FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[gbpuckfan]

Now this is an informative article:

https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2019/05/st-thomas-is-too-good-for-the-miac-says-the-miac-so-where-do-the-tommies-go-from-here/

A MIAC source familiar with the Presidents' Council discussions told MinnPost seven institutions planned to leave the conference if St. Thomas remained: St. Olaf, Hamline, Augsburg, Carleton, Macalester, St. Mary's and St. Catherine's. Two more, Gustavus Adolphus and Concordia, considered joining them. All but St. Mary's and all-female St. Catherine's play football.

Where were Hamline, Augsburg, St. Mary's, and St Kate's (or Gustavus and Concordia) going to go? The UMAC can't take them all. I have a really hard time believing they would have had a viable chance to go somewhere but I would have liked to see them try. And it's difficult to square that with Augsburg's Pribbenow's comments which basically suggested somebody was holding a gun to his head. If this went south, a few of these schools had a place to go. The rest went along for the ride but would likely have been homeless (or stuck in a diminished MIAC).

If there were that many - St. Olaf, Hamline, Augsburg, Carleton, Macalester, St. Mary's, St. Catherine's, Gustavus Adolphus and Concordia - then they could have formed their own conference (with enough for an autobid), and it would have been the leftovers - UST, St. John's, Bethel, who would have been searching, right? Either to add to what was left of the MIAC, or find a new place to go...  Or maybe I am missing something.

[hazzben]

If GAC & Concordia were on the fence, I wish UST, SJU, and Bethel had pursued them and said stand firm. Let's call their bluff, reach out to St. Scholastica, Superior, and UNWSP, and then wait for a few to come crawling back when they don't have conferences. I just keep coming back to "where were schools like Hamline going to end up?" I think Augsburg and Hamline would have been left homeless. Probably St. Mary's and St. Kate's as well. Let MAC, Carleton, and Olaf go to the MWC if they so desire.

The issue with this is that it's a lot easier to rally schools to make the bluff and vote one team out than it is to rally schools to call the bluff, risk everything and stand firm when it all goes haywire. Momentum was already going against UST. It's also an attempt to shoot the moon if you're UST. You're essentially going to win and have a new and tougher MIAC, or you lose and look ugly doing it (all good PR lost). Also hard because it requires BU, SJU, St. Bens, GAC, & Cobbers to go pretty cold blooded on the other schools. If they come up short, they're in a really ugly position but still have to play with those schools going forward.

"When you play the game of thrones..."

[Mr. Ypsi]

Where most of this probably is hardest to understand is that a group of adults just made a decision that will have a major effect on a group of teenagers.  I think several student-athletes at UST rightfully asked about their future.  They committed to a school where they could compete with many of the away games nearby.  In 3 years will their sport still exist at St. Thomas?  What will their academic and athletic experience look like their senior year?  Imagine if UST goes up a division some of these kids may not have spot on the roster.  That is a tough pill to swallow, and I feel for them.  I think many athletes at other schools are asking similar questions, but not to the extent of St. Thomas.

+k TexasOle.

This is what resonates with me most. And not just the UST student athletes (though they have the most to lose), but others too. I am sure if you polled Bethel Football or Augsburg hoops they would say the experience of knocking off UST this past year was special. Its all part of the athletic experience.

It's unfortunate that these are the headlines this week instead of UST's softball team or SJU's 4x100 or the countless other stories of student athletes throughout the conference.

Not the best-timed example!  Despite being the #1 seed in the national tourney, they lost their first two games and are the first team heading home!

[ron doney]

If GAC & Concordia were on the fence, I wish UST, SJU, and Bethel had pursued them and said stand firm. Let's call their bluff, reach out to St. Scholastica, Superior, and UNWSP, and then wait for a few to come crawling back when they don't have conferences. I just keep coming back to "where were schools like Hamline going to end up?" I think Augsburg and Hamline would have been left homeless. Probably St. Mary's and St. Kate's as well. Let MAC, Carleton, and Olaf go to the MWC if they so desire.

The issue with this is that it's a lot easier to rally schools to make the bluff and vote one team out than it is to rally schools to call the bluff, risk everything and stand firm when it all goes haywire. Momentum was already going against UST. It's also an attempt to shoot the moon if you're UST. You're essentially going to win and have a new and tougher MIAC, or you lose and look ugly doing it (all good PR lost). Also hard because it requires BU, SJU, St. Bens, GAC, & Cobbers to go pretty cold blooded on the other schools. If they come up short, they're in a really ugly position but still have to play with those schools going forward.

"When you play the game of thrones..."

If we are playing the coulda woulda shoulda game....  UST lost a true asset in Mark Deinhart when they decided to go with Sullivan instead*. Mark would have had the relationship, respect and credibility to navigate the MIAC through these growing pains.  Or I would like to believe. He and Fritz could have talked some sense into these children.

*thats not a knock on Sullivan. She's very qualified and has proven as much. And Deinhart probably lacked things she has - most notably gender.  But MN is a one of us small town, and Mark has that in spades.

[57Johnnie]

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy! 

Ben Franklin ........... maybe

[Mr.MIAC]

Does anyone know how I can insert this Pardon the Interruption clip in my signature block?

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/4617642-watch-espn-personalities-rip-miac-booting-st-thomas-league

[MUC57]

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy! 

Ben Franklin ........... maybe

Now I like that! 🍺 🍻 

[TheChucker]

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy! 

Ben Franklin ........... maybe

Agreed! It must be Friday night!

New beer for me, Farm Girl, as I flip between NCAA softball & the Twins crushing the White Sox.

[Mr.MIAC]

Fox & Friends covered recent developments in the MIAC this morning. #winning

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/university-st-thomas-kicked-minnesota-125949208.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAd5hM7E_ko8iFudYYFM7smPdNfMJLKRcgOBoeDADaZkgm6djMVvAAqAY4TkteS6vjEhQJNzLitiBhHjDTrr7ub1Uy5956T1OnHxdle8T8_dUi0OZgvJFHEulP9gXvcd7yAtdGJUi44G_ApGFh2mii2IpaTkgiDnzwTfJWU2J-WN

[formerd3db]

Fox & Friends covered recent developments in the MIAC this morning. #winning

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/university-st-thomas-kicked-minnesota-125949208.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAd5hM7E_ko8iFudYYFM7smPdNfMJLKRcgOBoeDADaZkgm6djMVvAAqAY4TkteS6vjEhQJNzLitiBhHjDTrr7ub1Uy5956T1OnHxdle8T8_dUi0OZgvJFHEulP9gXvcd7yAtdGJUi44G_ApGFh2mii2IpaTkgiDnzwTfJWU2J-WN

The people at Fox News get it right once again!

[D O.C.]

What hath you wrought?

[BDB]

Gopher softball having a special season.  World Series baby!

Fun team to watch. 

[OldAuggie]

Gopher softball having a special season.  World Series baby!

Fun team to watch. 

Right there with you!!  Amber Fiser is going to take the Gophers as far as she is able; she mowed down LSU the last two nights. Seemed like she was throwing with a little more heat that last inning tonight. #dominant #nolanryanwithaponytail

[BDB]

Amber Fiser is the Lindsay Whalen of her sport and time at the U.

[Mr.MIAC]

I had an interesting chat over dinner with an attorney friend who's also from MN. He asked whether this whole thing sets a precedent for other DIII conferences that might want to boot members for parity issues. He was talking about a legal precedent, but it's got me thinking about how precedent is viewed more generally in DIII athletics. Could other conferences use the MIAC example to support ousting teams? If so, can you see it happening elsewhere? If it starts happening elsewhere, how do you think the NCAA would respond (we know how the public has responded)?