FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OldAuggie]

Going to dig up an old bone of contention before the season even starts - the lack of turf at Royal stadium.

I just read this: http://d3football.com/seasons/2017/contrib/201708284rif6f and I quote: "The Spartans (8-2 overall, and 6-2 in IIAC in 2016) will play on a grass field when they travel to Minnesota. UD has played just one game in the last 27 contests on a real grass field."

Maybe this will give BU the edge it needs to win this week - ha!

I wish I was a wealthy alum that could donate a bazillion dollars to get the field redone, but alas, I am not. It's just that I haven't heard boo about any field or stadium upgrades in a real long time. Anybody out there got any updated intel to report?

I do not, but based on where they're at on other building projects, I hope that the stadium's day is coming.  The student center being completed ~8 or so years ago, the fitness center a few years back, followed by the renovation / new court in the gym...hopefully turf is somewhere in line?

OK, back the truck up fellas. Why not look at grass as a home field advantage? I am old and played on grass. Auggie was the first and only turf field in the MIAC my senior year, the Silverdome turf. Prior to that we played on grass at Parade Football Stadium and all MN football was played on grass except the games at the Dome. I like to see the uni's get dirty. Fewer injuries too. 

How many National Titles has SJU won on Turf? Follow me here?

[DuffMan]

OK, back the truck up fellas. Why not look at grass as a home field advantage? I am old and played on grass. Auggie was the first and only turf field in the MIAC my senior year, the Silverdome turf. Prior to that we played on grass at Parade Football Stadium and all MN football was played on grass except the games at the Dome. I like to see the uni's get dirty. Fewer injuries too. 

How many National Titles has SJU won on Turf? Follow me here?

You cannot compare the old Auggie Tech turf to the new generations of turf.  Come November/December, grass fields in MN are awful.  I guess that doesn't really matter for Bethel, though! 

[wm4]

OK, back the truck up fellas. Why not look at grass as a home field advantage? I am old and played on grass. Auggie was the first and only turf field in the MIAC my senior year, the Silverdome turf. Prior to that we played on grass at Parade Football Stadium and all MN football was played on grass except the games at the Dome. I like to see the uni's get dirty. Fewer injuries too. 

How many National Titles has SJU won on Turf? Follow me here?

You cannot compare the old Auggie Tech turf to the new generations of turf.  Come November/December, grass fields in MN are awful.  I guess that doesn't really matter for Bethel, though! 

Only been to one game at Bethel, but honestly that setting is freaking glorious.  Real grass, real mud, no track, and a light drizzle to boot.  Felt like...football!

[Boys of Fall]

I don't think the MIAC coaches poll has been posted yet.  Here it is: http://www.miacathletics.com/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20170824ilaqa2

1.  St. Thomas (7)  63
2.  Saint John's (2)  58
3.  Concordia  50
4.  Bethel  43
5.  Gustavus Adolphus  34
6.  Hamline  27
7.  Augsburg  21
8.  St. Olaf  18
9.  Carleton  10


So, two coaches voted for the Johnnies.  St Glenn, of course, and who else?

Someone down in Northfield?? 😜

So is this an indication that another coach believes SJU is the better team or is it a "behind the back" insult...get it...behind the back!!!

My money is on Concordia casting the second SJU vote. UST squeaked past them last season, while SJU beat them handily.

That was my thought as well when the poll came out.

[jamtod]

If this was last year's game, I was there also with my (at the time) 4 year old son. Surprisingly, he handled the cold drizzle pretty well and it really was an awesome setting for a game.

OK, back the truck up fellas. Why not look at grass as a home field advantage? I am old and played on grass. Auggie was the first and only turf field in the MIAC my senior year, the Silverdome turf. Prior to that we played on grass at Parade Football Stadium and all MN football was played on grass except the games at the Dome. I like to see the uni's get dirty. Fewer injuries too. 

How many National Titles has SJU won on Turf? Follow me here?

You cannot compare the old Auggie Tech turf to the new generations of turf.  Come November/December, grass fields in MN are awful.  I guess that doesn't really matter for Bethel, though! 

Only been to one game at Bethel, but honestly that setting is freaking glorious.  Real grass, real mud, no track, and a light drizzle to boot.  Felt like...football!

[GoldandBlueBU]

OK, back the truck up fellas. Why not look at grass as a home field advantage? I am old and played on grass. Auggie was the first and only turf field in the MIAC my senior year, the Silverdome turf. Prior to that we played on grass at Parade Football Stadium and all MN football was played on grass except the games at the Dome. I like to see the uni's get dirty. Fewer injuries too. 

How many National Titles has SJU won on Turf? Follow me here?

You cannot compare the old Auggie Tech turf to the new generations of turf.  Come November/December, grass fields in MN are awful.  I guess that doesn't really matter for Bethel, though! 

Yeah, that's my take as well...the field looks great in September...shows age come mid October, and is just poor after that.

So, I count 3 December appearances for Bethel in the past decade...how many have the Johnnies tallied?   

[DuffMan]

So, I count 3 December appearances for Bethel in the past decade...how many have the Johnnies tallied?   

If you're going to reach back 10 years, why not 20?  How many playoff games has Bethel tallied in recent years? 

[GoldandBlueBU]

So, I count 3 December appearances for Bethel in the past decade...how many have the Johnnies tallied?   

If you're going to reach back 10 years, why not 20?  How many playoff games has Bethel tallied in recent years? 

10 years is the official policy.  I checked with Pat.

[art76]

So, I count 3 December appearances for Bethel in the past decade...how many have the Johnnies tallied?   

If you're going to reach back 10 years, why not 20?  How many playoff games has Bethel tallied in recent years? 

10 years is the official policy.  I checked with Pat.

I just checked the D3 website (so you all can check my numbers if you want) and in the 18 years of recorded history there, these are the playoff numbers:

St. John's - Home games 16 - Away games 19
St. Thomas - Home games 18 - Away games 5
Bethel - Home games 5 (1 at the Metrodome) - Away games 10
Concordia - Home games 4 (2 at the Fargodome) - Away games 1

I did not check to see how many of the away games were played on turf or grass, but at least three times games were moved to away "home fields" to take advantage of turf. I also don't know when turf was installed on the other three team's fields in this discussion. I'll let others flesh that out as needed.

[OldAuggie]

OK, back the truck up fellas. Why not look at grass as a home field advantage? I am old and played on grass. Auggie was the first and only turf field in the MIAC my senior year, the Silverdome turf. Prior to that we played on grass at Parade Football Stadium and all MN football was played on grass except the games at the Dome. I like to see the uni's get dirty. Fewer injuries too. 

How many National Titles has SJU won on Turf? Follow me here?

You cannot compare the old Auggie Tech turf to the new generations of turf.  Come November/December, grass fields in MN are awful.  I guess that doesn't really matter for Bethel, though! 

Fair comment on the turf comparison. I know that too and really never played on the new generation turf because well, I am to old to have done that.

I still like grass fields and I like Bethel's stadium as it is. I suppose when you have Northwestern just up the road it is common to hear the comparison. That place is nice.

[AO]

OK, back the truck up fellas. Why not look at grass as a home field advantage? I am old and played on grass. Auggie was the first and only turf field in the MIAC my senior year, the Silverdome turf. Prior to that we played on grass at Parade Football Stadium and all MN football was played on grass except the games at the Dome. I like to see the uni's get dirty. Fewer injuries too. 

How many National Titles has SJU won on Turf? Follow me here?

You cannot compare the old Auggie Tech turf to the new generations of turf.  Come November/December, grass fields in MN are awful.  I guess that doesn't really matter for Bethel, though! 

What does it cost to host a game at US Bank Stadium?  Since the legislature forced them to give free rent to the high schools, maybe they're trying to make it up with everybody else?

[sfury]

Speaking of turf, JWP, the old home of Bob Zimmerman and myself, has gone big-time with a new football field. New track coming, replacing the cinder one from like 1928. New softball field. Should bring in a few open enrollees (for academic reasons) from neighboring towns. Smallest school in state with turf. Looks pretty sweet. SJURube plans on making a few pilgrimages there this fall.

http://bit.ly/2wliZN1

[DuffMan]

Johnnie Game Notes are online.

[SJUrube]

How many National Titles has SJU won on Turf? Follow me here?

1 of our 4 National Titles were won during seasons with turf at Clemens Stadium. The year was 2003.

[SJUrube]

Speaking of turf, JWP, the old home of Bob Zimmerman and myself, has gone big-time with a new football field. Looks pretty sweet. SJURube plans on making a few pilgrimages there this fall.

http://bit.ly/2wliZN1

For the safety of the opposing teams and players I hope the acoustics are good. Last time I saw JWP was a few years back and their players had trouble playing after the whistle. If the new facilities help the program improve one could see their football players transition very easily to the college level at UST.