FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

Snow here in western Colorado and headed east for game day.

Ugh.  Weather for SJU home games is not cooperating this year.  Thankfully, my kids have been troopers.
 
9/21 (GAC) --> Warm but lightning delay
10/5 (AT) --> Cool and drizzle/rain for 80% of the afternoon
10/12 (BU) --> Forecasted rain/snow and cold

[DuffMan]

From the front page: UMHB to appeal vacating 2016 title

Yikes!  What a mess. 

[TheChucker]

From the front page: UMHB to appeal vacating 2016 title

Yikes!  What a mess. 

Holy cow. With all the weird behind-the-scenes stuff going at major NCAA programs with little more than a slap on the wrist (UNC academic fraud case in point), that seems overly harsh.

[MiacMan]

Second, the head coach provided the same student-athlete his car to use for approximately 18 months. The committee determined the use of the car was an impermissible benefit and resulted in the student-athlete competing while ineligible. The head coach provided his car for a second student-athlete to use, but the car broke down shortly after the student-athlete took possession.

"Of particular concern to the COI is the fact that a football staff member questioned the head coach about providing a car to the student-athlete, but the head coach dismissed the staff member's concern and took no action to ascertain the permissibility of his actions," the committee said in its report.

I'm guessing that there is more to this than meets the eye, but, this seems pretty serious to me. 18mos. that's practically a "FREE OF CHARGE LEASE" Plus the kid was allowed the use of the car as a recruit? These guys should have known this would not be within NCAA rules.

[DuffMan]

I tend to agree, MM.  On first read, I was thinking he just let the guy use the car to run to a doctor appointment or something, but he let him use it for 18 months.  That's practically giving the kid a car.  It's a harsh punishment, sure, and one can argue that letting a kid use a car doesn't provide a competitive advantage (though providing a car to a recruit could definitely sway a kid's decision), but those are the rules.

[art76]

From the front page: UMHB to appeal vacating 2016 title

Yikes!  What a mess. 

Ouch. There are comments at the bottom of the story as well. For the NCAA to make such a statement against UMHB, means there's something to what's in the story in that said student had the car for 18 months, that he played in the championship game, and at least one person on staff suspected something and the head coach poo-pooed the advice.

[miac952]

Second, the head coach provided the same student-athlete his car to use for approximately 18 months. The committee determined the use of the car was an impermissible benefit and resulted in the student-athlete competing while ineligible. The head coach provided his car for a second student-athlete to use, but the car broke down shortly after the student-athlete took possession.

"Of particular concern to the COI is the fact that a football staff member questioned the head coach about providing a car to the student-athlete, but the head coach dismissed the staff member's concern and took no action to ascertain the permissibility of his actions," the committee said in its report.

I'm guessing that there is more to this than meets the eye, but, this seems pretty serious to me. 18mos. that's practically a "FREE OF CHARGE LEASE" Plus the kid was allowed the use of the car as a recruit? These guys should have known this would not be within NCAA rules.

I think its the dismissal of the concerns raised by the staff member and the fact that all of these coaches have to go through constant NCAA compliance training and they CLEARLY know that situations such as this cross the line, especially over an 18 month time period.

Mary Hardin Baylor should consider taking a page from the Bill Self Kansas playbook though. With very serious NCAA penalties looming they decided to invite Snoop with some dancers and stripper poles, and rockets that shoot cash to their beginning of season event with young kids in the crowd. Go big or go home.
https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-self-kansas-fall-victim-to-snoop-doggs-acrobatic-dancers-and-money-cannons-175446368.html

[hazzben]

Two other items of note from the 409 game:

1.  Scott Kirchhof, Bethel qb and current coach, was taken off the field in an ambulance. Ambulance literally drove onto the field. Turned out it was nothing serious but it sure was a scare.

2.  ESPN cut to Clemens Stadium from whatever game they were airing at the time to do a live interview with John.

It was a great game and a memorable day. It was also VERY cold..

1 - Haz can confirm or deny, but I believe it was a fractured Sternum, so sort of serious.  Also, he's not a coach anymore this year.  He took on a full time position at Eagle Brook church.

Yep, it was his sternum. Definitely affected the playoff game against Wartburg, in addition to Sam Lacey annihilating his ankle on a play to keep a punt out of the endzone against SJU.

409 was an incredible game and atmosphere. Seemed cold in the stands, but was perfect on the field. Back and forth, lead changes and big plays on both sides of the ball, total class by players on both sides all game. The outcome wasn't fun, but it's still my favorite game experience as a player (as a coach is a tie between @SJU in 2006 and @ Central in 2007). We got the ball back with a little over a minute to play after Kirchoff's injury and SJU's TD, and had to bring in AJ Parnell, a true frosh who hadn't thrown a pass all year. AJ is an incredible guy, and after an HC stint in Washington is now on the Bethel staff. But I always wonder what happens if we had Scotty under center for that drive and healthy for the playoff run.

All that to say, it's hard to imagine a better D3 game atmosphere. Two top 10 teams, incredible venue, all time wins record on the line, MIAC title on the line. I remember we got there really early because we didn't know how bad traffic would be. And when we went to check out the field at 10:30 the Bethel side was already fully packed with fans. It was a ridiculous environment.

[hazzben]

From the front page: UMHB to appeal vacating 2016 title

Yikes!  What a mess. 

It's a dumb move by the coach. Especially when a staff member approached him to let him know it might not be legal. That said, at first glance it looks more like he was trying to help out a kid who needed assistance. Still wrong and a dumb rules violation. But I'm not ready to assume he was trying to be underhanded as much as he was ignorantly trying to help one of his players out in a way that violates the rules.

[DuffMan]

...at first glance it looks more like he was trying to help out a kid who needed assistance.

Agreed.

[hazzben]

...at first glance it looks more like he was trying to help out a kid who needed assistance.

Agreed.

As usual with the NCAA, the punishment doesn't fit the crime. They self-reported. THe coach was suspended. That should be the end of it. If I'm a 2016 player, I'm still wearing that ring with pride. On the field they were the best team in D3.

[DuffMan]

If I'm a 2016 player, I'm still wearing that ring with pride.

Maybe Jostens will offer them a deal to have asterisks added to their rings. 

[02 Warhawk]

If I'm a 2016 player, I'm still wearing that ring with pride.

Maybe Jostens will offer them a deal to have asterisks added to their rings. 

+K

Just to offset the -K if any MHB fans see this.

[DuffMan]

+K

Just to offset the -K if any MHB fans see this.

Thanks, I'll need it. 

[hazzben]

If I'm a 2016 player, I'm still wearing that ring with pride.

Maybe Jostens will offer them a deal to have asterisks added to their rings. 

Found an etsy option for way cheaper. $14 per, maybe a bit more to get it in UMHB colors