FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hazzben]

Heading up to my uncle-in-laws cabin on Superior in Bayfield, WI and stopping for lunch in Duluth. Pretty sure we're gonna do lunch at Fitgers Brew House.

Any suggestions for menu items and tap selections?

[GoldandBlueBU]

Heading up to my uncle-in-laws cabin on Superior in Bayfield, WI and stopping for lunch in Duluth. Pretty sure we're gonna do lunch at Fitgers Brew House.

Any suggestions for menu items and tap selections?

Was just in Bayfield last weekend for a wedding...neat little town in the summer.  I had not been there before, despite growing up in Duluth.  Long drive from the cities with a 2.5 yr old in the car.

Duluth Grill is my personal favorite for reasonably priced - outside of canal park tourism madness - lunch.  That or Burrito Union, which also brews their own beer.  It's the only place I've been that rivals Chipotle's burritos, IMO.

[OzJohnnie]

BU were unusually unsettled last year. I reckon they are a bit of a wild card. They could continue to be unsettled or they could gel quickly. We'll find out about four games in.

CON were off and not a fearsome team. They don't stay off for long so they could step up.

UST are clear favourites, particularly with Roberts, but they have other key grads from last year. Can they keep up the intensity?  We'll see.

My prediction in the top four:

1. UST
2. SJU
3. BU
4. CON

CON and BU play early at BU, in the first week, making it important but not a great judge of where the teams will go. It's interesting to think that positions 3 and 4 may be settled almost before we start.

SJU and UST play in week two at UST. We could have 1 & 2 sorted by week 2. Also interesting.  Again, the teams better be firing early.

It seems like six or seven years ago that the conference deciders were consistently scheduled late in the season. But the last three years or so it seems like it's all over before it even starts. I wonder why there was the change in scheduling biases.

And we get more Big Four match ups in each of the first four weeks and then nothing until week nine when SJU plays CON. That could be a very interesting game with an at large bid to the winner. Otherwise it's non stop top of the table against the bottom to close out the season.

As for a dark horse, the usual threat of the last few years, AUG, will have a hell of a time replacing Superman Scott. Unless there is a rabbit being plucked from some hat then I reckon they are due for a drop.

So that means GAC has a chance to step back into the upset chair. STO hasn't been there for at least five years. We'll see if GAC have something to offer. If not, then this could be a surprisingly uncompetitive season that popped up on the back of three years of quite deep miac competition.

[Boys of Fall]

I've been wrong before (just ask my wife), but I don't see much changing in the conference this year.

Until someone knocks them off, UST has to be the favorite to win the conference.

Unless they can beat UST this year I suspect SJU will finish second, but both BU and CC have some question marks and depending on how those are answered either could finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th.  Of scheduling interest this year is week #3 when SJU plays BU the week after playing UST.  That will be a tough bounce back week for the Johnnies.  Regardless of how they do against UST, win or lose, the Johnnies will need to be ready to play a full game against the Royals.

Don't really see anyone else challenging for the top tier of the conference this year.  The Auggies and GAC have had competitive teams the last few years, especially offensively, but with their losses to graduation it will be tough for them to move up in the standings.  If they couldn't crack the top tier with Scott, Hendricks, Sonnenfeld, the Boyce's, not sure they can do it without them.

Regardless, there always seem to be surprises and I'm looking forward to the season.

[DuffMan]

If they couldn't crack the top tier with Scott, Hendricks, Sonnenfeld, the Boyce's, not sure they can do it without them.

For sure.  No more 6-0 starts for the Gusties.

[sjusection105]

Of scheduling interest this year is week #3 when SJU plays BU the week after playing UST.  That will be a tough bounce back week for the Johnnies.  Regardless of how they do against UST, win or lose, the Johnnies will need to be ready to play a full game against the Royals.

Yes, a classic trap game. If the Johnnies knock off the Tomcats,then they need to focus immediately on the Royals. If the Johnnies lose to the Tomcats,they need to wipe it from their memory and prepare for the Royals. Either way it's the next game on the schedule.

[sjusection105]

I'm really interested to see how the QB battle will play out. Next Friday is the Kick-off Luncheon and  for the first time in years, I won't be able to attend. I like to watch practice and see how things are coming together. I'm sure they'll be O.K. without my watchful eye.

[Mr.MIAC]

It seems like six or seven years ago that the conference deciders were consistently scheduled late in the season. But the last three years or so it seems like it's all over before it even starts. I wonder why there was the change in scheduling biases.

I heard Caruso requested the change. He wants to lock up the MIAC championship early so he can start preparing for postseason play. You know...stuff like honing behind-the-back two-point conversions, running handholding drills, queueing up media stories on the F.A.M.I.L.Y., responding to queries about UST's suitability for DIII football, fending off rumors about his DI coaching aspirations, etc.

[Tom Thumb]

For anyone keeping track; I heard Frank Haege on Reusse today and he said Ayrton Scott is trying to catch on with a pro team at some level.  He tried the NFL and CFL workouts had several offers for Europe but turned them down and at least for now it sounds like he is trying to land a spot on an Arena League team. My money says he will make the Arena League and then try to move up. Sonnenfeld is finishing up with his degree and will be a coach at Osseo this fall.

This is MIAC week on Reusse's show on 1500 with Fasching tomorrow night and Caruso the following night. Reusse is knowledgeable about the MIAC. He says he goes to 3 or 4 games per year and he is wondering how AUG will replace Scott and Sonnenefeld. Sounds like a young Auggie team this fall with plenty of starters graduating last year.

I just listened to Haege on Reusse's show.  Any idea on who these two potential QB transfers might be?  Sounds like things are still uncertain at this point, but should be interesting to see how things shake out.

[carletonknights]

I saw Carleton released an updated roster with the incoming freshmen on it.  Saw a couple players changed positions, sure there were more, but don't know them all.  Also of note, a couple more recruits from Texas and California, specifically one Liyjon DeSilva who was the subject of a CNN story for overcoming some tough odds (http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/us/texas-student-who-was-homeless-going-college/).  Good to see a much bigger roster than last year (about 70).   What is the MIAC number for travel rosters? 65?


https://apps.carleton.edu/athletics/varsity_sports/football/team_roster/


And Bayfield, WI is my wife's ultimate favorite camping destination

[DuffMan]

Also of note, a couple more recruits from Texas and California, specifically one Liyjon DeSilva who was the subject of a CNN story for overcoming some tough odds (http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/us/texas-student-who-was-homeless-going-college/).

Great story!  Thanks for sharing.

[faunch]

Also of note, a couple more recruits from Texas and California, specifically one Liyjon DeSilva who was the subject of a CNN story for overcoming some tough odds (http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/us/texas-student-who-was-homeless-going-college/).

Great story!  Thanks for sharing.

You've got to watch the Youtube video hyperlinked in the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKHhC4Oi-2Q

[sowilson]

What is the MIAC number for travel rosters? 65?

I believe it's 60.

From http://www.miacathletics.com/about/resources/administrators/policies/Football1617.pdf

3.6 VISITING TEAM   ROSTER LIMIT: The visiting team roster limit for all Conference games shall not exceed sixty (60) players in uniform on the sideline at the start of the contest. (see MIAC General Code 3.4.6 for definition of Visiting Team Roster Limit and applicable penalties). (revised 05/13, 05/07, 5/98, 1988)

[OzJohnnie]

I'm really interested to see how the QB battle will play out. Next Friday is the Kick-off Luncheon and  for the first time in years, I won't be able to attend. I like to watch practice and see how things are coming together. I'm sure they'll be O.K. without my watchful eye.

Rumour has it the musical chairs equipment has been taken out of storage so the qb's can play.

(better not be)

[DuffMan]

Rumour...

Rumour?  This ain't Australia.  Around these parts, we call them rumors!