FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr.MIAC]

Seems that the UST should/could/would go D-I conversation has spread to the Star Tribune.

Link: http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/155312415.html

Absolutely some of the worst suggestions/opinions/notions I've ever seen under that article.

1) Schools cannot pick and choose which sports they go D-1 in. Most schools that are D-1 in college hockey/lacrosse have been grandfathered in. Some have suggested UST go D-1 in men's basketball only...NCAA won't allow it.

2) A school's enrollment size has nothing to do with their athletic program. Unlike high school, colleges recruit their athletes before they get to school. There are few exceptions at a smaller school of course (ie. a Neil Anderson playing pick-up ball every day and dominating varsity starters, a football coach noticing Steve Groth clearly demonstrating he's a superior athlete to everyone (but not much of a basketball player) while watching JV hoops game). UST has 10,000 students, but half of them are in a masters program either in Minneapolis or remotely online.

3) STOP suggesting D-2. D-2 is horrible in every way. It's the logistical nightmare of D-1, with the academics of JUCO and the atmosphere of an abandoned tire plant.

I'm happy where UST is at. If they wish to make the jump at some point I can certainly understand why. I just hope it's done with some pragmatism.

Maybe the whole MIAC would consider going D-1, but stay non-scholarship like the Ivy league?  You'd get more media coverage from the occasional upset over a strong D-1 than you do for a D3 championship.

One major problem: lack of brand equity.  Many athletes are drawn by the Ivy League brand.  I don't see any MIAC schools having the same pull anytime soon and recruiting would therefore be a challenge.

[AO]

Maybe the whole MIAC would consider going D-1, but stay non-scholarship like the Ivy league?  You'd get more media coverage from the occasional upset over a strong D-1 than you do for a D3 championship.

One major problem: lack of brand equity.  Many athletes are drawn by the Ivy League brand.  I don't see any MIAC schools having the same pull anytime soon and recruiting would therefore be a challenge.

That's why I think they would do it, because they currently lack brand equity as a D3 conference.  Schools like Carleton and Macalester clearly aren't mainly concerned with winning, they're more concerned with being a nationally or even internationally known school.

[Mr.MIAC]

Maybe the whole MIAC would consider going D-1, but stay non-scholarship like the Ivy league?  You'd get more media coverage from the occasional upset over a strong D-1 than you do for a D3 championship.

One major problem: lack of brand equity.  Many athletes are drawn by the Ivy League brand.  I don't see any MIAC schools having the same pull anytime soon and recruiting would therefore be a challenge.

That's why I think they would do it, because they currently lack brand equity as a D3 conference.  Schools like Carleton and Macalester clearly aren't mainly concerned with winning, they're more concerned with being a nationally or even internationally known school.

No doubt there would be advantages, especially those associated with wider media coverage.  However, developing the teams would be a significant recruiting challenge.  Why would D-I caliber athletes choose to go to some unknown school in MN when they could go to a Big 10 program (scholarship) or the Ivy League (non-scholarship)?  Outside Carleton, St. Olaf, and UST, few schools that participate in MIAC football (Macalester is excluded) have the financial capability or draw to make such a move. 

[stanbob]

DC Tom Cat, any chance of getting rid of that annoying ass clip?

Is that better?

Just annoying now, at least its not that damn clip 

[Retired Old Rat]

The admissions standards at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin are higher than St. Thomas.

[Tom Thumb]

Football wraps spring with productive trip to Winnipeg
May 31, 2012

St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso his staff and 90 players capped off a productive semester with another successful and memorable late May trip to Winnipeg.

"The experience that our guys were able to have the past month was amazing, the practices, the opportunity to work, the games and most importantly the camaraderie was invaluable. This spring has been one of the more enjoyable times I can ever remember having with the team," Coach Caruso said. "The chance to be with the guys, in a competitive environment for the last three weeks was truly special."

The Tommies had a dominant performance in the exhibition game against the Canadian team.

"We feel entirely blessed to have had the opportunity to play the Winnipeg team.  It was a great group of guys, several of whom played at the highest levels of Canadian collegiate football. There was a wonderful level of respect for both the staff and the players and the relationships that both teams took away will hopefully continue to grow in the years to come.

"We were able to play everybody that we brought up, and played them all at about equal reps. That is a luxury that we have with a spring time game and we were able to utilize it to not just evaluate the younger talent but to grow our depth as well."

UST will open the 2012 season Sept. 1 at UW-Eau Claire; start the home season Sept. 8 vs. UW-River Falls; and begin the MIAC season on Sept. 15 in Collegeville against St. John's, a team it defeated 63-7 at home last October.

Greg Smith was in Winnipeg and took action photos. Here are game action photos from the Tommies exhibition football game versus the Winnipeg East Side Eagles Football Club. Tommies won 61-21: www.gsmithsports.com

---

[OzJohnnie]

Seems that the UST should/could/would go D-I conversation has spread to the Star Tribune.

Link: http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/155312415.html

Absolutely some of the worst suggestions/opinions/notions I've ever seen under that article.

1) Schools cannot pick and choose which sports they go D-1 in. Most schools that are D-1 in college hockey/lacrosse have been grandfathered in. Some have suggested UST go D-1 in men's basketball only...NCAA won't allow it.

2) A school's enrollment size has nothing to do with their athletic program. Unlike high school, colleges recruit their athletes before they get to school. There are few exceptions at a smaller school of course (ie. a Neil Anderson playing pick-up ball every day and dominating varsity starters, a football coach noticing Steve Groth clearly demonstrating he's a superior athlete to everyone (but not much of a basketball player) while watching JV hoops game). UST has 10,000 students, but half of them are in a masters program either in Minneapolis or remotely online.

3) STOP suggesting D-2. D-2 is horrible in every way. It's the logistical nightmare of D-1, with the academics of JUCO and the atmosphere of an abandoned tire plant.

I'm happy where UST is at. If they wish to make the jump at some point I can certainly understand why. I just hope it's done with some pragmatism.

Maybe the whole MIAC would consider going D-1, but stay non-scholarship like the Ivy league?  You'd get more media coverage from the occasional upset over a strong D-1 than you do for a D3 championship.

One major problem: lack of brand equity.  Many athletes are drawn by the Ivy League brand.  I don't see any MIAC schools having the same pull anytime soon and recruiting would therefore be a challenge.

Second major problem:  All the official stationary would look really stupid with whiteout over the last two II's in DIII.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

The admissions standards at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin are higher than St. Thomas.

where was it your daughter attended again?  Who admitted her?   

[Retired Old Rat]

The admissions standards at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin are higher than St. Thomas.

where was it your daughter attended again?  Who admitted her?   

I've had daughters admitted at U of M, UW Madison, St. Bens, Penn State Law School and that other school.  Proud father of graduates from 3 of the aforementioned. 

[DuffMan]

ROR, where did you go wrong?

My son is inundated with Tommie propaganda at daycare.  I'll have to get him to Collegeville soon to set him on the right path.

[DuffMan]

Heading to DC next week.  Any of you east-coasters have recommendations?  Keep in mind that I will have a wife and 8-month old along with me.

[AO]

What's changed is not just traffic and parking congestion, problems of property upkeep, litter and noise; it's neighborliness. Many student renters don't introduce themselves and can barely be bothered to say hello or make eye contact. Many of them don't seem old enough to live on their own, judging by their lack of toilet training. On one occasion I pulled up to my curb to see two college boys — one in the house to the east, one in the yard to the west — urinating in broad daylight.

"Knock that off or I will call the police!" I said.

"Sorry!" said the boy in the yard.

"Hey, I live here," said the other, the one taking aim from his front steps.

Local author hates Tommies.


All she wants is to trade cucumbers!  Grow up and give her your vegetables or you'll be evicted!

[DuffMan]

I don't want to live in a world in which I can't pee in my own yard!!!

Truthfully, amongst college students is one of the last places I'd want to live.  At the ripe old age of 31, I could not put up with that crap. 

[faunch]

What's changed is not just traffic and parking congestion, problems of property upkeep, litter and noise; it's neighborliness. Many student renters don't introduce themselves and can barely be bothered to say hello or make eye contact. Many of them don't seem old enough to live on their own, judging by their lack of toilet training. On one occasion I pulled up to my curb to see two college boys — one in the house to the east, one in the yard to the west — urinating in broad daylight.

"Knock that off or I will call the police!" I said.

"Sorry!" said the boy in the yard.

"Hey, I live here," said the other, the one taking aim from his front steps.

Local author hates Tommies.


All she wants is to trade cucumbers!  Grow up and give her your vegetables or you'll be evicted!

Geez...I really thought those refrigerator magnets were going solve the problem.  Maybe they should try window cling or lanyards next?  How about those shopping bags UST gives aways at the state fair?  Maybe UST should just buy up another couple blocks of Mac/Groveland and build more "on-campus" student housing?  What's another $50 million?  Issues like those in the article are exactly why SJU has limited student's ability to move off campus. 

[WashedUp]

Local author hates Tommies.

All she wants is to trade cucumbers!  Grow up and give her your vegetables or you'll be evicted!

"We were you, you know. We loved loud music and dancing 'til dawn. But most of us did it on campus, not in houses 15 feet from a neighbor who really needs sleep."

My experience was that students would like nothing more than being able to party until dawn with no repercussions, be it on campus or somewhere else.  The problem is that schools continue to make stricter policies that end up driving the students off campus and into the neighborhoods.