FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Texas Ole]

D1 athletics tend to be loss leaders.  Most programs far outspend their revenues which includes football.  Part of that comes in how the university handles the funding.  Scholarships can be covered through a variety of avenues.  It may be an athletic scholarship, but funded through a different channel.  Also apparel might be recorded as general revenue, but the athletic department is a huge reason that someone bought the apparel.   Advertising at sporting events can either be athletic specific or general school recognized.  Each university handles it differently.  There is no rule saying you have to give all your available athletic aid.  My guess is UST knows their bottom line on athletics, and they will figure out how to balance. 

[jamtod]

According to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press U$T needs half a billion dollars for facilities. Could someone please tell me where they're going to build them?

Insiders say it will cost $500 million for the University of St. Thomas to provide facilities for its move from NCAA Division III to Division I. The school has begun a $225 million athletics capital fundraising campaign and has targeted 15 benefactors, 11 of whom have pledged $1 million apiece.

Meanwhile, St. Thomas will have a partnership with Learfield IMG College that will oversee multimedia rights, ticket sales, licensing and sponsorships.

There is something wrong at that number!  I understand updates and a few upgrades, but that is ridiculous.  TCF was around $300 million.  I get the feeling they are trying to outdo everyone else including the U.

I suspect Walters is making crap up based on bad sources (or misunderstanding his sources), as has been the case countless times in the past or that includes multiple facilities updates and projects as well as scholarships and operating expense over the course of several years. Brick by brick, as they say.

[hazzben]

You lost me at "According to Charlier Walters..."

[OldAuggie]

You lost me at "According to Charlier Walters..."

Slightly more reliable than Shama but not by much.

[Retired Old Rat]

Getting back to wrestling talk, Marcus LeVesseur is now the head wrestling coach at Shakopee.  Good for him.  He certainly inherited a great situation.

https://www.mnwrestlinghub.com/news_article/show/1154321

[faunch]

Getting back to wrestling talk, Marcus LeVesseur is now the head wrestling coach at Shakopee.  Good for him.  He certainly inherited a great situation.

https://www.mnwrestlinghub.com/news_article/show/1154321

Marcus is good guy. Shakopee is going to be a powerhouse in a lot of sports. Their enrollment is a little above 2,500...they will be in the 3,000's in a few years.

[USTBench]

If we can keep it within 50 at UNI on my birthday, I'm going to call it a success.

Conference-mate Presbyterian just hired Kevin Kelley, the Pulaski Academy coach known for never punting. Caruso is going to have to up his aggression a bit more.

Good Luck...not!
They started the spring losing to SDSU by 4 and ended the spring losing to NDSU by 3.

Having watched a ton of Valley football drubbing teams by 50 is not really their MO. It's happened, sure, but TOP and making the game as short as possible is what a dominant MVFC team does to its opponents. UST's biggest deficiency against UNI is going to be size and strength, so I have no doubt it will be a long day for UST. Valley teams run to set up play action. I predict a final score somewhere in the 28 to 0 or 35 to 7 range.

[jamtod]

If we can keep it within 50 at UNI on my birthday, I'm going to call it a success.

Conference-mate Presbyterian just hired Kevin Kelley, the Pulaski Academy coach known for never punting. Caruso is going to have to up his aggression a bit more.

Good Luck...not!
They started the spring losing to SDSU by 4 and ended the spring losing to NDSU by 3.

Having watched a ton of Valley football drubbing teams by 50 is not really their MO. It's happened, sure, but TOP and making the game as short as possible is what a dominant MVFC team does to its opponents. UST's biggest deficiency against UNI is going to be size and strength, so I have no doubt it will be a long day for UST. Valley teams run to set up play action. I predict a final score somewhere in the 28 to 0 or 35 to 7 range.

You want 28 points on the spread? I'd hate to do it, but I'd take that with UNI. I almost went there and am an Iowa native, so I wouldn't feel TOO bad about taking your money for it. Looking through their historical scores, there is a 40 point win in most years and I just don't see how they keep it closer than that without really really trying.

In current season D3 news - St Thomas baseball gets to start it's final NCAA playoff appearance as the #1 seed in Collegeville. Something beautiful about that.

[AO]

If we can keep it within 50 at UNI on my birthday, I'm going to call it a success.

Conference-mate Presbyterian just hired Kevin Kelley, the Pulaski Academy coach known for never punting. Caruso is going to have to up his aggression a bit more.

Good Luck...not!
They started the spring losing to SDSU by 4 and ended the spring losing to NDSU by 3.

Having watched a ton of Valley football drubbing teams by 50 is not really their MO. It's happened, sure, but TOP and making the game as short as possible is what a dominant MVFC team does to its opponents. UST's biggest deficiency against UNI is going to be size and strength, so I have no doubt it will be a long day for UST. Valley teams run to set up play action. I predict a final score somewhere in the 28 to 0 or 35 to 7 range.

You want 28 points on the spread? I'd hate to do it, but I'd take that with UNI. I almost went there and am an Iowa native, so I wouldn't feel TOO bad about taking your money for it. Looking through their historical scores, there is a 40 point win in most years and I just don't see how they keep it closer than that without really really trying.

Definitely planning to include the Tommies in the pickems. Early line against against UNI would be Tommies +45.5  The spring Panthers didn't look to be one of their stronger squads but I think they'll be itching to put up a big number.  Hard to compare scores of previous UNI non-conference games as they haven't played any of the Pioneer teams lately.

In current season D3 news - St Thomas baseball gets to start it's final NCAA playoff appearance as the #1 seed in Collegeville. Something beautiful about that.

Fun year for D3 baseball in Minnesota; St. Mary's wins the MIAC playoff for the first time ever, and Northwestern finally beats Scholastica for the regular season and playoff championship during Scholastica's final trip through the UMAC.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Well, it is here. The End has come. With baseball's loss in the second game Saturday night, UST is done competing in the MIAC. Softball will play this weekend in the World Series baseball will play in the NCAAs (at the Collegeville Section- how ironic!)and a few T&F competitors will go on in NCAAs and then by June 1, D3 is history as far as UST is concerned.

Personally, I am going to miss the long rivalries with our former MIAC brethren even as I look forward to the challenges of moving to D1. I wonder if beating Oral Roberts will feel the same as beating GAC, or if winning over NDSU or SDSU will be as gratifying as a win over SJU or Bethel. I've made many friends across the MIAC over the years, rooted in our common love of D3 athletics at its finest, for which the MIAC has always famous. the high quality of competition on the playing field,  the respect and appreciation of each other's performance and the camaraderie that surrounds MIAC events are, to me, what college athletics is supposed to be about and that can be found on every MIAC  playing field. I'm going to miss that for sure. Because of that, I plan to be at many MIAC games and events over the years to come.  Heck, I might even root for SJU once in a while!!

It would be beautiful if UST brought home the walnut & bronze for a third time each in softball and baseball.

[USTBench]

If we can keep it within 50 at UNI on my birthday, I'm going to call it a success.

Conference-mate Presbyterian just hired Kevin Kelley, the Pulaski Academy coach known for never punting. Caruso is going to have to up his aggression a bit more.

Good Luck...not!
They started the spring losing to SDSU by 4 and ended the spring losing to NDSU by 3.

Having watched a ton of Valley football drubbing teams by 50 is not really their MO. It's happened, sure, but TOP and making the game as short as possible is what a dominant MVFC team does to its opponents. UST's biggest deficiency against UNI is going to be size and strength, so I have no doubt it will be a long day for UST. Valley teams run to set up play action. I predict a final score somewhere in the 28 to 0 or 35 to 7 range.

You want 28 points on the spread? I'd hate to do it, but I'd take that with UNI. I almost went there and am an Iowa native, so I wouldn't feel TOO bad about taking your money for it. Looking through their historical scores, there is a 40 point win in most years and I just don't see how they keep it closer than that without really really trying.

In current season D3 news - St Thomas baseball gets to start it's final NCAA playoff appearance as the #1 seed in Collegeville. Something beautiful about that.

I see one full-bird 40 point win by UNI in the last 4 years (some close ones over Valley bottom feeders and non-scholarship playoff victories over the FCS version of the UMAC). 44-0 over Hampton in 2018. That year, Hampton notched victories over SUNY-Maritime (DIII), Virginia Lynchburg (NCCAA *think Trinity Bible College), St. Andrews (NAIA), Shaw (HBCU DII), and Lane College (HBCU DII).

I'll take UST to cover if you give me +30.5.

Also, UST will be playing NDSU in 2025. I will not be betting on that game.

[jamtod]

I see one full-bird 40 point win by UNI in the last 4 years (some close ones over Valley bottom feeders and non-scholarship playoff victories over the FCS version of the UMAC). 44-0 over Hampton in 2018. That year, Hampton notched victories over SUNY-Maritime (DIII), Virginia Lynchburg (NCCAA *think Trinity Bible College), St. Andrews (NAIA), Shaw (HBCU DII), and Lane College (HBCU DII).

I'll take UST to cover if you give me +30.5.

Also, UST will be playing NDSU in 2025. I will not be betting on that game.

Against my better judgement, I'd take that in a heartbeat. What are you considering the non-scholarship FCS version of the UMAC if not the Pioneer League? I didn't see any UNI vs Pioneer League matchups and I wasn't aware of another non-scholarship FCS league.

[USTBench]

I see one full-bird 40 point win by UNI in the last 4 years (some close ones over Valley bottom feeders and non-scholarship playoff victories over the FCS version of the UMAC). 44-0 over Hampton in 2018. That year, Hampton notched victories over SUNY-Maritime (DIII), Virginia Lynchburg (NCCAA *think Trinity Bible College), St. Andrews (NAIA), Shaw (HBCU DII), and Lane College (HBCU DII).

I'll take UST to cover if you give me +30.5.

Also, UST will be playing NDSU in 2025. I will not be betting on that game.

Against my better judgement, I'd take that in a heartbeat. What are you considering the non-scholarship FCS version of the UMAC if not the Pioneer League? I didn't see any UNI vs Pioneer League matchups and I wasn't aware of another non-scholarship FCS league.

I suppose referring to the Big South as the UMAC is disingenuous, but their lack of FCS playoff success is pretty odd considering their location, scholarships, and teams that have gone on to the FBS level. I think North Alabama, Monmouth and Kennesaw State will raise the level of competition in that league significantly, but they've got a ways to go.

The Patriot League has been pretty brutal since the Dakota schools moved up to FCS and the MVFC, Southland, Colonial and Big Sky raised the bar significantly. I would say San Diego has figured something out in the Pioneer where you can say it's now a better conference than the Patriot despite offering 15 less scholarships.

[AO]

I see one full-bird 40 point win by UNI in the last 4 years (some close ones over Valley bottom feeders and non-scholarship playoff victories over the FCS version of the UMAC). 44-0 over Hampton in 2018. That year, Hampton notched victories over SUNY-Maritime (DIII), Virginia Lynchburg (NCCAA *think Trinity Bible College), St. Andrews (NAIA), Shaw (HBCU DII), and Lane College (HBCU DII).

I'll take UST to cover if you give me +30.5.

Also, UST will be playing NDSU in 2025. I will not be betting on that game.

Against my better judgement, I'd take that in a heartbeat. What are you considering the non-scholarship FCS version of the UMAC if not the Pioneer League? I didn't see any UNI vs Pioneer League matchups and I wasn't aware of another non-scholarship FCS league.

I suppose referring to the Big South as the UMAC is disingenuous, but their lack of FCS playoff success is pretty odd considering their location, scholarships, and teams that have gone on to the FBS level. I think North Alabama, Monmouth and Kennesaw State will raise the level of competition in that league significantly, but they've got a ways to go.

The Patriot League has been pretty brutal since the Dakota schools moved up to FCS and the MVFC, Southland, Colonial and Big Sky raised the bar significantly. I would say San Diego has figured something out in the Pioneer where you can say it's now a better conference than the Patriot despite offering 15 less scholarships.

Pretty big drop off after San Diego.  In 2019 Massey had the Pioneer dead last, well below the Patriot.

[jamtod]

I see one full-bird 40 point win by UNI in the last 4 years (some close ones over Valley bottom feeders and non-scholarship playoff victories over the FCS version of the UMAC). 44-0 over Hampton in 2018. That year, Hampton notched victories over SUNY-Maritime (DIII), Virginia Lynchburg (NCCAA *think Trinity Bible College), St. Andrews (NAIA), Shaw (HBCU DII), and Lane College (HBCU DII).

I'll take UST to cover if you give me +30.5.

Also, UST will be playing NDSU in 2025. I will not be betting on that game.

Against my better judgement, I'd take that in a heartbeat. What are you considering the non-scholarship FCS version of the UMAC if not the Pioneer League? I didn't see any UNI vs Pioneer League matchups and I wasn't aware of another non-scholarship FCS league.

I suppose referring to the Big South as the UMAC is disingenuous, but their lack of FCS playoff success is pretty odd considering their location, scholarships, and teams that have gone on to the FBS level. I think North Alabama, Monmouth and Kennesaw State will raise the level of competition in that league significantly, but they've got a ways to go.

The Patriot League has been pretty brutal since the Dakota schools moved up to FCS and the MVFC, Southland, Colonial and Big Sky raised the bar significantly. I would say San Diego has figured something out in the Pioneer where you can say it's now a better conference than the Patriot despite offering 15 less scholarships.

Fwiw, Monmouth was one of those 40ish point wins for UNI