Unlike the first month of the 2008 season that saw our Johnnies and the Nation blessed with four straight home games at the Natural Bowl, the 2009 Johnnies have been required to embrace a Road Warrior mentality for three of the first four games in the 2009 campaign!
With trips to UWRF, Concordia and this week’s trek to St Peter the 2009 Johnnies are logging miles much akin to what Clark and Noel Stanton book as they travel to Johnnie games from their home in the Bay Area, of course watch our own John Stanton #13 wreak havoc at Outside Linebacker (once a young man comes to Collegeville the family looses them as their own as they become once and forever a JOHNNIE). And I thought the Saladin’s had some long trips last year!
Regardless of where the Johnnies have kicked it off in 2009 they have taken care of the business at hand. Either behind an offense that is in synch behind Joe Boyle’s leadership or a defense that has seen its line (Schroeder, Sharpe, Bolhman and Gundy) stalwarts lives up the pre-season expectations of the league, and the Johnnie Nation.
So as the Johnnies and its unrivaled Nation make the drive down 169 to St. Peter this Saturday I know that we will roll into town (and into Patrick’s) proudly represting all that is SJU. The Nation will welcome (with chants of D-Fence from Mrs. Wimmer) the new Golden Gustie Coach (Peter Haugen, Bethel ’91) to what the MIAC, its student-athletes, and of course its avid fan base is all about, pure and unadulterated College Football.
At least the MIAC was kind to (new) Coach Haugen by not making his first tilt against the Johnnies take place up in Collegeville at the Natural Bowl! Rather this week’s game is scheduled for that new Taj Mahal of a stadium in St Pete. But then again no points are awarded for the amenities of the venue in the MIAC!
It’s time to saddle up for all in the Nation, no matter if you are traveling by plane, train or automobile. It is time to support our 2009 squad with such fervor that we all need at least 2 days to recover our vocal abilities. It is time to finish this early season road tripping with a victory against the Golden Gusties and get back to Collegeville and the Natural Bowl. And it is undoubtedly time to Johnnie up in St Peter!
