FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[RoyalsFan]

This will be the highest attended MIAC football championship game ever!  I would even surmise that is this is the coldest game the MIAC has seen in close to 2 years.

Regardless of what happens I think a lot of those around the MIAC look at this as something fun.  It will be elevated to something more than it deserves. 

I do think the conference needs to evaluate whether home stadiums are the best venues.  Royal Stadium is under construction.  Can you imagine playing this game at Edor Nelson or Klas Field?  Those venues are significantly undersized.  If St. Olaf were to host a game of this magnitude I would have concerns about Manitou.  You can make jokes about how those teams have no chance to host, but history tells us that the two current teams in the championship are going to have off years.

As far as I know, this is the first MIAC championship game period - so yes, it will be the highest attended MIAC championship game ever attended (and also the lowest).

And since the MIAC didn't play last year, yes, it will also be the coldest in 2 years.

[Texas Ole]

This will be the highest attended MIAC football championship game ever!  I would even surmise that is this is the coldest game the MIAC has seen in close to 2 years.

Regardless of what happens I think a lot of those around the MIAC look at this as something fun.  It will be elevated to something more than it deserves. 

I do think the conference needs to evaluate whether home stadiums are the best venues.  Royal Stadium is under construction.  Can you imagine playing this game at Edor Nelson or Klas Field?  Those venues are significantly undersized.  If St. Olaf were to host a game of this magnitude I would have concerns about Manitou.  You can make jokes about how those teams have no chance to host, but history tells us that the two current teams in the championship are going to have off years.

Just thought I would throw out the obvious!


As far as I know, this is the first MIAC championship game period - so yes, it will be the highest attended MIAC championship game ever attended (and also the lowest).

And since the MIAC didn't play last year, yes, it will also be the coldest in 2 years.

[DuffMan]

I do think the conference needs to evaluate whether home stadiums are the best venues.  Royal Stadium is under construction.  Can you imagine playing this game at Edor Nelson or Klas Field?  Those venues are significantly undersized.  If St. Olaf were to host a game of this magnitude I would have concerns about Manitou.  You can make jokes about how those teams have no chance to host, but history tells us that the two current teams in the championship are going to have off years.

What makes you think that these "championship" games will draw any more fans than a "regular" game?  There isn't much interest in small-college football in MN, and I would venture that alums and parents make up the vast majority of attendees at games.  I can't imagine Joe Schmoe from Shakopee suddenly deciding to go watch a MIAC championship game if he doesn't have a connection to the team.

[jamtod]

I do think the conference needs to evaluate whether home stadiums are the best venues.  Royal Stadium is under construction.  Can you imagine playing this game at Edor Nelson or Klas Field?  Those venues are significantly undersized.  If St. Olaf were to host a game of this magnitude I would have concerns about Manitou.  You can make jokes about how those teams have no chance to host, but history tells us that the two current teams in the championship are going to have off years.

What makes you think that these "championship" games will draw any more fans than a "regular" game?  There isn't much interest in small-college football in MN, and I would venture that alums and parents make up the vast majority of attendees at games.  I can't imagine Joe Schmoe from Shakopee suddenly deciding to go watch a MIAC championship game if he doesn't have a connection to the team.

I was thinking the same thing. Judging from playoff attendance, even for a Tommie-Johnnie playoff game back in 2015, it's almost universally going to be less than many regular season games.

[Texas Ole]

You don't know the attendance, but there are times several stadiums feel very small.  I can remember St. Olaf games at Klas and Edor Nelson that were crowded.  Attendance might be lower, but I would guess the attendance is going to exceed the capacity of those stadiums.

[DuffMan]

Mmmkay.

I don't think we need to worry about hosting championship games at those fields anytime in the near future. 

[sjujohnnie]

My now wife & I drove up for that playoff game in 2015 from northwest Iowa. Bundled up, but our feet were still cold! We were definitely disappointed by the outcome as we were when we came up for the Target Field game. I hope St John's can come out on top tomorrow with a convincing win & would like to see a two-loss Bethel get a playoff berth! It's clear that Bethel is undoubtedly a much stronger team than half (or more) of the automatic bids.

[DuffMan]

Bundled up, but our feet were still cold!

I don't recall if it was 2018 or 2019, but I swear we wore boots and snow bibs to at least half the games.  My kids were troopers!

[corn horn]

Sooo...tomorrow afternoon at the Jake in Moorhead it will be in the 20s with winds gusting up to 30 MPH from the good old NNW. It will feel like the teens and be snowing and blowing.I wish Gustavus well in their safe travels...10 hours round trip in crappy weather...to play a meaningless game. But of course, best wishes for the Cobbers in a potentially face-saving game from their angle.

No troll trophy game with the Oles this year. I guess it will stay on coach Horan's desk another year, uncontested.

[OzJohnnie]

Sooo...tomorrow afternoon at the Jake in Moorhead it will be in the 20s with winds gusting up to 30 MPH from the good old NNW. It will feel like the teens and be snowing and blowing.I wish Gustavus well in their safe travels...10 hours round trip in crappy weather...to play a meaningless game. But of course, best wishes for the Cobbers in a potentially face-saving game from their angle.

No troll trophy game with the Oles this year. I guess it will stay on coach Horan’s desk another year, uncontested.

(Mr Oz's favourite scene in that movie)

[DuffMan]

My son asked if we were playing Aurora tomorrow.  Then, I attempted to explain why we're playing Bethel again.   

[OzJohnnie]

My son asked if we were playing Aurora tomorrow.  Then, I attempted to explain why we're playing Bethel again.   

And then you can explain that we play aurora again next week.

[sju56321]

I don't think that will happen, but we will know tomorrow at 4:30?

[57Johnnie]

Game Day

GO JOHNNIES!   

[art76]

I'll be checking in on the Bethel - St. John's game from work today as I can. Sure hope it plays out as expected and is a "heck of a game." Gonna be a cold day for sitting in the bleachers, especially once the precipitation starts - if you can trust a weatherman's prediction...