Johnnie defense stacking up in Northfield. Photo courtesy of Ole Athletics.
Saturday was another gorgeous day for college football in Minnesota and for those who made the trip to the picturesque St. Olaf campus your support for Johnnie Football was rewarded. Not only did the clear blue skies serve as the perfect background to the myriads of deciduous golds and bronze, the Cardinal Red displayed many of the October tricks which have made this season so very interesting and entertaining.
Johnnie Football is the fall time talk we all look forward to and the reason so very many fans and alumni continue to be drawn to the St. John’s campus. Much also has been made this year of the supposed fall off in talent and playing ability of the current roster. Yes, there have been key recruits who’ve decided to create their own college football experiences away from Collegeville. The thought of Minnesota’s best small college talent evading SJU is distressing and has created pages of commentary in MIAC chat rooms.
For the fans who savor the 5 or 6 trips to Collegeville every fall the thought of any player or any fan enjoying the small college experience more than the Johnnie Nation is absolutely preposterous. So when folks get good and upset about a 2008 Johnnie team that routinely sputters however finds the inspiration to claim victory in last second fashion on consecutive weekends, it’s time to think again.
If you believe this “band of brothers” has forsaken all those who have played before them then you missed senior defensive tackle Joe Luke once again dragging himself from the field limping on yet another sprained ankle. You probably also missed sophomore defensive tackle Kyle Schroeder with hands on hips favoring a severely sprained knee, lining up play after play hoping for the next burst of energy to help take down the speedy Ole Evan Endsly.
That’s not even including the sweat pants wearing, hot dog eating surf boy Nick Gunderson whose knee was torn apart before he ever got a chance to get his groove on this season. A heavy physical price to pay except for the savory memories of raising a fist victorious in the most naturalist of all football bowls.
And if you decided this Johnnie Football team just isn’t what it should be and haven’t invested the time to pay much attention, then you missed the devastating body slam junior safety Bobby Klint delivered in overtime while savagely colliding with Ole receiver Ryan St. John. The spectacular hit in overtime and subsequent fumble turned the ball back over to the Johnnie offense and fleet footed QB Joe Boyle.
As the season approached in late August comments from one SJU coach did not appear to include reference to the 3rd generation Johnnie player from Totino Grace. Perhaps the lack of recognition was a subtle but necessary signal to the defensive superstar this upcoming season would hinge on raising the family ghosts to spear head the gritty 2008 defense.
After consecutive weekends of last second victories a horse shoe now adorns the Johnnie helmet where the red numerals previously resided. Right along side the coach looking forward to his 82nd birthday next Saturday and contemplating his 460th victory November 8th in Collegeville. Improbable? Just call ’em the Collegeville Colts.
