FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[USTBench]

Care to predict the MIAC champ for next season?

Too easy! 

Yeah, I'd go with Bethel too.




Realistically, SJU... 

And if Martin can develop a little bit as a passer over the off-season, it might not even be close.

Interesting question. I don't see sustained dominance by one team over a 3 or 4 year stretch happening anymore. One has to wonder how many years in a row Concordia goes 8 - 2 before Horan gets them to 2 - 1 or 3 -0 against the other big 3 instead of 1 - 2.

The bias in me says UST will bounce back. UST is losing some starters on OL, but Caruso likes to recruit from the inside out so I think they'll be set in the interior. O'Neil will push Gould for the starting QB job next year, he's a real dual threat and I know we like QBs that can run. It's unfortunate that O'Connell wasn't able to bounce back from his leg injury like he would've hoped, but when you look at the efficiency in which Gould was able to move the ball, you had to make that decision. Gould is completing almost 70% of his passes and half of his INTs came out of desperation at the end of the SJU game. And with the 3-headed monster of Waldvogel, Kaiser and Braddock coming back UST's offense will be able to run the ball effectively.

I didn't think I'd say this two years ago, but it seems their defense is where they need to make up the most ground to compete with SJU.

Anyway, heart says UST but head says it's SJU's conference title to lose next year. Concordia and Bethel will be very good as usual. Gustavus goes 6 - 4 again.

[OldAuggie]

MAC being able to set the terms of what sports they participate in as members of the MIAC is silly and does set a bad precedent, as others have noted. They are in a position of power though as there are advantages to the conference and member schools if MAC remains a member, minus one sport. From an academic perspective having a school like MAC helps the conference's profile and allows other conference schools to feel the benefit of being amongst a highly regarded college. The same holds for Carleton. If this were St Mary's doing the same thing, and no offense meant to SMU, I don't think there would be much concern about cutting ties.

Rather than replace MAC, which I don't think will happen, wouldn't it make more sense to just reduce membership by one? Most football schools have been able to fill non conference games, and have done so without risking postseason opportunities. The MIAC basketball schedule is a bit of a mess, where teams only get a handful of non conference games. I'm sure they wouldn't mind having the opportunity to play more. And I think MIAC volleyball went to a revised conference schedule, with only one conference game against each team, to open up their schedules to play more non conference games.

If or when MAC rejoins the MIAC as a football member I have a hard time believing they'd be serious playoff contenders. What I'd be interested in knowing from OAS or any other MAC supporters if they'd prefer to continue playing in an inferior league, but having success, or rejoin the MIAC knowing that a 4-6/5-5 record would be the consistent high water mark?

FWIW. I agree with all of this post. From an academic standpoint you absolutely do not want to lose Mac. If they win the MWC a few times then they are the same type of addition as CSS from a football standpoint. The advantages of having member schools like Carleton and Macalester in the MIAC out weigh the angst I read here in my opinion. Rank the schools academically and Mac and Carleton are at the top.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Interesting question. I don't see sustained dominance by one team over a 3 or 4 year stretch happening anymore. One has to wonder how many years in a row Concordia goes 8 - 2 before Horan gets them to 2 - 1 or 3 -0 against the other big 3 instead of 1 - 2.

Yeah I agree...1-2 year stretches seem to be the most sustatinable in a more competitive conference...as you said, SJU's to lose next year, but then they'll probably come back to the pack a bit the following season w/ out Sura.  Not to say they won't contend, but probably not a slam dunk.

Cobbs have definitely struggled in the big games recently...I remember reading this from their website's recap of the BU game...

"The Royals have had only one turnover in the past five games against the Cobbers. Concordia has now lost six straight to Bethel. During that six-game stretch CC has turned the ball over 22 more times than BU."

Crazy one sided in the turnover department from what has been a relatively solid team.  Wonder what kind of QB talent they've got lined up behind Neal?

[DuffMan]

Yeah I agree...1-2 year stretches seem to be the most sustatinable in a more competitive conference...

I thought that about the WIAC until UWW's stretch started in the mid-2000s.

[USTBench]

MAC being able to set the terms of what sports they participate in as members of the MIAC is silly and does set a bad precedent, as others have noted. They are in a position of power though as there are advantages to the conference and member schools if MAC remains a member, minus one sport. From an academic perspective having a school like MAC helps the conference's profile and allows other conference schools to feel the benefit of being amongst a highly regarded college. The same holds for Carleton. If this were St Mary's doing the same thing, and no offense meant to SMU, I don't think there would be much concern about cutting ties.

Rather than replace MAC, which I don't think will happen, wouldn't it make more sense to just reduce membership by one? Most football schools have been able to fill non conference games, and have done so without risking postseason opportunities. The MIAC basketball schedule is a bit of a mess, where teams only get a handful of non conference games. I'm sure they wouldn't mind having the opportunity to play more. And I think MIAC volleyball went to a revised conference schedule, with only one conference game against each team, to open up their schedules to play more non conference games.

If or when MAC rejoins the MIAC as a football member I have a hard time believing they'd be serious playoff contenders. What I'd be interested in knowing from OAS or any other MAC supporters if they'd prefer to continue playing in an inferior league, but having success, or rejoin the MIAC knowing that a 4-6/5-5 record would be the consistent high water mark?

I think MAC realizes that from an academic standpoint they're in a position of power. They raise the profile of the MIAC as whole nationally but also recognize there's no benefit to getting throttled 4 or 5 times a year in a sport widely deemed to be the hood ornament of your school. I think schools like Mac, Carleton, MIT, Amherst, Williams, U of Chicago are in a unique place when it comes to selecting a conference. Do you play in an AQ conference, a conference devoted to an 8-game schedule that forgoes a playoff opportunity for "academic reasons" or play an independent schedule? Sure once a decade Carleton will throw a 7 -3 or 6 - 4 season together, but there seems to be little benefit to them playing a MIAC football schedule outside of their affiliation in other sports that are much easier to level the playing field with. So no, I don't like the precedent that is being set, but with no Carleton or Macalester the MIAC's recognition as a top academic athletic conference is gone.

I'm lukewarm to Macalester coming back for football. The conference at 9 teams is perfect for scheduling. 8 conference games and you don't have to decide about whether or not to go to a 9 game conference schedule or whether two teams just won't play that year. I realize the convenience of a 9 game conference schedule when it comes to the headaches the Athletic Department has to deal with, only having to find one non-conference game instead of two. And from a player's perspective, Macalester was always a game my parents came to, because, well, potential playing time, but as a fan I like scheduling teams from other conferences and seeing how we stack up.

I highly doubt UST will ever schedule the likes Bemidji State again as there's no benefit from a playoff standpoint for either school, but it was fun to see how we'd do against a D2 team. I would like to see us mix it up a little though. I realize Lacrosse, River Falls and Eau Claire are easy trips to make, but maybe throw in a regional powerhouse once or a WIAC and an IIAC team. What I really would like to see is teams/conferences we've never gotten to play before, Wesley, Wabash, NCC (I know Augsburg has played them) or UHMB. Not going to happen for countless reasons, but it'd be pretty sweet from a curiosity standpoint.

[USTBench]

Yeah I agree...1-2 year stretches seem to be the most sustatinable in a more competitive conference...

I thought that about the WIAC until UWW's stretch started in the mid-2000s.

Helps being equidistant from Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago. I think they've probably just been a sleeping giant for a long time and all it took was a coach/recruiter savvy enough to recognize their geography was their greatest asset.

[AO]

Yeah I agree...1-2 year stretches seem to be the most sustatinable in a more competitive conference...

I thought that about the WIAC until UWW's stretch started in the mid-2000s.

Helps being equidistant from Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago. I think they've probably just been a sleeping giant for a long time and all it took was a coach/recruiter savvy enough to recognize their geography was their greatest asset.

tell that to Maranatha Baptist

[AO]

I highly doubt UST will ever schedule the likes Bemidji State again as there's no benefit from a playoff standpoint for either school, but it was fun to see how we'd do against a D2 team.

The NSIC no longer plays non-conference games.

[OldAuggie]

I highly doubt UST will ever schedule the likes Bemidji State again as there's no benefit from a playoff standpoint for either school, but it was fun to see how we'd do against a D2 team.

The NSIC no longer plays non-conference games.

Bring back the Metrodome Football Classic! MIAC v NIC. We played  Bemidji State. SJU played UMD. Never again I'm sure.

[USTBench]

I highly doubt UST will ever schedule the likes Bemidji State again as there's no benefit from a playoff standpoint for either school, but it was fun to see how we'd do against a D2 team.

The NSIC no longer plays non-conference games.

I wouldn't imagine that they'd need to. Half of Division 2 is in the NSIC it seems.

[faunch]

Is Wartburg that good or is the IIAC down a bit this year?  It looks like only them and Central were the only teams in the league that were all that good this year.  The bottom six in the league kind of beat up on each other.
What stands out to me is:
-They held Augsburg to 3 points in week one
-Put up 31 on BU in week two
-Have monkey stomped everyone from week 5 on

[art76]

I've been invited up to see the St. Cloud Huskies vs. the Bemidgi State Beavers by one of our suppliers who has a son that plays in the Husky secondary. So I'll be looking at some D2 ball tomorrow afternoon and trying to get updates on how Bethel is doing down in St. Peter throughout the afternoon.

Art,

Take a mental picture in your mind of the atmosphere tomorrow at SCSU, then play that back to yourself on Nov. 8 at BU vs SJU game. The latter will be proof of why we love D3 Football.

105 - finally getting back to you on this post - the atmosphere in the stands at St. John's was different, that's for sure. The Johnnies have almost a "rodeo feel" about it, and I mean that in a good way. The SCSU stadium is situated such that you get a nice view of the Mississippi River, but the fans from both teams on the same side of the field. SCSU had a marching band playing during warm-ups, then in the stands, and again on the field for half-time. Both had dance teams - oh joy (said in my best Eeyore voice. Why do we have these - ever?) Both half-time "shows" were entertaining but the nod goes to the pedal powered bar race at St. John's.  Because the BU fans were all on the opposite side of the field it definitely made for a better atmosphere for the visiting fans. My only real complaint was all the announcements about having a special stamp on such-and-such a page in the game booklet. First, why so many? Saturation takes away the speciality of the prize. "Everyone is a winner" almost. And while I didn't win anything, I had no idea from the announcements where the prize area was to pick up a prize. Simply stating the obvious for those not often there would be helpful. (Digression here - anytime a public announcement is given - within context - directions probably should be given to those within earshot about where to go.) (careful fellas with the end of that last sentence  ) Seriously 105, you were correct in saying the flavor of D3 is so much more palatable than that of D2 - at least when comparing these two instances. I'm sure, had I been able to enjoy some of the tailgating before hand it would have been over the top.

My simple wish for anyone willing to grant it is to simply hear updates on a more frequent basis during the breaks at the games I'm attending about how other teams in the region are doing. This request is for all announcers in the MIAC stadiums. D3 does pretty good at keeping up, but they are dependent on what gets turned in. I'm guessing it's the same for the MIAC on Saturdays during the season. But some of us in the stands are interested in what's going on in the other games.

[wm4]

O'Neil will push Gould for the starting QB job next year, he's a real dual threat and I know we like QBs that can run. It's unfortunate that O'Connell wasn't able to bounce back from his leg injury like he would've hoped, but when you look at the efficiency in which Gould was able to move the ball, you had to make that decision.

QB will be very interesting next year for UST.  Gould I think will be the favorite and a senior, but there are two QB's who've been out all year with injuries who should figure in the mix (Fenske and Andrew).  O'Neil has seen a fair bit of action this year as well and is a strong runner.  Caruso certainly likes QBs who can run the ball.

[wif]

With all the focus on the brackets, not much commentary on the games from Saturday.

What I am curious about is how in the heck did Bethel allow Augsburg to put up 60+ on them? I know the Bethel D has been hit with a lot of injuries, but they are a really good, athletic unit and very well coached. Was the footing such that the fast Augsburg receivers and backs were able to run through seams created by slipping and sliding defenders? From a physical standpoint, I would have thought the Bethel front 7 would have been able to mount a strong pass rush against Augsburg - did the footing negate this as well?

[GoldandBlueBU]

With all the focus on the brackets, not much commentary on the games from Saturday.

What I am curious about is how in the heck did Bethel allow Augsburg to put up 60+ on them? I know the Bethel D has been hit with a lot of injuries, but they are a really good, athletic unit and very well coached. Was the footing such that the fast Augsburg receivers and backs were able to run through seams created by slipping and sliding defenders? From a physical standpoint, I would have thought the Bethel front 7 would have been able to mount a strong pass rush against Augsburg - did the footing negate this as well?

Yeah, footing was huge...guys were sliding all over the place.

Once a ball carrier had the ball in a little bit of space, it was basically over, as defensive players basically had zero chance when trying to react to any slight change of direction.  Lots of long runs and lots of yards after the catch....BU's d was banged up, but as you could tell by the score, it really didn't matter what defenders did.

Regardless of footing, Scott was impressive...big, accurate arm.