There was a planning committee meeting last Saturday morning for SJU classes with graduating years ending in 8 and 3. A glance at my photo to the left will no doubt cause you to gasp “no way” when I tell you that 2008 (9/27/08 vs Gustavus) will be my 30 year reunion at St. Johns. The call to duty at the pre-game Stiftungsfestivities forced me to miss the meeting, slaving over a boiling cauldron of corn, as we entertained the visiting Cobber fans (and, of course, ourselves) in our inimitable style. After the billy goat trek up to the Finsleft Luxury Suite, I settled into my gameday recliner and absorbed the sights and the sounds of Clemens Stadium. The raucous cheers from the student section, the crimson and yellow of the maples, the flock of cardinal jerseys against the deep green of the turf, the SJU Men’s Chorus singing our National Anthem as I rose to my feet, all combined to give me goosebumps as if seeing and hearing it all for the first time. Those of us at the game were fortunate to watch the MIAC Player of the Week in all three categories: Offense—Alex Kofoed; Defense—Nick Gunderson; Special Teams—Paul Shol, Concordia.
The CSB/SJU campuses are now buzzing over recent events. At St. John’s, the performance of the 4-0 football team is stirring up some kind of excitement. And at CSB, the latest new food outlet has the gals all a-twitter. The Gorecki (pronounced Goret-ski) Dining Hall, complete with pizza oven and Mongolian grill, is turning out food that would feed an army of Wayne Gretzkys (pronounced Goreckis) and the stampede of hungry hordes has drawn the attention of campus security. Thank you, Bennies, for taking some of the heat off of us.
In a couple of days, you’ll read our predictions for Saturday’s game against Carleton, but here’s a hint: I will be predicting a J’s victory by a comfortable margin. I am looking forward to seeing the game with my ears as I tune in The Bear 660am and listen to Mark Lewandoski, Brian Backes and Charlie and/or Mike Carr.
I will need my rest to prepare for next week’s big homecoming game against the Ole’s, known for their smelly fish and great choir. We hope to have a lot of Ole fans in attendance at the Stiftungsfestivities.. If I can get a commitment from at least 10 Ole singers (email me at finsleft@johnniefootball.com) I will bring the poster that hangs in my gee-rodge, and lead us in a pre-game round of Schnitzelbank that will make Axel Theimer proud.
Thanks to all of you who check in here to see what our crew has to say about Johnnie football and (sometimes marginally) related subjects. Please continue to send any of us your comments or suggestions on what you’d like to see here or what you think we could do better.
GO JOHNNIES!
