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

The Johnnies were able to find some things on offense that worked and in the second half found the end zone three times, with two missed PAT. The Johnnie defense was also able to make some adjustments at halftime and slow the steady parade of Blugold players who were punching their ticket to the End Zone Express at a rate unfamiliar to the Johnnie fans in the stands.

47 points allowed by a SJU opponent in Clemens Stadium is the third most on record and the worst defeat since 1986 when St. Thomas came away with a 56-21 victory. To put this type of drubbing into context the oldest players on the current SJU roster were born in 1989. During the entire lifespan of the oldest players  on the team SJU has not been defeated so soundly in their own stadium. What was possibly more embarrassing to the players than being on the short end of a lopsided score was the number of empty seats they saw when they returned from halftime. The usually rowdy student section in the north end zone was virtually empty and nearly half of the seats on the home side of the stadium were vacant as well. If there is such a thing as home field advantage with the cheer of friendly fans it was all but gone in the second half.

No phase of play, offense, defense or special teams, escaped the misery. Missed blocks, sacks, dropped passes and an interception on offense. Blown assignments, missed tackles and Eau Claire fumbles not recovered by SJU on defense. Missed PATs, fumbled punts, sloppy coverage on punts and kicks. The list of things to work on before the MIAC season opens Saturday at Concordia is a long one. Near the top of the list is resolving the starting QB situation, which is far from settled after the UWEC game.

One thing I’m confident of is the SJU coaching staff and their combined 168 years of college football coaching experience. The staff will find the players on the roster who will make the plays necessary to win going forward. We may see players who have not been at the top of the depth chart going into the season getting an opportunity or players who have been on the field and not playing up to their ability finally feeling comfortable enough to relax and make plays and stop playing tentatively.

Answers to a lot of questions will be sorted out in practice this week and only time will tell how this team responds.

The Johnnies rotated QBs, as expected, last week with Connor Bruns showing the best arm, poise in the pocket, ability to move the chains, and put points on the scoreboard.  It will be interesting to see if the coaching staff continues to rotate between Bruns and John Ries or lets Bruns have the reigns.    You can’t play ring around the rosie against a quality opponent like UWEC.

Likewise, while the Johnnies’ depth at RB is absolutely a team strength, Steve Johnson has earned the majority of the carries.  Take a look at this YouTube highlight film from his high school days.  He was a monster in a very competitive Twin Cities metro conference.  No question that Harry Awe should be used as a change of pace back (trick play specialist) and Jakob Reding/Nick Schneider for running between the tackles.

PREDICTION:  St. John’s 20 – UWEC 17

*All photos courtesy of Jeff Sowden.

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Game photos from Johnnie Dad (Jeff Sowden).

Go Johnnies!

Click HERE to view full screen images as a slide show.

Plan, practice, orchestrate and strategize.  All words that describe the weekly preparation of a Football Team as they ready themselves  for each Saturday. And in the end you play the game to win, nothing less. However, I think that playing the game to win, with honor and dignity, far outweigh simply doing whatever it takes to win. The end does not justify the means!

Well, again the desire to embrace any kind of code of ethics is not a top priority for our friends that manage neither the UW School system nor its athletic teams.

 At last year’s tilt against UWEaC (as they will now forever be referred to in my household) as our “friends” from UWEaC were strategizing a means to comeback against the Johnnies, they decided to simply “let” our own ‘LaCrosse Lighting’ ( #17)easily score on a pass play, all in the hopes of getting the ball back quickly and then marching down the field to (hopefully) snatch victory from the abyss that is defeat. And yes, in the long run it almost worked. But, I ask yet again, does the end justify the means?

Hey UWEaC, maybe the  times that you scored were a result of the Johnnies allowing this as well? The fact that you embraced this “strategy of the end justifying the means” simply embarrasses the game, the players, and without a doubt your program. You must be taking ethics lessons from UWRF, where they have a surcharge to the usual ticket price when the Johnnie Nation rolls into town! Shame-shame.

Seriously, what is it with the UW system? Additional ticket fees, embarrassing the game with a lack of ethics and all while pretending to be educating the youth of America to be the leaders of tomorrow? Heck, you even still worship a guy who played your beloved Packers like a drum and got what he wanted all along, to play for the Vikings! Did you give him an honorary degree from a UW school as well? Because he sure does exhibit the “ends justify the means” mentality that you seem to promote!

 I would rather lose with honor and dignity than win by embarrassing the game. I guess you did not have to worry about that last year since you lost with shame all while playing this great game with disdain.

 It is time for the Johnnie Nation to roll into Wisconsin and show  UWEaC how it is done! Time to Johnnie up with pride and dignity once again! See you all Saturday night (yea we will talk about this game time at a later date!)

Nobody Rallies like Johnnie Football Nation!

And just like cro magnon man who evolved over thousands of years into the present day college student, so has Johnnie Football tailgating.  First founded on the worn asphalt just above the south endzone at Clemens Stadium 11 or so years ago, Johnnie Tailagating continues to grow and is now the traditional staging ground for fans looking for pregame chatter and chow.

As a sign of appreciation, solidarity and support, JohnnieFootball.com will sponsor the pregame event this coming Saturday at Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  While supplies last, we’ll have brats, burgers, buns and plenty of fat to chew for fans prior to the SJU – Blugold kick off at 7:00pm.

We’ll begin grilling meats around 5:00pm so bring a tasty treat to share and some of your favorite beverage to sip and savor.  There’s not much in the way of rules and regulations at Carson Park but let’s show’em anyway what Benedictine fellowship and responsibility looks like.

Johnnie Tats is rounding up the condiments, TDT is roaming the meat locker as we speak and DustySJU will have his well seasoned Webber Kettle primed for grilling.  Anybody can come.

JohnnieUpEverybody!

Not having played on the team, I never had to experience the letdown players feel as they adjust to watching from the stands instead of the field. In fact, it hadn’t really occurred to me that there were dozens of young men experiencing their own mini-depressions each fall until last year at one of the first games. As the tailgate party got underway, I overheard two recent grads/players talking:

“This feels really wierd.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure I’ll be able to sit and watch.”

“Man, it kinda sucks.”

But time heals, and it was heartening to see some of these same guys at the Northwestern game last Saturday, continuing the transition from player to fan. I could not help but notice the varied tailgate crowd, ex-players, parents and grandparents of players, alums & non-alums of all ages, all mingling together, and, of course Mr. Johnnie himself, the avuncular Bob Wicker. Perhaps by the time you read this, you will have received and read The Wickster’s SJU Unofficial Underground Newsletter. With circulation numbers just south of  Fr. Don’s Chaplain’s Newsletter, the UUN is a Who’s Who of SJU football happenings.

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We’ll be making the trip to “Eastern Minnie” on Saturday to take in the festivities and the game. Tailgate party details can be found elsewhere on these pages. Hope to see you all there. Meanwhile, I happened to stumble upon a photo of our first 2 opponents of the season:

A cupcake and an eclair

Eau-Claire Offense: The Blugolds hit the jackpot with freshmen RB Joel Sweeney (6′1″, 241 lbs).  He racked up 3 TDs and over 200 total yards in last week’s win over Bethel of Tennessee (NAIA).  Sweeney will be the UWEC workhorse as the Blugolds try to wear opponents down by running the ball on the ground.  QB Austin Neu only completed 4 passes last week and none to his starting WRs.

St. John’s Offense: The Johnnies will go with a potent quartet of RBs (Jakob Reding, Harry Awe, Nick Schneider, and Steve Johnson) who each reached the endzone in last week’s Monkey Stomp of Northwestern.  QB Joe Boyle showed great poise in the pocket last week (but must eliminate the fumbles) and the extensive depth in the backfield should allow for passing plays to open up down the field.  UWEC plays a 3-4 defense so the offensive lineman will have to get on the linebackers to create space.

Eau-Claire Defense: As previously mentioned the Blugolds play a 3-4 defense making their linebackers integral parts of the defense who must flow to the football and make the majority of the tackles.  They struggled last week allowing 203 yards rushing for Bethel.  Look for big DE Burt Geurkink (6′6″, 288 lbs) and ILB Andy Neumann (6′1″, 231 lbs) to be the playmakers for UWEC. 

St. John’s Defense: The Johnnies defense has been the one element you could count on to be rock solid for decades.  This year is no exception, especially the run defense, which allowed a meager 75 yards last week on 30 carries (while rotating in several strings of players).  LBs Billy Lawrence and John Stanton always seem to find their way to the football.  Kyle Schroeder anchors the defensive line which will need to have a big game facing a huge WIAC offensive line leaning on them for 4 quarters.

Eau-Claire Special Teams: Punter Scott Burzynski averaged just 30.6 yards per punt.  Kicker Brandon Raciborski was 5 for 5 in PATs and averaged 55.3 yards per kickoff.  WR Mike O’Connell returns punts and kickoffs for the Blugolds.

St. John’s Special Teams: Jimmie Mattson, the new kicker, was 7 for 7 on PATs and averaged 61.4 yards per kickoff with one touchback.  He was regularly kicking FGs of 40+ yards in warmups.  Scott Ramey and Max McHugh showed tremendous legs in the punting game (including a long of 55 yards).  Mike Bonynge, Brayde Lipp, and Dylan Graves have put the Johnnies kick and punt returns in good hands.

Prediction: The Blugolds are a formidable WIAC opponent, but they are strong (running game) where the Johnnies excel (run defense) and weak (passing game) where the Johnnies tend to have issues (pass defense).  The heavy Blugold emphasis on running the ball allows the Johnnies to stack the box with 8-9 defenders forcing UWEC to pass.  A diverse offensive attack from the Johnnies should allow them to move the ball effectively.

St. John’s 38 – Wisconsin-Eau Claire 20

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Stiftungsfestivities Tailgate Party: The tailgate will be held this week starting between 4:30 and 5:00pm at Carson Park adjacent to the Football Stadium (either in the pavilion or nearby in the parking lot).  We’ll provide all meat/condiments.  Please bring your own beverages and a treat to share if you wish (brownies, cookies, salads, desserts, chips, etc).  Everyone is welcome!  There are usually alumni from every decade since the 50s, parents of players/students, families, and it is a great pregame gathering that has grown immensely over the past several years.

Ben Vanderhayden Goin' Playground vs BluGolds in '09

The year was 2002 and I was just starting 8^th grade at Our Lady of Grace in Edina.  At this point in my life, going to Johnnie football games meant checking the scoreboard off-and-on while playing football on the side.  Rarely did I see a play.  In fact, the only plays I saw were ones that involved: 1) Blake Elliot returning a punt/kick, 2) a late game comeback, or 3) overtime.  Oh, I forgot the plays I watched while my dad fished money for me out of his pocket for concessions. 

This Johnnie game was not right from the moment we left the front door.  Instead of driving north, we drove east to Eau Claire.  Instead of leaving at 10am, we left at 5pm.  Normally we would have a car full of CSB/SJU alums (my parents) and soon-to-be-alums (my siblings), but this time we had a car that consisted of my dad and I (Johnnie alum and future Johnnie) along with a Tommie alum and his son, Charlie (our good family friends).  This just did not make sense to my little 8^th grade mind.

Arriving at the stadium was the same as ever.  Dad forks up the cash to get me in the door and then we find a seat with our road-tripping friends.  Charlie and I immediately grab my football and run off to the sideline/auxiliary field.  We start by tossing the football around and practicing sideline catches like every other kid.  In the meantime, Eau Claire rolls up 21 points in the 1^st quarter.  Charlie starts talking trash because he knows no better than to not like the Johnnies thanks to his dad.  As he is trash talking, the Johnnie faithful, outnumbering the home fan base as always, is in dismay wondering what lies ahead in the 2002 season. 

The ugly 1^st quarter leaves Charlie and I disinterested so we challenge other kids on the field to a pick-up game.  Thankfully we have as many Johnnie kids as Blugold kids so there is no crossing of enemy lines.  In the background the Johnnie defense is shutting out the Blugolds as the Johnnie offense mounts a comeback.  Just like our Johnnie team, my team begins mounting a comeback of our own against the Little Blugolds.  Tie game, first one to 7, and my team has the ball.  Little Blugolds look like they will be using their blitz.  This means my lightning fast teammate, wearing a #1 Johnnie football jersey, has just one kid on him.  I cadence, because that is what all kids do at that age, to let Johnnie #1 know to run a deep route on kid in blue shorts.  He does so and I throw a bomb into his hands for the victory. 

We all celebrate and quickly run to the sideline of the Johnnie/Blugold game because only 30 seconds remain and the Johnnies are down 7.  Dejavu is settling in to us Little Johnnies as Keating passes to Denne for 20 yards to the Bluegold 3.  Three plays later, Keating dives into the end zone to complete the Johnnie comeback and force Overtime.  Our hopes along with the rest of Johnnie faithful are killed when the Blugolds score on their first play from scrimmage and intercept the Johnnies first play from scrimmage in Overtime.  Game one was now in the books and it was the unfortunate result of a loss.

Since that night in 2002, the Johnnies have softened the wound with a victory in Eau Claire in 2005.  Overall in the time span, the Johnnies are 4-1 against the Blugolds outscoring them by only a combined 31 points in those 5 games.  The Johnnies offense looked back to normal racking up 56 points against Northwestern last weekend while allowing only 10 points.  Eau Claire beat Bethel (Tenn.) 35-31 while rushing for 220 yards and giving up 203 yards on the ground.  More on the upcoming battle against UW-Eau Claire tomorrow from Touchdown Tommy.

Purebred Prediction:

Johnnie O uses the running trio to run strong against the Blugolds.  On the other side of the ball, the Johnnie D loads up on the run forcing the Blugolds out of their comfort zone forcing a few key turnovers on the way.

Johnnies 38, Blugolds 21.           Matt Melsen – Pure Bred Johnnie -  SJU ‘2011 (PB&J)

Go Johnnie!

Photographers: Vic Murphy (’92), Jeff Sowden (Johnnie Dad), Ryan Ward (Son of ROR) and Tim Ward (’78)

Click HERE to view full screen images as a slide show.
(Look for “slideshow” in the upper right area of the page.)