Enjoy!

It’s got the distance. Got the distance! IT’S GOOD!

But I digress. The improved site has some neat new features and a refreshed design, but is mostly just easier to use from the home page on in. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect as you click around the updated site.

• Reconfigured home page with simpler content organization
• Better archiving of past content
• More photos and a fun photo widget
• Player blog(s)
• New authors
• Updated design with a more modern take on the same great look
• Lots of bugs
• And more!

As noted in that second-to-last bullet point, I am not 100% finished with things, but I had waited long enough to flip the switch. I will keep fixing and improving things as I go this week; there is a lot left to be done. So, be off and be dazzled. Or at least semi-impressed…

First, we have two shots of Brian Weber’s 38-yard catch that led to Mike Patnode’s game-winning touchdown. As you can see from these two shots covering roughly 8 yards of playing field each, Weber elevates nicely from the Sprinturf and cleanly hauls in Alex Kofoed’s slightly overthrown pass with nary an Ole defender in sight. Rumors of an “assist” from a mystery fan behind the grassy knoll prove to be baseless.

Secondly, we have two photos of the unfortunate game-icing facemask penalty. Initially a somewhat controversial call, upon review of these photos it is clear that the officials made the proper decision in awarding St. John’s an automatic first down on the personal foul. While the resulting kneel-downs were a somewhat anti-climactic ending to a phenomenal football game, Johnnie fans everywhere will likely agree that they were relieved to be able to breathe again without having to endure a St. Olaf drive the other direction.

So there you have it: incontrovertible proof that Abraham Zapruder’s gift for catching big moments in history (some larger than others, admittedly) lives on.

Big thanks to John Pihaly for the photos. Disclaimer: to the best of JohnnieFootball.com’s knowledge, Pihaly is not related to Mr. Zapruder. We’re awaiting clarification.

So what does that have to do with anything in the fall of 2007? In 1999, Augsburg had won its first three games against Mayville State (N.D.)(29–27 OT), Hamline (15–10), and St. Olaf (30–27). They came into Collegeville feeling confident and with visions of an upset.

As you may have already guessed (or assumed), things didn’t go as planned for the Auggies. It was 21–0 after one quarter, 42–0 after two, and 55–0 after three. The Johnnie offense was on a roll and the Johnnie defense was its typical stingy self.

Now, by halftime, I had dreams of playing time and figured it was a given that Jerry [Haugen] would holler “Schou!” sometime in the second half. After all, Augsburg showed no signs of life and the Johnnie reserves to that point had picked up where the starters left off.

Unfortunately for me, my day ended the same way Augsburg’s did: in disappointment. If you check the box score from that game, you’ll see that the Johnnies got stuck on 55 and didn’t budge from there. The substitutions that looked to be fast and furious in the second half instead went slowly and conservatively as Jerry was intent on preserving the donut. As the fourth quarter ticked down, more guys got to see the field. One of the starting corners grabbed me and dragged me over to Jerry and started whispering in his ear to put me in. It never happened; a fellow freshman defensive back picked off Augsburg’s last pass of the day and the Johnnie offense ran out the clock. I never got any closer than that to playing the rest of the season.

Now, eight years later, Augsburg comes into Collegeville feeling pretty confident yet again. It’s my hope that some freshman defensive back gets the opportunity I never did. Go Johnnies!