FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[TheChucker]

My prognostication:

If the Gusties win, then they are in and both SJU and BU are out regardless of how SJU does against CON.  If BU wins, then they are in, and if SJU beats CON then SJU is in as well.

I think the Johnnies are in with a win vs the Cob no matter what. Out of the five realistic Pool C bubble teams (UWW, Wheaton, SJU, UWRF, John C.), they probably have the 2nd or 3rd best resume' behind UWW. I think it's a battle between UWRF and John C. for the last spot.

It's possible that SJU gets in even with a Bethel loss, but I'd also add Union to your list of serious Pool C contenders. Maybe Coe too

Yeah, you're right. Union and Coe are in the mix. Both are 1-1 against regionally ranked with only one loss. The downside is both have a weaker SOS according the NCAA stats.

In the end, whether the selection committee admits it or not, they probably consider how the brackets work out for these bubble teams. Plenty of options in the NE and Upper MW.

[Redtooth]

A couple questions have been asked without answer regarding playoffs in the last couple pages; GAC last won the conference and went to the playoffs in 1987....then lost to SJU in a rematch.  The last time the MIAC sent a unranked team to the playoffs would have been 1992 when Carleton was 9-1 (having lost to SJU in week 9 70-7) and SJU was 8-1-1 having tied Concordia in week 10.

The WIAC board has an excellent analysis of the Pool C contenders and their resumes...give it a look.

Looking forward to watching SJU up here in Moorhead this week.

[hazzben]

Wild that it's been that long for GAC. They've had stretches where they were close in the last 35+ years, but could never quite crack top dog status. Say what you want about the divisional format and how they count non-division games, etc., but it's definitely making for some unpredictable end of season drama.

I find myself in the strange place of cheering for Augsburg. Can't come around to the Knights after they took the coward's way out and extended the campus ban against St. Olaf's Embry. It'd be one thing if they said multi-year campus ban from the start (still a bit shady the way he was the one dealt a serious punishment). But the way they had to go back and increase the punishment just so they'd avoid the All Region RB from their rival for a second straight year... yuck!

[GoldandBlueBU]

The WIAC board has an excellent analysis of the Pool C contenders and their resumes...give it a look.

It was a good read!

I can't pretend to be savvy enough to understand how all of the at-large bid rankings shake out, but I would have assumed that Wheaton is an lock, vs. being on the bubble?  1 loss against #1 North Central is the lone blemish on their record.

Augsburg's season is a little bit of a mystery to me.  They beat Gustavus, nearly beat SJU, get hammered by BU, but recover by hammering St Olaf, and then get beaten handily by Concordia, and need a close game to beat lowly Mac.

[hazzben]

Augsburg seemed very average up front. Bethel O/D lines controlled the game on both sides, putting them under pressure all day. I think when they've got time, Augsburg has some interesting offensive pieces. But they just aren't a complete team yet. I also wasn't overly impressed by Carleton's line play a few weeks ago. A major reason Bethel ran away with both games was the variety of ways, and ease with which we could bring pressure all game.

[AO]

The WIAC board has an excellent analysis of the Pool C contenders and their resumes...give it a look.

It was a good read!

I can't pretend to be savvy enough to understand how all of the at-large bid rankings shake out, but I would have assumed that Wheaton is an lock, vs. being on the bubble?  1 loss against #1 North Central is the lone blemish on their record.

Augsburg's season is a little bit of a mystery to me.  They beat Gustavus, nearly beat SJU, get hammered by BU, but recover by hammering St Olaf, and then get beaten handily by Concordia, and need a close game to beat lowly Mac.

Wheaton's problem is SoS. 9 conference games for the CCIW means their SoS get dragged towards .500 and it will never be as good as the WIAC or MIAC. It wouldn't matter if every team in the conference beat a top 25 team.

[GoldandBlueBU]

The WIAC board has an excellent analysis of the Pool C contenders and their resumes...give it a look.

It was a good read!

I can't pretend to be savvy enough to understand how all of the at-large bid rankings shake out, but I would have assumed that Wheaton is an lock, vs. being on the bubble?  1 loss against #1 North Central is the lone blemish on their record.

Augsburg's season is a little bit of a mystery to me.  They beat Gustavus, nearly beat SJU, get hammered by BU, but recover by hammering St Olaf, and then get beaten handily by Concordia, and need a close game to beat lowly Mac.

Wheaton's problem is SoS. 9 conference games for the CCIW means their SoS get dragged towards .500 and it will never be as good as the WIAC or MIAC. It wouldn't matter if every team in the conference beat a top 25 team.

Interesting - thanks!  That's why I need the grown-ups to explain things.

[DuffMan]

Looking forward to watching SJU up here in Moorhead this week.

Get rowdy for me, Redtooth.  I just can't justify that drive this weekend.

[sjujohnnie]

For those with Bethel ties, has there been any word on who could replace Johnson? Will Bethel remain the toughest conference opponent that St John's faces?

[Redtooth]

Looking forward to watching SJU up here in Moorhead this week.

Get rowdy for me, Redtooth.  I just can't justify that drive this weekend.

Yes you can.....get your butt up here.  How rowdy can i get?

[repete]

I also request that Frank permanently picks the team SJU is playing for his upset of the week; twice in the last month he has put his chips on an SJU opponent and both times SJU has won by 39+.

Ha! Frank's last two SJU upset calls were decided by a combined score of 102-17.

But CandyGram to Frank: Third time might be a charm. I respect Horan a great deal and think back to that game when they beat Erdmann and crew. Plus if that cold wind is blowing in from Watford City, things like punts and passes get crazy. Cobs love to beat the Jays more than any team in league ... it's in their DNA.

[OzJohnnie]

Looking forward to watching SJU up here in Moorhead this week.

Get rowdy for me, Redtooth.  I just can't justify that drive this weekend.

Yes you can.....get your butt up here.  How rowdy can i get?

[art76]

Congrats to Matt Jung at Bethel for making D3's Team of the week: https://www.d3football.com/awards/tow/2023/week10

[hazzben]

For those with Bethel ties, has there been any word on who could replace Johnson? Will Bethel remain the toughest conference opponent that St John's faces?

Official word is that there will be a national search. Chris Meidt is on the Board of Trustees and there's been a team in place for 6+ months preparing for the announcement and next steps. Greg Peterson is the AD and will be the final call.

I'd expect there will be a genuine effort to look broadly, but also give qualified internal candidates every opportunity. Priority will be given to maintain the tradition Coach J has built, both in terms of culture, team DNA, and on-field success. They want the best man for the job.

Peterson has been involved with Bethel football for every single game of Coach J's tenure, as a player, assistant coach, OC/Assistant AD, and AD. I can't think of someone more in tune with what Coach J has built and how to continue that with the next hire. Similar to Gags to Gary transition, you're looking for someone that understands the tradition but is also going to put his own stamp on things and continue moving the program forward.

[DuffMan]

Chris Meidt...there's a name I haven't heard in ages.  I can't even recall why we hate him.