FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Capn34]

I still think football becomes irrelevant unless they start doing scholarships.  Pioneer league is basicallly D3 but the players can tell their friends they are D1.

Question on basketball.  How many of their current players can play at that level?

How does this also change life for coaches?  The pressure to win is different at that level.  If someone like Tauer who is a lifer has four bad years, do they start looking elsewhere?

I think hockey will be the easiest transition as the players at decent D3 schools have all played high level juniors and tan at least give D1 teams a competitive game.

Depends on your definition of "irrelevant."
The experts around here suggest that UST can step into the Pioneer League and go .500 pretty quickly. Competing for a league title there before long isn't out of the question. San Diego has won a game in the FCS playoffs a few times recently, but I don't think there is any chance a non-scholarship Pioneer League team is going to be any kind of national power. I think either the aim for football (nationally relevant, competing for a championship) changes OR the Pioneer League is a stepping stone towards a future application to the Mo Valley conference, where we'll get pounded on for a bit before hopefully being competitive.

It takes a long time and a lot of money to take the next step with football.  The biggest worry is how many meh seasons does it take to shrink an already small fan base.  I think hockey and women's sports will be fine, the men's basketball and football will take time. 

[DuffMan]

Welcome, St. Thomas!

https://pflfan.proboards.com/

So, I should register to continue trolling the Tom Kittens?

[Capn34]

Welcome, St. Thomas!

https://pflfan.proboards.com/

So, I should register to continue trolling the Tom Kittens?

Absolutely

[jamtod]

Welcome, St. Thomas!

https://pflfan.proboards.com/

So, I should register to continue trolling the Tom Kittens?

Yes. I respect your trolling. Hate it and respect it simultaneously.

[miac952]

I still think football becomes irrelevant unless they start doing scholarships.  Pioneer league is basicallly D3 but the players can tell their friends they are D1.

Question on basketball.  How many of their current players can play at that level?

How does this also change life for coaches?  The pressure to win is different at that level.  If someone like Tauer who is a lifer has four bad years, do they start looking elsewhere?

I think hockey will be the easiest transition as the players at decent D3 schools have all played high level juniors and tan at least give D1 teams a competitive game.

It may sound odd, and I've said it before, but men's soccer may have the greatest opportunity. The U of M does not have a D1 program. It's a state that holds a lot of D1 talent in the HS ranks.

Regarding the basketball question, Anders Nelson is a D1 talent. Maybe 1-2 other guys. But they severely lack in big guys with skills. There aren't many of them, so it is rare for them to fall into the D3 ranks. Basketball is an interesting one. You just have to hi there jackpot with 2-3 guys and build around them. The Jackrabbits nailed that the last 4-5 years. JT might be the most D1 ready coach in UST's ranks.

If there are MIAC athletics this season, I will be curious to see what they do with the freshman class. Maybe a limited to game profile for those with D1 talent to stay just under the threshold for redshirt eligibility??

It will also be interesting to see what coaches stay and which ones pass on D1. It's a whole different animal. Recruiting, managing scholarship $, NCAA rigors, different budget responsibility, and travel budgets. Also, many sports, due to D1 rules will actually lose assistant coaches. Baseball, track, etc. will all have to cut some part time coaches.

[AO]

I still think football becomes irrelevant unless they start doing scholarships.  Pioneer league is basicallly D3 but the players can tell their friends they are D1.

Question on basketball.  How many of their current players can play at that level?

How does this also change life for coaches?  The pressure to win is different at that level.  If someone like Tauer who is a lifer has four bad years, do they start looking elsewhere?

I think hockey will be the easiest transition as the players at decent D3 schools have all played high level juniors and tan at least give D1 teams a competitive game.

Depends on your definition of "irrelevant."
The experts around here suggest that UST can step into the Pioneer League and go .500 pretty quickly. Competing for a league title there before long isn't out of the question. San Diego has won a game in the FCS playoffs a few times recently, but I don't think there is any chance a non-scholarship Pioneer League team is going to be any kind of national power. I think either the aim for football (nationally relevant, competing for a championship) changes OR the Pioneer League is a stepping stone towards a future application to the Mo Valley conference, where we'll get pounded on for a bit before hopefully being competitive.

It takes a long time and a lot of money to take the next step with football.  The biggest worry is how many meh seasons does it take to shrink an already small fan base.  I think hockey and women's sports will be fine, the men's basketball and football will take time.

Men's basketball is probably one of the easier transitions to make.  We're developing more D1 talent than ever.

[jamtod]

I'll be curious which U of MN programs this impacts the most with another D1 program finally in the state. Not likely to be competing for the same top-tier talent, but competition for the depth to fill out a roster will matter more in some sports than others.

[art76]

Hey gang, been home about two hours now. The second (left) knee replacement went well. Actually, better than the first one back in February. I am attributing that to being in better shape, better pain management and this knee was not the "bad one". It gets to be a grind taking pain meds every couple of hours to stay ahead of the curve, but the alternative is genuinely lots of pain.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I still think football becomes irrelevant unless they start doing scholarships.  Pioneer league is basicallly D3 but the players can tell their friends they are D1.

Question on basketball.  How many of their current players can play at that level?

How does this also change life for coaches?  The pressure to win is different at that level.  If someone like Tauer who is a lifer has four bad years, do they start looking elsewhere?

I think hockey will be the easiest transition as the players at decent D3 schools have all played high level juniors and tan at least give D1 teams a competitive game.

Depends on your definition of "irrelevant."
The experts around here suggest that UST can step into the Pioneer League and go .500 pretty quickly. Competing for a league title there before long isn't out of the question. San Diego has won a game in the FCS playoffs a few times recently, but I don't think there is any chance a non-scholarship Pioneer League team is going to be any kind of national power. I think either the aim for football (nationally relevant, competing for a championship) changes OR the Pioneer League is a stepping stone towards a future application to the Mo Valley conference, where we'll get pounded on for a bit before hopefully being competitive.

It takes a long time and a lot of money to take the next step with football.  The biggest worry is how many meh seasons does it take to shrink an already small fan base.  I think hockey and women's sports will be fine, the men's basketball and football will take time.

Men's basketball is probably one of the easier transitions to make.  We're developing more D1 talent than ever.

Same for women's hoops, volleyball, baseball and softball. In all five sports, MN is developing D1 talent like never before and if UST can land a few of these per sport, the adjustment phase wont be all that long or painful.  Football and both hockeys have a rough road ahead.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Welcome, St. Thomas!

https://pflfan.proboards.com/

So, I should register to continue trolling the Tom Kittens?

If that's what it takes to make your life livable, then by all means do so    Maybe when UST resurrects its wrestling program in D1, your son is good enough for a scholarship 

[BDB]

Hey gang, been home about two hours now. The second (left) knee replacement went well. Actually, better than the first one back in February. I am attributing that to being in better shape, better pain management and this knee was not the "bad one". It gets to be a grind taking pain meds every couple of hours to stay ahead of the curve, but the alternative is genuinely lots of pain.

Congrats art76! Good to be home I'm sure.
You probably were better at pain management after being through it once already.  Don't let it creep up too far, right? Been there.
Big relief having it in the rear view. Now don't skip the rehab. 

[Pat Coleman]

Welcome, St. Thomas!

https://pflfan.proboards.com/

So, I should register to continue trolling the Tom Kittens?

Please point us to those posts occasionally once you do. That would be fun to watch.

[sjusection105]

Hey gang, been home about two hours now. The second (left) knee replacement went well. Actually, better than the first one back in February. I am attributing that to being in better shape, better pain management and this knee was not the "bad one". It gets to be a grind taking pain meds every couple of hours to stay ahead of the curve, but the alternative is genuinely lots of pain.

Good job art76- get back in shape for deer hunting!

[Lurking Dog]

Many of you know that a rule change is under consideration to let any D-III do this.  In fact, that change will get a NCAA vote next spring.  Only condition for moving up would be that a school would have to be invited to join a D-I all-sports conference.

What D-III schools would want to move?

[Pat Coleman]

There has been talk that Rowan would like to get on the list.