FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sjusection105]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

Never ceases to amaze me how passionate this love affair is.

76 million views says something.....
https://youtu.be/XpqqjU7u5Yc

[repete]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

Bethel recruits a certain type of player that may not be on the radar of other MIAC coaches,because other MIAC coaches don't recruit those areas. I'm just wondering if there will ever come a day when a kid decides to go somewhere else in the MIAC because of the lack of facilities at Bethel? Let's just use Becker as an example. Dwight Linden,one of the nicest coaches in the MSHSL and very successful. This is going against my initial premise but a lot of kids from Becker go to Bethel and a lot go to SJU. Would there ever be a time when the facilities of SJU close the deal for the kid not going to Bethel and instead going to SJU. Dwight's own kids went to Bethel & he has a strong relationship with Steve Johnson,but SJU has Brandon Novak...it's all hypothetical but it does make you wonder when a Bethel will get a major donor for facility upgrades.

On facilities - yeah, I think that's a legitimate concern.  I'm sure there are kids who feel pretty comfortable between multiple schools in regards to academics / atmosphere / team, so if those are all relatively equal, facilities could be a tipping point.  BU has spent a lot of money in the past several years on the school's buildings, opening a big student center 5 or so years ago, and opened a new fitness center last year, so they're spending $'s on the school overall, and I would hope that the football facility is in the near future.  It wouldn't even have to be a huge upgrade - FieldTurf and larger guest bleachers would go a long way.

In terms of competing for the MIAC, it seems like they don't quite get the volume of quality kids in each class to be in that top 2 MIAC conversation every year like SJU and UST do, but rather depend on getting  couple of good classes together with a couple of "star" type players in order to get up into contending for the MIAC every 4-5 years or so.  BU won the MIAC in '01, '06 (tied with SJU), '07, and '13, along with a couple of playoff qualifying years in the '08 - '12 gap. So, being in that rebuilding cycle after winning it in '13, (and really, really should have been co-champs in '14, but had it spoiled by Aryton Scott) isn't a huge shock.

My optimistic view is that the current sophomore class is very good, and that BU should be contending for top 2 in '17 and'18.  Will still be fun to watch them grow this year, but I have a feeling that they have more lumps coming. 

Kind of a bummer to only really have one high stakes matchup in the MIAC this year with UST / SJU, and also having it be so early in the season.  AO has just given me reason to have hopes though, as I'm doing much better than I have historically in picking, so I'll focus on that instead.   

Goldandblue -- Huge improvement for those old farts among us who toured the old Snelling BC campus!



http://content.clic.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15186coll8/id/464

[faunch]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

Bethel recruits a certain type of player that may not be on the radar of other MIAC coaches,because other MIAC coaches don't recruit those areas. I'm just wondering if there will ever come a day when a kid decides to go somewhere else in the MIAC because of the lack of facilities at Bethel? Let's just use Becker as an example. Dwight Linden,one of the nicest coaches in the MSHSL and very successful. This is going against my initial premise but a lot of kids from Becker go to Bethel and a lot go to SJU. Would there ever be a time when the facilities of SJU close the deal for the kid not going to Bethel and instead going to SJU. Dwight's own kids went to Bethel & he has a strong relationship with Steve Johnson,but SJU has Brandon Novak...it's all hypothetical but it does make you wonder when a Bethel will get a major donor for facility upgrades.

On facilities - yeah, I think that's a legitimate concern.  I'm sure there are kids who feel pretty comfortable between multiple schools in regards to academics / atmosphere / team, so if those are all relatively equal, facilities could be a tipping point.  BU has spent a lot of money in the past several years on the school's buildings, opening a big student center 5 or so years ago, and opened a new fitness center last year, so they're spending $'s on the school overall, and I would hope that the football facility is in the near future.  It wouldn't even have to be a huge upgrade - FieldTurf and larger guest bleachers would go a long way.

In terms of competing for the MIAC, it seems like they don't quite get the volume of quality kids in each class to be in that top 2 MIAC conversation every year like SJU and UST do, but rather depend on getting  couple of good classes together with a couple of "star" type players in order to get up into contending for the MIAC every 4-5 years or so.  BU won the MIAC in '01, '06 (tied with SJU), '07, and '13, along with a couple of playoff qualifying years in the '08 - '12 gap. So, being in that rebuilding cycle after winning it in '13, (and really, really should have been co-champs in '14, but had it spoiled by Aryton Scott) isn't a huge shock.

My optimistic view is that the current sophomore class is very good, and that BU should be contending for top 2 in '17 and'18.  Will still be fun to watch them grow this year, but I have a feeling that they have more lumps coming. 

Kind of a bummer to only really have one high stakes matchup in the MIAC this year with UST / SJU, and also having it be so early in the season.  AO has just given me reason to have hopes though, as I'm doing much better than I have historically in picking, so I'll focus on that instead.   

In as much I agree that the MIAC is probably a two horse race this year that could lead to an upset scenario for the Tom$ or Johns against maybe BU or maybe Concordia (if they can get some things straightened out).  One possibility I see, even through my rose colored glasses, is an SJU win over U$T and then having the Johnnies get tripped up at BU, GAC or on the last day of the season at Concordia. 

[OzJohnnie]

We don't know it's a two-horse race yet. Not until we line up against UST in a couple weeks. We'll know at quarter time if there's a race on or not.

We won't get to the starting gate if we don't beat STO this weekend and hopefully we do it without the second half coming down we saw against BVU.

[jamtod]

We don't know it's a two-horse race yet. Not until we line up against UST in a couple weeks. We'll know at quarter time if there's a race on or not.

We won't get to the starting gate if we don't beat STO this weekend and hopefully we do it without the second half coming down we saw against BVU.

Likewise, we've got to get past Carleton this weekend.
*stifles chuckle*
But seriously, I'm taking the heavy under on that 60.5 pt spread.

[GoldandBlueBU]

We don't know it's a two-horse race yet. Not until we line up against UST in a couple weeks. We'll know at quarter time if there's a race on or not.

We won't get to the starting gate if we don't beat STO this weekend and hopefully we do it without the second half coming down we saw against BVU.

That's just your subtle Iron Range humor, right? 

[Tom Thumb]

Coach Lepsche's new gig at St. Francis HS in Chicago is starting to pay dividends for UST. Greg Bogdanski, FB/MLB, committed to UST a few days ago: https://twitter.com/CoachLepsche/status/775745663799885825

Bogdanski looks like a great young man: http://www.csnchicago.com/preps-talk/wintrust-athlete-week-greg-bogdanski

[USTBench]

Coach Lepsche's new gig at St. Francis HS in Chicago is starting to pay dividends for UST. Greg Bogdanski, FB/MLB, committed to UST a few days ago: https://twitter.com/CoachLepsche/status/775745663799885825

Bogdanski looks like a great young man: http://www.csnchicago.com/preps-talk/wintrust-athlete-week-greg-bogdanski

He looks like he's ready now.

[faunch]

Coach Lepsche's new gig at St. Francis HS in Chicago is starting to pay dividends for UST. Greg Bogdanski, FB/MLB, committed to UST a few days ago: https://twitter.com/CoachLepsche/status/775745663799885825

Bogdanski looks like a great young man: http://www.csnchicago.com/preps-talk/wintrust-athlete-week-greg-bogdanski

He looks like he's ready now.

This is what we're gonna do to anybody named Bogdanski!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWAQ8rTBLUk

[OzJohnnie]

Ha!  x 20!

[sju56321]

Well, they play Loyola Academy on Saturday-so we will see how good they are and this player. Loyola is #1 in state.

[hazzben]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

Bethel recruits a certain type of player that may not be on the radar of other MIAC coaches,because other MIAC coaches don't recruit those areas. I'm just wondering if there will ever come a day when a kid decides to go somewhere else in the MIAC because of the lack of facilities at Bethel? Let's just use Becker as an example. Dwight Linden,one of the nicest coaches in the MSHSL and very successful. This is going against my initial premise but a lot of kids from Becker go to Bethel and a lot go to SJU. Would there ever be a time when the facilities of SJU close the deal for the kid not going to Bethel and instead going to SJU. Dwight's own kids went to Bethel & he has a strong relationship with Steve Johnson,but SJU has Brandon Novak...it's all hypothetical but it does make you wonder when a Bethel will get a major donor for facility upgrades.

They recently built a new weight room, new locker rooms and did a major reno of the athletic dept (meeting rooms, etc.). The next step would definitely be the stadium itself. All that to say, it's not UST or UMHB Taj Mahal-esq, but they are really significant upgrades.

[SJUrube]

Coach Lepsche's new gig at St. Francis HS in Chicago is starting to pay dividends for UST. Greg Bogdanski, FB/MLB, committed to UST a few days ago: https://twitter.com/CoachLepsche/status/775745663799885825

Bogdanski looks like a great young man: http://www.csnchicago.com/preps-talk/wintrust-athlete-week-greg-bogdanski

Hope the kid doesn't have a stellar season where scholarship programs come calling. I'd hate for him to have to break his "commitment."

[OldAuggie]

sowilson-
Well, what do you think the Gusties will be able to do vs the Auggies this weekend? Looks like you had a defensive TD and a blocked kick for a TD so the offense was not really rolling with the new QB in there. Hard to adjust on the fly like that but I understand now why you think Augsburg could win. I assume the new QB will be a capable replacement if Veldman can't play. 

[USTBench]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

Bethel recruits a certain type of player that may not be on the radar of other MIAC coaches,because other MIAC coaches don't recruit those areas. I'm just wondering if there will ever come a day when a kid decides to go somewhere else in the MIAC because of the lack of facilities at Bethel? Let's just use Becker as an example. Dwight Linden,one of the nicest coaches in the MSHSL and very successful. This is going against my initial premise but a lot of kids from Becker go to Bethel and a lot go to SJU. Would there ever be a time when the facilities of SJU close the deal for the kid not going to Bethel and instead going to SJU. Dwight's own kids went to Bethel & he has a strong relationship with Steve Johnson,but SJU has Brandon Novak...it's all hypothetical but it does make you wonder when a Bethel will get a major donor for facility upgrades.

They recently built a new weight room, new locker rooms and did a major reno of the athletic dept (meeting rooms, etc.). The next step would definitely be the stadium itself. All that to say, it's not UST or UMHB Taj Mahal-esq, but they are really significant upgrades.

The AARC is nice, the jumbotron is cool - as are the new bleachers affixed to the AARC, but the grandstand itself is a dive. Not sure what they could do to improve it outside of tearing up the track or temporarily tearing up a part of Cretin, so it's probably stuck like that, but it'd be nice to make some improvements.