FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sfury]

The rare Triple Monkey Stompout^TM!

Sfury, how was the visitor's side?

Shaded! At least for first half. Then we went to the track on Johnnies' side and bumped into my old roommates and chatted with them for second half, before leaving bit early so I could show my uncle--attending his first SJU game--the campus. Unfortunately Rat Hall was closed for the ceremony because I wanted to show him where I lit it up in pickup hoops. Also his brother played there for Hamline in early 70s. Augsburg fans were pretty docile. Excited for that first down on the opening drive but that was about it. It was poignant seeing one of the linemen going up and down the sideline right before halftime going "It's zero-zero," to each teammate. Alas.

Just a random note how these first three games have been so odd to watch offensively. Because of the competition each QB is basically doing the same thing--scoring every time. While also looking exactly the same--left-handed with similar throwing motions to my amateur eyes. Obviously seems like at some point one of them will take the mantle but when we beat Mount Union in 2003 the Purple Raiders had a two-QB system that worked remarkably well (until the last game).

This has maybe been discussed here so apologies if so but I haven't been around the neighborhood as much. Is the Johnnie Underground Newsletter no more? No emails and then I checked the site and hasn't been updated since last year. I know Wicker's not a young pup and that was a ton of work.

Also is anyone part of this: https://www.johnniefootballnetwork.org/

I'd be interested in it, especially if there's lots of old game films on there, which it looks like might be the case. And of course to help support the program with $.

[hazzben]

This is a hard game to assess since neither team has played anyone of note, outside of an average GAC team.

SJU's D numbers are legit, regardless of who they've played. And the 2 qb setup with each possessing unique playing styles makes it a touch game to scheme for Bethel's D.

Bethel's oline and run game have looked outstanding. Geebli and Manns are a terrific 1 - 2 punch, but I wish we were more committed to just pounding teams. Tyler Terry and Albert Rundell look really solid at WR, but Drews hasn't been as sharp throwing this year. Feels like I'm being very nit-picky, but he's missing throws that IMO we should be hitting. Sometimes I feel like we are just being too cute offensively, but maybe that was just game planning against lesser opponents to get reps in the passing game. Roman Janes at TE from OT is a nice development.

Bethel D is going to be good down the stretch. I like our front, #0 Whiting and #47 Conant are ballers. Devin Williams looks awesome in the middle of the field at safety. But we are still young on that side and I'd expect it to show at times Saturday.

Keys to the game IMO:

SJU:
- stop the early series run game and force Bethel into obvious passing situations.
- run effectively and then spread the ball around to playmakers in space ... first game last year SJU ran better than expected. When they get one dimensional throwing it's easier to call the game defensively.

Bethel:
- Drews is efficient throwing the ball, and we are passing because we want to, not because down and distance require it
- Stick with the run, even if it's limited early
- No special teams miscues, we've had multiple muffed punt returns this year
- Contain the run and limit multiple chunk passes to Gendreau, Wheeler, and Schwellenbach

SJU is great throwing and defending the pass, Bethel looks great running and defending the run. SJU looks better against the run than Bethel does against the pass. But that's skewed a bit by the 4th quarter numbers Hamline's starting O and new QB put up against the Bethel backups in the 4th quarter last Saturday.

[hazzben]

Statistically the teams lead in almost all categories for the conference:

Scoring O: 1 SJU - 57/g, 2 Bethel - 51/g
Scoring D: 1 SJU - 0, 2 Bethel - 7.3
Offense: 1 SJU - 576, 2 Bethel - 518
Defense: 1 SJU - 151, 2 Bethel - 221
Rush O: 1 Bethel - 249, 3 SJU - 210
Rush D: 1 Bethel - 15.7, 2 SJU - 47.7
Pass O: 1 SJU - 336, 4 Bethel - 269
Pass D: 1 SJU - 104, 4 Bethel - 205
O Eff: 1 SJU, 3 Bethel
D Eff: 1 SJU, 3 Bethel
1st Downs: 1 Bethel, 2 SJU .... Opp 1st Downs: 1 SJU, 2 Bethel
3rd Down Conv: 1 SJU, 2 Bethel .... Opp 3rd Down Conv: 1 Bethel, 2 SJU

[GoldandBlueBU]

Bethel D is going to be good down the stretch. I like our front, #0 Whiting and #47 Conant are ballers. Devin Williams looks awesome in the middle of the field at safety. But we are still young on that side and I'd expect it to show at times Saturday.

I was excited to see that Whiting was going to BU - watched a fair bit of Centennial football when he was a senior on their state title run, as that is where my kids go, and he was an important part of their success.  (SJU's Maverick Harper was too - looks like he's only logged a couple of touches so far)  The starting QB from that team went to SJU as well (Daylen Cummings), but I don't see him on the roster this year.

[DuffMan]

Also is anyone part of this: https://www.johnniefootballnetwork.org/

I am, but I haven't really explored it.  I thought it was just for football aluns, but that doesn't look to be the case.
 

[sfury]

Also is anyone part of this: https://www.johnniefootballnetwork.org/

I am, but I haven't really explored it.  I thought it was just for football aluns, but that doesn't look to be the case.
 

And anyone who passed Theory of Football with John, so I'm good.

[faunch]

If i were BU and win the coin flip on Saturday I would receive and test out the SJU run defense. The last couple of seasons the Johnnies Achilles heel has been a defense that struggled to slow down running games and cover teams throwing to backs out of the backfield.

SJU has made some cool YouTube videos this fall in which players have stated a desire to be a shut down defense. I guess Saturday is the day to prove that.

I think it's almost impossible to shutdown a good offense...but a defense needs to make significant stops in a game.

[DuffMan]

And anyone who passed Theory of Football with John, so I'm good.

Did you get an A, too?

[OzJohnnie]

Also is anyone part of this: https://www.johnniefootballnetwork.org/

I am, but I haven't really explored it.  I thought it was just for football aluns, but that doesn't look to be the case.
 

I was seemingly signed up to it automatically with a note from the underground newsletter that it was winding up.  I get a weekly email but it doesn't compare to Wick's.

[OzJohnnie]

Statistically the teams lead in almost all categories for the conference:

Scoring O: 1 SJU - 57/g, 2 Bethel - 51/g
Scoring D: 1 SJU - 0, 2 Bethel - 7.3
Offense: 1 SJU - 576, 2 Bethel - 518
Defense: 1 SJU - 151, 2 Bethel - 221
Rush O: 1 Bethel - 249, 3 SJU - 210
Rush D: 1 Bethel - 15.7, 2 SJU - 47.7
Pass O: 1 SJU - 336, 4 Bethel - 269
Pass D: 1 SJU - 104, 4 Bethel - 205
O Eff: 1 SJU, 3 Bethel
D Eff: 1 SJU, 3 Bethel
1st Downs: 1 Bethel, 2 SJU .... Opp 1st Downs: 1 SJU, 2 Bethel
3rd Down Conv: 1 SJU, 2 Bethel .... Opp 3rd Down Conv: 1 Bethel, 2 SJU

Yet again, I find myself wishing this game had been scheduled in the last week of the season.  It would be nice if they could schedule mismatches early and progress toward competitive matchups in the last few weeks.  Seed the schedule each year off the previous year's results.

[faunch]

Statistically the teams lead in almost all categories for the conference:

Scoring O: 1 SJU - 57/g, 2 Bethel - 51/g
Scoring D: 1 SJU - 0, 2 Bethel - 7.3
Offense: 1 SJU - 576, 2 Bethel - 518
Defense: 1 SJU - 151, 2 Bethel - 221
Rush O: 1 Bethel - 249, 3 SJU - 210
Rush D: 1 Bethel - 15.7, 2 SJU - 47.7
Pass O: 1 SJU - 336, 4 Bethel - 269
Pass D: 1 SJU - 104, 4 Bethel - 205
O Eff: 1 SJU, 3 Bethel
D Eff: 1 SJU, 3 Bethel
1st Downs: 1 Bethel, 2 SJU .... Opp 1st Downs: 1 SJU, 2 Bethel
3rd Down Conv: 1 SJU, 2 Bethel .... Opp 3rd Down Conv: 1 Bethel, 2 SJU

Yet again, I find myself wishing this game had been scheduled in the last week of the season.  It would be nice if they could schedule mismatches early and progress toward competitive matchups in the last few weeks.  Seed the schedule each year off the previous year's results.

But that would actually make sense. It would be a good compromise now that the divisions and the championship week are gone.

[Retired Old Rat]

Also is anyone part of this: https://www.johnniefootballnetwork.org/

I'd be interested in it, especially if there's lots of old game films on there, which it looks like might be the case. And of course to help support the program with $.

Yes, on the network.  I think one of my '78 classmates is behind it.

Bob Wicker hung it up on the UNN.  Just got to be too much stress and too much work for him.  Sorry to see it die but good for Bob.

[art76]

Yet again, I find myself wishing this game had been scheduled in the last week of the season.  It would be nice if they could schedule mismatches early and progress toward competitive matchups in the last few weeks.  Seed the schedule each year off the previous year's results.

This.

[sfury]

And anyone who passed Theory of Football with John, so I'm good.

Did you get an A, too?

John's line to us: "This is pass-fail because they made me stop giving grades when I gave an A to some guy who'd been dead the last eight weeks of the semester."

I told my uncle this story the other day (and by the way, he's a longtime PA guy for Marshall and Southwest State sports and was blown away by the Johnnie gameday experience and the campus). When I got to meet John in 2016 we had an awesome talk (he loved talking to my dad too and dad said, "I just wanted to ask him questions but he was so interested in listening to me. That was amazing.") and at one point after I stood up to my full 6-3 height he goes, "Jesus, we could have used you out on the field at receiver."

I said, "John, if you had guys like me out there you would have won 489 fewer games than you did." He liked that.

[repete]

Looks like the YouTubers from d1rejects will be setting up their show in Arden Hills on Saturday.

Would not be surprised by a Reusse appearance. Fair to assume that it will be Pat's destination as well.
(Have not checked the podcast this week.)

The d3 media landscape has become a bit more interesting over the past few years. The Inside the Huddle crew seems to be trying to moderate its East provincialism and the d1reject newbs seem to be getting under its skin.

Pass the popcorn.