Quote from: faunch on August 19, 2025, 09:42:38 PM

Quote from: faunch on August 19, 2025, 05:19:35 PMJohnnies preliminary 2025 roster is posted:

https://gojohnnies.com/documents/2025/8/19/25sjufootballroster.pdf?path=football

A couple items of interest...looks like Joey Moberg and Joe Vascellero have returned. Also there's a freshman from Midland, TX that played 6 man football. Anyone know if the Johnnies have ever had a player come from a 6 man school?

Wow, I had heard of 8 man, but did not know there was a 6 player version.  Will have to look for some videos.  I assume 3 down linemen and combination of QB and RB or WR?  TE?  Wild

Quote from: DuffMan on August 13, 2025, 02:10:42 PMThe Johnnie Exchange: https://app.inflcr.com/exchange/saint-johns-university

Bethel has the same exact setup...I assume they had to have "something" in place for compliance purposes.  I'm curious if any money is actually flowing through it.

Quote from: OzJohnnie on August 10, 2025, 08:12:05 PMEDIT: I imagine any talent in the Pioneer is raided pretty heavily.  The Tommies did very well with a D3 roster.  The Pioneer is obviously not a D1 talent destination.  Any talent that does end up there is gone pretty quickly, it would seem.  Must suck for the Tommies to be a recruiting minnow that has talent stolen by bigger programs and better financial packages, only to see that talent sit on the bench...

Chickens, roosting, coming home and all that jazz.

NIL has made that a reality across most of D1 now.  Smaller schools won't be able to keep anyone who has a big year, because they'll get spotted, and a major D1 will come calling with $$$.

I felt like that became pretty evident in the March Madness tourney this year for hoops...the small school's didn't have any ability to make a Cinderella run.

Quote from: hazzben on July 31, 2025, 01:35:13 PMFun news out of Arden Hills, Bethel officially has lights on the field and will play a night game to kick off the season against Northwestern!

That's fun news!  Will be be nice for not just the football team, but other groups to be able to use the field and track for non-daylight hours.

I thought the original plan was for artificial turf for the practice field behind the visitors bleachers as well...is that still on the table, or just moved to a far back burner for now?

Quote from: art76 on July 01, 2025, 11:51:55 AMWe would like to approach alumni donors but are not allowed to.

I'm curious about this one...my first thought was that the sciences departments at BU have been pretty strong - though probably small compared to some schools for some time now - I would think there would be a decent cohort of alumni in that area who would be willing and able to help.

I assume there are some rules / restrictions on use of alumni email lists?

Quote from: SagatagSam on June 05, 2025, 12:15:44 PMI asked ChatGPT to write an obituary for the MIAC Championship Game. Here's what it gave me:

Obituary: The MIAC Football Championship Game (November 13, 2021 – November 16, 2024)

It is with a mixture of reverence and resignation that we mark the passing of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Football Championship Game, which ran its course from 2021 to 2024. Born out of necessity and competitive spirit, the championship game was both a symbol of renewed structure in Division III football and a showcase of Minnesota grit. It has now joined the annals of college football history—brief, but impactful.

Established in 2021 following the MIAC's reorganization into two divisions (the Northwoods and Skyline), the championship game was created to determine the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Football Championship. This structure was intended to resolve the long-standing dominance of a few programs while reinvigorating competition across the board. For four seasons, it did just that.

The inaugural championship game in 2021 set a dramatic standard that would prove difficult to match. Played in a swirling snowstorm in Arden Hills, it was an instant classic between two MIAC titans: Saint John's and Bethel. With the game on the line, Saint John's orchestrated a stunning 72-yard drive in the final minutes—eight plays capped by a 4th-and-goal touchdown from the Royals' 3-yard line with just one second remaining. It was a signature moment in MIAC history, steeped in tension, grit, and sheer will.

Yet, as the seasons went on, the championship game never quite returned to that same fever pitch. There were memorable plays and worthy champions, but the magic of that first finale in the snow remained unmatched—a reminder that lightning rarely strikes the same field twice.

Ultimately, shifting conference priorities, logistical challenges, and differing visions for the future led to the quiet sunsetting of the MIAC Championship Game after the 2024 season. There was no grand announcement, no farewell ceremony—just the soft close of a chapter that many will look back on with fondness and perhaps a touch of longing.

The MIAC Football Championship Game is survived by the teams and rivalries it helped elevate, the student-athletes who played with passion under late-autumn skies, and the fans who cheered with mittened hands and loyal hearts. Its legacy will linger on campus fields, in stat books, and in the memories of those who witnessed its brief but brilliant existence.

Requiescat in pace, MIAC Championship Game. You were gone too soon, but you burned bright while you lasted.

LOL!

Liked it overall - I'd ask Chat to revise it with a tone that reflected that everyone was actually quite happy to see it die.

Quote from: hazzben on May 22, 2025, 08:51:14 AMIt's weird to me that he's resigned but staying on until Aug 1. Outside of him still wanting a paycheck until he starts at Osseo, how do you not make it effective immediately? You could even pay him until then but still have him be gone right away.

That is odd.  Maybe they have some summer camps for high schoolers that he's agreed to run?

Quote from: hazzben on May 19, 2025, 04:46:53 PMBethel named their new HC for men's b-ball. At first glance I like the fit/hire.

Shame on me - I didn't realize that WI had any D2 basketball programs...though it seems that they're the only one.

Quote from: GoldandBlueBU on April 04, 2025, 01:22:05 PMBethel is on the hunt for a new coach again...

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2025/4/3/mens-basketball-bethel-athletics-announces-change-in-mens-basketball-leadership.aspx

They've found one - good luck to Coach Miller!

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2025/5/19/mens-basketball-bethel-university-names-gabe-miller-as-next-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx

Quote from: hazzben on May 14, 2025, 02:37:01 PMSounds like the MIAC Championship game might still be on the chopping block. Mtgs ongoing but a lot of coaches want to get rid of the rematch games and just play a real round robin.

As in - it might be cut this year still?

Quote from: SagatagSam on May 12, 2025, 10:50:38 AM

Quote from: SagatagSam on May 12, 2025, 10:41:32 AMThe MIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships were a high drama affair in a slugfest for the top spot.  Bethel eeks out a win by a half point over SJU for their second consecutive outdoor crown. Gustavus puts together just enough to finish fifth and secure its first Durenberger Trophy since the 2003-04 school year (sixth overall).

Johnnies look to shore up these standings next year by securing the return of Tudor Flintham, former Johnnie soccer star who led the Gusties soccer program for seven seasons*, taking home four regular season MIAC crowns, one MIAC Playoff title, five trips to the NCAA tournament (including one Elite Eight appearance in 2022).

*includes 2020 COVID season, so six regular non-COVID seasons

I'm going to claim the SAS championship for BU.  Way to go Royals! (Swimming Adjusted Score)

Quote from: hazzben on May 08, 2025, 11:28:43 AMIt was the second half of the season basketball collapse that killed us. Injuries and a player getting kicked off (IIRC) played a role in the 10 game skid to end the year. Sounds like there's been fantastic national interest in the job from conversations I had last week.

Yeah, that's true this year - but unfortunately they haven't really been a strong team at all in the Filzen era.  I've met him, and like him quite a bit, but for whatever reason he couldn't get too much going in his relatively short tenure.  Their best season with him was 23-24 at 13-13.  The rest were losing records.

Quote from: BiggieSmalls on May 07, 2025, 02:54:33 PM

Quote from: SagatagSam on May 06, 2025, 03:46:16 PM

Quote from: GoldandBlueBU on May 06, 2025, 03:15:02 PMInteresting stuff for off-season reading - thanks!

So bethel really shot themselves in the foot by not sweeping St. Mary's in the last baseball set of games - as I'm pretty sure that would have made them regular season champs - as they'd have been tied with Gustavus on record - but swept them in the 2 game set?

It's an extra point left on the table for sure. But, like in any game, the first quarter matters just as much for the final score as the fourth quarter. I'm sure you could look back at the season and say "man, the basketball performance really killed us."

Or, more importantly for Bethel, not having a swimming and diving program really handicaps them. That's at least a couple of points left on the table.

I'd be surprised if Bethel ever added swimming and diving. It looks like the basketball team's struggles this year hurt the most.

Yeah - I can't see that happening...would either require a significant capital investment - or arrangements for some sort of off-site facility, plus staffing...I would have a hard time believing it would draw any or many additional students.

Hopefully someone can right the ship in hoops.  They went from being a regular top 5 team, with the occasional ability to challenge for the top spot, to being far down the standings pretty quickly when Novak left.

Quote from: SagatagSam on May 06, 2025, 02:56:08 PMGustavus sweeps the first two spring sports championships--Tennis (for the 38th year in a row) and baseball--and leaps to a five point lead in the Durenberger Trophy standings. The only problem is that the Gusties' track and field team is not traditionally strong and the Johnnies and Royals are expected to compete for the outdoor track and field championship.

This one will come down to the wire. Probably no margin of victory more than one point either way. Co-Champions a very real possibility.



The Gusties don't have to win the outdoor championship to take home the Durenberger. Bethel is still in it mathematically (technically, I guess). Here are some scenarios:

Gustavus takes home a share of the Durenberger if:
-Gustavus places fifth or higher; OR
-SJU places no greater than five spots higher than Gustavus AND Bethel places no greater than nine spots ahead of Gustavus

SJU takes home a share of the Durenberger if:
-SJU places at least five or more spots higher than Gustavus AND no more than four spots behind Bethel

Bethel takes home a share of the Durenberger if:
-Bethel places at least five spots ahead of SJU AND nine spots ahead of Gustavus. (unlikely)

My prediction is that Bethel eeks out the outdoor championship for the second consecutive year, Johnnies finish second, and Gustavus is a sixth/seventh place team.

Here are some made up numbers for the likelihood of outcomes:
Gustavus wins outright: 20%
Gustavus and SJU share Durenberger: 65%
SJU wins outright: 15%
Three way tie: <0.001%
Bethel wins outright: <0.000001%

Interesting stuff for off-season reading - thanks!

So bethel really shot themselves in the foot by not sweeping St. Mary's in the last baseball set of games - as I'm pretty sure that would have made them regular season champs - as they'd have been tied with Gustavus on record - but swept them in the 2 game set?

Quote from: hazzben on May 02, 2025, 11:53:05 AMYeah, the cynic in me could also read it as "I [Saban] preferred coaching in the days when SEC boosters gave us a cutting edge advantage. This whole everyone is allowed to pay players is for suckers!"

That was my first thought exactly.  He preferred to operate when he had a concealed advantage, and were good and out-maneuvering the rules in order to compensate players.