FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AO]

Another potential loser in UST getting the boot are the historic Tommie athletes.

If UST goes D2 (and especially if that precedes a D1 jump), it will diminish the accomplishments of the former d3 athletes. Let's assume they jump to D2 and have moderate success, a football team on par with Minnesota St in recent years. Imagine the conversations: "This is Fritz Waldvogel, he's a former UST all American at WR" ... "Oh, nice! I have a co-worker who was a d2 All American at UMD!" ..."No, Fritz played when they were D3."  thud

Do all the records now have an asterisk by them, denoting that this was a record set when UST was a D3 institution? If not, do people just talk in low tones about how the new stud RB finished 3rd all time in rushing, "but really he's #1 when you take out the D3 numbers."

I've seen it at other schools that have made the jump. It won't happen overnight. But eventually records and conference titles and All Americans from the D3 era will appreciated, but with less fervor than their D2 or D1 counterparts.

NDSU hasn't stopped celebrating their D2 national champions.  Fans who jumped on the bandwagon after the move to D1 obviously won't think as much of the D2 players, but they'll still stand up and clap when they come out at halftime for the anniversary of their title.

[hazzben]

They'll still be honored. But if they're competing up one  or two divisions those accolades and titles won't mean the same. Just like NDSU fans puff out their chests a whole lot more for wins over Minnesota and Iowa and FCS national titles more than they do D2 wins. It's human nature.

[USTBench]

They'll still be honored. But if they're competing up one  or two divisions those accolades and titles won't mean the same. Just like NDSU fans puff out their chests a whole lot more for wins over Minnesota and Iowa and FCS national titles more than they do D2 wins. It's human nature.

The fans might puff their chests out a bit more over FCS titles, Power 5 wins and Carson Wentz,  but the alumni foundation knows where their wheels get greased. It's the multi-multi-multi millionaire farmers that won DII Championships for them in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Believe me, Fritz Waldvogel is going places, and the powers-that-be will always make sure he's treated very well, if they're smart.

[sjusection105]

The fans might puff their chests out a bit more over FCS titles, Power 5 wins and Carson Wentz,  but the alumni foundation knows where their wheels get greased. It's the multi-multi-multi millionaire farmers that won DII Championships for them in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Believe me, Fritz Waldvogel is going places, and the powers-that-be will always make sure he's treated very well, if they're smart.

Being a key player in the business empire of the namesake of the UST family college puts Fritz front & center

[hazzben]

As one who loves D3, you don't have to convince me that they should always honor those teams/athletes of yesteryear. And the advancement & athletics offices would be insane not to!

The issue is that for UST to be successful at the D2 and especially D1 level, they need to expand the fanbase. It's not a stretch in the slightest to think they can do that. And those new fans will care far less (out of sheer ignorance) about the Fritz Waldvogel's or Track & Field dominance or D3 Basketball national titles. It's utter stupidity. But we've all had conversations with people just scoff as soon as they hear us talk about a great season one of our schools is having at the D3 level.

There's going to come a day when Tommie/Johnnie is a relic that's completely unappreciated by newer fans and current students and athletes. I saw it happen first hand with Nebraska & Oklahoma, even when they were still in the Big 12 together. When the game lost it's every year, black friday calendar spot, it started to wither. One of the great college FB rivalries died on the vine and there's no genuine way to recapture what that meant for today's players. That magic will be lost, and it is magic. And the beauty of the D3 ethos that UST has embraced and celebrated for decades will fade too. It'll have to, because they'll be offering scholarships and it's not like they're going to promote that as a less pristine version of the Student Athlete experience that it is (or so most of us believe).

[art76]

Without sounding like the little boy that cries wolf until nobody listens to him, I haven't seen even an assumption of when the Tommies would no longer be MIAC members. Will it be effective immediately, or will it take part of a year, or a whole year so that contractual agreements are fulfilled? Is this dependent on how they leave? That seems to be in play, but I have not yet heard definitively how it is exactly that the Tommies are being given the boot. Early in the discussion here on this board we debated the MIAC standing rules/bylaws. Anybody want to take a stab at how this is going to go down pragmatically?

[Mr.MIAC]

It looks like some current Johnnies want signatures: http://www.startribune.com/petition-to-keep-st-thomas-in-miac-comes-from-rival-st-johns-student/.

[sjusection105]

Without sounding like the little boy that cries wolf until nobody listens to him, I haven't seen even an assumption of when the Tommies would no longer be MIAC members. Will it be effective immediately, or will it take part of a year, or a whole year so that contractual agreements are fulfilled? Is this dependent on how they leave? That seems to be in play, but I have not yet heard definitively how it is exactly that the Tommies are being given the boot. Early in the discussion here on this board we debated the MIAC standing rules/bylaws. Anybody want to take a stab at how this is going to go down pragmatically?

My guess is it will be 2021 school year, but that is only a guess. This is based on Augustana leaving the NSIC in the 2021 school year for D1.

[DuffMan]

I wonder how recruiting is going at St. Olaf.  That's got to be fun to answer questions from recruits/parents about the recent happenings.

[Mr.MIAC]

I wonder how recruiting is going at St. Olaf.  That's got to be fun to answer questions from recruits/parents about the recent happenings.

I'm sure Kilian is giving them a little song and dance. That's what they're known for at St. Olaf...

[AO]

I wonder how recruiting is going at St. Olaf.  That's got to be fun to answer questions from recruits/parents about the recent happenings.

Recruiting to St. Thomas has to be way more difficult right now.  They're recruiting players for a future scholarship team without scholarships.  When current recruits work their way up the depth chart after a couple years, the scholarship players will start to roll in and take over.  I guess you could say in 2 years maybe we'll have a 25% scholarship for you if you're good enough.

[faunch]

I wonder how recruiting is going at St. Olaf.  That's got to be fun to answer questions from recruits/parents about the recent happenings.

Recruiting to St. Thomas has to be way more difficult right now.  They're recruiting players for a future scholarship team without scholarships.  When current recruits work their way up the depth chart after a couple years, the scholarship players will start to roll in and take over.  I guess you could say in 2 years maybe we'll have a 25% scholarship for you if you're good enough.

And if U$T moves up to D2 how many of the members of the U$T class of 2023 will actually end up in the SJU class of 2023?

[OldAuggie]

I wonder how recruiting is going at St. Olaf.  That's got to be fun to answer questions from recruits/parents about the recent happenings.

Recruiting to St. Thomas has to be way more difficult right now.  They're recruiting players for a future scholarship team without scholarships.  When current recruits work their way up the depth chart after a couple years, the scholarship players will start to roll in and take over.  I guess you could say in 2 years maybe we'll have a 25% scholarship for you if you're good enough.

Not many of the football scholarships at D2 are full scholarships. Most are far below full, especially in the NSIC. Someone here knows the limit but for some reason I recall the NSIC allows less per team than other D2 conferences*. Back when the earth cooled and I had a short stint at UMD some of the Scholarships were $800.

*Now I see the NSIC can offer the full amount as of this year; 36 full scholarships but they have to be split up between the entire roster of deserving players. $1,000 here $1,500 there and a full scholly to a few players.

[DuffMan]

Recruiting to St. Thomas has to be way more difficult right now.  They're recruiting players for a future scholarship team without scholarships.  When current recruits work their way up the depth chart after a couple years, the scholarship players will start to roll in and take over.  I guess you could say in 2 years maybe we'll have a 25% scholarship for you if you're good enough.

Good point. 

[hazzben]

Thielen got a whopping $500 to go to Mankato 

My guess is this years current classes are pretty well set. Maybe a few late decisions that swing. Next year's class is gonna be another thing entirely.