FB: Midwest Conference

[doolittledog]

Macalester from MN???

[gbpuckfan]

The school I would like to see join the MWC is Marian in Fond du Lac. It's fit locationwise, etc but I think they'd need to upgrade facilities and (I think) add football. So, a longshot in today's economy.

[hazzben]

Macalester from MN???

I don't see this happening, but I could very well be wrong.

For starters, the MIAC is a very good academic league in its own regard.

Second, right now 85% of their athletic competition occurs within a two hour radius of campus. A move to the MWC would blow that up considerably.

But they might delude themselves into thinking they'd be competitive in football. 

[doolittledog]

Macalester from MN???

I don't see this happening, but I could very well be wrong.

For starters, the MIAC is a very good academic league in its own regard.

Second, right now 85% of their athletic competition occurs within a two hour radius of campus. A move to the MWC would blow that up considerably.

But they might delude themselves into thinking they'd be competitive in football. 

Didn't Macalester become independent in football because they were not competitive football wise?  But they stayed in the MIAC for other sports?  Or is that another school and my brain is just hazy from too much beer this weekend???

[hickory_cornhusker]

Macalester from MN???

I don't see this happening, but I could very well be wrong.

For starters, the MIAC is a very good academic league in its own regard.

Second, right now 85% of their athletic competition occurs within a two hour radius of campus. A move to the MWC would blow that up considerably.

But they might delude themselves into thinking they'd be competitive in football. 

Didn't Macalester become independent in football because they were not competitive football wise?  But they stayed in the MIAC for other sports?  Or is that another school and my brain is just hazy from too much beer this weekend???

You're right. It is Macalester that did that.

[Just Bill]

The school I would like to see join the MWC is Marian in Fond du Lac. It's fit locationwise, etc but I think they'd need to upgrade facilities and (I think) add football. So, a longshot in today's economy.

I guess you weren't aware of this: http://www.marianuniversity.edu/uploadedFiles/News_And_Events/Headlines/Indoor%20Athletic%20Training%20Facility%20Brochure%201-11(2).pdf

http://www.marianuniversity.edu/interior.aspx?id=15722

They are also on the path to adding football. It was full steam ahead at one point, but a change in Presidents has slowed down the pace temporarily. This facility would also make an excellent football practice site.

[hickory_cornhusker]

The school I would like to see join the MWC is Marian in Fond du Lac. It's fit locationwise, etc but I think they'd need to upgrade facilities and (I think) add football. So, a longshot in today's economy.

I guess you weren't aware of this: http://www.marianuniversity.edu/uploadedFiles/News_And_Events/Headlines/Indoor%20Athletic%20Training%20Facility%20Brochure%201-11(2).pdf

http://www.marianuniversity.edu/interior.aspx?id=15722

They are also on the path to adding football. It was full steam ahead at one point, but a change in Presidents has slowed down the pace temporarily. This facility would also make an excellent football practice site.

Could also be a money maker. I'm sure there are a lot of high  schools that would like to see their baseball or softball teams a real practice in before their first game when the weather finally slides above 40 degrees and there is only a decent chance of rain/sleet/snow. Rent it out when the Sabre teams aren't using it.

[Brits3905]

Hey Guys,
Just wondering has anyone heard what is going on with the DC position at SNC?
Anyways Happy 4th of July to everyone! Be safe and have fun

[hazzben]

Macalester from MN???

I don't see this happening, but I could very well be wrong.

For starters, the MIAC is a very good academic league in its own regard.

Second, right now 85% of their athletic competition occurs within a two hour radius of campus. A move to the MWC would blow that up considerably.

But they might delude themselves into thinking they'd be competitive in football. 

Didn't Macalester become independent in football because they were not competitive football wise?  But they stayed in the MIAC for other sports?  Or is that another school and my brain is just hazy from too much beer this weekend???

You are remembering correctly.

They're independent in football--actually almost dropped the program entirely--and fill their schedule up mostly with UMAC teams and a MIAC team here or there. Always Carleton and the Book of Knowledge battle, usually Hamline, sometimes Augsburg and Chicago is a pretty frequent opponent as well. The move to independent has left them floating between 2 and 4 wins a season for a while now. I'd see them trending back to 1-2 wins a season if they entered back into conference play by joining the MWC.

[Pat Coleman]

They went 6-3 last year and at least put up some points against Carleton and Hamline. This year they add Augsburg, so they have three MIAC opponents.

http://www.d3football.com/teams/Macalester/2011/index

Last win against an MIAC team was 2002.

http://www.d3football.com/teams/Macalester/2002/index

[hazzben]

They went 6-3 last year and at least put up some points against Carleton and Hamline. This year they add Augsburg, so they have three MIAC opponents.

http://www.d3football.com/teams/Macalester/2011/index

Last win against an MIAC team was 2002.

http://www.d3football.com/teams/Macalester/2002/index

Good catch Pat. They actually showed some signs of improving last year, against the UMAC anyway. It'll be interesting to see how Cornell does in the MWC, given their results against MAC last year.

It would have really been interesting to see what Caruso could/would have done over the long haul had he remained at MAC. He can obviously coach and recruit at a place like UST, where he's got superior resources to work with. Over time, I think he'd have turned MAC around, at least to the point where they were competitive in the MIAC. But I doubt he's second guessing his choice to move to Summit.

[fulbakdad]

Less than 2 months till the first game!

[Redhawk Sighting]

Macalester from MN???

I can't confirm nor deny that....  Whom ever it may be we would be looking more at the 2012 or 2013 season.  As for now, I'm glad to see Cornell, might give LU and Knox someone to beat.  But I'm pretty sure they will be Cornell's only 2 wins.. 

[doolittledog]

Macalester from MN???

I can't confirm nor deny that....  Whom ever it may be we would be looking more at the 2012 or 2013 season.  As for now, I'm glad to see Cornell, might give LU and Knox someone to beat.  But I'm pretty sure they will be Cornell's only 2 wins.. 

Cornell lost to Grinnell 26-25 in 2008 and won at Grinnell 28-21 in 2009. So maybe Cornell can pencil in 2 probable wins against LU and Knox and another possible win against Grinnell for their return to the MWC.  They also have Macalester on their 2011 schedule.  Maybe a future in-conference game

[hickory_cornhusker]

Let's say hypothetically Macalester were to join the conference. Which division would you put them in?

You could place them with the South, rename it the West and move Lake Forest back to the North (now named East):

West: Cornell, Grinnell, Illinois College, Knox, Macalester, Monmouth
East: Beloit, Carroll, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Ripon, St. Norbert

-Lake Forest would get greatly reduced travel and return to the their old division in the MWC
-Mac to IC is 513 miles according to the NCAA. Far enough to fly if they would meet up in the NCAA Playoffs
-Grinnell would be their closest divisional opponent 288 miles away



You could place them in the North and not have to rename the divisions or move Lake Forest

North: Beloit, Carroll, Lawrence, Macalester, Ripon, St. Norbert
South: Cornell, Grinnell, Illinois College, Knox, Lake Forest, Monmouth

-Each division would have one new team
-Longest divisional trip for Mac would be to Carroll at 354 miles (would also be farthest trip to any school in the conference for Carroll)
-Shortest trip would be 261 miles to Ripon



Unless the MIAC takes away Macalester's Notre Dame-like privileges and they don't want to compete in the MIAC in football and they have too much pride to join the UMAC I don't think Macalester would ever entertain the thought of joining the MWC. Their closest opponent would be more than four hours away. In the MIAC they have five conference opponents that are less than 10 miles away from them.