By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - As Alex Larson and his teammates on the Saint John's University football team begin spring practice, they're making sure to remind themselves of where they've been and how much further they'd like to go.
 
"Everybody is wearing wrist bands that say 'second-round bust,'" said Larson, a 6-foot-7, two-time All-America tight end who will return next fall to use the extra year of eligibility granted to all student-athletes by the NCAA as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
 
"We've done some great things the past two seasons, but we've lost in the second round (of the NCAA Division III playoffs) both years. We know we have the talent on this team to go well beyond that. That's been a huge motivator for us this offseason. We don't want to allow that to happen again."
 
The Johnnies certainly return the talent to aim for even loftier heights. In all, head coach Gary Fasching '81 is expecting to return 16 of 22 starters from a team that finished 10-2 in 2022, won its fourth-straight MIAC title and advanced to the Division III postseason for a program-record eighth year in a row.
 
But SJU will be tested early. The Johnnies open the 2023 season by playing host to Trinity (Texas) in a game scheduled for noon on Sept. 2 in Clemens Stadium. The Tigers finished 11-1 a year ago and ended the season ranked No. 6 nationally in the final D3football.com top 25 poll.
 
Then SJU – which finished the year ranked No. 7 – travels to Wisconsin-Whitewater for its second non-conference game, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sept. 9. The perennial Division III titan Warhawks – who ended last season ranked No. 15 – have a new head coach in former assistant and All-America linebacker Jace Rindahl.
 
The Johnnies follow that by opening MIAC play with an interdivisional matchup against Bethel at 1 p.m. on Sept. 23 in Collegeville. SJU has defeated the Royals in the conference title game the past two years, but Bethel finished 10-3 last season, advanced to the Division III quarterfinals and ended the year ranked No. 5 nationally.
 
So Fasching knows spring practice is an important part of setting the stage to hit the ground running when practice for the 2023 season begins in August. 
 
Under MIAC rules, teams are allowed a total of 16 practices to be completed during a five-week period. The Johnnies, who held their first two workouts this past Monday and Wednesday mornings, plan on practicing three times a week through April.
 
"We always use the spring as an evaluation time," said Fasching, who enters his 11th season as head coach with a 91-17 career record (.843) this fall. "Even though what we can do is kind of limited, there are still a number of things you can get out of it. It's a chance to look at how much the guys who are coming back have progressed in the offseason when it comes to strength and conditioning. And it's also a chance to work on different things we feel like we need to improve on.
 
"This spring, one of our points of emphasis is improving our running game. We need to get better there and that's something we'll be working on a lot over these next few weeks."
 
Because a number of players also are involved in spring sports, not everyone will be at every practice. But Larson said it's still a good chance to bring the bulk of the team together.
 
"As players, we want to take advantage of every opportunity we have to get better," he said. "And that's what the spring is about. It's another chance to get out there with your teammates and put in some work before everybody comes back in the fall."
 
The Johnnies added several transfers at the semester break, each of whom are taking part in spring workouts. 
 
They are:
 
•    Eli Olson, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive lineman who started three seasons at Mankato East High School before committing to Division II Minnesota-Duluth where he spent last season.

•    Joey Moberg, a 5-10, 200-pound wide receiver from St. Paul Johnson who spent the past two seasons at FCS Sacred Heart (Conn.).

•    Cooper Downs, a 6-3, 205-pound quarterback who was at SJU in 2020 and 2021, but transferred to Division III Central (Iowa) last season.
 
"The spring is a good chance to get those guys up to speed, and it's also big when it comes to getting some of our younger players a chance to run our stuff," Fasching said. "A lot of them were on scout team, so they didn't have a lot of chances throughout the season to do that."
 
Overall, Larson said spring practice is a chance to continue building team unity and make sure everyone is on the same page heading into summer.
 
"The biggest thing is making sure everyone is bought in," said Larson, who led the team with 14 touchdown catches a year ago. "When everyone is bought in and on the same page, it's a special thing. 
 
"Spring practice is a great chance to get everybody focused on coming back next fall ready to go."