We Johnnie fans are a spoiled bunch. We expect perfection from our football team, and grumble loudly when our lads in red give us a less than super-human performance every week. But high expectations often drive success, and continued success often breeds smug contentment.
Like the team on the field, the SJU broadcasting team of Mark Lewendowski, Bryan Backes and the father-son sideline tandem of Mike and Charlie Carr has given Johnnie football fans as good a product you’ll get in football broadcasting. Nobody talks more football than these guys, so I thought I’d toss out a few questions to the guys about their work…
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Finsleft: You guys seem to have such great chemistry. What is your typical game day preparation routine?
Mark Lewendowski: Thanks Fins for the kind words on chemistry…we have been a “team” on the broadcasts for 8 years now…I have to say that things started out great that first season (2000) and have only gotten better. That first season was key, we did all 10 regular season games and then a 5 game run in the postseason in five states, we traveled together and really got to know each other, which has helped with that on-air chemistry. We like to have fun on the games and I hope that shows. The additions of Mike and Charlie Carr have only helped to enhance the overall chemistry, no one has a big ego, and we razz each other pretty good on and off air.
I think we all know our roles, I try to lead Bryan and Mike or Charlie when I can and then get out of the way so they can show their experience and knowledge of the game. I have to say its been great having Mike on board because we never get a call wrong, or at least how it should be interpreted.
Bryan Backes: First let me say, how fortunate SJU fans are to have Mark. He is an exceptional play by play announcer-my feeling is the best in the state. Its appropriate for the Johnnies. The chemistry was pretty much instant. We did not know each other before the Eau Claire game of 2000. Mark spent about 30 minutes interviewing me on the Tuesday or Wednesday prior to the game and we couldn’t ride together there because he was at his parents’ home in Wisconsin. So the game started—and things just flowed very naturally between us. The next week we traveled to St. Olaf and so we got to know each other better and have been very good friends ever since. Mark and his wife were pretty new to town and it’s been fun watching them become great community members.
We do have a great time calling the games—during the commercials it gets to be even more fun.
Mike Carr: We read johnniefootball.com! We also check web sites of both schools and faithfully read Frank Rajkowski’s articles and blogs. We have a lot of fun with each other which makes it really enjoyable to be a part of the broadcast team. We have nicknames for each other—Mark is “The King”. Bryan is the “Superstar”. Carbo is the “Mayor”. Charlie is the “Wolfman”.
The crew preps for another Johnnie football game
FL: We’re not used to seeing our team lose. What went wrong at Bethel?
ML: It was a basic Johnnies loss, the other team played well, SJU made some mistakes (turnovers, KO return allowed for a TD), and the other factor was that Bethel can really run the ball and SJU did not do as good a job as they would have liked slowing the attack. No one single person or side of the ball is to blame, it was a combination of things.
BB: For the second straight year I thought the Johnnies were very close to gaining firm control of the game but weren’t able to. Both years, a turnover before halftime proved very costly. When two teams are relatively equal in talent, games often come down to who can make the big plays on the special teams and who wins the turnover battle. Saint John’s did neither and yet still was very close to winning the game.
MC: Bethel had a better defense than was expected. I don’t think the Johnnie offense expected them to be that tough.
FL: What will SJU have to do differently on Saturday and how does Redlands compare to other teams we’ve faced this year?
ML: I think SJU needs to come out and play their brand of football, taking chances down field, using our great offensive line to open holes, and the defense needs to play without fear, Jerry and Gary have seen everything that an offense can throw at a team and Jimmy always finds plays that work. Have faith fans, these guys are great at getting teams ready to play playoff games.
As for Redlands, not much is known about them, they look to be a team which relies more on the run than the pass, their leading WR has caught 53 balls and after that it’s quite the drop off…they use 3 or 4 backs to carry the load. I am sure they are a solid team but I think it will be extremely tough for them to come in and win at Clemens…
BB: I don’t know anything about Redlands yet—usually begin my study in preparation for Thursday’s radio show. I’m confident Saint John’s will play well—we see it annually in the playoffs. The offensive attack of Saint John’s is so comprehensive that they present all kinds of problems for opponents who only see them every few years. The same is true of the defense—the speed of the Johnnie D always seems to be a huge factor in the playoffs—always seems difficult for other teams to adjust to it.
MC: The Johnnies will need to be more consistent offensively. They must do their part to control the game and keep the defense off the field. Typically, the California teams have had very good skill people. I would think they will not be a whole lot different than a St. Olaf or a Bethel.
FL: Other than the home comforts of SJU, what is your favorite place from which to broadcast a game and why? Least favorite?
ML: That is a great question…our favorite place is Salem, VA…for obvious reasons, but in conference we like the digs at Hamline and Gustavus, its a great view from the roof at St. Thomas as long as its not November. Augsburg had the worst situation—everyone in one box, a lot of talking, I usually came out with a headache. Carleton could use a remodel, one row of people is tough to navigate and do your job at times.
BB: Least favorite is Carleton—no separation—one long table everyone is on makes it very difficult to concentrate. UW Whitewater is far and away the best press box—PLU was second and now has a great booth.
MC:There is no small college atmosphere like SJU in the nation. St. Thomas has a great atmosphere in the MIAC. The new Gustie stadium is nice. Augsburg is my least favorite venue.
FL: What’s the funniest thing that’s happened during a SJU football broadcast?
ML: We have had a lot of laughs over the years and there are some great stories…my favorite happened down at St. Olaf last year involving Bryan and Brandon Novak. The coaches’ booth is right next to ours at St. Olaf, which is nice, but there was a play on the field that didn’t go the Johnnies’ way and Bryan kept saying the J’s won’t benefit from what is going on on the field—I think it had to do with a possession issue or something and Bryan was going on, and I noticed the door opened and Novy stuck his head in and started pointing at Bryan telling him to shut up, and telling me to shut him up…a few plays later I took the time to needle Bryan saying that Brandon wanted to see him at halftime on the “playground” to settle things. Bryan said that although he was confident he could defend himself, he was sure that Novak was the one guy on site that could take him in a fight. I responded with, “I am glad you think that…but there is a line (of other guys) forming to the right to test you…”
The other involves a slip of the tongue by yours truly…it happened last year during the Central game…it was right before the opening kickoff and I said that SJU would kick off to Cornell…I had been talking to the NCAA representative before the game, who was the AD from Cornell and it stuck on my brain, Carbo was on the sideline and after checking his roster of Central players and seeing that none of them were named Cornell, said, “Mark, aren’t we playing Central today?”, I immediately realized what I had said and then stated, “You’re right again Mike” (that seems to be a standard line when one of us gets on a roll with correct comments and it is said with much sarcasm). Later in the first half I would try to re-insert an injured Johnnies running back at least twice…I blame it on nerves, I want the J’s to do well so badly especially during the playoffs, that I lost a little focus. Needless to say my second half was much better and hey a Johnnies win is always a great game!
BB: There are funny moments every week. When Mark and I first started Mark would always give the Syracuse score—until I told him no one in Central Minnesota gives a rip about Syracuse except for him. Another one we laugh about every week us when Mark announced that Cornell would be kicking off and the Johnnies would be receiving. Carbo cuts in and says—”Mark, we’re still playing Central this week aren’t we?” At Hamline this year Mark had Koefed pitching to Gervais (same number as Patnode)—if you’ll remember the play scored. Gervais was carrying the ball for about 20 yards and magically Patnode carried it the final 40.
MC: When playing at Central of Iowa last year, Mark started the game off by saying the Johnnies were kicking to Cornell. We gave King Mark a lot of crap about that one.
FL: Do you guys read johnniefootball.com and other media before and after a game?
ML: I have to confess I read as much about Johnnies football as I can before and after a game, its funny to go on D3Football.com and read the comments from the fans as the game has been going on…especially if its been a close one like Carleton or St. Olaf.
Whoever came up with Johnniefootball.com was a genius…its exactly what the best football program on the DIII level needs, you guys do a great job with it.
BB: I read the game notes from the teams and the press clippings. Mark usually keeps up on johnniefootball.com and D3 Football. com. He thinks more like a fan, so he likes the speculation. I tend to think more like a coach and stay away from the wide ranging speculation. I have been promoting johnniefootball.com. I also pay attention to the interviews Mark does with the coaches which air on the pregame show—fans can learn a lot listening to the opposing coach and Jim Gagliardi and Jerry Haugen.
MC: Of course. It is a staple of SJU football this season. We read as much as is made available to us to try and cover all the bases.
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Tune in to 660 AM or 1330 AM to hear The King, Superstar, Mayor and Wolfman on a football broadcast that’s second to none. Thanks fellas!
finsleft@johnniefootball.com
