FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[USTBench]

Is anyone planning on going to the Sportscenter broadcast?  Were I a single guy, I might go, but I know the Mrs. and the kids would like to go to the game, so I plan on rolling in later in the morning.  I need to formulate a parking plan...

I went to Gameday in Fargo last year. Neat for about 30 seconds, but if you don't get there early enough to get within 10 feet of the stage you won't hear anything. You'll be like "Cool, there's ESPN...well, okay then."

It's not ESPN "Gameday" that's setting up in Collegeville Saturday morning, it's ESPN "SportsCenter on the Road".  They'll basically set-up a studio on campus and do the early morning broadcast from there.  The content of the show will not solely be on the Tommie/Johnnie game, most will be an update on Friday sports results and key college match-ups for that day.  There will also be a segment on the SJU/UST rivalry and each school.  I'm planning on going up as it should be unique and fun, and will help me get a parking spot before the traffic hits.

I know all of this. That was not the point.

My bad, I should have figured you knew it all.

If you want to get up at 5AM so you can stand around for 3 hours and have a producer tell you when to cheer because you literally have no idea what's going on because you can't hear anything, be my guest, it's your world, I just live in it. 

For the record, I think it's very cool that ESPN is coming to Collegeville, but I'd rather watch the segment at home and then go tailgate later.

[DuffMan]

Are you coming down, Bench?

[Boys of Fall]

Loving all the jokes on here!

First half was tight at Augsburg. Knights actually managed to have the lead at halftime. Unfortunately, second half was like night and day. Augsburg has some real good weapons. Sonnenfeld had a scary moment where it looked like he might have really hurt his arm, but he returned back to game and I'm sure all of Auggie-land breathed a deep sigh of relief. Anyway, some positives for the Knights and maybe they'll be able to knock off a team they're not supposed to.

The first half was close, too close for me. The botched field goal turned in to a td just before half was frustrating to watch but hats off to the Carleton kid that got open and caught the ball. I hope Carleton wins several MIAC games the rest of the way. Next up for AUG is GAC.

The AUG/GAC game might be flying under the radar this week, but this will be an interesting game.  The winner will be setting itself up for a challenge to get to the top tier of the conference and loser will have an uphill battle.  Should be quite the shootout.

[USTBench]

Are you coming down, Bench?

Really hoping to. I've got a little guy now, but he's only 5 months old. Hoping Mrs. Bench gives me the go ahead.

Built up some equity last week taking the little guy for 3 days single dad style while she helped her sister get ready for her wedding.

[DuffMan]

Built up some equity last week taking the little guy for 3 days single dad style while she helped her sister get ready for her wedding.

I'd say that earns you a day pass, but I've been wrong before!  On second thought, bring the little guy along.  It's never too early for him to witness the Tommies lose to the Johnnies.  You'd might as well get him used to it now.

[art76]

Week 4 in the MIAC

Well, last week's games are a matter of history now and from them we can glean a little more information on how this year's conference race is shaking out. Hamline is idle this week. The four games this week are:

Concordia at St. Olaf. This game has all the makings of a second straight drubbing at home for the Oles. The Cobbers will be wanting to take out some of their frustration from last week's loss to St. John's. I think a valid question is, will the Oles score any points this week?

The second game this week is Carleton travelling up to Arden hills to take on the Royals. Bethel looks to have made a decision concerning their QB situation, having started Anderson last week against the Oles. Now back at home with a win under his freshman belt, we'll see if Trey and company can serve some lunch to the Knights. Carleton showed a bit more fortitude than I expected against the Auggies, so this won't be a push-over win for Bethel.

Augsburg at Gustavus - This is the game for the week that will fly under the radar in the conference because of the fourth game in the MIAC this week. Each of these two games this early in the season will determine a bit of the pecking order for the remainder of the season. I'm going to wimp out on this one and call it a pretty even game. Looking at some of the indicators one might favor the Gusties, but in the season opener the Auggies played well against Wartburg and this gives me pause to count them out. This could easily be a final possession kind of game that determines the winner. I do expect in this game, which could determine the fourth,  fifth or sixth place positions in the conference at the end of the year,  that they will score more points than the teams playing in game four this week.

And finally the game of the week, where St. Thomas goes up to play St. John's in Collegeville, MN. With all the hoopla over ESPN being there along with a beautiful sunny day forecast that Saturday, I won't be surprised if the official attendance is over the 20,000 mark. With all that, there is still a football game that has to be played. I think the Johnnies win this lower scoring game, that is, compared to  the Gusties Auggies game.  I might even dare say that they'll win by two scores. St. Thomas is for real and they have had a week to recover and make up a few trick plays, but I don't think they'll have what it takes to slow down Sura and Bungham.  It is also my opinion this year that the Tommie offense isn't quite what it has been in the past, and that it will cost them the game.

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
Please note Whitewater at Morningside is Thursday night.
WEEK 3 STANDINGS:


WEEK 4 Sept. 24/26

Rivalry: 4pts
#12 St. Thomas (+7.5) @ #8 St. John's "The Holy Grail"
Concordia @ St. Olaf (+38.5) "The Troll"

Conference: 3pts
Augsburg (+6.5) @ Gustavus
Carleton (+28.5) @ #23 Bethel

West Region: 1pt
THURSDAY #1 UW-Whitewater (+8.5) @ #2 (NAIA) Morningside

National: 1pt
#5 Wesley @ #22 North Central (+7.5)

[GoldandBlueBU]

Hoping to pick up on Glennn's mojo?

[USTBench]

Week 4 in the MIAC

Well, last week's games are a matter of history now and from them we can glean a little more information on how this year's conference race is shaking out. Hamline is idle this week. The four games this week are:

Concordia at St. Olaf. This game has all the makings of a second straight drubbing at home for the Oles. The Cobbers will be wanting to take out some of their frustration from last week's loss to St. John's. I think a valid question is, will the Oles score any points this week?

The second game this week is Carleton travelling up to Arden hills to take on the Royals. Bethel looks to have made a decision concerning their QB situation, having started Anderson last week against the Oles. Now back at home with a win under his freshman belt, we'll see if Trey and company can serve some lunch to the Knights. Carleton showed a bit more fortitude than I expected against the Auggies, so this won't be a push-over win for Bethel.

Augsburg at Gustavus - This is the game for the week that will fly under the radar in the conference because of the fourth game in the MIAC this week. Each of these two games this early in the season will determine a bit of the pecking order for the remainder of the season. I'm going to wimp out on this one and call it a pretty even game. Looking at some of the indicators one might favor the Gusties, but in the season opener the Auggies played well against Wartburg and this gives me pause to count them out. This could easily be a final possession kind of game that determines the winner. I do expect in this game, which could determine the fourth,  fifth or sixth place positions in the conference at the end of the year,  that they will score more points than the teams playing in game four this week.

And finally the game of the week, where St. Thomas goes up to play St. John's in Collegeville, MN. With all the hoopla over ESPN being there along with a beautiful sunny day forecast that Saturday, I won't be surprised if the official attendance is over the 20,000 mark. With all that, there is still a football game that has to be played. I think the Johnnies win this lower scoring game, that is, compared to  the Gusties Auggies game.  I might even dare say that they'll win by two scores. St. Thomas is for real and they have had a week to recover and make up a few trick plays, but I don't think they'll have what it takes to slow down Sura and Bungham.  It is also my opinion this year that the Tommie offense isn't quite what it has been in the past, and that it will cost them the game.

[/b]

UW-Eau Claire and UWL not exactly great litmus tests, but I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you. Jordan Roberts, the USD transfer, has looked good taking the lion's share of the rushes thus far, which takes a load off of Nick Waldvogel, who took a pretty good beating against SJU last year. Now Waldvogel can focus on his WR duties and returning punts. UST found it's greatest success last year running the ball with Kaiser, and with Roberts and Kaiser as a nice 1-2 punch for UST I think it has the potential to control the clock and wear on the Johnnies late. They are big guys running downhill behind a big O-Line.

Additionally, Matt O'Connell just didn't have "it" last year. I think that time spent rehabbing his broken leg hurt his timing and made him a bit apprehensive in what I felt was his best attribute: his ability to run the football. O'Connell was a true dual threat in 2012. I think Gould is plenty accurate in completing 65% of his passes last year. I think his lack of success against SJU was borne more out of desperation and trying to play catch-up after being thrown in in the second half, but he's been in big spots since and has performed okay. Gould as the sole QB is 1-1 in what I would classify as "big games." He was outstanding against Concordia and did an okay job against Wartburg last year.

Finally, it looks like UST may have their first proverbial "homerun hitter" since the (Fritz) Waldvogel-Tracy-Wartman era in Charlie Dowdle. He's coming off of a 13 TD season last year and already has 240 yards receiving and 3 TDs this year. It looked like Brenton Braddock could've been that guy, but he kind of tapered-off. I don't know if it's because Caruso hasn't found a lot of game changers, or if he's just been apprehensive about relying too much on one or two guys, but it's been a few years since UST has had a "big play guy" on O, but I think Dowdle could be that dude this year.

If UST has a shot on Saturday it'll be a bend don't break philosophy with Sura, not letting Bungum get behind them and having the ability to run the football. I really think they can find success pounding the rock with Kaiser and Roberts.

[SagatagSam]

... I won't be surprised if the official attendance is over the 20,000 mark. ...

20,000 is pretty big. The best the rivalry could muster was a little over 16,000 in a game that combined Johnnie-Tommie AND SJU Homecoming.

However, I wouldn't complain if it were above 20k. That would be awesome.

[sjusection105]

If UST has a shot on Saturday it'll be a bend don't break philosophy with Sura, not letting Bungum get behind them and having the ability to run the football. I really think they can find success pounding the rock with Kaiser and Roberts.

Glenn can game plan all he wants to stop Bungum, while Evan Clark gets open deep. I'm just saying that Sura & Bungum are great player but are not the only scoring threats SJU has.

[USTBench]

If UST has a shot on Saturday it'll be a bend don't break philosophy with Sura, not letting Bungum get behind them and having the ability to run the football. I really think they can find success pounding the rock with Kaiser and Roberts.

Glenn can game plan all he wants to stop Bungum, while Evan Clark gets open deep. I'm just saying that Sura & Bungum are great player but are not the only scoring threats SJU has.

Okay. I'll amend my hot take. UST has a shot as long as Sura, Bungum, Clark, Krueger, Taylor, Barber, Johnston, Martin, Marshall, Skiba, Benson, Simon, Anderson, Blatz, Miller, Barwick and Johnson all get diarrhea on their hot white pants, and EVEN then it's like a 50/50 shot it won't be a double monkey stomp because SJU rolls 937 players deep and they're all potential All-Americans.

[GoldandBlueBU]

If UST has a shot on Saturday it'll be a bend don't break philosophy with Sura, not letting Bungum get behind them and having the ability to run the football. I really think they can find success pounding the rock with Kaiser and Roberts.

Glenn can game plan all he wants to stop Bungum, while Evan Clark gets open deep. I'm just saying that Sura & Bungum are great player but are not the only scoring threats SJU has.

Okay. I'll amend my hot take. UST has a shot as long as Sura, Bungum, Clark, Krueger, Taylor, Barber, Johnston, Martin, Marshall, Skiba, Benson, Simon, Anderson, Blatz, Miller, Barwick and Johnson all get diarrhea on their hot white pants, and EVEN then it's like a 50/50 shot it won't be a double monkey stomp because SJU rolls 937 players deep and they're all potential All-Americans.

That's a good effort, but you forgot to mention Johnnie Magic.

[sjusection105]

If UST has a shot on Saturday it'll be a bend don't break philosophy with Sura, not letting Bungum get behind them and having the ability to run the football. I really think they can find success pounding the rock with Kaiser and Roberts.

Glenn can game plan all he wants to stop Bungum, while Evan Clark gets open deep. I'm just saying that Sura & Bungum are great player but are not the only scoring threats SJU has.

Okay. I'll amend my hot take. UST has a shot as long as Sura, Bungum, Clark, Krueger, Taylor, Barber, Johnston, Martin, Marshall, Skiba, Benson, Simon, Anderson, Blatz, Miller, Barwick and Johnson all get diarrhea on their hot white pants, and EVEN then it's like a 50/50 shot it won't be a double monkey stomp because SJU rolls 937 players deep and they're all potential All-Americans.

Yea, I guess we can take that answer. That leaves Sundly , D. Harrington and Streit uncoverd. 

[Pat Coleman]

... I won't be surprised if the official attendance is over the 20,000 mark. ...

20,000 is pretty big. The best the rivalry could muster was a little over 16,000 in a game that combined Johnnie-Tommie AND SJU Homecoming.

However, I wouldn't complain if it were above 20k. That would be awesome.

I don't know how SJU would process 20,000 people in and out of campus, and I might think it would be borderline dangerously full in the Bowl.