Here is a link to a discussion on D-3 soccer. Rather than summarize it, I will let anyone interested go and read it. If they were expelled from the MIAC, where would they go? Up to D-1 or D-2, the latter would destroy their hockey program.
http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=8941.0
If they stay in DIII they could try to join the WIAC. Not that far from the schools in that conference...
Isn't a competitive private university the reason they ran out of the NCHA in the first place? Doubt they'd welcome one in now. Especially if they are being booted from the MIAC for being too good.
Isn't a competitive private university the reason they ran out of the NCHA in the first place? Doubt they'd welcome one in now. Especially if they are being booted from the MIAC for being too good.
Finlandia is an associate member of the WIAC for baseball and Northland will be an associate for hockey next season and they are private, granted much smaller in population than St. Thomas.
The Eau Claire AD said on record in an interview that pulling out of the NCHA was a mistake because of the autobid situation, so that makes one stakeholder likely open to more associate members for ice hockey. If he's not the only AD who feels that way there could be potential to add more private schools. Whether St. Thomas fits the profile they want is another question
I'm honestly surprised those WIAC schools you've mentioned haven't added a hockey school or aren't required to start one up by a certain year. WIAC dominates in a ton of other sports, recruiting pool is crazy.
Did anyone at the time though think they were going to lose the auto bid? I think the WI state schools thought some of the NCHA schools would stay with them so they would keep the auto bid. Granted, they've still been able to find success with Stevens Point and Eau Claire winning national titles but without the auto bid, it's always an iffy road on whether or not you'll get a team into the NCAA Tournament.
Public education funding has not been a strong suit of the state of Wisconsin lately.I'm honestly surprised those WIAC schools you've mentioned haven't added a hockey school or aren't required to start one up by a certain year. WIAC dominates in a ton of other sports, recruiting pool is crazy.
News report on the meeting....
http://www.startribune.com/miac-rivals-plot-ouster-of-st-thomas/508145182/
Three MIAC sources said there is pressure being applied to Bethel, Concordia, Gustavus — the other competitive football programs — to support removing St. Thomas via threats that Augsburg, Hamline, St. Olaf and Carleton could drop out of MIAC football (as Macalester did years ago). This would leave five football schools in the MIAC without a full schedule to play.
I wonder if its possible they would throw St. Thomas out as a full member, but the Tommies stick around for hockey. Sounds like this is mostly (entirely?) about football.
I have every reason to believe this is definitely ENTIRELY about football; specifically about a football coach - if we're being honest.
Seems as though there would be other remedies for the situation as described, but it's hard to judge people's logic and agendas. To blow up a conference because of one team in one sport seems like an odd way to do business. Why not drop football as a conference sport. Then you could have a core of teams that would found a football only conference that would exclude STT? No idea if that is possible or not.
I'm honestly surprised those WIAC schools you've mentioned haven't added a hockey school or aren't required to start one up by a certain year. WIAC dominates in a ton of other sports, recruiting pool is crazy.
