FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sjusection105]

I realize this is a football board but big news from South Campus yesterday. 

http://www.tommiesports.com/bsbl/news/Denning_12-15.html

Dennis Denning is calling it quit at UST.  His 522-157 record in 15 years is tops in all of DIII over that time period.  He won his second national championship last year and I guess he decided to go out on top. 

As one of his former players (and I mean player in the very, very loosest sense of the word; I spent a lot of time just chilling with the trainers) this is pretty surprising to me; I thought he'd die getting hit by a foul ball or something. 

His coaching strategy was one of hard nosed, wrong side of the tracks intensity that was hard for some to grow accustomed to (myself included) but it was that intensity and desire for perfection that made his players great ball players and better young men.  He also just had a messianic way of knowing what to do in a given situation - even when it didn't make any sense - it always seemed to work out.

Finally, he was the only coach at any level I have ever seen call time, walk out to the field umpire, put his arm around him, and get him to reverse a balk call. 

He will be missed.

So what you are saying in around about way is that he is the John Gagliardi of D3 baseball 

[hazzben]

From the IIAC board, interesting article about DIII student athletes and their performance in the classroom compared to the broader student body: http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=266762

[hazzben]

Hey, just realized I've now got the ability to 'karmalize' on here. + karma to everyone on the last few pages!

[57Johnnie]

BDB,
On this 'Wacky Wednesday' are you starting to get excited about the upcoming Indian/Wildcat hockey game on Sat. 

[tmerton]

Hey, just realized I've now got the ability to 'karmalize' on here. + karma to everyone on the last few pages!

Feel the force!

[WashedUp]

From the IIAC board, interesting article about DIII student athletes and their performance in the classroom compared to the broader student body: http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=266762

The first part of this ESPN article covers a similar subject

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/091215&sportCat=nfl

[retagent]

From the IIAC board, interesting article about DIII student athletes and their performance in the classroom compared to the broader student body: http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=266762

This sounds like another one of those surveys that doesn't tell us all that much. It would be good to look at other parameters such as how do D III athletes compare to D I and D II athletes academically?, How did these athletes perform in high school relative to non-athletes?, What were their SAT scores relative to non-athletes?, Are there certain schools that drag this average down, or is it an across the board "problem"?,  How do athletes compare to others in college who are involved in non-athletic extra curricular activities?.

It makes sense to me that if you have time devoted to things other than academics, that the academic side will suffer to some extent. Another question might be, even if the academic side suffers, are athletes learning other skills that will help them in life that are as important as strict academic knowledge? There I go, thinking again.

[tommiegun]

@ Section, in winning percentage and knack for the right moment, yes.  In coaching style, I have to think no.  Via hearsay and numerous articles, Gags appears to be a "fatherly" type of coach who lets his players call him "John."  If anyone called Coach Denning "Dennis" other than an Assistant Coach, I think they would be going home in a flag draped coffin.  UST baseball was a military outfit.

[cobbernation]

Hazzben,

When you are talking about location and academics are big contributors to allowing a school in the big ten, are you talking about recruiting students who are gifted athletically and not so much in the academic area?  Or do schools take that approach and figure they will have enough students who are brilliant academically and don't care about athletics to balance it all out.

I'm talking about the criteria the Big 10 is looking at. Say what you want about the academic where-with-all of Big 10 athletes, but the conference prides itself on being comprised of schools that are strong academic universities across the board. They are all major state universities or large, well endowed private universities. By and large, major state schools and large well endowed private schools have stronger academics than do smaller state schools.

Looking online I saw that the Big 10 is ranked 3rd out of the 6 BCS conf. for graduation rates.  However, since we live in MN.  The U is not doing the conference any favors by having a 41% graduation rate for football players and a 38% rate for basketball players.  These are both at or near the bottom of the conference. 

The best thing the Big 10 could do is convince Notre Dame, they have one of the top grads rates in the country.  I don't believe Notre Dame will join.

Finally, don't be surprised if the PGA tour folds if Tiger Woods never plays golf competitively again!

[badgerwarhawk]

The PGA isn't going to fold if Tiger Woods never plays again.  They will probably take a hit if he hangs it up but they won't collapse.  Some other golfer will come along to replace him.  Though I think it's a mute issue because Tiger Woods will play on the PGA tour again.  Probably within a few months.

[DuffMan]

The PGA isn't going to fold if Tiger Woods never plays again.  They will probably take a hit if he hangs it up but they won't collapse.  Some other golfer will come along to replace him.  Though I think it's a mute issue because Tiger Woods will play on the PGA tour again.  Probably within a few months.

It's more of a moot issue 

[sjusection105]

The PGA isn't going to fold if Tiger Woods never plays again.  They will probably take a hit if he hangs it up but they won't collapse.  Some other golfer will come along to replace him.  Though I think it's a mute issue because Tiger Woods will play on the PGA tour again.  Probably within a few months.

He picked up a new product endorsment

[retagent]

Tmert - Don't correct the grammar of our WIAC counterparts. They take umbrage. (Look that one up too)

Aside from that, bw, you're right on in saying that the PGA Tour was here before Tiger and will be here after Tiger.

If anyone might be interested, I'll be attending the Blackhawks/Bruins game Friday at the United Center. It's being broadcast on the NHL Network. I'll be in the corner about 5 or 6 rows in. Maybe I'll wear my Johnnies Hockey cap.

[OzJohnnie]

There I go, thinking again.

Don't go gettin' to excited there.  We may need to take a vote to see if people agree.

[hazzben]

The tour certainly won't fold without Tiger, but there is no denying they need him. He's taken their profits to the level they are now almost singlehandedly. That being said, there is no way Tiger isn't back sooner rather than later.

On a different note, score predictions for the Staff anyone?

MUC: 17 (without Rocco)
UWW: 27

MUC: 27 (with Rocco)
UWW: 30