FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

Same fire that has the potential to burn you in a few years, I suspect.

Meh.  Gagliardi ran up scores from the '50s through the '00s, and no one booted us. 

[hazzben]

Other potential hockey location could be a renovation of the coliseum at the fair grounds. Hockey has been played there and it's due for some total re-work. Plenty of parking available and not as far from campus

Have you been inside the coliseum?  Would be an awful venue.

I think renovation is the operative phrase here.

[jamtod]

Same fire that has the potential to burn you in a few years, I suspect.

Meh.  Gagliardi ran up scores from the '50s through the '00s, and no one booted us. 

Sure sure, but were you dominant in golf during that era? Because that's what really attracts the negative attention.

[jamtod]

Other potential hockey location could be a renovation of the coliseum at the fair grounds. Hockey has been played there and it's due for some total re-work. Plenty of parking available and not as far from campus

Have you been inside the coliseum?  Would be an awful venue.

I think renovation is the operative phrase here.

Renovation and total re-work might have been a bit too open-ended. It's been a while since I've been there and I'm no expert so I left it open, but if a complete replacement and some sort of partnership is possible, it might not be a terrible option, compared to the logistical problems inherent in any of the other options.

Basketball arena could be expanded a bit, but if we ever hosted the Gophers for an OOC matchup, it would end up being waaaaaaay small. I guess it's possible to just play all those games in Minneapolis.

[DuffMan]

Sure sure, but were you dominant in golf during that era? Because that's what really attracts the negative attention.

That, I don't know.  My interest in golf is on par with my interest in hockey.

[Pat Coleman]

if we ever hosted the Gophers for an OOC matchup

There is no need to worry about this ever happening!  Seriously, though, Big Ten teams don't generally play in Summit League gyms.

[DuffMan]

I would imagine since Esten came to U$T via Penn State, a Tommie/Nittany Lion non-conference football game is on the horizon.  What's the line on that, AO?

[hazzben]

Other potential hockey location could be a renovation of the coliseum at the fair grounds. Hockey has been played there and it's due for some total re-work. Plenty of parking available and not as far from campus

Have you been inside the coliseum?  Would be an awful venue.

The only rework that would be sufficient would require a bulldozer.

You might have a point there, ROR. Still, it's pretty amazing what an empowered A&D firm can do with a historic old space to retro fit it for modern sports. That said, even if they had to demolish the site and rebuild something entirely new, it might be a very viable option. UST's issue is finding land and parking for a Hockey venue. The fair grounds are just a few miles down Snelling. If there was a partnership between UST and the State to build something like this, it would also alleviate some of the funding issues for both sides.

UST agrees to put up major dollars, in exchange for their branding and marketing (i.e. it gets to feel like their home ice). State agrees to help with some funding, in exchange for using it for HS & youth Hockey, as well as a concert venue and for State Fair activities.

Spitballing, the Giants and Jets have figured out how to share a stadium and still make it feel like a home field for each team. Wouldn't be that hard to replicate something along those lines for UST.

[jamtod]

if we ever hosted the Gophers for an OOC matchup

There is no need to worry about this ever happening!  Seriously, though, Big Ten teams don't generally play in Summit League gyms.

That was my conclusion, but a co-worker posed the question and it made me think a bit.

[AO]

I would imagine since Esten came to U$T via Penn State, a Tommie/Nittany Lion non-conference football game is on the horizon.  What's the line on that, AO?

I tried putting that potential matchup into the Massey predictor tool and my computer started on fire.

You might have a point there, ROR. Still, it's pretty amazing what an empowered A&D firm can do with a historic old space to retro fit it for modern sports. That said, even if they had to demolish the site and rebuild something entirely new, it might be a very viable option. UST's issue is finding land and parking for a Hockey venue. The fair grounds are just a few miles down Snelling. If there was a partnership between UST and the State to build something like this, it would also alleviate some of the funding issues for both sides.

UST agrees to put up major dollars, in exchange for their branding and marketing (i.e. it gets to feel like their home ice). State agrees to help with some funding, in exchange for using it for HS & youth Hockey, as well as a concert venue and for State Fair activities.

Spitballing, the Giants and Jets have figured out how to share a stadium and still make it feel like a home field for each team. Wouldn't be that hard to replicate something along those lines for UST.

I don't think the state fair wants to host hockey anymore.  It'd only be about a million to update the ice making equipment.  They just like to use their coliseum for horse and car shows.

[faunch]

Other potential hockey location could be a renovation of the coliseum at the fair grounds. Hockey has been played there and it's due for some total re-work. Plenty of parking available and not as far from campus

Have you been inside the coliseum?  Would be an awful venue.

I think renovation is the operative phrase here.

Renovation and total re-work might have been a bit too open-ended. It's been a while since I've been there and I'm no expert so I left it open, but if a complete replacement and some sort of partnership is possible, it might not be a terrible option, compared to the logistical problems inherent in any of the other options.

Basketball arena could be expanded a bit, but if we ever hosted the Gophers for an OOC matchup, it would end up being waaaaaaay small. I guess it's possible to just play all those games in Minneapolis.

The horse show people will have something to say about a renovation.

[faunch]

You cannot best U$T running the ball.

Why would you say that? Bethel beat UST last year and had over 200 yards rushing and under 200 passing.

2018 Bethel vs U$T, Bethel threw 33 passes for 172 yards and ran the ball 38 times for 217 yards (46:54 run:pass ratio).
2019 Concordia vs U$T, Concordia threw 7 passes for 25 yards and ran the ball 43 times for 130 yards (14:86 run:pass ratio).

Though I know you feel the need to argue nearly every point, can we agree that Bethel used the run and pass to beat U$T in 2018? Do you think Bethel would have beat U$T if they would have only attempted 7 passes (and only completed 3 of them)?  To beat top teams, you need to be able to do both.  Even if one aspect of your offense outshines the other, both are necessary to beat a top ten opponent.  Faunch, feel free to correct me if I misinterpreted, but I believe that was the intent of your comment.

Correct Duffman..run only or focusing mainly on the run generally won't get it done. I understand the idea of ball control you've got to be able to move the ball. in 2019 and 18 SJU has ran for 70 yards against U$T....69 of them were gained last year and mostly in the fourth quarter.  Balance helps but to beat the D1 bound Tommie$ a team has to throw quick hitters and slant routes...find the single coverage and attack it. The run is set up by passing the ball early and effectively. Running the to edge is a waste of time...gotta go between the 3 and 4 holes and hope to pop a couple runs. Also doesn't hurt if U$T turns the ball over once in awhile. If SJU had stuck to the 2019 game plan in 2018 i think they would have beaten U$T at Target field.

[hazzben]

You cannot best U$T running the ball.

Why would you say that? Bethel beat UST last year and had over 200 yards rushing and under 200 passing.

2018 Bethel vs U$T, Bethel threw 33 passes for 172 yards and ran the ball 38 times for 217 yards (46:54 run:pass ratio).
2019 Concordia vs U$T, Concordia threw 7 passes for 25 yards and ran the ball 43 times for 130 yards (14:86 run:pass ratio).

Though I know you feel the need to argue nearly every point, can we agree that Bethel used the run and pass to beat U$T in 2018? Do you think Bethel would have beat U$T if they would have only attempted 7 passes (and only completed 3 of them)?  To beat top teams, you need to be able to do both.  Even if one aspect of your offense outshines the other, both are necessary to beat a top ten opponent.  Faunch, feel free to correct me if I misinterpreted, but I believe that was the intent of your comment.

Correct Duffman..run only or focusing mainly on the run generally won't get it done. In understand the idea of ball control you've got to be able to love the ball. in 2019 and 18 SJU has ran for 70 yards against U$T....69 of them were gained last year and mostly in the fourth quarter.  Balance helps but to beat the D1 bound Tommie$ a team has to throw quick hitters and slant routes...find the single coverage and attack it. The run is set up by passing the ball early and effectively. Running the to edge is a waste of time...gotta go between the 3 and 4 holes and hope to pop a couple runs. Also doesn't hurt if U$T turns the ball ove once in awhile. If SJU had stuck to the 2019 game plan in 2018 i think they would have beaten U$T at Target field.

I don't agree with RoyalsFan that Bethel won by running it cobber style.

That said, Passing to set up the Run was SJU's gameplan (given your personel a wise move) vs. UST. Bethel's gameplan was very much run to set up the Pass. Both proved successful in 2019 against UST. I think they are both looking for balance running/passing. But there is some nuance in what is each team's fastball (SJU passing, Bethel rushing) and what is their offspeed pitch (SJU rushing, Bethel passing). This is owing in large part to who each team has under center and their respective strengths. To this point, I talked with Coach Petersen after UST and he acknowledged they challenged their receiving corps that they'd need to make some big plays against UST for us to win. It spoke to a) the running game being the major weapon and b) the realization that to win we'd need to make plays through the air as well and couldn't be one dimensional. Bethel ran effectively and also had some clutch catches in big spots .. end result was a Bethel victory.

To look at this from the other side, I'd wager Bethel's main goal defensively Saturday is to limit the damage Eerdman can do (no easy task) and try to force SJU to beat them on the ground. Conversely, I'm guessing SJU's defensive strategy will revolve around slowing Bethel's ground game (and neutralizing Roste as a runner, also no easy task), forcing Bethel/Roste to beat them through the air. The challenge for both teams (and to Faunch/Duffman's point) is that both SJU and Bethel have really good offspeed pitches as well (running and passing, respectively). Neither team is one dimensional. But both are especially lethal when they are throwing their respective fastball well.

[miac952]

I would imagine since Esten came to U$T via Penn State, a Tommie/Nittany Lion non-conference football game is on the horizon.  What's the line on that, AO?

You guys got the ex Penn State qb. That would be the storyline. Vengeance to James Franklin for neglecting the talent he had in-house.

[formerd3db]

if we ever hosted the Gophers for an OOC matchup

There is no need to worry about this ever happening!  Seriously, though, Big Ten teams don't generally play in Summit League gyms.

That was my conclusion, but a co-worker posed the question and it made me think a bit.

Not so sure that couldn't happen. Big Ten schools, including both Michigan and Michigan State do play schools in basketball like Cleveland State, Detroit, Bradley, Central, Eastern and Western Michigan, and Indiana State.