Quote from: Reverend MIAC, PhD on May 24, 2019, 03:02:53 PM

Quote from: ScoutTeamTommie2 on May 24, 2019, 02:59:19 PM

Quote from: Reverend MIAC, PhD on May 24, 2019, 12:30:43 PM
Let's say UST attracts some major donors to fund its athletic endeavors, gets the NCAA to waive the DII requirement, and makes a move to DI (FCS) in two years. Minnesota now has two DI football programs, the media coverage is huge, and plenty of Minnesotans are happy.

Would a DI UST draw fans away from the Gophers? If UST is successful in DI, would that diminish public interest in the Gophers?

Would it draw fans away from the MIAC? If SJ2 returns to form and dominates the MIAC, will they garner much attention outside the current fanbase?

I was around here quite a bit about a decade as ScoutTeamTommie - time has removed all memory of that login or email, so here I am!

To me, the UST -> Division I has always been and will always be fantasy for one reason alone, that reason being the athletic facilities. Even if they were somehow able to turn O'Shaughnessy Stadium into a 20,000+ seat facility, they would still have to go through massive renovations on  literally every single sports facility on campus to get them to a DI level. Even if the money was there, the land just isn't. I'm personally hoping for UST to join the WIAC so we can at least keep Tommie-Johnnie going.

What about Allianz Field? There's plenty of space on and around UST's Minneapolis campus.

Allianz Field would definitely be an interesting option. But at 20,000 seats it's probably about the bare minimum they would need to satisfy a DI program.

As for the Minneapolis campus... it's in the heart of downtown. I'm not sure I could think of a place with less room to expand.

Quote from: Reverend MIAC, PhD on May 24, 2019, 12:30:43 PM
Let's say UST attracts some major donors to fund its athletic endeavors, gets the NCAA to waive the DII requirement, and makes a move to DI (FCS) in two years. Minnesota now has two DI football programs, the media coverage is huge, and plenty of Minnesotans are happy.

Would a DI UST draw fans away from the Gophers? If UST is successful in DI, would that diminish public interest in the Gophers?

Would it draw fans away from the MIAC? If SJ2 returns to form and dominates the MIAC, will they garner much attention outside the current fanbase?

I was around here quite a bit about a decade as ScoutTeamTommie - time has removed all memory of that login or email, so here I am!

To me, the UST -> Division I has always been and will always be fantasy for one reason alone, that reason being the athletic facilities. Even if they were somehow able to turn O'Shaughnessy Stadium into a 20,000+ seat facility, they would still have to go through massive renovations on  literally every single sports facility on campus to get them to a DI level. Even if the money was there, the land just isn't. I'm personally hoping for UST to join the WIAC so we can at least keep Tommie-Johnnie going.