FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[faunch]

I think you're giving them too much credit, Oz.  I think they will make a choice quickly.

Also if there are any JC players who may transfer to D-II or D-I schools,they have until Jan. 15 to sign National Letter of Intent. I understand there is no NLI for D-III,but to rule this out (JC transfers) a new coach will need to have some time. I know this would be out of the norm for SJU but the new rules of recruiting are that you have to think outside the box if you are going to make an impact. There have to be a handful of kids at The North Dakota State College of Science that could make grades at MIAC schools & NDSCS has been a feeder program for many D-II schools in the midwest for years/ I'm just sayin'

Did anyone else that watched Grant's interview hear him say that he has had a number of kids already contact him and tell him that if he gets the job they want to transfer?  The way he talked it sounded like many of them are on D1 and D2 teams.  If this is true it would be a no brainer to hire him...Fasching has already been working on high school players.  Could it be a quick turnaround for the program if Grant can bring in some higher level players?

Any chance these kids transfer now?

I've wondered the same...I would hope Grant would still do what he can to advise these kids to transfer.  My bet is that one of them might be related to Mike (check the UND Sioux roster).  One of problems with getting transfers is the financial issue.  The kids we are talking about probably have at least a partial scholarship at a school that costs half or three-fourths what SJU does.  Even if SJU can come up w/ half of the cost the kid and his family still are on the hook for over $20K a year.  Another issue is if SJU or other MIAC school will transfer all the credits a student earned at a UMD, UND, NDSU or U of M.  (Again...how UST is getting kids to leave D1 and D2 programs considering all the mitigating factors is a question I'd like answered).  It just doesn't add up.

A coworker of mine has a son that plays baseball.  Three of the schools he looked at were North Dakota (cost $14k), Olaf ($48k), and Hamline ($43k).  He's hopeful that his son will get enough aid and scholarship money to cover half or almost all at North Dakota.  Even if Olaf or Hamline could come up w/ $30k in aid and scholarships he's still stuck w/ a $13-18k bill.  His son could get a lot of playing time at Olaf or Hamline but financially it just doesn't make sense. 

[DuffMan]

My bet is that one of them might be related to Mike (check the UND Sioux roster).

He mentioned that son in his public forum.

[DuffMan]

Anyone familiar with Dallas?  The fam and I are going for a wedding/mini-getaway in a couple weeks.  Shoot me a PM if so.

[sfury]

I think you're giving them too much credit, Oz.  I think they will make a choice quickly.

Also if there are any JC players who may transfer to D-II or D-I schools,they have until Jan. 15 to sign National Letter of Intent. I understand there is no NLI for D-III,but to rule this out (JC transfers) a new coach will need to have some time. I know this would be out of the norm for SJU but the new rules of recruiting are that you have to think outside the box if you are going to make an impact. There have to be a handful of kids at The North Dakota State College of Science that could make grades at MIAC schools & NDSCS has been a feeder program for many D-II schools in the midwest for years/ I'm just sayin'

Did anyone else that watched Grant's interview hear him say that he has had a number of kids already contact him and tell him that if he gets the job they want to transfer?  The way he talked it sounded like many of them are on D1 and D2 teams.  If this is true it would be a no brainer to hire him...Fasching has already been working on high school players.  Could it be a quick turnaround for the program if Grant can bring in some higher level players?

Any chance these kids transfer now?

I've wondered the same...I would hope Grant would still do what he can to advise these kids to transfer.  My bet is that one of them might be related to Mike (check the UND Sioux roster).  One of problems with getting transfers is the financial issue.  The kids we are talking about probably have at least a partial scholarship at a school that costs half or three-fourths what SJU does.  Even if SJU can come up w/ half of the cost the kid and his family still are on the hook for over $20K a year.  Another issue is if SJU or other MIAC school will transfer all the credits a student earned at a UMD, UND, NDSU or U of M.  (Again...how UST is getting kids to leave D1 and D2 programs considering all the mitigating factors is a question I'd like answered).  It just doesn't add up.

A coworker of mine has a son that plays baseball.  Three of the schools he looked at were North Dakota (cost $14k), Olaf ($48k), and Hamline ($43k).  He's hopeful that his son will get enough aid and scholarship money to cover half or almost all at North Dakota.  Even if Olaf or Hamline could come up w/ $30k in aid and scholarships he's still stuck w/ a $13-18k bill.  His son could get a lot of playing time at Olaf or Hamline but financially it just doesn't make sense.

As they say: This.

And 105, I hope you're right, but I think you might be a little optimistic. I have to think a lot of the possible transfers (family or not) would do it because of wanting to play for Grant. Yeah, he can say, "Go to St. John's, Gary is a good coach, it's a great place," but what's St. John's mean to the kid? Probably nothing. He was going to transfer so he could play for Grant. Throw in the financial angle and it makes it even less likely.

[DuffMan]

Anyone familiar with Dallas?

Is it sad that the wife and I are already excited to make our first visit to In-n-Out Burger?

[retagent]

Anyone familiar with Dallas?

Is it sad that the wife and I are already excited to make our first visit to In-n-Out Burger?

Although In-n-Out is good, I think they have succombed to the Health Nazis in the recent past, and stuff is not quite as good as previously - particularly, the fries. For my money, Culvers is a giant step ahead of In-n-Out. Even though Donnie would say, "They got good burgers there Dude."

[DuffMan]

For my money, Culvers is a giant step ahead of In-n-Out.

Really?  I need to try In-n-Out, but I am glad that you've tempered my expectations.  I'd take Five Guys over Cluver's, though. 

[AO]

For my money, Culvers is a giant step ahead of In-n-Out.

Really?  I need to try In-n-Out, but I am glad that you've tempered my expectations.  I'd take Five Guys over Cluver's, though.

Went to the FCS championship in the Dallas area last year.  I preferred Jack in the Box over In-n-out.  Set the expectations high for the barbeque, not the burgers.  too bad you're not going this weekend, could see Cotton Bowl + back to back Bison championships.

[DuffMan]

Set the expectations high for the barbeque, not the burgers.

I've got several places from Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins mapped out--walking distance!   

[57Johnnie]

Set the expectations high for the barbeque, not the burgers.

I've got several places from Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins mapped out--walking distance!   

How could you go wrong at 'Catfish Floyd's' 

[repete]

Anyone familiar with Dallas?

Is it sad that the wife and I are already excited to make our first visit to In-n-Out Burger?

Although In-n-Out is good, I think they have succombed to the Health Nazis in the recent past, and stuff is not quite as good as previously - particularly, the fries. For my money, Culvers is a giant step ahead of In-n-Out. Even though Donnie would say, "They got good burgers there Dude."

Think you're right there, Ret.  Underwhelmed by my In 'N Out experiences. Decent but nothing special and don't get the near-cult status. Five Guys can be very good, but they seem to be a bit inconsistent after their rapid expansion.

Jack in the Box? Not even in the same universe. Mediocre. The Taco Bell of burgers.

Culver's? Good stuff. Spousal unit loves the quality. Sadly, the closest to DC is somewhere in Ohio.

[sfury]

Not the biggest Five Guys fan. Love Culver's.

All come up short compared to Shake Shack (the burger, that is; the actual shakes? Meh).

[Mr. Ypsi]

Culver's is all over Illinois (which is closer to Minnesota than Ohio, last I looked! )

[AO]

Culver's is all over Illinois (which is closer to Minnesota than Ohio, last I looked! )

Culvers has been in Minnesota for about 10 years now, I'd give it a second thought if I were going there this week though.  Not a good week to trust the 'sconnies.

[OzJohnnie]

I just listened to Fasching's press conference on the SJU youtube channel.  This is my impression: a little bit of a tweak, a lot more money.  The context of his (two?) comments on Gagliardi running the program on a shoestring lead me to believe that he will not be doing the same.

And from what I learned in the conference, I reckon Grant pulled out knowing he wouldn't get it, not that he rejected an offer.  I think that Fasching put the most compelling case forward to the committee: Gagliardi 2.0.  I suspect that Grant was a tactical withdrawal.  He probably sensed which way the wind was blowing.

I never even met the guy so I don't know anything about him, but Duff likes him a lot and that goes a long way for me.  Also, he recruited the great teams of the early 00's and that goes a long was as well.  I suspect he will add a lot of focus and energy to the program.  I know recruiting is a big deal, but a bigger deal (in my humble and largely ignorant opinion) is discipline.  Your superstars win championships, your regular guys playing really well win you seasons.  It seems to me that the real problem of the last few years has been people breaking down on the discipline.

Dunno, but I'm pretty happy with the choice.  I'm most happy because I think he will be greatly misunderestimated, particularly by the Tommies, but also by some Johnnies, and that will lead to pleasant surprises.