FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

For one, do you expect him to throw any players under the bus in a live chat?

Wouldn't that be something? 

I do like the interaction.  I wonder if there will come a point that he (Gary) gets sick of the same questions over and over again.

Do you think there will come a point that Gary gets sick of the same questions over and over again?

[DuffMan]

Oz, +K 

[finsleft]

The place has changed just a bit...

[sfury]

The place has changed just a bit...

Man, those worries about attendance dropping after Gagliardi look like they're real...

Cool pic.

[finsleft]

Playing Catch at SJU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UmvnakYhac

[finsleft]

Playing Catch at SJU Round 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx4No4s-WyY

[USTBench]

UWRF. Coach Walker is starting to put his print together. Young group, but you can see the hunger. There is definitely an improvement.  I''m not saying they are quite ready to beat the big boys, but I got a feeling!!! The new facility I heard they are getting, should help them even more with recruitment. St. Thomas stepped up when needed. Good teams win tough games.   

I agree RHF. Your guys look like they could be on the verge of turning things around there. I see an improved WIAC campaign that's for sure. Good luck to your squad this year.

[Texas Ole]

I listened to some of the U$T game on WCCO as I spent another evening painting trim under the glare of a halogen work light.  Maybe UW-RF is better than advertised this year.  Either way, I thought the WCCO broadcast was pretty decent.

WCCO does a decent job...I'm just not a fan of how Dave Lee calls a game (football or basketball).  Frankly I don't care for Paul Allen either.  I'd take Ray Christensen any day...
http://www.museumofbroadcasting.org/christensen.mp3

I guess I'll weigh on this: As one of the few UST grads that doesn't live in either the Cities (or Chicago) I really appreciate the fact that I can listen to the game now. They used to have two broadcast journalism students fumble their way through it and a video feed that'd freeze up every two seconds. And before that, I'd just have to refresh the scoreboard feed on D3football. So, I LOVE the fact that Dave Lee is calling the game now. As far as his abilities, I like Dave Lee because he's pretty similar to the play-by-play guy for UND Jack Hammer. Not pompous, seems to truly enjoy being there (even though he was calling D1 games at one point) and just loves sports in general.

Same with Paul Allen. (I have to give respect to a guy that will drive 330 miles and do a live broadcast for KFAN at the Long Haul Saloon in Grand Forks before a Sioux-Goofer game)

Did Dave Lee have a son that went to St. Thomas?  For some reason I seem to remember that from my lacrosse days.

Yep, and Dave did the PA for the lacrosse games on campus.  One evening I was walking through campus and heard this booming voice echoing through the buildings....it sounded oddly familiar.  Was Dave Lee.

Thank you for the confirmation.  He was one of the first to announce a lacrosse game at any level in Minnesota.  I remember hearing from a fellow lacrosse official about how he tried to teach Dave Lee how to announce games and have a good radio voice.  Only after the first goal was announced did the official realize who was doing the game.  I know that official heard about it for several years.

A few thoughts that have been in my head since following along with Gary's chat earlier this week on the SCTimes.

1) Does any other coach in the country at the DIII level do anything similar? I know St Glenn used to have his MMQB event at Tiff's. I give Gary a lot of credit for putting himself out there on a weekly basis. I also hope this is something the school and coaches use in recruiting to highlight how unique SJU is in the world of DIII football.

2) Gary is currently undefeated as a collegiate head coach. At some point he'll lose a game and I worry what the venom will be from the fan base. I listened to the majority of the 1st half on the radio and tried to follow on Twitter after losing the radio signal. It was no doubt disappointing to have such a close game against an expected low level WIAC team. However, they won the game, and based on what UST did with UW-RF last night it doesn't look as bad. There was plenty of WTF talk occurring on this board and in the chat.

3) I appreciated how candid Gary was in the chat. He's obviously doing what he can to connect to a very excitable fan base. I was surprised by the comments/questions posed to Gary in relation to players struggling in the first game. For one, do you expect him to throw any players under the bus in a live chat? Second, keep in mind these are DIII players, many of which are still teens. Some perspective would be good when using a public forum to call them out or to expect the coach to do the same.

Looking forward to following the UW-EC at SJU game from afar tomorrow. Hoping Twitter and the in-game board updates will have good news to share.

I know a few coaches in Texas that are using Twitter to connect with fans.  The TCU AD does a weekly chat.  I still think one of the coolest has to come from the SID at SMU posts on the athletic fan boards.  Some of his posts are quite personal.  Several HS coaches in Texas review film with the community.  I do have to admit that having a coach do a chat is pretty awesome.  I know you have to screen it some, but I would like to see other coaches do this for the fans.  I could have seen OJ doing something like, but there aren't many coaches in the country that would take that risk.  Do people know if any athletic departments have staff members that follow the boards or post on them?  Most of the ones I knew that had accounts left when they took coaching jobs or other internal positions.

Good luck to all teams tomorrow competing in OOC games!

[BDB]

Playing Catch at SJU Round 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx4No4s-WyY

Those were fun to watch. What is that structure in both videos that looks like it is made of branches or something?

[sjusection105]

Playing Catch at SJU Round 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx4No4s-WyY

Those were fun to watch. What is that structure in both videos that looks like it is made of branches or something?

They call him Art
http://www.csbsju.edu/stick-art-by-patrick-d.htm

[Texas Ole]

After thinking about it I could see Ramler also doing an online chat.  I met him a few times when he was at Carleton.  He was quite personable.  I know it is Carleton, but I was a little shocked when he left.  I thought he was a solid fit there.

[D O.C.]

St. Thomas best prepared team week one.
Impressive.

[ron doney]

St. Thomas best prepared team week one.
Impressive.

Week 2.....not so much.

[ron doney]

To be very clear, in no way was I saying that the commentators are doing a bad job.  I'm just pointing out that different teams take different approaches to broadcasting.  UWRF seems to use it as an opportunity for student development; UST relies on professional broadcasters.  That choice means that the viewing experience differs, and this is obvious.  That being said, regardless of the approach it seems that UWRF should upgrade their equipment.  My wife came in the room and asked if I was watching old football clips.

If WIAC schools are like NJAC schools they just don't have the extra money to upgrade things like video equipment and broadcasting equipment.  They make due and do a damn good job with what they have.  If state colleges started trying to spend money on things like broadcasting equipment and technology there would be hell to pay from the taxpayers, at least hear in NJ there would be, and I imagine WI is similar.

They have the money.....they just don't have someone young and entrepreneurial enough to figure it out.  $5,000 on a IT consultant isn't needed (like most administrators like to believe) a kid with $200, and an eBay account could really improve the result.  The kid would fall short of ESPN, but any improvement would be better than the current feed.

[ron doney]

So earlier this week Ron Doney was saying that UST is number one or should be number one based one the results from last week.  Well this week an obviously terrible UWRF (they must be awful because SJU beat them) is playing them close at the half.  If it stays this close and UST wins, does that mean they should drop out of the top 10...because after all UWRF is just so bad according to everyone.

Even after a win, yeah I expect them to get dinged by the voters or at least held sideways. 

I guess I did say UST should be #1.  But that was only last week.....said its wide open and there isn't a clear #1 for the year.  Still believe that and won't be suprised if the #1 spot changes hands a few times this year. 

I don't think they'll drop out of the top ten.....nice troll.