I've seen River Falls in person and streamed and they are obviously impressive.

John Hopkins impressed me with their balance and is right there at the same level.

What a crazy, entertaining game.

I remember a Stout assistant telling me after they had played UWRF when Owen Schmidt was there, that in the handshake line he said to Schmidt "you don't belong here."    Schmidt replied with something like" I won't be next year."

And he wasn't.

Twin Cities TV station story on UWRF making it to the semi-finals. (with media availability video)

https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/uw-river-falls-advances-to-first-ncaa-semifinal-and-will-host-again-this-saturday/

We've got 2 local teams in the quarter finals that are about 45 minutes apart.

Western Wiscy forecast for Saturday is 3 above. Naperville probably plenty cold too.

Good times. Dress warm fredfalcon!

Quote from: DuffMan on December 02, 2025, 02:58:57 PMWill RF be charging for tailgate spots?

Ahh yes, the legend of the picnic table in the parking spot. It's been quite awhile since sometime in the 2000's but it is seared in my memory as if yesterday.

It was a beautiful, early season day in River Falls as the Johnnies were coming to town. My radio show that existed then was on location for the occasion, with a segment about the D3 boards included. Interview personalities included in person Johnnie Red, finsleft, I think section105(but not sure) and even the Guru by phone.

After the show which ended at 10am the main host on the show StoutGuy and I joined the Johnnie tailgate at Ramer Field. To understand the layout at Ramer, you either have to park somewhere and walk a long way or pay the $5 bucks to park in the massive parking lot.

At the festivities, as far as people I knew, included other posters around today including Duffman. Even Janesville  Flash showed up. Things were getting rolling with Hamm's flowing and Johnnie Red burgers frying when some folks moved a picnic table into a parking spot amongst the crowd. That's where the story happens.

The parking lot Czar came by and said the picnic table was in a parking spot and that required a $5 payment. It took a bit for us to realize he was serious, and StoutGuy got into a discussion with the Czar as he knew him previously. Well, StoutGuy tried his best but the Czar was holding firm on the need for $5 for the spot, even though there was no way with all the people standing around etc. that anyone would try to park there. Plus, as I stated earlier, it's a large parking lot with lot's of spaces available at that time.

The group decision was not to give into this tyranny, and folks picked up the criminal picnic table and moved it about 20 feet onto the grass. Problem solved, Czar left.

That's the legend of the picnic table in the parking spot. Beware of not crossing that line this Saturday or suffer the consequences!

Twin Cities television feature on UWRF's Blaha:

https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/fridleys-blaha-leads-uwrf-football-through-historic-season-and-into-playoffs/

Wait until they are freezing their rear ends off at Ramer. It's always windy there.

River will lean all over them by 40+.

palum missed the basketball board "juuust a bit outside."

Quote from: art76 on November 20, 2025, 07:58:36 AMSome pointless trivia - looking at the brackets again this morning I remembered that Crown College used to have as their "mascot" the Storm. They changed it back in 22. And now they get to play the Wheaton Thunder in their first playoff game. Hopefully, they have some lightening in a bottle.

In other news, if the Mules lose their first round game, they set us up for a Mount Union - Union game. (Not original to me, saw it posted elsewhere.)

Bracket capsules are out - I didn't see any real surprises. It looks to be a real good tourney with a lot of really good teams. To be the best, you have to beat the rest, right?

Pointless trivia, yes Art. But quality entertainment none the less.

I love unique team names. Once I was in Lanesboro MN. and happened to drive by the football stadium.

"Home of the Burros" it said. That would make them the Lanesboro Burros. Excellent.

Quote from: DuffMan on November 19, 2025, 10:19:16 AMI gave in on 11/1--was happy to make it to November, but it was getting chilly and I was nursing a level 4 Halloween hangover.

Understood. Making it to November is a solid accomplishment.

Once Redtooth dropped out you had an open field and still ran until Xcel Energy was getting suspicious.

You and ROR are the champs once again!

Speaking of trophies, I believe Duffman is the only one left in the open division of the "Last On Furnace" competition, and Retired Old Rat in the common wall division.

If that is the case, then the "Golden Thermostat Award" is once again presented to Duffman, and the "Golden Thermostat Jr Award" goes to ROR!

Congratulations gentlemen, and enjoy the trophies on your fireplace mantle whenever you decide to light it up. 

Fred, I'll be looking for you today. Stoutguy and I will be first row blue seats 50 yard line.
Stop by and say hi so I can check out the status of the handlebar these days. 

Dining on the "2 for $25" (with a +5 upgrade) at the local Applebee's with the spousal unit Friday afternoon, when a gagle of CSB clad young ladies came in. As the staff pushed together a few tables to accommodate the dozen or so, I was trying to come up with what they were in town for, as I have a pretty good idea of the competitions going on with the local D3.

SJU men's hockey here on Saturday night but this group wouldn't have anything to do with that.

Maybe they were a debate team? Maybe just passing through?

I figured it out a bit later:

https://gobennies.com/news/2025/11/14/womens-cross-country-preview-csb-cross-country-team-will-compete-at-the-ncaa-diii-north-region-championships-on-saturday.aspx

I know that local 18 track well. Someone warn the Bennie harriers that if they run out of bounds on hole #14 they might trip on one of my many Titleists I was too irritated to retrieve.

Good luck College of St. Benedict Cross Country! 

I think that 2 stalwarts like Redtooth dropping out before the awarding of the Golden Thermostat trophy and Duffman stating that he may be close, is as good of a sign of a colder than normal winter coming than anything put out by the Farmer's Almanac or the collective meteorologists of KMSP, KSTP, WCCO and KARE.

Change your furnace filters and dig out the flannel sheets everybody, the sure signs are there.

Meanwhile, the competition continues. As Dusty would say "Developing....."

I see the natives are getting restless, so as Commissioner of the Annual Golden Thermostat "Last On" competition, I declare the games open!

Eligibility: You must reside in a Canada facing cone from northern Iowa, west up through eastern Dakotas and east including the entire state of Wiscy. We will throw in the UP for good measure.

Rule #1: On the honor system, if your home thermostat is turned to "heat" and your machine in the basement kicks in firing up the fossil fuels to blow heat throughout the domicile you must post on here that you are out!

Rule #2: Heat producing fireplaces, electric heaters etc. are considered the same as the Rheem, Amana or whatever in your basement. Basically, if you are enjoying any source of heat in your home besides the sunshine through your window or your hot wife, you are out of the competition.

Now, I will caution any rookies to this competition,it is not to be taken lightly. We have veterans to this that will challenge the very extremes of household comfort.

Exclusions: Any heat you enjoy in your car, at your friends, at work etc does not count. This competition turf is your domicile where you call home.

Good luck! We have a multiple time champ in Duffman that will once again be tough to beat, and Retired Old Rat has owned the common wall category.

That being said, "I'm Out!" Never a contender but always warm.