FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[tommiegun]

I may be wrong on this and perhaps the criteria have changed, but my understanding was "once ranked, always ranked" was used for purposes of wins over regionally ranked opponents.  Maybe it is basketball or baseball I am thinking of... I've certainly been wrong numerous, numerous times before...

[jknezek]

I may be wrong on this and perhaps the criteria have changed, but my understanding was "once ranked, always ranked" was used for purposes of wins over regionally ranked opponents.  Maybe it is basketball or baseball I am thinking of... I've certainly been wrong numerous, numerous times before...

No longer. They pulled that out of the manual a few years ago. All that matters is the final, super secret, never released, trust us we know what we are doing, rankings...

[RoyalsFan]

Augsburg is the stud team in the MIAC, the West, and probably the country, having played four Regionally Ranked Opponents. Oof.

Yes. I was thinking the same thing. SJU may only wish they had a schedule as tough as ours. 

This season has been painful but I know the guys will gain a ton of experience this year.

Based on SOS, Augsburg had only the 3rd toughest schedule in the MIAC. Bethel and Carlton both had a better SOS.

[hazzben]

I may be wrong on this and perhaps the criteria have changed, but my understanding was "once ranked, always ranked" was used for purposes of wins over regionally ranked opponents.  Maybe it is basketball or baseball I am thinking of... I've certainly been wrong numerous, numerous times before...

No longer. They pulled that out of the manual a few years ago. All that matters is the final, super secret, never released, trust us we know what we are doing, rankings...

Which is one of the dumbest things ever. Both losing the once ranked, always ranked criteria. And having the super top secret final ballot that no one can ever see. Here's to hoping they save it on Hilary's server and WikiLeaks releases it for us all!(kidding, just kidding!!  )

[OzJohnnie]

I don't mind those rankings. I forgot that Coe was having a great season but otherwise as expected. Assuming all teams win out I imagine we'll be going to Iowa.  And then returning to Snelling Ave in Rnd 2, knock on wood. I imagine the Tommies open against Northwestern, UWW goes somewhere else, UWO plays Monmouth and UWP flys to Linfield.

Did I miss something???  Is there a chance Hamline or Macalester could be hosting a playoff game?  Maybe Bethel, Northwestern...probably not Highland Park HS.

I think Oz has been living down under too long and needs a refresher on Saint Paul geography and map skills.   

Well, from a great enough distance all points merge into one.  I'm going with that.

[OldAuggie]

Augsburg is the stud team in the MIAC, the West, and probably the country, having played four Regionally Ranked Opponents. Oof.

Yes. I was thinking the same thing. SJU may only wish they had a schedule as tough as ours. 

This season has been painful but I know the guys will gain a ton of experience this year.

Based on SOS, Augsburg had only the 3rd toughest schedule in the MIAC. Bethel and Carlton both had a better SOS.

It was all tongue in cheek Royals Fan!  It is Carleton not Carlton. 

[bennie]

A big "Happy 90th Birthday" to the best college football coach ever!

(Also, happy birthday, Guy Bellair!)

As well as 57
We are All Saints 

I am a bit late, but Happy Birthday!!!!

[AO]

I may be wrong on this and perhaps the criteria have changed, but my understanding was "once ranked, always ranked" was used for purposes of wins over regionally ranked opponents.  Maybe it is basketball or baseball I am thinking of... I've certainly been wrong numerous, numerous times before...

No longer. They pulled that out of the manual a few years ago. All that matters is the final, super secret, never released, trust us we know what we are doing, rankings...

Which is one of the dumbest things ever. Both losing the once ranked, always ranked criteria. And having the super top secret final ballot that no one can ever see. Here's to hoping they save it on Hilary's server and WikiLeaks releases it for us all!(kidding, just kidding!!  )

The real problem is giving a lot more credit for a game against the 10th ranked team than a game against the 11th ranked team that just missed the final regional rankings spot.  It shouldn't matter whether that 11th ranked team at the end of the season was at one point 7th or if 11th was the highest they got.  The basketball committee seems to be doing a better job of using the "results" against regionally ranked criteria to differentiate between playing the #1 and #10 teams.  So hopefully Concordia and St. John's get more credit for playing the Tommies and they both hang in the final rankings.

[AO]

I don't mind those rankings. I forgot that Coe was having a great season but otherwise as expected. Assuming all teams win out I imagine we'll be going to Iowa.  And then returning to Snelling Ave in Rnd 2, knock on wood. I imagine the Tommies open against Northwestern, UWW goes somewhere else, UWO plays Monmouth and UWP flys to Linfield.

Did I miss something???  Is there a chance Hamline or Macalester could be hosting a playoff game?  Maybe Bethel, Northwestern...probably not Highland Park HS.

I think Oz has been living down under too long and needs a refresher on Saint Paul geography and map skills.   

Well, from a great enough distance all points merge into one.  I'm going with that.

If you can go from Bethel to St. Thomas and 95% of the short journey is down Snelling I think it makes sense to call it a Snelling Ave rivalry.  Throw Concordia-St. Paul and St. Kate's in the mix and it's got to be some sort of small college proximity record.

[sjusection105]

I may be wrong on this and perhaps the criteria have changed, but my understanding was "once ranked, always ranked" was used for purposes of wins over regionally ranked opponents.  Maybe it is basketball or baseball I am thinking of... I've certainly been wrong numerous, numerous times before...

No longer. They pulled that out of the manual a few years ago. All that matters is the final, super secret, never released, trust us we know what we are doing, rankings...

The SOS discussion brings up that point the we have seen before in March Madness- with all the Automatic Qualifier conferences,you have conference champs,such as the UMAC, who couldn't finish in the middle of the pack in the WIAC or MIAC. This is reality,so what teams need to do is weigh out a tougher non-conference schedule to improve their SOS or roll the dice on winning the conference championship and the AQ that goes along with it.
With the current "arms race" in the MIAC....the "build it and they will come" mantra is about to play out. If you have the finest facilities does that automatically translate into fielding the best team?
*Best stadium
*Best practice facility (currently with addition of Gagliardi Field)
*Best coaches show on cable TV
*Best play by play radio team
*Statewide radio network
*Strong network of High School coaches in MN
*Strong network of out of state High School coaches
Is this enough to add another MIAC Championship to the trophy case? We are about to find out.

[OzJohnnie]

VOJ tweets that Erdmann will start on Saturday.  Nice.

[DuffMan]

VOJ tweets that Erdmann will start on Saturday.  Nice.

This is what I was hoping for.  Not to take anything away from Alvord.  Most seasons, he'd be the man, but Erdmann's got a special touch on the ball, and I think they need to see if he's ready to face Concordia and what hopefully lies beyond 11/12.

[57Johnnie]

VOJ tweets that Erdmann will start on Saturday.  Nice.

This is what I was hoping for.  Not to take anything away from Alvord.  Most seasons, he'd be the man, but Erdmann's got a special touch on the ball, and I think they need to see if he's ready to face Concordia and what hopefully lies beyond 11/12.

Opportunity to get rid of the iron oxide?   

[DuffMan]

Opportunity to get rid of the iron oxide?   

Exactly.  He had a rough couple of series vs. GAC, so this will be good to build up some confidence again.

[wm4]

[W]

Standby for an insanely huge parade today downtown.  Word is they're about to dye the Chicago river blue.  Go Cubs and Roll Toms!