FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hazzben]

Ryan Hoag was a better football player than reality star.

LOL.  Debatable, though.

Was literally gonna type: Correction, was a better reality star than football player. Which isn't saying much 

[repete]

Note the timing on this flip:

https://x.com/CashDanner/status/1992338171364049170?t=-0_nUJLOahbsx_3tnwJqwg&s=19

[Mister36]

I think based on many factors (Scoring, defense, etc) you could say this is the best BU team ever.

Yeah, you could also make the case that the MIAC is WEAK this year, which I definitely think it is.

Agreed...I think BU and / or SJU could get a real eye opener this Saturday. The balance in the MIAC this season was the worst I recall in a long time.

Yesss...more rat poison! I hope the coaches are heaping up a thanksgiving size helping of "People think we are untested and can't compete with the big boys!"

[art76]

I think there are at least two possibilities concerning how the MIAC does this year in the playoffs. Both the Johnnies and the Royals literally rip through their opponents this weekend showcasing how good they are as teams, (and how good the MIAC is), or they squeak out wins and/or are defeated and everyone will jump on the bandwagon of how weak the MIAC is/was this year. Obviously, the supporters of our teams are hoping for the former.

I don't do ESPN+ so I am not able to put eyes on opposing teams to get a gander at how they might fare against BU, but I don't think the Kohawks will have the answer for the Royals multi-faceted offense. Further, I have come around throughout the year on the defensive line play. While anything can happen in a football game, it is my opinion that Bethel and St. John's will both be playing WIAC teams next weekend.

[DuffMan]

Jr just got his trimester 2 schedule.  Phy ed with Mr. Lamker. 

[bleedpurple]

I think there are at least two possibilities concerning how the MIAC does this year in the playoffs. Both the Johnnies and the Royals literally rip through their opponents this weekend showcasing how good they are as teams, (and how good the MIAC is), or they squeak out wins and/or are defeated and everyone will jump on the bandwagon of how weak the MIAC is/was this year. Obviously, the supporters of our teams are hoping for the former.

I don't do ESPN+ so I am not able to put eyes on opposing teams to get a gander at how they might fare against BU, but I don't think the Kohawks will have the answer for the Royals multi-faceted offense. Further, I have come around throughout the year on the defensive line play. While anything can happen in a football game, it is my opinion that Bethel and St. John's will both be playing WIAC teams next weekend.

If the Royals and Johnnies are what they usually are, they will roll this weekend. Next week looks to have a lot of fun games all across the board if the favorites take care of business this weekend.

[CHUBBS PETERSON]

Yeah, you could also make the case that the MIAC is WEAK this year, which I definitely think it is.

Agree that it's much too early to say this is BU's best team. Wasn't able to see '07 or '13 teams in person, but having seen this one it's easy to imagine that they can get there from here. We get to find out, which should be big fun.

The 3-10 in the MIAC being ~50 points behind the 1-2 is well established. Question is does that mean the 3-10 is bad or that the 1-2 are really strong. I don't see it as either/or, but rather that both will turn out to be true. That assumes both SJU and Bethel don't lose important players to injury.

May end up being completely wrong about this, but I think the hand wringing by both fan bases going into these playoffs about how good their teams are is going to prove as unnecessary as the rather panicky response to SJU's loss to Bethel back in October. Sky wasn't falling then, and still don't see it that way.

Plenty of Alabama White BBQ sauce at the ready in the event I must eat this take come Saturday afternoon. 

[CHUBBS PETERSON]

Looking at end of year stats from MIAC this year - MIAC had ZERO 1,000 yard rushers in the conference this year and only one guy with 10+ rushing TDs. Oh how the times have changed...

Tons of passing TD's around the conference. Gustavus freshman QB actually ended with a nice season. Will be a good player for them.

Couple other contributing factors:

1. Bethel and SJU starters played what amounts to nine 2-2.5 quarter games. That's a lot of carries missed.
2. Even with the starters in, Bethel was splitting carries between 2 and even 3 excellent running backs. My hunch is we haven't seen just how good the Manns kid in particular is yet, but we soon will.

Think at least 1 if not both of SJU/BU would've had at least 1 1000 yard RB if they'd been pushed for 4 quarters more often. Yet another hypothetical that we get to see play out going forward.

[USee]

I've heard the "our guys only play 2 quarters a week" argument before. A couple of notes: 1-this is true for many of the top teams still playing and Johns Hopkins, Mt Union, North Central all still have 1,000 yd rushers. And each of those schools have 2 RB's. 2-That's because if you are beating the pants off these teams your RB's are averaging 8 yds per carry instead of 5 yds per carry. Mt Union's top guys have 131 and 75 carries, NCC's top guys have 127 and 85 carries and JHU's top guys have 176 and 94 carries. Bethel's top guys have 131 and 101 carries. This isn't a knock on Bethel, just pointing out the 2 quarters a week excuse is not really relevant. There could be other issues like RPO's, QB run schemes, etc.

[Mister36]

Here's the MIAC Rushing stats - going from highest YPC to lowest. (Apologies for mess, trying to format this from the stats site is awful)

NTL Rank (Total Rush Yards)                  Rcd     Rushes  TOT Yd   YPC     TDs     RushYds Per Game

89   Saint John's (MN) (MIAC)                    9-1   257   1,567   6.10   24   156.7
16   Bethel (MN) (MIAC)                             10-0   440   2,286   5.20   30   228.6
67   Concordia-M'head (MIAC)                   7-3   365   1,717   4.70   18   171.7
126   St. Scholastica (MIAC)                      3-7   310   1,366   4.41   14   136.6
69   St. Olaf (MIAC)                                       4-6   404   1,703   4.22   16   170.3
197   Carleton (MIAC)                                      6-4   230    830       3.61   14      83.0
186   Gustavus Adolphus (MIAC)                   5-5   275   948     3.45   11   94.8
136   Macalester (MIAC)                                 3-7   419   1,297   3.10   11   129.7
210   Hamline (MIAC)                                      1-9     254   765           3.01   6   76.5
219   Augsburg (MIAC)                                     4-6   269   695     2.58   4   69.5

[hazzben]

I've heard the "our guys only play 2 quarters a week" argument before. A couple of notes: 1-this is true for many of the top teams still playing and Johns Hopkins, Mt Union, North Central all still have 1,000 yd rushers. And each of those schools have 2 RB's. 2-That's because if you are beating the pants off these teams your RB's are averaging 8 yds per carry instead of 5 yds per carry. Mt Union's top guys have 131 and 75 carries, NCC's top guys have 127 and 85 carries and JHU's top guys have 176 and 94 carries. Bethel's top guys have 131 and 101 carries. This isn't a knock on Bethel, just pointing out the 2 quarters a week excuse is not really relevant. There could be other issues like RPO's, QB run schemes, etc.

Agree with the 2.5 quarters argument. Fist, Bethel wasn't pulling guys that early most games, if any. You can't argue for that if you watched the games.

What I'll say is this, Frosh Manns > Frosh Geebli (pre-broken ankle Coach J said he'd be the best back BU ever had). Manns is a talent that is barely scratching the surface of how good he'll be. Different Olines and OC's but Manns is really really good.

[GoldandBlueBU]

I've heard the "our guys only play 2 quarters a week" argument before. A couple of notes: 1-this is true for many of the top teams still playing and Johns Hopkins, Mt Union, North Central all still have 1,000 yd rushers. And each of those schools have 2 RB's. 2-That's because if you are beating the pants off these teams your RB's are averaging 8 yds per carry instead of 5 yds per carry. Mt Union's top guys have 131 and 75 carries, NCC's top guys have 127 and 85 carries and JHU's top guys have 176 and 94 carries. Bethel's top guys have 131 and 101 carries. This isn't a knock on Bethel, just pointing out the 2 quarters a week excuse is not really relevant. There could be other issues like RPO's, QB run schemes, etc.

Agree with the 2.5 quarters argument. Fist, Bethel wasn't pulling guys that early most games, if any. You can't argue for that if you watched the games.

What I'll say is this, Frosh Manns > Frosh Geebli (pre-broken ankle Coach J said he'd be the best back BU ever had). Manns is a talent that is barely scratching the surface of how good he'll be. Different Olines and OC's but Manns is really really good.

In this world of transfer portal, it makes me wonder if he'll be plucked by a D2...or maybe even an FCS.