FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[tmerton]

Beer golf is tougher than mini-putt.  I must've started the beers too soon.

[Pat Coleman]

Those who seem to think that Salem is the only place that can draw a crowd forget to consider that other than a few hundred fans perhaps, the crowd at the Stagg Bowl is made up of fans of the 2 teams in the game who would travel almost anywhere to watch their team in the national championship.

This actually isn't true. The local sale is at least a thousand and sometimes closer to 2,000. (Depends on weather and game time -- ESPN2 didn't do the game any favors with all those 11 a.m. starts.)

[WIACPOWER]

Pat Coleman,

Don't you think that Florida, Texas or AZ would be a better draw??And if in Texas or AZ it would be a little bit more central location???

Also ESPN starts alot of games at 11:00am, that's not that bad of time is it??

[johnnyadmit]

Play golf regardless of the weather ...

http://www.whtmtnliving.net/games/sports/beer_golf2.htm

Too bad beer-related sites don't go over well in school...

[Willy Wonka]

A little preview of tomorrow's paper...

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — In 57 years of coaching football, John Gagliardi has won more games than any other college football coach. He's also stuck around long enough to coach dozens of athletes who are the sons of former players. Now, at 79, the legendary St. John's University coach is about to reach what could be a singular milestone.
   This fall, for the first time in his career and maybe the first time in the career of any college football coach, Gagliardi will get the chance to coach the grandson of one of his former players.
   Bobby Klint, an all-state defensive back from Totino Grace High School in Fridley, committed to play for St. John's nearly 50 years after his grandfather, Felix Mannella, starred for the Johnnies in Collegeville.
   ''It still doesn't mean he's coming — you don't know for sure until they show up,'' Gagliardi said, with a chuckle. ''But that's a very good indication that they are going to come.''
   Klint said recently that he plans to stick with his decision, turning down opportunities to play at one of several other schools, including the University of Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota State University and Augustana College.

[johnnyadmit]

Hey, looks like curtains for Melvins     http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=5758&section=homepage   As far as I'm concerned, the dude is kind of a d-bag anyway, and now he's going to let some developers tear down a Spicer Landmark.  Anybody with a few extra clams to throw in and save this fixture of Green Lake??  

[tmerton]

So how big is hockey in the MIAC?  We were in the east last summer and saw some great facilities at NESCAC and Ivy League schools where hockey is clearly king, rivaling or maybe exceeding football.  Heck, we saw some prep schools that have 2 hockey rinks on the campus.

I don't think MN takes a back seat to the east in hockey, but I was suprised to find no hockey boards here at d3sports.com.  It's not even on PC's current list of possible future boards.   

[Pat Coleman]

Pat Coleman,

Don't you think that Florida, Texas or AZ would be a better draw??And if in Texas or AZ it would be a little bit more central location???

Also ESPN starts alot of games at 11:00am, that's not that bad of time is it??

I'm thinking anything that 99% of D-III schools must fly to is not really a central location, no.

What D-III fans are there in Arizona or Florida?

[Pat Coleman]

So how big is hockey in the MIAC?  We were in the east last summer and saw some great facilities at NESCAC and Ivy League schools where hockey is clearly king, rivaling or maybe exceeding football.  Heck, we saw some prep schools that have 2 hockey rinks on the campus.

I don't think MN takes a back seat to the east in hockey, but I was suprised to find no hockey boards here at d3sports.com.  It's not even on PC's current list of possible future boards.   

USCHO.com is well-established in this market and they appear to treat D-III with some respect.

[johnnie_esq]

Just got through reading the 18+ pages after returning from France. If anyone gets the opportunity, spend some time at Normandy-- it really is overpoweringly amazing-- given the size of the cliffs and the extent of the beaches, it really is a testament to our fathers and grandfathers for our success there in WWII.

Also, being hit on in front of my wife by a cute female French customs agent was priceless.  I recommend the experience.

tmerton-- hockey is growing in the MIAC. SJU and UST have had some good teams recently, and Gustavus is always strong, but STO won the conference playoffs this year, so there is a good amount of parity within the league.  As far as facilities, SJU plays at the National Hockey Center (aka National Concrete Center for us "Pride on Ice" fans), a big DI facility for SCSU; but SJU/UST hockey tilts have recently been drawing about 1,500-3,000 fans per game, which isn't New England style, but good for us. Overall, it's pretty good hockey- but if you're looking for more people/tradition, you can head to Mariucci at the U, Mariucci West ("The Ralph") in Grand Forks, the DECC in Duluth, the NHC for SCSU, or the Kohl Center in Madison-- all within a few hours drive for some great WCHA hockey.  They all seat between 6,000 and 14,000 people, are usually packed, and are flat out fun.

Other than that, what did I miss? 

[Johnnie Red]

Speaking of a few hours of driving time, it is somewhat amazing that it took me only a few minutes to drive from Chaska to San Francisco last evening. It was very nice looking out over the water. I suppose I should mention that it was San Francisco township and the water was the Minnesota River.

For all you country/Stearns county boys, you can probably appreciate walking into a township hall that is out in the middle of nowhere, has no windows and is surrounded by gravel. I did get to drive by the one-time site of Gustavus on my way out to the sticks.

I am working on getting a band that my nephew plays in to make an appearance at one of the Stiftungsfestivities this fall. His sister is a Bennie, so hopefully it will happen.

[sju56321]

For DIII hockey-head up to Superior next year for the mini-Frozen Four-we will finally see how big a draw hockey is here out "west." And USCHO does a pretty good job-just very East dominated.
It does seem that at the DIII level, it helps to have the championship played in an area that has some following-Florida was tried years ago for football, how did that work out, Pat?

[sumander]

So how big is hockey in the MIAC?  We were in the east last summer and saw some great facilities at NESCAC and Ivy League schools where hockey is clearly king, rivaling or maybe exceeding football.  Heck, we saw some prep schools that have 2 hockey rinks on the campus.

I don't think MN takes a back seat to the east in hockey, but I was suprised to find no hockey boards here at d3sports.com.  It's not even on PC's current list of possible future boards.   

johnnie_esq pretty much hit the nail on the head about hockey. The state of minnesota has 5 D-1 hockey schools (UM,MSU,SCSU,UMD,BSU). 4 out of the 5 play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Ass. Arguably the premiere league in the Country. The WCHA had all four of the teams in last years Frozen Four. So Seeing great college hockey is usually only a short drive away.

UST and SJU have developed a good (competitive) rivalry in hockey. The option for most high schools kids is to play a year or two in junior hockey and then go to a college. It is getting to be pretty rare where you will see someone straight out of high school make the jump to D-1 or even D-lll hockey. The Phil Kessel's of the world are pretty rare.

[finsleft]

Pat Coleman,
Don't you think that Florida, Texas or AZ would be a better draw??And if in Texas or AZ it would be a little bit more central location???
Also ESPN starts alot of games at 11:00am, that's not that bad of time is it??

I'm thinking anything that 99% of D-III schools must fly to is not really a central location, no.
What D-III fans are there in Arizona or Florida?

I'm thinking that unless the game's played in Minnesota or Wisconsin, I'm flying anyway. Fly me someplace nice.

[finsleft]

So how big is hockey in the MIAC?  We were in the east last summer and saw some great facilities at NESCAC and Ivy League schools where hockey is clearly king, rivaling or maybe exceeding football.  Heck, we saw some prep schools that have 2 hockey rinks on the campus.
I don't think MN takes a back seat to the east in hockey, but I was suprised to find no hockey boards here at d3sports.com.  It's not even on PC's current list of possible future boards.   

St. John's has built a pretty respectable hockey program under John Harrington. Goalie Adam Hanna won the Sid Watson Memorial Award this year, which is the hockey equivalent of the Gagliardi award.
http://www.gojohnnies.com/hockey/times031706%20Sid%20Watson%20Award.htm
Hanna and 2 of his teammates earned All-American honors, as did 3 St. Thomas players, 1 from Gustavus, and 1 from Augsburg.
http://www.gojohnnies.com/hockey/default.htm
http://www.uscho.com/news/id,12393/2006DivisionIIIAllAmericansAnnounced.html
As was pointed out, SJU plays "in town" but there is talk of a campus facility in the future.