One glance at the newest D3Football.com Top 25 poll will tell you everything you need to know about the lackluster nature of the Johnnies’ 21-10 victory over UW-River Falls. The Johnnies were the only winning team to fall in this week’s poll, dropping from #3 to #4. Alas, it could be worse—at least the Johnnies didn’t lose to Appalachian State, at home, in front of over 100,000 fans. Now THAT would be depressing.
Before we spend the rest of the week looking past the Augsburg Auggies, let’s take one last look at the UW-River Falls Falcons:
Interstate Football Tax: Much was made of UW-River Falls’ curious decision to raise ticket and parking prices for last weekend’s game. With normal prices at $7 and $1, respectively, the university decided the Johnnies were such a draw that they could charge $8 and $3. The easiest explanation for this decision? Look at the Falcons attendance figures from last year: they totaled 5,424 fans in 2006 (4 home dates, 1,356 average attendance)—barely more than the announced 4,200 that witnessed this year’s Johnnie win. Maybe the recent groundbreaking for the Twins’ predominantly public-funded stadium gave the UW-River Falls administration the idea that Minnesotans would cover a portion of the planned $3 million renovation of Ramer Field.
More of the Same: The WIAC has recently garnered the reputation as the toughest football conference, top-to-bottom, in Division III. In addition to UW-Whitewater’s ascension to national power status, UW-LaCrosse has made the NCAA Tournament 4 of the last 5 years, and UW-Stout, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Eau Claire have been recent playoff participants.
This year isn’t starting out any different. Even with UW-River Falls’ loss to the Johnnies, the WIAC is a combined 10-2 in 2007 (with the only other loss coming to D2 Missouri-Rolla). Something to keep an eye on for Johnnie fans tired of their season ending in Whitewater—the Warhawks head to St. Cloud State next Saturday in what promises to be one of their tougher games of the year. While a UW-Whitewater loss won’t necessarily count against them come playoff time (SCSU is Division II), it would deny them a win. If the Johnnies win out and UW-Whitewater wins the rest of their games, SJU would be 12-0 compared to 11-0 (in division, 11-1 overall) potentially setting up a Johnnie/Warhawk re-re-match in Collegeville.
Cobber Deja Vu: As prior engagements kept me from making the trip to River Falls—and away from the Johnnie Radio Network—I had to rely on numerous phone updates to keep me abreast of the action. I must have heard the phrase “it sure is strange to see the Johnnies shut out at the half” a half dozen times. The strange thing wasn’t that St. John’s failed to score in the first two quarters, it was the opponent doing the whitewashing. The Johnnies have gone punchless into the intermission twice in recent memory—both times against the Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers. St. John’s trailed 3-0 at Concordia in 2006 and 10-0 at Concordia in 2005. Of course, both games ended in amazing Johnnie come-from-behind wins.
All-Americans for a Reason: I’d be remiss not to mention some milestones racked up by Johnnie preseason All-Americans this week. Alex Kofoed adds to his St. John’s records every time he steps on the field. In addition to extending his lead in pass attempts, pass completions, and wins as starting quarterback, Kofoed passed Kurt Ramler (1993-96) in two prestigious categories: career passing yardage and total offensive yardage. One of the big storylines of the season will be whether Kofoed can notch the 20 passing touchdowns he needs to garner that SJU career mark and sweep the school’s prominent passing records. With 4 passing TDs in the first two weeks, Kofoed remains 16 short of Ramler’s mark of 87.
After notching 5 blocked kicks last year, preseason All-American Nick Gunderson got his first of 2007. Only a junior, Gunderson has almost two full seasons to block more kicks and I have almost two full seasons to try to figure the Johnnies career record for blocked kicks. Best of luck to both of us.
