FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

Who's still master of his/her domain?  This could be a record-setting year!

[Redtooth]

I have read the last couple pages and want to respond to a couple items; the issue of players (QBs or other positions) that "deserve to play" or "would have played" if it weren't for a better player (D1 transfer or anyone else for that matter) are playing with fire......as a former coach that was fortunate to coach in two Stagg Bowls and 4 consecutive semifinals or better I learned the hard way that starting/playing time for all positions needs to be/should be determined based on whether or not that player could start in the Stagg Bowl against North Central/Mount Union and perform at a level high enough to help his team win the National Championship.  That level of qualitative player analysis doesn't add weight to a player's year in school or whether or not "he's a good guy and put in his time"......Both Erdmann and Syverson, while transfers, were heavily recruited by SJU prior to their one year attempts at the FBS.  Neither one of those two was a 1 year "hired gun" as somewhat insinuated by the people questioning SJU's QB room.  I would also point out one of the most obvious issues of college football at all levels in 2025......NO ONE wants to be the backup QB on any roster, EVERYONE believes they are good enough to be the starter.  Few are willing to work and develop and those that do are star performers.


On the issue of running game production vs throwing the ball 50x game.........offensive line architecture and their performance determines the balance or lack of it for an offense.  Last season's line with a healthy Caden Wheeler would have significantly altered the passing emphasis with Aaron needing to throw 50x game late in the season.

[hazzben]

You're definitely not wrong about QB patience nowadays. I think one of the hardest things to navigate is it used to be a guy might wait 2 years for his shot. Which meant you had some depth behind your starter. Now it's start early or transfer. Which I get at QB, where there's only one spot and one guy. But that does make it hard to have quality depth at your most important position. 


What's wild are the kids even at the small college level that transfer 2 or 3 times.

[faunch]

Paid $17 per ticket to go watch The Ohio St Buckeyes beat the hell out of Bucky!

[sfury]

Feel like there's always a lot of angst on this board about SJU's defense not being what it once was. But they've now given up 23 points in six games, six in garbage time, 17 on the road to a team that has scored 50, 41, 62, 56 and 64 in their other games. Obviously the competition is part of that (for both SJU limiting teams and Bethel scoring that many) but jeez...that's still pretty good. We can still enjoy good performances without thinking SJU hasn't had a good defense since 2003 just because they give up a third and 15.

[hazzben]

Drew's must have taken offense to posts about Bethel being more run first this year. 15 of 19 for 350 yds and 3 TD's. #11 Eckert had 3 for 85 and a TD, but Rundell stole the show with 11 rec for 246 yds and 2 TD's. I'm assuming #5 set a new school record with that. I'm feeling much better than I thought I would when the top WR for Bethel went down with a broken collarbone on the first drive of the season.

I got to take in a different small college classic on a recruiting visit with my son in Orange City, IA. Northwestern beat #4 Morningside 14-13 with 3 starting OLineman still injured after the team bus got into a car accident last week on the drive to Briar Cliff. Great atmosphere, fun to see other top teams from another corner of the small college universe. 

[sjujohnnie]

Drew's must have taken offense to posts about Bethel being more run first this year. 15 of 19 for 350 yds and 3 TD's. #11 Eckert had 3 for 85 and a TD, but Rundell stole the show with 11 rec for 246 yds and 2 TD's. I'm assuming #5 set a new school record with that. I'm feeling much better than I thought I would when the top WR for Bethel went down with a broken collarbone on the first drive of the season.

I got to take in a different small college classic on a recruiting visit with my son in Orange City, IA. Northwestern beat #4 Morningside 14-13 with 3 starting OLineman still injured after the team bus got into a car accident last week on the drive to Briar Cliff. Great atmosphere, fun to see other top teams from another corner of the small college universe. 

As I've mentioned before, my wife graduated from Morningside before they dropped down to the NAIA level. She has a cousin whose son is a senior at Morningside. My youngest brother's brother-in-law played at Northwestern years ago and it's actually his birthday today so he's no doubt excited about the upset win! St John's strengh coach is a Northwestern grad. They seem to have been down a little from their peak, but then again so has Morningside. Morningside's defense has given up a ton of points. I guess my daughter's freshman homecoming date 3 years ago is going to attend Northwestern next season to play football there. My wife grew up 6 miles from Orange City. What position does your son play? That's exciting and glad to hear you had fun!

[sfury]

It used to be that you had to have your knees covered by pads--I remember a flag or two being thrown.  These days, some guys are practically wearing mid-thigh shorts!

The uncle I took to the Johnnies game few weeks ago is a high school football ref. Does that mean in between him enjoying his first trip to an SJU game I had to listen to him for three hours complain about the knees not being covered and players wearing shorts? Yes, yes it does. In his high school games anyway he doesn't allow it.

I've been working high school chain gang for a couple schools the last two seasons. Last year the officials at least tried to enforce it. They wold tell a kid to pull the pants over the knew. A couple plays later they had them back up. This year I think there's been one time I heard a ref tell player to pull them over the knee.
The other one that gets me is players having their mouth guard out...like frequently.

Glad you mentioned that because that was the other thing he was mad about I couldn't think of! He said a nine-man coach this season asked him before the game to talk to his players as they were gathered in the pregame huddle about the mouth guard. He did. First play of the game one of the kids had to be sent out for violation. He said the coach flipped his lid. I said he must not have communicated it well enough when telling the kids. 

[hazzben]

Drew's must have taken offense to posts about Bethel being more run first this year. 15 of 19 for 350 yds and 3 TD's. #11 Eckert had 3 for 85 and a TD, but Rundell stole the show with 11 rec for 246 yds and 2 TD's. I'm assuming #5 set a new school record with that. I'm feeling much better than I thought I would when the top WR for Bethel went down with a broken collarbone on the first drive of the season.

I got to take in a different small college classic on a recruiting visit with my son in Orange City, IA. Northwestern beat #4 Morningside 14-13 with 3 starting OLineman still injured after the team bus got into a car accident last week on the drive to Briar Cliff. Great atmosphere, fun to see other top teams from another corner of the small college universe. 

As I've mentioned before, my wife graduated from Morningside before they dropped down to the NAIA level. She has a cousin whose son is a senior at Morningside. My youngest brother's brother-in-law played at Northwestern years ago and it's actually his birthday today so he's no doubt excited about the upset win! St John's strengh coach is a Northwestern grad. They seem to have been down a little from their peak, but then again so has Morningside. Morningside's defense has given up a ton of points. I guess my daughter's freshman homecoming date 3 years ago is going to attend Northwestern next season to play football there. My wife grew up 6 miles from Orange City. What position does your son play? That's exciting and glad to hear you had fun!

I grew up in Alton, so a wopping 1 mile from Orange City. Did you wife grow up on a farm or a NW small town? My son is a WR. Plays bball and is a hurdler and high jumper in track. But football is the sport he wants to focus on in college. Just a junior though, so we are still pretty early in the process.

[sjusection105]

I was overjoyed when SJU went under center with their "Jumbo Package" in a goal line situation and although they didn't pound the rock but instead went play action with a pass to the FB in the end zone. Outstanding! 

[sjujohnnie]

Drew's must have taken offense to posts about Bethel being more run first this year. 15 of 19 for 350 yds and 3 TD's. #11 Eckert had 3 for 85 and a TD, but Rundell stole the show with 11 rec for 246 yds and 2 TD's. I'm assuming #5 set a new school record with that. I'm feeling much better than I thought I would when the top WR for Bethel went down with a broken collarbone on the first drive of the season.

I got to take in a different small college classic on a recruiting visit with my son in Orange City, IA. Northwestern beat #4 Morningside 14-13 with 3 starting OLineman still injured after the team bus got into a car accident last week on the drive to Briar Cliff. Great atmosphere, fun to see other top teams from another corner of the small college universe. 

As I've mentioned before, my wife graduated from Morningside before they dropped down to the NAIA level. She has a cousin whose son is a senior at Morningside. My youngest brother's brother-in-law played at Northwestern years ago and it's actually his birthday today so he's no doubt excited about the upset win! St John's strengh coach is a Northwestern grad. They seem to have been down a little from their peak, but then again so has Morningside. Morningside's defense has given up a ton of points. I guess my daughter's freshman homecoming date 3 years ago is going to attend Northwestern next season to play football there. My wife grew up 6 miles from Orange City. What position does your son play? That's exciting and glad to hear you had fun!

I grew up in Alton, so a wopping 1 mile from Orange City. Did you wife grow up on a farm or a NW small town? My son is a WR. Plays bball and is a hurdler and high jumper in track. But football is the sport he wants to focus on in college. Just a junior though, so we are still pretty early in the process.

She grew up in Oyens. We live in Sergeant Bluff. Small world! Best of luck to your son on his football pursuits!

[DuffMan]

We can still enjoy good performances without thinking SJU hasn't had a good defense since 2003 just because they give up a third and 15.

100%!

I think if you look back at box scores from "the good old days", you'd be surprised.  SJU barely beat a mediocre U$T team in '03.  Even good defenses give up yards, plays, and even *gasp* touchdowns.

[repete]

I was overjoyed when SJU went under center with their "Jumbo Package" in a goal line situation and although they didn't pond the rock but instead went play action with a pass to the FB in the end zone. Outstanding! 

Yup. And the fun fact: SJU had two all-America players catch TD passes yesterday and neither was named Joey Gendreau (who had a solid game nonetheless).

Always fun to see a non-TE lineman become a receiver. Bonus points for a D lineman. Go Zach Frank!

[hazzben]

Hot Carls at SJU is the sneaky intriguing matchup of the week (season?) in the MIAC. SJU has a better D and more diversity of weapons. But there's some Cinderella with the Knights QB and chemo, while still balling out. Doesn't help SJU is in playoff mode and won't be overlooking anyone from here on out.

I'm predicting 42-20 SJU.

[sjujohnnie]

Hot Carls at SJU is the sneaky intriguing matchup of the week (season?) in the MIAC. SJU has a better D and more diversity of weapons. But there's some Cinderella with the Knights QB and chemo, while still balling out. Doesn't help SJU is in playoff mode and won't be overlooking anyone from here on out.

I'm predicting 42-20 SJU.

I hope you're right on the outcome - a win for St John's -, but hope you're wrong on how many points Carleton will score! We've given up 23 points on the season - 17 to Bethel, so hopefully we can hold them to less than that! That loss to your Bethel squad is going to bite us in the rear if we can make postseason play!