FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cobbernation]

So...what are the playoffs like?

Overlook Northwestern and it won't matter

Just because teams from Iowa can't beat crappy teams named Northwestern doesn't mean the same will hold true for teams from Minnesota.  Northwestern should essentially be a bye for St. Thomas, but still not kill them in OW%.

LOL was that a stab at the Hawkeyes?? Good one...still reeling from the 55-0 debacle last year or what?

Or was it the fact that I think Cornell is the only IIAC team to play Northwestern of the MIAC lately...

Reusse isn't the only one without his facts straight.

   Northwestern is not a MIAC school.  Northwestern has played Simpson the last 2 years.  Playing Northwestern will help St. Thomas' OWP, even though Northwestern is having its worst season in a decade at 5-4. 

UST playing Mac and Northwestern could ultimately give them a horrible seed in the playoffs.  I could see UST getting a 7 or 8 seed next Sunday. 

Better to play Northwestern (5-4 in region) than Concordia (4-4).   

I know, I wish concordia had a weaker non-conference schedule.  Playing the #8 team in the country and winning is not a great accomplishment.  Yes, I realize concordia slipped for a few games, but they have won 3 straight! 

Refresh my memory when was Northwestern in the D-3 playoffs last?

[SJUrube]

With rumors of EP head coach Mike Grant heading to Collegeville next fall here's one Johnnie fan who hopes he packs his trailer and saves room to bring along a few of his football playing graduates. - courtesy JohnnieFootball.com story

Does the JohnnieFootball.com crew want to divulge additional details?  Is there any truth to this?  From a far my speculation is Gags is going to try and get to 500 career wins.  He stands at 470 after this weekend.  Would Grant consider being an assistant in waiting for 3 years while Gags goes for 500?  I know there's always speculation about Grant and I'd hope the JohnnieFootball guys have some reliable source or else their credibility will take a hit in my eyes.

And I'm glad members of the board corrected Reusse on the inaccuracies in his latest column.  And he even acknowledged such on his AM1500 blog. http://bit.ly/1wOho5  I do appreciate Pat's coverage of the MIAC. Considering he's covered the biggest events in sports it's nice to know he still has a soft spot for the MIAC.

[AO]

So...what are the playoffs like?

Overlook Northwestern and it won't matter

Just because teams from Iowa can't beat crappy teams named Northwestern doesn't mean the same will hold true for teams from Minnesota.  Northwestern should essentially be a bye for St. Thomas, but still not kill them in OW%.

LOL was that a stab at the Hawkeyes?? Good one...still reeling from the 55-0 debacle last year or what?

Or was it the fact that I think Cornell is the only IIAC team to play Northwestern of the MIAC lately...

Reusse isn't the only one without his facts straight.

   Northwestern is not a MIAC school.  Northwestern has played Simpson the last 2 years.  Playing Northwestern will help St. Thomas' OWP, even though Northwestern is having its worst season in a decade at 5-4. 

UST playing Mac and Northwestern could ultimately give them a horrible seed in the playoffs.  I could see UST getting a 7 or 8 seed next Sunday. 

Better to play Northwestern (5-4 in region) than Concordia (4-4).   

I know, I wish concordia had a weaker non-conference schedule.  Playing the #8 team in the country and winning is not a great accomplishment.  Yes, I realize concordia slipped for a few games, but they have won 3 straight! 

Refresh my memory when was Northwestern in the D-3 playoffs last?

The strength of schedule ratings do not take into account the fact that you beat the #8 team in the country.  It's a bad system I agree, but your statement that St. Thomas will get a bad seed due to playing Northwestern is false.  In fact, their position will improve.  If they beat Concordia saturday, their OWP would go down.  Facts are stubborn things...

[Willy Wonka]

From Pat Reusse's article fawning over USTD in the STrib this morning, which I read at the airport:

And guess what?  St. John's stands No. 3 in the West Regional ratings.  The top two receive first-round byes, making 3 vs. 6 logical mathematically as a first-round matchup. 
"Plus, the NCAA likes to keep travel expenses as low as possible," Tommies cornerback Kris Kopp said.  "If we get in, sending us to St. John's makes sense.  And we'd like to go there."

The only accurate statement in this is that the NCAA likes to keep travel expenses as low as possible.  I emailed Mr. Reusse that the NCAA regions have 8 teams and no byes, and stanbob posted a response online as well.  The online version of the article has since been, uh, modified.  I'll let you know if I receive a thank you from Mr. Reusse.

Don't worry, Mr. Reusse and Mr. Kopp (and TDT and TC), the Johnnies would love to play the Tommies again, too.

You mean as opposed to the fawning that's usually reserved for SJU? 

As was just said, Reusse does a great job of covering small college sports for the major MN papers. He's about the only prominent writer who takes the time to give "us" any press at the state level. Complain all you want — and I know you will — but I appreciate his effort.

Just because another school gets a positive story written about it, that doesn't mean it's a slam against the Johnnies. If I had the time to count up the last 10 years worth of MIAC stories in the Strib and PP, I'd guess that SJU's stuff outnumbers everyone else at least 2-1. In fact, the Strib's SE told me something similar last fall while he was searching out the Air Auggie story...

[DuffMan]

WW, isn't it his responsibility to check his facts, though?  It's great that he covers MIAC sports, but reporting false statements doesn't help his reputation.

[Willy Wonka]

WW, isn't it his responsibility to check his facts, though?  It's great that he covers MIAC sports, but reporting false statements doesn't help his reputation.

Absolutely, but mistakes happen. It wasn't the first and I know it won't be the last.

[SJUrube]

Absolutely, but mistakes happen. It wasn't the first and I know it won't be the last.

It's great he keeps an eye on the MIAC but he's the second biggest (insert weight joke) columnist from a major daily paper.  You can't just chalk it up to mistakes happen.  You have to get the simple facts correct.  The MIAC has and will survive without Pat.  Keep up the coverage Patrick just get the details straightened out.

And why wouldn't the local media cover the football program at SJU?  This is a football state that hasn't had sustained success by any of the major teams (Vikes/Gophs) since the 70s so I'd think they would welcome the opportunity to cover a winning team with many interesting stories and angles. 

Aren't you supposed to be a journalist Wonka?  I'm beginning to question.

[stanbob]

Absolutely, but mistakes happen. It wasn't the first and I know it won't be the last.

It's great he keeps an eye on the MIAC but he's the second biggest (insert weight joke) columnist from a major daily paper.  You can't just chalk it up to mistakes happen.  You have to get the simple facts correct.  The MIAC has and will survive without Pat.  Keep up the coverage Patrick just get the details straightened out.

And why wouldn't the local media cover the football program at SJU?  This is a football state that hasn't had sustained success by any of the major teams (Vikes/Gophs) since the 70s so I'd think they would welcome the opportunity to cover a winning team with many interesting stories and angles. 

Aren't you supposed to be a journalist Wonka?  I'm beginning to question.

Supposed journalist may well be correct Rube.

[Northern WinterHawk]

Absolutely, but mistakes happen. It wasn't the first and I know it won't be the last.

It's great he keeps an eye on the MIAC but he's the second biggest (insert weight joke) columnist from a major daily paper.  You can't just chalk it up to mistakes happen.  You have to get the simple facts correct.  The MIAC has and will survive without Pat.  Keep up the coverage Patrick just get the details straightened out.

And why wouldn't the local media cover the football program at SJU?  This is a football state that hasn't had sustained success by any of the major teams (Vikes/Gophs) since the 70s so I'd think they would welcome the opportunity to cover a winning team with many interesting stories and angles. 

Aren't you supposed to be a journalist Wonka?  I'm beginning to question.

Typical Elitist Quote. I stood by the guy, (Pat), and listened & talked to him. A down to earth humble man who in my opinion just wanted to enjoy a day of small college football with two of the best teams in the Mpls/St.Paul area on a perfect day. GET OFF HIS BACK!!!

[sfury]

Absolutely, but mistakes happen. It wasn't the first and I know it won't be the last.

It's great he keeps an eye on the MIAC but he's the second biggest (insert weight joke) columnist from a major daily paper.  You can't just chalk it up to mistakes happen.  You have to get the simple facts correct.  The MIAC has and will survive without Pat.  Keep up the coverage Patrick just get the details straightened out.

And why wouldn't the local media cover the football program at SJU?  This is a football state that hasn't had sustained success by any of the major teams (Vikes/Gophs) since the 70s so I'd think they would welcome the opportunity to cover a winning team with many interesting stories and angles. 

Aren't you supposed to be a journalist Wonka?  I'm beginning to question.

As a supposed journalist myself (and a Johnnie supporter, so we get the bonafides out of the way), the simple fact is people don't care about D3 football - Johnnies included - for the most part. Especially not compared with the passion people have for the Vikings, Twins, Gophers, etc. Reusse himself notes on that blog, that the number of hits a column on D3 gets is dwarfed by the number of hits a column on the Gophers receives.

SJU gets tons of attention, especially compared to the majority of D3 and D2 teams, even compared to some 1-AA teams. The St. Cloud Times provides outstanding coverage, which you'd expect from the hometown paper. But most hometown papers don't even cover their own teams much. And to have the big-city metros give the type of coverage the Strib has given the SJU football program over the years is fortunate.

The Johnnies receive the amount of coverage they should get. When they win national titles or go deep in the playoffs, they get stories on the front of the Strib's sports section. Otherwise, they'll get stories after big games, and an occasional feature. For the amount of interest there is in the state overall, that's what they deserve. Yes, they get up to 10,000 fans at home games. But in the big picture, compared to the amount of people who have an interest in bigger programs, it's really not much at all.

Yeah, there were some mistakes. Shouldn't happen, but it does. But the fact is he does provide coverage that others don't. He does it because he loves small-college football, not because there are thousands of fans clamoring for more stories about the MIAC. When he's gone from the Strib, it's very likely the days of the big-city columnist devoting that much attention to the MIAC - and the Johnnies, especially - will be over.

[VOJ]

Absolutely, but mistakes happen. It wasn't the first and I know it won't be the last.

It's great he keeps an eye on the MIAC but he's the second biggest (insert weight joke) columnist from a major daily paper.  You can't just chalk it up to mistakes happen.  You have to get the simple facts correct.  The MIAC has and will survive without Pat.  Keep up the coverage Patrick just get the details straightened out.

And why wouldn't the local media cover the football program at SJU?  This is a football state that hasn't had sustained success by any of the major teams (Vikes/Gophs) since the 70s so I'd think they would welcome the opportunity to cover a winning team with many interesting stories and angles. 

Aren't you supposed to be a journalist Wonka?  I'm beginning to question.

Not a whole lot of Minnesota Nice on the board today...I agree Pat R. should have had the facts before he put pen to paper...however mistakes do happen.

WW is right, the stories are probably 2 to 1 for SJU or something close to that...and I have seen Pat out a couple of times when he has written stories on the MIAC coaches and athletes, his columns are very good and I usually learn something I did not know.

Wonka...its tough but not impossible to run on Olaf, they are solid defensively and will shut down below average running games.  At the least GAC is no longer getting to the line and then looking at a coach doing aerobics/sending in plays.

[Willy Wonka]

The Johnnies receive the amount of coverage they should get. When they win national titles or go deep in the playoffs, they get stories on the front of the Strib's sports section. Otherwise, they'll get stories after big games, and an occasional feature. For the amount of interest there is in the state overall, that's what they deserve. Yes, they get up to 10,000 fans at home games. But in the big picture, compared to the amount of people who have an interest in bigger programs, it's really not much at all.

Not that it really matters in the big scheme of things, but GAC got the very back page of the Strib sports page when it took 2nd in hoops in '03 and 2nd in hockey in '09. I may be mistaken, but I don't think Reusse paid a visit to the hill until the next winter as part of season preview-type story.

The Johnnies — and now the Tommies, in the last 2ish years — have had it very good by comparison. Especially since UST has been choke artists on the hardwood every year the Strib hypes them going into the postseason. You posters could have a field day with the recent (postseason) ineptitude on Cretin, though I'm glad the hoops board remains relatively bandwagon free.

VOJ - I just saw an SEC team do the look-to-the-sidelines bit over the weekend. If it moves the ball and wins games, I'm all for it. Especially when I'm looking at a 3-7 season using a conventional offense.

[SJUrube]

Good thoughts sfury.  Pat &  even Souhan (I believe) gave the UST basketball team a lot of much deserved love last season.  It was a great story so any and all attention paid to it was worth it.  And I know that many UST bball followers and players have a hearty laugh anytime Pat tries to work in an Al McCoy reference to any story.  He's good for 1 every few months.

But I don't think it is out of question to expect a major daily newspaper columnist to get the facts around a story correct.  Pat does a good job in print, on radio and even TV (god forbid they ever put the "Sports Show" in HD) and every year and season he devotes time to small college sports and even small school high school sports.  But just because a member of "big" media decides to devote attention to the smaller guys shouldn't give them a free pass to make mistakes.  In doing so your credibility is going to inevitably take a hit. 

[cobbernation]

So...what are the playoffs like?

Overlook Northwestern and it won't matter

Just because teams from Iowa can't beat crappy teams named Northwestern doesn't mean the same will hold true for teams from Minnesota.  Northwestern should essentially be a bye for St. Thomas, but still not kill them in OW%.

LOL was that a stab at the Hawkeyes?? Good one...still reeling from the 55-0 debacle last year or what?

Or was it the fact that I think Cornell is the only IIAC team to play Northwestern of the MIAC lately...

Reusse isn't the only one without his facts straight.

   Northwestern is not a MIAC school.  Northwestern has played Simpson the last 2 years.  Playing Northwestern will help St. Thomas' OWP, even though Northwestern is having its worst season in a decade at 5-4. 

UST playing Mac and Northwestern could ultimately give them a horrible seed in the playoffs.  I could see UST getting a 7 or 8 seed next Sunday. 

Better to play Northwestern (5-4 in region) than Concordia (4-4).   

I know, I wish concordia had a weaker non-conference schedule.  Playing the #8 team in the country and winning is not a great accomplishment.  Yes, I realize concordia slipped for a few games, but they have won 3 straight! 

Refresh my memory when was Northwestern in the D-3 playoffs last?

The strength of schedule ratings do not take into account the fact that you beat the #8 team in the country.  It's a bad system I agree, but your statement that St. Thomas will get a bad seed due to playing Northwestern is false.  In fact, their position will improve.  If they beat Concordia saturday, their OWP would go down.  Facts are stubborn things...

You are telling me that is UST was in the UMAC, ran the table all year it would look better than being a 1 loss team in the MIAC?  Hard to believe!  The MIAC usually gets 2 teams into the playoffs each year because it's a very competitive conference.  

Do you think Northwestern has a tougher SOS than Concordia?  No possible way, look at your loss to simpson by 20+ and they are 3-6 overall.  Does Northwestern have any quality wins?

[dbhammel]

Is it just me or does Reusse's strib picture look a lot like Tom Hanks?