MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Willy Wonka · August 16, 2007, 02:38:05 PM

PI - SS was a finalist for the GAC assistant coaching position, which would have been a PR nightmare with recent graduates.

Also, the following link may be of some interest.

http://www.macalester.edu/development/athleticscenter/photoalbum/031907/

BETHEL34 · August 16, 2007, 02:49:23 PM

Quote from: Willy Wonka on August 16, 2007, 02:38:05 PM
PI - SS was a finalist for the GAC assistant coaching position, which would have been a PR nightmare with recent graduates.

Also, the following link may be of some interest.

http://www.macalester.edu/development/athleticscenter/photoalbum/031907/

* I would quit before playing for a team that had SS as my assistant coach...shoot me now.

*Nice looking facility....the Gym looks a lot like the set up of Carleton's Gym. That beats the heck out of the cage...I like how they still have seating under the hoops. I think all gyms should be set up that way.

abominable_snowman · August 16, 2007, 03:21:28 PM

Quote from: Willy Wonka on August 16, 2007, 02:38:05 PM
PI - SS was a finalist for the GAC assistant coaching position, which would have been a PR nightmare with recent graduates.

Also, the following link may be of some interest.

http://www.macalester.edu/development/athleticscenter/photoalbum/031907/

Agreed that the gym looks like Carelton's.

Anyone know the breakdown of MIAC coaches that were MIAC players? JV and Varsity Coaches.

I know for UST Fritz(JV), Fritz and Tauer all were, and all Tommies at that. And I recall that some of the other coaches are from their alma maters.

BETHEL34 · August 16, 2007, 03:38:01 PM

Snow - who actually are you?? From St. Thomas?? Just Curious...I would like to know what it was like to play with Sweeny...was he one of those you love him if he is on your team and you hate him if he is not?? Or was he just as bad as a teammate??

BETHEL34 · August 16, 2007, 03:40:19 PM

Westy from BU played at Bethel....

Willy Wonka · August 16, 2007, 04:16:25 PM

Mark Hanson is widely considered the best player in GAC's history, still holding the career scoring and rebounding records. Former assistants Aaron Kahl and David Flom are both GAC grads I believe, but neither was a varsity factor in their day (to my knowledge, anyway).

SMU's Trewick is a former SJU stud, while drunk...I mean assistant...Kip Sparby is a UST grad. The name of the second SMU assistant, Nigel Jenkins, sounds familiar but I can't place it off hand. A quick google search says he's a famous Welsh poet, which clearly isn't what we're looking for...

Former players coaching in the league doesn't seem to be an uncommon theme in the MIAC.

abominable_snowman · August 16, 2007, 05:02:34 PM

Quote from: BETHEL34 on August 16, 2007, 03:38:01 PM
Snow - who actually are you?? From St. Thomas?? Just Curious...I would like to know what it was like to play with Sweeny...was he one of those you love him if he is on your team and you hate him if he is not?? Or was he just as bad as a teammate??

yup i am a tommie alum (I sent you a PM with more details)

Sweens is the quintessential love-to hate /hate-to-love player. You aren't gonna sit down and cuddle up to a movie with the guy, but he is hard nosed and an extremely hard worker. He set the tone for practices, and those same characteristics gave us some key wins in crunch time games.

Personally, I'd play with him any day of the week.

columbianmaffia · August 16, 2007, 05:08:08 PM

i sure hope you wouldn't cuddle with him and watch a movie

WHERES MY TRIPPLE BURGER!!!!!!!!!!

piperinsider · August 17, 2007, 01:07:29 AM

Speaking of coaches who were MIAC stars: Carleton's assistant Jim Hayes is in the top 10 in a lot of records at Hamline.

A little birdie says if Hayes leaves, so does about three or four players.

hoopmaster · August 17, 2007, 09:07:21 AM

I've gotten a chance to know Sean Sweeney over the years and he's very knowledgeable about the game and is an extremely hard worker. I have played with him and against him and he has never been disrespectful in any way. I think it is a case of you just have to get to know him. BU34 I've heard similar things about you as far as a player people love to hate.

Wonka- that was an uncalled for remark about Sparby. So the guy is single and drinks a little bit. It doesn't make him a drunk.

miacsuperfan · August 17, 2007, 09:29:12 AM

the new macalaster facility does look pretty nice. call me sick, but i am still going to miss the old snake pit. yes macalaster did need to upgrade, no i never played there, but i honestly enjoyed watching games in that place. i always felt like gene hackmann was going to walk through the doors on the far end, roll up his program, yell at the officials a few times, and then draw the play where jimmy hits the game winner.
will the new facility help the scots in their recruiting? i would think it can't hurt them.
which begs the question, now who has the most needs in the miac to update their stuff? any thoughts on that subject? (i hope nobody thinks that i am trying to deflect attention away from the sean sweeney discussion.

BETHEL34 · August 17, 2007, 10:40:59 AM

I would say that Mac just lost some of its home court advantage. I hated playing in the cage. No matter what type of team MAC had that year, you could always go into the cage and lose. It was just a tough place to play.

As far as gyms go, you might have to say that Bethel would be the one with the most need to update their facilities. They did get a new floor about 4 years ago, but as far as the wieght room goes, and actual facility of locker rooms and everything else that is involved. Bethel could use a lot of work on some of those things. The wieght room has made some additions over the last couple years, but i would still say it is one of the worst in the MIAC.

Hoopmaster - I have never heard that about me. I know there are a few players in the MIAC during my day that didn't like me, but I have never heard of me being a player that most apposing players loved to hate.

I am saying 1 Teeder and 1 feild goal out of the Vikings starters tonight....yes, Longwell is going to make a field goal tonight.

BETHEL34 · August 17, 2007, 10:58:24 AM

WEIGHT....I do know how to spell guys, promise!

Drake Palmer · August 17, 2007, 11:41:02 AM

Thanks Snow & Hoopmaster. I couldn't agree with either of you more about Sean Sweeney. The kid is like family.

He's a 21st century player with an old school approach to the game. Whether you like him or not, Sweeney has a tremendous love, passion & respect for the game of basketball. He's also a student of the game & I wish him well in his coaching endeavors. I'd take 5 of him for my team any day.

I also agree on the new Mac facility. It looks great, but I think they lose a little bit when they made such a huge gym. If it's not too late in the building process, I'd see if I could at least get bleachers that move within several yards of the court. Getting up close and personal is one of the best experiences of watching D3 ball. Being able to hear some of the students' taunts & watching players' reactions is sometimes more entertaining than the game itself. Sometimes.

Willy Wonka · August 17, 2007, 02:19:32 PM

Lots to respond to, not a lot of time right now.

hoopsmaster - "So the guy is single and drinks a little bit. It doesn't make him a drunk."

Agreed. However, what would you call a professional who showed up to the gym bleery eyed and otherwise looking like a freshman after his first weekend at college? Besides, didn't Sparby have a storied history of such acts at UST? I can't recall specifics and apologize if I'm remembering incorrectly, but I think his notoriety was legendary...

If a guy who loves (loved?) wearing velour athletic gear with the same team's hat cocked sideways can gain Drake's approval, why can't a drunk gain mine? I mean, Don Nelson loves drinking and he seems to do OK.

But that's also a good way to develop an unsavory reputation. Don't like it? Don't do it.

B34 mentioned lockerroom memoriess...

My favorite lockerroom story happened at Mac, where they throw the opposing team in a broom closet connected to a men's public area. After a game my junior year (2003), we all went in to hit the showers that were located at the far end of the lockerroom. However, we all toweled ourselves for the walk to prevent peeping by the weirdos who populate Mac.

Turns out that was a good move, as two college girls had mistakenly entered the men's LR in swimsuits and were just getting done showering. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your view of Mac women), they had remained in their suits for the shower.