FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EMS

WEEK 4 STANDINGS


WEEK 5 October 5th

Conference: 3pts
Carleton (+45.5) @ #7 Bethel
Hamline (+28.5) @ St. Olaf
Augsburg (+50.5) @ #4 St. John's
Concordia (+9.5) @ #14 St. Thomas

National:1pt
#5 North Central @ #9 Wheaton (EVEN)

[faunch]

Chance the Allianz Field game is moved to TCF or other location because of turf issues?

[sjusection105]

Chance the Allianz Field game is moved to TCF or other location because of turf issues?

Possible but slim at this late date. The ticketing alone would be a nightmare.

[wm4]

It's certainly not a good situation, but I trust the professionals who handle grass fields and the contractors who know Allianz can get it figured out.  They have 3 weeks to do so.  I'm no engineer but I think it can be done. 

TCF is booked for the Gophers on the 19th.  US Bank is booked with some amateur football event.  Maybe Target Field as a backup? Too soon to say where the Twins will be then.

[faunch]

Chance the Allianz Field game is moved to TCF or other location because of turf issues?

Possible but slim at this late date. The ticketing alone would be a nightmare.

Gophers are in Piscataway on the 19th

[badger1845]

Those are some fair points, BDB, but we need someone competitive.

I have a hard time thinking of any school that would want to leave and come into the MIAC.  Mac seems happy where they are at and the only other that might be close would be CSS, but again I don't see them jumping at the opportunity. Just have one less conference game and take another non conference.  Scheduling non conference has always been an issue for the WIAC schools since at least the time I was playing (remember one year we almost had only 9 games until we found a top 10 NAIA school).  WIAC used to have a border battle with the NSIC (before they put money into the programs) which was always a fun battle.  Maybe something similar could be done with the WIAC and MIAC at US Bank or TCF.  I remember playing SJU to start every season and it always was a fun game.  It already happens to some extent now and it might help solve scheduling problems for both.  Though I don't know if you would get the tier 2 MIAC teams I hear about to buy in to that one. 

[hazzben]

I can't imagine the lower half of the MIAC wants anything to do with scheduling the WIAC. Their current non-con games are basically a search for the easiest D3 opponents within 400 miles they can find.

RE: UST QB's & Playcalling

Agree that it's as much about play calling as anything else. Caruso's MO is to lean on superior talent, a big Oline, a good/great running back, and a great defense. Puts his QB in very favorable positions where teams have to stack the box and they can utilize play action effectively. His fastball is not playcalling (that's not meant as a knock on him, he clearly has other talents). The issue right now is that they aren't elite in any area. They've got very good RB's, but I'm much more scared by great QB play and an explosive passing attack than by a great RB with a mediocre passing game.

Granted, the season is young and Dolan may well rebound. Sometimes a loss like this is a blessing in disguise. Backs are against the wall. Pool A bid is still in their control. It was as much self-inflicted wounds as anything UWEC did (though they played a great game in their own right). There can be a galvanizing effect to this kind of loss. It's not like UST is bereft of talent. I don't think they've got the same game changers as SJU and Bethel. But top to bottom, that roster has as much talent as any team in the Top 15 in D3.

From Thunderdog on the CCIW page

The 2019 version of the Little Brass Bell game will feature the #1 Scoring and Total Offense of North Central vs the #1 Scoring and Total Defense of Wheaton. I’ll go out on a limb and say this has to be a first ever in the history of CCIW matchups. Can anyone think of another example?

That's gonna be a great matchup.

[MiacMan]

I can't imagine the lower half of the MIAC wants anything to do with scheduling the WIAC. Their current non-con games are basically a search for the easiest D3 opponents within 400 miles they can find.

RE: UST QB's & Playcalling

Agree that it's as much about play calling as anything else. Caruso's MO is to lean on superior talent, a big Oline, a good/great running back, and a great defense. Puts his QB in very favorable positions where teams have to stack the box and they can utilize play action effectively. His fastball is not playcalling (that's not meant as a knock on him, he clearly has other talents). The issue right now is that they aren't elite in any area. They've got very good RB's, but I'm much more scared by great QB play and an explosive passing attack than by a great RB with a mediocre running game.

Granted, the season is young and Dolan may well rebound. Sometimes a loss like this is a blessing in disguise. Backs are against the wall. Pool A bid is still in their control. It was as much self-inflicted wounds as anything UWEC did (though they played a great game in their own right). There can be a galvanizing effect to this kind of loss. It's not like UST is bereft of talent. I don't think they've got the same game changers as SJU and Bethel. But top to bottom, that roster has as much talent as any team in the Top 15 in D3.

From Thunderdog on the CCIW page

The 2019 version of the Little Brass Bell game will feature the #1 Scoring and Total Offense of North Central vs the #1 Scoring and Total Defense of Wheaton. I'll go out on a limb and say this has to be a first ever in the history of CCIW matchups. Can anyone think of another example?

That's gonna be a great matchup.

Pretty spot on Hazz.

Obviously, they are still capable of knocking off anyone in the conference on a given day, but they'll need quite a bit to go their way. You'll see, they just don't have as many (very few actually) of the elite type players they have had in recent history. IMO, it shows up more on defense than offense. They give up way to many big plays.

[sjusection105]

Pretty spot on Hazz.

Obviously, they are still capable of knocking off anyone in the conference on a given day, but they'll need quite a bit to go their way. You'll see, they just don't have as many (very few actually) of the elite type players they have had in recent history. IMO, it shows up more on defense than offense. They give up way to many big plays.

That's what we like to hear, big plays baby!!! 

[MUC57]

I'm so glad Mount Union isn't in the MIAC. No, no! Not just because of the fact it's a damn tough conference, but the posters on this board are tough. I would not want to have to go up against any of you.
The OAC board is almost exclusively Mount. But HERE, posters from many teams respond. Wow!
All I can say is - GO MIAC!       🍺

Please excuse the above silliness. This time between games is a drag! 😜 🍺

[DuffMan]

That's what we like to hear, big plays baby!!! 

As long as those big plays don't involve Josh Parks running.

[jamtod]

That's what we like to hear, big plays baby!!! 

As long as those big plays don't involve Josh Parks running.

Or in our case, fumbling at the goal line

(he was down)

[OzJohnnie]

I think the Toms can most definitely run the table, especially since we are giving them underdog status. They won't come out asleep again like they did against UWEC.  They've got Concordia next week to rebound on and rebuild confidence. I expect they will. And they have SJU three weeks later after we play Bethel. Say SJU beat BU and are feeling pretty good about their chances... perfect time for the Tommies to pounce. Similarly if SJU lose. Suddenly the Tommies have been handed the chance to knock the Johnnies out of the season and salvage their own.

Nope. I look at the Tommies like a wounded animal. Most dangerous.

[jamtod]

I think the Toms can most definitely run the table, especially since we are giving them underdog status. They won't come out asleep again like they did against UWEC.  They've got Concordia next week to rebound on and rebuild confidence. I expect they will. And they have SJU three weeks later after we play Bethel. Say SJU beat BU and are feeling pretty good about their chances... perfect time for the Tommies to pounce. Similarly if SJU lose. Suddenly the Tommies have been handed the chance to knock the Johnnies out of the season and salvage their own.

Nope. I look at the Tommies like a wounded animal. Most dangerous.

This is a reasonable take, Oz. You feeling ok?

[SagatagSam]

I think the Toms can most definitely run the table, especially since we are giving them underdog status. They won't come out asleep again like they did against UWEC.  They've got Concordia next week to rebound on and rebuild confidence. I expect they will. And they have SJU three weeks later after we play Bethel. Say SJU beat BU and are feeling pretty good about their chances... perfect time for the Tommies to pounce. Similarly if SJU lose. Suddenly the Tommies have been handed the chance to knock the Johnnies out of the season and salvage their own.

Nope. I look at the Tommies like a wounded animal. Most dangerous.

This is a reasonable take, Oz. You feeling ok?

I feel the same way, Oz. It's especially dangerous given the rivalry. We all remember the eventual 2003 National Championship team that was nearly upended by the Toms (who were 3-5 at the time) in St. Paul at O-Shag-Hennesy.

The Toms could play dead for the next three weeks for all I care and I would still be nervous.