I don’t think there is a Johnnie football fan on the planet who was happy with the result of the MIAC conference championship game on Saturday in Arden Hills. Both defenses played extremely well and Bethel was able to make the plays necessary to grab the lead with 24 seconds remaining. The Royals have clearly figured something out when playing the Johnnies and their gameplan has been excellent (with the exception of 2001 and 2004) since first knocking off the J’s in 1999.
The cardinal and blue faithful left Royals Stadium on Saturday again feeling empty and uncertain about how the playoff brackets/selection show would go on Sunday morning. How had the Central versus Wartburg game finished in Iowa? How was the SCIAC going to turn out in California later in the evening? Would the committee feel strongly enough about SJU to give them at least one home game (if for no other more obvious reason than a large gate in Collegeville $$$)? Everyone was fairly certain the Johnnies were in the 32 team field, but who and where were definitely up in the air.
Well the NCAA took unprecedented action by moving Mount Union to the East Bracket and Wisconsin-Whitewater to the North Bracket in an effort to create more balance across the four playoff regions. Nobody in their right minds predicted such a thing would happen and it left the Johnnies with a home date with SCIAC champion Redlands to open to playoffs. The West Bracket sets up a possible 2nd round rematch with Central College in Pella, IA and either a rematch of the SJU at Bethel game we saw on Saturday or a home game with Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the West Region Final. This is gonna be fun!
Notes:
- Don Roney, St. Thomas’ head football coach for the past 10 seasons, resigned on Tuesday. This was not entirely surprising considering his well documented struggles as I pointed out a few weeks ago before the Johnnie/Tommie game. He never beat the Johnnies and I have to believe just as John Gagliardi was asked 55 years ago by the monks of St. John’s (Can you beat Gustavus and St. Thomas?) that the next UST head man will be asked if he can beat St. John’s and return the rivalry to prominence in MIAC football. This change at the top at St. Thomas is both frightening and exciting to me. On one hand, this opens up the door to new, fresh blood who could bring UST back to competing for the MIAC championship. On the other hand, I am hopeful that a change will bring back some of the sizzle and anticipation to the annual Johnnie/Tommie game that the past few years has lacked. The rumors will swirl with names on who will be considered as Roney’s successor. Among the names I am hearing are Glenn Caruso at Macalester, Dave Nelson at Minnetonka High School, Mike Grant at Eden Prairie High School, and Kurt Ramler at Carleton. There will undoubtedly be a few darkhorses, but you know this job will be very desirable. I fully expect a replacement to be hired by the 1st of the year.
- George Foreman, former boxing heavyweight champion of the world, may be making an appearance in Collegeville on Saturday. That’s right, the man behind The Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine has a son who plays RB and special teams for Redlands. I’ll see what I can do to extend a special invitation for George Sr. to join the Johnnie faithful at the Stiftungsfestivities tailgate party.
- Remember that the NCAA playoff games will start at noon local time at all game locations. The Johnnie tailgate party will be getting started around 8am in the Science Parking Lot directly north of the SJU library. The tailgate gets more diversified each week with Tom and Carol Arth bringing their famous Chili, the Stiftungsfest burgers, wild rice bratwursts, Kool-Aid, cheesecakes, Mark Bingham’s outstanding state-of-the-art sound system, and this week the Polish King of Chicago will be bringing the world’s best Polish sausage along with a dozen Italian sausages. Stop by for pregame conversation, a cold beverage, and some of the best food in the land. Everyone is welcome including the Redlands fans.
