FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

Also, football is not nice on the body.  Playing March - May and then starting up again in August is a lot.

[art76]

Another one bites the dust: https://www.d3sports.com/notables/2021/02/delaware-state-pulls-plug-on-wesley

[repete]

That Wesley news stinks. I've exchanged a few East/West jabs over the years, but I have lots of respect for that program and what it did for kids in that area. Also, there's sadness for what they've been through. Wesley did a lot without great facilities or a classic campus setting. The financial troubles were no secret over the years. The stadium could be lively on big game days, like Salisbury. I was lucky to have been at that wild Linfield playoff game about 10 years ago. D3 football has lost a fine program.

[SagatagSam]

I'm still not sure what I think about spring football.  I don't really think I'll miss it if it doesn't happen.

I don't think I'll miss it. Spring football would be too foreign. Games in March/April in the inevitable spring blizzards? No thanks. Final game in May right around graduation? That would be strange.

I'd rather the Johnnie-Tommie Rivalry just take the bullet in the head at this point to end it once and for all rather than have it limp away and die in an empty or near empty stadium as if it were a scrimmage.

[jamtod]

I'm still not sure what I think about spring football.  I don't really think I'll miss it if it doesn't happen.

I don't think I'll miss it. Spring football would be too foreign. Games in March/April in the inevitable spring blizzards? No thanks. Final game in May right around graduation? That would be strange.

I'd rather the Johnnie-Tommie Rivalry just take the bullet in the head at this point to end it once and for all rather than have it limp away and die in an empty or near empty stadium as if it were a scrimmage.

UST just announced scheduling of the first non-conference games (Pio League schedule still to come) with a trip to UNI on my birthday, 9/18/2021.
Still got room for 2 or 3 more non-conference games the next few years...

[GoldandBlueBU]

I'm still not sure what I think about spring football.  I don't really think I'll miss it if it doesn't happen.

I don't think I'll miss it. Spring football would be too foreign. Games in March/April in the inevitable spring blizzards? No thanks. Final game in May right around graduation? That would be strange.

I'd rather the Johnnie-Tommie Rivalry just take the bullet in the head at this point to end it once and for all rather than have it limp away and die in an empty or near empty stadium as if it were a scrimmage.

Yeah - agreed.  A graduating senior may feel different about having a chance to play a little bit more, but losing a player to an ACL or other several month recovery time injury would probably feel not worth missing a "real" fall season a few months later.

[USTBench]

Well, it appears the Tommies have played their last MIAC game. It's been real, fellas.

Kids who came to UST as freshmen, looking forward to a Tommie/Johnnie game, or hoping to get a shot at a Mt. Union or UMHB, will be stepping on the field with UNI. Yikes. I like the moxie, as I don't think there is much to be gained from ducking that level of competition or looking for someone at the D2 to dip a toe in with, but, again, yikes.

I've watched a lot of Drake and Butler over the last few years of following the Dakota schools, so by my judgment it's not crazy to think UST will be competitive within the confines of the Pioneer League as early as this year, but a MVFC team right out the gate is a tall order to say the least. But, you don't get to where you want to go taking the easy road, I suppose.

Things are going to keep changing, I don't know what D3 will look like in 5 or 10 years, but the more I think about it, the more I think D3 should strive to get back to its essence. My thoughts are certain schools (UMHB) should keep tabs on UST and see if it's also a move they should consider. On that same note, there are plenty of schools in D2 (Minnesota-Crookston) giving kids from two states away athletic scholarships with virtual guarantees they'll get no return on investment, and should probably consider D3.

Anyway, I'll check in from time-to-time to remind Johnnie fans that it makes no sense making fun of the Tommies anymore, as St. Scholastica is now their rival.

[DuffMan]

...as St. Scholastica is now their rival.

As recent history has shown us, either there are no CSS fans, or they have not discovered Post Patterns yet.

[USTBench]

...as St. Scholastica is now their rival.

As recent history has shown us, either there are no CSS fans, or they have not discovered Post Patterns yet.

I recommend throwing your best player out of school and putting him on a train to Duluth.

[hazzben]

Well, it appears the Tommies have played their last MIAC game. It's been real, fellas.

Kids who came to UST as freshmen, looking forward to a Tommie/Johnnie game, or hoping to get a shot at a Mt. Union or UMHB, will be stepping on the field with UNI. Yikes. I like the moxie, as I don't think there is much to be gained from ducking that level of competition or looking for someone at the D2 to dip a toe in with, but, again, yikes.

I've watched a lot of Drake and Butler over the last few years of following the Dakota schools, so by my judgment it's not crazy to think UST will be competitive within the confines of the Pioneer League as early as this year, but a MVFC team right out the gate is a tall order to say the least. But, you don't get to where you want to go taking the easy road, I suppose.

Things are going to keep changing, I don't know what D3 will look like in 5 or 10 years, but the more I think about it, the more I think D3 should strive to get back to its essence. My thoughts are certain schools (UMHB) should keep tabs on UST and see if it's also a move they should consider. On that same note, there are plenty of schools in D2 (Minnesota-Crookston) giving kids from two states away athletic scholarships with virtual guarantees they'll get no return on investment, and should probably consider D3.

Anyway, I'll check in from time-to-time to remind Johnnie fans that it makes no sense making fun of the Tommies anymore, as St. Scholastica is now their rival.

It's been real Bench & Jamtod, don't be strangers.

RE: Pio League + Competitiveness 

I think UST is immediately in the mix. The biggest difference for the Tommies is that they just went from having 2-3 competitive regular season games a year, to playing good comp every week, and getting their doors blown off v. the UNI's of the FCS world (at least for the foreseeable future). In the past, an off week might end up with a 42-7 W over a MIAC also ran. That won't cut it going forward. That said, I think they do just fine against their in conference foes.

[sjusection105]

Things are going to keep changing, I don't know what D3 will look like in 5 or 10 years, but the more I think about it, the more I think D3 should strive to get back to its essence.

Good point- it's going to get weirder & weirder as times roll on......

[jamtod]

Well, it appears the Tommies have played their last MIAC game. It's been real, fellas.

Kids who came to UST as freshmen, looking forward to a Tommie/Johnnie game, or hoping to get a shot at a Mt. Union or UMHB, will be stepping on the field with UNI. Yikes. I like the moxie, as I don't think there is much to be gained from ducking that level of competition or looking for someone at the D2 to dip a toe in with, but, again, yikes.

I've watched a lot of Drake and Butler over the last few years of following the Dakota schools, so by my judgment it's not crazy to think UST will be competitive within the confines of the Pioneer League as early as this year, but a MVFC team right out the gate is a tall order to say the least. But, you don't get to where you want to go taking the easy road, I suppose.

Things are going to keep changing, I don't know what D3 will look like in 5 or 10 years, but the more I think about it, the more I think D3 should strive to get back to its essence. My thoughts are certain schools (UMHB) should keep tabs on UST and see if it's also a move they should consider. On that same note, there are plenty of schools in D2 (Minnesota-Crookston) giving kids from two states away athletic scholarships with virtual guarantees they'll get no return on investment, and should probably consider D3.

Anyway, I'll check in from time-to-time to remind Johnnie fans that it makes no sense making fun of the Tommies anymore, as St. Scholastica is now their rival.

It's been real Bench & Jamtod, don't be strangers.

RE: Pio League + Competitiveness 

I think UST is immediately in the mix. The biggest difference for the Tommies is that they just went from having 2-3 competitive regular season games a year, to playing good comp every week, and getting their doors blown off v. the UNI's of the FCS world (at least for the foreseeable future). In the past, an off week might end up with a 42-7 W over a MIAC also ran. That won't cut it going forward. That said, I think they do just fine against their in conference foes.

Yeah, it's going to be an adjustment to a different type of fun, but I think we'll compete pretty early on. Just not against UNI. Got that one on my calendar for a trip to the motherland already and my brother looked at some score comps and set the spread at 47.5.

[emma17]

Sorry if this was discussed previously- has St Thomas had success in landing new recruits that can play at the D1 level?

[USTBench]

Sorry if this was discussed previously- has St Thomas had success in landing new recruits that can play at the D1 level?

Time will tell. They haven't won too many recruiting battles with the Dakota schools and UNI, but have sniped a few which indicates to me they're targeting the right kids. Most kids they've landed have had plenty of NSIC attention which is plenty good enough to win in the Pioneer. 

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Sorry if this was discussed previously- has St Thomas had success in landing new recruits that can play at the D1 level?

Time will tell. They haven't won too many recruiting battles with the Dakota schools and UNI, but have sniped a few which indicates to me they're targeting the right kids. Most kids they've landed have had plenty of NSIC attention which is plenty good enough to win in the Pioneer.

https://www.tommiesports.com/news/2020/12/16/football-welcomes-26-players-in-first-d-i-signing-class.aspx