FB: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

There had been some talk of UW-Superior taking the sport back up as well, but I don't know how serious that is.

[doolittledog]

quite surprised Northland College doesn't have football, looks like they have a new on campus stadium that's already lined for football (presumably local high schools use the facility). They're already a full UMAC member. Not all that far from Finlandia either, relatively.

While I think Northland and Findlandia make some sense for football.  I would bet you could kiss Greenville and Westminster goodbye for football affiliates with those two additions.  And then the UMAC is right back where they started with no AQ for football.  Unless you also add UW-Superior.  That would be better than the old days with the St. Louis area schools added to the mix. 

[Gregory Sager]

quite surprised Northland College doesn't have football, looks like they have a new on campus stadium that's already lined for football (presumably local high schools use the facility). They're already a full UMAC member. Not all that far from Finlandia either, relatively.

While I think Northland and Findlandia make some sense for football.  I would bet you could kiss Greenville and Westminster goodbye for football affiliates with those two additions.

I don't think that that's necessarily true. Remember, this is football we're talking about, a sport with a minimal number of contests per season and exclusively weekend travel. At most, a conference only plays a single round-robin in football. That means that Greenville and Westminster would each only have to make a trip every other year to Ashland, WI to play Northland. Now, if the UMAC sweetened the deal for Finlandia by offering full membership in all sports (realistically the only way that Finlandia would ditch the closer travel and better competition of MIAA football), then the two SLIAC schools would each make one trip per year to the shores of Lake Superior, alternating between Northland and Finlandia. And one trip per year is hardly a deal-breaker. Plus, given that it's a Minnesota-based conference, the Panthers and Blue Jays gridders are already used to long road trips, anyway.

Besides, where would Greenville and Westminster go? The whole reason why they're in the UMAC in the first place as associate members for football is because they had no other options for that sport under the D3 umbrella, aside from independent status. And being an indie in D3 football makes scheduling a ridiculously difficult endeavor.

[doolittledog]

Yeah, but since the SLIAC schools initially joined the UMAC for football.  SLIAC schools Blackburn and Principia dropped football.  Eureka left for the NACC.  MacMurray is closing.  Later addition Iowa Wesleyan of moving back to the NAIA.  For Greenville and Westminster as the only 2 SLIAC schools left, what once was 2 trips to Minnesota per year and then all their other games against SLIAC teams within a somewhat small geographic footprint.  Now they just have each other every other year at home and every other trip being quite a long haul. 

But I do see your point about where would Greenville and Westminster go.  Really no good options for those two schools. 

[formerd3db]

What about the possibility of Greenville to the Midwest Conference? Probably not a good fit for various reasons?

[RFMichigan]

What about the possibility of Greenville to the Midwest Conference? Probably not a good fit for various reasons?

Greenville has some history with a number of teams currently in the NACC as they were members of the late Illini-Badger Conference along with CUC, CUW, Benedictine, and Aurora back when that league folded following the 2007 season. Plus, Greenville's fellow SLIAC-member Eureka is an associate member of the NACC for football.

The NACC now has eight "football members" with St. Norbert beginning football play as the ninth team in 2021(?). A tenth team would still allow for one non-conference game per year. As a sidelight (and this would involve your MIAA-member Hope), I'm not sure what's going to happen to the NACC-MIAA challenge; I'm assuming that that arrangement will be coming to an end (which to me is unfortunate since I enjoyed seeing how my home-state teams from the MIAA fared against my alma mater and opponents on a yearly basis).

[formerd3db]

What about the possibility of Greenville to the Midwest Conference? Probably not a good fit for various reasons?

Greenville has some history with a number of teams currently in the NACC as they were members of the late Illini-Badger Conference along with CUC, CUW, Benedictine, and Aurora back when that league folded following the 2007 season. Plus, Greenville's fellow SLIAC-member Eureka is an associate member of the NACC for football.

The NACC now has eight "football members" with St. Norbert beginning football play as the ninth team in 2021(?). A tenth team would still allow for one non-conference game per year. As a sidelight (and this would involve your MIAA-member Hope), I'm not sure what's going to happen to the NACC-MIAA challenge; I'm assuming that that arrangement will be coming to an end (which to me is unfortunate since I enjoyed seeing how my home-state teams from the MIAA fared against my alma mater and opponents on a yearly basis).

Thanks for the review history, RFM.

Regarding the NACC/MIAA Challenge, I had intended to find out from my contacts as to what the tentative plans are for continuing that arrangement or not. I had made an initial inquiry back in early March,  but just at that time, this coronavirus crisis exploded. Thus, it essentially got "put on the back burner, m" however, I will try to find out some information in the near future and report back eventually.

Hope you are staying well. I almost can't believe it is essentially mid June already. I sense that the summer days (when summer officially begins soon) will seem to start flying by quickly.

[Hawks88]

Yeah, but since the SLIAC schools initially joined the UMAC for football.  SLIAC schools Blackburn and Principia dropped football.  Eureka left for the NACC.  MacMurray is closing.  Later addition Iowa Wesleyan of moving back to the NAIA.  For Greenville and Westminster as the only 2 SLIAC schools left, what once was 2 trips to Minnesota per year and then all their other games against SLIAC teams within a somewhat small geographic footprint.  Now they just have each other every other year at home and every other trip being quite a long haul. 

But I do see your point about where would Greenville and Westminster go.  Really no good options for those two schools.

It was after Blackburn and Principia dropped football that the SLIAC teams joined the UMAC. Remember in 2008 SLIAC sponsored football with Huntingdon and Lagrange as affiliates. It was after that season that Blackburn and Principia dropped football leaving 6 teams and with no chance at the AQ the 4 remaining SLIAC schools then went to the UMAC.

[BLynn]

Martin Luther College has added a high quality commit with Carson Oestreich from Pierce, Nebraska. A member of the state runner-ups who rushed for 230 yards and 5 TD's in the semi final game. Had an offer from NAIA Morningside, but chose MLC instead.

https://twitter.com/CarsonOestreich/status/1225579980920442880

Good catch for MLC. Pierce program has been solid for years and has produced lots of GPAC players (NAIA conference where Morningside is a member). C.O. must be sold on the ministry.

[huskereddy]

I don't think that that's necessarily true. Remember, this is football we're talking about, a sport with a minimal number of contests per season and exclusively weekend travel. At most, a conference only plays a single round-robin in football. That means that Greenville and Westminster would each only have to make a trip every other year to Ashland, WI to play Northland. Now, if the UMAC sweetened the deal for Finlandia by offering full membership in all sports (realistically the only way that Finlandia would ditch the closer travel and better competition of MIAA football), then the two SLIAC schools would each make one trip per year to the shores of Lake Superior, alternating between Northland and Finlandia. And one trip per year is hardly a deal-breaker. Plus, given that it's a Minnesota-based conference, the Panthers and Blue Jays gridders are already used to long road trips, anyway.

Finlandia to the UMAC could make sense in a football-only context - with or without Northland/Superior. You may, as Gregory Sager suggests, trade level of competition, but I don't necessarily agree on the closer travel. You'd have a minimum of four UMAC opponents (Crown, UNW, Morris, MLC - all 460 miles or less from Houghton) that are closer than all but one current MIAA opponent (Alma - 445 miles; all others are 525+). Also, if Finlandia only travels to one of the SLIAC schools each year (and vice-versa), it's certainly a workable proposition. WCMO and Greenville would just be trading one 10+ hour trip (CSS) for another (Finlandia). It might then also serve as an entry point for full membership. Who knows?

[doolittledog]

Yeah, but since the SLIAC schools initially joined the UMAC for football.  SLIAC schools Blackburn and Principia dropped football.  Eureka left for the NACC.  MacMurray is closing.  Later addition Iowa Wesleyan of moving back to the NAIA.  For Greenville and Westminster as the only 2 SLIAC schools left, what once was 2 trips to Minnesota per year and then all their other games against SLIAC teams within a somewhat small geographic footprint.  Now they just have each other every other year at home and every other trip being quite a long haul. 

But I do see your point about where would Greenville and Westminster go.  Really no good options for those two schools.

It was after Blackburn and Principia dropped football that the SLIAC teams joined the UMAC. Remember in 2008 SLIAC sponsored football with Huntingdon and Lagrange as affiliates. It was after that season that Blackburn and Principia dropped football leaving 6 teams and with no chance at the AQ the 4 remaining SLIAC schools then went to the UMAC.

Ah, then my rambling doesn't really make sense!  Never mind then, carry on!

[5 Words or Less]

MLC president announces retirement.

During president Zarling's tenure (2007-2020), the campus saw the construction of the Chapel of the Christ, the Early Childhood Learning Center, a baseball field and a soccer pitch.

https://www.nujournal.com/news/local-news/2020/05/25/mlc-president-zarling-retiring/

[hickory_cornhusker]

I don't think that that's necessarily true. Remember, this is football we're talking about, a sport with a minimal number of contests per season and exclusively weekend travel. At most, a conference only plays a single round-robin in football. That means that Greenville and Westminster would each only have to make a trip every other year to Ashland, WI to play Northland. Now, if the UMAC sweetened the deal for Finlandia by offering full membership in all sports (realistically the only way that Finlandia would ditch the closer travel and better competition of MIAA football), then the two SLIAC schools would each make one trip per year to the shores of Lake Superior, alternating between Northland and Finlandia. And one trip per year is hardly a deal-breaker. Plus, given that it's a Minnesota-based conference, the Panthers and Blue Jays gridders are already used to long road trips, anyway.

Finlandia to the UMAC could make sense in a football-only context - with or without Northland/Superior. You may, as Gregory Sager suggests, trade level of competition, but I don't necessarily agree on the closer travel. You'd have a minimum of four UMAC opponents (Crown, UNW, Morris, MLC - all 460 miles or less from Houghton) that are closer than all but one current MIAA opponent (Alma - 445 miles; all others are 525+). Also, if Finlandia only travels to one of the SLIAC schools each year (and vice-versa), it's certainly a workable proposition. WCMO and Greenville would just be trading one 10+ hour trip (CSS) for another (Finlandia). It might then also serve as an entry point for full membership. Who knows?

It makes more sense with these travel numbers to invite Finlandia for football only. In my mind I was thinking there was no way Minnesota schools are as close to Finlandia as the MIAA schools, that's why I thought the UMAC would need to sweeten the deal because of increased travel and invite Finlandia for everything. Apparently travel would be largely irrelevant.

Moving to the UMAC would be beneficial for Finlandia from a competition stand point. Being in a stronger conference is only a good thing if you are competitive. Unfortunately Finlandia has not been competitive in the MIAA the past couple of years.

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think that that's necessarily true. Remember, this is football we're talking about, a sport with a minimal number of contests per season and exclusively weekend travel. At most, a conference only plays a single round-robin in football. That means that Greenville and Westminster would each only have to make a trip every other year to Ashland, WI to play Northland. Now, if the UMAC sweetened the deal for Finlandia by offering full membership in all sports (realistically the only way that Finlandia would ditch the closer travel and better competition of MIAA football), then the two SLIAC schools would each make one trip per year to the shores of Lake Superior, alternating between Northland and Finlandia. And one trip per year is hardly a deal-breaker. Plus, given that it's a Minnesota-based conference, the Panthers and Blue Jays gridders are already used to long road trips, anyway.

Finlandia to the UMAC could make sense in a football-only context - with or without Northland/Superior. You may, as Gregory Sager suggests, trade level of competition, but I don't necessarily agree on the closer travel. You'd have a minimum of four UMAC opponents (Crown, UNW, Morris, MLC - all 460 miles or less from Houghton) that are closer than all but one current MIAA opponent (Alma - 445 miles; all others are 525+). Also, if Finlandia only travels to one of the SLIAC schools each year (and vice-versa), it's certainly a workable proposition. WCMO and Greenville would just be trading one 10+ hour trip (CSS) for another (Finlandia). It might then also serve as an entry point for full membership. Who knows?

It makes more sense with these travel numbers to invite Finlandia for football only. In my mind I was thinking there was no way Minnesota schools are as close to Finlandia as the MIAA schools, that's why I thought the UMAC would need to sweeten the deal because of increased travel and invite Finlandia for everything. Apparently travel would be largely irrelevant.

Moving to the UMAC would be beneficial for Finlandia from a competition stand point. Being in a stronger conference is only a good thing if you are competitive. Unfortunately Finlandia has not been competitive in the MIAA the past couple of years.

Finlandia has not been competitive in football at all, so far.

[Baldini]

Bethany Lutheran did a study on adding football at one point, could they be an option?

https://blcvikings.com/news/2017/8/21/general-update-on-football-study-at-bethany.aspx