FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BDB]

Happy Easter to you Oz and all the MIACPP!

"Nibbles and champers?" I've got some leftover pizza from last night.

Looks like a nice getaway in Lorne. 

[BDB]

The USFL might want to hand out some free tickets. Holy crap.

[jknezek]

The USFL might want to hand out some free tickets. Holy crap.

I live in Birmingham. No one here cares. No one is going to care. Alabama or Auburn is all that matters. And it doesn't help that it's Easter Sunday in the buckle of the Bible Belt.

I know Birmingham cut them a pretty good deal to play here, so maybe that covers the lack of fan support. Certainly not travelling and not renting practice and playing facilities all over the country saves a lot of money. But the USFL people have been pretty up front about saying ticket sales didn't mean much to them. Either they can get a tv deal that covers the league or the league won't make it. That's why they are so focused on the camera angles and mic'ing people up, having known announcers, and other presentation aspects. It's all about whether they can gimmick their way to tv support for a product that isn't going to be top tier and isn't going to be locally supported very much.

I find it interesting because it's the exact opposite of how minor leagues work in almost every other sport. Baseball, soccer, hockey, even whatever they call the NBA development league, all rely on local support and parent teams and not tv revenue. But since the NFL has no interest in actually having a development league, careers are too short and every down played devalues the player from their point of view, the NCAA provides all the development they want for free.

[OzJohnnie]

And another Easter Monday classic.  Luckily the good guys won (only their third win in the last 11 contests against Geelong).  I like this game because it's the only one that all the Oz family attends, mrs Oz and #3 being Geelong supporters while #'s 1 & 2 and I support Hawthorn.

A snap as the players were just about to start up again after the halftime break along with highlights.



https://youtu.be/_JjvMnGwXAM

EDIT:

A little extra info on this week's game, it was won off the Hawks boys' effort.  They ran their guts out and out worked Geelong, which is not easy to do.  Geelong always bring complete commitment to their games.

The Hawthorn boys were extra motivated this week as they had been "smashed" at training last week.  After a very disappointing effort against St Kilda where we were overrun and didn't give 100%, the new coach, Sam Mitchell, told all the players in the post game meetings to bring their mouth guards to training on Monday.  "If you don't want to do the work on the weekend, then you'll do it during the week."

From the opening siren the boys gave everything.  One young player, Jai "Duke" Newcombe, ran until his legs didn't work.   An inspiring effort.  This young squad is really committed to playing hard and giving it their all.   Makes for an exciting season.

[art76]

Excited about the announcements concerning the non-conference games on D3 Football's website. However, not sure where the mix-up is, but Bethel and Hardin Simmons cannot both be playing at UW Platteville on the 10th of September. My guess is that HS is playing them on the 17th, maybe?

[carletonknights]

Any idea how GAC will be this year?

[SagatagSam]

Any idea how GAC will be this year?

GAC loses a lot of guys (7) to graduation on the defensive side of the ball. They will have a lot of work to guy the next guys up in the secondary and the defensive line where they lose six of the seven seniors (three defensive linemen and three defensive backs graduate).

The offense also has plenty of holes to fill on the offensive line, losing their center, both tackles, and tight end. QB Mike Veldman got hurt early last year, and who knows if he plans to come back for a another year (or if he is even eligible for that matter--I don't know). The receiving corps loses two guys to graduation, including Dalton Thelen who led the Gusties receivers and was third in the MIAC in receiving yards in 2021.

Lots of work to do in St. Peter, but your guess is as good as mine when it comes to the talent they have been developing to step up this season.

I would still probably consider GAC the #2 team in the Northwoods division, and will still be pretty good overall.

[SagatagSam]

Does anyone know if SJU is having a spring game this year?

Last year's was May 2.

We are getting close to the start of May and I have not heard a peep.

[DuffMan]

Does anyone know if SJU is having a spring game this year?

No spring game this year.

From this St. Cloud Orthopedics Feature story:

This marks the third time Fasching's team will make a Canada trip, having traveled to Regina, Saskatchewan in 2013 and 2016. But unlike in those years, or during the extended spring practice period that resulted from COVID-19 a year ago, the Johnnies will not play a spring game.

[DuffMan]

QB Mike Veldman got hurt early last year, and who knows if he plans to come back for a another year (or if he is even eligible for that matter--I don't know).

I think he's finally done.  I seem to recall reading about his professional football aspirations, though I can't imagine that ever happening.

[DuffMan]

SJU Finalizes 2022 Schedule

Opening with 2021 #3 UW-Whitewater at home, followed by 2021 #20 UW-River Falls at home, followed by 2021 #17 Bethel on the road--tough start to the season!

I'm a bit annoyed that the UWW game was moved to Labor Day weekend.

[SagatagSam]

SJU Finalizes 2022 Schedule

Opening with 2021 #3 UW-Whitewater at home, followed by 2021 #20 UW-River Falls at home, followed by 2021 #17 Bethel on the road--tough start to the season!

I'm a bit annoyed that the UWW game was moved to Labor Day weekend.

That's got to be the toughest start to a season since... ever?

[Retired Old Rat]

Only in Texas.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1516860888766193664

[Mr. Ypsi]

Only in Texas.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1516860888766193664

According to CNN, so many players were suspended for 2 games (for actions after the assault) that the next two games will have to be forfeited by the team whose player was mugged due to lack of available players.  The assailant has been kicked off the team and is likely to be kicked out of school.

Alas, this sort of thing is NOT only in Texas.

[DuffMan]

Yikes! 

Since we've segued into baseball, we've had a interesting scenario this spring.

Our son is playing travel baseball for the first time this summer.  We struggled to have someone take the reigns as a head coach.  I have helped coach the past few years, but I didn't play more than a couple of years of youth baseball, so there is no way I was going to volunteer.

Finally, one of the other dads agreed to it--he's not my first choice, but I guess he is better than not having a season.  Well, with a head coach in place, we got several volunteers to assistant coach: one grandpa of a player who recently retired after 30+ years on the Gopher's baseball staff and a dad who was an all-Big Ten shortstop for the Gophers and played in the minor leagues.  Quite the turnaround for a team that struggled to get a coach!

I learned so much from them last night alone.