FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[faunch]

Ok,  I haven't visited the boards in months.  So by just skimming some of the past pages and am I correct in saying that St. Thomas is no longer in the MIAC and is possibly joining the WIAC?

Yes, maybe, sure, no idea...ask Charley Walters:

https://www.twincities.com/2019/07/20/charley-walters-twins-weigh-options-as-trade-deadline-nears/
Now there's talk that if St. Thomas, ousted by the Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, were to move up one class, it could play home football games at Allianz Field in St. Paul. The Tommies will host rival St. John's in an anticipated sellout Oct. 19 at the 19,400-seat Allianz, home of the Minnesota United soccer team.

Meanwhile, the Division III Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference still seems most probable for St. Thomas. Some insiders, though, feel Division I could still be in the future. St. Thomas, after recently hiring two assistant athletics directors, has stepped up its national fund-raising, visiting alumni across the country.

But why go to the expense of leasing Allianz Field for 750 people to watch UST play Bemidji State? **Oh yea, Tommies are bad at math   

Or Charley Walters is just full of it on this point?

I'm confused why Charley is still seen as a legitimate source on this, seeing as he's changed his story 5 different times on this subject in the last month.

Lets not forget six months ago he was suggesting likely HOF baseball retiree Joe Mauer as a viable QB possibility for SJU this fall. Never mind Jackson Erdmann, never mind he retired with multitude of injuries, never mind he hasn't played competitive football in 20 years, and never mind the 3 kids and $150 million in his bank account. There is so much absurdity in printing that. Me thinks Shooter has someone he sees as a MIAC source who sees how outlandish he can go and still get Shooter to print it.

I've come to enjoy his prognostications. Could make for some interesting t-shirts or banners at the Allianz game this fall.

[USTBench]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/hockey/3979309-Northern-Michigan-St.-Thomas-are-candidates-for-Division-I-womens-hockey

So, apparently the WCHA commissioner for women's hockey has been having conversations with UST's AD.

[hazzben]

Ok,  I haven't visited the boards in months.  So by just skimming some of the past pages and am I correct in saying that St. Thomas is no longer in the MIAC and is possibly joining the WIAC?

Yes, maybe, sure, no idea...ask Charley Walters:

https://www.twincities.com/2019/07/20/charley-walters-twins-weigh-options-as-trade-deadline-nears/
Now there's talk that if St. Thomas, ousted by the Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, were to move up one class, it could play home football games at Allianz Field in St. Paul. The Tommies will host rival St. John's in an anticipated sellout Oct. 19 at the 19,400-seat Allianz, home of the Minnesota United soccer team.

Meanwhile, the Division III Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference still seems most probable for St. Thomas. Some insiders, though, feel Division I could still be in the future. St. Thomas, after recently hiring two assistant athletics directors, has stepped up its national fund-raising, visiting alumni across the country.

But why go to the expense of leasing Allianz Field for 750 people to watch UST play Bemidji State? **Oh yea, Tommies are bad at math   

Or Charley Walters is just full of it on this point?

Does he actually get paid for this flip flopping he calls reporting?

[MUC57]

hazzben - or anyone

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Charley Walters? Is he one of the posters on this board? 
Thanks for your help. We don't have this much excitement on the OAC board.
Next month, football practice begins. Good luck to all of our teams! 

[faunch]

hazzben - or anyone

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Charley Walters? Is he one of the posters on this board? 
Thanks for your help. We don't have this much excitement on the OAC board.
Next month, football practice begins. Good luck to all of our teams! 

Local sport rumor-monger for the third rate St. Paul Pioneer Press
https://www.twincities.com/author/charles-l-jr-walters/

[hazzben]

@MUC57

What Faunch said.

[MUC57]

hazzben - or anyone

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Charley Walters? Is he one of the posters on this board? 
Thanks for your help. We don't have this much excitement on the OAC board.
Next month, football practice begins. Good luck to all of our teams! 

Local sport rumor-monger for the third rate St. Paul Pioneer Press
https://www.twincities.com/author/charles-l-jr-walters/

faunch and hazzben

Thanks. I'll make sure to never read The Pioneer Press! Go Johnnies! (Bethel too)! 🍺 🍺 😜

[art76]

Came across my FB feed tonight: https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2019/7/19/bethel-footballs-2018-attendance-no-4-in-ncaa-diii.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0Ygy7vKY5m7TjYyhEE1sRsJBWONBpf53SXxFvt_XA76roHTGiB_xa1xjo

[hazzben]

Came across my FB feed tonight: https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2019/7/19/bethel-footballs-2018-attendance-no-4-in-ncaa-diii.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0Ygy7vKY5m7TjYyhEE1sRsJBWONBpf53SXxFvt_XA76roHTGiB_xa1xjo

Thanks Art! I was wondering where the attendance fell last year. Bethel's student body support is fantastic, especially for football and basketball. A big reason is how intentionally Coach J ensures that the football guys are integrated within the regular student body. It's not "let's go cheer for the football team" as much as it is "let's go cheer for our roommate."

[MUC57]

Came across my FB feed tonight: https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2019/7/19/bethel-footballs-2018-attendance-no-4-in-ncaa-diii.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0Ygy7vKY5m7TjYyhEE1sRsJBWONBpf53SXxFvt_XA76roHTGiB_xa1xjo

Nice article on Bethel. I was surprised St. John's wasn't #1, since they usually are. Hampden-Sydney #1? That's the other surprise.
Actually, since the MIAC is a top conference, high attendance figures shouldn't be a surprise. More than 1 good team.
I wish Mount Union could get better attendance. Even playoff games get 1xxx - 2xxx only. I personally wouldn't miss a home game, including playoffs. Where is every body else? Some of the students say they don't go because they know Mount will win. Even when playing a team they "should" beat, I still go. Funny things can happen on a fall Saturday afternoon. NO win is guaranteed, as we all know!
So congrats to Bethel for their fan support. With around 250 teams in Dlll, being #4 is damn good. And while I'm at it, congrats to #2 St. John's.
Good luck to all of our teams. Hope we all have injury-free seasons, play our best and bring lots of joy to those of us that are grads and friends of these fine institutions.

As I say in my signature, among other things, GO EVERYBODY! 

[sjusection105]

Came across my FB feed tonight: https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2019/7/19/bethel-footballs-2018-attendance-no-4-in-ncaa-diii.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0Ygy7vKY5m7TjYyhEE1sRsJBWONBpf53SXxFvt_XA76roHTGiB_xa1xjo

Has anyone seen the breakdown of the other MIAC schools? I'd be interested how much propping up by SJU,Bethel & Concordia works on the nonexistent attendance of places like Carleton & Hamline?

[Robert Zimmerman]

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/Attendance/2018.pdf

Augsburg 5 3,700 740
Carleton   5 5,633 1,127
Concordia-M'head  5 20,037 4,007
Gust. Adolphus   5 10,615 2,123
Hamline   5 7,230 1,446
St. Olaf 5 9,145 1,829

St. Scholastica 5 3,432 686

[faunch]

Came across my FB feed tonight: https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2019/7/19/bethel-footballs-2018-attendance-no-4-in-ncaa-diii.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0Ygy7vKY5m7TjYyhEE1sRsJBWONBpf53SXxFvt_XA76roHTGiB_xa1xjo

Has anyone seen the breakdown of the other MIAC schools? I'd be interested how much propping up by SJU,Bethel & Concordia works on the nonexistent attendance of places like Carleton & Hamline?

I didn't think Carleton kept track of attendance... they don't even charge admission.

[repete]

Meanwhile, one of the numbers Shooter missed. Northern Sun attendance avg: 2,346

[USTBench]

Meanwhile, one of the numbers Shooter missed. Northern Sun attendance avg: 2,346

No kidding. Not sure why UST would need to lease Allianz for a move to D2 unless there is a plan to renovate O'Shaughnessy for a year and move back on campus. But even if that was the case, it seems like overkill.

And if the long-lense plan is to move to D-1 FCS then I think a 3,000 to 5,000 seat expansion on the current site is more than enough. Not every FCS school is drawing Montana or NDSU crowds. Even NDSU missed a few sellouts last year at an 18,900 capacity. UND typically draws around 9,500 to 10,000. I think an intimate 8,000 to 10,000 seat O-Shaughnessy would be a great venue. If only there was some place else to put the track.