FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Robert Zimmerman]

http://www.startribune.com/st-thomas-fate-in-miac-could-be-announced-as-soon-as-wednesday/510249352/

According to Reusse, the decision could be announced today.

[johnnie_esq]

And here's the real issue, I suspect, in the MIAC.  This pressure.  Broader collaboration is wanted in the MIAC and considering the conference as a simple sporting association is no longer enough.  I suspect.

Enrollment Shortfalls Spread to More Colleges

There are a lot of themes in that article that I have heard echoed in the Strib's articles on this current question.  I think the issue is a lot bigger than 97-0 but that game, and football in general, is a good catalyst.  And why is UST's size now an issue when it wasn't 20 years ago?  Because 20 years ago admissions were still streaming upwards and all was rosy.  Not so much anymore.  Things change.

Bravo, Oz.  Hitting the nail squarely on the head.  Liberal arts educations are under fire, and the college presidents know that simply building sports opportunities alone (with declining sport participation at the HS levels) isn't going to be the solution this time.

When Macalester appears to be spending more on football than everyone else except UST, you know there is something deeper than just one game in Northfield.

[hazzben]

I may be wrong about this as I don't recall specifics, but I am pretty sure we had direct sources indicating that Olaf and Anderson were a driving force, not just a random assumption based on the wooping from a few years ago.

You're not wrong. There are layers to this and different motivations for the schools. But Anderson and Olaf was definitely the one who started rallying the troops to remove UST. And I've got it from people within the Olaf Athletic Department that the straw that broke the camel's back was 97-0. Anderson was pissed.

To your broader point though TO, there were simmering issues and concerns before that. I do think this is way deeper than Anderson, though he is massively less sympathetic than the powers that be at Hamline, Augsburg, St. Mary's, St. Kate's, etc.

As to why MAC left in football years back. It was straight up because they could not compete and didn't have the will (institutionally) to get better. There's a reason they only left in one sport. And now there's a reason they're coming back in football pending TomToss.

One question I've asked is simply, if the MIAC had the guts to tell MAC 18 years ago, if you leave in FB you leave in everything, would we be in this situation today? Maybe, but it would remove one of the disgruntled parties from this equation. Who knows. It's a sad deal. Not great for UST. Not great for the MIAC. Not ideal for the schools that are struggling.

[johnnie_esq]

Appears that it is done.  From Reusse Tweet at 10am:

MIAC will release statement at 11 a.m. announcing that St. Thomas will "involuntarily'' leave conference no later than spring of 2021. Apparently, Tommies bowed to certainty of being voted out by the needed nine of 13 conference school presidents.

[Texas Ole]

I'll keep my opinions of President Anderson and others in leadership at St. Olaf to myself.  I appreciate their ability to raise money.  I think the fundraising has bought them goodwill.

A few takeaways from the Star Tribune today. The first is it's possible every school except UST and CSB/SJU voted against St. Thomas.  That is telling. Also is there anything to read in to the note that the SJU President is leaving his position?  Timing seems odd.

[BDB]

 
Charley Walters tweets the same.

@Charley_Walters
4 minutes ago

Look for the MIAC at 11 a.m. today to announce that the University of St. Thomas will be involuntarily removed from the league, but remain for two years while deciding its future level of competition.

[hazzben]

I'll keep my opinions of President Anderson and others in leadership at St. Olaf to myself.  I appreciate their ability to raise money.  I think the fundraising has bought them goodwill.

A few takeaways from the Star Tribune today. The first is it's possible every school except UST and CSB/SJU voted against St. Thomas.  That is telling. Also is there anything to read in to the note that the SJU President is leaving his position?  Timing seems odd.

Yeah, Jay Barnes retiring next year from Bethel is an interesting wrinkle as well. Doubt he was going to "save the MIAC" as his swan song.

[AO]

I'll keep my opinions of President Anderson and others in leadership at St. Olaf to myself.  I appreciate their ability to raise money.  I think the fundraising has bought them goodwill.

A few takeaways from the Star Tribune today. The first is it's possible every school except UST and CSB/SJU voted against St. Thomas.  That is telling. Also is there anything to read in to the note that the SJU President is leaving his position?  Timing seems odd.

Yeah, Jay Barnes retiring next year from Bethel is an interesting wrinkle as well. Doubt he was going to "save the MIAC" as his swan song.

I suspect all of the Presidents believe they are saving the MIAC. 

[hazzben]

A few takeaways from the Star Tribune today. The first is it's possible every school except UST and CSB/SJU voted against St. Thomas.  That is telling.

I think Bethel's AD wants UST in. Barnes might be resigned to the will of the Mob at this point. And I'm not sure how telling it is. If we take Augsburg's Prez at his word, there might be several who aren't voting to toss UST so much as voting to keep the MIAC as whole as possible, under threat from schools making a run for the doors.

From the article:

Nine votes among the 13 member schools would be required to remove St. Thomas.

The college presidents who favored removing the Tommies from the conference apparently had those nine votes secured this week, with only St. Thomas, St. John's, St. Benedict and possibly Bethel said to be against this move.

Funny how times have changed. 30-40 years ago, Bethel was by far the worst Athletic Department in the MIAC, especially in the banner sports. Now it doesn't seem weird at all to see them listed with UST & SJU. Tip of the cap to Brushhaber's vision back in the late 80's and 90's. Coach J's leadership (his mentality didn't just change football's fortunes, it changed how everyone thought about the potential for success in the MIAC and on a national level). And a lot of really good coaches in the Athletic Department.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

it is official

https://www.miacathletics.com/general/2018-19/releases/20190510vxuc8l

what a few whining crybabies couldn't do on the playing field, they've done in the cloakroom under the cover of secrecy.

Wanna bet the spineless saps wont ever release a list of who voted in favor?

[art76]

it is official

https://www.miacathletics.com/general/2018-19/releases/20190510vxuc8l

what a few whining crybabies couldn't do on the playing field, they've done in the cloakroom under the cover of secrecy.

Wanna bet the spineless saps wont ever release a list of who voted in favor?

It's a sad day in MIAC world.

One sliver of decency in this whole affair is that St. Thomas will have either 100 or 101 years in the conference when it is all done and said.

There still is no joy in Mudville.

[Caz Bombers]

UST = Dany T

MIAC = ol' Jonny Snow

[jamtod]

Charley Walters tweets the same.

@Charley_Walters
4 minutes ago

Look for the MIAC at 11 a.m. today to announce that the University of St. Thomas will be involuntarily removed from the league, but remain for two years while deciding its future level of competition.

Hey BDB ol' buddy ol' pal from my favorite conference the WIAC. How you doing old friend? I hope you and the other wonderful Sconnie folks are doing well. Can I get you a refill of your Miller Lite?

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Charley Walters tweets the same.

@Charley_Walters
4 minutes ago

Look for the MIAC at 11 a.m. today to announce that the University of St. Thomas will be involuntarily removed from the league, but remain for two years while deciding its future level of competition.

put me down for a round of cases with my Sconnie buds  (can I smash the empty bottles over the eggheads of the CoL?)

Hey BDB ol' buddy ol' pal from my favorite conference the WIAC. How you doing old friend? I hope you and the other wonderful Sconnie folks are doing well. Can I get you a refill of your Miller Lite?

[wildcat11]

it is official

https://www.miacathletics.com/general/2018-19/releases/20190510vxuc8l

what a few whining crybabies couldn't do on the playing field, they've done in the cloakroom under the cover of secrecy.

Wanna bet the spineless saps wont ever release a list of who voted in favor?

It's a sad day in MIAC world.

One sliver of decency in this whole affair is that St. Thomas will have either 100 or 101 years in the conference when it is all done and said.

There still is no joy in Mudville.

Pathetic by the MIAC decision makers that forced UST out.  Sad day for all of Division III.