FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WashedUp]

Would you rather be a beast on playoff level D3 team or an ok running back on a below average D1 team?

Football-wise, playoff team. Pocketbook-wise - free schooling all the way - below average team. Chances(albeit slim) to make the NFL - below average team (when was the last D3 draftee?).  Academics-wise, it depends what you like, but I'll give Albany and Susquehanna a draw, even if that's probably not true in actuality, with Albany being the better ranked and generally regarded of the two institutions (not that rankings are everything).

The equation has more than one variable, otherwise, who would ever go anywhere other than the bluest of blue blood division 1 programs; totally for free and make some of that sweet NIL and revenue sharing money?

With that said, U Albany wasn't good last year, but as recently as 2023 they went to the FCS semi-finals, so it's not as if there isn't some recent success.

I believe Quinn Meinerz (3rd round in 2021) was the last player drafted from a D3 school.  He's now a 2-time first-team all-pro.  Bartch was drafted the year before (https://www.d3football.com/interactive/faq/general#11).

With the transfer portal I'm not sure we'll see this happen as often as we used to, I'm guessing the guys that show the potential will move up for a year or two before they are draft eligible.

[hazzben]

Would you rather be a beast on playoff level D3 team or an ok running back on a below average D1 team?

Football-wise, playoff team. Pocketbook-wise - free schooling all the way - below average team. Chances(albeit slim) to make the NFL - below average team (when was the last D3 draftee?).  Academics-wise, it depends what you like, but I'll give Albany and Susquehanna a draw, even if that's probably not true in actuality, with Albany being the better ranked and generally regarded of the two institutions (not that rankings are everything).

The equation has more than one variable, otherwise, who would ever go anywhere other than the bluest of blue blood division 1 programs; totally for free and make some of that sweet NIL and revenue sharing money?

With that said, U Albany wasn't good last year, but as recently as 2023 they went to the FCS semi-finals, so it's not as if there isn't some recent success.

Keep in mind, his HC just left Susquahanna for Albany as well. So there's a real element of him moving quickly up the depth chart, and his former team potentially taking a real step backwards.

[maripp2002]

Keep in mind, his HC just left Susquahanna for Albany as well.

Yeah, I mean, I'm not saying that everything we knew about scholarship football has been completely thrown out the window, but the mighty Hoosiers of Indiana have proven that things change ON A DIME in scholarship football today. If a school is willing to throw a little cash at things, and get the right coach, and right players from the portal, there is no reason why a team can't add a ton more wins even in the first year. Building through recruiting and player retention is for suckers.

Fortunately, D3 football does not have that same setup, although the top brass in d3 are routinely pulling in near if not actual, triple digit recruiting classes, so you never know. There is just a lot more opportunity for talent to "osmosis" itself to the right level now, and if you poach a good coach from a good program (Curt Cignetti (JMU) or Tom Perkovich (Sus)) no reason to believe they aren't going to bring their best players as well, as an immediate upgrade. Or that the school they came from are going to be just as committed to plugging those holes and have continued success.

All of that is to say, you have a good point - what you did last year is just that. There are no guarantees that a program will stay near the top. 

[Retired Old Rat]

Tweet by aforementioned former Whitewater lineman Quinn Meinerz about the occupation of Minneapolis/St. Paul.[

https://bsky.app/profile/minakimes.bsky.social/post/3mdbgeffz5c2o

[faunch]

Tweet by aforementioned former Whitewater lineman Quinn Meinerz about the occupation of Minneapolis/St. Paul.[

https://bsky.app/profile/minakimes.bsky.social/post/3mdbgeffz5c2o

Good!

[art76]

Across my FB feed this morning there was an announcement concerning a parade tonight(?) for UWRF and a plug for the following podcast: https://kinnicast.buzzsprout.com/2518708/episodes/18544602-matt-walker-uwrf-football-coach

Haven't listened to it yet - just passing it along for any interested...

[GoldandBlueBU]

I saw the Gophers offered a scholarship to Jett Feeney - are they the biggest program to give him an offer so far?

[MIAC23]

I saw the Gophers offered a scholarship to Jett Feeney - are they the biggest program to give him an offer so far?

Yes, one other FBS offer from Wyoming. Also a few of the local FCS as well.

[hazzben]

Need to come to the D3boards confessional ... helped my Jr son sign up for the SJU prospect camp in May after they reached out with an invite. Paying SJU athletics $100 so they can attempt to lure my son to the dark side felt extra dirty.

On the flip side, got coffee with a recent SJU D-line graduate who was interested in a role on my team. Told him I only agreed because he wasn't a Tommie    In all seriousness, he's a great guy. Articulate, thoughtful, very buttoned up. Good reminder of the quality young men our MIAC programs produce regularly. Even if they made questionable choices of allegiance in their late teen years!