FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Retired Old Rat]

More importantly, Bethel is the most hospitable host in the MIAC for pre-game tailgating.

[AO]

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.

I'm thinking the 2007 MIAC title game made up some minds on the topic.  Wind chill below freezing and 5000 more fans than seats.

[Chubbs]

BTW, after the great win this weekend against U$T and all that went with it, this weekend's game against GAC makes me really nervous.  Historically, the Gusties have been a real bogey team for Bethel and I know they gave the Tommies a good fight a couple weeks ago.

[Retired Old Rat]

I was a Bethel fan last week.

This week I'm a Gustie fan. 

[art76]

Thought I'd share some other Regional match ups of interest for the week of 10-26

UMAC
Eureka hosts St. Scholastica – both teams are at 6 and 1. If St Scholastica can beat the Red Devils, it would keep them undefeated in conference play and sets up a potential showdown with the currently undefeated Panthers of Greenville, should they win out as well, on the last day of conference play for the UMAC – Nov 9th.

CCIW
If you are not aware, three teams are knotted at the top, Illinois Wesleyan, North Central and Wheaton. Wheaton is at Illinois Wesleyan this week, so that will only leave two undefeateds at the top (provided North Central can win its game).  North Central then plays each of the other two teams the next two weeks, both on the road, starting with Illinois Wesleyan and then Wheaton. So the dust should be settled in this conference by the 9th of November also, unless they all happen to get a win apiece.

IIAC
Dubuque hosts Wartburg, the only two undefeated teams in the conference face one another this weekend. Both have non-conference losses, but the winner gets into the driver's seat for the automatic bid at the end of the year.

WIAC
Similar to the CCIW, the WIAC has three teams knotted at the top, Whitewater, Platteville and Oshkosh. This week we have Whitewater at Oshkosh. Then the Warhwks host Platteville. If they win both of these games, they're in the driver's seat as Platteville doesn't go to Oshkosh until the 16th of November to determine number 2 in the conference. Of course, all this predicates these teams not being beaten by one of the other teams in the conference.

[ron doney]

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/

Very interesting.  To get bigger you have to stage things appropriately or you'll end up in a cash gap pretty quickly. 

Those who like to rag on UST's growth should take note here.  Growth is no easy.  This is an example of one pitfall UST has successfully managed around (to my knowledge). 

[ron doney]

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.

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.

I'm trying enlighten people on how to use the quotation function on this board.  They're you go...fixed it for you.

[ron doney]

Say what you will about the Bethel facilities.....but looks like they are way ahead of Grambling State. 

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9846943/grambling-state-tigers-players-send-letter-complaint-administration

Reminds me of my high school facilities in southern MN.  Keith and Pat might be interested to know that the administration at Grambling fired the online editor of the student run paper for using the papers twitter account to send out pics of the facilities. 

[ron doney]

For the first time in a while had a chance to visit the Bethel football website.  It is very impressive.  Clean and easy.  The video stream this weekend was also very convenient and easy to access.  The strech internet software is the best broadcast system I've seen.  Better than the clunky system UST uses.  With one click I was able to stream the video on my iphone while out and about on Sat. 

I also like this preview package they put together....got a little video interview and an info graphics....nice!
http://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2013/10/17/FB_1017133641.aspx?path=football

[AO]

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/

Very interesting.  To get bigger you have to stage things appropriately or you'll end up in a cash gap pretty quickly. 

Those who like to rag on UST's growth should take note here.  Growth is no easy.  This is an example of one pitfall UST has successfully managed around (to my knowledge).

I'm trying enlighten people on how to use the quotation function on this board.  They're you go...fixed it for you.

I'm also here to enlighten.

[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.

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.

I'm trying enlighten people on how to use the quotation function on this board.  They're you go...fixed it for you.

Thanks. I seem to have trouble when I delete portions of the post, since I'm trying to rid the world of "Too Long" resposts.

[DuffMan]

...since I'm trying to rid the world of "Too Long" resposts.

And for that, I say, "Thank you!"

[repete]

...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"!

Its hopeless.

[art76]

[/quote]

Its hopeless.
[/quote]

LOL 

[SagatagSam]

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!

The turf was already in place by the time I got to SJU (jeez, first they get rid of J-term, then the natural grass! My SJU experience was so watered down!)
But, Br. Mark still had us work ball boy detail during games. Good thing I only had to do it once. The Johnnies were 0-1 with me on the sideline. At least Alex Kofoed made my experience memorable as it was his debut and dramatic almost-comeback.