I worked the Jordan Lions booth with Jesse Schultz' father, Cal, at Heimatfest. We talked for a while about how the team looks. 

Optimism is high for this team.

Cal said that he thinks the team looks deep and that young kids, not just his son, show great promise. He said he's hoping Jesse can play an important role as a model for younger players.

Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.

I found the article by clicking "Print Edition" at the top of the page, then checking the pdf for page 17 of the Jordan Independent. Bingo -- article, picture and the whole shebang!

What's the prognostication on this week's game? Any predictions? Who are the key players that we're facing? I know very little, unfortunately, about the competition. I have heard a lot about the talent that's on the Hubmen team.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

With a win by the Hubmen and a loss by Holy Family, the football team can take the Minnesota River Conference title this week.

If Jordan loses and Holy Family wins, the conference championship comes down to the final game of the season next Wednesday at home versus Holy Family.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

See where the Hubmen are in the Minnesota River Conference standings, as they go into its final game of the season.

http://www.jordannews.com/node/338 

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

What are the chances of this great football team against Glencoe-Silver Lake? I say that Jordan has powered up, but what do I know?

Tell me what you think, those of you who go every game.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Anyone know the score from Friday? Key plays? Want to offer your analysis of the two teams' running games?

I'm out of town right now, so I don't know what happened.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Unless Glencoe gets moved up to 4A or to another section, Jordan or any other MRC team won't make it to state any time soon...

How about 90 players to choose from, 11 for the offense team, 11 different players for the defense team, 11 different for the Special team. Now take that and make about 30 of them over 220 pounds, oh ya 6'3" too, and very quick.

I do feel that they could compete with some of the 5A teams around.

My guess, no facts, is that we are a smaller 3A team than most. For some reason Glencoe-Silver Lake has a big football program. Their school enrollment 10-12 is 440 compared to our 309 students (according to MSHSL.org).

Another top program in 3A is Becker, and their enrollment is 526.

We may be a smaller school, but Plainview, who won state a few years back, only has an enrollment of 248. Their must be something in Jordan's water that keeps us from having large athletic children.

The issue that brought us up to 3A five years ago, are the students that go to the MRVSC school are included in our enrollment, I think. Correct me if I am wrong on any of this. When I was in school, none of those students participated in sports. Yet it counted against us size wise.

I don't know if this explains anything, but it is interesting information.

Before I answer let's take a look at MRC Volleyball. Jordan and Lesueur are in the state tourney this year. You can make the argument that the MRC is the best conference in their class this year. I contribute the success to... Belle Plaine. Why? Belle Plaine has had outstanding teams for quite a long time now. They have produced D1 talent. Tara Baines comes to mind. How did they impact the conference? Because they dominated. Next thing you know you've got girls playing J.O. volleyball in the offseason and working on their game. And I truly believe, if you play good talent long enough, you will make yourself better. And I think that has happend in the MRC with volleyball.

So what the Hubmen and the rest of the conference needs to do is get a bunch of players that are passionate about football and want to get better. Then they have to start playing some good competition. Then you'll have a good measuring stick.

Lastly, this years Hubmen team is probably top 3 or 4 of all time in school history. I don't think that they thought they'd lose as bad as they did to Glencoe. And Glencoe may win state this year. But at least now they know what level they need to be at, to be a state champ.

2007 football practices start this week, right? Any prognostications about the upcoming season?

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

The defense pulled a great game out of its hat this week, it sounds like -- 17-0?!? Maybe this season can be salvaged. That said, even if there are not a lot of wins on the board for the Hubmen, growth is the important thing in high school, I think.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)