We’ll get more photos at St. Thomas.

Click HERE to view full screen images as a slide show. Look for “slideshow” near the upper right of the screen.

As my mind has been spinning and reflecting on exactly what to write, how to fit all these thoughts into a tiny space on the internet, and then master the blog site to actually get it posted, I remembered that I was going about this all wrong.  I was over thinking what my heart was telling me. 

My heart was telling me that writing for Johnnie Football was very fitting into my life story.  It seems that most of my life I have been included in groups where I was the only girl out of a contingent of boys.  For instance, I was the pioneer girl on my hockey team growing up as a youngster in Long Prairie, I claimed I would be the first girl to attend St. John’s University (that was before I knew any better), I was the sole woman in my sales department for about 5 years from where I use to work, and I was one of the few women who posted on D3football.com.  So I guess it is fitting that I am the aboriginal woman to post an article on Johnniefootball.com.  Thanks guys- I am honored- I feel like now I am in the company of Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, and Alice Rebischke (my grandmother).    As one of my favorite musicians, Bono, has stated in the tune: Get On Your Boots- “Women are the future, all the big revelations”.   

Here it goes: 

Most of you reading this know me as RHB (Red Hot Bennie).  This moniker has stuck with me for almost 10 years now.  I think the reason it has stuck, as it not only represents me, a fellow sister to the Johnnies, but the many Bennies that have helped make Johnnie Football and the Johnnie Nation what it is today.  Behind most Johnnies is a Bennie (if I have my stats correct .  Bennies and Johnnies alike tend to be current, smart, spirited and passionate, and isn’t that what “red hot” means?  Red Hot will always be the status here at St. Ben’s and St. John’s and we as the Benedictine Community should be darn proud of that. 

 
Speaking of Red Hot, Red Hot it was, especially this Saturday at St. John’s Homecoming.   We as the family of Bennies and Johnnies, came home to the wild woods, watched Johnnie Football behind the Pine Curtain, and celebrated “coming home” in unison with current college students, fellow alum, friends, families, kids, and of course the occassional black robe.    In usual Johnnie/Bennie Fashion we gathered pre-game at the tailgate catching up with old pals and making new pals. 

Andrew heads to Afghanistan to serve The USA!

I was even treated to a bacon burger served up with a real vinyl record playing Boston.  Andrew, a 2010 SJU graduate served it up and also serves our country.  From the vinyl to the game we traveled.  We sang, we cheered, we wore red, we triumphed over Augsburg and failed, but only for some brief moments, until the Benedictine Community made the trek to the Tundra with one mind, one body, one spirit.  We sang “Fah who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze!” in the Tundra, as the Who’s did in Whoville the morning of Christmas the Grinch tried to steal away.  We were home, and Red Hot, and that’s what mattered most. 

I was fortunate enough to share in this Homecoming with the people of my graduating class of 1996. It reminded me that we, the Bennies and Johnnies descend from all over the world, country, and walks of life, but in the end-”we all bleed red”.  WE are the Bennie/Johnnie nation in it’s present form following in the footsteps of our former, but creating and helping to unfold the future Bennie/Johnnie Nation.  I think of how my son, who is 6 years old, Little Julio, may one day choose to partake in this grand company and how proud that would make me.  Just think a little “Rojo Caliente” could add some spice to the mix and how important that will be in preserving and expanding the Benedictine values we hold so near and dear to our hearts.   

And she wanted to call him Zachary!

The Johnnie Football team may have lost the game in points, but the Homecoming Spirit was not dampened by defeat.  If anything, it reinforced the unstoppable natural Spirit of the Bennie/Johnnie Nation.  Gracias Johnnies.  Gracias Bennies.  May the Red Hot (Rojo Caliente) Spirit continue to live on in your hearts.   Until next time. 

RHB (Red Hot Bennie)

Sam Pederson SR. Wide Receiver

The Johnnies were on the board first, scoring with an option pass from RB Harry Awe to a wide open Max Forster. The Auggies answered with a long pass on their first play from scrimmage capped by a 1-yard run on the next play to tie the score. Jimmie Mattson connected on a 49-yard FG midway through the 1st Qtr. for the Johnnies. In the mean time the Auggies scored twice more. Nick Schneider scored on a 2-yard run with just over 2 minutes remaining in the first half. Making the score 26-17 at halftime.

Nick Schneider Soph. RB

Schneider scored again on a 5 yard run midway through the 3rd Qtr. to bring the Johnnies to just a two point deficit at 26-24. After some defensive stops for the Johnnies and the Auggies for the remaining time of the 3rd Qtr. and the 4th setting up the dramatic ending to a second consecutive Homecoming game and loss for SJU. This is the first time since the 1955-1956 seasons that SJU has lost back to back Homecoming games.

The mystique of playing at Clemens Stadium is slowly eroding for teams from the MIAC. Within the past 10 years teams from St. Olaf,Concordia,Bethel, St. Thomas and now Augsburg have come to Collegeville and defeated the once invincible Johnnies on their home turf. Is this a changing of the guard in the MIAC? Is it parity in the MIAC? Is it the opportunity for greater playing time at other schools that leads student athletes to choose another school over SJU when the choice is narrowed to SJU and another school? Whatever the answer to these questions are the results are the same, heart-wrenching losses to MIAC opponents who just a few seasons ago would never in their wildest dreams believed they could come to Collegeville and leave with a victory.

Make no mistake, Marcus Brumm is an excellent MIAC QB, he had a solid career at Lakeville South during his high school days. The question is, should any team in the MIAC put together an offensive explosion that Brumm and the Auggies did against the Johnnies? The statistics speak for themselves, Brumm had 401 yards passing with 4 TDs and the Auggies had 529 yards of total offense. Auggie RB Tyler Maxwell was the MIAC Offensive Player of the week last week and I just have a hunch that Marcus Brumm has the inside track for being named Offensive Player of the Week this week.

The challenge doesn’t get any easier as the next two opponents played for the West Region Title in NCAA Division III 2010. The Johnnies travel to St. Paul to take on the UST Tommies on October 1 and host the Bethel Royals on October 8. These two games will determine if the Johnnies have any influence on the outcome of the MIAC title in 2011.

***Photos courtesy of GoJohnnies.com

So why do all Johnnies take such great pride in attending Homecoming, and why do so many of us truly feel that we are indeed at Home when on the grounds of the 56321 zip code? This a very challenging question to answer. Maybe just maybe we Johnnies all feel that getting back to Collegeville and SJU is home because when there we feel like we are home because:

There is nothing like a “Combo” heated up at Bo Dids! Well then there is Gary’s Pizza, either way a good choice!

The Natural Bowl (sorry I do not call it Clemens Stadium) is still one of, if not THE best setting to see a college football game in the USA!

The cuisine and friendship at the Tailgate is simply unparalleled, generations of Johnnies, parents and players gathering to share stories and all that their tailgates have to offer.

This is a time when if you have not seen one of your Johnnie buddies you will run into them on Campus and in a blink of an eye the years will melt away and it will seem like you are actually active Johnnies all over again. Really who would not want to go back!

This is the place where you met who is simply your best damn friends on the planet. And here at HOME this Saturday there is nothing like having a beverage in a RED cup with them and realizing just how special this friendship is.

Where else does the PA Announcer advise that there is Mass after the game, and this is done during the game no matter what the circumstance of the play on the field is. But then again we all know that GOD is a JOHHNIE.

The colors of the leaves, the bell tower, the scent of the grills, the current Johnnie and Bennies, the Monks and Priests ambling about ,and the 186 of our fellow Johnnies taking the field, all indications that you, as a Johnnie are indeed home.

The feeling we all get once we exit I-94, quite frankly I cannot adequately describe it, so let’s just leave it at….we are HOME!

When in Stearns County and on campus it just feels that all is right in the world, doesn’t it?

It is the MIAC’s version of the Catholics vs. the Convicts! Auggie Tech is rolling into the ‘Ville so let’s warmly welcome them with hip-hop music, crooked hats and pants worn a bit too low!

It’s the 2011 edition of HOME-coming for all of us who decided NOT to attend a College but rather become JOHHNIES, it is unrivaled!

The Johnnies were thoroughly embarrassed a couple weeks ago against Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  Longtime Johnnie football followers said they had never seen such a pathetic home game performance (31-0 at the half).  It was a listless performance against a team picked to finish 7th out of 8 WIAC teams. 

Last weekend was a welcome sign of resilience.  Making the trip to Moorhead and scheming for their offensive sets is never an easy task.  The Johnnies got out to a nice 1st half lead, gave it up in the 4th quarter, and then found a way to win in overtime.  They need to carry that momentum into the rest of the season.  The more game experience that the Johnnie freshmen can get the better.

This week, Augsburg (2-0), brings their pro style, spread offense to St. John’s.  The Johnnies have struggled mightily against the pass this year and the secondary will have to play well.  The Auggies had their freshmen RB run for four TDs last week so the the defensive backfield will need to support the run too.

—————

Prediction: SJU 34 – Augsburg 21

The Stiftungsfestivities tailgate party will be taking place again this week starting around 9-10am above the scoreboard.  There will be the world famous burgers and some authentic Chicago Polish Sausages brought by a Johnnie alumnus.  Bring a treat to share and introduce yourself.  Everyone is welcome.

Photos provided by Johnnie Dad and Faunch. Check back, more photos will be added.

Here’s hoping that the sun shines on Johnnie football again next Saturday. We’ll have lots of pre-game and game photos.

Go Johnnies!

Click HERE to view full screen images as a slide show. Look for “slideshow” near the upper right of the screen.

The Johnnies recorded four interceptions of Auggie QB,Marcus Brumm. Alex Powell had 2 interceptions and John Stanton and Andrew Rotschafer each recorded one.

Alex Powell Soph. DB

John Stanton and Mike Bonynge led the defense with 6 tackles each. Paul Plombon and David Burns each recorded a QB sack. The SJU defense held the potent Auggie attack to 291 total offense.

Paul Plombon Freshman DL

The six touchdowns put up by the Johnnies were nice mix of run and pass by Sr. QB Joe Boyle who was 23 for 30 connecting on 2 TD passes,with no interceptions for  339 yards. Boyle was sacked twice and also ran for 2 TD.

The Johnnie ground game was a nice complement to the Johnnies air game. The Johnnies had 197 yards on the ground, led by Harry Awe’s 55 yards and 1 TD and Stephen Johnson’s 51 yards. The aerial display put out by the Johnnies was a nice combination of quick hitting timing routes off the snap and a few downfield passes. Stephen Johnson had six catches for 69 yards,Josh Overman had 4 catches for 57 yards and a TD and Jakob Reding caught 4 passes for 52 yards.

Josh Overman Sr. TE

Also scoring TD’s for the Johnnies were Harry Awe who caught a TD pass from Boyle and John Ries,who came in to relieve Boyle in the 4th Qtr. scored on a QB keeper.

The Johnnies had 549 yards of total offense and combined yards,including return yards of 661.

Kicker Jimmie Mattson was successful on all 6 of his PAT and had 2 FG to round out the scoring for SJU.

As everyone knows this coming Saturday, October 2, 2010 is Homecoming at St. John’s and the Johnnies will be hosting the Tommies from the University of St. Thomas.The Tommies are undefeated and are sporting a Top-5 national ranking. It should be one heckuva game! Be sure to arrive early if you want to avoid the parking problems that many encountered last year for the Johnnie-Tommie game. There will be parking in the fields off of County Road 159 with bus service to the stadium. Please be respectful of our guests from Tommieland  and cheer the Johnnies victory.

Johnnie-up everybody,cause it’s Homecoming and it’s Tommie Week!

* Photos appearing in this article are compliments of  GoJohnnies.com

As always… JohnnieUpEverybody!

Eeyore was an optimist

“Good morning, Eeyore,” said Pooh.
“Good morning, Pooh Bear,” said Eeyore gloomily. “If it is a good morning, which I doubt,” said he.
“Why, what’s the matter?”
“Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can’t all, and some of us don’t. That’s all there is to it.”
“Can’t all what?” said Pooh, rubbing his nose.
“Gaiety. Song-and-dance. Here we go round the mulberry bush.”

Over on the d3football message boards a poster asked if any Johnnie fans were even a little worried or curious about this week’s game with the Auggies.  “Not even a little bit,” responded the former Johnnie player who posts there as Duffman.  “Me!” I blurted. 

 Like Joe Btfsplk from Li’l Abner, I walk around with impending doom hanging over my head.  Like John Gagliardi, I fear every team may beat us.  Heck, two weeks ago some team from Wisconsin did just that.  This week it’s the Auggies and jiminy criminy they look to have an offense that could run us out of their little stadium almost before the team gets off the bus and I get off my plane.  Even Touchdown Tommy predicts a Johnnie blowout (wait for his prediction next week!), but I’m still under my raincloud, fearing that I’ll show up without any sleep and have to watch a massacre. 

 It’s the way I’m wired and it goes way back.  Interestingly, there’s a Minnesota gloss to the story.  I grew up in Oklahoma when the Sooners were coached by one of Minnesota’s own, Charles “Bud” Wilkinson.  I was Sooner born and Sooner bred, and so from birth I was a devoted Sooner football fan.  There weren’t many games on television at that time, so each Saturday I was glued to the Sooner radio broadcast, listening as they demolished yet another foe.  With the exception of the annual Red River Classic game against Texas, the Sooners inevitably had little trouble with the rest of their schedule (from that very period, they still hold the Division I record for longest winning streak – 47 games).  Oklahoma played at that time in the Big 8 conference, which was sometimes referred to as Oklahoma and the Seven Dwarves.  But you would never know it to listen to Bud.

While we couldn’t always watch the Sooners’ games on television, every week we could watch The Bud Wilkinson Show in which Bud would review the previous week’s game and preview the upcoming opponent.  Each week we heard how surprisingly well the Sooners had played in the previous week’s game and how “fortunate” they were to win, say, 42-6.  Then Bud, who always was impeccably dressed in a suit and tie, would talk about the next week’s opponent.  He would describe the very good players they had (Bud typically referred to players as “people” – as in “their people played very well” and “our people need to play better”), the difficult offensive and defensive schemes the other team ran, the excellent coaching they had, the numerous problems the opponent would present for the Sooners in the upcoming game, and how the Sooners were going to have to play their very best if they expected to be competitive.  By the time the show was finished, I had no idea how an undefeated Oklahoma team was going to escape with a win against a Kansas State or Iowa State team with a losing record.  Minnesota Bud was absolutely the master of poor-mouthing his own team and building up the opponent. 

 Looking back, and having read Jim Dent’s The Undefeated: The Oklahoma Sooners and the Greatest Winning Streak in College Football, I’ve learned a bit about Bud and don’t believe he ever feared many if any of his conference opponents.  Even so, he sure made me fear them – a fear that carries over to this day.  Winning doesn’t bring me joy; it brings me relief.

 Come on, Johnnies – beat the Auggies and put me out of my misery!

This Johnnie crew knew how to enjoy the outdoors!

Johnnie-Auggie tilt 2009, a glorious Fall day in Minnesota, where all that should be on the agenda is being outside enjoying the weather while attending a College Football game!

Where was the Johnnie Nation on this glorious day? Thanks to the folks over at Auggie Tech we were required to spend some 3 ½ hours inside, and not just inside any old sporting venue, but inside what has got to be the sorriest and saddest stadium in North America. Yup, the Nation that is Unrivaled had to sit in the Metrodome in order to witness the drubbing of the Aggies by our own Johnnies.

While this requirement may have been disappointing and quite annoying rest assured our friends at Auggie Tech still had another surprise up their loose fitting hip-hop FUBU hoodie sleeves! The Auggie supporters( all 200 or so of them…hey it was a big game for them, so come on now it was packed) had brought with them….COWBELLS! My goodness, I thought I had stepped back into time and was attending a High School Football game!

This is the God awful truth. During the few occasions where the Auggie faithful had reason to cheer, or at times when they just wanted to exhibit even more boorish and sophomoric behavior, they would bang and clang their COWBELLS till the echo throughout the Dome could only be drowned out by another tremendous Johnnie play.

Don’t get me wrong here. I completely support the idea that all fans of a Team should be “all in” and support their team with blind devotion (unlike my compatriot Touchdown Tommy I will never pick the Johnnies to lose). However taste (good) dictates that the only thing you bring to a game is your voice, being loud and proud is the only way to go and the way the Johnnie Nation rolls! No need for any air horns, plastic ears of corn that double as a hat (yeah nice look Concordia) or without a doubt……COWBELLS!

For a moment or two last year I actually thought that the folks over at Auggie Tech had forgotten their hip-hop roots and switched over to wearing their overalls unhooked and low, to be topped off by a CAT powered hat crookedly strewn on their head.!. Seriously, what next Mel Tillis blaring from the Boom box in the Auggie locker room?

Well it is time for the 2010 edition of the Johnnie/Auggie rivalry (?). So here’s hoping that the Auggie Nation has decided to abandon such sophomoric behavior by leaving their COWBELLS in their Cutlass Supremes (that are rolling on 22’s) out in the parking lot!

But alas it is too late for all in my household. Congratulations Augsburg, you are now and forever considered 13th Grade! Maybe you can bring your COWBELLS to the Winter Formal? I hear Vanilla Ice is looking for a gig.

Johnnie-13th Grade varsity tilt 2010! No #### COWBELLS allowed. Let’s JOHNNIE UP and go 2-0(MIAC) in the Cities!

JF.com’s Player Insider: Billy Lawrence

Hello Johnnie fans, my name is Billy Lawrence, I’m a senior linebacker here at St Johns and I am your new player insider this year.  As I’m sure most of you know, we opened up the MIAC season last week with a big win against Concordia.  Concordia was a tough team, as they always are, and definitely gave us a run for our money.  The defense did not play as well as we would have liked but big games from roommates Brent Graboski and Sam Pederson helped a lot as they made some great plays on their way to eclipsing 100 yards receiving each.  It’s great to see our high flying offense throwing some big numbers up on the board.  However we’re obviously looking forward to our opponent this week, Augsburg.

Watching film this week, I can only speak for the defensive side of the ball.  Augsburg throws the ball a lot.  Their quarterback has a big arm and it’s going to take a team effort to shut down their passing attack.  We have been having a great week of practice and talking to Joe Boyle it sounds as if the same is true on the offensive side.  We haven’t really had a complete game yet this year, where both sides of the ball have a great day, but we feel like this week we are getting closer and can hopefully prove it against Augsburg.

Interception vs. Carleton

I look forward to more posts in the future but for now I am signing off.  I hope to see a ton of fans out at Augsburg on Saturday, you don’t even realize how much we feed off of your enthusiasm and excitement.

Go Johnnies!

-Billy