FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sjusection105]

At University of Northwestern-St. Paul, the goal for a shocking number of freshmen girls was a "ring by spring".

This is shocking. These girls are 18,19 at tops... and the guys,I presume are also Freshmen or Sophomores,so that makes them 18-20 years old. We have all been there and it ain't pretty, the (lack of) decision making abilities of guys in their late teens- early 20's and to get married or even engaged....not cool. What do their parents say about the goal? Do the guys know about this when they go out on their first couple dates?
Oh well- different strokes for different folks....they probably think I'm weird because I was 32 (and my wife also 32) no previous marriages, no kids, we both had (still have) full time jobs and it's expensive being married---no way that I could even consider this in my early 20's

[hazzben]

At University of Northwestern-St. Paul, the goal for a shocking number of freshmen girls was a "ring by spring".

This is shocking. These girls are 18,19 at tops... and the guys,I presume are also Freshmen or Sophomores,so that makes them 18-20 years old. We have all been there and it ain't pretty, the (lack of) decision making abilities of guys in their late teens- early 20's and to get married or even engaged....not cool. What do their parents say about the goal? Do the guys know about this when they go out on their first couple dates?
Oh well- different strokes for different folks....they probably think I'm weird because I was 32 (and my wife also 32) no previous marriages, no kids, we both had (still have) full time jobs and it's expensive being married---no way that I could even consider this in my early 20's

Meh, it's somewhere in between. Sure, there are plenty of girls at Evangelical colleges (believe me, it goes far beyond just NWC, though at most schools I'd suspect it is usually the upperclass ladies) that espouse the 'ring by spring' mentality. Some no doubt have a warped view of marital bliss. But on the whole, it stems from a high view of marriage and family. They also tend to be dating, not just for the sake of dating, but because they want to get married and hope the guy they are dating will indeed marry them.

On the flip side, you have a culture of 'perpetual adolescence' where many guys refuse to grow up and get married. They play video games, live selfishly (and maybe still live in mommy & daddy basement or wallet) and view dating as a means to bagging a girl. That should be the shocking thing. (Please note, I'm not in any way assuming or asserting this is what you did section). Why give a ring when I can get the benefits with none of the responsibility, is more the mentality.

Historically speaking, it is this recent generation that is the shocking exception. The idea that a person in their early 20's is incapable or ill-prepared for marriage because of maturity issues is a modern trend. No doubt it's partially because we've swallowed whole the likewise modern 'notion of adolescence', where we treat our 15 year olds with the amount of responsibility previous generations gave an 8 year old. So then, of course your typical 23 year old is far less ready for marriage than in previous generations. But I'd rather see us push people toward greater maturity and responsibility than excuse or promote their ongoing stiff-arm of adulthood. My advice would run more along the lines of 'Man Up.' If you think you're man enough to do the act, do it as an act of consummation. [and make sure you invite Duff to the ceremony so he can run security on any obnoxious guests you may have felt obligated to invite but who were unable to grow up themselves ]

[OzJohnnie]

Meatloaf's Paradise by the Dashboard Light brought to you in two posts.

(A slight level two going here. I went to a fiftieth birthday party last night. The best thing about growing old is that the parties tend to have free booze.)

[OzJohnnie]

I took the wife out for our 5th Anniversary last night, and I had a Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA.  This was my first white IPA.  I gotta say, it was great.  Crisp and refreshing yet with the bite of an IPA.  Definitely something I can see sipping on the patio on a hot day.

Congratulations on the milestone, Duff. The years fly by now that the little duffster is at the wheel so it's good to celebrate when the milestones come.

[AO]

At University of Northwestern-St. Paul, the goal for a shocking number of freshmen girls was a "ring by spring".

This is shocking. These girls are 18,19 at tops... and the guys,I presume are also Freshmen or Sophomores,so that makes them 18-20 years old. We have all been there and it ain't pretty, the (lack of) decision making abilities of guys in their late teens- early 20's and to get married or even engaged....not cool. What do their parents say about the goal? Do the guys know about this when they go out on their first couple dates?
Oh well- different strokes for different folks....they probably think I'm weird because I was 32 (and my wife also 32) no previous marriages, no kids, we both had (still have) full time jobs and it's expensive being married---no way that I could even consider this in my early 20's

Hazz pretty well stated my feelings on the topic, but a couple of additional thoughts.  The girls aren't messing around.  Most don't want to be married at 20 (I had just 3 teammates who were married while still in college), but there is no doubt what they are looking for within 3-4 years.   The parents aren't quick to give their blessing to just anyone either.   There certainly are a lot of 20 somethings unprepared for commitment or responsibility, but they are mentally and emotionally capable of learning.

Aren't there a lot of Johnnies marrying Bennies in their early 20s?  I wouldn't be surprised if there were more marriages in Collegeville than at Bethel or Northwestern.

[Tom Thumb]

Not sure how definitive this is, but it looks like UST picked up John Collins, a transfer from the University of San Diego. Collins played football at the Academy of Holy Angels a few years ago.  Below are a few videos of Collins.  Kid looks pretty solid.

http://usdtoreros.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/john_collins_795390.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ7YP34iNAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS6iCyQItlo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3eyMKPY2Pw

[OzJohnnie]

Hawthorn enter their bye weekend atop of the standings with a 9-1 record and a 148% scoring percentage.  Their only blemish coming in round one to the Geelong Cats (the tenth loss in a row to Geelong for the Hawks since their 2008 victory over the Cats in the Grand Final).  We next play Geelong during the Fourth of July weekend.  The family and I will be in Sydney, of course, for the wife's birthday (a little trip to celebrate her 16th time turning 29).

One of the things that I really like about Aussie Rules football is that scoring percentage is the first tie breaker.  So teams must run up the score for playoff positions which are determined by the standings.  Hawthorn's 148% means that they score 148% of their opponent's score.  The Hawks have the highest scoring offense by a long way and the third most stingy defence.  They beat lowly Melbourne by 95 points on the weekend (143 - 48).  Melbourne's percentage stands at 51% (as does first-year expansion team Greater Western Sydney), meaning their score is doubled every game.  It can get pretty demoralising for a losing side when a dominant team keeps blazing away trying to grab every scrap of percentage they can.

[OzJohnnie]

It looks like TDT's girlfriend has uncovered his true nature.  Poor fella.  And the breakup note has gone viral, too.

[DuffMan]

New Glarus Dancing Man...meh. 

[wildcat11]

Not sure how definitive this is, but it looks like UST picked up John Collins, a transfer from the University of San Diego. Collins played football at the Academy of Holy Angels a few years ago.  Below are a few videos of Collins.  Kid looks pretty solid.

http://usdtoreros.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/john_collins_795390.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ7YP34iNAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS6iCyQItlo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3eyMKPY2Pw

U of San Diego football is a non-scholarship school.  Collins looks like he's on his 3rd stop (Saddleback JC/U of SD/UST) now.  Maybe he'll be ok but 3 video link worthy?

[bennie]

A Christmas Story... Paradise by the Dashboard Lights.. Now I feel old.

Duff, I am guessing that the Royal was a goalie! They are weirdos...just ask their teammates!

[Tom Thumb]

Not sure how definitive this is, but it looks like UST picked up John Collins, a transfer from the University of San Diego. Collins played football at the Academy of Holy Angels a few years ago.  Below are a few videos of Collins.  Kid looks pretty solid.

http://usdtoreros.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/john_collins_795390.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ7YP34iNAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS6iCyQItlo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3eyMKPY2Pw

U of San Diego football is a non-scholarship school.  Collins looks like he's on his 3rd stop (Saddleback JC/U of SD/UST) now.  Maybe he'll be ok but 3 video link worthy?

I will admit, I went a little link crazy. That's what happens when I'm bored on a Sunday coupled with drinking excessive amounts of coffee. 

[ron doney]

A few FB related highlights from Gene's latest post:

http://www.tommiesports.com/bsbl/news/Blog_63.html

What Even Fewer Knew: St. Thomas had top-three team placings in all 11 men's sports, a feat not done by an MIAC men's program in the last 35 years (St. Thomas women did it 1990-91)

What Most Knew: St. Thomas swept the MIAC football, men's basketball and baseball teams championships for the third consecutive year.

What Some Knew: From 1939-2010, no MIAC institution won crowns in all three of those conference sports in the same school year.

[faunch]

A few FB related highlights from Gene's latest post:

http://www.tommiesports.com/bsbl/news/Blog_63.html

What Even Fewer Knew: St. Thomas had top-three team placings in all 11 men's sports, a feat not done by an MIAC men's program in the last 35 years (St. Thomas women did it 1990-91)

What Most Knew: St. Thomas swept the MIAC football, men's basketball and baseball teams championships for the third consecutive year.

What Some Knew: From 1939-2010, no MIAC institution won crowns in all three of those conference sports in the same school year.

UST = D3INO

[hazzben]

A Christmas Story... Paradise by the Dashboard Lights.. Now I feel old.

Duff, I am guessing that the Royal was a goalie! They are weirdos...just ask their teammates!

Given the fact that my father-in-law (from International Falls) is/was a goalie, I'm not going to comment