My how things have changed. While there is no substitute for the live experience, there certainly are many options for getting your Johnnie football fix. Cell phone technology and the internet have blown the doors open for access to information. As hard as it was for me to miss the famous Bethel game in 2003, I can never forget listening to the final minutes on my cell phone while sitting in a deerstand with my son, Willie, now a freshman at SJU. Closer to Canada than Collegeville, I held my phone to my ear with my gloved hand, while at the other end, my old SJU pal Louis Dvorak (’77) sitting in his shorts in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, held his phone to his computer speaker which was streaming the radio broadcast of the game.

Of course, the best radio announcers in football today can be found on The Bear, 660 or Relevant Radio 1330 on your AM radio dial, depending upon where you are. Outside the broadcast coverage area, with internet access you can catch the call of the game by Mark, Brian, Charlie and Mike on your computer anywhere in the world. Don’t forget to check out the Thursday night show broadcast live from the Stonehouse in St. Joseph from 7-8 p.m.

Any Johnnie football fan must be familiar with gojohnnies.com, the official website of St. John’s football. Loaded with information, this site has archived information from the past and all the official stats, roster, schedule info any fan will need. From there, you can check out the links to the Johnnie Facebook page, the Johnnie Twitter feed, the Johnnie YouTube site, and several others.

For  MIAC footbal discussion during the season, and general football, fishing, beer, women chatter year-round, there is no substitute for the MIAC Post Patterns board. This board is how I met a lot of the ne’er-do-wells who grace these pages and frequent the famous Johnnie pre-game tailgate. The board is a sub-part of d3football.com, which is the peerless site for all D3 football information. If you haven’t already, lurk on the board or register and log in. We always welcome new blood, even Tommies.

For old school meets new school information, there’s the St. Cloud Times website. Reporter Frank Rajkowski does a fantastic job of covering the Johhnies and the rest of the MIAC, and gives you some behind the scenes information with his blog page.

And if you’re reading this, you obviously are aware of johnniefootball.com the unofficial fansite for SJU football, and your one-stop shop for the ramblings and musings of DustySJU, TouchdownTommy, TC, SJUSection105, JohnnieTats, Theo Wick, and others.

No reason to be uninformed, check out these sites. I will be far away geographically on Saturday, but close to the action, nevertheless.

GO JOHNNIES!

finsleft@johnniefootball.com

Led by big-dog Joe Boyle, this year’s Johnnie offense looks like a completely different animal. Boyle’s leadership and talent notwithstanding, much credit has to be given to the offensive line for the outstanding play so far in the trenches.  I’m sure Jakob “Otis” Reding would agree that the line deserves an awful lot of credit for his being named MIAC Player of the Week on Monday.

In the big showdown of unbeaten teams last Saturday, SJU was facing the conference’s #1 passing defense and #2 scoring defense in St. Thomas. Rising to the occasion, the Johnnies running game ground out the yards as the line opened hole after hole and pushed the Tommie D back on their hinders. Even though the Tommies forced the game into overtime, after the Johnnie D held UST to a field goal, when the offense took the field it was clear that the boys on the line were going to take care of business. And did they ever! Four straight rushes covered the 25 yards to a touchdown. The almost 13,000 in attendance on a beautiful autumn afternoon were treated to a terrific game and, a great overtime victory.

With 3 games to play, St. John’s must guard against a let-down after such an emotional game. St. Olaf comes to the pines as no pushover. Statistically this year they’re a middle-of-the-pack team, but they have some playmakers on their squad. Remember Johnnies, for the other team against SJU, it’s their superbowl. Continue to play like champions.

I will be off chasing partridges this weekend, but Saturday afternoon will find me emotionally and technologically connected to the cardinal-clad lads.

GO JOHNNIES!

finsleft@johnniefootball.com

Redemption comes to those who wait, forgiveness is the key.

TOM PETTY, Lonesome Sundown

The mass appeal of sporting events is, I suppose, that it offers the spectator the opportunity to vicariously experience success and failure throughout the course of the event itself and, ultimately in the end, with a win or a loss. In football, every yard, every first down, every point obtained is celebrated. In baseball, each hit, great pitch, strikeout or defensive play is relished by the fan. Conversely, the missed tackle, blown coverage, homer ball, or error is often the cause of spectator hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing.

But one play does not a game make, usually, though it is often heard that such-and-such play or so-and-so player either won it for us or cost us the game. The beauty of team sports, however, is that the end result is much more likely to depend upon the play of the whole team, and the culmination of numerous plays throughout the contest. So failure, even a glaring one, often leaves a glimmer of hope for redemption.

I think Russ Gliadon and Alexi Casilla know what I mean.

Historically, not much has been expected of Johnnie kickers, although it has grown in importance over the years. We have come to expect that a touchdown is 7 points, the “extra” point all but a given. And a tag-up from 3rd base on a pop fly with the game on the line is something a speedy player is just supposed to get done – game over.

As they say, however, “That’s why they play the game.”

When SJU did not tie Bethel with time a-wasting, the air went out of the place and Mr. Gliadon surely felt like it was all on him, he let the team down. As fate would have it, the unlikeliest of opportunities landed in his lap just minutes later. Redemption could be his, and St. John’s’, if he could just kick a ball through the uprights from farther back than any Johnnie has ever done before. Throughout the 4th quarter on Saturday I would look at the flags around the field, and they were mostly limp. As it became evident that such a field goal would be the only thing to save the day, I looked again at the flags, and saw that a whisper of wind had developed from the north, Gliadon’s back, as if God knew what was at stake and what was resting on this young man’s shoulders.

He kicked and we watched and we waited, and the ball had just enough to clear the crossbar.

Amen!

Up until a couple of days ago, the sports plan for this weekend were all set.  Some 1st class tailgating on Saturday, followed by a Johnnie thumping of the Royals of Bethel. Then a dash down I-94 to the metrodome for the Twins penultimate game against the Royals of Kansas City. A night on the town in Minneapolis then the dome closer on Sunday would complete the Royal flush. Then FOX decided the Twins should move Saturday’s game to a 3:00 start, which led me to decide to put my tickets on Craig’s List, and the drive to Minneapolis will be done in the cool of the morning on Sunday.

Not a bad change of plans, though, as I can now visit with friends following the game at the alumni and friends celebration on the tundra.

It’s hard to believe that the last last Twins game I attended was 28 years ago yesterday. I hope they give us cool certificates of attendance like they did that day. I still proudly display mine from September 30, 1981, complete with my $7 ticket stub and Gary Ward autograph.

It should be a great game on Saturday. Be sure to dress warmly and hopefully the Koopman administration will get off to a 1-0 start.

GO Johnnies!

The game was the icing on the cake, as we were treated to as exciting a contest as I can recall watching. It was a thriller from start to finish. Simply, college football at its finest.

Big kudos to the offensive line for their impressive play. It’s great to watch a running game being able to pound out yardage like they did on Saturday.

Won’t be able to make the tilt in Moorhead this weekend, unfortunately. But it has all the makings of another great MIAC matchup. Safe travels to all who make the trip!

GO JOHNNIES!

Last week I also had the pleasure of participating in a wonderful SJU Alumni event, Pete & Tony’s Golf Extravaganza at Albany Golf Course. Organized by the affable Pete Herges (SJU’52) and Tony Schulzetenberg (SJU’51), it was once again a memorable event with perfect golf weather and fantastic food. Watch for this one next year folks, and come out and play a round with a great group of Johnnies and friends.

In my continuing effort to embarrass my children and at the risk of being like the dad in the commercial (”I-am-sitting-on-the-patio”), I decided to try using twitter.com during last week’s opener at River Falls. Not only had I never used it before, I was somewhat adverse to the concept and had never really even looked at it prior to last week. But as an SJU sociology major, I have been well trained to observe social trends, and thus was aware of the twitter concept. That limited knowledge led me to think that tweeting during our tailgate festivities, the game, and whenever else I darn well pleased would allow a much broader audience to experience from the comfort of their own computer or mobile device, the joy of hanging out with Finsleft at these events and being privy to the mildly informative, sometimes embarrassing, but always entertaining gonzo commentary which, up until now, had been reserved for a privileged few.

Check it out: www.twitter.com/finsleft If you like it, let me know. If you don’t, turn it off.

Tweet Tweet

See ya Saturday. Go Johnnies!

Find out who Finsleft likes on offense and who TDT thinks should be running the football. With a full stable of new blood at running back look for Coach John Gagliardi to establish his running game early. Johnnie D should be anchored by All-American Nick Gunderson and small college wonderboy Ryan Wimmer.

Receive all your game and tailgate updates at twitter.com/finsleft

In this, the most unlikeliest of seasons, it is probably fitting that St. John’s would draw as its 1st round playoff opponent the defending national champions from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. But the way things have gone this year, an upset victory against the team from the land of cheese shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Since dropping two out of the first three conference games, the Johnnies have pulled the rabbit out of the hat to end up as MIAC Champions once again. Figuring the probabilities of exactly what would have to occur with wins and losses by the other conference teams surely would have kept chain-gang master and math whiz Dr. Dumonceaux busy for quite a while. The one constant in the equation: St. John’s would have to win the rest of its games. It wasn’t always pretty, and it often didn’t even seem possible, but win they did.

So with an unlikely MIAC Championship built on unlikely victories, combined with the unlikely assortment of outcomes of other conference games, why not just keep the string going? Should we not come to expect the unexpected and knock off the defending champs on the road to the Stagg Bowl?

Just like the California dolls and their best friend Harry, we’re playing for all the marbles here.

Though the Johnnies have not seemed to be the powerhouse this year that we have grown accustomed to (spoiled?), this year’s team’s effort can hardly be characterized as ignominious. You have to score to win, and you have to win to get to this point, and the Johnnies have done just enough of both to enter the last game of the season tied for first with their worthy opponent Carleton. This game is what D3 football is all about. Johnnie fans will surely attend in great numbers and it remains to be seen whether it will create enough excitement to lure the “Harvard/Yale of the Midwest” students away from the warmth of the library for a few hours of cold, fresh air. No doubt, the boys on the field will be ready to play.

As the perennial powerhouse, St. John’s will be in the usual position of playing in the opponent’s Super Bowl. But Carleton will be a force to be reckoned with. For St. John’s to prevail, the tenacious D will need to play tough, as they have all year. The offense will perhaps have to play their best game of the year. It’s been good enough to win other games, though often just barely, but none of the previous opponents match up to what they’ll face in Carleton. Weather will be a factor, but both teams will be playing in the same conditions. The Jays will need to be able to run the ball, and Boyle will probably not be able to call his own number as much as he has in past games. (AND DON”T RUN THE OPTION TO THE SHORT SIDE OF THE FIELD!). Penalties, turnovers and other mistakes, by either team, could tilt the balance to the opposition.

Don’t forget your mittens and your booties Johnnie fans, and bring home our marbles.

Maah-bles!

When word spread throughout MIAC football land of Gags’ remarks there was a great hue and cry among fandom. “This is football socialism,” they cried. Surely it would be the end of football as we all knew it. Wins were to be gained in large bunches, weren’t they? And held and savored by the victors, losers be damned.

But the plan was implemented nevertheless, and there was great grumbling to be heard from the pines. After three games, Gags had handed off two victories to Joe the Cobber and Joe the Royal. Starting off 1-2 was surely no way to feed the hungry SJU family. But Coach Gags persevered with his plan. Week after week, Joe the Football Player saw how the magic plan would work. We beat you, you beat them, but they beat us. And gradually the league bunched up. Much excitement was created in MIAC fandom as many bellied up for a sweet taste from the victory cup. As he saw his plan starting to work, Coach Gags gathered his faithful and said, “This is good. Let’s take this Saturday off and enjoy all that we have.”

And they did.

As Coach Gags and his players rested, they were able to watch the wealth be spread from afar. Joe the Cobber shared all he had with Joe the Ole. Joe the Baptist shared his with Joe the Gustie. Joe the Tommie shared with Joe the Auggie. And the neediest of the have-nots, Joe the Piper, graciously shared with Joe the Knight.

When the dust settled, the Johnnie faithful were puzzled and they sought out their inspirational leader. “You see?”, Coach Gags said, “In giving, we receive. What we started, they have continued. And while they were busy sharing their wealth, as we sat idly by, we became richer by rising into first place.”

Yes we can, St. John’s!