FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

I'm pretty ambivalent about having a final Johnnie-Tommie game.  I think it might be a decent quality game if they scheduled it at the end of the window, but it wouldn't be the same with a crowd of a few hundred

The basketball game last week wasn't any less intense and I don't expect tonight's to be any less intense either. It would be different for fans but not necessarily on the field.

[faunch]

MIAC announces plans for spring competition

Football
MIAC football teams may schedule contests at the discretion of each participating institution between the dates of March 5 and May 15. There will be no conference schedule for football this spring and no conference champion will be crowned. MIAC football teams are permitted a maximum of four competitions, including scrimmages and games.

https://miac.prestosports.com/general/2020-21/releases/20210301qgh4kk

How many games will be played this Friday??? 
Seriously how soon would any teams start playing football games....March 26 or 27?

[jamtod]

MIAC announces plans for spring competition

Football
MIAC football teams may schedule contests at the discretion of each participating institution between the dates of March 5 and May 15. There will be no conference schedule for football this spring and no conference champion will be crowned. MIAC football teams are permitted a maximum of four competitions, including scrimmages and games.

https://miac.prestosports.com/general/2020-21/releases/20210301qgh4kk

How many games will be played this Friday??? 
Seriously how soon would any teams start playing football games....March 26 or 27?

I was thinking about that. If you are only going to have 4 games, and the guidelines didn't seem to prohibit all fans in an outdoor stadium (maybe I didn't read close enough), does it make sense to try to put them all within the late April and May timeframe? Or do you try to schedule something earlier so that you have backup options when COVID contact tracing causes a postponement?

[AO]

I'm pretty ambivalent about having a final Johnnie-Tommie game.  I think it might be a decent quality game if they scheduled it at the end of the window, but it wouldn't be the same with a crowd of a few hundred

The basketball game last week wasn't any less intense and I don't expect tonight's to be any less intense either. It would be different for fans but not necessarily on the field.

They should stream the last couple games on Youtube or Twitch and see if they can replicate the fan environment via trash talk in the chat.

[faunch]

WCCO / Mike Max interview yesterday w/ Bethel Coach Johnson: https://app.radio.com/3v5XhJjRneb

[SagatagSam]

I'm pretty ambivalent about having a final Johnnie-Tommie game.  I think it might be a decent quality game if they scheduled it at the end of the window, but it wouldn't be the same with a crowd of a few hundred

My thinking has evolved a little bit on the spring schedule and the final Johnnie-Tommie game. From a fan perspective it hasn't changed, and I would prefer the 2019 game at Allianz Field be the lasting memory of the rivalry as opposed to a spring game in front of a few hundred fans (at best) or no fans at all.

But, if I put myself in the shoes of a player--especially a graduating senior--I want as many games as I can get and I certainly want my shot at UST, and I don't really care if the game happens on a Wednesday morning in mid-June at 6 a.m. in front of no fans. Guys at this level play because they love the game and love to compete. So, I want the games played for the sake of the players who want it, but am fine without it from my perspective as a fan if that makes any sense.

[jamtod]

I'm pretty ambivalent about having a final Johnnie-Tommie game.  I think it might be a decent quality game if they scheduled it at the end of the window, but it wouldn't be the same with a crowd of a few hundred

My thinking has evolved a little bit on the spring schedule and the final Johnnie-Tommie game. From a fan perspective it hasn't changed, and I would prefer the 2019 game at Allianz Field be the lasting memory of the rivalry as opposed to a spring game in front of a few hundred fans (at best) or no fans at all.

But, if I put myself in the shoes of a player--especially a graduating senior--I want as many games as I can get and I certainly want my shot at UST, and I don't really care if the game happens on a Wednesday morning in mid-June at 6 a.m. in front of no fans. Guys at this level play because they love the game and love to compete. So, I want the games played for the sake of the players who want it, but am fine without it from my perspective as a fan if that makes any sense.

A rare SJU +k.

From the perspective of a graduating senior (assuming one doesn't have the means/plan to come back in the fall), one last shot would be great. And from the coaching staff and long-term prospects angle, I can see both why you want to play some real games and why it might be best to stick to lower risk scrimmages. Nothing prepares and develops guys quite the same as real on-field game opportunities, but it would suck to end up with a key injury with no shot at a championship or postseason play.

[OzJohnnie]

Football of some sort this year.  Pre-season (one game only this year but all other play back to normal) match between Hawthorn and North Melbourne on North's training ground on Arden Street.  Hawks ran fast and look good.  But North make Hamline look sharp.  Can't take a whole lot of comfort from the win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFjVPE2YyCs&t=30s

[art76]

Just got an e-mail for BU supporters:

"Bethel Gridiron Club
   
Happy Spring Bethel Football Alums –

Royal Stadium is getting a major makeover! Groundbreaking is slated to begin in April and you will be watching your Royals compete on a new turf field this fall!

The BGC is excited to partner with Bethel University to help complete and bolster fundraising efforts for this impressive upgrade that is only the beginning of improvements to come for Royal Stadium. Here are some highlights of the project to get you up to speed:

    The project is already a GO! Groundbreaking will occur in April and the new turf will be ready by fall camp.
    This turf project is just the beginning – we will use the new turf and stadium upgrades as a launch point for many more things to benefit football including a new press box, scoreboard, locker rooms, team rooms, practice space, etc.
    We have raised $3.5M so far. The total scope of what you see in the pictures is $5.5M. Let's see how far we can go to make this amazing for BU Football and Athletics at Bethel. We already have an amazing atmosphere on the hill – it's going to get a whole lot better!
    Football is excited to be working with a new Athletics Development Officer, Nick Cocalis, who has partnered with football and is excited to work with the BGC to make this happen.

The BGC could not be more excited to offer our help engaging our alums. Let's step up and support Bethel, Coach J and his staff, and believe in the kingdom impact athletics has on all the student athletes that will make Bethel their home.

What's next? Expect to hear from Coach J and Nick in the next few weeks to set up some informational calls to find out more about how you can get involved.

Thank you in advance, Bethel football alums! It is our hope that all can participate in some form to support Bethel football."

[sjusection105]

Just got an e-mail for BU supporters:

"Bethel Gridiron Club
   
Happy Spring Bethel Football Alums –

Royal Stadium is getting a major makeover! Groundbreaking is slated to begin in April and you will be watching your Royals compete on a new turf field this fall!

The BGC is excited to partner with Bethel University to help complete and bolster fundraising efforts for this impressive upgrade that is only the beginning of improvements to come for Royal Stadium. Here are some highlights of the project to get you up to speed:

    The project is already a GO! Groundbreaking will occur in April and the new turf will be ready by fall camp.
    This turf project is just the beginning – we will use the new turf and stadium upgrades as a launch point for many more things to benefit football including a new press box, scoreboard, locker rooms, team rooms, practice space, etc.
    We have raised $3.5M so far. The total scope of what you see in the pictures is $5.5M. Let's see how far we can go to make this amazing for BU Football and Athletics at Bethel. We already have an amazing atmosphere on the hill – it's going to get a whole lot better!
    Football is excited to be working with a new Athletics Development Officer, Nick Cocalis, who has partnered with football and is excited to work with the BGC to make this happen.

The BGC could not be more excited to offer our help engaging our alums. Let's step up and support Bethel, Coach J and his staff, and believe in the kingdom impact athletics has on all the student athletes that will make Bethel their home.

What's next? Expect to hear from Coach J and Nick in the next few weeks to set up some informational calls to find out more about how you can get involved.

Thank you in advance, Bethel football alums! It is our hope that all can participate in some form to support Bethel football."

Nice. More restrooms coming soon?

[DuffMan]

Rumors I'm hearing are that the majority of MIAC school's are not interested in spring football games, so there will probably not be any.

[GoldandBlueBU]

While I love a well maintained grass field, which BU had to start the year, I was ready for it to go after the 2014 Augsburg ice / snow game, where they lost a share of a MIAC title, and probably a post-season bid largely due to defenses being negated by the skating rink they were playing on.  Will be excited to see the new surface!

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2014/11/15/FB_1115140506.aspx

[DuffMan]

Grass fields in MN in the November and December timeframe are brutal, especially when you don't have a dedicated crew to take care of it.  Glad BU is finally joining the modern era.

The breaking point at SJU was 2001 vs. UW-SP.  We obliterated the field and then got 18" of snow in the next few days.  We had to play PLU in the Fargodome, which at the time had turf that was about the texture of a wire brush and had the most stagnant air you can imagine.  Thanks to some hard work from Redtooth and others, we opened the 2002 season on brand new SprinTurf.

[OldAuggie]

While I love a well maintained grass field, which BU had to start the year, I was ready for it to go after the 2014 Augsburg ice / snow game, where they lost a share of a MIAC title, and probably a post-season bid largely due to defenses being negated by the skating rink they were playing on.  Will be excited to see the new surface!

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2014/11/15/FB_1115140506.aspx

[SagatagSam]

Rumors I'm hearing are that the majority of MIAC school's are not interested in spring football games, so there will probably not be any.

You'd think that the schools interested in playing would have been in contact with the conference, be anticipating the announcement, and have games scheduled or close to it.

I would give it another week and if we don't hear anything the spring season is DOA. Which, again, I'm fine with as a fan, but it is a shame for the guys that lost out on their senior season. Chris Backes is the first that comes to mind for me.