FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[oldsju67]

In my circle of SJU friends, many think the policy passed a few years ago requiring all SJU students to live on campus all four years hurts recruiting all athletes, but especially football.  I can see both sides of the argument, but think it has minimal impact. If it had a big impact, then Bethel with all the tight rules and restrictions they have, would not have the football program they do today.  What do you all think?

[sjusection105]

In my circle of SJU friends, many think the policy passed a few years ago requiring all SJU students to live on campus all four years hurts recruiting all athletes, but especially football.  I can see both sides of the argument, but think it has minimal impact. If it had a big impact, then Bethel with all the tight rules and restrictions they have, would not have the football program they do today.  What do you all think?

I tend to agree with you.You attract and recruit they type of player that can excel in your environment. The Cobbers attract different players from the rest of the MIAC- none of their starting defensive line are from Minnesota. The Royals attract a type of player who is "all in" on Johnson's philosophy same goes for UST. Other players have success at other schools and you wouldn't see them have success at Bethel because that player would not buy in to Johnson's philosophy. Recruiting the kid who buys into your system AND is a superior athlete is where the juggling act comes in. You can have a superior athlete,but if he has a conflict with his position coach he either is not going to see the field or is not going to lay it all on the line for that coach. In sport as in real life if you like who you work for/with,you can do things you never thought possible.

[sju56321]

What rule is that? You mean no students can live in St. Joe?

[sjusection105]

What rule is that? You mean no students can live in St. Joe?

Pretty much this appears to be the policy for 2013-2014

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

for the life of me, I cant imagine how being required to live on campus at Saint John's would hurt recruiting...isnt the campus and the camaraderie being on that campus one of SJU's key selling points? 

[faunch]

for the life of me, I cant imagine how being required to live on campus at Saint John's would hurt recruiting...isnt the campus and the camaraderie being on that campus one of SJU's key selling points?

I do think there is an appeal to being able to rent a house or apartment off campus.  My final year at SJU four of us rented a house (Bourbon Street).  It was a dump however the cost was about $90 a month or each of us...which was a huge savings over living in an on campus apartment.  I really don't know how much apartments and houses rent for in St. Joe today. 

On campus apartments go for about $4k - 5K a year....which is around $500 per month (jeez that sounds like a lot)  http://www.csbsju.edu/SJU-Student-Accounts/Educational-Costs.htm

I don't think the on campus housing requirements has a large impact on recruits / recruiting...but you never know.
I believe SJU needs to review every single aspect of the recruiting process.  They need to address advantages and disadvantages of attending SJU.  They need to figure out what they do well and where they come us short in their efforts to recruit student / athletes.  They need to figure out what their opponents do well and try to implement some of those strategies.  They need to find out why recruits are choosing other schools (namely UST) over SJU.

[hazzben]

for the life of me, I cant imagine how being required to live on campus at Saint John's would hurt recruiting...isnt the campus and the camaraderie being on that campus one of SJU's key selling points?

I was thinking the same thing. I think you just promote it as the kind of thing that makes the campus a special place.

What's the deal with the CAT???

I've been wondering that for years. The scarry thing is I feel like I'm getting used to it 

[AO]

for the life of me, I cant imagine how being required to live on campus at Saint John's would hurt recruiting...isnt the campus and the camaraderie being on that campus one of SJU's key selling points? 

it costs twice as much; silly rules about girls, beer and rock and roll.

[DuffMan]

I don't think the on campus housing requirements has a large impact on recruits / recruiting...but you never know.

As a recruit, I don't recall that topic even being in my mind.  Besides, you're shown some of the on-campus upperclassmen housing, and many of those apartments are really nice.

[faunch]

What rule is that? You mean no students can live in St. Joe?

Pretty much this appears to be the policy for 2013-2014

I give the SJU administration a bit of credit on this one.  Living in St. Paul (Highland) I'm well aware of the issues in the UST neighborhood in regards to student housing.  At least St. John's has decided to keep students on campus and provide housing for them.  At the start of the current school year UST didn't have enough rooms for their freshman class.  That kind of crap should only happen at the U.
IMO there are a few rationales for the policy at SJU.
1.  An attempt to decrease issues between students and St. Joe residents / law enforcement. 
2.  An attempt to build community by keeping students on campus all four years.
3.  An attempt to increase revenue (room rentals, dining fees, other incidentals).

[faunch]

for the life of me, I cant imagine how being required to live on campus at Saint John's would hurt recruiting...isnt the campus and the camaraderie being on that campus one of SJU's key selling points? 

it costs twice as much; silly rules about girls, beer and rock and roll.

SJU used to allow "floor parties"....meaning a dorm floor could invite a floor from one of the CSB dorms over for a party in the study lounge.  The rules in the J-book allowed for one eight gallon keg of beer.  I think the last year this was allowed was around 1985.

[sju56321]

I remember those-good old 19 year old drinking age.
Guess that policy will create more drunk driving-was nice to be able to stay in town after a long night out.
I can't imagine having to live in Tommy for 4 years.

[DuffMan]

Zip, you have obviously not seen the current underclassmen living options.  They are quite posh.  And with buses running back and forth from campus to St Joe, there is no reason to drive drunk.

[Mr.MIAC]

I must have missed this when it came out, but apparently UST football has an official theme song called Family:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F8d_XIlk1Q

[chewey]

Historically, SJU has been a place where a bunch of good, middle-class, unpretentious, "rural"/out state (about 60% to 65%) guys, many who happen to be really good football players, attend.  Gagliardi and the staff have NEVER encouraged the crap that I saw at the UST game (late  hits, cheap shots, etc.).  Players just came to SJU because of Gagliardi and his philosophy.  Bud Grant said that he'd not want Dan Grant - who graduated a year before me - to play for anyone other than Gagliardi.  For some reason -- probably because SJU only has 2 active recruiters compared to STU's 8 -- this message is not getting out as well as it used to.  The reality that they fail to understand (evidently) is that you need about 6 to 8 more people on the staff to get the message out and compete in a much more competitive recruiting environment.  They need to work with alumni to determine the good players in different areas.  In Mankato, for instance, they should be connecting with alumni here to see who the good players are at East, West, Loyola, Nicollet, New Ulm, etc and go after them.  The coaching staff is excellent, in my opinion and regardless of the past 3 years.  Getting more people to scout and recruit players is what needs to happen from my vantage point.