FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[art76]

I'm glad the SJU/Bethel game will be at SJU.  That grass field at Bethel could be in really bad shape by 11/16.  Has Bethel ever considered putting in a turf field?

There's no doubt that Bethel can play football (well, for the past 15 years or so), but their "stadium" is easily the worst in the MIAC.  I hated playing there, and I hate watching games there.

You'll get no disagreement from this old Royal. Bethel needs a hefty donation from some quarter to get the ball rolling for a new/improved stadium/complex. I know it's been kicked around for at least 20 years.

[AO]

I'm glad the SJU/Bethel game will be at SJU.  That grass field at Bethel could be in really bad shape by 11/16.  Has Bethel ever considered putting in a turf field?

There's no doubt that Bethel can play football (well, for the past 15 years or so), but their "stadium" is easily the worst in the MIAC.  I hated playing there, and I hate watching games there.

In 1995, construction began on Bethel's Royal Stadium. This state-of-the-art facility now includes a full concession area, restrooms, and two storage areas. The game facility has also been enclosed with fencing on the visitor side, and a new visitor seating section was completed in 2001. Gifts from the Target Corporation and Ryan Companies have provided funds for a new scoreboard and a newly-landscaped entrance with a donor recognition area that was completed for the 2002 season. This game and practice complex is one of the best small-college stadiums in the upper Midwest.

[DuffMan]

This game and practice complex is one of the best small-college stadiums in the upper Midwest.

Do you think whoever wrote that blurb forgot to use the sarcastic font??? 

[GoldandBlueBU]

I'm glad the SJU/Bethel game will be at SJU.  That grass field at Bethel could be in really bad shape by 11/16.  Has Bethel ever considered putting in a turf field?

There's no doubt that Bethel can play football (well, for the past 15 years or so), but their "stadium" is easily the worst in the MIAC.  I hated playing there, and I hate watching games there.

You'll get no disagreement from this old Royal. Bethel needs a hefty donation from some quarter to get the ball rolling for a new/improved stadium/complex. I know it's been kicked around for at least 20 years.

Same here...the HS stadium that I played in was certainly superior to it.  They had a big capital fundraising push for the new student center, which was a much greater need relative to the football stadium.  Now they're trying to raise money for a new fitness center....I'm hoping that the football stadium will be next...

[GoldandBlueBU]

This game and practice complex is one of the best small-college stadiums in the upper Midwest.

Do you think whoever wrote that blurb forgot to use the sarcastic font??? 

I think it was supposed to read....

This game and practice complex is one of the best small-college stadiums in the upper Midwest Arden Hills .

[AO]

This game and practice complex is one of the best small-college stadiums in the upper Midwest.

Do you think whoever wrote that blurb forgot to use the sarcastic font??? 

I think it was supposed to read....

This game and practice complex is one of the best small-college stadiums in the upper Midwest Arden Hills .

I'll bet they're thankful Northwestern's new stadium is being built on the Roseville side of campus.

[retagent]

D3footballs twitter account did say that the undefeated team out of the WIAC would break into the top 6 at the end of the year.....but that might be a little high.  UWW has lost there luster bump.
[/quote]

In addition to my crusade to rid the world of the "...could of..." abomination, I am starting a push to enlighten the world to the correct use of the homonyms "there, their and they're" Learn them, love them, live them.

[DuffMan]

...I am starting a push to enlighten the world to the correct use of the homonyms "there, their and they're" Learn them, love them, live them.

That is at the top of my list, along with "your/you're"!

[hazzben]

I'm glad the SJU/Bethel game will be at SJU.  That grass field at Bethel could be in really bad shape by 11/16.  Has Bethel ever considered putting in a turf field?

There's no doubt that Bethel can play football (well, for the past 15 years or so), but their "stadium" is easily the worst in the MIAC.  I hated playing there, and I hate watching games there.

Well of course you hated playing there, some very bad memories associated with that place!

I won't argue the merits of the stadium for a second. However, the field itself is impeccably kept. It's a superb grass playing surface. I know sprint/field turf is all the rage, and it's nice to play on. But good grass is still my preference. You have to put in the work to keep it up. And Bethel's is a sand base that drains really well. But I love a game in the elements where you see the grass stains. To me, there's something pure about playing on a nice grass field.

[art76]

I'm glad the SJU/Bethel game will be at SJU.  That grass field at Bethel could be in really bad shape by 11/16.  Has Bethel ever considered putting in a turf field?

There's no doubt that Bethel can play football (well, for the past 15 years or so), but their "stadium" is easily the worst in the MIAC.  I hated playing there, and I hate watching games there.

Well of course you hated playing there, some very bad memories associated with that place!

I won't argue the merits of the stadium for a second. However, the field itself is impeccably kept. It's a superb grass playing surface. I know sprint/field turf is all the rage, and it's nice to play on. But good grass is still my preference. You have to put in the work to keep it up. And Bethel's is a sand base that drains really well. But I love a game in the elements where you see the grass stains. To me, there's something pure about playing on a nice grass field.

Hear, here!

[DuffMan]

Well of course you hated playing there, some very bad memories associated with that place!

Yes, there are some bad memories--'99 and '00 at Royal Stadium could be wiped from my memory.

However, the field itself is impeccably kept. It's a superb grass playing surface. I know sprint/field turf is all the rage, and it's nice to play on. But good grass is still my preference. You have to put in the work to keep it up. And Bethel's is a sand base that drains really well. But I love a game in the elements where you see the grass stains. To me, there's something pure about playing on a nice grass field.

Yeah, the field, as a playing surface, is fine.  No complaints there.  Grass fields are a PITA to keep in nice shape.  As a pre-freshman and freshman at SJU, I worked on the grounds crew and did a lot of that work at Clemens.  It's not an easy job to keep it in nice shape, and the painting itself takes a long time (especially the first paint job of the season!).  After the '01 playoff game with UW-SP, there was no option other than to completely replace the natural turf or go synthetic at SJU.  I think they made the right choice!

[Chubbs]

With little effort, I can think of three stadiums worse than Bethel's for watching or playing a game (Augsburg, Hamline, Carleton).  Bethel's football home does have its shortfalls, most of them having to do with the dimensions of the land it was built on. 

As far as the turf goes, the grass surface there is very well maintained but Field Turf is the way to go if it can be afforded and well kept.  However, I don't think that will be happening at Bethel any time soon when I read things like this. The school has been moving for years to get bigger without much thought as to whether bigger would actually be better, and is now having to deal with the consequences of that. Lots of shiny new buildings, but can't afford to pay the staff.

http://marccortez.com/2013/10/17/if-you-want-to-be-missional-you-need-to-support-higher-education/

[DuffMan]

With little effort, I can think of three stadiums worse than Bethel's for watching or playing a game (Augsburg, Hamline, Carleton). 

I'll give you Augsburg.  Carleton and Bethel are probably on about the same level.  Hamline was crap, but their new Klas Stadium is nice--small, but they don't need a big place.

[USTBench]

Congrats to Bethel. I was able to listen to the fourth quarter on my way back from a wedding in Warsaw, ND.

Not sure it was a very bright idea for Steve Johnson to go for two in that spot, but it all worked out in the end for him. Starting to realize two things about UST this year:

1) Last year's senior class was a lot better than I realize, considering so many young players were making huge plays in the playoffs in 2012 I was under the impression that 2013 would just be a continuation of 2012. Composure is contagious, and the kind of leadership UST had through their senior class in 2012 probably had a lot to do with younger players having the confidence to step up.

2) The ability to close out a win in a big game against a rival is what differentiates good teams and great teams. UST had that opportunity twice this year and made bad mistakes down the stretch against their two biggest rivals.

I still see UST going 8 -2, but Augsburg and Concordia are certainly not gimmes. Really starting to dislike a quote from a UST player earlier this year when he mentioned "home-field advantage throughout the playoffs." One game at a time, nothing is guaranteed.

[Chubbs]

With little effort, I can think of three stadiums worse than Bethel's for watching or playing a game (Augsburg, Hamline, Carleton). 

I'll give you Augsburg.  Carleton and Bethel are probably on about the same level.  Hamline was crap, but their new Klas Stadium is nice--small, but they don't need a big place.

I'm out of the loop living where I do, but what is it about the stadium that is universally disliked?  Not questioning the validity of any complaints; just curious what they are.