FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badger1845]

Bummer.

BU over UST is certainly no gimme, but if they do win, the SJU crapping of the bed against Concordia will prove quite unfortunate. 

It will be quite a bitter pill for the players to swallow if it works out that way.

The 1-2 combo of UST v UWEC and SJU v CON has seemingly most hurt BU.  Now that's strange.

Bethel is also being hurt by Simpson and River Falls.  If you really want to manipulate the SoS in your favor, play winning teams from bad conferences.  You might get a better game from playing River Falls or Simpson but the NCAA's limited statistics won't give you proper credit.

The non-conference scheduling at all levels of football have always been a bit of a mystery to me. Most teams are scheduled out for 4-6 years in advance, but I have always felt it would be wise if teams would only book games a year in advance. If Bethel had booked a game with St. Scholastica (they had to play 2 NAIA schools in the Dakota's this season to fill their NC schedule) or Martin Luther this season they might be in a much better position today in pool C. The shorter scheduling window could help all teams schedule more favorable games and avoid ones that may well be hurtful to their cause.

I know I've seen Oshkosh and Whitewater are both looking for home and home series for future seasons. 

[badger1845]

Well, the Pool C mock went about how I figured. I do chuckle, when I raised some questions a few weeks back about Bethel's prospects and several posters on the boards scoffed "A one loss Bethel will never be left out." Still football to be played, but things are looking more and more likely that this is exactly what might transpire.

Still need to win Saturday for any of it to matter. Should be a great game.

Also, FWIW, Central @ Hope would be a great matchup. Two Dutch Reformed schools facing off would be all sorts of interesting.

I still think the winner of Bethel and UST should be in.  There's no way the top 2 conferences (MIAC, WIAC) in the country should not have 2 teams in the playoff.  Financially it wouldn't be the best but just send them to the South, East or North bracket and see how it all shakes out.  Or follow baseball and have play-in games with the conferences who usually have their champ monkey stomped by a 1 seed.

[hazzben]

Well, the Pool C mock went about how I figured. I do chuckle, when I raised some questions a few weeks back about Bethel's prospects and several posters on the boards scoffed "A one loss Bethel will never be left out." Still football to be played, but things are looking more and more likely that this is exactly what might transpire.

Still need to win Saturday for any of it to matter. Should be a great game.

Also, FWIW, Central @ Hope would be a great matchup. Two Dutch Reformed schools facing off would be all sorts of interesting.

I still think the winner of Bethel and UST should be in.  There's no way the top 2 conferences (MIAC, WIAC) in the country should not have 2 teams in the playoff.  Financially it wouldn't be the best but just send them to the South, East or North bracket and see how it all shakes out.  Or follow baseball and have play-in games with the conferences who usually have their champ monkey stomped by a 1 seed.

I agree with the "should be" part, but it doesn't look like the "will be" is part of the equation, barring some upsets Saturday. Also, UST is more or less dead in the water right now.

[DuffMan]

Also, UST is more or less dead in the water right now.

According to their GAC game story:

St. Thomas goes into next Saturday's home game with No. 9-ranked Bethel (8-1) with three incentives for a victory: a share of the the league championship with St. John's; extend a program streak of eight or more wins to 11 seasons; and stay in contention for an NCAA at-large playoff bid.

[jamtod]

Also, UST is more or less dead in the water right now.

According to their GAC game story:

St. Thomas goes into next Saturday's home game with No. 9-ranked Bethel (8-1) with three incentives for a victory: a share of the the league championship with St. John's; extend a program streak of eight or more wins to 11 seasons; and stay in contention for an NCAA at-large playoff bid.

Ehh, gotta keep the irrational optimism alive. It's not happening, but I can see why the coach/SID aren't peeing on the idea quite yet (even though reality does).

[hazzben]

Also, UST is more or less dead in the water right now.

According to their GAC game story:

St. Thomas goes into next Saturday's home game with No. 9-ranked Bethel (8-1) with three incentives for a victory: a share of the the league championship with St. John's; extend a program streak of eight or more wins to 11 seasons; and stay in contention for an NCAA at-large playoff bid.

Ehh, gotta keep the irrational optimism alive. It's not happening, but I can see why the coach/SID aren't peeing on the idea quite yet (even though reality does).

Caruso channeling his inner Amy Klobuchar 

[GoldandBlueBU]

Well, the Pool C mock went about how I figured. I do chuckle, when I raised some questions a few weeks back about Bethel's prospects and several posters on the boards scoffed "A one loss Bethel will never be left out." Still football to be played, but things are looking more and more likely that this is exactly what might transpire.

Still need to win Saturday for any of it to matter. Should be a great game.

Also, FWIW, Central @ Hope would be a great matchup. Two Dutch Reformed schools facing off would be all sorts of interesting.

I still think the winner of Bethel and UST should be in.  There's no way the top 2 conferences (MIAC, WIAC) in the country should not have 2 teams in the playoff.  Financially it wouldn't be the best but just send them to the South, East or North bracket and see how it all shakes out.  Or follow baseball and have play-in games with the conferences who usually have their champ monkey stomped by a 1 seed.

I like that idea...no idea how / if it would work functionally, but it would certainly solve some problems....

[miac952]

Well, the Pool C mock went about how I figured. I do chuckle, when I raised some questions a few weeks back about Bethel's prospects and several posters on the boards scoffed "A one loss Bethel will never be left out." Still football to be played, but things are looking more and more likely that this is exactly what might transpire.

Still need to win Saturday for any of it to matter. Should be a great game.

Also, FWIW, Central @ Hope would be a great matchup. Two Dutch Reformed schools facing off would be all sorts of interesting.

I still think the winner of Bethel and UST should be in.  There's no way the top 2 conferences (MIAC, WIAC) in the country should not have 2 teams in the playoff.  Financially it wouldn't be the best but just send them to the South, East or North bracket and see how it all shakes out.  Or follow baseball and have play-in games with the conferences who usually have their champ monkey stomped by a 1 seed.

I like that idea...no idea how / if it would work functionally, but it would certainly solve some problems....

The last four out have to pay their own way for travel for a Tuesday evening play-in showdown against the last four auto bids in. UST or Bethel could send their freshman / sophomore squad out to New Ulm on Tuesday night to take care of business against Martin Luther while the big squad stays at home and preps for a Saturday game. 

[SagatagSam]

Well, the Pool C mock went about how I figured. I do chuckle, when I raised some questions a few weeks back about Bethel's prospects and several posters on the boards scoffed "A one loss Bethel will never be left out." Still football to be played, but things are looking more and more likely that this is exactly what might transpire.

Still need to win Saturday for any of it to matter. Should be a great game.

Also, FWIW, Central @ Hope would be a great matchup. Two Dutch Reformed schools facing off would be all sorts of interesting.

I still think the winner of Bethel and UST should be in.  There's no way the top 2 conferences (MIAC, WIAC) in the country should not have 2 teams in the playoff.  Financially it wouldn't be the best but just send them to the South, East or North bracket and see how it all shakes out.  Or follow baseball and have play-in games with the conferences who usually have their champ monkey stomped by a 1 seed.

I like that idea...no idea how / if it would work functionally, but it would certainly solve some problems....

The last four out have to pay their own way for travel for a Tuesday evening play-in showdown against the last four auto bids in. UST or Bethel could send their freshman / sophomore squad out to New Ulm on Tuesday night to take care of business against Martin Luther while the big squad stays at home and preps for a Saturday game. 

It would certainly make things much more interesting, but I'm not holding my breath to get a 36 team field from the NCAA. Plus, the idea of pushing the Stagg Bowl to where it falls right between Christmas and the New Year is a non-starter.

[OzJohnnie]

A quick diversion.  After our rugby discussion this week my YouTube algorithms keyed in on the search I did and now feed me rugby highlights.  They just sent me this one of Jonah Lomu, the greatest beast-mode athlete I've ever seen.  He played his first international for the New Zealand All Blacks at just 19 but was diagnosed with a genetic kidney disorder which cruelly shortened his career and unfortunately caused his early death a few years ago.

His size and speed combination was outrageous and he ran punishing, angry football which reminds me in spirit of Adrian Peterson.  Here you go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hBqtLT1oT4

[hazzben]

A quick diversion.  After our rugby discussion this week my YouTube algorithms keyed in on the search I did and now feed me rugby highlights.  They just sent me this one of Jonah Lomu, the greatest beast-mode athlete I've ever seen.  He played his first international for the New Zealand All Blacks at just 19 but was diagnosed with a genetic kidney disorder which cruelly shortened his career and unfortunately caused his early death a few years ago.

His size and speed combination was outrageous and he ran punishing, angry football which reminds me in spirit of Adrian Peterson.  Here you go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hBqtLT1oT4

I'm no diehard rugby guy, but I knew about Jonah Lomu. He's the Jim Brown/Bo Jackson equivalent with Rugby. Epic size/speed combo and talent that left a lot of good years on the field.

We also know he's good, because Oz was forced to compliment a Kiwi 

[OzJohnnie]

We also know he's good, because Oz was forced to compliment a Kiwi 

I was going to draw a Bo Jackson comparison myself but I thought that was a compliment too far for a no-good sheep shagger.

[SJUrube]

Well, the Pool C mock went about how I figured. I do chuckle, when I raised some questions a few weeks back about Bethel's prospects and several posters on the boards scoffed "A one loss Bethel will never be left out."

Still need to win Saturday for any of it to matter. Should be a great game.

I don't know if I went on record saying this about the 2019 Bethel team but I've said it before. I know things don't look good for them now but I'll be stunned if a 1 lost MIAC team is left out.

I'll be curious if any of Pool C noise will impact how Bethel plays Saturday.

[Pat Coleman]

Also, FWIW, Central @ Hope would be a great matchup. Two Dutch Reformed schools facing off would be all sorts of interesting.

Thank you. I also think so!

[TheChucker]

Well, the Pool C mock went about how I figured. I do chuckle, when I raised some questions a few weeks back about Bethel's prospects and several posters on the boards scoffed "A one loss Bethel will never be left out."

Still need to win Saturday for any of it to matter. Should be a great game.

I don't know if I went on record saying this about the 2019 Bethel team but I've said it before. I know things don't look good for them now but I'll be stunned if a 1 lost MIAC team is left out.

I'll be curious if any of Pool C noise will impact how Bethel plays Saturday.

Maybe it's been discussed on previous pages, but I would think a win over St. Thomas (required to even be considered for Pool C) would bump Bethel's SOS in both the flawed D3 NCAA method and also in the committee's minds. There's no way a 1-loss MIAC team gets left out.