FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AO]

Here's an SJU question:  Do you think we'll see a drop-off in attendance this season?  Typically, there have been a lot of white-haired folks that I believe attended games due to John's tenure.  I wonder how many of them will discontinue their attendance?

The White-Hairs at Gopher games didn't stop coming when they hired Tim Brewster.

[MadRedFan]

Here's an SJU question:  Do you think we'll see a drop-off in attendance this season?  Typically, there have been a lot of white-haired folks that I believe attended games due to John's tenure.  I wonder how many of them will discontinue their attendance?

That is a good question.  I was talking to one of "those" a couple weeks ago at the lake, and he was very enthusiastic about Fasching and the season and sounded like he had no plans to stop coming.  And we have a good family friend in his 80's who's been a devoted Johnnie fan for years and his enthusiasm is still high and focused on "the Johnnies" and not "John".  Small sample size, but for now, I'd say it'll be okay.  Any drop off would be more likely based on the record and not the coaching change.

[ChicagoTommie]

Here's an SJU question:  Do you think we'll see a drop-off in attendance this season?  Typically, there have been a lot of white-haired folks that I believe attended games due to John's tenure.  I wonder how many of them will discontinue their attendance?

The White-Hairs at Gopher games didn't stop coming when they hired Tim Brewster.

What else would they do??? They probably love the drama of it all, and last saw I herd the TV Show "Matock" is only running reruns I would tend to think that the community would would rally around the team and I would think that attendance would go up!!!

[sjusection105]

Here's an SJU question:  Do you think we'll see a drop-off in attendance this season?  Typically, there have been a lot of white-haired folks that I believe attended games due to John's tenure.  I wonder how many of them will discontinue their attendance?

The White-Hairs at Gopher games didn't stop coming when they hired Tim Brewster.

What else would they do??? They probably love the drama of it all, and last saw I herd the TV Show "Matock" is only running reruns I would tend to think that the community would would rally around the team and I would think that attendance would go up!!!

I know you are new to D3 & the MIAC, so I'll take it easy on you;but SJU consistently leads the nation in attendance.

[USTBench]

Here's an SJU question:  Do you think we'll see a drop-off in attendance this season?  Typically, there have been a lot of white-haired folks that I believe attended games due to John's tenure.  I wonder how many of them will discontinue their attendance?

If there's a drop in attendance it's usually students. I attend most home games at UND and there is absolutely no way the town-folk/alums/white hairs will miss a game. The students are the ones that are usually pretty fickle.

UND's student section used to be packed when they were D2, now they trickle in from tailgating just before kickoff and leave at halftime. UND got down to SDSU 28 - 7 and the student section completely cleared out, fast forward 10 minutes and it's 35 to 28 and UND is driving to tie the game. None of the locals have left, and there's maybe a row or two of students left. Pathetic.

Don't see it as a problem at SJU though, student section is pretty loyal/educated. I think it's situation at SJU where there's 6500/7000 or so for a typical game and then it jumps pretty substantially if they're still in the playoff-picture and a good team comes to town. Shouldn't be much different this year.

[DuffMan]

For the record, I'm not concerned about attendance.  In fact, I'd like to see some of the octogenarian fans (those that show up once a season) give up their closely-guarded and long-held reserved seats.  SJU's made nearly any decent seat at Clemens a reserved seat, and getting reserved seats there is a royal PITA.

[AO]

Here's an SJU question:  Do you think we'll see a drop-off in attendance this season?  Typically, there have been a lot of white-haired folks that I believe attended games due to John's tenure.  I wonder how many of them will discontinue their attendance?

If there's a drop in attendance it's usually students. I attend most home games at UND and there is absolutely no way the town-folk/alums/white hairs will miss a game. The students are the ones that are usually pretty fickle.

UND's student section used to be packed when they were D2, now they trickle in from tailgating just before kickoff and leave at halftime. UND got down to SDSU 28 - 7 and the student section completely cleared out, fast forward 10 minutes and it's 35 to 28 and UND is driving to tie the game. None of the locals have left, and there's maybe a row or two of students left. Pathetic.

The UND students might be right.  You are less than 80 miles from an entirely different football experience.

[ChicagoTommie]

"It was more meant for the "Tommie come lately's" like Chicagotommie who act as if football in the MIAC begins and end with UST.  In the last three years sure.  But for those that follow MIAC football need to realize that Jim Christopherson and John Gagliardi are the one's who people think about when they think of MIAC football.  I also believe Steve Johnson will eventually be in the conversation as one of the legendary coaches in the MIAC if he sticks for another ten years, based on where he has brought Bethel's program.  Bethel before Johnson was current day Hamline or Macalaster."

Hey captain A$$ hat, stop living in the past move forward pick your thong out of your a$$ and relax...sorry your so offended by me "Tommie come lately" of course I will pound my chest for the Tommie's they are the team of the present! Routing for the past is great if you have no future!

I'm definitely no Johnnie or Tommie supporter, so I really don't know why I'd weigh in on this bitter (and fun!) rivalry/MIAC fight. But my two cents worth: Actually, CT, you don't know if the Tommies are the team of the present or not. I believe they are currently 0-0 in the MIAC. Therefore, you, like Capt. are looking at the past. You choose to focus on the recent past because it feels good and it benefits your argument. However, the Johnnies were really, really good for a long, long time.  Coach Gags had a profound impact on both the MIAC and the entire D3 world.  Coach Caruso and the St. Thomas admin deserve a ton of credit for the current state of the program. But realistically, St. Thomas wouldn't be who St. Thomas is without compelling motivation and a context to get there. St. John's has more than a little to do with providing that. 

CT, of course you have the right to beat your chest if you want to. The Tommies are good. We get it.  But don't expect to do it without getting called out by fans of a rival with a longer and richer history. And show a little class OK? After all,  Johnnie fans were never cocky when they were successful... oh, wait... never mind. 

+K  you are right on bleedpurple.  The thing that newbies like Chicagotommie need to realize is that the "bitter fights" in the rivalry are more about fun.  This isn't d1football.  What I always enjoyed about the rivalry is the fun digs in creative ways, but that we all go out for beers and work together afterwards.

Sorry to bring up the old trash!!!   I was up at the Tommie game for the weekend watching the blow out by UST over UW-Eau Claire and didn't take the time to respond because I was melting in the stands it was a hot one!!! I saw at least 2 Fans get first aid for the intense heat, I learned later that they were fine, which is great.  But I guess being the "Tommie come lately" fan I better be-careful of what I post I not to offend or break the long standing fan guide of Proper Etiquette and how to be a certified fan of MIAC Football rule book...True I am new to the conference but like it or not I am fan of the Tommie's and for the most part a supporter for the whole conference. but come-on already don't get offended so easily lighten up Captain A$$ Hat! I would love the banter and would only do it in jest!  So I guess I will tone it down a bit???  Maybe

SJU fans Hit UW- Eau Claire early and hard!!! they will lose steam quickly...some of the UST players said they(UW) lost steam pretty early, once UST scored a Couple of times... and plan on taking away their run game early because there Passing game isn't that strong and they will resort to that if they cant establish the run. 

Just my 2 cents!

[Pat Coleman]

but come-on already don't get offended so easily lighten up Captain A$$ Hat!

If you're going to tell someone to lighten up and also name-call them in the same sentence, that might not be effective.

Unless you're going to say Lighten up, Francis. That's an acceptable pop culture reference.

[ChicagoTommie]

Ok Pat got it Sorry Captain Francis

Capn34, I will retract the name "Captain A$$ Hat",  It was meant in good fun!!! sorry I went "overboard", like the pun?

[faunch]

MU moves from 606 votes to 602.  By some people did you mean one or two guys?

I don't foresee U$T overtaking Mount in the rankings unless Mount takes a loss (which it looks like they could be susceptible to).  Winning games is winning games, no matter how ugly it is.

Keep in mind that Mount Union played a team ranked in the top 20.  U$T played an unranked team at home w/ an inexperienced QB and I believe lost their stud RB early in the game.  Mount Union does not get moved from #1 unless they lose. 

[USTBench]

Here's an SJU question:  Do you think we'll see a drop-off in attendance this season?  Typically, there have been a lot of white-haired folks that I believe attended games due to John's tenure.  I wonder how many of them will discontinue their attendance?

If there's a drop in attendance it's usually students. I attend most home games at UND and there is absolutely no way the town-folk/alums/white hairs will miss a game. The students are the ones that are usually pretty fickle.

UND's student section used to be packed when they were D2, now they trickle in from tailgating just before kickoff and leave at halftime. UND got down to SDSU 28 - 7 and the student section completely cleared out, fast forward 10 minutes and it's 35 to 28 and UND is driving to tie the game. None of the locals have left, and there's maybe a row or two of students left. Pathetic.

The UND students might be right.  You are less than 80 miles from an entirely different football experience.

Well much like UST looking at what SJU was able to do,  the powers-that-be at UND have seen how football can raise the profile of a school and have seemingly doubled down financially. The old Ralph has been torn down making way for a $13 million indoor practice facility and when the lease runs out on the Alerus it looks like Memorial Stadium will be renovated for on-campus football again. Should be a game-changer. One hopes.

https://hlc.und.edu/Shared%20Documents/CHAPTER-6-Resources-Planning-Institutional-Effectiveness/Cr5-065-Athletics-Master-Plan.pdf

[Walter Eagle]

Pat, have you ever had a situation in your poll where a team loses its first game and moves up 6 spots, like Franklin did?

[sjusection105]

Pat, have you ever had a situation in your poll where a team loses its first game and moves up 6 spots, like Franklin did?

I'm not Pat,but if they played a highly ranked opponent real tough (such as the #1 team & kept it within a TD) then it is entirely possible,especially if other teams above them last week lost to unranked or lower ranked teams.

[ron doney]

MU moves from 606 votes to 602.  By some people did you mean one or two guys?

I don't foresee U$T overtaking Mount in the rankings unless Mount takes a loss (which it looks like they could be susceptible to).  Winning games is winning games, no matter how ugly it is.

Keep in mind that Mount Union played a team ranked in the top 20.  U$T played an unranked team at home w/ an inexperienced QB and I believe lost their stud RB early in the game.  Mount Union does not get moved from #1 unless they lose.

Take another look at the numbers in the poll, and I'd argue that Mount fell off of #1 this week......

Technically Mount is #1, but they are only there by 1 point.......with a few thousand points in play, one point separating ranked teams essentially means they are equal.  With 10 first place votes for Mount and 8 for UST, there is only one voter moving from Mount to UST to again make them co-#1s.  By the voting metrics, the teams could not be any closer to sharing the #1 ranking.....and practically speaking, they are. 

So, if you think Mount is not going to get moved out of #1.......news flash, they have been, practically speaking.  #1 by 1 point, 1 vote, the smallest of margins.....a margin or band of votes that I think is fair to call the teams equal......which makes Mount a co-#1....Mount has been moved from a clear #1 and into a tie.

Btw, the rankings have typically been very weighted toward the #1.  Mount or UWW usually get 20+ votes (from what I can see in a quick overview of the rankings, maybe there was a week in the last 10 years where they split the votes).  Today at 10 #1 votes, Mount doesn't have the majority and really is only at a #1 because a lack of conviction in a second team (i.e. other 15 votes are being split between three teams, if it were just two alternatives than Mount would be in the #2 rank spot). 

The voters have brought Mount down a long ways, but I believe there is still room to go.  I think the voters won't hold them up as much as they did UWW last year.  Given Mount has a bye next week, they may not fall.  But a strong showing by Linfield could pull another #1 vote away from Mount - Mount did lose one to Linfield this week when Linfield was on a bye! - clearly someone said, I know Mount isn't number one and my best alternative is Linfield.