FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[repete]

At MSP. The run to 56321 is on.

[57Johnnie]

At MSP. The run to 56321 is on.

Close call ........ For tailgating. 

[formerd3db]

So what program at UST do you see paying for everything else?

Note the bumpy ride part. This isn't going to be built in a year or two.

For revenue generation the most opportunistic to me seems to be Hockey. By all accounts, both programs will land in solid hockey conferences. If schools like Miami (OH), UNO, and others can make the hockey thing work well, I believe being the only private college D1 program in a hockey hotbed is ripe for opportunity.

Basketball could over time as well. Men's soccer is a wildcard in all of this. They will be the only D1 Men's program in a state that is building a rabid soccer following (me not included  ).

Football will have the most difficult journey ahead, without question. UST's emphasis on balance and success across its athletic department will help.

I think UST will do fine in the Pioneer League. 

I thought I saw something recently mentioned in the media that there was talk of yet another DI hockey league being formed in the Midwest region, actually a reorganization, although I could be wrong.  Perhaps that could be an option for UST.

As for the Creighton discussion (and similar basketball schools), they and other schools that dropped football years ago, such as Bradley, Wichita State, New Orleans, Loyola Chicago, U of Detroit, etc., will likely never bring football back.  There have been attempts at some of those schools to revive the programs (some even have club collegiate football teams), but their efforts to get their programs elevated to varsity status have not been successful.  Which is somewhat baffling because schools like Old Dominion and Duquesne have been successful in doing that.

[jamtod]

I think a chunk of the schools from the current men's WCHA will be reorganizing in a couple years. I'm not a hockey guy so don't know the full backstory

[sjujohnnie]

St John's has had trouble scheduling non-conference games. I know it's not ideal, but I wonder if they'd consider scheduling an NAIA school such as Morningside who Whitewater faced in back to back seasons? Morningside who is the defending national champion at the NAIA level leads conference opponent Hastings, 69-6. They're very rarely in a close game.  I suspect they play their starters longer than St John's does.

[OzJohnnie]

Bethel will move up to 6th in the Top 25 this week.  4 v 6 next weekend.  Will be an outrageous match.

[sjujohnnie]

Look like the final will be 51-0, St Thomas. Ouch!

[sjujohnnie]

Glad that I spoke too soon! The Cobbers got on the board, but missed the extra point after the long touchdown run. 51-6, St Thomas.

[OzJohnnie]

Singleton for Carleton throws for over 300 again and he's only a freshman.  He'll be a genuine influence on the conference in the next few years if Carleton can pull half a defence together.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Bethel will move up to 6th in the Top 25 this week.  4 v 6 next weekend.  Will be an outrageous match.

Maybe not.  While NCC will presumably fall behind them, both Wheaton and Muhlenberg jumping them would not shock me (they both had VERY impressive wins).  Beating Carleton does not impress voters.  I think they'll either stay #7 or even fall to #8.  AND, of course, HSU has not yet played (though losing at home to TX Lu is almost inconceivable).

[sjujohnnie]

Good point!

[Texas Ole]

Congrats to the Tommies on a potential move to Division 1.  I don't see how this is a bad day for anyone, but maybe St. John's and some of the other Midwest Catholic universities that play D1.  St. Thomas as a school and athletic department stopped looking like a MIAC program years ago.  They were morphing in to a regional university while playing in a conference that doesn't allow for graduate students to compete.  It was time for a separation, and several other schools finally had to push the issue.  I don't think St. Thomas wanted to make this move immediately, but it was time.  I have posted multiple articles over the last 5 years that highlighted the issues.  St. Thomas has nobody to thank but themselves with this move. 

I think the biggest victory is to the schools that moved to have St. Thomas removed from the conference.  This news I believe validates many of their concerns.  If St. Thomas is able to compete with some of the same athletes then it only further confirms this move needed to happen.  I think UST is another winner as they will grow as a result of this move.  It may put some of the other institutional goals on a temporary hold.

I still think there are some questions as to the direction of SJU.  I believe SJU could look to follow UST to Division 1, but would do it on a time frame that is more their choosing.  I am guessing the cost would be lower for SJU to make the move, but the operating costs might be higher.  There would be a few questions with St. Ben's, but I am not sure that is a major roadblock for the SJU.  This is also the likely end to the SJU/UST game unless SJU makes a move.  There is a part of me that believes SJU could make a move to D1.  I think some of the other regional Catholic universities may struggle with this move as it brings more competition.  The small ones probably won't notice many changes.

The MIAC as of now is in a strong position.  I think Mac could return for football.  It makes sense for both parties.  It may be in the MIAC's best interest to ask them to be all in or all out.  I think SJU holds a lot of the cards with the direction of MIAC.  If they and one other hockey/football school leaves the MIAC might be able to replace them St. Scholastica, but away from them there aren't any great options.  Dropping to 7 football or hockey schools probably ends at those sports in the MIAC and likely the MIAC for men's athletics.  This is where I think SJU might be the power player in the MIAC.

[jamtod]

Tommies looked much better today in the homecoming W. Dolan was more comfortable, stepped up in the pocket, took it and run when he needed to.
Parks and Loeffler both left the field with injuries. Loeffler's looked more serious (and was after a nice looking 31 yard run, his only carry of the day).
Gabe Green is putting himself in consideration for All American teams.
4th team D let up the shutout on the final play of the game, but I'll allow it.
Hopefully the kicking game woes have been cleaned up, no misses today.

On to Augsburg next week.

[DuffMan]

On to Augsburg next week.

They are bad.

[OzJohnnie]

Augsburg were hopelessly outmatched.  They have having a horrid year.

Still, the Johnnies showed some things to note:

* Erdmann's vision is outrageously good.  He's got command of the complete field and the arm to toss it anywhere.  He's playing as well as he ever has (although he made a couple unwise throws into double coverage.  Maybe a little too aggressive at times.)

* The Johnnie lines (and line backers) are very good on both sides and you need big, fast guys to give them trouble (Hello, WIAC)

* These two new wide-outs getting lots of plays are very dangerous and exciting.  Alston (3, sophomore) is very quick.  Hodge (11, sophomore) has insane lateral movement while going full speed.  You already have Van Erp and TE's two deep (Kemper and Flournoy) and I don't see how anything but the deepest defence can handle that pass attack.  The Johnnie line and Barber had better have been studying blitz-crazy blitzing because I think the Royals and Tommies will be bringing it hard.