FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[art76]

Anybody here besides me at the Twins game last night for St. Johns and St. Bens night? It was a fun game to attend on Dell's dime - a work perk, as they say.

[DuffMan]

Faunch tweeted a selfie from the game, so he must have been there.

[Mr.MIAC]

Rev, congrats on the new axe. I've had the same Stratocaster since 1974, and it was used when I bought it. I think it sounds better the older it gets, although that may be due to a loss hearing.

Nice. Late '60s/early '70s Stratocasters are worth a pretty penny nowadays. Not that you'd sell it of course. I wasn't really thinking about getting a Les Paul after visiting the PRS factory out here in Maryland awhile back. I think excitement surrounding the current Guns N' Roses reunion tour pushed me back in that direction. Maybe it's a generational thing, but growing up and learning guitar in the '90s meant you idolized bands like Guns N' Roses and players like Slash. He played a Les Paul and maybe that's why I've always viewed it as the ultimate aspirational guitar.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Johnnies Ranked No. 9 by The Sporting News, Hanson Named a Preseason All-American

Here's the top five from that poll:

1. Linfield
2. Mount Union
3. Whitewater
4. Mary Hardin Baylor
5. St. Thomas

Does anyone else think Linfield is a bit too high and St. Thomas is a bit too low?

Hmmmmm maybe. Linfield played without their Jr. starting qb for most of the UST game but when he was in the game Linfield looked very good.

I saw that list somewhere and I was shocked to see that Bethel was not in the top 25. Pre season lists are nothing to hang your hat on so 

I'd agree that UST is underrated...they return Roberts, and will have an upgrade at QB.

No surprise to not see BU in the top 25 to me...pre season polls are all about last year, and BU's 5-5 season wasn't exactly impressive.

[miac952]

Johnnies Ranked No. 9 by The Sporting News, Hanson Named a Preseason All-American

Here's the top five from that poll:

1. Linfield
2. Mount Union
3. Whitewater
4. Mary Hardin Baylor
5. St. Thomas

Does anyone else think Linfield is a bit too high and St. Thomas is a bit too low?

Hmmmmm maybe. Linfield played without their Jr. starting qb for most of the UST game but when he was in the game Linfield looked very good.

I saw that list somewhere and I was shocked to see that Bethel was not in the top 25. Pre season lists are nothing to hang your hat on so 

I'd agree that UST is underrated...they return Roberts, and will have an upgrade at QB.

No surprise to not see BU in the top 25 to me...pre season polls are all about last year, and BU's 5-5 season wasn't exactly impressive.

I would have to look, but I dont think Linfield lost many guys, especially on offense. I thought the big holes on that team were WR's and their front seven on Defense. They didn't seem to have the go to WR of previous Linfield teams and the front seven got pushed around A LOT by the UST run game. I would put Mount Union #1, until otherwise. Don't really care what they lost. Linfield in the top 3 or 4 somewhere. Would have to look and see what the MHB offense and Whitewater D bring back. Both were very good on one side of the football. If that side of the football stays strong and the rest improves they are obvious contenders.

UST's biggest loss from last year is their two corners. I thought they were underrated, even with some of the recognition they got. They were experienced, tall, fast, and physical. They could be left on an island for blitz packages and supported the run. They will be hard to replace. The OL will fill its holes and be strong. Dowdle will be a loss, but the place seems to be a TE factory with two good receiveing TE's and two good blocking TE's always in the pipeline.

Carter Hansen is a player for SJU. Good to see him get recognition. Typical undersized ball hawk LB. UST seemed to like running at his edge as much as possible in both games, and were successful with it. At one point I think it was the same play his way 4 times in a row. With Hansen's speed and smaller size he seems to be best when the play is away from him.

[faunch]

Faunch tweeted a selfie from the game, so he must have been there.

I was there but watched very little of the game.  Was with a college friend that I don't see all that much and most of the game was spent conversing.  Got a nice baseball cap out of it!

[Mr.MIAC]

I would have to look, but I dont think Linfield lost many guys, especially on offense. I thought the big holes on that team were WR's and their front seven on Defense. They didn't seem to have the go to WR of previous Linfield teams and the front seven got pushed around A LOT by the UST run game. I would put Mount Union #1, until otherwise. Don't really care what they lost. Linfield in the top 3 or 4 somewhere. Would have to look and see what the MHB offense and Whitewater D bring back. Both were very good on one side of the football. If that side of the football stays strong and the rest improves they are obvious contenders.

UST's biggest loss from last year is their two corners. I thought they were underrated, even with some of the recognition they got. They were experienced, tall, fast, and physical. They could be left on an island for blitz packages and supported the run. They will be hard to replace. The OL will fill its holes and be strong. Dowdle will be a loss, but the place seems to be a TE factory with two good receiveing TE's and two good blocking TE's always in the pipeline.

Carter Hansen is a player for SJU. Good to see him get recognition. Typical undersized ball hawk LB. UST seemed to like running at his edge as much as possible in both games, and were successful with it. At one point I think it was the same play his way 4 times in a row. With Hansen's speed and smaller size he seems to be best when the play is away from him.

Maybe it would be better to break the top end of the poll into tiers:

Tier I: Purple Powers

Mount Union
Wisconsin-Whitewater
St. Thomas

Tier II: Legitimate Contenders

Linfield
Mary Hardin-Baylor
Wesley

Tier III: Moderately Competitive and Keeping Up Appearances With Things Like Attendance Records...

Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Wheaton
Saint John's

[DuffMan]

Barf. 

I think Mount Union and UWW might have something to say about U$T being included in the "Purple Powers".  There's something that both of those teams have that U$T doesn't.

[OldAuggie]

No surprise to not see BU in the top 25 to me...pre season polls are all about last year, and BU's 5-5 season wasn't exactly impressive.

OK that's fair. I was coming from a 30,000 ft perspective. How did Bethel finish at 5-5 and not look like a top 25 team to start the next season? Is this the new Bethel? When was the last time they finished 5-5? Every team has injuries but the teams with depth can handle that and finish with a good record. I think of Bethel as a power team. Just curious what is happening.

[Mr.MIAC]

Barf. 

I think Mount Union and UWW might have something to say about U$T being included in the "Purple Powers".  There's something that both of those teams have that U$T doesn't.

What would that be...legitimate intraconference competition?   

[sjusection105]

Barf. 

I think Mount Union and UWW might have something to say about U$T being included in the "Purple Powers".  There's something that both of those teams have that U$T doesn't.

What would that be...legitimate intraconference competition?   

MU gets pushed once a decade by Ohio Northern or Baldwin Wallace and UWW is now being pushed by Oshkosh but a decade ago it was  Stevens Point. UST is new to their role in the MIAC with Bethel & SJU winning titles in 2013 & 2014. Your argument lacks substance.....

[OzJohnnie]

Rev, congrats on the new ax. I've had the same Stratocaster since 1974, and it was used when I bought it. I think it sounds better the older it gets, although that may be due to a loss of hearing.

The older it gets? 

[BDB]

Rev, congrats on the new ax. I've had the same Stratocaster since 1974, and it was used when I bought it. I think it sounds better the older it gets, although that may be due to a loss of hearing.

The older it gets? 

Right. In addition to the loss of hearing. I think it's a combo platter. 

[Mr.MIAC]

Barf. 

I think Mount Union and UWW might have something to say about U$T being included in the "Purple Powers".  There's something that both of those teams have that U$T doesn't.

What would that be...legitimate intraconference competition?   

MU gets pushed once a decade by Ohio Northern or Baldwin Wallace and UWW is now being pushed by Oshkosh but a decade ago it was  Stevens Point. UST is new to their role in the MIAC with Bethel & SJU winning titles in 2013 & 2014. Your argument lacks substance.....

Substance! Who wants substance? I was going more for style points.

[OzJohnnie]

Barf. 

I think Mount Union and UWW might have something to say about U$T being included in the "Purple Powers".  There's something that both of those teams have that U$T doesn't.

What would that be...legitimate intraconference competition?   

MU gets pushed once a decade by Ohio Northern or Baldwin Wallace and UWW is now being pushed by Oshkosh but a decade ago it was  Stevens Point. UST is new to their role in the MIAC with Bethel & SJU winning titles in 2013 & 2014. Your argument lacks substance.....

Substance! Who wants substance? I was going more for style points.

Then you failed twice over. But don't give up yet.