FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sjusection105]

I might be mistaken, but I think SJU fans (including Duff) have in the past been the most vocal critics of the "Open your program to Page 86" mania and advertising overload at Johnnie games. The difference, of course, being that SJU keeps its whoring to the stadium instead of taking it to the great Minnesota get together where the innocents can be sullied.

I have no problem with MN private schools advertising, or as you say "whoring." If anything, some of them should do more to showcase their strengths.  I think one has to recognize that for many Minnesotans the U of M and UST are the two major universities in the state.  The U of M hands out paraphernalia at the State Fair...why wouldn't UST? I helped out at the UST booth (which is pretty awesome, actually) as an undergraduate.  Some people, collectors mostly, would come simply for the new bag.  However, many people were there with their children who were interested in becoming a Tommie.  They would ask about the student experience, academics, the campus, opportunities after graduation, etc.  All in all, a presence at the State Fair is great for both UST and prospective students/parents.  Next thing we'll hear is that having state-wide broadcasting rights with WCCO is another example of "whoring."

So if the U of M and U$T are the two major universities in the state why the hell is U$T still competing at the D3 level?

Hmmm...I'm not sure.  Are they supposed to not be D3?  There are plenty of major universities that have remained D3.  Why don't we ask people from Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve, Catholic, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Tufts, and Washington in STL about some of the possible reasons.

And pretty much all of schools you listed come from regions with a much larger population base and a number more D1 and D2 college programs than does Minnesota.  If you weren't aware Minnesota only has Goldy Gopher at the D1 level.  If U$T is such a "major" institution maybe it's time for them to stop pissing with the pups and play with the big dogs.  Truth is they won't because they've set up a pretty good uneven playing field for themselves.   

No offense (we could share some beers sometime when I'm back in Minnesota), but this sounds like sour grapes.  When SJU was good at football it was "UST might have some advantages, but we have a better football team." Now that UST is dominant in football and other areas you're calling for them to be in another division.  I think that this: 1) oversells the value of other divisions, 2) undersells DIII, 3) misses the point on DIII athletics, and 4) implies that other MIAC athletes aren't as talented, which in my view is wrong.  Can you concede the possibility that UST is simply doing things right?

This is what happens when you start to win.  Prior to 2005 not a soul cared that WHITEWATER or any other WIAC school for that matter was playing in DIII.  Now, despite playing by all of the same rules everyone else does, they've got no business being there.

Exactly- same thing in Mn H.S. FB- when 2 schools consistently win the "Big School" title- then the H.S. League wants to put in another division for 6 "Big Schools"- pretty soon it will only be 2 schools in the "Super-duper Big School Division"

Quit worrying why other schools win & fix the reason you don't win.

Done with rant 

[Boys of Fall]

I was out at the state fair yesterday and after having read some of these posts on Tuesday decided to take my own little poll.  I asked a Tommie (assumption on my part as he was wearing a UST sweatshirt) who he thought were the two major universities in the state and his response was, "The U of M, Mankato, and St. Thomas."

[Knightstalker]

I was out at the state fair yesterday and after having read some of these posts on Tuesday decided to take my own little poll.  I asked a Tommie (assumption on my part as he was wearing a UST sweatshirt) who he thought were the two major universities in the state and his response was, "The U of M, Mankato, and St. Thomas."

Must of been a Math major.

[ron doney]

I might be mistaken, but I think SJU fans (including Duff) have in the past been the most vocal critics of the "Open your program to Page 86" mania and advertising overload at Johnnie games. The difference, of course, being that SJU keeps its whoring to the stadium instead of taking it to the great Minnesota get together where the innocents can be sullied.

I have no problem with MN private schools advertising, or as you say "whoring." If anything, some of them should do more to showcase their strengths.  I think one has to recognize that for many Minnesotans the U of M and UST are the two major universities in the state.  The U of M hands out paraphernalia at the State Fair...why wouldn't UST? I helped out at the UST booth (which is pretty awesome, actually) as an undergraduate.  Some people, collectors mostly, would come simply for the new bag.  However, many people were there with their children who were interested in becoming a Tommie.  They would ask about the student experience, academics, the campus, opportunities after graduation, etc.  All in all, a presence at the State Fair is great for both UST and prospective students/parents.  Next thing we'll hear is that having state-wide broadcasting rights with WCCO is another example of "whoring."

So if the U of M and U$T are the two major universities in the state why the hell is U$T still competing at the D3 level?

Hmmm...I'm not sure.  Are they supposed to not be D3?  There are plenty of major universities that have remained D3.  Why don't we ask people from Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve, Catholic, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Tufts, and Washington in STL about some of the possible reasons.

And pretty much all of schools you listed come from regions with a much larger population base and a number more D1 and D2 college programs than does Minnesota.  If you weren't aware Minnesota only has Goldy Gopher at the D1 level.  If U$T is such a "major" institution maybe it's time for them to stop pissing with the pups and play with the big dogs.  Truth is they won't because they've set up a pretty good uneven playing field for themselves.   

Things take time to balance out.  It took UST 20+ years to wake up in finally invest in their athletic programs.  Before they did, UST was on the 'uneven' playing field as the likes of SJU, Gustavus, St. Olaf, Macalaster and others built large new age facilities of their own.  UST has had a good run the last five years and the playing field does seem uneven, but in time it will level out - not because UST does anything less or differently, but because others step up. 

Now if they have a good 20 year run atop the conference maybe they should consider jumping up another division.....or maybe they'll take a page out of the SJ1 playbook and just keep Caruso around until he is 85, riding the cash cow into the sunset.

[AO]

Things take time to balance out.  It took UST 20+ years to wake up in finally invest in their athletic programs.  Before they did, UST was on the 'uneven' playing field as the likes of SJU, Gustavus, St. Olaf, Macalaster and others built large new age facilities of their own.  UST has had a good run the last five years and the playing field does seem uneven, but in time it will level out - not because UST does anything less or differently, but because others step up. 

Now if they have a good 20 year run atop the conference maybe they should consider jumping up another division.....or maybe they'll take a page out of the SJ1 playbook and just keep Caruso around until he is 85, riding the cash cow into the sunset.

You don't need 20 years to decide whether or not to move to D-1.  You don't even need to be good in the lower division to move up.  I don't see the MIAC "catching up" to St. Thomas in terms of investment.

[Robert Zimmerman]

Excited for SJU football in one week.  Does anyone know if River Falls will video stream Friday's game?  I couldn't find a schedule on their website.

[DuffMan]

Excited for SJU football in one week.

Although I am bitterly disheartened by the "end" of summer, I am looking forward to some SJU games.

[Johnnie Red]

2013, A SEASON OF MANY JOHNNIE FOOTBALL DREAMS

By Johnnie Red

Fifty years ago there was the Martin Luther King Jr. speech of "I have a dream."
Sixty years ago there was a coach that came to Collegeville to become our dream!

John Gagliardi by the numbers: 64 years of coaching, the all-divisions win record of 489 games,
four national titles, and the first active coach inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Dreams along the way were 27 MIAC titles, the Gagliardi Trophy and The Sweet Season,
so many seasons of wins at St. John's, the Johnnies are blessed for so many reasons!

Now that retirement is here for coach Gagliardi, will there be another dream to see?
Fasching, Ramler, Haugen and Novak, clawing their way back to dominance, can it be?

15 high school all-star players as this year's freshmen, excellent recruiting and more;
an excellent head coach in Gary Fasching who will on September 6 open the door.

Inviting in fans, SJU and CSB students, parents and the media to view a program we adore!
Tradition, record crowds, one of college football's 10 "Dream Destinations," who could ask for more?

More as in the Stiftungsfestivities tailgate, the Rats, the CSB nationally-known dance team,
stand and sing the Johnnie Fight Song: "Show the world what SJU can do" and live the dream.

Fifty years ago the Johnnie football team lived the dream with the first national title in 1963,
ten years ago the Johnnies relived the dream with the fourth national title in 2003!

2013 is here with a new season, a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and many new players,
Clemens Stadium will be the home of many dreams that become real and continue to build layers.

Layers of success for Johnnie football in the MIAC, playoffs, scoring record of points per game in `93,
it will continue in Collegeville for the Johnnies and fans, continue to live the dream in 2013!

[Retired Old Rat]

Nice work, JR.  Football season must be here!

[SJUrube]

Excited for SJU football in one week.

Agreed. Looking forward to seeing what the new coaching staff is able to do in year one. I'm a complete Ramler bobo and think some of the staff changes should provide a more cohesive staff. Hoping that cleans up some of the silly mistakes that have bit SJU in the last few years that were never a problem before.

[faunch]

I plan on being in River Falls, but I am at the mercy of a 2-year old and a pregnant wife, so plans are always subject to change. 

Looks like UWRF is ready:
http://www.uwrfsports.com/splash.aspx?id=splash_42&path=football

Hoping for a video web feed as I'll be atop the crows nest filming Maple Grove and Hopkins.
http://www.uwrfsports.com/sports/2011/11/22/SI_1122111005.aspx

[bennie]

Wow! Rain and artificial turf don't mix!
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/won-t-believe-one-hour-rain-did-pittsburgh-121148615.html

[ron doney]

Nice win for the Bison last night.  Anyone know Craig Bohl's story up there?  I wonder how much longer he stays.....been there ten years, is 55, maybe retires or moves up...?

Anyhow, I'm guessing that could be a place that gets Caruso's attention if the job opens up.  Met his wife there and all. 

When Deinhart left, Caruso lost a close friend and decision maker at the top.  Will be interesting to see if the new bureaucracy wears him out in the years to come. 

I don't know if its ever been said, but looks who's getting the last laugh on the event that was the mass exhile from NDSU to the MIAC.     

[Walter Eagle]

I might be mistaken, but I think SJU fans (including Duff) have in the past been the most vocal critics of the "Open your program to Page 86" mania and advertising overload at Johnnie games. The difference, of course, being that SJU keeps its whoring to the stadium instead of taking it to the great Minnesota get together where the innocents can be sullied.

St. John's takes tremendous advantages of its opportunities to generate revenues through advertising and promotions.  They've developed a sales competency in this area and they'd be economically foolish to back away from it.  For me personally, I'd prefer they become a bit less intrusive in the game day experience, but that's just me.  Other schools have other opportunities.  For whatever reason, St. Thomas has become really good at capital campaigns.  These campaigns produce nice new buildings, playing fields, public grounds and scholarship money.  For me personally, I'd prefer these buildings were a bit more modest in their appearance but it's not my name on the buildings.  None of this is "whoring" and any organization that would ignore the masses that attend the state fair should maybe rethink their strategies.

[ron doney]

I might be mistaken, but I think SJU fans (including Duff) have in the past been the most vocal critics of the "Open your program to Page 86" mania and advertising overload at Johnnie games. The difference, of course, being that SJU keeps its whoring to the stadium instead of taking it to the great Minnesota get together where the innocents can be sullied.

St. John's takes tremendous advantages of its opportunities to generate revenues through advertising and promotions.  They've developed a sales competency in this area and they'd be economically foolish to back away from it.  For me personally, I'd prefer they become a bit less intrusive in the game day experience, but that's just me.  Other schools have other opportunities.  For whatever reason, St. Thomas has become really good at capital campaigns.  These campaigns produce nice new buildings, playing fields, public grounds and scholarship money.  For me personally, I'd prefer these buildings were a bit more modest in their appearance but it's not my name on the buildings.  None of this is "whoring" and any organization that would ignore the masses that attend the state fair should maybe rethink their strategies.

Well said.