FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hazzben]

I don't see any 2 loss team from the MIAC getting in this year......

x2, but I've been wrong once before...

I want to see CC get into the playoffs, it will be hard to get in with comparisons of the unbeaten or 1 loss teams in weaker conferences.  Especially the auto bids where teams have 2 or 3 losses and win the conf.

Does Franklin just get credit for barely losing to MUC early in the year?  Is MUC the same type of program they were in the early 2000's?  What's the strength of the conf?  What was UST ranked when SJU beat them (#2??), with the same approach SJU should have been a top 10 team in the rankings the following week but barely cracked the top 25.

Barring some upsets and craziness on Saturday, Concordia is in trouble. UST needs help too, but not as much as the Cobbers.

You need to consider the process though. Franklin is probably getting a Pool A bid. They'll likely win their conference on Saturday. If they lose, they are in worse shape than Concordia. But Franklin is the team you should be worrying about. You should be hoping UST somehow stumbles against Olaf (not happening). That Wabash loses the Monon Bell game to DePauw. That Thomas Moore loses. And that lots of one loss Pool C candidates lose while teams in position for Pool A bids, that haven't already clinched, win and don't fall into Pool C.

If that seems like you're wishing for a lot, it's because you are. The Cobbers are on life support...

Interestingly, UST and Concordia should both be cheering for a Bethe win Saturday. SJU at 2 losses with wins over UST and Bethel would be in front of both the Tommies and Cobbers in the Regional Rankings. And they still might not get in. Which means neither other team could even get on the board.

Bottom line, barring chaos on Saturday, I don't like the odds of a second MIAC team in the playoffs.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Hazz,
The starting kicker got hurt?  I guess I missed that.

While I'd like the think that BU will cruise over SJ1 and the results against recent common opponents seem to suggest that...I think we've all seen enough to know better than that.  If it turns into a monkey stomp, great, but let's not kid ourselves.  Weird stuff happens behind that pine curtain.

The punter, not the kicker.

No, the punter got hurt Saturday. Not sure how serious. The starting kicker got hurt week 1 against Wartburg. O'Reilly is our backup, but at this point he's got basically an entire season under his belt.

The starting kicker being out hasn't been much of an issue this season, but it concerns me more as the playoffs approach.  O'Reilly has been OK on PAT's, but hasn't been great on field goals.  Would have been nice to have a guy that could consistently put 3 points on the board from 35 yds out in Van Loon. 

Hopefully O'Reilly can answer the call if a game's outcome ever rests on his kick in the coming weeks.

[sfury]

The strange thing is, if SJU beats Bethel, I think most Johnnie fans on here (I might be wrong) would still say they don't deserve to get into the playoffs. Compare that to how most bubble teams see their squads or how SJU fans looked at the brackets in, say, 2000 or 06 and 07, when the pitchfork committee had been formed in case the Johnnies were left out. Not that SJU wouldn't be one of the best 32 teams in the nation, just that all the close wins that could have been losses, the lopsided defeat against Concordia and loss against Gustavus have fans feeling like, meh, it's not an outrage if they don't get in and they probably shouldn't. (Although 8-2 with wins over Tommies and Bethel would be impressive).

Maybe I'm wrong about that sentiment.

[sju56321]

I don't see it happening-but if they beat Bethel, I would like to see them in the playoffs. Never know what can happen in the playoffs.

[sfury]

I don't see it happening-but if they beat Bethel, I would like to see them in the playoffs. Never know what can happen in the playoffs.

That's true and with a favorable matchup could definitely see them winning a game. So yeah, I guess I wouldn't demand they turn a bid down or anything!

[OzJohnnie]

If they're in then they deserve to be there I say.

If they beat BU then they deserve a good look. There is no shame in the loss to CON. The GAC loss was a brain fade but that team has proven surprisingly good this year. So maybe no shame there either.

I guess the biggest reason I'm hoping they extend thier season is for the extra practice. They need practice on execution and decision making. Also, I reckon every week the coaches get to look at their boys in the field is a week extra preseason for next year in effect. I'm hoping the fellas can pull off a conference championship next year and they needs more game time to game time to get there.

[OzJohnnie]

I tried to resist but I can't do it. Time for a dad brag. Page 13, second place kid is #2.

http://www.gymnasticsvictoria.org.au/site/gymnastics/vic/downloads/events/Results/2013/WAG%20Vics%20Results.pdf

She took second all around the National 4B gymnastics state championships on Saturday.  Gymnastics, I've come to learn, has three divisions: international (trying for the Olympics), national (trying for national championships), and state (competition in state). The hours can be crazy for internationals (30+ per week for 8 year olds) and the same for national levels. State is limited to under 9 or even less for lower levels. Victoria (our home state) is unique in that they have a national B program which trains to the same skills but max 12 hours per week. And that's just right for our 11-year-old. She went to a national comp in Tasmania earlier this year and was competing against A's from across the country. She managed third overall there (it was her highest scoring comp ever). The competition was not the strongest field in Australia but was still quite high, but with good coaching a girl can do really well even with limited hours.

I recommend competitive gym for anyone out there with a girl that likes solo competition. Coaching makes all the difference for results (last year #2 was thrashed at state with a different coach, barely qualifying for the finals and then taking last in 32nd place - she's really proud if her improvement this year) but regardless it sure helps them learn to work hard and push themselves. I don't reckon I pushed myself as hard as she does until I was working with a new mortgage (funny what motivates).

[sfury]

I tried to resist but I can't do it. Time for a dad brag. Page 13, second place kid is #2.

http://www.gymnasticsvictoria.org.au/site/gymnastics/vic/downloads/events/Results/2013/WAG%20Vics%20Results.pdf

She took second all around the National 4B gymnastics state championships on Saturday.  Gymnastics, I've come to learn, has three divisions: international (trying for the Olympics), national (trying for national championships), and state (competition in state). The hours can be crazy for internationals (30+ per week for 8 year olds) and the same for national levels. State is limited to under 9 or even less for lower levels. Victoria (our home state) is unique in that they have a national B program which trains to the same skills but max 12 hours per week. And that's just right for our 11-year-old. She went to a national comp in Tasmania earlier this year and was competing against A's from across the country. She managed third overall there (it was her highest scoring comp ever). The competition was not the strongest field in Australia but was still quite high, but with good coaching a girl can do really well even with limited hours.

I recommend competitive gym for anyone out there with a girl that likes solo competition. Coaching makes all the difference for results (last year #2 was thrashed at state with a different coach, barely qualifying for the finals and then taking last in 32nd place - she's really proud if her improvement this year) but regardless it sure helps them learn to work hard and push themselves. I don't reckon I pushed myself as hard as she does until I was working with a new mortgage (funny what motivates).

Congrats. On the other hand, gymnastics parents are insane. Soccer moms combined with Tiger moms combined with stage moms combined with Bela Karolyi combined with Al Trautwig. Or at least those were the ones I dealt with as a reporter.

[OzJohnnie]

I bet those parents weren't Johnnies or Bennies. Probably Tommies.

Actually, you were likely dealing with parents with dreams of their kids in the Olympics.  It takes a certain amount of crazy to send your little tot to essentially a full time job of gym training.

Anyway, I recommend gym without the crazy.

[faunch]

19 player suspended and 303 penalty minutes assessed in hockey fight...oh BTW it was between the Bemidji St and Ohio St women's teams. 
You could say the officials were a little hard on the beaver???  I heard the head linesman name was Ward Cleaver.   

http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/9961069/19-suspended-ohio-state-buckeyes-bemidji-state-beavers-women-hockey-brawl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdZi8hjC6dU

[OzJohnnie]

19 player suspended and 303 penalty minutes assessed in hockey fight...oh BTW it was between the Bemidji St and Ohio St women's teams. 
You could say the officials were a little hard on the beaver???  I heard the head linesman name was Ward Cleaver.   

http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/9961069/19-suspended-ohio-state-buckeyes-bemidji-state-beavers-women-hockey-brawl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdZi8hjC6dU

Leslie Nielsen, we miss you most at moments like this.

[repete]

303 minutes in pens? That's about 151.5 minutes for every decent punch landed.

[sjusection105]

@ Duff- you are lucky you missed the Live Chat with Frank today. I have to applaud Frank for not absolutely dropping the F-bomb on some of these idiots. After the 3rd- "tar & feather Ramler & run him out of town" comment Frank politely said, "we've covered this territory before....about two questions ago..."

One guy threatened not to renew his season tickets after 26 years, if Ramler returned as OC
Damn, some people are idiots.

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EM'S

Name	W1	W2	W3	W4	W5	W6	W7	W8	W9	W10	W11	Overall
FCGrizzliesGrad	10	7	4	7	10	12	16	6	10	14	-	96
hazzben	14	5	11	10	6	9	14	8	7	11	-	95
Repete	9	12	6	8	7	10	15	4	10	14	-	95
AlmostEx	10	10	15	4	4	10	16	10	4	11	-	94
OzJohnnie	9	7	11	8	-	10	10	15	13	11	-	94
desertcat1	10	5	7	10	9	10	11	6	9	14	-	91
GoldandBlueBU	12	7	8	10	7	10	9	11	7	10	-	91
miacmaniac	12	6	7	13	7	7	13	6	6	12	-	89
mr_mom	10	12	3	4	7	10	15	9	7	11	-	88
AO	5	11	16	8	4	13	7	5	8	10	-	87
stanbob	9	1	11	10	10	10	12	10	4	10	-	87
art76	7	7	13	7	6	3	12	11	7	8	-	81
OldAuggie	11	0	7	11	10	5	14	8	9	6	-	81
sju56321	9	7	7	5	8	7	12	6	4	12	-	77
jayhawkdaddy	10	2	3	5	7	12	8	9	8	12	-	76
finsleft	6	13	7	4	5	8	10	7	7	7	-	74
ChicagoTommie	10	10	6	10	5	7	6	7	8	-	-	69
FearTheEar	11	3	8	7	8	7	9	4	6	-	-	63
USTBench	4	6	7	11	8	7	6	4	3	-	-	56
wm4	10	3	-	-	7	6	7	-	-	-	-	33
ron doney	12	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	18
raiderguy	-	4	-	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11
Capn34	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7

Week 11 November 16

Conference: 3pts
#6 Bethel @ St. John's (+13.5)
Gustavus (+10.5) @ Concordia
Augsburg @ Carleton (+18.5)
#16 St. Thomas @ St. Olaf (+42.5)

Non-Conference: 2pts
Hamline @ Macalester (+7.5) "The Old Paint Bucket"

West Region: 1pt
#10 UW-Platteville (+7.5) @ #8 UW-Oshkosh

National: 1pt
#9 John Carroll (+10.5) @ #1 Mount Union
Cortland State (+7.5) @ #20 Ithaca

TIEBREAKER:
Total number of points scored Bethel vs. St. John's:

[RoyalsFan]

If they're in then they deserve to be there I say.

If they beat BU then they deserve a good look. There is no shame in the loss to CON. The GAC loss was a brain fade but that team has proven surprisingly good this year. So maybe no shame there either.

I guess the biggest reason I'm hoping they extend thier season is for the extra practice. They need practice on execution and decision making. Also, I reckon every week the coaches get to look at their boys in the field is a week extra preseason for next year in effect. I'm hoping the fellas can pull off a conference championship next year and they needs more game time to game time to get there.

What? I thought you said if they beat BU they were a lock for the playoffs.   

While I would say they have played some good games this year, they have also played poorly in other games. Other than the 2 losses, I didn't think they played all that great against Augsburg and they definitely didn't play very well last week against Hamlin. I think this week's game against BU will determine whether or not one can classify themselves as a good team or not.