FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[jamtod]

When is the last time the Cobbers made a quarterfinal appearance?  Seriously.  I don't care enough to research it.

In an effort to avoid working on a lengthy report, I checked into my question.  The Cobbers have not won the MIAC since '04, with 2nd place finishes in '05, '08, '12, '13, and '14.  Their most recent playoff appearances have been '04  and '05, where they lost in the 2nd round both years.  I had to go back to '86 to find a legitimate deep playoff run.  I'd argue that Concordia is now a "Tier 2" team.  Because of the style of football they play, they can be tough to beat, but I don't see them as a legimate threat on a regular basis.

Thanks for doing the research. I was skeptical when I saw Concordia included in Tier 1 with the quarterfinal comment, although it's certainly accurate for the other 3 teams and Concordia did beat Bethel 3 years in a row (2015-2017).

I'd be curious the last time any of those Tier 2 teams ended the year 8-2. Seems like 8-2, even for Gustavus would be a high bar.
(I looked. Gustavus' last 8-2 was 1999. For Olaf it was 2011, with a string of them from 2005-2007. For Augsburg it is pre-1998, so doesn't show on the d3football.com history.)

[retagent]

Hope to be able to add more than ask soon.
[/quote]

All the replies and the lay of the land is much appreciated. Even my cursory research led me to understand to not get my hopes up as far as a top notch program. O can't wait to get to some games. Wish I could have made this weekend but it wasn't in the cards. Going to be up there for parents weekend in October and CAN'T wait. Been to a ton of college games but haven't been able to make it to any D3 ones.

Hope to be able to add more than ask soon.

I think your "smack talk" may be limited to such things as; "We beat the spread." or "Those Tommies should be DI. How do the Johnnies beat them so easily?" type stuff. Make the most of what you get.

Welcome. Carlton is a fine academic college, just understand that athletics is not a high priority

[pied]

Again, thank you very much for the history.  Soaking it all in.  Familiar with Gagliardi down here, from some ESPN pieces. 

pied, like the Pied Piper,  I don't fashion myself as a leader of rats, it goes with the last name. 

Getting ready for my excuses and qualified smack talk, "if we spent more money on coaches than professors...."

Really dumb question from a FBS fan.  Is there one D1 champion for the nation?  How many teams qualify for the playoffs from each league and does that vary with size/strength of the league? There seem to be 1,467 D3 conferences. 

[art76]

Back in the saddle after spending 5 days up at the cabin with my bride. Sorry this is a bit tardy.

Well, after a rather tumultuous off-season spent wondering how Tommy-gate was going to play out, we finally get to watch some MIAC football. All nine teams are in action this first week, with six home games and three teams on the road.

Starting with Hamline hosting Buena Vista from the American Rivers Conference tonight at 6:30 pm. This is a game between the two projected bottom feeders, if you have read your Kickoff! this year. At the beginning of the year, even though it is more difficult to know how teams that are "equitable" will do, I suspect the Beavers will dam up the Pipers offense and paddle away with the win.

Augsburg travels to Ripon, WI to take on the Red Hawks. The Auggies will have their work cut out for them, as the Red Hawks are also trying to move up this year in the Midwest Conference in the North Division. The MIAC is going to take this one on the chin, as I see it. (Check out this week's podcast for more on this game).

Bethel hosts Simpson College for the second game of a home and home arrangement initiated last year. The result is going to be the same as last year, with the Royals riding out the Storm.

Carleton will be hosting Macalester for the annual Book of Knowledge game. I think the Knights stand a chance playing in the home library, and will hoist the tome over the Scots.

Concordia travels across the St. Croix River into Wisconsin to take on the Eagles in La Crosse. This could be another close game, and if it is, the Cobbers stand a chance. But if they get down by more than a couple of scores, the Eagles will take flight and leave the Cobbers behind. For me, this is probably the game of the week, because it could be the closest contest for the week.

Gustavus hosts Martin Luther. This game will not be in question once it starts, as the Gusties will unmount the Knights, most unceremoniously.

St. John's also travels over the St. Croix to head into cheese-land to take on the Stout Blue Devils. The Devils will give the Johnnies some fits, but this game is not much in doubt either. The Johnnies notch their first victory exorcising the Devils.

St. Olaf hosts Crown College for the second season of their arrangement. This will be another yawner, as the Oles will blow out the Storm.

Lastly, St. Thomas hosts NAIA Trinity International. So, inquiring minds want to know if this will be the first of how many 100 point spreads from the Tommies this season?

[DuffMan]

Is there one D1 champion for the nation? 

I assume that you mean D3.  Yes, there is one champ.  Here is a good FAQ regarding the playoff system:  https://d3football.com/interactive/faq/playoffs

[DuffMan]

St. John's also travels over the St. Croix to head into cheese-land to take on the Stout Blue Devils. The Devils will give the Johnnies some fits, but this game is not much in doubt either. The Johnnies notch their first victory exercising the Devils.

Exercising or exorcising? 

[MUC57]

pied

Hope you don't mind if an outsider jumps in here. I chat with many people on this board so they know who I am - an old Mount Union grad.
First, I know they have already welcomed you to the boards but - me too. Pat Coleman and his staff have given us a great forum to discuss football, rag on each other, argue and even just plain have fun. You'll like it here.
Second, the very best to your daughter as she begins the next phase in her life. My grandson (I'm much older than you) is beginning his freshman year at Babson College in Mass. We both get to share the joy of this event, which, someone on this board already alluded to, is priceless. Good luck to you both.
Third, As a former Longhorn, you did see some pretty good Dl football. When I lived in Palo Alto, I followed Stanford closely. Good stuff. But, nothing like Dlll football. And you, or at least your daughter, are involved with one of the best, if not "THE" best, conference in the country.
I read many of the posts on the boards (being retired gives me lots of time). Some very knowledgeable people post here. You can learn a lot, as I have over the years. You can have lots of fun as we watch our teams play out the season.
So, in closing, enjoy Dlll football. Nothing like it in the world. Best of luck to both of our teams this year, or as I say in my signature below - GO EVERYBODY.     

[DuffMan]

I don't want to jinx anything, but I am hopeful for a repeat of the SJU "Point-a-Minute" offense. 

[pied]

Is there one D1 champion for the nation? 

I assume that you mean D3.  Yes, there is one champ.  Here is a good FAQ regarding the playoff system:  https://d3football.com/interactive/faq/playoffs

I did, and thanks for the link!

[USTBench]

I don't want to jinx anything, but I am hopeful for a repeat of the SJU "Point-a-Minute" offense. 

The monks loosen the purse strings? Probably don't want to do that.

[jamtod]

Is there one D1 champion for the nation? 

I assume that you mean D3.  Yes, there is one champ.  Here is a good FAQ regarding the playoff system:  https://d3football.com/interactive/faq/playoffs

I did, and thanks for the link!

Unless you count the NESCAC as a separate champ, since they don't participate in the playoffs (a la the Ivy League)

[jamtod]

Lastly, St. Thomas hosts NAIA Trinity International. So, inquiring minds want to know if this will be the first of how many 100 point spreads from the Tommies this season?

If last year's game is any indication, we'll take the foot pretty aggressively off the gas. It's at home, so the bench will get emptied again also.

On the other hand, if everyone is so certain that we aren't sticking around in D3 after next year, the need to be kind to OOC opponent so we can schedule again in the future won't be there, so why not put up 100?

[DuffMan]

On the other hand, you could just score once and then punt on every other first down.  Get your punter a workout.  Punters are people, too.

[MUC57]

On the other hand, you could just score once and then punt on every other first down.  Get your punter a workout.  Punters are people, too.

Do they have a punter? 

[art76]

St. John's also travels over the St. Croix to head into cheese-land to take on the Stout Blue Devils. The Devils will give the Johnnies some fits, but this game is not much in doubt either. The Johnnies notch their first victory exercising the Devils.

Exercising or exorcising? 

Dang! Missed it by that much...   (Fixed it.)