FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[faunch]

Watching ncc and uwrf(twice) it is apparent that SJU needs to run the ball next year-get a RB or commit to who you have and run the darn ball. Interesting how both games were close-bethel game closer-at half and how ncc and uwrf pulled away. MIAC has work to do-schedule tough non-conference games.

Watching ncc and uwrf(twice) it is apparent that SJU needs to run the ball next year-get a RB or commit to who you have and run the darn ball. Interesting how both games were close-bethel game closer-at half and how ncc and uwrf pulled away. MIAC has work to do-schedule tough non-conference games.

In last year's loss to Susquehanna and against UWRF the Johnnies only ran the ball 9 times in each game. If anyone listened the radio post game interview last week Gary wasn't at all happy with the lack of running game.
Maybe need to find someone in the portal looking to move from a D1 or D2 program. SJU has been done very well with quarterback transfers (Erdmann, Syverson and now Feeney).
Sura was the last great running back (2012-15) and before him I'd probably say Stephen Johnson, Chris Moore and Josh Nelson as the most outstanding backs over the last 25ish years. Would be great to get someone that could take some pressure off the passing game.

[RoyalsFan]

Yes, NPI is now the only criterion used to select Pool C teams. As soon as the final game was played on Saturday of week 11 the NPI scores, Pool C teams, and positions of the top 4 seeds within the bracket were locked in.  The drama came in projecting the remainder of the bracket. I'm sure Pat discussed this in a podcast, but I don't know which one. You can see the final NPI ratings and the 13 Pool C teams determined thereby at D3 Datacast.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of how that works now.

[Pat Coleman]

Watching ncc and uwrf(twice) it is apparent that SJU needs to run the ball next year-get a RB or commit to who you have and run the darn ball. Interesting how both games were close-bethel game closer-at half and how ncc and uwrf pulled away. MIAC has work to do-schedule tough non-conference games.

Unfortunately that is a double edged sword when it comes to getting an at-large bid. Win/loss record seems to be more of a factor than strength of schedule when determining at-large bids. It is fine if you happen to win those non conference games, but if you lose them it really hurts IMO.

This is no longer true w NPI.  In fact it seems the tougher your non conf opponent the better your chances of an at large bid.  Take Wheaton. Last year they scheduled Oshkosh and lost. Finished 8-2 (w losses to NCC and UWO). Didn't get in. This year they replaced UWO w Mt Union. Same result. 8-2. Easily got in.  The reality is weaker non conference opponents hurt your NPI. You can actually lose a road game to a strong opponent and increase your NOI more than a home win against a weak team

Smart coaches still want to test their teams, regardless of what the NPI dials say this particular time around.

[Pat Coleman]

Yes, NPI is now the only criterion used to select Pool C teams. As soon as the final game was played on Saturday of week 11 the NPI scores, Pool C teams, and positions of the top 4 seeds within the bracket were locked in.  The drama came in projecting the remainder of the bracket. I'm sure Pat discussed this in a podcast, but I don't know which one. You can see the final NPI ratings and the 13 Pool C teams determined thereby at D3 Datacast.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of how that works now.

Yes, discussed in a number of podcasts in the last two seasons.

[art76]

Congrats on Podcast #400! I couldn't tell because of editing, but it was made to sound like Greg didn't catch the line from Mary Poppins about one of your favorite things - but it made me chuckle.

Looking forward to many more...

[hazzben]

Highlights from the 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Induction - SJU's Blake Elliott '03 including a highlight reel of Blake's greatest plays.  I hope I don't trigger hazz.  Well, maybe a little bit. 

Great showing by Johnnie Nation.  LARGEST contingent of attendees from a single school in the history of the awards. A classmate of mine who is involved with the National Football Foundation coached up the emcee, Charles Davis.

Go Johnnies!

So my mom was in attendance, my dad's college coach Larry "Bubb" Korver from Northwestern College in Iowa was being inducted in the same class. She attended with her new husband, also a NWC Football alum (my dad passed during COVID). She actually talked with Blake after the ceremony and took a picture with him. My brother and I were laughing, wondering what in the world she might have said to him.

[hazzben]

Bethel just got absolutes hosed. No way review is able to call a play dead before it was called dead on the field. Watching NCCs AD and a coach go into that "review tent" would send me over the edge if I was a Bethel fan...

Oh, we were going over the edge, lol. My daughter sitting next to me jokingly asked "Dad are you going to be ok?!" It was wild that an AD and coach went into the tent, and then were in there for as long as they were. And then seeing the coach sprint back and start talking to the other coaches. They clearly knew what the decision was 3-4 minutes before Bethel was informed with the rest of the crowd that the call was overturned (with no explanation given as to why). Regardless of what was said in the tent, that's a serious advantage to be able to prepare for the final 20 seconds on D.

And agreed. It was either something they needed to call dead for forward progress on the field during the play, which they didn't do. Or it's a TD. What it couldn't be was reviewing and determining fwd progress was stopped (non-reviewable). And if that was the case, then it shouldn't have been a first down.

[hazzben]

Congrats to Bethel on a great season. Came up short of making the Semi's, but it was good to get a measure against one of the elite teams over the last 7 years. Really appreciated the Senior leadership on a really young team that only brought 5 starters back from last year's team. Guys like Devin Williams and Isaiah Ward really stepped up, capping off impressive careers as starters for 4 years apiece.

Congrats to North Central. Your Oline played really well, and McNeal's patience behind that line was impressive.

Having Conant playing on 1 leg was tough to watch. Gutsy performance, he wanted to be out there and gave everything he had, but he was a shell of himself. He's a guy with great athleticism on the edge and that was lacking on both run contain and our ability to pressure during the pass. Dline injuries really hurt us. Might not have made it a BU win, but it would have been great to see how we measured up with health. That depth is what really separates a Top 5 team from a Stagg Bowl team IMO. Given our recent recruiting classes, and this teams youth, I'm hoping we're building to that.

Loved seeing how the Oline played. I haven't seen all the NCC games of the last several years (I've watched probably a dozen of their key games against Wheaton or in the playoffs). That said, I'm not sure I've seen a team compete so well against their front 7. We ran the ball pretty effectively. The cold in the passing game was the bigger obstacle, and even then we still got things going pretty well. 400 yds of offense was a good sign. Our issue was giving up 300 yds rushing.

Unsung player of the game was NCC's kicker. That ball was a brick, and really limited Bethel's KO distance. But he had a howitzer of a leg. Field position was tough all game long, and had a lot to do with their ability flip the field when they needed to.

Fascinated by this potential UWRF vs NCC matchup in the Stagg if chalk holds. It all comes down to UWRF being able to stop the run. NCC's passing attack isn't insane (Bethel had no problem there), but can UWRF stop the run and get pressure when they need to? I expect UWRF and Blaha will be able to pass the ball and run effectively, especially with Blaha on scrambles and keepers. Assuming both teams are healthy up front (and win in the semi's - advantage UWRF getting to play in balmy baltimore!), NCC Oline vs UWRF front 7 is the key matchup IMO.

[USee]

There was never any coach in the tent. Didn't happen. The AD was there, who was in charge of the whole thing, and an operations guy who helped set it all up. Refs clearly messed up the call but that had nothing to do with NCC folks making sure the technology was working.

[USee]

I think the UWRF v JHU game is at River Falls?

[GoldandBlueBU]

North Central was indeed a very impressive team.  Clearly the refs stepped in it at the end of the first half.  Obviously can't say definitively that it would have changed the game...sure would have been nice to go into the half tied, but I feel like NC's ability to pound the rock was going to wear BU down regardless.

I agree - great for Bethel to experience such a good team first-hand - Bethel is obvioulsy worlds ahead of when they played Mount Union for the first time approaching 20 years ago, and were not anywhere near the same level as MU.  Hopefully having so many guys back next year who have matched up against the best, will serve them well.

NC vs UWRF will be an interesting one.  I have a hard time thinking that UWRF's defense will adequately slow NC down, but what do I know.

[hazzben]

There was never any coach in the tent. Didn't happen. The AD was there, who was in charge of the whole thing, and an operations guy who helped set it all up. Refs clearly messed up the call but that had nothing to do with NCC folks making sure the technology was working.

The ref acknowledged/admitted at halftime that it was a coach to the Bethel AD, after initially denying a coach was in there before the half. But the explanation 15 minutes later to BU AD was that it was the coach's iPad, and they needed the password, so that's why a coach was allowed in. No explanation given why a coach was allowed to remain in the tent for 3-4 minutes for a passcode.

I get why the ref didn't know, the guy took his headset off right before he stepped into the tent. Then put it back on when he exited. And then ran back to standing with the coaches, with headset on.

Even if the ref was mistaken twice, and it was just the AD, why was the AD in there for all that time and then allowed to go explain what was happening to the NCC defensive staff and other coaches?

All that to say, the refs screwed it up royally, from what was reviewable, why it was overturned, and knowing/explaining if it was a coach or no coach. And it was a major momentum swing to go from 14-14 tie at half to 14-7 with a goal line stop. Doesn't change the fact that the bigger issue was Bethel's struggle to stop the run in the 2nd half. But part of the reason NCC was running so regularly was they were playing with an inflated lead. 21-7 feels a lot different than 21-14 for both teams mentally. I still think we didn't have the horses down the stretch with our banged up DLine, but it was a bad mistake that effected the game, if not maybe the ultimate outcome.

I think the UWRF v JHU game is at River Falls?

You're right, I was thinking JHU was the 1 seed, forgot about CNU. Should be UWRF since they are both 2 seeds and UWRF has higher NPI. Honestly might prefer going on the road to playing that offense in 38 degree weather if I'm JHU. Still advantage UWRF IMO. Winning on the road at a WIAC school in December is no easy task.

[art76]

So, anyone here on the board planning to go over to River Falls to see the game next weekend? I'm thinking about it. Perhaps we can have a section of MIAC-ers cheering together? I'd love to put faces to the names on here if possible.

[wally_wabash]

Congrats on Podcast #400! I couldn't tell because of editing, but it was made to sound like Greg didn't catch the line from Mary Poppins about one of your favorite things - but it made me chuckle.

Looking forward to many more...

Ha! I totally missed it. 

[MIAC23]

The ref acknowledged/admitted at halftime that it was a coach to the Bethel AD, after initially denying a coach was in there before the half. But the explanation 15 minutes later to BU AD was that it was the coach's iPad, and they needed the password, so that's why a coach was allowed in. No explanation given why a coach was allowed to remain in the tent for 3-4 minutes for a passcode.

I get why the ref didn't know, the guy took his headset off right before he stepped into the tent. Then put it back on when he exited. And then ran back to standing with the coaches, with headset on.


Even if the ref was mistaken twice, and it was just the AD, why was the AD in there for all that time and then allowed to go explain what was happening to the NCC defensive staff and other coaches?

What a disaster. I would think/hope this referee (crew?) would be banned from any more playoff games. Judgement calls are one thing, but when the rules aren't followed.... yikes. NCAA will probably assign them to the Stagg in a few weeks.