Thus far, the weather has been beautiful for the majority of the season, and the Johnnies are perched atop the MIAC standings at 9-0. Who could ask for anything more? Well, I could, for one. The Rat Pak, a key piece of the Johnnie game day experience, began a downward spiral under former dean of students Jason Laker. Many thought that the Rat Pak of old would return upon Laker’s departure, but the enthusiasm brought to Johnnie games by this wacky group has been relatively silent for too long.
October 2007 Archive
57Johnnie
John Peloquin
Its the Johnnie bye week and while Coach Gagliardi worries about Bethel University for the next 11 days we’ll take some time out to enjoy the 2007 Homecoming reflections of ‘57 grad John Peloquin. Congratulations John on 50 years!
Inside the Numbers: St. Thomas Recap
Given virtually no chance to win at Clemens Stadium on Saturday, the St. Thomas defense did its part to ensure an easy St. John’s win, allowing the Johnnies to march up and down the field for 51 points. The St. Thomas offense, however, wasn’t so willing to follow the script. Their high octane [...]
AK-11 Uses Shotgun to Torch Tommies
Late October weather finally found its way to Clemens Stadium this past Saturday with temperatures dipping into the 40’s and a quickly disappearing afternoon sun fading west well before half time. Left were those familiar fall shadows engulfing the home half of the sideline and the pleasant knowledge the 2007 season is just getting started. While [...]
SJU Victory Over UST 51-34 Creates Questions For Fans
The St. John’s Johnnies are making a habit of beating up on the Tommies of UST; yesterday’s victory is the tenth consecutive for the Johnnies in this series. Any victory over the Tommies in any competition is sweet for a Johnnie or a Johnnie’s fan. This game left several Johnnie fans asking “how good is [...]
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Johnnie Gameday Predictions: St. Thomas
ri•val•ry, n, The state or condition of competition.
As the centerpiece of one of the greatest small-school rivalries in the country, the annual St. John’s v. St. Thomas football game is made special by its spirit of competition. In the rare instance that St. Thomas actually assembles strong team, the competition on the field is the [...]
Top Ten Reasons the Johnnies Crush the Tommies
Nick Gunderson: This kid eats weak, inexperienced offensive lines for lunch.
Alex Kofoed: 4th year starter is at home, on the turf, and playing his last game against UST.
Jerry Haugen: Defensive coordinator extraordinaire will have schemes to confuse and baffle the young Tommie offense.
Brian Weber: Speed kills. That and the combination of great hands, leaping ability, [...]
The View from Cretin Avenue
Someone has to stick up for the Tommies this week. Will Rich Mies be that guy? If nothing else, he’ll be eloquent. As a columnist for the College Sporting News, he’s seen his share of football games—including Johnnie-Tommie games—and knows how to be objective. He’s also got a fun little twist to his background that makes his take on this game more interesting than most. Read on to see what Rich thinks about the Minnesota Rosary Rumble.
—Mr.Shoes
Dear Tommie:
Dear Tommie:
Oh, how you’ve changed. We used to have so much in common, but now I hardly recognize you.
For so much of the last sesquicentennial our similarities made me look forward to seeing you - not just on the gridiron, but in other sports, too. We’re both Catholic, we had our all-male status and our relationships with our respective sisters, Bennie and Katie. And football? You used to be pretty good. But now? Well sometimes it seems like you just don’t care anymore. If you haven’t noticed, you’ve really let yourself go in recent years.
Will it be the Tommies’ Year?
Johnnie/Tommie week is traditionally an exciting week. Fans generally show up in droves to witness the storied rivalry. This rivalry has lacked luster in recent years, though, as the last time the Tommies notched a victory against the Johnnies was 1997. While head coach Don Roney and his staff have been able to put together winning seasons, they have been nothing more than mediocre in recent years. Recent games have been remembered as much for the Stiftungsfestivities, rent-a-cops, and streakers as much as for the games themselves. After two consecutive years at Saint Thomas, the game returns to Collegeville this Saturday, where Roney and his 2-4 Tommies will match up with John Gagliardi and his 8-0 Johnnies.
