FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[jamtod]

I'm gonna wager under 14K tomorrow (which is still an incredible # of people).

I'll take you up on that bet.

I see no reason this crowd shouldn't exceed the 2016 game which had 16.5k. That game was warmer but had a steady wet drizzle throughout the morning and lacked the off-the-field intrigue of this game. Teams were ranked #3 vs #9 in that game which was pretty similar.

[Pat Coleman]

Strength of Schedule rankings have been released. 4 of St John's 5 wins have come against teams rated higher on the list. (#6 Gustavus, #10 Augsburg, #16 Bethel, & #25 UW-Stout). St John's made the list at #29 & after scrolling down for quite aways, St Thomas finally appeared at #170.

Auggie #10, Gustavus #6 you say? I would like to audit whatever the source info is?

http://d3football.com/seasons/2018/schedule?tmpl=sos-template

There are MANY flaws in the NCAA SOS methodology, that have been discussed often on D3. While I know this is a factor of consideration for the selection committee, I would leverage Massey or Hansen as a much better metric. And, just because any team is ranked high in that metric, does not mean they are an actual strong opponent. If you look where Mount and MHB are, that would validate it. 

952: It isn't meant to be an RPI, sir. It's meant to measure only the strength of the schedule. It's well-named in that regard.

[miac952]

I'm gonna wager under 14K tomorrow (which is still an incredible # of people).

I'll take the over on that. This has turned into a spectacle the last 5 - 10 years. As long as it's 40 degrees plus and neither team has stunk it up going into the game I think we are in for consistent big crowds now. It's turned into a second homecoming and reunion of sorts for a lot of people. My guess is around 16k - 17k.

[miac952]

Strength of Schedule rankings have been released. 4 of St John's 5 wins have come against teams rated higher on the list. (#6 Gustavus, #10 Augsburg, #16 Bethel, & #25 UW-Stout). St John's made the list at #29 & after scrolling down for quite aways, St Thomas finally appeared at #170.

Auggie #10, Gustavus #6 you say? I would like to audit whatever the source info is?

http://d3football.com/seasons/2018/schedule?tmpl=sos-template

There are MANY flaws in the NCAA SOS methodology, that have been discussed often on D3. While I know this is a factor of consideration for the selection committee, I would leverage Massey or Hansen as a much better metric. And, just because any team is ranked high in that metric, does not mean they are an actual strong opponent. If you look where Mount and MHB are, that would validate it. 

952: It isn't meant to be an RPI, sir. It's meant to measure only the strength of the schedule. It's well-named in that regard.

It may be aptly named, but it has its flaws. OOWP, in largely closed off conferences where only 0-2 games are taking place outside the conference, frequently will end up close to .500. So OWP then becomes the differential. Any metric that gives someone a high score for playing Martin Luther (see Gustavus), but a low score for playing a middling WIAC team is flawed.

[Pat Coleman]

I didn't say it was the best metric, but it is good to call it what it is. It's really bad as an RPI, but that's because it's not an RPI.

(Discussed in today's podcast in those specific terms, in fact.)

[sjujohnnie]

St Thomas made the national media this morning! Was listening to Rush in the car & he was going off on an engineering professor at St Thomas who wrote an article that appeared in the Guardian essentially blaming people who voted for Republicans for the devastation that hurricane Michael caused. Not even Rush is a fan of the Tommies! He called them obscure & the professor idiotic among other things. LOL!

[jamtod]

St Thomas made the national media this morning! Was listening to Rush in the car & he was going off on an engineering professor at St Thomas who wrote an article that appeared in the Guardian essentially blaming people who voted for Republicans for the devastation that hurricane Michael caused. Not even Rush is a fan of the Tommies! He called them obscure & the professor idiotic among other things. LOL!

I don't see any worthwhile further discussion of this that doesn't fall into politics, which don't belong here. If I want politics I will go check out the SCIAC board.

[miac952]

St Thomas made the national media this morning! Was listening to Rush in the car & he was going off on an engineering professor at St Thomas who wrote an article that appeared in the Guardian essentially blaming people who voted for Republicans for the devastation that hurricane Michael caused. Not even Rush is a fan of the Tommies! He called them obscure & the professor idiotic among other things. LOL!

I am ok with UST and Rush not being BFF's. I'll leave it at that.

[sjujohnnie]

With the first snowflakes flying this morning in northwest Iowa, my intention was not to offend any, but rather poke fun at St Thomas. Credit to St Thomas for stepping up their level of play & making the Johnnie/Tommie matchup the best rivalry in Division III! Obviously the winner will be the AQ entrant to the playoffs, but the loser should certainly earn a berth as well! I wish the committee would do away with the conference winner earning the AQ as there are a ton of top quality teams that get left out while teams from very weak conferences make the field.

[jamtod]

With the first snowflakes flying this morning in northwest Iowa, my intention was not to offend any, but rather poke fun at St Thomas. Credit to St Thomas for stepping up their level of play & making the Johnnie/Tommie matchup the best rivalry in Division III! Obviously the winner will be the AQ entrant to the playoffs, but the loser should certainly earn a berth as well! I wish the committee would do away with the conference winner earning the AQ as there are a ton of top quality teams that get left out while teams from very weak conferences make the field.

Not offended in the least, just noting that this is a place I come to escape the politics of the rest of the world/internet and I'd rather not know any of y'alls political perspectives or share my own. I'd be happy to diagnose and solve the world's problems over a nice glass of bourbon though, even with the Johnnies.

I like the "every conference winner has a shot" model. And if the loser tomorrow takes care of business the rest of the season, they will have a chance to prove their worth in the playoffs by winning a few games.

[bennie]

I know this story about Justin Gallegos has been making the rounds, but if you haven't seen it, it is wonderful. Makes me cry every time I see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMEndIHk5S4

Go Ducks!

[57Johnnie]

I know this story about Justin Gallegos has been making the rounds, but if you haven't seen it, it is wonderful. Makes me cry every time I see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMEndIHk5S4

Go Ducks!

Nice story. I have a Special Olympics bowling tournament coming up in 10 days-great fun.
Reminds me to be thankful. This old Johnnie had tears the first time I worked  an event.

[MUC57]

jamtoTommie

You would discuss the world's problems over a glass of bourbon? What about over a glass of single malt Scotch whisky? I'll drink to that. Actually, I'll drink to just about anything. Not that there's anything wrong with that!. Or how about a can of Milwaukee's Best Light? Sometimes I'm totally lacking in class. Whatever! 🍷🍸🍹🍺🍾❗️

[jamtod]

jamtoTommie

You would discuss the world's problems over a glass of bourbon? What about over a glass of single malt Scotch whisky? I'll drink to that. Actually, I'll drink to just about anything. Not that there's anything wrong with that!. Or how about a can of Milwaukee's Best Light? Sometimes I'm totally lacking in class. Whatever! 🍷🍸🍹🍺🍾❗️

I wouldn't do anything with Scotch, but you'd be welcome to that. I've never developed a taste for Scotch. Just another one of those classless Tommies I guess.

I could hook you up with some rye moonshine though.

[Mr.MIAC]

Speaking of booze, a few years back I noticed that all the hardcore Scotch aficionados at my club are members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. They do limited runs of cask-strength single malts. The Society is headquartered in Edinburgh, but they have an office in New York that can ship directly to your home in the United States. I got a membership and it's been really fun, though my wife complains that we have way too much booze around the house. If you're into Scotch, particularly unique cask-strength offerings, check it out: https://www.smwsa.com.