PMBecause GAC knocked us off last year.

SJU survived their trap game today. I suspect they will beat GAC by a couple dozen. Look what Bethel did to them in St. Peter.