FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

Isn't it right about now when someone from GAC usually chimes in with a post on The Greatest Block Ever (TM), duff?

[hazzben]

With obviously an unmatched record.

Cael Sanderson was 127-3 in high school and 159-0 in college, winning Olympic gold in 2004.  His Penn State teams have won the past three consecutive national titles.  Obviously, his coaching career has a ways to go before he catches Gable, but he's on par. 

Sanderson is/has been doing something very special. However, IMO, I don't know that he'll ever catch what Gable did in terms of a total career.

Part of what I took away from the article is just how different the sport of wrestling is now. Gable has been fighting to save it for years.

When Gable started lobbying, colleges were losing more wrestling programs each year, down from 146 in 1981-82 to 77 in 2011-12.

Back when Gable was dominating as a coach and wrestler, it was a much more mainstream sport. The increasing popularity of football over the last 60 years has led to a much more competitive game today, and I think you could say the opposite is true for wrestling. And I think that's a really sad development.

That, and I don't know how Sanderson won his gold (obviously just winning a gold is an incredibly high achievement), but Gable didn't surrender a single point in Olympic competition. And if I remember correctly, he didn't loose an international event in the year leading up to the games and was 28-1-0 in the two years prior. The Soviets offered a huge prize purse to any Eastern Bloc wrestler who could defeat Gable. All he did was win the gold in the most dominant fashion anyone has ever seen. Sanderson failed to make his first team olympic team and suffered multiple defeats before he secured gold. From all accounts, Gable was better in international competition than he was as a collegian, while Sanderson was the opposite. But both were unquestionably world class in both environments.

I've always wondered how many more golds Gable could have won had he not turned his attention over to coaching.

I will say, from everything I've grasped about Sanderson, he seems to be a more 'balanced' and healthy individual than Gables. Then again, he didn't face the tragedy of having his sister brutally raped and murdered. Part of what made the article so interesting is that it gave you a glimpse inside the life of guy like Gable, who's been known for that 'tunnel vision' for so long. It was a really interesting read.

All that to say, I really hope they can save olympic wrestling.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I, too, hope the Olympics will restore wrestling - it is, after all, one of the original sports from ancient Greece.

On the other hand, I'm a bit torn since they have set it up as a competition of wrestling vs. baseball and softball (dlip squash!).

[Mr.MIAC]

In the spirit of sharing, some secular friends from MN asked me to be the officiant for their wedding coming up in a few months.  I just went online and now am officially "ordained" and it's legal for me to perform all sorts of "religious" rites in the state of MN.  I'm not sure how I feel about online ordination that anyone can receive with a few clicks on a website.  That being said, I request that you all now refer to me as Reverend MIAC...

[Tom Thumb]

Looks like UST picked up a few more transfers this summer. According to UST's website (http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/Roster_822.html), there are 6 new transfers.  However, I took a glance at the roster and I'm counting 8. Here's a run down of the new players:

5 Matthew Larson, FR LB 6-1 215 Rosemount - NDSU (http://www.gobison.com/roster.aspx?path=&rp_id=1955)

12 Francisco "Chico" Hardacker, FR DB 5-8 189 Edina - NDSU (https://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=11845&SPID=695&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=205722461&Q_SEASON=2013)

21 Zach Burrington, JR DB 6-1 185 Plymouth/Maple Grove - Mankato State University (http://www.msumavericks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3097)

22 Jordan Young, SO DB 6-2 184 St. Louis Park - Elmhurst College (http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2692)

41 John Collins, FR FB 5-10 233 Edina/Holy Angels - University of San Diego (http://usdtoreros.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/john_collins_795390.html)

80 Nathan Howard, FR TE 6-4 234 Bloomington/Jefferson - University of Minnesota

85 Mack Kullas, FR WR 6-3 177 Stillwater/Hill-Murray - Winona State University (http://www.winonastatewarriors.com/roster.aspx?path=&rp_id=6530)

99 Zach Martens, FR DL 6-1 276 Apple Valley - Missouri S&T (http://www.minerathletics.com/roster.aspx?path=&rp_id=1948)

[ron doney]

Don't want to think about how bad things might have been if they did attend SJU.

Bad for U$T.  Good for SJU. 

I never had any interaction with Hilliard, but I chatted a bit with Barkley pre-game in 2002 (he was a friend of some of my teammates), tackled him a few times, and probably missed a tackle or two on him ( ).  He's a good guy, despite being a Tommie.

missed more than you made ? 

the MIAC Coach of thds Year award is now named ater John Gagliardi:
http://www.miacathletics.com/news_links/Press_Releases/082213a_Gagliardi_COY_Award

Excellent!  With or without the recognition, winners would have referenced John. He's an institution, and the MIAC is lucky to leverage John's name. 

Why don't they name it the John COY trophy btw....

[Walter Eagle]

In the spirit of sharing, some secular friends from MN asked me to be the officiant for their wedding coming up in a few months.  I just went online and now am officially "ordained" and it's legal for me to perform all sorts of "religious" rites in the state of MN.  I'm not sure how I feel about online ordination that anyone can receive with a few clicks on a website.  That being said, I request that you all now refer to me as Reverend MIAC...

Does that mean your posts are going to be even more sanctimonious than usual? 

[art76]

In the spirit of sharing, some secular friends from MN asked me to be the officiant for their wedding coming up in a few months.  I just went online and now am officially "ordained" and it's legal for me to perform all sorts of "religious" rites in the state of MN.  I'm not sure how I feel about online ordination that anyone can receive with a few clicks on a website.  That being said, I request that you all now refer to me as Reverend MIAC...

Does that mean your posts are going to be even more sanctimonious than usual? 

Walter - you beat me to the punch!

[Mr.MIAC]

In the spirit of sharing, some secular friends from MN asked me to be the officiant for their wedding coming up in a few months.  I just went online and now am officially "ordained" and it's legal for me to perform all sorts of "religious" rites in the state of MN.  I'm not sure how I feel about online ordination that anyone can receive with a few clicks on a website.  That being said, I request that you all now refer to me as Reverend MIAC...

Does that mean your posts are going to be even more sanctimonious than usual? 

Now child, tell me of your sins...

[tommiegun]

In the spirit of sharing, some secular friends from MN asked me to be the officiant for their wedding coming up in a few months.  I just went online and now am officially "ordained" and it's legal for me to perform all sorts of "religious" rites in the state of MN.  I'm not sure how I feel about online ordination that anyone can receive with a few clicks on a website.  That being said, I request that you all now refer to me as Reverend MIAC...

Does that mean your posts are going to be even more sanctimonious than usual? 

Now child, tell me of your sins...

I made out with a Bennie once.  I'm not proud of it.  Feels good to get that off my chest.

[Johnnie Red]

Just a reminder that the Stiftungsfest, Minnesota's oldest celebration, starts this evening in Norwood Young America. Great weekend and plenty of Stiftungsfest burgers! There is a band from Germany, Die fidelen Kirchheimer, that will be playing all three days. Go to www.stiftungsfest.org for more information. Hope to see you there.

[Mr.MIAC]

In the spirit of sharing, some secular friends from MN asked me to be the officiant for their wedding coming up in a few months.  I just went online and now am officially "ordained" and it's legal for me to perform all sorts of "religious" rites in the state of MN.  I'm not sure how I feel about online ordination that anyone can receive with a few clicks on a website.  That being said, I request that you all now refer to me as Reverend MIAC...

Does that mean your posts are going to be even more sanctimonious than usual? 

Now child, tell me of your sins...

I made out with a Bennie once.  I'm not proud of it.  Feels good to get that off my chest.

Your subsequent physical pain and mental anguish is penance enough.  As it only happened once, you've left the door open for your SJU brothers who are in greater need and unburdened by standards.  Thanks be to the Lord.

[badgerwarhawk]

Now child, tell me of your sins...

I attended and graduated from a public institution.  Not just once but twice. 

[Mr.MIAC]

Now child, tell me of your sins...

I attended and graduated from a public institution.  Not just once but twice.

I don't see a sin there, but just to be safe be sure to passionately cheer for UST on its road to Salem this season.

[bennie]

Nice article about Mount Union Football!
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--what-do-miami--penn-state-and-mt--union-have-in-common--223740830.html