FB: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[UMAC_Commish]

It looks as though the SLIAC and UMAC conference football teams are going to form a new football alliance under the SLIAC name starting in 2008.  By 2010 the league will have an AQ.

A meeting was held in St. Louis on Monday and the presidents and athletic directors from the UMAC and SLIAC colleges have tentatively agreed on a 10-team 2-divison league.

The league will add MacMurray, Greenville, and Eureka, and lose Rockford and Marantha to the Lake Michigan.

[tbcfootball]

If Trinity makes the move to D3, will they be involved in the SLIAC?

[ritz72]

Do you really think this conference is deserving of an AQ, even in 2008-2010?

[Pat Coleman]

"Deserving" is not one of the criteria.

[AO]

The champion of the UMAC (Northwestern) was beating Lakeland in the fourth quarter at Lakeland this year.  Lakeland was in the playoffs as a 7 seed this year.  If teams like Lakeland and teams worse than Lakeland are in this playoff system obviously since a 7 seed is better than an 8, then there are perhaps a lot of "underserving" teams in the playoffs.  Bottom line, you need to keep the automatic qualifiers to make playoffs exciting.  Half of the excitement of the most popular playoff system in the world (March Madness) comes from the underdog who beats the big dog.  Not from getting 6 schools from the power conferences into the postseason.

[TC]

AO, where have you been lately?!?!?!  I was hoping you could maybe hop over to the WIAC or MIAC board and let us know how much you think Linfield and Whitewater will win by this weekend.  It's always been good luck--and you know the Johnnies are going to need luck if they are going to pull this one out!





By the way, is this the week that SJU loses its 3 conference games?

[Pat Coleman]

there are perhaps a lot of "underserving" teams in the playoffs.

That third word of yours isn't necessary.

Bottom line, you need to keep the automatic qualifiers to make playoffs exciting.  Half of the excitement of the most popular playoff system in the world (March Madness) comes from the underdog who beats the big dog.  Not from getting 6 schools from the power conferences into the postseason.

Yeah. This was a real exciting first week of playoffs, wasn't it?

I would figure you would know basketball is different than football. Maybe not...

[AO]

You'd get your excitement if you had games at a neutral location.  Hopefully, you would still be able to get some big crowds.  I've actually been surprised that playoff crowds seem to be small compared to regular season crowds in football.  I"m sure the weather plays a part, but it makes it rather anticlimactic to go to smaller crowds as you get to the playoffs.

Believe In Cinderella!

TC: After the last second pass up at concordia, my hopes for a johnnie fall were snatched away.  Shortly after I predicted on the MIAC board that they would not lose until they got to Salem, if then.

[Pat Coleman]

It's typical. A lot of it is fall breaks and more of it is students accustomed to getting in free who don't want to pay the NCAA-mandated prices.

Happens in all D-III sports.

[DuffMan]

Neutral location?  What's the point in getting that #1 seed then?  And that means double the travel expenses for the NCAA.  Not going to happen.

[SJU92#57]

Duff, just need to get seeded like MU every year for home field.   

[Tezbaseball]

Happy New Year UMAC

[gc_fan]

I hear that Blackburn is without a coach right now, anybody else know anything?

[illinihscoach05]

Major problems here - Mathieson was forced to retire pretty much - they are interviewing people they got when they advertised for an "Assistant Head Coach" position back in December!  Young guys or people without much experience.  President does not want football and is biding her time to get rid of it - town is real small - not much unless you go to St. Louis which is an hour and a half away. Only limited success they had was in mid to late 90's.  Since 1998 they are 10 - 60!  Worst facilities in Division III - field is a cornfield - gym has MOVABLE bleachers and seats 300!  Locker room is small and dirty!
Next coach will be their 6th in 17 years of football!  Rumor is in a year or so say BYE BYE to football at Blackburn- too bad!  With a better administration they could have some success, but it isn't going to happen!

[gc_fan]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.  I am aware of the Blackburn program having served as a student equipment manager for the Football team at Greenville from '97 to '00.