FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SagatagSam]

Speaking of scheduling, I wonder if the MIAC would ever consider a mid-season open week where teams could schedule a non-conference game? It would be similar to the SEC's "Cupcake Week," but it would be an opportunity to play teams out of conference (regardless of their strength and you could find the toughest team available), or to have a guaranteed bye week (if you filled your other open dates).

There aren't a ton of midseason dates available from other conferences. You'd have to have someone to play.

That's kind of what I was expecting. So it sounds like its either the beginning of the season or the final week to try to pick up non-conference games for the most part? And, the last week of the season is now definitely out for the MIAC with Championship Week.

[Retired Old Rat]

Beyond scheduling conflicts, I'm assuming the budget is the biggest hurdle when in comes to sourcing non-conference opponent? Seems SJU traditionally has plucked from the WIAC and UMAC, a smattering of other one offs with midwestern neighbors, and recently upped the ante with some top 25 / top 10 (2022 perhaps) matchups.

Take away the barriers, what would be the "Christmas wish list" for non-conference opponents? I think a battle of the conferences with MIAC vs ASC / CCIW / OAC would be an interesting one. Getting a top 25 matchup with a team east of Ohio would be different as it doesn't seem a meetup likely to happen outside of a deep playoff run.

St. John's traditional scheduling in John's day was also a result of John not wanting to be on a bus for too long (understandable).

The ASC has lots of games to give starting soon and hopefully teams take advantage!

Would love to see the Crusader play a game in Collegeville, preferably before it gets cold haha

Heck no! If we're bringing the Cru to Collegeville, we want it sometime on or after November 1. Perhaps some weather like we had for SJU vs. Thomas More in November, 2018:

TEMPERATURE: 17 WIND: SSE 11 WEATHER: Overcast, cold & snow

The weather was pretty raw for the UWW?CRU game this year. (I live 25 miles away) It didn't seem to bother them much.

Also. referencing the above post, and not wanting to be sacrilegious, As just a pure receiver, was Ravi better than Blake #2? I know he wasn't the all around threat, but man, could he get open, and what great hands.

As a pure receiver I think the answer is yes by a wisker. Ravi's height was a big advantage.  Not only could he get open, he didn't have to be open to make a play. I think Erdmann had ultimate confidence in him and took great advantage of that.

Overall, Blake by a lot. He did everything. He had the ability to put the team on his shoulders and take over a game. Think playing running back in the 2003 playoffs. If memory serves me I think he may have also thrown a couple of passes. Blake also did not have the advantage of having a quarterback as talented as Erdmann   

That said, Ravi had the advantage of being a very recent memory.

[hazzben]

Beyond scheduling conflicts, I'm assuming the budget is the biggest hurdle when in comes to sourcing non-conference opponent? Seems SJU traditionally has plucked from the WIAC and UMAC, a smattering of other one offs with midwestern neighbors, and recently upped the ante with some top 25 / top 10 (2022 perhaps) matchups.

Take away the barriers, what would be the "Christmas wish list" for non-conference opponents? I think a battle of the conferences with MIAC vs ASC / CCIW / OAC would be an interesting one. Getting a top 25 matchup with a team east of Ohio would be different as it doesn't seem a meetup likely to happen outside of a deep playoff run.

I liked what we did this year. CCIW + WIAC. UWP was way better than their record (should have beaten UWL).

Seeing now how the divisions will work, I'd be good with some combo of upper Tier ARC (Wart, Central, UD), non-UWW WIAC, or mid-tier CCIW. I think it's too much to go say UWL + Wheaton/NCC. IMO you want non-con games that you have at least a 50/50 shot at winning, and against teams that will be above .500 from better conferences, without having every non-con opponent be playoff caliber.

The trick is obviously that you can't predict when UWRF will be resurgent or when a IWU will fall off a cliff.

With UST gone, we'll need to up our game a bit. But if Concordia, GAC, STO/Aug can improve in the UST void, that will also go a long way to shoring up the diluted MIAC slate. I don't love the champ game per se, but I do love the fact they are preserving a second non-con game and making it so the bottom of the MIAC doesn't kill the playoff resume of the teams that want to compete nationally.

Please save the 2nd non-con game so we can finally get Bethel to Reynolds field.

I just don't see this being in the cards. The UMAC's OOWP, even if UNW was the top dog, would be brutal for Bethel's SOS. But especially as things currently stand, part of Wheaton's precarious situation as a Pool C candidate this year was the effect of playing Northwestern.

It's also just not a great football matchup, IMO. CSS had some of the best teams to come out of the UMAC a few years back, and they were crushed in Rd 1 by Bethel and UST. So even if UNW was at that level, I still don't think it's a compelling game. And given current trends, the risk of a SOS anchor is too great.

[hazzben]

Beyond scheduling conflicts, I'm assuming the budget is the biggest hurdle when in comes to sourcing non-conference opponent? Seems SJU traditionally has plucked from the WIAC and UMAC, a smattering of other one offs with midwestern neighbors, and recently upped the ante with some top 25 / top 10 (2022 perhaps) matchups.

Take away the barriers, what would be the "Christmas wish list" for non-conference opponents? I think a battle of the conferences with MIAC vs ASC / CCIW / OAC would be an interesting one. Getting a top 25 matchup with a team east of Ohio would be different as it doesn't seem a meetup likely to happen outside of a deep playoff run.

St. John's traditional scheduling in John's day was also a result of John not wanting to be on a bus for too long (understandable).

The ASC has lots of games to give starting soon and hopefully teams take advantage!

Would love to see the Crusader play a game in Collegeville, preferably before it gets cold haha

Heck no! If we're bringing the Cru to Collegeville, we want it sometime on or after November 1. Perhaps some weather like we had for SJU vs. Thomas More in November, 2018:

TEMPERATURE: 17 WIND: SSE 11 WEATHER: Overcast, cold & snow

The weather was pretty raw for the UWW?CRU game this year. (I live 25 miles away) It didn't seem to bother them much.

Also. referencing the above post, and not wanting to be sacrilegious, As just a pure receiver, was Ravi better than Blake #2? I know he wasn't the all around threat, but man, could he get open, and what great hands.

As a pure receiver I think the answer is yes by a wisher. Ravi's height was a big advantage.  Not only could he get open, he didn't have to be open to make a play. I think Erdmann had ultimate confidence in him and took great advantage of that.

Overall, Blake by a lot. He did everything. He had the ability to put the team on his shoulder and take over a game. Think playing running back in the 2003 playoffs. If memory serves me I think he may have also thrown a couple of passes. Blake also did not have the advantage of having a quarterback as talented as Erdmann   

That said, Ravi had the advantage of  sing a very recent memory.

I just don't see this. Taking nothing away from Ravi, Blake was on another level. His routes, his hands, and his ability after the catch were all time great status. Saying nothing of his ability as a returner or the way you could move him around in the offense. As ROR points out, while Keating had loads of moxy, he was not Erdmann throwing the ball. He and Hvistendahl are simply in a category all to themselves when it comes to MIAC wideouts.

[DuffMan]

I may be biased as Blake was a teammate and a friend of mine, but Blake > Ravi.  Ravi is (was?) damn good, but Blake literally dominated games.

[Retired Old Rat]

Well, I never played with (DuffMan) or against (hazzben), so I will defer to your judgement.  (My screen name could be neverwas.)

[SJU13]

https://gojohnnies.com/sports/2018/6/6/blake-elliott-03.aspx?id=289 Going to take someone special to average 1,206 receiving yards and nearly 16 TDs each season over 4 years.

[MUC57]

I still have nightmares of him from the 2003 Stagg Bowl. The guy was all-world.

[bluenote]

I may be biased as Blake was a teammate and a friend of mine, but Blake > Ravi.  Ravi is (was?) damn good, but Blake literally dominated games.

That was apparent when we played against you guys in the playoffs.... he actually changed position in the middle of the game to counter our defensive scheme.

[AO]

Beyond scheduling conflicts, I'm assuming the budget is the biggest hurdle when in comes to sourcing non-conference opponent? Seems SJU traditionally has plucked from the WIAC and UMAC, a smattering of other one offs with midwestern neighbors, and recently upped the ante with some top 25 / top 10 (2022 perhaps) matchups.

Take away the barriers, what would be the "Christmas wish list" for non-conference opponents? I think a battle of the conferences with MIAC vs ASC / CCIW / OAC would be an interesting one. Getting a top 25 matchup with a team east of Ohio would be different as it doesn't seem a meetup likely to happen outside of a deep playoff run.

I liked what we did this year. CCIW + WIAC. UWP was way better than their record (should have beaten UWL).

Seeing now how the divisions will work, I'd be good with some combo of upper Tier ARC (Wart, Central, UD), non-UWW WIAC, or mid-tier CCIW. I think it's too much to go say UWL + Wheaton/NCC. IMO you want non-con games that you have at least a 50/50 shot at winning, and against teams that will be above .500 from better conferences, without having every non-con opponent be playoff caliber.

The trick is obviously that you can't predict when UWRF will be resurgent or when a IWU will fall off a cliff.

With UST gone, we'll need to up our game a bit. But if Concordia, GAC, STO/Aug can improve in the UST void, that will also go a long way to shoring up the diluted MIAC slate. I don't love the champ game per se, but I do love the fact they are preserving a second non-con game and making it so the bottom of the MIAC doesn't kill the playoff resume of the teams that want to compete nationally.

Please save the 2nd non-con game so we can finally get Bethel to Reynolds field.

I just don't see this being in the cards. The UMAC's OOWP, even if UNW was the top dog, would be brutal for Bethel's SOS. But especially as things currently stand, part of Wheaton's precarious situation as a Pool C candidate this year was the effect of playing Northwestern.

It's also just not a great football matchup, IMO. CSS had some of the best teams to come out of the UMAC a few years back, and they were crushed in Rd 1 by Bethel and UST. So even if UNW was at that level, I still don't think it's a compelling game. And given current trends, the risk of a SOS anchor is too great.

I'd say we're a better SoS bet than North Park, and if you're so confident about beating us maybe you can schedule someone likely to be highly ranked for your other game.

[hazzben]

Beyond scheduling conflicts, I'm assuming the budget is the biggest hurdle when in comes to sourcing non-conference opponent? Seems SJU traditionally has plucked from the WIAC and UMAC, a smattering of other one offs with midwestern neighbors, and recently upped the ante with some top 25 / top 10 (2022 perhaps) matchups.

Take away the barriers, what would be the "Christmas wish list" for non-conference opponents? I think a battle of the conferences with MIAC vs ASC / CCIW / OAC would be an interesting one. Getting a top 25 matchup with a team east of Ohio would be different as it doesn't seem a meetup likely to happen outside of a deep playoff run.

I liked what we did this year. CCIW + WIAC. UWP was way better than their record (should have beaten UWL).

Seeing now how the divisions will work, I'd be good with some combo of upper Tier ARC (Wart, Central, UD), non-UWW WIAC, or mid-tier CCIW. I think it's too much to go say UWL + Wheaton/NCC. IMO you want non-con games that you have at least a 50/50 shot at winning, and against teams that will be above .500 from better conferences, without having every non-con opponent be playoff caliber.

The trick is obviously that you can't predict when UWRF will be resurgent or when a IWU will fall off a cliff.

With UST gone, we'll need to up our game a bit. But if Concordia, GAC, STO/Aug can improve in the UST void, that will also go a long way to shoring up the diluted MIAC slate. I don't love the champ game per se, but I do love the fact they are preserving a second non-con game and making it so the bottom of the MIAC doesn't kill the playoff resume of the teams that want to compete nationally.

Please save the 2nd non-con game so we can finally get Bethel to Reynolds field.

I just don't see this being in the cards. The UMAC's OOWP, even if UNW was the top dog, would be brutal for Bethel's SOS. But especially as things currently stand, part of Wheaton's precarious situation as a Pool C candidate this year was the effect of playing Northwestern.

It's also just not a great football matchup, IMO. CSS had some of the best teams to come out of the UMAC a few years back, and they were crushed in Rd 1 by Bethel and UST. So even if UNW was at that level, I still don't think it's a compelling game. And given current trends, the risk of a SOS anchor is too great.

I'd say we're a better SoS bet than North Park, and if you're so confident about beating us maybe you can schedule someone likely to be highly ranked for your other game.

I'd actually argue you're worse than North Park in terms of SOS. Your team is worse, and you play in the worst conference in D3. CCIW in a normal year will help with OOWP. We also scheduled UWP, a typically strong WIAC team. There's literally nothing for Bethel to gain by scheduling UNW. If we'd played you any season from 2017-2021 you'd have been the SOS kiss of death. Play you and win (NB we destroyed the team you couldn't get past in CSS), and it hurts us. If you have a .500 or below season, it kills us. Your game against Wheaton is the perfect example of why it's a bad move. It didn't make Wheaton better, except for the chance to get reps for their 2nd and 3rd string guys in the second half. 

I'd worry about getting competitive again in the UMAC before I was doing any saber rattling about scheduling Bethel. 

[D O.C.]

Blake > Ravi because he beat LINFIELD TWICE.

[OzJohnnie]

[art76]

+K Oz - and back at ya - and to all my D3 compatriots found here - Merry Christmas!

[retagent]

It is hard to separate what Blake did overall, which I see in the answers. I also thought about having Erdmann throwing to him. The biggest advantage of Elliot though, as a receiver, was his YAC. His vision was just so good.