Building a winner, family
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Pacing the sidelines is his father Gerhard, the Oles' special teams coach. Roaming around the lush landscape of Manitou Field snapping photos of Ole action is Meidt’s sister-in-law Laurie.
It’s an apt metaphor in that Meidt (pronounced might) has stressed the family concept since arriving at St. Olaf in 2002.
“We’re 100% a football family,” Meidt says.
Meidt made a name for himself coordinating a high-scoring Bethel offense that won back-to-back MIAC championships in 2000 and 2001. Bethel went 35-5 in his final four years at the school including two wins over perennial power St. John’s. The American Football Coaches Association named him Division III assistant coach of the year, following the 2001 season.
Things were less exciting an hour south in Northfield, Minn., as St. Olaf coach Paul Miller announced his resignation after seven games in 2001, effective at the end of the season. He cited philosophical differences with the administration in terms of direction, telling the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune, “I'm trying to do what's right for the program. We have some things that need to be addressed, and that's not happening.”
Young and energetic, Meidt was hired for his first head coaching position and immediately took to resurrecting a program that was slipping in the standings.
“Some pieces were there,” Meidt says about the program he took over. “But they hadn’t been connected yet.”
Meidt went to work recruiting and essentially building his football family. He recruited kids on his three point philosophy of “faith, family and football.”
The Oles had back-to-back 3-5 MIAC records in Meidt’s first two years as he grew into the position.
 St. Olaf coach Chris Meidt has his team three wins away from consecutive seven-win seasons. |
Meidt hired Rob McCarthy as his defensive coordinator and has enjoyed something no other MIAC team has — a pipeline to Florida high school football players.
McCarthy had coached at the high school level in Florida and established a good network of coaches that trusted him. Meidt made it a priority to recruit these kids and unlike with Miller, the college administration supported the idea.
Thirteen Floridians are scattered throughout the St. Olaf roster including starting wide receiver Horace Gant and starting center Blake Hamel. Meidt has successfully meshed the different personalities and cultures that could possibly clash when Pensacola, Fla., meets Norwood Young America, Minn.
“They’re all coming for the same reasons; faith, family and football,” Meidt says.
And it’s for these reasons they are now winning like no St. Olaf team has since 1978.
The Oles are 4-0 for the first time in 27 years and they are two wins better than they were last season at this time.
Meidt has his first career win, a 27-25 nail biter in Week 2, over his mentor and friend Steve Johnson at Bethel.
“Playing against your mentor is always huge,” Meidt says. “You want to do well to show he did well.”
Meidt is doing well and his players believe in the leader of the Ole football family.
“I love these guys and try to do the best I can to help them win on Saturdays.”
It’s been a while
You have to go back to Nov. 2, 1996, and a 17-14 win against Gustavus to find the last time Carleton beat a MIAC foe who wasn’t named Macalester or Hamline. Saturday’s 21-19 victory by the Knights over Augsburg pushed their overall record to 2-2. Through four games, they already have as many wins, two, as they had all of last season.
Spread the wealth
In Cal Lutheran’s 45-21 victory over Pomona-Pitzer, the Kingsmen had eight players contribute to the point total. Kellen Mayberry, Craig Herrera, Danny Jones, Louis Montano and Charlie Brown all scored offensive touchdowns. Chase King contributed a 32-yard interception return. Connor Pearce chipped in a 27-yard field goal and Arsenio Valenzuela rushed in a two point conversion.
Pick hat tricks
On Saturday, three players recorded three interceptions each in convincing victories. In a 53-0 blanking of Lewis & Clark, Chapman’s Richard Dinh picked off three passes, had four tackles and one pass break-up. In Carnegie Mellon’s 63-28 defeat of Colorado College both Jon Menhart and Aaron Lewis picked off three passes. Menhart returned his picks 25 yards and also had three tackles. Lewis returned his 83 yards and led the team with ten tackles.
Off the record
Concordia Moorhead kicker Brian Halverson had a chance to finish Saturday with two Concordia records all to himself. With 14 seconds remaining in the first half, Halverson set the school record when he booted a 45-yard field goal to give Concordia a 17-0 lead. With his three PATs and a field goal, Halverson had tied current head coach Terry Horan’s school scoring record. He came on with 1:06 remaining to kick a PAT and claim the scoring record but his kick went wide left and for now, both player and coach will share the record.
All in a name
La Verne backup quarterback Troy Doolittle had a rough afternoon. He carried the ball twice for minus-13 yards, fumbled once and threw an interception. While his Leopards won, 38-22, there is no argument he did little to contribute to the win.
You gotta play by the rules
In Saturday’s showdown between UW-Whitewater and UW-Eau Claire, the two teams were not the picture of perfect execution. The two teams combined to commit 23 penalties for 262 yards including 15-yard roughing the passer penalties on both teams on consecutive series. Three penalties were committed on one series just before the half and the last eight plays of the game included three penalties. The officials should send their grass stained flags to the dry cleaners and send the bill to UW-Whitewater, which led the way with 13 penalties for 133 yards.
Nine more, five short
On Saturday, Puget Sound piled up nine more first downs than Willamette (20-11) and nine more yards of total offense (330-321). They even controlled the ball for over eleven more minutes than the Bearcats but it was Willamette who came out on top on the scoreboard winning the contest 21-17.
Notes, scribbles and things you likely didn’t know
->St. John’s did not attempt a punt on Saturday
->UW-La Crosse’s 24-0 victory was its first shutout over UW-Stevens Point since a 27-0 win in 1984.
->Hamline hasn’t scored in its past nine quarters.
->Pacific Lutheran outgained defending national champion Linfield 445-425 in total offense but came up short on the scoreboard, 42-13.
->Concordia-Moorhead held Gustavus to 21 yards on 27 carries.
->Eastern Oregon only held the ball for 3:15 in the third quarter but scored two touchdowns in that time to win 24-14 over Whitworth.
->UW-Stout notched three special teams scores against Waldorf including a field goal, fumble recovery and punt return in a 44-3 victory.
Around the MIAC
St. John’s shut out Hamline 44-0 behind three touchdowns and 109 yards from running back Corey Weber. … Concordia blanked Gustavus 31-0, limiting the Gusties to 21 yards rushing on 27 attempts. … St. Olaf dominated St. Thomas 53-27 behind four touchdowns and 289 yards from quarterback Jason Wilsey. ... Carleton outlasted Augsburg 21-19 by forcing five turnovers.
Around the IIAC
Coe held off Luther 14-10 for sole possession of first place. … Wartburg beat up Buena Vista 38-14 limiting the Beavers to just a 182 yards of total offense. … Central nipped Simpson 10-7 behind a touchdown and 102 yards rushing from Vance Schuring. … Loras defeated Cornell 27-14 with 24 points in the second half.
Around the NWC
Linfield defeated PLU 42-13 behind four touchdowns and 228 yards from quarterback Brett Elliott. … Willamette outlasted Puget Sound 21-17 on a touchdown pass with 57 seconds to play. … Chapman shutout Lewis & Clark 53-0 behind three touchdowns and 115 yards from running back Ian Galanis. … Whitworth lost to Eastern Oregon (NAIA) 24-14 despite outgaining them 451-324 in total yards.
Around the SCIAC
Occidental outlasted Whittier 28-20 behind a touchdown and 334 yards passing from quarterback Andy Collins. … Cal Lutheran dominated Pomona-Pitzer 45-21 scoring all 45 points in the first half. … La Verne beat up CMS 38-22 behind a touchdown and 115 yards receiving from Dustin Elliott.
Around the WIAC
UW-Whitewater dominated UW-Eau Claire 28-7 behind two touchdowns and 193 yards rushing from Justin Beaver. … UW-La Crosse shutout UW-Stevens Point 24-0 scoring all four times they were in the red zone. … UW-River Falls nipped UW-Oshkosh 13-10 on Spasimir Bodurski field goal in OT. … UW-Stout dominated Waldorf 44-3 behind three touchdowns and 173 yards rushing from Coty Watkins.
Games to Watch
No. 7 St. John’s at Bethel, Arden Hills, Minn., 1 p.m.
This rivalry has lacked punch in the past four years, minus a historic matchup in 2003 for Gagliardi’s 409th win. The Johnnies haven’t played at Bethel since 2000 and they lost that game 43-36. Since then, they have shut out the Royals twice, 34-0 in 2001 and 37-0 in 2004. The Johnnies have struggled with turnovers this year and have relied on a superior defense against the teams weaker opponents. Bethel’s lack of a kicking game has hurt it and its inability to score after long drives has made their stat sheet look good but their win-loss column is locked at 2-2. Expect nearly 7,000 people at this game.
Trinity Bible at Northwestern (Minn.), Roseville, Minn., 1 p.m.
Northwestern (Minn.) at Macalester, Saint Paul, Minn., 7 p.m.
In the first modern-day doubleheader at any level of college football, Northwestern will play two games on Saturday. They will open at home with Trinity Bible who should not pose much of a test. Following this game, Northwestern will travel to Macalester for a showdown under the lights in St. Paul. Due to the unique nature of the doubleheader, it is rumored that ESPN and Sports Illustrated will be covering the event. And of course, D3football.com will as well.
No. 1 Linfield at Whitworth, Spokane, Wash., 1:30 p.m.
Whitworth should give Linfield its first test of the season. Last year, the Pirates gave Linfield all they could handle before losing 48-37 in McMinnville. Pirate quarterback Joel Clark can hurt you through the air and on the ground. Linfield’s Brett Elliott is more of a dropback passer. Regardless of who wins, points will be piled up.