FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

faunch, it is true that you never used the word "tampering", but you did say "something seems rotten on Cretin Ave."  If you were not implying tampering, what exactly were you implying?  I usually have a very vivid imagination, but I'm at a loss as to what else besides tampering you were suggesting?

[ron doney]

faunch, it is true that you never used the word "tampering", but you did say "something seems rotten on Cretin Ave."  If you were not implying tampering, what exactly were you implying?  I usually have a very vivid imagination, but I'm at a loss as to what else besides tampering you were suggesting?

Faunch pulls this move quite often.  The next response will be something about "not in the spirit of D3."

[ron doney]

Another first for the St John's record books this weekend.  Fasching's first loss. What a pleasure it will be to see UST's name in the winning column of that box score.

Here's to another first, and many more to come 

[faunch]

faunch, it is true that you never used the word "tampering", but you did say "something seems rotten on Cretin Ave."  If you were not implying tampering, what exactly were you implying?  I usually have a very vivid imagination, but I'm at a loss as to what else besides tampering you were suggesting?

Faunch pulls this move quite often.  The next response will be something about "not in the spirit of D3."

Simple question...should a coach of one college program be inn contact with a player(s) on a roster of another college program?  The idealist in me says that there's something unethical about that.  What's to stop the SJU coaches from "keeping contact" with players riding the pine at U$T or any of the other MIAC schools?  It's easy to say that a lot of coaches and programs do it but does that make it right?  I'm not naive either...I'm sure that SJU staff will try to do more of this then they have in the last few years. 

[AO]

The Troll on Gameday


Corso picked the Cobbers.

[sju56321]

TDT -I checked my waterlogged program and found that I won 5 times out of 150 or so chances.
I just saw that on Gameday-they all booed Concordia-funny.
Not holding out much hope-figure I can watch the ND game at 2:30 no problem.
Have fun everyone and hope all players stay healthy.

[sju56321]

I saw Concordia of St. Paul play last weekend against BSU-quite a game. I thought there wasn't much difference watching Eau Claire's vs. Concordia or BSU. But the kickers were excellent. My second cousin plays for Concordia.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

faunch, it is true that you never used the word "tampering", but you did say "something seems rotten on Cretin Ave."  If you were not implying tampering, what exactly were you implying?  I usually have a very vivid imagination, but I'm at a loss as to what else besides tampering you were suggesting?

Faunch pulls this move quite often.  The next response will be something about "not in the spirit of D3."

Simple question...should a coach of one college program be inn contact with a player(s) on a roster of another college program?  The idealist in me says that there's something unethical about that.  What's to stop the SJU coaches from "keeping contact" with players riding the pine at UST or any of the other MIAC schools?   It's easy to say that a lot of coaches and programs do it but does that make it right?  I'm not naive either...I'm sure that SJU staff will try to do more of this then they have in the last few years.

nothing and they have been. Not with intent of tampering, nor is UST's or any other school's keeping in contact done with intent to tamper, lure away etc. During the recruiting process, a bond often forms between recruit & recruiter. This bond doesnt go away after the recruit makes his decision, even if this decision is to attend another school.

[hazzben]

Simple question...should a coach of one college program be inn contact with a player(s) on a roster of another college program?  The idealist in me says that there's something unethical about that.  What's to stop the SJU coaches from "keeping contact" with players riding the pine at U$T or any of the other MIAC schools?  It's easy to say that a lot of coaches and programs do it but does that make it right?  I'm not naive either...I'm sure that SJU staff will try to do more of this then they have in the last few years.

I think the ethics are strictly a matter of who initiates what. Good recruiters don't burn bridges when a kid chooses elsewhere. When I had to let coaches know I was choosing Bethel responses fell into one of three categories:

1) Sorry you didn't choose us, wish you the best, if it doesn't work out let us know.
2) Silent treatment and passive aggressiveness.
3) Getting ripped a new one for not choosing School X.

The latter two left me with a clear impression that the door was permanently closed at those schools.

I loved my time at Bethel. The only doubt I had was watching the Army-Navy game on TV my freshman year. Left me wondering if I made the right decision in turning down a nomination and chance to play at Annapolis. (the patriotic side of me still has the lingering 'what if's' on that one). But had things not gone well and transferring had become my decision, certain schools would never have been considered based strictly on how they reacted to me informing them of my choice.

Once a student-athlete starts thinking about transferring it only makes sense that he'll reach out and contact the coaches that fell into category 1. If the door is still open and they feel transferring is the right move. Good for them. And no shame on the coach for being willing to talk with the player. I see nothing wrong with a kid being able to reach out and know if he has a landing spot before he decides to leave. It's one of the things I despise about DI. If they get a wiff that kid has talked to a school prior to transferring, they get pissed and often restrict the transfer. Totally hypocritical, given that these same coaches are constantly talking with other programs and seeking (through their agents) the next best landing spot.

Now, if a coach is initiating contact and reaching out to players that said no, it's a different story. That kind of tampering is bush-league. And I have no idea if anyone in the MIAC is doing such a thing. I suspect most of the time these coaches are busy enough with their own programs to keep chasing after the ones that got away. But IMO, once a player initiates contact, I've got no beef with a coach following through and doing what he can to influence and facilitate a transfer. And if there's innocent contact, running into each other at a HS game, the college coach shouldn't be expected to ignore the existence of his former recruit.

[SJUrube]

TDT...thanks for the invite but I won't be making the Stiftdhugeusufsjutly tailgate. Meeting some non Internet friends before the game. I'll try & catch one later this year. I'll bring my list of greatest Sports Show moments.

Regarding transfers, SJU did have a fair share in the early/mid 2000s. The majority though had one central connection, the Steffensmeier brothers. Tony came to SJU out of Kato East & Janue transferred from NDSU. Fellow HS trmate Josh Pope also followed from NDSU along w/ Jason Good. Was SJU checking w/ Tony on how things were going for Jamie & others? Maybe, or they heard good things.

There have been a few other transfers over the years but a lot of the big hitters came in one group.

[sju56321]

Wasn't NDSU moving up in class at that time also?

[Walter Eagle]

Simple question...should a coach of one college program be inn contact with a player(s) on a roster of another college program?  The idealist in me says that there's something unethical about that.  What's to stop the SJU coaches from "keeping contact" with players riding the pine at U$T or any of the other MIAC schools?  It's easy to say that a lot of coaches and programs do it but does that make it right?  I'm not naive either...I'm sure that SJU staff will try to do more of this then they have in the last few years.

I think the ethics are strictly a matter of who initiates what. Good recruiters don't burn bridges when a kid chooses elsewhere. When I had to let coaches know I was choosing Bethel responses fell into one of three categories:

1) Sorry you didn't choose us, wish you the best, if it doesn't work out let us know.
2) Silent treatment and passive aggressiveness.
3) Getting ripped a new one for not choosing School X.

The latter two left me with a clear impression that the door was permanently closed at those schools.

I loved my time at Bethel. The only doubt I had was watching the Army-Navy game on TV my freshman year. Left me wondering if I made the right decision in turning down a nomination and chance to play at Annapolis. (the patriotic side of me still has the lingering 'what if's' on that one). But had things not gone well and transferring had become my decision, certain schools would never have been considered based strictly on how they reacted to me informing them of my choice.

Once a student-athlete starts thinking about transferring it only makes sense that he'll reach out and contact the coaches that fell into category 1. If the door is still open and they feel transferring is the right move. Good for them. And no shame on the coach for being willing to talk with the player. I see nothing wrong with a kid being able to reach out and know if he has a landing spot before he decides to leave. It's one of the things I despise about DI. If they get a wiff that kid has talked to a school prior to transferring, they get pissed and often restrict the transfer. Totally hypocritical, given that these same coaches are constantly talking with other programs and seeking (through their agents) the next best landing spot.

Now, if a coach is initiating contact and reaching out to players that said no, it's a different story. That kind of tampering is bush-league. And I have no idea if anyone in the MIAC is doing such a thing. I suspect most of the time these coaches are busy enough with their own programs to keep chasing after the ones that got away. But IMO, once a player initiates contact, I've got no beef with a coach following through and doing what he can to influence and facilitate a transfer. And if there's innocent contact, running into each other at a HS game, the college coach shouldn't be expected to ignore the existence of his former recruit.

So the gray area between your answer and MIAC Maniac's answer has to do with the situation where there has been a bit of bonding that was formed during the recruitment process.  Would it be unethical to periodically send out a "how's it going" email or make a similar phone call to this group?  Would it be unethical to send out the same email to only those athletes who the coach heard were not happy? 

[hazzben]

So the gray area between your answer and MIAC Maniac's answer has to do with the situation where there has been a bit of bonding that was formed during the recruitment process.  Would it be unethical to periodically send out a "how's it going" email or make a similar phone call to this group?  Would it be unethical to send out the same email to only those athletes who the coach heard were not happy?

We're talking about hypotheticals, so it's easy to paint in broad brush strokes, but not necessarily helpful or productive.

These situations are filled with nuance. Say the kids uncle informs the coach, 'Jimmy is really hating it at the U of Blank, I think he'd really appreciate it if you reached out.' In my mind, that's different than the coach consistently fishing for it on his own. Whether he does that through emails and phone calls to the other programs players or what not. I'm sorry, but it definitely doesn't feel 'right' if a coach is actively calling, emailing and texting a player after they've committed themselves to another program. Is it unethical? Again, these are broad hypothetical situations, hard to say without a real, concrete example. But in general, I don't think another coach should be initiating the stuff. Just seems like he's got his fingers in another guys program.

I do know that players definitely talk. Which is totally fine. Bethel had a similar situation back in the early 2000's. Ben Kidd transfered from NDSU to play linebacker. Loved it and let his buddy Nate Klint know, 'Hey, football's fun again over here, you should check it out.' Nate did, decided to transfer and the rest was history.

[Walter Eagle]

So the gray area between your answer and MIAC Maniac's answer has to do with the situation where there has been a bit of bonding that was formed during the recruitment process.  Would it be unethical to periodically send out a "how's it going" email or make a similar phone call to this group?  Would it be unethical to send out the same email to only those athletes who the coach heard were not happy?

We're talking about hypotheticals, so it's easy to paint in broad brush strokes, but not necessarily helpful or productive.

These situations are filled with nuance. Say the kids uncle informs the coach, 'Jimmy is really hating it at the U of Blank, I think he'd really appreciate it if you reached out.' In my mind, that's different than the coach consistently fishing for it on his own. Whether he does that through emails and phone calls to the other programs players or what not. I'm sorry, but it definitely doesn't feel 'right' if a coach is actively calling, emailing and texting a player after they've committed themselves to another program. Is it unethical? Again, these are broad hypothetical situations, hard to say without a real, concrete example. But in general, I don't think another coach should be initiating the stuff. Just seems like he's got his fingers in another guys program.

I do know that players definitely talk. Which is totally fine. Bethel had a similar situation back in the early 2000's. Ben Kidd transfered from NDSU to play linebacker. Loved it and let his buddy Nate Klint know, 'Hey, football's fun again over here, you should check it out.' Nate did, decided to transfer and the rest was history.

Correct, these are hypothetical's and I have no idea how any coach anywhere is operating in this area.  Interesting though, how often some people on this board jump to conclusions that have not much more weight than a hypothetical.

[57Johnnie]

I've been a JOHNNIE for 60 years and this is my first football season when John wasn't the coach. He started my Freshman year when we were both relatively young. We also have the same birthday. BTW: JOHNNIES beat the Tommies that year 14-6 (at Shag Nasty). Needless to say, this year feels kind of strange. I believe only one of my profs is still alive.
Probably the only one on the board that was at the first championship game in Sacramento in 1963.
I've also been on this board since before bennie got her first tattoo

Will try to occupy my regular reserved seat today - at least part of the time. The John bobblehead is right next to me

GO JOHNNIES