FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[familyguyfaneightyfour]

...and in regards to the "bringing in talent and making it into a great team" comments:
He is now a QB coach, not a Head Coach. If you look at the performance of St. Olaf QB's under Coach Meidt, you will see that he did a great job with them.  I am very curious to see how he will do in the NFL, because that is a whole different breed of football.  I hope everything works out for him.

[repete]

ret, bennie --

any guess on the over/under of calls Clint Malarchuk received today ... I'm betting about 50 ...

[Willy Wonka]

Pure speculation on my part, but it wouldn't surprise me to see GAC's Brownie on the list of possible STO head coaches.

Seems like he's wanted to spread his wings for a few years and the Oles have run a similar system to the one he just installed at GAC. Also, the athletes are already in place, which should make for a pretty smooth transition.

[retagent]

I don't even let myself watch the Zednick accident. I liked him when he played for the Caps, and always wanted him to do well. He has had a couple tough injuries prior to this. I just heard he's already asking the doctors when he can work out. I also heard that the same doctor who worked on the Bills football player who was temporarily paralyzed also worked on Zed.

Only knowing Meidt by what has been said about him here, I'm wondering whether I should warn my old friends and neighbors in Ashburn about his arrival.

[Redtooth]

So now we have another MIAC job opening up.  Any names?  Gordie Shaw, perhaps? 

First off.....Congra...Congrat...Congrats to the Mighty Meidt (sorta like the Fronz saying he was sorry)   

This selection should come as no surprise.....after all it was Zorn that tipped Bethel off to Deon Jordan when Meidt was OC.  Seems as though Zorn had been out scouting and ran across Jordan (no more NAIA eligibility, but some DIII)....somehow Jordan ends up at Bethel to play the season.....leads them to first playoff game...leaves school the week following the loss to PLU.

As for names....didn't OAS claim that Caruso was one of the three best coaches in the country...too bad he took the Summit Ave job last month....maybe they could go with Wonka's suggestion of the Brownie with the most complicated offensive play sheets in college football.

[K-Mack]

FWIW, the Redskins (though not necessarily the mean streets of Ashburn) are a fustercluck, but reading about Zorn makes me think they'll be OK. It's definitely a fun division.

As far as names that come to mind for St. Olaf, how about someone that has pretty good credentials and seems to be looking for a job ... Zebrowski.

If he applies, would be surprised if he doesn't end up at Marietta, STO or Coe.

Those are pretty decent openings in the world of D3.

[TC]

He certainly drew a lot of talent to St. Olaf.  Turning that talent into a disciplined, effective team?  Maybe he'll have better luck with professional players...

Excuse me for being self-referential, but you guys are reading way too much into this.  I was just taking a petty cheap shot at the Oles--for all of the All-Conference players Meidt got into the program, they never could make it over the hump and into the playoffs. 

I know next to nothing about Meidt besides his reputation on this board, and I have no idea whether or not he will be successful in his new position.  Nonetheless, it's amazing that he made the leap from Northfield to the NFL.  Maybe the 'Skins aspire to hang an 85 on a rival and they figure Meidt meidt be just the man for the job...

[justadad]

Chris Meidt will always produce all star players, thats where his coaching emphisis is.  He now holds the perfect position for his coaching philosophy.  I think he is a level above where he would dominate (division 1) but he will be successful.  This also improves the college of St Olaf's chance at winning a championship in the future.  While most people will blame the 2008 slide on coach Meidts departure, the ones who really know will understand it is neccesary to win a championship.  Good Luck to the whole Meidt family.

[tmerton]

Football Recruiting Mathematics 101: How to stuff 33 into 25 and 95 into 85 - the Alabama way.

Last week there was some discussion of how Brewster was able to recruit so many players (30) to the U this season.  Alabama did the same thing (even more - 33), and here is an interesting analysis of the challenges facing them (If I were a junior who didn't play a lot, I'd be feeling a little uneasy right now):

ALABAMA FOOTBALL RECRUITING: Saban unfazed about oversigning

By Tim Gayle

TUSCALOOSA -- Nick Saban isn't an accountant, although he does have to crunch some numbers between now and August and he has mentioned balancing the checkbook before.

The Alabama coach announced a signing class of 32 players on Wednesday, which exceeds both the annual signing limit of 25 and the overall scholarship limit of 85.

He has until the players report in August to bring his signing class within limits, but Saban believes people are spending too much time worrying about the numbers.

"First of all, we have a plan for how we're going to manage our numbers," he said. "I think there were 14 or 15 teams that signed over 30 guys and there are various ways" to make the numbers work.

Actually, according to Rivals.com, only eight teams signed 30 or more players -- Alabama (32), Miami (33), Florida State (30), Minnesota (30), Virginia Tech (31), Mississippi (32), Kansas State (33) and Army (34).

In the Southeastern Conference, only five schools signed over their annual limit of 25: Alabama, Auburn (28), Mississippi, Mississippi State (27) and LSU (26).

The more signees you have, the more ingenious you have to be in trying to make your signing class fit within the NCAA guidelines.

"I'm not going to expound on this, but some guys grayshirt, some guys have academic issues that you might have to place (in junior college or prep school)," Saban said. "We have a way to manage the future of that."

Last year, when asked about grayshirting a player, Saban denied any previous knowledge of the word. NCAA Bylaw 15.5.5.3.9 allows "delayed initial counters," when a player's eligibility starts, "until the following academic year."

At least two members of the current signing class, wide receiver Chris Jackson and kicker Corey Smith, enrolled in classes at Alabama in January. NCAA Bylaw 15.5.5.3.2 states that the student-athlete "shall be an initial counter for either the current academic year (if the institution's annual limit has not been reached) or the next academic year."

Because Alabama signed just 22 players last year, Jackson and Smith can count against the 2007 class, leaving Saban with 30 players to fit into the 2008 class.

But those two signees boost Alabama's overall total to approximately 85 players, the maximum number allowed, and the Tide loses just 15 seniors. So not only must Saban reduce his signing class from 30 to 25, he must reduce his current roster of non-seniors from 70 to 60 to accommodate the extra players.

The signing class will probably include several players who will not meet the minimum SEC academic requirements to earn admission to Alabama. That group includes Davidson tailback Jermaine Preyear, Mississippi cornerback Alonzo Lawrence, Huffman defensive lineman Marcel Dareus, Hargrave lineman Kerry Murphy and possibly receivers Melvin Ray and Devonta Bolton.

If the remaining 24 players all qualify and at least two of those previously mentioned make the grade, Alabama coaches will have to delay someone's enrollment until 2009 or bring in a player as a walk-on, as former coach Mike DuBose's staff did with Terry Jones Jr. in the late 1990s.

Once Saban gets his class to 25, he has to figure out a way to get the current group of returning scholarship players down to 60. Last year, he offered academic scholarships to four players with recurring medical issues, including receiver Tyrone Prothro.

Several players qualify for that status this year, including junior receiver Will Oakley, who has batted recurring hamstring injuries; outside linebacker Zeke Knight, who has experienced recurring dizzy spells through heart-related problems; guard B.J. Stabler, whose three knee surgeries have not cured him of problems that prevent him from sitting out practice because of the knee; and defensive back Chris Lett, whose case of juvenile diabetes has prevented him from practicing, much less playing with the team.

Even if he lost those players, there could be as many as six more scholarship players that would need to leave the team before the incoming class reports in August.

"That's not something we're going to address publicly or make a public issue," Saban said, "or is it something I think anybody needs to be worried about."

[ritz72]

Chris Meidt will always produce all star players, thats where his coaching emphisis is.  He now holds the perfect position for his coaching philosophy.  I think he is a level above where he would dominate (division 1) but he will be successful.  This also improves the college of St Olaf's chance at winning a championship in the future.  While most people will blame the 2008 slide on coach Meidts departure, the ones who really know will understand it is neccesary to win a championship.  Good Luck to the whole Meidt family.

Congrats to Meidt, but...

I got a headache just reading this...  elaborate  on how he would dominate at the DI level.  It is a little different ballgame recruiting "blue chip" Florida prospects than panning for the leftovers to come to MN. 

Who gives a rat's A$$ if you produce all star players.  Last time I checked, the goal of the sport of American Football was to win championships!  And it is the coach's job to mold those "all star" players into a cohesive unit to accomplish said objective.  This is something Meidt was never able to do in Northfield.

Perfect Position now??  He will be the QB coach, and last time I checked the talent at QB in Washington is not at that level.  Maybe, with the REdskins MO recently, he will be promoted to OC in two weeks. Even then, at the NFL level, he will have NO SAY in the talent he is given.  And in recent years, the Redskins have not been a bastian for Free Agents.

Also, not being in the "know", I find it soooooo funny that immediately after Meidt resigns, the OLE faithful strike a daggar in his back as he walks out the door with comments like, "...it is necessary to win a championship".  How quickly you all forget the  year lovefest you had for him.  I don't have nearly the time to look, but I am willing to venture there are 100-200 posts on this baord extolling the fact that Meidt was going to lead the OLEs to the promise land...

PLUS, the seed is already planted for the "2008 dimise"...That is what happens when most of the talent is in one class...

[bennie]

I was trying not to watch the Zednick clip, but one of my friends made me. Thank God he is going to be okay. I am a little suprised that they finished the game after that.

I am now adding the Redskins to my list of employers I want to work for! They will be right behind the Islanders. Talk about the opportunity to advance!! D3 coach to NFL coach, backup goalie to GM, I am working in the wrong field!!

[TC]

Thanks, tmert.  Very interesting.  If nothing else, it is refreshing to see the Gophers football program mentioned in the same breath as prestigious programs like Alabama, Miami, Florida State, Virginia Tech, and... Army?!?!  WTF?

Football Recruiting Mathematics 101: How to stuff 33 into 25 and 95 into 85 - the Alabama way.

Last week there was some discussion of how Brewster was able to recruit so many players (30) to the U this season.  Alabama did the same thing (even more - 33), and here is an interesting analysis of the challenges facing them (If I were a junior who didn't play a lot, I'd be feeling a little uneasy right now):

ALABAMA FOOTBALL RECRUITING: Saban unfazed about oversigning

...guard B.J. Stabler, whose three knee surgeries have not cured him of problems that prevent him from sitting out practice because of the knee...

That must be a pretty unique injury if it is preventing him from SITTING OUT of practice.  Yikes!




Does anyone care about the Twins signing Livan Hernandez this morning?  It's a one year deal that, with incentives, could reach $7MM.  It goes without saying that I'd rather see the Twins use the money they will spend on Mike Lamb, Craig Monroe, Nick Punto and Livan Hernandez in 2008 buy half of a Johan Santana, but that's a ship that's already sailed.  With Liriano not a certainty, at least to start the year, and at least mild questions about every other current rotation option, there is some value in signing Livan Hernandez if you think he can provide you 200 league-average innings (which he has a solid track record of doing).  The problem is, the Twins likely just invested ~$6-7MM in a "solution" that might bump them from 78 to 82 wins, and there is very little marginal value in going from 78 to 82 wins--certainly not $6MM dollars worth.

Livan Hernandez was a legitimately very good starting pitcher as recently as 2003 and 2004, when he posted ERAs that were 41% and 26% better than league average while leading the NL in innings pitched in both years.  However, as slow-throwing, homer-prone righthanders age they tend to go to hell in a hurry.  Think Jose Lima, late career version.  This is typically due to their inability to strike anyone out.  Check out some trends for Livan since his '03-'04 peak (apologies in advance for what promises to be horrendous formatting):

Year        "AGE"        K/9 IP        K:BB Ratio        ERA           ERA, +/- %-wise vs. League
2003       28             6.9             3.1                   3.20          +41%
2004       29             6.6             2.2                   3.60          +26%
2005       30             5.4             1.8                   3.98          +2%
2006       31             5.3             1.6                   4.83          -9%
2007       32             4.0             1.1                   4.93          -5%

YIKES!  Those trends aren't moving in the right direction AT ALL.  Hernandez is a pitcher who is striking out fewer batters while walking more.  To top it all off, he's getting older.  The "33" he'll be this year could be considered an "old" 33 in that he's pitched a ton of innings and had a lot of high-pitch-count games (more of both than any other recent pitcher) and he's from Cuba and has faced suspicion about his actual age pretty much from the day he got off the boat.  What this looks like, to me, is a pitcher who has been overworked and is about the fall off the proverbial performance cliff, and the Twins will be lucky if they are not the team holding the bag when it happens.  Add in the fact that Hernandez is moving to a distinctly more offensive league (AL vs. NL), division (AL Central vs. NL West) and home park (Metrodome vs. RFK Stadium, at least.  Chase Field is a terrific hitters' park) and I doubt Hernandez posts a 2008 ERA below 5.50.

[57Johnnie]

I was trying not to watch the Zednick clip, but one of my friends made me. Thank God he is going to be okay. I am a little suprised that they finished the game after that.

I am now adding the Redskins to my list of employers I want to work for! They will be right behind the Islanders. Talk about the opportunity to advance!! D3 coach to NFL coach, backup goalie to GM, I am working in the wrong field!!

...and NFL coaches get retirement after 3 years. 

[repete]

Chris Meidt will always produce all star players, thats where his coaching emphisis is.  He now holds the perfect position for his coaching philosophy.  I think he is a level above where he would dominate (division 1) but he will be successful.  This also improves the college of St Olaf's chance at winning a championship in the future.  While most people will blame the 2008 slide on coach Meidts departure, the ones who really know will understand it is neccesary to win a championship.  Good Luck to the whole Meidt family.

Ding, ding, ding -- it's merely February but we have a leader in the clubhouse for most delusional post of 2008 ...

[familyguyfaneightyfour]

Chris Meidt will always produce all star players, thats where his coaching emphisis is.  He now holds the perfect position for his coaching philosophy.  I think he is a level above where he would dominate (division 1) but he will be successful.  This also improves the college of St Olaf's chance at winning a championship in the future.  While most people will blame the 2008 slide on coach Meidts departure, the ones who really know will understand it is neccesary to win a championship.  Good Luck to the whole Meidt family.

Congrats to Meidt, but...

I got a headache just reading this...  elaborate  on how he would dominate at the DI level.  It is a little different ballgame recruiting "blue chip" Florida prospects than panning for the leftovers to come to MN. 

Who gives a rat's A$$ if you produce all star players.  Last time I checked, the goal of the sport of American Football was to win championships!  And it is the coach's job to mold those "all star" players into a cohesive unit to accomplish said objective.  This is something Meidt was never able to do in Northfield.

Perfect Position now??  He will be the QB coach, and last time I checked the talent at QB in Washington is not at that level.  Maybe, with the REdskins MO recently, he will be promoted to OC in two weeks. Even then, at the NFL level, he will have NO SAY in the talent he is given.  And in recent years, the Redskins have not been a bastian for Free Agents.

Also, not being in the "know", I find it soooooo funny that immediately after Meidt resigns, the OLE faithful strike a daggar in his back as he walks out the door with comments like, "...it is necessary to win a championship".  How quickly you all forget the  year lovefest you had for him.  I don't have nearly the time to look, but I am willing to venture there are 100-200 posts on this baord extolling the fact that Meidt was going to lead the OLEs to the promise land...

PLUS, the seed is already planted for the "2008 dimise"...That is what happens when most of the talent is in one class...

2 things:
a.) Could you please show me where the ole faithful "stab meidt in the back"?  The only Ole fans who have posted are myself and Olefan, and neither of us mentioned championships. 
b.) Don't be fooled by the graduation of the class of 2008.  There is still plenty talent on this team, and while I'm not quite as bold as I was last season, I feel confident that they can pull of a 7 win season.