FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hazzben]

Maybe not this season but in a season or 2 I think CSS is going to compete.

Having seen CSS play a couple of times, I think they'll be fine with the bottom half of MIAC teams.  I think they'll struggle with the bigger, faster teams like SJU and Bethel.  I don't know that they'll ever get over that hump.  It takes a tremendous amount of administrative support to build a program that can consistently make noise on the national scene.  It'd be better for the MIAC if they're able to make strides and compete with the big dogs, so I wish them luck.

We can hope though right. Makes for good conversation.

Of course, it's what being a fan is all about...even more so a parent of players!!

[GoldandBlueBU]

I can see why the MIAC wanted CSS as it opened up a whole new part of the state and TV market for coverage.

However I think the Saints should've stayed right where they were at. I can't think of a sport they will compete in the top half of the league soon or for quite some time.
Nordic skiing maybe. And bear hunting. They get bear alerts on campus. 

AO can probably provide better insight - but I think they might do OK in basketball?  Won't win the conference or anything, but I think they'll hold their own.

[hazzben]

I can see why the MIAC wanted CSS as it opened up a whole new part of the state and TV market for coverage.

However I think the Saints should've stayed right where they were at. I can't think of a sport they will compete in the top half of the league soon or for quite some time.
Nordic skiing maybe. And bear hunting. They get bear alerts on campus. 

AO can probably provide better insight - but I think they might do OK in basketball?  Won't win the conference or anything, but I think they'll hold their own.

Weren't they pretty salty in baseball a few years ago too?

[GoldandBlueBU]

I can see why the MIAC wanted CSS as it opened up a whole new part of the state and TV market for coverage.

However I think the Saints should've stayed right where they were at. I can't think of a sport they will compete in the top half of the league soon or for quite some time.
Nordic skiing maybe. And bear hunting. They get bear alerts on campus. 

AO can probably provide better insight - but I think they might do OK in basketball?  Won't win the conference or anything, but I think they'll hold their own.

Weren't they pretty salty in baseball a few years ago too?

Forgot about that completely - yes, I think they have a pretty competitive baseball team.  Not sure about hockey...

[Wdavis5]

However I think the Saints should've stayed right where they were at. I can't think of a sport they will compete in the top half of the league soon or for quite some time.
Nordic skiing maybe. And bear hunting. They get bear alerts on campus. 
[/quote]

So you saying we should have chose BU over Css lol.

[GoldandBlueBU]

However I think the Saints should've stayed right where they were at. I can't think of a sport they will compete in the top half of the league soon or for quite some time.
Nordic skiing maybe. And bear hunting. They get bear alerts on campus. 

So you saying we should have chose BU over Css lol.

Naturally.   

[DuffMan]

So you saying we should have chose BU over Css lol.

If you're satisified with 2nd place. 

[Wdavis5]

So you saying we should have chose BU over Css lol.

If you're satisified with 2nd place. 

LOL.. The boys didnt have SJU offers..

[AO]

I can see why the MIAC wanted CSS as it opened up a whole new part of the state and TV market for coverage.

However I think the Saints should've stayed right where they were at. I can't think of a sport they will compete in the top half of the league soon or for quite some time.
Nordic skiing maybe. And bear hunting. They get bear alerts on campus. 

AO can probably provide better insight - but I think they might do OK in basketball?  Won't win the conference or anything, but I think they'll hold their own.

Weren't they pretty salty in baseball a few years ago too?

Forgot about that completely - yes, I think they have a pretty competitive baseball team.  Not sure about hockey...

Baseball has probably been their best program for the last 25 years, they won an NAIA regional and won several D3 regional games but haven't quite broken through to the D3 world series.  However, they're entering the MIAC at their lowest point in the last 25 years.  We finally beat them for the regular season and tournament championship. 

Basketball should be competing for a MIAC playoff spot in their first year.  They've got a lot of experienced players returning.

Hockey wasn't a UMAC sport so I can't say I've seen them play but they look like they've had some decent years.

Football is obviously not going to compete with the Johnnies, but they don't even play Bethel or Concordia so they'll likely feel fine with only being blown out in a couple games.

They've got solid soccer/golf/track/tennis/volleyball/softball programs that could be top half in a good year.

[OldAuggie]

I can see why the MIAC wanted CSS as it opened up a whole new part of the state and TV market for coverage.

However I think the Saints should've stayed right where they were at. I can't think of a sport they will compete in the top half of the league soon or for quite some time.
Nordic skiing maybe. And bear hunting. They get bear alerts on campus. 

AO can probably provide better insight - but I think they might do OK in basketball?  Won't win the conference or anything, but I think they'll hold their own.

Weren't they pretty salty in baseball a few years ago too?

Forgot about that completely - yes, I think they have a pretty competitive baseball team.  Not sure about hockey...

Baseball has probably been their best program for the last 25 years, they won an NAIA regional and won several D3 regional games but haven't quite broken through to the D3 world series.  However, they're entering the MIAC at their lowest point in the last 25 years.  We finally broke through and beat them for the regular season and tournament championship. 

Basketball should be competing for a MIAC playoff spot in their first year.  They've got a lot of experienced players returning.

Hockey wasn't a UMAC sport so I can't say I've seen them play but they look like they've had some decent years.

Football is obviously not going to compete with the Johnnies, but they don't even play Bethel or Concordia so they'll likely feel fine with only being blown out in a couple games.

They've got solid soccer/golf/track/tennis/volleyball programs that will could be top half in a good year.

I have watched CSS play hockey at Augsburg in the last few years and I believe they will compete for the top half of MIAC hockey. The NCHA, where they played hockey up to now, is very competitive. St. Norbert and UW Stevens Point win National titles regularly, UW Eau Claire is tough too. St. Norbert and UW Stevens Point look like borderline D1 hockey teams. D2 hockey does not exist so there are actually a few D1 level players on some teams.

[BDB]

CSS has played and St. Norbert does play hockey in the NCHA. The hockey conference that UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire are part of is the WIAC.

[OldAuggie]

CSS has played and St. Norbert does play hockey in the NCHA. The hockey conference that UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire are part of is the WIAC.

Yes, that's right. I always had that mixed up. St Norbert and UW Stevens point are in separate conferences. You are correct. I know the WIAC is short of enough teams to get the auto-bid but they always put teams in the playoffs anyway. I think the NCHA has enough teams for auto bid?

[BDB]

The NCHA had around 10 teams for men's hockey before CSS left.
The WIAC has 6 teams, the 5 classic UW- Wherevers that have hockey programs plus Northland.

[OldAuggie]

The NCHA had around 10 teams for men's hockey before CSS left.
The WIAC has 6 teams, the 5 classic UW- Wherevers that have hockey programs plus Northland.

Thanks for the clarity, I am rusty on D3 hockey. Ultimately the NCHA is very good D3 hockey, Adrian and St Norbert literally had on-ice wars some years. I have seen CSS and SNC at Augsburg and it's good stuff to see that level of hockey up close; UW Stevens Point as well. Augsburg seems to get SNC first round of the playoffs most years and they have been close to beating them but the puck luck has run out lately. One year in OT, an Auggie skater barely missed a wide-open net that would have won the game. I know, it happens every game but it does bug me how the puck bounces randomly around on the ice or bounces off the boards or the post.

[bluenote]

What happened to the Johnies...?