FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[faunch]

I 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.

Heh. A level four. I haven't seen that used in a few years. I believe someone had published the level rules at one point. Does anybody remember what they all are?

I swear at my age they are all level 4 or above. No such thing as a little hangover anymore.

[gobigred425]

Since the Johnnies and Baptists are both off this week, we can all enjoy UST getting blasted by NDSU. The pioneer league is maybe comparable to the UMAC of FCS football. Hope they get a wake up call as to how far away they actually are.

Props to some of their other sports that have actually been quite competitive. Their men's basketball coach is really really good.

[MadRedFan]

I'm sort of surprised no one has posted this yet, especially given the discussion a while back about SJU's history with DI transfers at QB.  Yesterday's Star-Trib posted its "25 best high school" FB players.  One of the QB's was one  Nathan Ramler, 6-5 230 lb QB from Chanhassen.  Nephew of the famous and highly regarded Kurt Ramler of SJU lore.  He identified his college choice as SJU. Company for Mr. Feeney?? I'll include the link altho I suspect its behind a paywall.

Nathan Ramler
Chanhassen �• senior • quarterback

Born with quarterbacking in his DNA (uncle Kurt Ramler was an All-America QB at St. John's), the 6-5, 230-pounder was the consummate passer, standing tall in the pocket, able to move deftly in small spaces, go through progressions and deliver a strike downfield. He threw 24 touchdown passes without an interception during the regular season. Overall he is 180-for-258 passing for 2,352 yards and 27 touchdowns. College: St. John's

https://varsity.startribune.com/high-school-football-all-minnesota-team-strib-varsity-25-players/601478099

[hazzben]

I've been following D3 football for a long time.  I used to get all worked up about where SJU got seeded and placed in the bracket.

Theres the champ and everybody else.  No trophies for losers.

I still love the analysis many of you do.

There is certainly part of me that feels this way.  I do think it is good for programs to have a positive playoff experience and win a game or two ...

Agree on both counts, the end goal is to be the last team standing. But there is certainly something to be said about deep runs when it comes to experience for a potential run the next year and also recruiting. A "round 2" or first game exit for BU or SJU plays very differently than if one of them makes a run to the quarters, semi's or Stagg Runner up. Those narratives sell on the recruiting trail.

Not to mention the experience of playing a Mount or NCC. Going toe to toe with NCC helps to benchmark where you are. And if you get another matchup in years following that experience matters, as does the confidence of having competed with them prior. I think the 2000 Stagg Bowl no doubt played some part in the 2003 SJU team feeling fully capable of taking down what was being billed as "the best Mount team ever." I know UWW said similar things about the importance of playing Mount in the regular season and playoffs a few times before they broke through.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Not to mention the experience of playing a Mount or NCC. Going toe to toe with NCC helps to benchmark where you are. And if you get another matchup in years following that experience matters, as does the confidence of having competed with them prior. I think the 2000 Stagg Bowl no doubt played some part in the 2003 SJU team feeling fully capable of taking down what was being billed as "the best Mount team ever." I know UWW said similar things about the importance of playing Mount in the regular season and playoffs a few times before they broke through.

I think that's certainly the case.  With this year's BU team being quite young, I think there's going to be tremendous value, if they get to face NCC, as it will show them where the bar is really set, and have most of their horses back next year to try again.

Certainly shouldn't go without saying that I think UW Plateville will also present a very good test, before even getting to North Central.

[faunch]

I'm sort of surprised no one has posted this yet, especially given the discussion a while back about SJU's history with DI transfers at QB.  Yesterday's Star-Trib posted its "25 best high school" FB players.  One of the QB's was one  Nathan Ramler, 6-5 230 lb QB from Chanhassen.  Nephew of the famous and highly regarded Kurt Ramler of SJU lore.  He identified his college choice as SJU. Company for Mr. Feeney?? I'll include the link altho I suspect its behind a paywall.

Nathan Ramler
Chanhassen �• senior • quarterback

Born with quarterbacking in his DNA (uncle Kurt Ramler was an All-America QB at St. John's), the 6-5, 230-pounder was the consummate passer, standing tall in the pocket, able to move deftly in small spaces, go through progressions and deliver a strike downfield. He threw 24 touchdown passes without an interception during the regular season. Overall he is 180-for-258 passing for 2,352 yards and 27 touchdowns. College: St. John's

https://varsity.startribune.com/high-school-football-all-minnesota-team-strib-varsity-25-players/601478099

So Ramler starts 2027-29...Feeney's brother goes D1 for 2 seasons but maybe gets a medical redshirt for one of those two years and then transfers to SJU and plays 3 seasons....there I've got SJU's QB position solved for about the next 7 seasons??

Also I think this dude's brother is currently on the SJU team:
Todd Rogalski
St. Thomas Academy • senior • safety

A 5-11, 175-pound do-it-all player, he's always creating an advantage for the Cadets. He's a whiz on special teams, both blocking punts and returning them. He's made 70 tackles, 13 for loss, intercepted three passes and blocked four punts and a field goal. He also has caught 16 passes, scoring six touchdowns. College: undecided

[art76]

Some 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?

[BDB]

Some 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.

[repete]

Not long out of college I took a job in Dickinson,  N.D., where the crosstown rivalry was the Midgets vs. the Titans. Down the road were the Hebron Brickmakers ... not a basketball school.

Later I moved to Alaska and came across the Aniak Halfbreeds.

[hazzben]

One of the teams in our district in HS was the Esterville Lincoln Central Midgets. Got me wondering if they still were ... even with some pressure applied they are still holding strong.

Looks like Ramler got promoted from WR coach of the Giaguari Torino Tigers to HC. I wonder if SJU would ever do a Spring trip to Italy to play Ramler's team. I have no idea how levels of European American Football work, but IIRC Caruso did a trip like that with UST that included a vatican visit. 

[DuffMan]

I wonder if SJU would ever do a Spring trip to Italy to play Ramler's team.

My inkling is that the program is too frugal for that kind of trip.

[repete]

Did not know that about Ramler. Very cool and underrated city despite its rep as "Detroit of Italy."

[Retired Old Rat]

One of my favorites is the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs

[CHUBBS PETERSON]

A couple mascots of note from this (red)neck of the woods.

The Laurel Hill Hobos

The Cairo (GA) Syrupmakers

[repete]

On an individual level, my personal fav was always the late dogsled racer Herbie Nayokpuk, aka "The Shishmaref Cannonball," although Chuck Wepner, "the Bayonne Bleeder" ain't bad either.