FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Boys of Fall]

No Minnesota kids on the list.   A kid going D3 to play football isn't reasonably thinking he'll make a living playing football.  You better be comfortable with the football program as a whole and the school, there isn't any guarantee you'll play (well, Hamline......).

[WashedUp]

No Minnesota kids on the list.   A kid going D3 to play football isn't reasonably thinking he'll make a living playing football.  You better be comfortable with the football program as a whole and the school, there isn't any guarantee you'll play (well, Hamline......).

None on that list, but Horace Gant, Royce Winford, Blake Elliott and Ryan Hoag all participated in NFL mini-camps or made practice squads in the last 10 years.  They may not be reasonably thinking they'll make a living as an NFL player, but saying that none of them will ever go to the NFL is also not necessarily correct.

[Boys of Fall]

Not sure about Horace or Ryan, but Blake has an office job and Royce is a high school coach.  Both needed their degree to get their jobs.  Regardless, a player and his parents should know the type of football program they will be going into, and also be comfortable with the school itself.  At UST you might win now, but you are a number in Caruso's world and at any point might not be needed, at most other MIAC schools you are treated as more than a number.

[AO]

Not sure about Horace or Ryan, but Blake has an office job and Royce is a high school coach.  Both needed their degree to get their jobs.  Regardless, a player and his parents should know the type of football program they will be going into, and also be comfortable with the school itself.  At UST you might win now, but you are a number in Caruso's world and at any point might not be needed, at most other MIAC schools you are treated as more than a number.

The vast majority of former gophers also need their degree to get a job.  Curtis James is chasing his NFL dream.  If the Tommies keep sending teams to the Stagg Bowl, I'd bet they also send somebody to the NFL.

This recruiting scandal is in desperate need of some facts.  What exactly were the kids told?  Was there actual lying?

[Walter Eagle]

Not sure about Horace or Ryan, but Blake has an office job and Royce is a high school coach.  Both needed their degree to get their jobs.  Regardless, a player and his parents should know the type of football program they will be going into, and also be comfortable with the school itself.  At UST you might win now, but you are a number in Caruso's world and at any point might not be needed, at most other MIAC schools you are treated as more than a number.

The vast majority of former gophers also need their degree to get a job.  Curtis James is chasing his NFL dream.  If the Tommies keep sending teams to the Stagg Bowl, I'd bet they also send somebody to the NFL.

This recruiting scandal is in desperate need of some facts.  What exactly were the kids told?  Was there actual lying?

I'm confused about the process of D3 "recruiting".  If a prospective student who wants to play football fills out the following UST form http://www.stthomas.edu/athletics/webforms/futureathletesquestionnaire/ does he become a recruit?  How often will a coach get back to a inquiring kid and say "we don't have any interest in your playing football for us because we don't think you are good enough"?  Or is it more common to say, "we carry a very large roster and anyone is free to try out for the team.  You may or may not be invited to training camp, but if not, you will get a chance to show your stuff after classes begin."?  Clearly, many prospects are "recruited" by the coaches and encourage to take a look at UST.  But, aren't some actually "recruiting" UST?  And do they always know the difference?

[sjusection105]

Not sure about Horace or Ryan, but Blake has an office job and Royce is a high school coach.  Both needed their degree to get their jobs.  Regardless, a player and his parents should know the type of football program they will be going into, and also be comfortable with the school itself.  At UST you might win now, but you are a number in Caruso's world and at any point might not be needed, at most other MIAC schools you are treated as more than a number.

Ryan Hoag has pretty much stretched his 15 minutes of fame farther than any other MIAC athlete in the past decade.First, he was Mr. Irrelevant because bat $hit crazy Al Davis liked his 40 time & thought he could catch lightning in a bottle on the last pick of the draft and then this cat gets on The Bachelorette and causes all kinds of reality TV drama. Wasn't he on the roster (training camp or practice squad) of like 4 NFL teams? Did he get some sort of signing bonus with each team? $20K-$50K- I have no idea,I'm asking..... And of those MIAC players listed,he had the least amount of talent on the field.

[DoubleO]

Not sure about Horace or Ryan, but Blake has an office job and Royce is a high school coach.  Both needed their degree to get their jobs.  Regardless, a player and his parents should know the type of football program they will be going into, and also be comfortable with the school itself.  At UST you might win now, but you are a number in Caruso's world and at any point might not be needed, at most other MIAC schools you are treated as more than a number.

Do you know this to be a fact? I have heard Caruso talk (firsthand) of the importance of the "120th kid on your roster who never plays" and the importance he plays to the team/program. I know there are many kids walking around campus who came to UST and initially played football who are now not playing whom still think very highly of Coach C & staff. Which seems inconsistent to the alleged slight.

True with any other championship program, the better the program/the better the in program competition for playing spots or summer camp spots. That is not a bad thing. The insinuation was prompted by someone claiming they are informing kids to late in the game to go anywhere else-if that is in fact the case, then there is a wrong that needs to be righted. Otherwise, like I constantly tell my kids, if you want a trophy, then win. Otherwise, no participation trophy's will be given.

[Tom Thumb]

For what it's worth, there are currently 76 freshmen listed on UST's website. 

[57Johnnie]

bennie,
Hope you enjoy your big day on Saturday

[DuffMan]

In-n-Out was what I expected.  Burger was decent.  The shake was great. The fries kind of sucked.  Nothing special, but it felt good to ask for it animal style and not get slapped.  Sipping on a Lakewood Lager now...it's pretty decent.

[bennie]

bennie,
Hope you enjoy your big day on Saturday

To be honest, the NHL kind of screwed themselves with yet another lockout. Comcast has not hit me up yet to see if I want the NHL package and I don't know if I will get it. We will have to see if they can rekindle my interest after such a long absence.

[DuffMan]

Hockey?  I think I'd rather watch basketball!   

[faunch]

"Ruh-roh, Raggy!" 
AJ Barker got himself in a little trouble in Houston.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/187149571.html

[finsleft]

This recruiting scandal is in desperate need of some facts.  What exactly were the kids told?  Was there actual lying?

Agreed. I like to pound on Tommies as much as the next guy. But I've seen more evidence of Te'o's GF than of the Tom's Italian stallion pulling the rug out from under any unsuspecting freshmen.

[Retired Old Rat]

"Ruh-roh, Raggy!" 
AJ Barker got himself in a little trouble in Houston.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/187149571.html

I'm sure it was for medicinal purposes, given the ankle problems.

Might also explain his bogus claim of a scholarship offer from the Cougars.